A black pine -- Redesign or Not?

[daiviet_nguyen]

I bought this black pine sometimes either in 1997 or 1998; from a general nursery in Mt. Dandenong, this nursery has since been closed down.

This variety is different to all other black pines that I have. Its needle length is about half of others', it has short internodes, it buds profusely during the growing season. Hence very compact growth. But it is no mean a slow grower.

The drawback that I have experienced with this variety is that it is much more brittle than other black pines. It does not tolerate severe bendings.

The photos were taken on 19/11/2011, which show the tree without any wires for at least 24 months.


View 1 - 1


View 1 - 2


View 1 - 3


View 1 - 4

• Trunk size: around 4cm.
• Tree height: around 71cm: measured from surface soil.
• Tree widest canopy: 40cm across.
• Pot length: 42.5cm.
• Pot width: 31.5cm.
• Pot height: 12.5cm including the feet.
  
  The pot is Korean.

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There are some obvious defects. Roots will take sometimes to sort out. The two top are heavy, but this can be thinned out fairly easily.

I feel that View 1 - 1 and View 1 - 3 somewhat show the tree in its entirety. While the other two views show just tangled messes: the two sides obscure one another.

Using View 1 - 1, I have been contemplating the following change. Completely eliminate the taller trunk on the right, but keeping the two lowest branches. Then bend the shorter trunk toward the right. This will instantly creates a tree with a single trunk line, with about six (6) foliage pads. The height of the tree will then be around 60cm, possibly can be less.

-- View 1 - 1 and View 1 - 3 have been holding me back!

If I ever go ahead with the above change. I will layer the taller trunk instead of just throwing it away. The possibe reward will be worth another twelve months wait.

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Views from different angles:


View 1 - 5


View 1 - 6


View 1 - 7


View 1 - 8

[Craig]

Daiviet, nice pine mate, it is my worth that far too many pines are reduced to only 1 main leader, i like your tree the way it is and views 6,7,8, look really good and 5 to some degree aswell. I would not cut any branches off but take the route of introducing some jinned/sharied branches instead of total removal. good work mate

[Grant Bowie]

Firstly it is probably a Pinus thunbergii "Mikawa" or similar. Stiff to bend but not impossible.

If you wish to do a classic black pine then it certainly needs to be shortened and a leader chosen.

good luck with whatever you choose to do.

Grant

[Hornet]

Not a bad tree you have there .I like view 1-1, possibly reduce the height of the left hand leader. Apart from that wire some of the branches down a bit and make some pads with the foliage. my

John

[alpineart]

Hi Daiviet , mate those are bloody shocking pics for the questions asked .I do however like 1-6 as it shows some movement , add a bit more say another 10-15 degree's to each bend and add another 1-2 smaller closer bends in the top 1/3 of the tree and it would be a nice specimen to sit on my bench What ever you choose i know it will be a nice tree.

Cheers Alpine

[daiviet_nguyen]

Hi Craig,

Thank you for the suggestions. Jinned and sharied branches did not occur to me before. This is another option to consider then. I will take my times

Hi Grant,

I am hoping that it is a Mikawa too. But I understand that Mikawa bark can be much darker?

A long time ago, I was trying to twist a branch sort of 180 degrees, and it broke; other black pines seem to tolerate this. That was my first experience with pine branch breaking.

Thank you for the good wish

Hi John,

Reducing the height is certainly something I will attempt to do. And wiring down branches too.

Thanks

Hi alpineart,

I think I can see what you mean by giving some more movements. Might be then one side will not obscure the other. I will try to do this when the growing slow down.

It is hard to take clear pictures to express the question So I do agree that these are not good pictures for the question being asked

Thank you and best regards everybody.

[alpineart]

Hi Daiviet , mate i take shocking pics all the time , maybe it my computer as they just seem black and its hard to define .Its got to the point i need a tripod as the shakes are giving ME double vision . No offence bud .

Cheers Alpine

[daiviet_nguyen]

Hi alpineart,

No problems at all. So far I have learned not to use flash. I use four normal house-hold lamps. It is inadequate. I am also thinking of getting some proper lights for photograph. I have a decent camera, but it is hard to capture what actually see

Cheers.

Hi Daiviet , mate i take shocking pics all the time , maybe it my computer as they just seem black and its hard to define .Its got to the point i need a tripod as the shakes are giving ME double vision . No offence bud .

Cheers Alpine

[alpineart]

HiDiaviet , i use the camera outside under a pergola , its filtered light but i do notice that if i rotate the camera for a horizontal shot the colour changes .Hard work getting good pics , for me anyway .Cheers Alpine