AusBonsai

Hi guys,

was just reading through the various timings to do various tasks to JBP's over in the wiki

it says

Heavy Prune and Trunk chop Deciduous and Evergreen trees while dormant (except Japanese Maples and Pines). Energy stored in the roots will help accelerate the new growth in Spring.

but also on the wiki

April

Repotting of all evergreens can be done now
Heavy Branch Pruning of Pines should be done during April



So my question is what is the best time to do heavy cutting back / branch cutting? and is it oki to repot at that time or should that wait till aug/sept ?

Regards

Daniel

Hi Daniel, Yep it is a bit of a mine field but remember, some of that info is for a different climate than ours. I do all my heavy work in July, August and that seems to work for me.

I did some pretty heavy pruning on JBP in October at the Canberra club show and those trees have grown back fine.
Most years I prune JBPs hard when we dig them out of the growing beds (July/Aug like Bodhi) then cut the roots quite hard and pot them up. Nearly all of them power away afterwards. I think you should be able to prune trees, including JBP, at any time of year but not so sure about repotting at any time. I have only ever repotted in spring but others use autumn and I suspect other times of year are possible too.

Some people warn against pruning the top and roots in the same year but I suspect that might be advice from Japan and our growing conditions are vastly different. I have never had any problem doing both in a single year.

HI,

@thanks bodhi!

@shibu thank you as aslways!

I'll just do heavy pruning and a repot in august and get get it in the best health possible until that time

Daniel

What about removing a major branch on a P. radiata? Would this cause grief?

Hi Daniel
the timigs in Wiki are based around sydney ( thats where I am) as it about mid way thru the temps we get in OZ.
Most in Sydney do pruning on Pines in late spring / Early winter thru to late winter as Bodhi and Shibui advise. They are colder than here.

In perth you could do either end of winter with no issues.
I repot mine in spring, and prune earlier

Ken

Stu,
I have not grown many radiatas but can't see any problem with pruning branches at this time of year. they are pretty tough little buggers.

Thanks shibui. I might give it go. You know when you make a decision and you get the itch to prune it is hard to let it go.

You know when you make a decision and you get the itch to prune it is hard to let it go.

I do know exactly how you feel and have felt just the same many times and have mostly pruned whatever it was. The only bad reaction I can remember was Japanese maples that were pruned just as the buds were opening and bled very badly and did not survive. May have been coincidence but I now avoid pruning maples at budding time.

Thanks guys!

Yeah decided to do some heavy pruning / styling and repotting of a number of JBP i have towards the end of august after the advice in this thread!