Help with next steps for these little sylvestris

[Bowhuntmuledeer]

Well it’s starting to cool off here! Got me wondering about next step for these little guys. I got them shipped this spring as “2 year seedlings”. They seem to have done ok this summer! I’m assuming I should wire some movement into the trunk before too long here? The one has a little growth down low, so I wired the tree back a bit this spring in hopes to keep it alive. I’ve been reading about pines, but I’m still not confident I know how or when to do things. Should I let the “crows feet” grow and chop one off post harden next year? If these were yours how would you proceed with them? Maybe the answer is ground grow and sort things out later
All suggestions welcome!

 

[Mike Westervelt]

Put some wire on them and twist them up, check out Jonas Dupuich at Bonsai Tonight and Eric Schrader at Bonsaify for great how to info

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

I see strong bud growth, which is a good sign. Say, how many warm-ish non-freezing weeks do you have left?
If it's more than a month, consider clipping this years growth down to half the length. It should induce buds lower down and it'll produce new buds on the cut site.
Then you can wire it in early winter, late fall. And see what happens come spring; it might bud all over the place and give you plenty of low branches.

 

[Bowhuntmuledeer]

I see strong bud growth, which is a good sign. Say, how many warm-ish non-freezing weeks do you have left?
If it's more than a month, consider clipping this years growth down to half the length. It should induce buds lower down and it'll produce new buds on the cut site.
Then you can wire it in early winter, late fall. And see what happens come spring; it might bud all over the place and give you plenty of low branches.

I probably have about a month left before a few freezing nights. I can shelter em from those for a period of time though in an enclosed porch!

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

I probably have about a month left before a few freezing nights. I can shelter em from those for a period of time though in an enclosed porch!

Alright, given the small window you'll have two options and three possible outcomes:
Option 1, outcome A: cut now, and it will produce buds before winter.
Option 1, outcome B: cut now, and it will produce buds in spring and start growing regularly in summer.
Option 2 and outcome: do nothing, bud select in winter. Do option 1 next year.