New to Pines. First Mugo Pine.

[LeoB]

This is my first pine it’s been a couple of months since thinning it out and trimming buds down to 2 per branch. Today I did some major chops to create taper and also did some wiring to creat some style. The lower right branch will most likely be a sacrificial branch after the trunk thickens up in a few years… Now planning on leaving it alone to grow.

Would love some advice or opinions on how I did. The first picture is the before second 2 are as of now.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

I think it's wise to stick to the one insult per year approach for pines. That doesn't mean calender years, but rather "whole growing season from start to.. the start of the next".

I did some huge chops on a mugo four years ago, removing less than you did.. And it's recovering still.

So before we talk about design, I think it's good to try and keep this one alive for another year. It will probably bud out all over if it lives, and those new branches will make your tree eventually.

 

[TrevorLarsen]

You might want to check this out. https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/the-vance-wood-memorial-mugo-4yr-contest.63959/