Young Japanese Black Pine suggestions

[togishi]

I have had this black pine for about a year and a half now, have been doing some maintenance, and repotted it this year into the pond basket. Haven't decided to keep it going toward a cascade type of look, or should I reposition to bring the trunk back up?

Thanks!


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[togishi]

Weird.
Lets try those images again

 

[JudyB]

Togishi, I can't tell you if you should re-style it, depends on if you want a cascade or an upright, yes? Only you can decide...

But it looks from the photos, you may have a fork with 3 branches coming out of the same place. If so, you definitely want to cut one of them off. More than two branches at a junction causes reverse taper and ugly bulges. ( I found this out myself the hard way...) (on a black pine...)

 

[biglou13]

i like the cascade. I don't see many around.

+1 what judy says.
You may need to cut more than one off. it appears that most if not all branches are from a whorl, from same node. problem is cutting more than one increase risk factor, by limiting live cambium to keeper branches. So a gradual removal may be best. i tend toward concave cuts. so i'd cut the biggest unwanted branch now. i'm thinking starting with cutting (picture 4) the branch at three o'clock position. (difficult to judge from pictures). not sure of your plan but i see a small ramified crown with sweeping cascade with this. (but mother nature may have other opinions).

You'll be amazed at the amount of growth the pond baskets/smarter pots can put out. I've seen best results with, fast draining soil as you have, flush soil, fertilize, wait until root area is "dryish", repeat.

 

[togishi]

Thank you's! Hey Judy I agree and thought about removing one of the branches, but cutting would have also depended on upright/cascade so just needed help deciding
I think I agree in pushing it towards the cascade route since it does have a lot of movement in that direction, and don't see too many around this area. Thanks!