Pine tree dilemma

[ShiroKuro]

Oh great! I’m glad they helped!

[CHAS]

Looks like a white pine trying to do a black pine's job. I vote for leaving it and let the guy
put the twists and bends in. That will show 'em.

[Mik]

Bonsai are supposed to be small. That's just a giant bonsai. I think it will grow upright by itself, but I sure as heck wouldn't pay an arborist to prune it every year for shaping. Interesting for him, expensive for you.

[Steve Miller]

I like to take a class or something and learn to do it my self. Maybe YiuRube vids?

[wtg]

I think I'd start small. That's a pretty expensive conifer to cut your teeth on.

[ShiroKuro]

@Mik said in Pine tree dilemma:

Bonsai are supposed to be small. That's just a giant bonsai.

Yes bonsai are supposed to be small — bon means tray, sai means cultivate, so bonsai is cultivating a little tree in a tray.

That being said, Japanese gardens often have shaped pine trees, they’re very popular.

I think that’s what Steve is going for. Hence his willing ness to pay someone to expertly prune it for him. Which makes lot of sense to me.

[Steve Miller]

@ShiroKuro At least the first time. Once it get a basic shape I can probably maintain it myself. The trick seems to be to proceed slowly and cautiously with a vision as to the desired final form. They grow very slowly and there is plenty of time.

I’ll let it overwinter and address it in the Spring.

[ShiroKuro]

@Steve-Miller said in Pine tree dilemma:

They grow very slowly and there is plenty of time.

Good point!

[wtg]

Do you know which cultivar the pine is?

[Steve Miller]

I think it’s a White Pine “Baldwin”

Pinus parviflora 'Baldwin'