Interesting Pinus resinosa (?) - what to do?

Hey guys, first post here. I'm new to the world of bonsai, so I'm all ears. I live in Canada, Montreal to be more precise. I started having fun this summer with a few Ficus cuttings, practicing my pruning with a nursery-bought boxwood, etc.

I got this tree from my girlfriend's father. It grew unchecked in a corner of his backyard for the last few years, in a shallower smaller pot that the one you'll see. I did not personally repot this tree last week when it was given to me, but I was told the root system was strong, and had big roots. The current medium is a muddy, black earth type soil.

I think the species is Pinus resinosa, correct me if I'm wrong. 2 needles, reddish bark. I'm aware that this tree is far from being a great bonsai candidate, with long needles and all, but I want to treat to this as a practice tree and try to bring it closer to a miniature and aged look.

Also of note, most needles (esp. at the top) have white spots that look like damage from some insects or fungus. It did not seem to stop growth this summer at all, and the tree looks vigorous pretty much everywhere. It even has shoots growing out of the half-exposed roots.

From what I read about the growth of pines in general, a drastic trunk chop would seem like the logical thing to do to grow a thicker trunk and more compact tree. What do you think?

Welcome to Bnut! Your tree is definitely covered ìn bugs(wooly adelgids possibly) it needs to be sprayed with insecticide. I use malathion for hard treatments, and neem for routine spraying. I am in the Eastern townships, about 45 minutes from Montreal. There are tons of other types of trees you can practice on, and get better results. Read up as much as you can here, this site is a gold mine of information.

That's actually pine needle scale, it can be controlled systemically or with a spray, but they have to be sprayed at the right time to kill the crawlers, otherwise it's a waste.

It does look like pine needle scale. As far as I understand it, it's basically too late to do anything this year? The bugs are not visible anywhere, just the settled eggs.

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden....problems/insects/scale/pine-needle-scale.aspx
https://tidcf.nrcan.gc.ca/en/insects/factsheet/5957

If I were to cut the trunk and keeping only one or two branches, I could manually remove any infected needle right away, as there really aren't that many on the two lower branches. What do you guys think?

Not very interesting tree unless developing from bottom branch. As for bugs would use recommended cures but not drastic prune till LATE winter down to low 4 branches. If strong growth ensues prune off one at a time starting one year after first cut off till down to lowest one for development.

I wouldn't chop it for awhile.

Keep all that root generating foliage and get it repotted into better soil next year.....

Then.....

Welcome to Crazy!

Sorce