Creating shohin jbp

[S-bender]

Hi pine enthusiast's

When is it safe to cut off sacrifice branches on a JBP to create shohin stock. I have a tree with a lower bud I would like cut back to.


It has reverse taper having whorl growth. Is it safe to remove the 3 branches? I worry the reverse taper will gradually get worse.

Thanks

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Now is fine, you’re in early fall. Leave a stub to prevent dieback into the branches you’re retaining.

 

[Adair M]

Are you planning to cut all three branches and keep only that tiny bud?

 

[Shibui]

That's a good question from Adair.
I would be reluctant to bare root pines now at the start of winter but you appear to have done that.
One problem with cutting back to a tiny shoot like that is the tree may give up completely and die. Take it slowly with pines. Cut back into the lowest needles for a start. That will give that little shoot a chance to grow and get some strength then later cut back to that lowest shoot.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Guess I should have read closer. I would cut only the center shoot at the red line. Let one of the 2 remaining branches become the next sacrifice branch, and keep the bud to train as a first branch.

 

[S-bender]

Thank you for the replies.

Yes I did intend in removing all 3 like this

And build a shohin tree from there.

I will follow Brian's advice and remove one by one over a few growing seasons.

Cheers