First of all I'd like to apologize that this isn't really about bonsai and I don't own one, also I know a lot of people have a disdain for this type of tree. I am not blind to their awkwardness, but for better or worse they're what I have. I appreciate any feedback, but if this isn't for you I certainly don't won't to take up your time. There's very little on the web for niwaki/topiary pine technique, but I have found a lot of helpful information about similar bonsai techniques here and on the web and have gone through many posts and videos pertaining to my questions and am hoping someone could help clarify some techniques to get my trees in better condition. The main goal is to thin out the centers, promote back budding and better branching structure. The problem is after a couple years of just pinching candles for shape the centers of the "poms" are way too dense and have way too many candles and branches to just keep pinching. I have 4 of them, but this is the one that needs the most work.
Exhibit A.
What would you recommend for thinning this out, there are quite of few of these near the centers of pads, ideally it should have 3-6 branches, depending on the space to fill in. Another goal would be to encourage back budding farther down so I eventually replace this mess.
Exhibit B.
What would be an appropriate amount to prune come fall 10%-30%? On some pads I'm debating whether to remove lower branches and splay out the centers to essentially start fresh and get better ramification. The yellow is what I would keep and red would be removed.
Here's a few other questions...
To encourage back budding closer to the trunk I'm reading to pinch the candles now and then in July cut the large candles just above this years growth? Won't that kill that part of the branch? Or do I leave the large candles now and then cut them? Does this also mean I also wait to remove excess candles, say if there is 3 and I only want 2?
There are a lot of conflicting posts on needles. Should I pull, cut or leave them... why and when? I'm assuming I should remove some in the super dense areas to get light in.
For male flowers, do I still have to leave a few needles above the 1-2" with nothing, am I correct that if I pinch or make a cut on new growth without leaving a few candles it will surely die?
I realize that some of the questions may be hard to answer because the goal isn't quite the same, but any advice to better the tree without causing damage is appreciated.
Exhibit A.
What would you recommend for thinning this out, there are quite of few of these near the centers of pads, ideally it should have 3-6 branches, depending on the space to fill in. Another goal would be to encourage back budding farther down so I eventually replace this mess.
Exhibit B.
What would be an appropriate amount to prune come fall 10%-30%? On some pads I'm debating whether to remove lower branches and splay out the centers to essentially start fresh and get better ramification. The yellow is what I would keep and red would be removed.
Here's a few other questions...
To encourage back budding closer to the trunk I'm reading to pinch the candles now and then in July cut the large candles just above this years growth? Won't that kill that part of the branch? Or do I leave the large candles now and then cut them? Does this also mean I also wait to remove excess candles, say if there is 3 and I only want 2?
There are a lot of conflicting posts on needles. Should I pull, cut or leave them... why and when? I'm assuming I should remove some in the super dense areas to get light in.
For male flowers, do I still have to leave a few needles above the 1-2"
with nothing, am I correct that if I pinch or make a cut on new growth without leaving a few candles it will surely die?I realize that some of the questions may be hard to answer because the goal isn't quite the same, but any advice to better the tree without causing damage is appreciated.
