Pitch Pine

[desu]

Hi all! I recently obtained some younger nursery stock Pitch Pine, Loblolly Pine and Shortleaf Pine. I have attached a couple pictures of the Pitch Pine. Went to bonsai club yesterday and took off some of the branching that wont be useful. From what I gathered taking this off will promote backbudding and direct energy towards the trunk and lower branches. Couple of padawan questions.
1.) Should I trunk chop or can the top be used as a sacrifice branch for thickening?
2.) The trunk is a telephone pole. My plan is to trunk split, wrap with raffia, wire and introduce some movement to the trunk.
2a.). Is this plan acceptable?
2b.). Is now an ok time to apply this technique? I live in zone 8a.

Thanks for the help!

 

[leatherback]

My plan is to trunk split, wrap with raffia, wire and introduce some movement to the trunk.

just wire and bend. Maybe add raffia, but this seems very young and thin.

 

[desu]

just wire and bend. Maybe add raffia, but this seems very young and thin.

Thanks! I went ahead and did that wired a little above the raffia…great bend with the raffia but cambium cracked at bend above the raffia. Should be fine though!