Vance Wood
Lord Mugo
Thank You for trying. Look at the new growth; break out the really long shoots and leave the shorter shoots for the time being unless you need to have that branch longer. In July we will deal with the others.

In July

@GrimLore you see why I understand your needle removing question.
I don't have much left to my last year's growth..
I think you can finally make out this branching.
View attachment 145516 View attachment 145517 View attachment 145518 View attachment 145519
I saw roots out the bottom a couple weeks ago.
The new foliage is blue looking.
@GrimLore you see why I understand your needle removing question.
I don't have much left to my last year's growth..
This is why I may just cut back to forks of new foliage.
Or not.
I hope it will respond to my pony packs.
And fish...fish tomorrow!
I got iron bits in it.
Sorce

Look at the branches; you are starting to get all sorts of back budding.
I have seen really old branches back bud sometimes because I wanted them to and sometimes they sneak up on me.@Vance Wood At what point would you say a mugo or scots pine branch is incapable of backbudding? When it is very old / barked up? I know younger branches seem to 'pop' more readily IME. This is an important consideration as to whether to keep or cut a branch and try a different design.



I would love to see this tree with the interior of it illuminated. This is what happens when you shoot against a background that is substantially lighter and brighter than the item you are trying to photograph, specifically the light from bright brick wall, overwhelms the camera's sensors leaving the real subject of the photo underexposed. The sensors of your camera will always do this if you don't find a way to either flash the interior of the tree or provide for a darker background. The automatic sensor system will always focus for the brightest source of illumination in a frame. If it did not this the wall would bun out the back ground.View attachment 155330
I had a bunch of old branch collar circles here.
Kinda just rubbed em off for an easy beginning to a shari....or other bulge reduction.
Tree still healthy.
Sorce
removed too much upper growth.