When to stop thinning before Winter

[Japonicus]

My book on Junipers says to stop pinching by Augusts end.
That's a climatic call I'm sure. I always have stopped feeding heavily by now (October 1st)
but still use most all the foods that I use, in diluted form until the 1st hard freeze is forecasted
or instincts say to stop and begin the 0-0-10 food.
This time of year the last major push of growth has just occurred over the last month
after Summer dormancy has broken, so still pushing growth.

Is it detrimental to continue thinning before the first frosts occur?
I have several Junipers that still need a lot of thinning.

 

[Dav4]

Thin away within reason. I'll clean up junipers in the early fall when the need arises... no seriously heavy cutbacks though.

 

[Japonicus]

Thin away within reason. I'll clean up junipers in the early fall when the need arises... no seriously heavy cutbacks though.

Thanks Dav4! Ah, see, there's where I'm falling into the cracks.
That's reasonable, and my general practice. I'm just not sure how far unreasonable would be.
Sorry I didn't post any pics of the subjects, I've been thinning procumbens
and have a shimpaku that needs a good deal of work. A sergeants in the ground
that's unbelievably the pushiest growing hardest to manage shrub of them all.
That one I have no issues with still cutting back heavily on 4 month old 12" growth.
I've been removing up to an inch, mostly less, on my procumbens pads from their tops down
on each pad where needed and in strong portions. Will try to get a pic or 2 up tomorrow.
Gets dark earlier now, and that's a signal too. Thanks again.
BTW...the shimpaku that needs this thinning, needs potting up in April,
so I've only been pinching and pruning the growth tip whips.
Will concentrate on under sides only with that one.

 

[Japonicus]

@Dav4 Was able to snap a couple pics before running out the door to the vet...again.

I think where my thumb is, shows pretty well where I would remove up to an inch of height off that pad.
Then less height around that area. Had hoped to get this done a month ago...

This one is the shimpaku I plan to pot up when it begins actively growing in Spring.
It has been in this same green pot since before 2008 when I bought it at NEB.
I plan to just tackle the under sides more, and the general current pad shape
not removing much, just tidy up the longer shoots.

Does this sound reasonable? Wasn't planning on repotting the procumbens, but...
I can tell it still has a bit of akadama in the soil. It's possible depending on when we travel.
I hate potting up in April and travel in May.

 

[Adair M]

Thinning is ok. Pinching (removing just the tips) is poor technique.

 

[Dav4]

Yup, lightening up/cleaning up the foliage pads is fine.... no pinching or wholesale foliage removal, though.

 

[Japonicus]

Thinning is ok. Pinching (removing just the tips) is poor technique.

I’ve done both over the years, but pinching mostly....has got me to the point
where thinning will be an extensive drawn out task, chore, duty.
I seem to thin in cycles, meaning I will pinch 2 or 3 years, then thin a year
and wire a few rogue branches back into shape. Yes, technique needs improvement.
I expect that it will take me a couple years to thin both of these down to where I want them
and actually, that perpetual part of the hobby is ok with me, just no efficient. It will get better.

Yup, lightening up/cleaning up the foliage pads is fine.... no pinching or wholesale foliage removal, though.

.
Alrighty then. Looking forward to next years progression. Can’t wait, stoked, to get the shimpaku potted

EDIT:
Would you refer to removing the part above my thumb there, wholesale removal?

 

[petegreg]

I was browsing Kaneshin web pages and found this. I think you can start with cleaning like this.

... and here's all juniper content.
http://kaneshin.shop.multilingualcart.com/content_en_JPY_6.html

 

[Japonicus]

I was browsing Kaneshin web pages and found this. I think you can start with cleaning like this.

... and here's all juniper content.
http://kaneshin.shop.multilingualcart.com/content_en_JPY_6.html

Thank you for the link and video petegreg. I am doing a bit more than just the old needles
since I haven't thinned this for a couple years. Really not sure when I last thinned it
but at least 2 years, probably more. I'll be watching those videos on that link. Thanks again.

 

[petegreg]

Thank you for the link and video petegreg. I am doing a bit more than just the old needles
since I haven't thinned this for a couple years. Really not sure when I last thinned it
but at least 2 years, probably more. I'll be watching those videos on that link. Thanks again.

Yes, I know. I have only some young junipers in development and what I've found out... It's quite important to follow some vision when developing a tree. I mean to keep a picture of my target tree in my mind and select branches:
-keepers
-goners... or jins in development... or sacrifice branches?

Then "the keepers" part can be grown or kept in desired shape and size.
And the rest is there for some above mentioned purpose. And they do thicken in pots.

Your junipers look good, healthy and the growth is not escaped too far from the trunks and that's good.

 

[Japonicus]

@petegreg nice looking root hook in his transplanting video.
@MACH5 was looking for 22g Cu wire. That video link, petegreg gave
"everything juniper" has it down to 24g, priced in Yen, at Kaneshin
http://kaneshin.shop.multilingualcart.com/index_en_jpy_23-141.html
Been keeping an eye out for you

 

[M. Frary]

Thinning is ok. Pinching (removing just the tips) is poor technique.

Pfffttt.
Only in fall.
Late spring/early summer is pinchin' time!

 

[Japonicus]

Pfffttt.
Only in fall.
Late spring/early summer is pinchin' time!

I got underway with the task that will take me a couple years or so, yesterday.
The idea is to get the foliar pads in shape for some lateral wiring, and since it will
be potted up next Spring, I'll be cleaning out (and thinning only) to re-familiarize myself
with the foliage now. I'm finding some downward growth that should remain, so as to wire
and rotate into tertiary branches. This is the growth that is all too simple to generically
clean up under the pads, but should be cautious to observe potential they offer too.
Many of these offer branching one might find themselves waiting another 2-3 years for back budding
to reach the current offering they provide now.
It's just a matter of one on one intimacy with the subject that I wish I had more time to spend on.
Re-familiarizing myself with the shimpaku is a good start.
It's been all pinching and little thinning and pruning the last few years.

 

[Japonicus]

Spent a couple sessions maybe an hour each session each Juniper and thinned these two some.
I'll start with the procumbens here, though I worked on the shimpaku 1st.






I feel like I did a lot more than I planned to, but this my Alpha Juniper, is healthy enough
and should still be able to pot it up Springtime.
Next is before and after from about the same angle above.




I didn't jin any today, though I did leave a couple possibilities if this isn't too late to heal before Winter?
I think it looks pretty good to not have been wired since I can't remember when.
There's just some silly branches I still have to remove some other time, like before I wire it.

 

[Japonicus]

Didn't do quite the percentage of thinning and pruning on the shimpaku.
Health wise it's pretty close to the procumbens, but saving more energy for potting up.
Didn't take any above photos prior to thinning.


I also stripped a little bit of the bark off that was coming loose anyway with the moss on it
closer to the bottom of the tree.

Not sure what to do with the bottom left branch. The extra light and air may help answer that
but it sure is out of proportion as it is now. Guess I let the top dominate too long without
performing todays tasks often enough where needed to transfer energy.