Training of pinus parviflora

[Myro]

Hi to all forum members,
Spring started with full power and there is not much time to do everything we has to do.
I wish to cloud pruning my pinus parviflora and pinus mugo. I have read Jake Hobson's Niwaki but more I read, less I understand.
I have a few questions and if someone could help I will very thankful.
1.When is best time for pine candle pinching .Candles are now about 2"-3" (central) or is it to late now.
2.Pine has 5 branches in collar should I keep all branches or to remove some of them.
If I need to remove some branches, when is the best time to doing it.

[Tokyo Mike]

I just pinch mine when they get in the way of my walking the path.
Hope you get your answer soon.

[George Nesfield]

Hi,
yes you can pinch them now, pinch out the ones you don't require, each one left will extend the branch, your candles are way ahead of my pinus parviflora, but to give you some idea of how you can prune it and make it look take a look at the way I have prunned mine the photo's are on my website I have been working on it now for over thirty years.
This is last years photo.
George.

[Karesansui]

Hi Myro, a bit late but I just saw this entry.
I was also a bit late with pruning my Pinus Mugo in time. Not too late however !
As long as it was small that was no problem. But it had grown too big and too dense.
After I found the recent Niwaki book I came to the conclusion that it was not too late to apply Fukinaoshi, a kind of revision.
Now it fits the garden again and is ready to be pruned as it should have been right from the beginning.
This is one of my lessons learned. Perhaps it can help you.
Please have a look at the related slide-show: http://www.karesansui.nl/html/page_fukinaoshi.htm
Enjoy,