Yamadori Pine First styling

Hello everyone!
I wanted to share with you the first styling of my Pine - i still consider myself a newbie!. Any critic is welcome!

Before



After



EDIT: hold your horses, wrong pics!



- Andreas

Pretty nice work for a newbie. I can provide two feedbacks:

1. The trunk is bare of foliage almost 80% to the top of the tree. I know that eye-poking foliage is a 'no-no' (and that only applies to a viewing level), but some foliage in the top 35% to even 40% that is slightly angled (not directed towards the viewer) will greatly improve the look.

2. The branches are also very bare; making them look very leggy with foliage at the end.

My advice for you as a newbie is to look at pictures of quality bonsai online (from respectible resources). This will greatly improve your aesthetic understanding. After some time, look at trees in the nature (preferably older trees) and understand the natural element and design as well. After this you will figure out why certain things in bonsai is dis-pleasing while other things really bring out the beauty in trees.

Thank you for your comment.
I am allways trying to improve. And good critic really helps. I will take your advice and have it in mind next time. As you mentions the branches looks "Leggy" how would you improve this?

Andreas

As you mentions the branches looks "Leggy" how would you improve this?

Difficult with pines, but regular needle pinching of the foliage MAY promote new buds to pop closer in to the trunk. (People who do more with pines than I can -- I hope -- expand on that.)

All in all, though I think you have done a good job and have nothing to be ashamed of.

Hello Jim

Thank you, i am deffently not ashamed! I know one who has great succes with back budding on Scots pines going to seek help at him!

Andreas

Hej Andreas

Where in Denmark have you found that tree?

Jeppe
Jylland
Denmark

Hi think the go for your tree is to fertilise it heavily during growing season and get it to produce at least three candles if not more on each branch end . Then remove all but two of them , let them extend and when fully extended cut them back , this should induce some back budding . Once you get that started you can get the growth closer to the trunk . Cheers Neil

IF your branches are thin and flexible enough they can be shortened by bending and making more(interesting)curves in them as well as the normal back budding strategies mentioned. Also don't be afraid to use foliar feeding to encourage budding and health. Good work so far.