Five Needle Pine development

[Grrrrrrant]

I have an Eastern White Pine in early development, this year’s growth is just starting to harden off and I’m trying to decide what to do next. Most branches have 2+ candles with many have 5-6, should I use the post harden pruning time now to shoot select down to 2s or should I leave all new shoots to accumulate energy?

[Gandolf]

What are you trying to accomplish any of the 5 goals of development. If so then don’t prune. If your trying to move into refinement than it may be time to shoot select.

[Grrrrrrant]

Thickening and backbudding are main goals now. Just worried about creating structural flaws.

[NEBeech]

How much thickening are you hoping to achieve? Do you have a picture?

[Grrrrrrant]

Would like to see the trunk thicken but mainly just a little thickening on structural branches, there is basically no taper right now. Picture attached, I did my first styling before joining Mirai, so didn’t know what to do with apex and currently have some pretty sketchy wiring on it.