The first two or three internodes of a released bud achieved through pruning, will develop to be shorter than internodes of the rest of the expanding shoot. Pinching back to one or two buds will keep the short internodes sections, and discarding the strong shoots which have long internodes. This is important to the area of the outer portions of the branch.

 

Like the branches on the trunk itself, the outer branches should bear needles and nodes close together in order to make a natural appearance, and a firm tight silhouette.

The length of the internodes is also influenced by the weather and growth of the tree. Trees in good growth form longer internodes, as well as heavily fertilized trees in the spring, or Pines pruned during winter. Pines that are fertilized and pruned in early summer, not in spring, will also form shorter internodes.