One of the most important operations in order to keep Pines well trained is the needle plucking of last year’s growth.

 

The methods described here are for the two needle pines, and can not be used on the five needles Pine (Pinus parviflora i.e.), and the two needle Pine; the native Japanese Black Pine (Pinus thunbergii).

Old needles should be removed in order to give light and air to the inner branches, in order to let new buds develop. Old needles are the two year old needles from previous growth. On newer collected trees, also older needles than the two year old needles should be removed.

 

The timing of plucking the old needles:

 

    Black Pines:

    Removing old needles in autumn.

    Thinning out new needles from March to November.

  

    All other Pines: Old needles are removed in autumn.

 

Black pine and Five needle Pines

Old green needles are cut about one millimetre above the sheet where the needles have their base. If removed by plucking, the sleeping bud will be removed and their will be no new growth.

 

Remove fewer or no needles in the weak areas, and more in the strong growing areas to balance strength.

 

 

 

Summer plucking

By plucking the last years needles in summer, new light will reach the inner parts of the branches. Therefore summer plucking is a good method to thin heavy growth that prevents light and air reaching the inner branches and the weaker growing parts.

This method will not give the same amount of new budding back on the branches, but it is necessary to make a base to succeed doing this the next season.

This method is also fine if it isn’t necessary to provoke new growth back on the branches.

 

Autumn plucking

As a principle the needle plucking can be done in early spring, but the winter will have a good strengthening effect on the new buds that will be developed after the plucking. Therefore it is better to pluck the needles during early autumn, in order to develop stronger buds.

Relating to the stronger autumn root growth, this will also help more buds to develop.

First pluck the old needles from last years growth, and then thin the new needles 6-10 needles are left at each branch.

 

The effect achieved 

The purpose of the needle plucking of fold needles and some of this years growth, are that a lot of new buds will arrive from now on and to winter time.

The technique of plucking. Use your fingers to gently break and pull of the needles, one by one. With this method the sleeping bud that is placed at the bottom of the sheet, between the needle pair, will awake and grow. This sleeping bud will have shorter needles and shorter internodes that are acquired for a dense grow.

If both needles are pulled of in one go, it is very likely that the sleeping bud will be pulled of as well.

 

Are you insecure about what is the old and the new needles, it is possible to feel it with your fingers. The old needles are harder and darker green, compared to the new still softer needles of this year’s growth.

The newest needles also sit looser, and are far easier to pull of, where the old needles needs more force.