Brooke Martin
Pinching is a technique used to manage the growth of trees and shrubs by shaping them. It is commonly used on conifers like spruce, pine, and juniper to maintain their outline and thicken their crowns. While some sources suggest that pinching is not necessary for junipers, others recommend it to restrain their growth and redirect their energy to the development of lateral shoots. The optimal time for pinching is when young shoots are fully formed, typically at the end of spring or the beginning of summer. It is important to note that the technique involves breaking off a portion of the shoot with the fingers, rather than cutting it with scissors or another tool.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose of pinching spring candles | To maintain the outline and thicken the crown |
| Tools used for pinching | Fingers or sharp scissors |
| Time for pinching | End of spring to beginning of summer |
| How much to pinch | Depends on the decorative tasks; usually, at least 1/3 of the shoot is removed, and at least 1/4 is left |
| Best practice | Break the shoots instead of cutting them to avoid damaging the needles |
| Frequency | Every season |
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What You'll Learn
Pinching spring candles is distinct from decandling
Pinching is done to maintain the outline and thicken the crown of junipers and other plants with scaly needles. It is done in the spring and summer when the young shoots are fully formed, but the needles have not yet opened. Pinching is not a mandatory procedure, but it is advisable to do it every season if it is started.
Decandling, on the other hand, is typically done on more mature trees. It is a technique for balancing the vigour of pine bonsai by reducing spring growth. It is timed according to latitude, with those in the north cutting their candles earlier than those in the south. Decandling is also done to "reset the spring" by cutting everything, including small candles at the base.
The main difference between pinching and decandling is the extent of the shoot removal. Pinching is a partial reduction of the candles, while decandling is the complete removal of the given spring shoots. Pinching is usually done with fingers, while decandling requires sharp bud scissors to cut the candles at the base.
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The best time to pinch spring candles
Pinching spring candles is a technique used to manage the growth of trees and shrubs by shaping them. While it is not a mandatory procedure, it can be useful in certain situations, such as when the growth of a tree needs to be restrained in height or width, or when there are bald spots in the crown that need to be thickened.
When it comes to juniper trees, there are conflicting opinions on whether or not to pinch spring candles. Some sources suggest that shearing and pinching of junipers can be done in the spring and summer to maintain the outline and thicken the crown. The optimal time is at the beginning of summer when all the buds have blossomed and the young needles are clearly visible. However, other sources advise against pinching junipers, suggesting that cutting new, long extensions with scissors is a more effective method.
It is important to note that the optimal time for pinching pines is different from junipers. For pines, the best time to pinch is when the young shoots are fully formed, but the needles have not yet opened, which typically falls at the end of spring to the beginning of summer. This technique is known as “breaking” or “pinching” and involves taking part of the shoot off with your fingers as the shoot is extending.
When pinching spring candles, it is recommended to remove at least one-third of the shoot and leave at least one-quarter. It is also important to break off the shoots rather than cut them to avoid damaging the needles on the future crown of the branch. By pinching conifers, you can create a neat and symmetrical crown.
Overall, the best time to pinch spring candles on juniper trees is at the beginning of summer when the buds have blossomed and young needles are visible. However, some sources suggest that pinching junipers is not advisable, and other methods such as cutting with scissors may be more effective for these trees.
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How to pinch spring candles without damaging the needles
Pinching spring candles on a juniper tree is done to maintain its outline and thicken its crown. It is recommended to pinch the candles when they are still young and soft, before the needles fill out fully and become tough. This usually occurs between mid-May and late June.
To pinch spring candles without damaging the needles, it is best to break off the candles by hand, rather than cutting them with shears. This is because cutting the candles may result in cutting the needles in half, which will cause them to look untidy. When breaking off the candles, be sure to leave at least a few new needles on each candle.
If you are removing browning needles, it is recommended to use tweezers or scissors to carefully cut individual needles, leaving the new growth unharmed. Pinching browning needles can cause more needles to turn brown if not done carefully.
It is also important to note that candle pinching is different from decandling. Candle pinching refers to the partial reduction of candles before the needles elongate, while decandling involves the removal of fully developed shoots in spring.
Finally, it is advisable to pinch conifers every season. If you skip the procedure for a year or two, the decorative effect will disappear.
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Tools to pinch spring candles
Pinching spring candles is a technique used to manage the growth of trees and shrubs by shaping them. It is commonly used on conifers like spruce, pine, and juniper, which have actively growing shoots throughout the season. The optimal time to pinch pine trees is when the young shoots are fully formed, but the needles have not yet opened, which is usually at the end of spring or the beginning of summer.
For pine trees, the process of pinching involves breaking off a portion of the candle with your fingers. The amount broken off depends on the length of the candles and the strength of the shoot, with stronger shoots requiring more to be removed. This technique is distinct from decandling, which involves the complete removal of fully developed shoots in spring.
When pinching juniper trees, the goal is to restrain growth by pinching young growths, redirecting the plant's energy to the development of lateral shoots. This process can be done in spring and summer when all the buds have blossomed, and the young needles are visible.
The tools required for pinching spring candles are minimal. For pines, fingers are typically used to break off portions of the candles. For junipers, simple gardening tools like scissors or shears may be used to cut and pinch the young growths.
It is important to note that pinching is not a mandatory procedure for conifers. While it can help manage the shape and growth of the tree, conifers can also develop a natural crown without external intervention. Additionally, some gardeners may consider the technique time-consuming, as it requires annual maintenance to maintain the decorative effect.
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How to pinch spring candles to maintain the outline and thicken the crown
Pinching spring candles on juniper trees is done to maintain the outline and thicken the crown. It is important to note that some sources advise against pinching juniper trees, instead recommending the use of sharp scissors to cut new, long extensions. However, for those who choose to pinch, here is a guide on how to do it:
Firstly, it is crucial to determine the optimal time for pinching. This is typically when young shoots are fully formed, but the needles have not yet opened, which usually falls at the end of spring to the beginning of summer. Specifically for junipers, it is advised to pinch young growths to redirect the plant's energy to the development of lateral shoots.
When pinching, it is recommended to remove at least one-third of the shoot, leaving at least one-quarter intact. It is better to break off the shoots with your fingers rather than cutting them, to avoid damaging the needles on the future crown of the branch. The amount you pinch off depends on the strength of the candle; take more off for stronger candles and less for weaker ones.
Pinching is not a mandatory procedure, and the plant can thrive without it. However, it can be useful when trying to restrain the growth of the tree in height or width, or when dealing with uneven branch development that creates bald spots in the crown.
Additionally, it is important to note that candle pinching is distinct from decandling. Pinching refers to the partial reduction of candles before the needles elongate, while decandling involves the removal of fully developed shoots in spring.
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