Did you win the lotto or get a big tax return? This is a whole new game from the gifted grafts. Fun isn't if?

I believe this plants gets to be the size of Globosa.

Can't add much more value from there.

I'm observing two individuals,one on my property,just planted and one in the Oregon Garden planted last spring.The growth rate in PNW climate appears to be 4-5"
per year.I'm keeping about a 6' circle at home and will plant with temp.material ie small heather for a few years.The larger spruce gets an 8'-10' circle for what I believe is at least a 10 year planting.I expect to learn more about pruning for size and cone production the next two seasons.I don't think your plant is quite as old as you think
though the caliper is substantial.I should add that Brent at
Conifer Kingdom did donate the 30" dia. in the O.G.That
little pungens is going to get lots of looks this summer when it returns to blue foliage and the most jewel-like cone
on any spruce I've yet to see.Last years cones are beginning to absciss as we speak.Doug

Last years cones are beginning to absciss as we speak.

==>> and i suppose that means fall apart on their own.. like most cones do.. all these fancy words.. lol ...

ken

"do i take the time to remove all the old cones.. or leave and observe..."

Leave them alone. The energy for the cones has already been spent. As for bare rooting, I'd ease into the root ball and see what I see.

tj

Hey, Ken.
Just wanted to share with you some photos of our grafts beginning to grow. As for the ability to produce new growth, there are generally several buds just behind the old cone.
In other instances, new growth can emerge from a bud inside the cone.
Besides, many branches will have good terminal buds which will allow growth to occur on some shoots while others have showy cones; this is part of what keeps this special cultivar dwarf.
{{gwi:682054}}

Either way, there's no need to remove the cones.
It should cone reliably every year, as well.

-Sam