Here are some photos of the tree and leaf damage. Here is a shot that shows the new growth that died. http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/w6qd-Q90yFsEMJFnGolhXw?authkey=Gv1sRgCKq8-Mqyxr-AhgE&feat=directlink Here is one leaf without holes but with some sort of discoloration. http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/KZ2BbOvjR8Z8FgTHgbTeJA?authkey=Gv1sRgCKq8-Mqyxr-AhgE&feat=directlink Here is a minor holed leaf. http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/qktsc6QjoXh0yknZPlEYKA?authkey=Gv1sRgCKq8-Mqyxr-AhgE&feat=directlink However, when all together you can see how bad it is. http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/3t07gyPYzywSYy7CXlqL3g?authkey=Gv1sRgCKq8-Mqyxr-AhgE&feat=directlink Finally, although it's always somewhat looked like this, the bark on the tree is torn off a bit. http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/wWBpyzQA6xBY5wAoPE9F6Q?authkey=Gv1sRgCKq8-Mqyxr-AhgE&feat=directlink

You don't want to mix these pruning types, ideally. In our zone a type 2 (SM) will need a little trimming of dead stems, but most major stems will remain after winter (note: this won't necessarily happen the first 1-3 years after planting while it gets established). A type 3 (VH) works better creating all new growth each year, so pruned to the ground in Feb/March. A note about VH: it has C. florida in its bloodline, which makes it a bit less hardy in z5. I've lost one well-established plant during a harsh winter.

The pitch/loblolly hybrid is behaving like pitch, flushing dormant buds. The same in the case of Chihuahua pine, which has reserve buds at the branch whorls. The lowest of these can sprout from the stump. In all these cases reported on this thread, sprouts would have emerged from dormant buds, not spontaneously from other tissue.

yeah i got a thought.. you are an overly doddering grandfather.. who just cant lets his kids/grandkids.. grow into the gangly teenagers they are ... lol ... me thinks you doth protest too much ... looks like its growing lushly .. more long than thick .. and you got nothing to complain about.. it will straighten .. i tend to remove multiple leaders in spring.. after it is apparent which one was damaged.. if either... or its a trick photo .. what is known as flexilis to me .... do not grow in the typical strobus [etc] way ... get this.. they tend to flex more .. lol .. seriously ... they just look floppier ... i will leave it to others to argue if its the wrong name.. but i think.. as your collection grows.. you cant worry about preconceived notions of how a pine grows ... you need your allow your learning curve to understand.. that each type of pine.. or any multitude within a group .. have different growth patterns ... considering a rather large transplant .. this spring.. and presuming a rather hot summer.. your plant looks spectacular ... enjoy it .... for what it is.. and how it grows ... ken