Pugo Mine

Iffin I let dis sumbytch gro sum, reckon It a Bonsai one day become?

So I killed one last year. This one has a better base, is healthier, I left stubs, and don't plan on messing with the roots short probly slipping it into a pond basket after Daddy day.

Before.

After.

My biggest challenge is going to be this here knuckle, which, I am trying not to turn into, "the bonsai version of a knuckle sandwich", as Vance put it on the train.



The possibilities.

The weak branch with movement, of which there i s a better one on the other side.
And I can use a good top branch I identified, thick, good branching for taper.
But what of all that dead branches that will encircle the tree? Can I heal them over one by one?
Can I get buds So low? That would be a game changer. Like a deflated football!
And the yellow would be a drastic movement. Just leaving that branch as a new Trunkline. That's the coolest and easiest way to lose the knuckle. Long term, but worth it I reckon.

Thoughts?

Thanks!

Sorce

You will get your best advice from Vance.

But this is typical of the landscape Mugos I see offered at the garden centers: the big "knuckle" or bulge that formed when the whorl of branches was allowed to grow unchecked. If you try to cut some branches off, when they heal, it just makes the bulge larger with the callous tissue!

I guess this is the main reason I avoid Mugo pines. It's not the species of tree, it's how they were treated before they're brought to market.

But, Vance has worked with them extensively. If anyone can help, it would be him.

You can go by the book and in looong term end up with a mediocre tree.
Or do some drastic cut and kill the tree or have a badass tree.
For me. the right branch in red that you mark as a leader is goner, too fat to bend and contribute most to the bulge.

Hey Source,

This has a decent base to it. I wouldnt look to getting buds low because it would mean growing a new trunk. Why do that? Might as well plant it in your yard instead.

The branches in red are too big and too low for any practical use IMO and they are contrubuting to the knuckle.

In your second picture, there is a large branch up above the nuckle curving off to the right.

If this were mine, I would examine that branch as the potential extenuation of the trunk and SLOWLY eliminate everything else if it is the one you pick.

Why would that be my first choice? Its size. Making that your trunk would be less time to a finished tree. That is IF it would work for a trunk. If not then pick another and eliminate everthing else. The one between the blue lines actually might be a better candidate but it will take longer because that branch is smaller.

That said, that is my impression looking at the tree as pictured. There might be a better option that we cant see at thie point.

I would put it in the colander at the time you mentioned. At that time you can cut those two lower branches in red. Then I would leave the tree alone and revisit it next year.

I like the trunk on this one and like Vance said it should be worth the effort you put in trying to correct the knuckle. I don't think I could pass it up either.

Actually now that I see this on my desktop with a bigger screen, I think the curved branch to the right side of the blue lines would be a good trunk extension. The curve of it complements the curve of the lower trunk on the opposite side IMO.

Carve that sucker up man! No mercy!

Now this is a knuckle sandwich!

Paradox said:

Actually now that I see this on my desktop with a bigger screen

Click to expand...

I really appreciate this!

Sorce

I had a cluster of brownies. Diggin in I found a Beetle looked like an overgrown elm leaf beatle. Don't know if he was to blame but a I burnt him anyway!

Took off 3 branches around the Browning needles. Now Everything can breathe, and we can see in a bit better.

You can see the one with a lot of branching on top I want to lead with. Almost everything else has to come off eventually. I'd like to use one of those 2 low swirly branches.

Also note the previous 4-6 in pot diaeter where all the roots circled up. Has me thinking of grafting it's own roots to itself. ??
Nice movement in that high one. This is why I bought it.


And the low left one from The first pic.

The back.

Thanks for looking, thoughts, and typing them!

Sorce

sorce said:

Thanks for looking, thoughts, and typing them!

Click to expand...

The last picture makes me want one Never tried them but I read so much about them I suppose it is time I at least try some!

Grimmy

GrimLore said:

The last picture makes me want one Never tried them but I read so much about them I suppose it is time I at least try some!

Grimmy

Click to expand...

Why the last picture?

Sorce

sorce said:

Why the last picture?

Sorce

Click to expand...

It shows me there is a decent plant in there, healthy with a bit of potential in "my" eye.

Grimmy

I sent the offending branch away on the Mugo train.
It came from between the forked stub. The branch just left the fork is my new Trunkline. Lotta good branching. Everything to the left, spare one, will go.
That will be the last one to go this year.
The right bendy one I wish to keep, with this being a pretty upright tree, it may not matter it's on the inside of a slight curve. It may have to go

The low one right, I hope will be low enough to help the Trunk.

The hopeful keeper.

And top.



I'm all ears @Vance Wood .

Sorce

Th train is so fun to ride I hardly update this thread.
Upon putting it away for el wintero I noticed another back bud!

Gangster!

And a fully till spring.

Notes for next year.......
Which doubles as questions for Vance.

I want to eliminate another few branches, if it is as healthy in spring, I should be able to get the knuckle branches off on one whole side. Which I think will help curb the knuckle.

I'll probably cut flush a couple of this year's stubs as "safety cuts". See what they do.

If all goes well, a late summer repost will be into a pond basket.

I can't wait to rock more pines!
This is really building my confidence.
And as all you fisherfolk know.
Confidence is key!

Sorce

Confidence in everything is key.
The old mugo train is really rolling now.
Got people that are on other forums wanting to know what the train is about.
The train is about riding the rails with mugo pines and Vance Wood. Also to help get the word out even more and to help even more people into these pine trees.
Is it working?

In the bonsai hobby this is known as a leverite tree.


leverite in the nursery you saw it.

M. Frary said:

Is it working?

Click to expand...

I love trains! Model railroading is my other other other hobby.
Hell yeah it works!

Smoke said:

leverite in the nursery you saw it.

Click to expand...

Another goal.!

Serve those words back to you like a steak by the rock.

Sorce

Smoke said:

In the bonsai hobby this is known as a leverite tree.


leverite in the nursery you saw it.

Click to expand...

Used to after I killed them off like crazy.
But when I got back into bonsai a few years ago and met Vance and saw what could be done I started up trying to grow them again.
I know they'll never have the mystique of foemina. But I can't find any around of those in these parts so mugo it is.

sorce said:

Serve those words back to you like a steak by the rock.

Sorce

Click to expand...

. Nothing would make me more happy