Flat top style with pines?

just.wing.it

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I took some pictures today of a couple trees in my neighborhood. Not bonsai, but I like the styling. From a distance they look very flat on top. I'm thinking of trying to shape my Mugo like that.
Thoughts?
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Cypress187

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Yeah, but this isn't natural growth right? I looks pruned.
 

just.wing.it

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It has some large cuts, they look old. The main leader was cut off of the one on the left. (possibly both trees had the main leader removed).
I don't know how much attention they get though.
 

CWTurner

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That's pretty common around here. Someone plats a row of white pine as a privacy screen, forgets about them and 20 years later they have a row of trees with, again, no privacy underneath.
I think these pines received some complaints from the people on the second floor, and someone just lopped the tops off.
Certainly not the natural flat top you would see on an older pine.
That said, you probably COULD shape a mugo in that manner.
CW
 

just.wing.it

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That's pretty common around here. Someone plats a row of white pine as a privacy screen, forgets about them and 20 years later they have a row of trees with, again, no privacy underneath.
I think these pines received some complaints from the people on the second floor, and someone just lopped the tops off.
Certainly not the natural flat top you would see on an older pine.
That said, you probably COULD shape a mugo in that manner.
CW
Yeah, I don't think it be difficult.
These trees look old to me, thick, craggy bark. I guesst that suggests they do get regular attention from someone...
That particular townhouse is empty at the moment, for rent sign in the window.
 

carp

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pines as garden trees are often shaped with the flat top. just pulled these off google.
 

CWTurner

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I guesst that suggests they do get regular attention from someone...
My point was that they were just chopped and left to fend for themselves because they didn't serve the purpose any longer and got too tall. You could do a better job of pruning them yourself.
CW
 

Leo in N E Illinois

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If it is the back of a golf course, they could be "fancy" grafted cultivars. There is a named cultivar or two of JBP and of JRP that are somewhat dwarf, and form open umbrella shapes, like the ones you pictured. The were cultivated from witches brooms, which tend to not create leaders. A curiosity.

If you choose to, you could mimic this with a bonsai, as the choice is up to you. There are no "bonsai police" who will tell you this can not be done.

Some pines do naturally make a flat top look, some of the Mediterranean pines, like the Italian stone pine. Check the web for images.
 
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