Can you harvest rubber from a Mugo?

Mike Corazzi

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My one and only mugo completely DEFIES "holding" any shape.
I can wire and within a month or so it's trying desperately to become a stick again. Sorta. I mean it holds bends ...somewhat...but nowhere near what Scots and JBP do.
Is this a characteristic of mugos?
 

Mike Hennigan

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My one and only mugo completely DEFIES "holding" any shape.
I can wire and within a month or so it's trying desperately to become a stick again. Sorta. I mean it holds bends ...somewhat...but nowhere near what Scots and JBP do.
Is this a characteristic of mugos?
How long are you leaving the wire on? Leaving it on longer to where it starts digging in will help it hold its shape.
 

Adair M

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Copper wire is your friend with any kind of conifer.

Aluminum is just too weak.

(And you’re also using wire that’s too thin.)
 

Mike Corazzi

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I do use copper on anything I want to HOLD.
I had the main trunk held (?) with 3 mm. But that was aluminum.
4.0 is on it now after redoing.
 

Adair M

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If the wire you are using is measured in mm, it’s aluminum.

Copper is measured in gauges.
 

Adair M

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I do use copper on anything I want to HOLD.
I had the main trunk held (?) with 3 mm. But that was aluminum.
4.0 is on it now after redoing.
And, I’m confused. Your rant is about the tree not taking the bend. That it won’t “hold” the bend.

So, I suggest that you should use copper instead of aluminum.

Then you say, you use copper on thing you want to hold? WTF??? And then you go back and rewire with heavier aluminum?

Do you think it the tree’s fault you can’t follow instructions? There’s lots of trees, that require heavy wire to hold a bend, and the wire needs to stay in place for several growing seasons: Ponderosa Pine, Atlas Cedar come to mind.
 

Mike Corazzi

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Several seasons was all you had to say.
But I'll admit it does lack snark.

The OTHER pines hold bends and I think....lemme look back....why yes I did say..... it was the sole mugo in the bunch.

And excuse me all to fuck that I didn't know about the measurement. The stiffer wire I use is copper color.

Oh the hell with it!
:p:mad:
 
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M. Frary

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I have found that mugo pine needs to have the wire left on longer than Scots pines for the bend to stay in place.
I think that's what you're asking Mike.
Psst. Vance uses only aluminum wire. He seems to do know a thing or two about pine bonsai. Mugo pine at that.
 

Brian Van Fleet

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My one and only mugo completely DEFIES "holding" any shape.
I can wire and within a month or so it's trying desperately to become a stick again. Sorta. I mean it holds bends ...somewhat...but nowhere near what Scots and JBP do.
Is this a characteristic of mugos?
It’s pretty simple really, it’s not about the tree, it’s about using the right tool for the job. Copper is better for the job with conifers. If you can’t get the results you want, it’s likely the wrong tool, or improper application. Guy-wires are good for one-directional movement changes too.
 
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