Issue with my Mugo and wondering if there is any advice to save it. I bought this from a nursery back in July. I did a little bit of digging to expose the trunk, pruned a couple branches and did a little wiring. I did not touch the roots and kept it in the same nursery pot. I keep it outside on a south facing ledge in my NYC apt. It has been brutally hot and I try to water every day or two. It had been in partial shade and I just moved it to full sun on the south window. The last two photos show the needles browning.
Mugo Pine leaves browning
- Thread starter jrjaek
- Start date
sorce
Nonsense Rascal
Dead!
Welcome to Crazy!
Sorce
Welcome to Crazy!
Sorce
Dead would be correct. To much stuff done and in the hottest part of the year too. You moved it home from the nursery, messed with the soil (which does not look good at all), trimmed off a branch or two, or three, wired the H out of it, and put it in the hot South sun. At this time of year, it would have been best to bring it home, morning sun at the most and read or ask what to do next. Go get another one and start over again. Sorry, this can be brutal at times. We've all be through it, many times!
Eckhoffw
Masterpiece
Yep. Been there. You have to be somewhat sly as to how and when you work Mugo. I’ve had 5 or so, and have managed to kill all but one.
Shibui
Imperial Masterpiece
I don't think that's enough root damage to cause death, even in mid summer. All trees can cope with minor soil disturbance and loss of a few roots any time of year.
Placing suddenly into direct sun and only watering every day or 2 is probably enough to kill.
Sun exposure depends what the tree is accustomed to. Pines can tolerate full sun but if they are adjusted to part shade sudden change to stronger full sun can be fatal. Trees take time to adjust their sunscreen levels to cope with changing sun.
Water depends on ambient temperature, humidity, pot size V plant size, soil type and other factors. Need to carefully observe soil moisture to decide how often and how much to water. My pines get water twice a day most days through summer down here.
Usually by the time needles turn brown the tree is well dead but I'd still water it well, move to a more suitable location and continue care for a few months to see if there's still some life left. I've seen trees with worse damage occasionally rise from the dead.
Placing suddenly into direct sun and only watering every day or 2 is probably enough to kill.
Sun exposure depends what the tree is accustomed to. Pines can tolerate full sun but if they are adjusted to part shade sudden change to stronger full sun can be fatal. Trees take time to adjust their sunscreen levels to cope with changing sun.
Water depends on ambient temperature, humidity, pot size V plant size, soil type and other factors. Need to carefully observe soil moisture to decide how often and how much to water. My pines get water twice a day most days through summer down here.
Usually by the time needles turn brown the tree is well dead but I'd still water it well, move to a more suitable location and continue care for a few months to see if there's still some life left. I've seen trees with worse damage occasionally rise from the dead.
Paradox
Imperial Masterpiece
Yea not enough water and/or heat
Needles look dessicated and color indicates dead tree.
It has been hot and the heat radiating off all the brick and pavement in the city probably didn't help
Needles look dessicated and color indicates dead tree.
It has been hot and the heat radiating off all the brick and pavement in the city probably didn't help
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Pine_nut
Mame
I agree with the sun/heat probably did it in with the combination of under watering. I would also add that depending on the height of the ledge it’s on, there’s a very good chance that the wind dried it out too. Excessive wind can dry out a tree in a pot even in a low sun situation.
