Mugo Pine (year one)

[Boondock]

Last year I became interested in bonsai after a visit to the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection (I live very close to it). One particular Japanese Black Pine (and it's history) really captivated me and that's how I got hooked.

I purchased this Home Depot, Mugo Pine for about 5 bucks. At the time, I was reading everything I could find on the net (and books) about pines in general and Mugo in specific.

I read all the threads on bonsaiTALK, and I devoured Vance Wood's threads about root management and forcing (persuading) Mugo's to back bud.

I realize that most of the apex of this tree is sacrificial as is the first branch right. But I was hoping to hear about some possible ideas for it's future.

I remain a conifer fan, but my interests are moving in other directions currently. I understand that this is a LONG term project, like all pines.

Mostly I just wanted to show the picture of the backbudding.

 

[Smoke]

I realize that most of the apex of this tree is sacrificial as is the first branch right. But I was hoping to hear about some possible ideas for it's future.

Mostly I just wanted to show the picture of the backbudding.

I think it has backbudded very well indeed. It also looks very healthy. I am envious of you guys in the Pacific Northwest, except for the rain.

I was wondering, if you remove most of the apex and the right branch, what are you going to style a tree from?

Cheers, Al

 

[Boondock]

this is ALL an experiment for me Smoke, I am basically clueless. The apex will be reduced to a leader and one or two branches. Right now there are 7 branches off the trunk and the main leader.

The right branch just seems too low, but it does have a ton of buds on it close to the trunk.

 

[Smoke]

this is ALL an experiment for me Smoke, I am basically clueless. The apex will be reduced to a leader and one or two branches. Right now there are 7 branches off the trunk and the main leader.

The right branch just seems too low, but it does have a ton of buds on it close to the trunk.

Better, not most of the apex.... selective removal of the branches not needed makes more sense.

One word of advice. Never remove a low branch till every possible idea has been thought of. Take that puppy off and you will be kicking your perverbial butt till the cows come home.

ak

 

[bretts]

Great work on the Mugo Boon.
I started as a deciduous fan but i have got a few conifers to try to gather some skills with them.
Maybe you could link me to the best info you found.

 

[Rick Moquin]

I'm with Al on this one. It is a little hard to see but I don't see the requirement in removing any branches (the ones mentioned) at this time, especially the low ones. I understand where your thought process is wrt the development of pines but not all require to start off from scratch so to speak. Most of the time this method is used when the branches are not in the right place and we need to grow new ones to fit the design plan.

If you have found the trunkline and direction you wish to take this puppy, then thining out the
unwanted branches can take place.

This thread will hopefully help you out with your dilema. The tree was purchased for the established trunkline. As previously mentioned alot of work was goign to be required in the future. Allas this tree has met its demise, but I believe the pics are still useful.

BTW, the other mugo is doing fine and pushing new growth. Here are 2 comparative pics of the delta in health on acquisition.

 

[Boondock]

Maybe you could link me to the best info you found.

PM sent...

 

[Jay Wilson]

Hey Boondock,
Just thought I'd comment on the back budding..... WoW!

Jay

 

[Vance Wood]

Just thought I might point something out, those little buds are very easy to damage so if you plan on putting wire on the tree you might want to wait a year till the buds you want have developed. You have done well with this tree it is doing what it is supposed to do, because you did what you were supposed to do.

 

[Vance Wood]

I'm with Al on this one. It is a little hard to see but I don't see the requirement in removing any branches (the ones mentioned) at this time, especially the low ones. I understand where your thought process is wrt the development of pines but not all require to start off from scratch so to speak. Most of the time this method is used when the branches are not in the right place and we need to grow new ones to fit the design plan.

If you have found the trunkline and direction you wish to take this puppy, then thining out the
unwanted branches can take place.

This thread will hopefully help you out with your dilema. The tree was purchased for the established trunkline. As previously mentioned alot of work was goign to be required in the future. Allas this tree has met its demise, but I believe the pics are still useful.

BTW, the other mugo is doing fine and pushing new growth. Here are 2 comparative pics of the delta in health on acquisition.

Any idea what happened to the one you lost? Doing what I do with these trees I often learn as much from a failure as a success. For me it is a matter of weeding out cause and effect more than anything.

 

[Rick Moquin]

Any idea what happened to the one you lost? Doing what I do with these trees I often learn as much from a failure as a success. For me it is a matter of weeding out cause and effect more than anything.

Vance,

The jury might want to be out on this one, so to speak by I don't think so. As I mentioned in the original post the owner did not want to sell this tree as he doubted it would survive. Because of the obvious potential I convinced him otherwise and got it for half price $23 CD. The other one in the pic was treated the same way, is lushiously green with new buds and growth.

FWIW we had a terrible winter here this year, hot, cold, hot etc... several enthusiast lost many trees for unknown reasons. My first winter I had 100% success rate, this past winter I lost 6 trees that were bedded in the cold frame. With the exception of the azalea, which I have planted out in hope. All have come back with suckers but the parent tree is dead. Any thoughts?

Edit: Japanese Quince, Dwarf Rhododendron, Chinese Elm, Azalea, Amur maple, top half of an Alberta Spruce.

 

[Boondock]

Here is another Mugo. It was originally in a 3 gallon pot. It's kinda funny that when I went out to but some pines, I bought 8 in one day, (of which all went into pond baskets, but because my eye is slowly being developed to recognize better stock, all but 2 are in the ground as landscape plants as they were meant to be, and one of those are still "ify").

After studying and looking at thousands of pictures, my eye is only slightly better. I looked at hundreds of landscape nursery plants during the year after buying my first tree, and I found this one.

Hopefully as I evolve, my eye will be trained.

I spoke to Vance Wood in a chatroom and he mentioned that this might be a cultivar called "Tyrolean"

The base of the trunk, calipers at just shy of 2 inches.

 

[Boondock]

Right after I purchased this tree, I asked grampz... err.... Behr for help with a virt. This was done from pic2 so there was alot of foliage remaining, but it gives the basic idea.


thanks grampz !

 

[Boondock]

This is the buds produced this year on one of the other branches. I'm not sure if this tree just has good genetics or maybe it the organic fertilizer I make weekly to fert it, or just using Vance Woods advice to handle the candles to induce backbuds, but it certainly puts out tons of buds.

 

[Chris Johnston]

Tell you what, that is one strong, healthy tree. Great job with it!!!