Mugo Tour and Questions - Kelly 02 Jul 14 - YouTube

[Kelly]

Greetings all,

Request comments re my first Mugo repot and initial styling.

The video tours the tree and asks some questions re the roots/nebari and about the initial styling.

I have numbered the branches in the video to make it easier to discuss.

More specifically - the tree was repotted into a pond basket 21 June 14 in Ottawa, Canada - 5b. Not sure what more to do this year. Three very small branches removed this year and 4-5 candles broken in half and then repotted per Vance's directions.

So two main questions as per the video:
1. What about the roots? This year? Slowly cut them or reroute them over xx years?

2. Comments requested re initial styling structure for the eventual bonsai. Specifically what to do and how much this year? I find the hardest thing for a beginner is to create the plan for the eventual bonsai.

Thanks to all.
Cheers
Kelly
p.s I have still pics also ... this is my first YouTube video.
p.s.s Hopefully the link works ... if not ... ... or ... [url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4VzsfUzkoE&feature=youtu.be http://youtu.be/B4VzsfUzkoE [/URL]or go to Youtube and search for the same Title as this thread ... Mugo, bonsai, mugo styling ...
[video=youtube;B4VzsfUzkoE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4VzsfUzkoE&feature=youtu.be[/video]

 

[Vance Wood]

Greetings all,

Request comments re my first Mugo repot and initial styling.

The video tours the tree and asks some questions re the roots/nebari and about the initial styling.

I have numbered the branches in the video to make it easier to discuss.

More specifically - the tree was repotted into a pond basket 31 June 14 in Ottawa, Canada - 5b. Not sure what more to do this year. Three very small branches removed this year and 4-5 candles broken in half and then repotted per Vance's directions.

So two main questions as per the video:
1. What about the roots? This year? Slowly cut them or reroute them over xx years?

2. Comments requested re initial styling structure for the eventual bonsai. Specifically what to do and how much this year? I find the hardest thing for a beginner is to create the plan for the eventual bonsai.

Thanks to all.
Cheers
Kelly
p.s I have still pics also ... this is my first YouTube video.
p.s.s Hopefully the link works ... if not ... ... or ... [url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4VzsfUzkoE&feature=youtu.be http://youtu.be/B4VzsfUzkoE [/URL]or go to Youtube and search for the same Title as this thread ... Mugo, bonsai, mugo styling ...
[video=youtube;B4VzsfUzkoE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4VzsfUzkoE&feature=youtu.be[/video]

your Video after 5:50 pretty much hits the nail on the head and is the direction I would go with the tree. Make sure when you cut that branch back that you leave at least a one inch stub to prevent losing part of the trunk. Once you get that done make another post with a picture of the results and we can debate what comes off next and when. As to the odd ball roots coming off the base these are not likely keepers and should be removed the next time it is repotted.

 

[Kelly]

Just to Confirm

your Video after 5:50 pretty much hits the nail on the head and is the direction I would go with the tree. Make sure when you cut that branch back that you leave at least a one inch stub to prevent losing part of the trunk. Once you get that done make another post with a picture of the results and we can debate what comes off next and when. As to the odd ball roots coming off the base these are not likely keepers and should be removed the next time it is repotted.

Thanks Vance ... nice of you to comment. Just to confirm ... you don't think taking all of the #3 labelled branch extension and all of its parts (4,5,6) isn't too much for this year? Its all of 50% and probably more ... perhaps take a couple of the larger ones and then a couple more next year? Don't get me wrong ... I'm not arguing ... just confirming and have never worked a mugo. Thanks again.

Kelly

 

[Vance Wood]

Thanks Vance ... nice of you to comment. Just to confirm ... you don't think taking all of the #3 labelled branch extension and all of its parts (4,5,6) isn't too much for this year? Its all of 50% and probably more ... perhaps take a couple of the larger ones and then a couple more next year? Don't get me wrong ... I'm not arguing ... just confirming and have never worked a mugo. Thanks again.

Kelly

It's a lot but it should be OK. I didn't see how much you took off the roots but I've done similar.

 

[Kelly]

Root removal comment

Vance ... re "how much of the roots were removed" ... When I repotted, I removed the bottom third of the almost pure sand soil ... not many roots in that at all large or small. Pics in the other thread and attached here ... basically the 4 inches I cut off was sand with one larger root exposed and cut ... I didn't dig around to find out where it went. You can see the removed soil/sand in the other pic ... there wasn't a large root or feeder root ball in that discarded sand. So I guess if I haven't disturbed or cut many of the roots, I can remove the larger amount up top? Just being careful as I think the tree has good potential ... Thanks again for your comments.
Kelly

 

[Kelly]

Transfer from private posts - same thread ...

Transferred from PM posts:
[Vance Wood comment]
Very good video and very good tree. First: Those rather odd roots are probably not going to enter into the final design of the tree, they look almost like branches that rooted. They can probably be removed later down the road. As to your plans on the tree the last part of your video from 5:50 onward is dead on and a plan I would probably follow. You can and should lose that large branch going off to the right in the video sooner rather than latter but make sure you leave a stubb of at least an inch for the time being. Failure to do so can damage the trunk. When you remove that branch send me another video and we can look at other options.[/QUOTE]

[Kelly comment] Hi again Vance,
Thanks very much ... I think the tree is nice too and am a bit thrilled that my thoughts re the initial style agree with yours!! I have stared at that thing a long time ... probably not anywhere near as long as you have with yours though lol. I included a couple pics re how much soil/roots removed on the public thread ... not much ... one larger root was exposed and cut but the discard soil didn't contain the "other end" .. so it may have been "an end" with no feeders? that was terminating where I made the saw cut ... So ... I assume that after I make this big cut (branch 3 with all the others that go West or right) that I just let the sap drip and then leave the tree alone and just water it for a year? No fertilizer at all or after a month? Is there a best time to make this big cut? Morning or evening? Rainy day or hot day? I read another thread re cut paste and have some but I don't think it will "take" with a pine and all the sap ... Any comments or "how to" on this?
I hope you realize how appreciative I am for you helping from afar ... it really means a lot ... So - if its ok with you - I hope to use you as my mentor - and am very thankful to have found you!!
All the best
Kelly

 

[Vance Wood]

I posted this on you PM, but I copied it here.

As to being a mentor that's OK till disaster strikes---if it does. I realize that much of what I do flies in the face of conventional knowledge but none-the-less works for me and conventional knowledge does not work for Mugos; been there done that. It is for this reason I constantly hear: "We can't grow Mugos here" as an excuse as to why they can't grow Mugos blaming location instead of methods. Not realizing that they are all trying to grow them like Japanese Black Pines, and are unwilling or too full of pride they refuse to consider that I am right and they are -----well------wrong? That conclusion would be too much to bear for some of these guys.

You wrote: one larger root was exposed and cut but the discard soil didn't contain the "other end" .. so it may have been "an end" with no feeders? Is this one of those "roots?" you point out at as emerging high on the trunk? If so I would cut it back to the trunk. It wont kill the trunk by doing so. It is OK to cut that branch as long as you leave a 1 onch stub for the time being. Send me a picture or video when you get done doing that we may be able to cut some more.

I don't think you will have a problem with this tree. However; do you see evidence of any roots in the soil?

 

[Kelly]

Thanks ... off to find a chainsaw ...

Vance
Copy all ... will cut the Number 3 today ... unsure where that root goes and if it is one of the weird roots on the trunk ... the "cut" root emerged when I cut off the bottom 4 inches on the repot ... it is buried now ...
I and I think a lot of others recognize your expertise and perhaps unconventional methods re Mugos ... but that is why you get so many questions and your tree's speak to your success.
I will cut the branch today and hope - and failure or die off will not be attributed to you. We agreed on the basic bonsai approach or shape and the rest has to go somehow.
You didn't comment on my questions re "when" or "how" and cut paste or not ... so ... I will just go do it (I'm sure many are already poised over their keyboards begging for it already).
Will keep you posted and update with pics/video.
Thanks again.
K

 

[Vance Wood]

Vance
Copy all ... will cut the Number 3 today ... unsure where that root goes and if it is one of the weird roots on the trunk ... the "cut" root emerged when I cut off the bottom 4 inches on the repot ... it is buried now ...
I and I think a lot of others recognize your expertise and perhaps unconventional methods re Mugos ... but that is why you get so many questions and your tree's speak to your success.
I will cut the branch today and hope - and failure or die off will not be attributed to you. We agreed on the basic bonsai approach or shape and the rest has to go somehow.
You didn't comment on my questions re "when" or "how" and cut paste or not ... so ... I will just go do it (I'm sure many are already poised over their keyboards begging for it already).
Will keep you posted and update with pics/video.
Thanks again.
K

I don't use cut paste and the argument that it is necessary is well ----- un-necessary. The only thing I have found cut past to help with---marginally, is to help keep you from getting pine tar all over your hands. Now you only get pine tar and cut paste all over your hands, a real sticky situation.

 

[Kelly]

Mugo Tour post cut of No 3 West branch.

Hi all & Vance,
As requested, here is a short video post cut of the large West branch aka No 3. I put the tree on the second level of my bench so it gets morning sun and then 1/2 shade for the rest of the day. Not much sap dripping from the cut - no paste. The cut branch had 3 larger sub-branches and 12 candles/buds of varying lengths. The tree now has 18 total sub branches and candles/buds. The tree still needs some larger branch cuts but am concerned about how much to do this year - repot, candle breaking and large No 3 so far since May 14. I would appreciate comments. Thanks!!! Video is here:
[video=youtube_share;JFiTLYttaD0]http://youtu.be/JFiTLYttaD0[/video]

 

[Vance Wood]

Hi all & Vance,
As requested, here is a short video post cut of the large West branch aka No 3. I put the tree on the second level of my bench so it gets morning sun and then 1/2 shade for the rest of the day. Not much sap dripping from the cut - no paste. The cut branch had 3 larger sub-branches and 12 candles/buds of varying lengths. The tree now has 18 total sub branches and candles/buds. The tree still needs some larger branch cuts but am concerned about how much to do this year - repot, candle breaking and large No 3 so far since May 14. I would appreciate comments. Thanks!!! Video is here:
[video=youtube_share;JFiTLYttaD0]http://youtu.be/JFiTLYttaD0[/video]

I think you are OK. You did remove a lot of material and it is good we checked on it first; I would not remove any thing else. In August we are going to remove some large buds. Give the tree about ten days to recover a bit and commence with fertilizer. Nothing special as long as it is more or less balanced. I suppose I am going to have to post a video to explain the next process I have in mind but it can wait.

All that being said I hope some other people will respond as well.

 

[Kelly]

Thanks!

Vance,
Copy all ... thanks ... I'm sure we would all appreciate a video or two from you explaining some of your techniques.
Thanks again for taking the time.
It is very quiet on this thread ... sort of like the cheerleader who goes into the basement of the haunted house by herself ... (grin).
Regards
Kelly