My Box Store Mugo #2

[monza]

More of the traditional tight growth shrub style in a 2G container:


Picked it for a base with what I thought had a little character.



You can see the pie cut at bottom right. This soil was moist and quite woody with a loose root ball. Two pie cuts, tried to leave the root ball alone as best I could.





It's pretty ugly looking now and I can easily second guess my current branch selections when it's naked.

Vance can I cut these smaller branches closer to the truck since they are small? Or is it still safer to leave some stubs?

 

[monza]

That bad is it? I'm open for the ya it's that bad criticism as well.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Good job at prepping the roots for future life as bonsai. Yes, you are right, boy is the finished tree butt ugly. All young stock, on its way goes through this phase, so it looks good to me. I only have one mugo that has survived more than 2 years for me. It took a long time for me to believe and listen to Vance's advice about when to do what to a mugo. I generated a fair amount of kindling and compost in the process. Fortunately, all my fatalities were nursery stock. Nothing irreplacable.

Question, I personally would have left more green on lower branches, do you think you left enough to retain the branch and get them back budding?

I think the reason you are getting no responses, is the post's title for both your mugos is the same. I thought this was a double post of the same tree until I looked at the image.

Nice tree, it will be interesting to see what it becomes in the future.

 

[Vance Wood]

I would cut nothing now. I think you may have removed too much of the growing top, but you may be alright. Mugos can take a lot this time of year but I would push it no further.

I agree it has a great trunk.

 

[monza]

Question, I personally would have left more green on lower branches, do you think you left enough to retain the branch and get them back budding?

Thanks for your feed back. Regarding the above comment- I actually didn't remove green from the lower branches, the needles in the interior of the branches were all dead.

 

[monza]

I would cut nothing now. I think you may have removed too much of the growing top, but you may be alright. Mugos can take a lot this time of year but I would push it no further.

I agree it has a great trunk.

Thanks Vance, so I should of left that entire knob alone all the top apex/ crown branches?

 

[Vance Wood]

Thanks Vance, so I should of left that entire knob alone all the top apex/ crown branches?

I do not know. It seems that you just started cutting and you cut close to 90% of the original growth off the tree. It's not the location so much as the volume. I think I have mentioned to limit yourself to around 60% to 50%. No matter what you do if you start with a tree exactly like this one it is going to take a number of seasons to get it to go in the right direction. Can you read me what it says on the tag visible in your first picture?

 

[monza]

I do not know. It seems that you just started cutting and you cut close to 90% of the original growth off the tree. It's not the location so much as the volume. I think I have mentioned to limit yourself to around 60% to 50%. No matter what you do if you start with a tree exactly like this one it is going to take a number of seasons to get it to go in the right direction. Can you read me what it says on the tag visible in your first picture?

Ya I cut it pretty hard, lesson learned thanks! Assuming your looking for the variety on the tree from the label? " Pinus Mugho Mughus" any other info is general care and planting instruction.

 

[Vance Wood]

Ya I cut it pretty hard, lesson learned thanks! Assuming your looking for the variety on the tree from the label? " Pinus Mugho Mughus" any other info is general care and planting instruction.

That's pretty much what I suspected the tag would say, and I'm glad it was not one of the dwarf varieties. Leave the tree alone even if it appears to be regenerating itself. It could possible start throwing out some buds that kind of look like little pine apples. These are the beginnings of new branch buds. They are very fragile and are not necessarily a sign that the tree is out of the woods. I have seen Mugo that were over-cut respond in this way and it is tempting to think this is going to be great, all of these new branches all over the place. I have also seen the tree going through this transition just up and die. All you can do is hold on, watch and learn, and hope for the best.

 

[monza]

Did another, much less drastic then the other in this post for a better chance of survival.



Tried to trim as little as possible and opening it up as much as possible.



Completely different growth from the earlier tree.

 

[october]

There is potential there. Are you going to do some light wiring just for shape?

Rob

 

[monza]

I thought I'd wait to see where I get back budding as it is not very clear which branches will stay or go? Maybe I''ll have another look, thanks.

 

[Vance Wood]

Did another, much less drastic then the other in this post for a better chance of survival.



Tried to trim as little as possible and opening it up as much as possible.



Completely different growth from the earlier tree.

This is a far better result than the previous tree. Now leave out alone. There is apparently a lot I need to say about this process but it is going to have to wait for now. However; what is there about the size of the trunk that makes you feel you have selected a goodie? How is it that you came to that decision?

 

[monza]

Picked it as it seemed to have a larger flaring trunk feeling under the soil, still not sure what's going on under there as there was to many roots around the base to keep digging down during the repot. Just seemed way healthier and more mature growth then the previous one as well leaving lots of options. Not sure if I'd place it super high on the 'goodie' scale as far as interesting character. It was also only $19.00

 

[Vance Wood]

Picked it as it seemed to have a larger flaring trunk feeling under the soil, still not sure what's going on under there as there was two many roots around the base to keep digging down during the repot. Just seemed way healthier and more mature growth then the previous one as well leaving lots of options. Not sure if I'd place it super high on the 'goodie' scale as far as interesting character. It was also only $19.00

You can't really loose for 19.00, I agree. I really can't blame you for not finding a larger trunk, I can hardly blame you for not doing what I have been doing for forty years. They are out there and with a little persistence you'll start making some significant scores. Stick with the three gallon size. Much better chance of making a score.

The trees you want to find are those where the nursery has put into a larger container because it did not sell. Then it will sit around and still not sell. Trees like this will give you a pretty decent trunk in a couple of years.

 

[monza]

Thanks for the advice.

 

[marc206]

Did another, much less drastic then the other in this post for a better chance of survival.



Tried to trim as little as possible and opening it up as much as possible.



Completely different growth from the earlier tree.

This one looks to have a better chance of survival.