My first Mugo

[Lazylightningny]

I picked up a nice mugo pine yesterday at Home Depot. Took it home and took 2 inches of soil off the top to expose the trunk, and lo and behold it was a fatty- a good three inches in diameter. Other than that, all I've done is clean out the dead needles and wire some of the lower branches down to open it up a little to more sunlight.

I know that pines can take only one insult per year, and I plan on doing nothing else to this mugo this year. My question is, next year should I put into bonsai soil first, or work the top first?

 

[fourteener]

I picked up a nice mugo pine yesterday at Home Depot. Took it home and took 2 inches of soil off the top to expose the trunk, and lo and behold it was a fatty- a good three inches in diameter. Other than that, all I've done is clean out the dead needles and wire some of the lower branches down to open it up a little to more sunlight.

I know that pines can take only one insult per year, and I plan on doing nothing else to this mugo this year. My question is, next year should I put into bonsai soil first, or work the top first?

I'm a firm believer in good soil first, always. Pines like a drier mix than most stores are ever going to pot them in.

 

[Nybonsai12]

Lets see a pic of this bad boy.

 

[pmalelis]

Do you have any pictures? I would like to see, as I am looking for one myself and trying to get a feel for desirable traits.

 

[Lazylightningny]

I left an 8 inch tool in the foreground to give a feel for size. As you can see, I have some root work to do in the future.

 

[Lazylightningny]

Can I remove all apical buds in the spring to induce back budding lower on the branches, and still repot the same summer?

 

[Poink88]

Search for mugo here and read Vance's comments. Timing for mugo is different and he advocates working on them on summer.

 

[october]

This has potential. If this is the proposed front, can you post a pic of the back?

Rob

 

[Lazylightningny]

Search for mugo here and read Vance's comments. Timing for mugo is different and he advocates working on them on summer.

all reliable sources state to repot mugos in the summer, ie july/aug.

I'll try and post another pic when I get home tonight.

 

[Lazylightningny]

This is the other side, which may end up being the front. The second photo shows the main trunk line.

 

[october]

This is the other side, which may end up being the front. The second photo shows the main trunk line.

View attachment 41555View attachment 41556

yes, I think this should be the front.

Rob

 

[Lazylightningny]

I may semi cascade it

 

[Paradox]

Nice find

I suggest you really spend some time studying it before you make a decision on direction to go with styling. Come up with some different options and try to visualize those before you start cutting stuff off. You might find that what you think is the way to go isnt the best way to go.

Ive got this sort of thing going on with one of my mugos. I was originally thinking cascade, now Im thinking it might be better as something else. I havent cut anything yet so both options are still open.

 

[Lazylightningny]

Nice find

I suggest you really spend some time studying it before you make a decision on direction to go with styling. Come up with some different options and try to visualize those before you start cutting stuff off. You might find that what you think is the way to go isnt the best way to go.

Ive got this sort of thing going on with one of my mugos. I was originally thinking cascade, now Im thinking it might be better as something else. I havent cut anything yet so both options are still open.

I sit on the patio and stare at it lol. What programs do folks use to do virtuals?

 

[fore]

I sit on the patio and stare at it lol. What programs do folks use to do virtuals?

I use Sketchbook Pro on my ipad.