Three Mugos

[RKatzin]

These are three mugo pine I've had since 2010. They had been in these same pots for ten years. I didn't buy these, so just stop laughing! I was buying alot of decidous trees at a nursery that was closing out and going out of business and they were throw in as a, here you have room for these, special. I acted all not interested, but I actually thought they looked pretty cool, compared to the big box store models. I took them home and set them free.

more....

 

[RKatzin]

Liberated Mugos

I did not do much other than remove about two thirds of the root mass, cutting away as much big wrap around roots as I could. I was brutal, remember these were free salvage and I was only going to invest a little garden area on their benifit.

This is the last tree in the first post. No, wait, it's the first tree in the last post. I thought I had pics of the other two, but I'll have to go take some pronto. It's not so easy, I found, to take pics of trees in the ground. You have to bring the camera down to ground level which means crawling around on your belly trying to look through a view finder. If you're not laughing yet try to see that with my beard stuck under my elbow and the sun glaring in my eyes. The look on my face is priceless.

 

[RKatzin]

#2

This is the second tree in the first post, with a group pic of all three.


One more...

 

[RKatzin]

#3

This is the third tree pictured in the first post. To me this is the darling of the trio. Shes short and fat and really feisty. These trees have been in the full sun since 2010, watered copiously and fed generously. This being the fourth season I think there's something to work with here and I'm anxious to get them out of the ground and start.

I welcome your comments and advice, Sincerly, Rick

 

[Gaitano]

Wow, what a big difference, very happy trees. These should be fun to work with

 

[tmmason10]

Wow, they have responded well!

 

[RKatzin]

I will get some pics of these that show the interiors and branch structures. So far my main concern was recovery and growth, no crucial decisions to make. I've relieved a few obviously bad branches and cross-overs, but no too much without a real design plan yet.

I'm a good gardener, but I lack experience when it comes to what to do with what I've grown, Particularly in the realm of conifers, after killing many, I developed a bad case of 'fear of conifer'. .

It's cold and rainy this morning, but if I get a break in it I'll go get some more pics with an assisstant to pull back some limbs.

Thanks for looking, I appreciate the comments, Rick

 

[Paradox]

What a transformation on these trees in such a short time!

I think you've definitely got something to work with.

The trunk and roots on the 3rd one look awesome. Good luck with them.

I look forward to seeing more about these!

 

[John Ruger]

Those really responded well and I'm looking forward to see them progress.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

nice mugos! Amazing how well the back buddef and filled out. They all look like good material to start with.

Look at the base of the trunks, if they are large enough in diameter for your plans, I would move them to training pots. That way they would be easier to work on and look at from all angles so you could plan your designs.

I'm sure Vance Wood will weigh in, he's our forum's most experienced mugo grower. Mugo's are a once a year disturbance pine. If you lift them this year and pot them up, prune back,some as you do this, then leave them settle into their pots, no further work until 2015. That's what I would do. Vance might recommend waiting until early summer to do the potting up. After new growth harden off. But early spring might be okay. Vance is in Michigan, I think he does all his work starting late June, through July. I'm in northern Illinois, so I follow Vance's lead on timing.

Nice mugos. You should be able to make some good bonsai from them.

 

[RKatzin]

Thanks for the input Leo. I'm a big fan of Vances work with the mugo. In my own experience with this tree, Ive honestly treated it in my ignorance like a redheaded step child and it has always responded so well regardless that I was under the impression that nobody worked this tree because it was just too easy, not challenging enough. I still have that first poor little mugo growing out in my garden.

I can only guess that the climatic conditions here allow me to exceed the limits of the conditions in your neck of the woods. We have been having what passes for spring-like weather in Ill. since Febuary and now we're hitting 70's on sunny days. It's not unusual to hit 100F in May. Forty degree temp swings are common during this period, 60-70 by day and 30-40 at night. This is undisputabley pine country!

Here's a few pics of that first mugo I mentioned. Now set as a root-over-rock and growing as is for four years now. It's name is, 'poor little thing'. This setting does not get the sun that the other three do and it really shows in the density of foliage and the length of candles.

 

[RKatzin]

Three Mugos, Revisited

I wanted to say Mugoland revisited, but that's Vances place and this is more like the county fair in Hicksville, USA. (Boy! Is hick still pc for dwellers in the sticks? Gotta watch my mouth these days.) Anyway, I live in the sticks and I'm comfortable with the terminology.

I'm ready to bring these three out of the ground. How open is open on the candles? Fully extended leaves or just seperating from the stem?

When I planted this tree I tried a different planting technique. Instead of digging a hole, I set the tree on a bed of good soil and then built a box around it and back filled with good soil. In preparation for digging I have removed the wooden frame and pilled soil around the edges.

I had removed the soil around the box about six inches down and found only two roots in that area. I think I can scoop this tree up with a flat shovel when it's time. Which I think is now, within the week. I want to get the tree situated in a container before the new moon.

Can you see by the last pic if the candles are open enough, or should I wait for the next cycle?

 

[KennedyMarx]

That's some very impressive recovery on all of them! Wow. I'm not sure I would dig them up right now. Vance advises to repot mugos around Father's Day. I would stick with his advice to be safe.