2 For 1 Mugo

[f1pt4]

I bought this mugo last weekend. It was labelled as a Pumillo. After cutting down the pot, I noticed a little seedling popping out. Sweet.

Don't know what I'll do with the tree yet, but I know I'll be waiting till July before I do.

 

[RickMartin]

Nice..nice little seedling to boot..

Rick

 

[marc206]

looks like a doug fir to me. the seedling that is.

 

[RickMartin]

Nope i enlarged the pic...those are pine needles.

Rick

 

[Vance Wood]

This little guy looks to have a lot of possibilities. I would like to see more of this tree before it is cut back. If possible I would love to see it so that the branching is visable.

I am interested in how the two trunks work together visually. This could make a very good little bonsai with the right moves.

Not sure about the seedling yet. Let's see how it develops and discuss methods and timing for removing it.

 

[f1pt4]

Nope i enlarged the pic...those are pine needles.

Rick

No doot aboot it!

 

[f1pt4]

This little guy looks to have a lot of possibilities. I would like to see more of this tree before it is cut back. If possible I would love to see it so that the branching is visable.

I am interested in how the two trunks work together visually. This could make a very good little bonsai with the right moves.

Not sure about the seedling yet. Let's see how it develops and discuss methods and timing for removing it.

Right on. I'll get some pix for you in a day or so. Thanks for your interest.

I couldn't pass it by for 5.99, and that's Canadian pesos!

 

[MattE]

That is some really nice crazy roots !

 

[f1pt4]

This little guy looks to have a lot of possibilities. I would like to see more of this tree before it is cut back. If possible I would love to see it so that the branching is visable.

I am interested in how the two trunks work together visually. This could make a very good little bonsai with the right moves.

Not sure about the seedling yet. Let's see how it develops and discuss methods and timing for removing it.

Hey Vance,

Here's some extra photos of the Mugo. It's a pretty thick tuft so getting all the branches visible is a bit tough without thinning it out.

 

[Vance Wood]

I think you have some good possibilities going on here. You have to learn to see the future. Starting with photo #3: You notice all of these little new branches forming along the crotches of existing branches. Unless you are looking to replace the lager branch associated with the new growth this kind of development needs to be removed. The is healthy so you should be OK to do all kinds of things with it within reason.


In photos #1 and 2 you need to remove the roots that are snaking their way up the trunk. Just cut them off at the ground and remove their visible presence.

 

[f1pt4]

I think you have some good possibilities going on here. You have to learn to see the future. Starting with photo #3: You notice all of these little new branches forming along the crotches of existing branches. Unless you are looking to replace the lager branch associated with the new growth this kind of development needs to be removed. The is healthy so you should be OK to do all kinds of things with it within reason.

View attachment 105149
In photos #1 and 2 you need to remove the roots that are snaking their way up the trunk. Just cut them off at the ground and remove their visible presence. View attachment 105150View attachment 105151

And I'm assuming do all this in June.? Repot will happen next year. Correct?

 

[Alain]

Nice tree!

 

[Vance Wood]

The above could be done now. This is a young tree and can endure a lot of BS without even skipping a beat. Lets see how things are going; we may consider a repot into a pond basket by August. I don't believe we have ever discussed how large you would like this tree to become. That would be a good discussion to have at about this time when we are going to be discussing the removal of branches.

 

[Alain]

The above could be done now. This is a young tree and can endure a lot of BS without even skipping a beat. Lets see how things are going; we may consider a repot into a pond basket by August. I don't believe we have ever discussed how large you would like this tree to become. That would be a good discussion to have at about this time when we are going to be discussing the removal of branches.

For the removing of the little branches/buds: do you do that by cutting them (but in this case they may/will grow back) or do you just pluck them to tear off everything and prevent re-grow?

 

[Vance Wood]

What ever works at this point. Why cut when you can simply rub it off and why rub it off when it is too meaty to cooperate. Generally these little buds that form needles are two seasons old and pretty easily damaged and removed. If they have the evidence of two growths of needles you are going to have to clip them off, trying to rub or tear them off wont be an advantage to you.

The bud will develop in one season and sometimes when the tree is like this the new bud will show up early and later, may actually break open and produce a flush of needles though not more than a few at best. So next year you can consider the growth, to be three seasons old and will probably have to be removed with scissors or cutters.

 

[f1pt4]

The above could be done now. This is a young tree and can endure a lot of BS without even skipping a beat. Lets see how things are going; we may consider a repot into a pond basket by August. I don't believe we have ever discussed how large you would like this tree to become. That would be a good discussion to have at about this time when we are going to be discussing the removal of branches.

Personally I think maybe adding 2 more inches in height would be the maximum size of this tree. Not quite a shohin, but fairly small. It currently stands at about 6" from the base to the top most tip, not taking into consideration the needle length. I would like to, obviously, thicken up the main trunks as well, and am considering leaving it as a twin trunk....

I didn't remove any growth, as I was under the impression that no pruning should be done before July 1st or so. With that said, I think that at the very least the bottom most little shoot in pic 3, should stay, and possible anything above it should be removed, to help with the taper issue.

Could I go ahead and prune back now due to the virility of the tree, or would you recommend just dealing with the circling root issue and fresh growth (pic 3) removal at this time. If only the roots and fresh growth get tackled this time around, do you reckon an additional branch pruning can be done further on in the summer?

I do have a couple fairly large pond baskets on stand by. I'd be happy to repot it in August, although, similar to your climate, it does start cooling come september, and so I would like it to have enough time to harden off before the cold snaps start hitting in the fall.

Thanks very much for your insights. I'm learning a great deal though this.

 

[Vance Wood]

I agree with the smaller size; Shohin, I agree with the double trunk. I know I have said no pruning before July but you can do some now. Remove those roots I mentioned to you earlier. Cut them off at the trunk and then follow them down to the ground and cut them off there. You do not need to dig into the soil ball to remove them, we will if ignore them now for the most part. Any additional pruning can be done on a conditional basis. You may want to start establishing the major branches for you tree. Many large branches are going to be removed as we proceed, but as we have talked about previously we have to consider what the consequences may be from removing a large branch.

Removal of those encircling roots will help with making the trunk larger, trust me on that. Nursery Mugos have a tendency to strangle themselves with those roots.