My five Dollar Mugho Contest Reject

EarthgirlOK

Here's the mugho that prompted my search for any advice from Vance and caused the resurgence of "Cultivating Mugho Pines."

I got it in the junk pile at a nursery when I picked up my contest boxwood. I really liked the nebari and trunk, and was pleased that there weren't TOO many branches to be pruned off like on many nursery mughos. Actually, that was because some of them had died off (for lack of light I think).

I took it home and repotted it but decided not to do any other initial styling. Not sure whether I want to do that this month or wait till this time next year.

The repot was semi-uneventful because most of its nursery soil had been washed out of its container anyway, so the roots were pretty compact.

I wish I had potted it higher in this, its training pot. My picture quality is still cheap, but here it is.

I'm bracing myself. I have some thoughts, what are yours?

I think this is front and then back.

Attached Images

	Mugho 6.9.051b.jpg (35.6 KB, 78 views)
	thur aft 6.9.05007.jpg (38.0 KB, 61 views)

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Sonlight NurseryGreen Country Bonsai Society

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Will_Heath

Great find Michelle!

Now leave it alone for awhile.


Will

Attila

Michelle

The main task for the next few years is to slowly push back the foliage close to the trunk on all branches except the sacrifice branches. This will be a small tree, and you need foliage very close to the trunk, or else the tree will look immature and leggy.

Once you have compact foliage (at least three seasons from now), you can begin the serious styling.

Attila

EarthgirlOK

I'm thinking that since it was stressed when I got it (from neglect) and I repotted it in late April (instead of summer), I need to leave it alone until next year?

Then decandle?

__________________
Sonlight NurseryGreen Country Bonsai Society

Attila

Decandling may not be good enough. You really need some serious backbudding if you want to do a good job.

When I work with nursery pines, I actually cut back at least half of the foliage on strong branches and leave alone the weak branches. I do this in the winter.
Cutting back the branches will cause an explosion of new growth closer to the trunk.

As far as leaving it alone, it is probably a good idea, but the tree will let you know. If it has lots of new growth later this year, that shows that it is strong again. So, you can start gradually reducing the crown later this season. Otherwise, wait till early next season.