Mountain pine mugus planting and care in the open field

Conifers are very often used in decorating garden plots, as well as any other plots, since they are able to decorate them throughout the year, regardless of weather and other conditions. Mountain pine Mugus (aka shrub spherical pine) is one of the “favorites” among gardeners around the world due to its unpretentiousness and piquant appearance. Further, about the main varieties and features of growing mountain pine Mugus: planting, care in open ground (photo materials are attached).

Mountain pine Mugus: description, characteristics of interesting varieties and varieties

Mountain pine Mugus is a shrub culture, although in natural conditions it most often looks like a tree. The shrub is tall - it can reach a height of 4-5 m, and the trees, on the contrary, are not very tall, the tops stretch to the sky at a height of 7-8 m.

The shoots of the shrub are rather short, spread along the ground, the direction of growth is upward. The root system is significantly ramified and is always located close to the soil surface. The color of the needles is presented in a dark green range, the length of the needles can reach 3-4 cm. The lifespan of the needles is about 6-8 years. After the shrubs reach this age, small cone-shaped cones, reaching a length of 4-5 cm, appear on it.

Mountain pine is a very hardy plant

The homeland of the Mugus pine is considered to be the Center and South of Europe, namely, their mountainous regions. Over time, the plant has spread widely as a horticultural crop throughout the world.

Pine Mugus is incredibly popular among gardeners due to its certain features:

• the plant is not afraid of frost;
• the pine is not afraid of the wind due to its powerful root system;
• the plant is not afraid of lack of moisture;
• the plant is not susceptible to disease;
• unpretentious to the soil on which cultivation is carried out;
• tolerates pruning well;
• pine is considered a long-liver - the plant can live up to 1000 years.

The shrub variety of pine (mugus) is one of the most common, represented by a huge variety of varieties, among which the following can be highlighted (see photos of dwarf and soil varieties below):

• Pug. Representatives of the variety are considered dwarf shrubs. In height, they can reach no more than 1.5 m. The diameter of the crown and its height are most often identical. The shape of the crown is spherical. The dense needles are dark green in color. The plant is most often grown primarily as a tapeworm, but can sometimes be used in group compositions to create a rocky garden.

Pug variety

• Mini Pug. A smaller version of the previous grade. In height, the shrub rarely exceeds 0.5-0.6 m. But the crown is incredibly splendid and large in size - it reaches about 1 m in diameter. Suitable for growing both in single and group plantings. Loves a little shading.
• Winter Gold. A dwarf variety with a spherical crown. The needles can change their shade depending on the season: in summer they have a pale green color, and in autumn they are golden. It rarely exceeds 0.5 m in height.

Variety Winter Gold

• Columnaris. The variety can reach a height of 2.5 m. The crown has a narrow conical shape. The needles are dark in color. Suitable for growing with tapeworm and as a group ornamental plant.
• Dwarf. The shrub reaches 2 m in height. The crown is spherical. Suitable for growing not only on lawns, but also on roofs, in containers.

Gnome variety

• Ophir. An unusual dwarf variety, characterized by miniature growth: it rarely reaches half a meter in height. The crown is very similar in shape to the pin.

Planting a plant: basic rules

For the active growth of the pine and its long life in the garden, the site for planting in the open field should be chosen very carefully. For the successful cultivation of the Mugus pine, it is important to have a lot of sunlight. Therefore, the site must be well lit and warmed by the sun.

Pine is not very demanding on soil: it will grow well both on fertile soil and on soil devoid of nutrients. The acidity is not particularly important for the plant. However, if there is too much sand in the soil, it is better to add some clay to the soil to make it stronger.

Advice. The best option for planting pine is sandstone with a slightly acidic environment. It is in such a soil that the pine can achieve an incredibly beautiful decorative effect and the maximum possible development of the root system.

The best time for planting is spring (throughout the entire period). But in the fall, it is better not to plant a pine tree on the site, since it will have too little time in order to sufficiently strengthen its root system.

Mugus pine seedlings

Immediately before planting, a pit should be prepared: its depth should be about 1 m, and its width should be several centimeters larger than the earthen coma of the plant. At the bottom of the pit, a drainage layer (about 20 cm) of expanded clay, gravel, etc. is laid out. On top of the pit, the pit is filled with a prepared soil substrate, consisting of 2/3 of sod land and 1/3 of sand.

Now carefully place the seedling in the hole and fill it with the rest of the soil mixture, which must be lightly tamped and then watered abundantly. The trunk circle must be mulched immediately after planting. If there are several pines, be sure to keep a certain distance between them - at least 1.5 m.

Reproduction of culture

Reproduction of the Mugus pine is theoretically possible in 3 ways: by seeds, cuttings and grafting. In practice, only the first two are realizable.

The seed method is optimal: in this case, you can grow a full, healthy and very beautiful shrub. It is advisable to stratify the seeds within a month before planting. While this process is taking place, prepare containers with nutritious light soil (they must have drainage holes). It is advisable to sprinkle the top with a small layer of peat, and then disinfect it in the oven at low temperature.

Pine sprouts

The seeds must be held in a disinfecting solution before sowing, then sown in containers with soil at a distance of about 5 cm from each other. Cover containers with foil. Shoots should appear within 20-30 days. In the open ground, the grown seedlings are planted in a couple of years.

Reproduction by grafting is a process so complex and rarely applied in practice that a separate article would be required to describe it. We can only say that if you succeed, then the young plant will be as beautiful and healthy as the mother.

Mugus pine care

Pine is an amazing plant that can grow actively and at the same time be completely healthy even with the most minimal care. Despite this, some of the subtleties of caring for a pine tree, you should still know: this will help you achieve the maximum decorative effect.

Watering and feeding mode

Watering is not what the pine needs for full development. Almost all of its varieties live well without moisture. In addition, periodically falling needles play the role of a moisture-retaining layer. Is that young plants planted in spring will need additional moisture in the fall (after leaf fall). Watering will be necessary in order to protect the needles in the spring after the shrub wakes up, since moist soil will not freeze as much as dry soil.

Only a young pine tree needs to be fed

As for dressings, they are necessary for the pine only in the first two years of its life. It is better to give preference to mineral fertilizing with a predominance of nitrogen. In the future, the pine will not need any additional nutrition: the organic matter that it receives from the coniferous litter under the tree is enough for it.

Plant pruning, pest control

The crown of pine trees is inherently attractive and does not require pruning per se. If desired, you can add more aesthetics to the plant by slightly cutting off its shoots by about 1/3. In this case, the crown will become more lush, and the shoots will slow down growth. In the spring, all dried and frozen twigs must be removed.

Pine, like any other coniferous tree, rarely gets sick, but planting material may well be sick. The cause of the disease is most often the person himself, or rather, the measures he takes to care for the plant, climatic features, birds, etc.

Sometimes, after a too rainy summer or a harsh winter, a weakened plant can be attacked by shute (fungus). The needles change color to brown, and the branches dry out strongly. In some cases, coniferous needles fall off. To prevent the spread of infection, the plant should be immediately treated with a preparation containing copper, and the damaged parts of the shrub should be removed and destroyed.

Pine in landscape design

Sclerroleriosis is another disease that destroys the apical branches. This happens most often due to improper trimming or its absence. The affected branches are immediately removed and sanitary pruning is carried out immediately.

Combination with other plants

Pine Mugus is actively used both as the main and as an auxiliary decorative element in landscape design. With the help of mountain pine, slopes are often strengthened and greened. Also, shrubs are often used in combination with birches, larch and other conifers for landscaping areas, creating hedges and strengthening the soil.

The different varieties of Mugus pine are excellent for container planting. It can be used in combination with small bush flowers to create rocky gardens.

That's all, in fact, what you need to know in order to successfully grow a worthy representative of conifers on a garden plot. Good luck!

Growing mountain pine: video

What methods do gardeners and professional landscape designers use to decorate the territory with dignity and beauty. The selection of plants, trees and shrubs allows you to create cozy corners using natural materials. The mountain pine Mugus is especially popular in such cases. Planting and caring for this plant is not particularly difficult. This tree can be considered a real decoration of the garden. Let's talk about the features of its cultivation.

A unique gift from nature

Why do they love this plant? For beauty, of course. Evergreen needles, which cover the entire tree with a voluminous crown, are pleasing to the eye all year round. The mountain pine Mugus, planting and caring for which will not be difficult, in the summer stands out among the inhabitants of the garden with a riot of colors. Beautiful green needles in summer creates a feeling of coziness and unity with nature. In winter, covered with frost and snow, it remains a vivid memory of the warm months, giving the scent of resin and freshness. Very often this plant is used to decorate a Japanese garden.

Biological features

What is the mountain pine Mugus? Planting and caring, reproduction and placement are the points that we will look at in this article. The plant is classified as a coniferous evergreen shrub. For its small size, it is considered a dwarf representative of the flora. The pine tree grows no more than 2-3 meters in height. But there are also giants up to 10 meters. Its crown reaches about 3-4 meters in diameter. The Mugus pine grows slowly.In a year, the growth reaches about 10 centimeters in height and about 12 centimeters in width. In natural conditions, the plant is found from the Balkans to the Eastern Alps. The shrub has a spreading crown, the shoots of which spread along the ground and then rise up. The result is a spherical plant. The mountain pine Mugus, planting and caring for which is of interest to many gardeners, has tough, dense needles. It is slightly twisted and collected in bunches of two. The needles are dark green in color and reach a length of 3-4 centimeters. Their lifespan is 3 to 5 years. Cones complement the plant very effectively. They are yellow-brown in color and directed upwards. Usually buds appear for the first time in a 6-8 year old plant. Their length ranges from 3 to 6 centimeters. Pine roots are well branched, taproots. These are the features of the mountain pine Mugus. Planting and care, watering, reproduction and other subtleties are what we will talk about further.

The peak of decorativeness

For the whole year, the pine can change its appearance several times. At the beginning of growth, young shoots have a light green tint. Then they turn dark brown. At the end of its development, the needles become violet-brown. It remains so in the future. The main peak of decorativeness occurs from mid-May to mid-July. At this time, the pine releases clusters of male spikelets. They are pink or yellow in color. Also, female cones begin to ripen, which are located straight up on a short stalk. At this moment, the mountain pine Mugus is especially beautiful. You will enjoy planting and caring for this plant.

Landing place

This plant cannot be called very demanding on the planting site. This is why it is popular with landscape designers. They can decorate any corner of the garden. Mountain pine Mugus, the planting of which is the first breeding point, easily tolerates even poor and compacted soils. It takes root well in rocky, acidic, sandy and clayey areas. It is better to choose places with sufficient lighting. It should be noted, though, that this variety is more shade-tolerant than other varieties. Planting in heavy soils with high salinity can reduce disease resistance. Pine looks very good on bulk slopes and hedges. It can be grown in containers, rocky and heather gardens.

Watering

Mugus pine tolerates both drought and high humidity well. Therefore, the plant practically does not require additional watering. Fallen needles form a kind of bedding, of good thickness. This traps moisture at the base. We can say that pine is able to adapt to any climatic conditions. However, if it is watered during a very dry period, it will become even more attractive. How does mountain pine Mugus endure winter? Planting and caring for a plant is available to any gardener. Pine has good winter hardiness. Its branches are very strong and do not break under the weight of snow. Strong winds are also not terrible for this representative of the plant world. In addition, pine protects the soil from erosion.

Selection of seedlings

The main thing for good growth and development is the choice of a quality seedling. When buying, you should pay attention to the general appearance of the plant. Regardless of the size, you need to inspect the measles system. It must not be damaged. The roots must be strong and healthy for the size of the seedling. Also carefully examine the needles. It should not be lethargic and yellow. Thanks to a successful purchase, a beautiful mountain pine Mugus will appear in your garden. Planting and care, photos and tips are in this article.

Landing

The unpretentiousness of the plant reduces all planting activities to a minimum. Saplings should be planted at a distance of 5-10 meters from each other. The depth of the planting pit is no more than one meter (it all depends on the age of the plant). The root collar of the seedling should remain on top.If the soil is heavy, good drainage must be ensured. To do this, a layer of sand or gravel, 5 to 25 centimeters thick, is poured onto the bottom of the pit. Fertilizers need to be applied during planting. To do this, use humus or nitroammophoska. In the first two years of life, mineral fertilizers can be applied for good growth and development. This is approximately 35-45 grams per square meter. Young plants up to 5 years old can often be transplanted from place to place. Older pines are best planted immediately on a permanent site. But if there is a need to move them, then an earthen lump should be frozen or the root system should be prepared in advance.

Reproduction of pine

Mountain pine Mugus, the care of which consists in the minimum agrotechnical methods, propagates by seeds. Two-coniferous varieties form seeds mainly in spring. Before planting, it is necessary to carry out stratification, that is, artificial preparation for sowing. In a month, the seeds will be ready for planting. In five conifers, the stratification process lasts about 4-5 months. Mountain pine seeds are fully ripe two years after pollination. The second way to reproduce is by vaccination. It is suitable for highly decorative plants. It should be carried out by a specialist. This will guarantee a good result. Mountain pine does not reproduce by cuttings. All attempts to grow shrubs using this method have yielded no results. It is best to purchase ready-made seedlings in special nurseries.

Conclusion

If you want to plant a beautiful, unpretentious and noble plant, then this is the mountain pine Mugus. Planting, the soil for which does not have to be fertile, will not be difficult. Pine care also comes down to minimal agricultural techniques. Pine is not afraid of drought, frost, precipitation and winds. It not only adapts well to different climatic conditions. Mountain pine cleans the air well from pollution, saturating it with a pleasant aroma. The smell of pine needles and the healing properties of the plant protect it from pests and diseases. This is why pine does not require the use of chemicals or other protective equipment. When buying a mountain pine, you need to carefully plan the site. The plant requires a certain amount of space for good growth and development. An adult pine tree will shade the area a little. Therefore, it is necessary to have plants nearby that are not demanding on the sun. Immediately after planting, you need to regularly moisten the soil so that the pine tree takes root well. Further, Mugus practically does not require maintenance. In order for the shrub to have a beautiful well-groomed appearance, it is necessary to shape its crown by pruning.

Mountain pine Mugus (Pinus mugo mughus) is a coniferous plant, tree or shrub of the Pine family, of the Pine genus. In the wild, it grows in the Alps of the European part. Recently, it has been widely used in the design of garden plots.

Description of the plant

This plant can be classified as a large shrub; in gardening, it sometimes reaches up to five meters in height. It has one or more trunks on which branches with bent branches grow. The bark is gray-brown with scales. Young shoots are light green, eventually dark brown. In terms of annual growth, it belongs to the dwarf group.

The shrub has rather long needles of a dark green color, reaching 3-4 cm in length. Cones grow on branches or on petioles one at a time or in a bunch of 2-3 pieces. Cones ripen in the third year in spring. The seeds are very small and dark. They are edible and are used in the production of oil and balm. Wood is often used in joinery or turning.

Mountain pine species

Currently, several varieties of mountain pine are known.

• Pug... It belongs to the category of dwarf shrubs, reaching a height of no more than 1.5 m. The crown of the plant is a ball of dark green needles of dense needles. This plant is grown in their areas as a tapeworm.
• Mini Pug... A variation of the above-described variety, even smaller in size. The height of this specimen does not exceed 0.5 m, but the width of the crown reaches one meter. Grown both alone and in compositions. Shade tolerates well.
• Winter Gold... A low-growing variety with a ball-shaped crown. The advantages of this plant include a change in the color of the crown, depending on the season. In the summer, the needles have a pale green color, and in the fall they turn yellow.
• Columnaris... This plant has a dark green conical crown. It reaches a height of up to 2.5 m.

Planting a mountain pine

Before you start planting Mugo pine, you should carefully choose a place in the garden. It should be assumed that the mountain pine Mugus is a very light-loving plant. This means that the place should be open and not obscured by buildings or other plants. The quality of the soil at the planting site does not matter much. Pine is an unpretentious plant and grows on almost any type of soil. However, the most acceptable option would be to plant a shrub on sandy loam soil with low acidity.

Planting is best done in the spring so that the pine has time to strengthen its root system. Having decided on the place, we dig a hole there with a depth of about one meter, and a little wider than the root system of the seedling. At the bottom of the hole, we make a drainage layer of small stones. The layer is about 20 cm thick. Next, pour in a mixture of earth and sand. Then, place the seedling and fill it with the rest of the soil. Do not forget to water abundantly and fall asleep around the trunk with mulch. With a collective planting, we maintain 1.5 m between the seedlings.

Mugus breeding methods

There are three ways of propagation - seeds, cuttings and grafting. The first two methods are usually used.

• Growing pine from seeds... It is considered the most effective way to grow a beautiful and healthy shrub. The seeds should be hardened before planting. This is usually done on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator within a month. In advance, you should prepare containers for planting. The soil can be used the same as for seedlings. You can add some peat on top. Before planting, we treat the seeds with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. When everything is ready, we place the seeds at a shallow depth in a container for seedlings. We maintain a distance of 5 cm between the seeds. Then, cover our crops with a foil with holes. The first leaves will appear in a month, and we will carry out planting in the ground in two years.
• Propagation by cuttings... This method is good because it can be done at home in winter. In February, conifers begin to actively move the sap, so this time is just right for rooting cuttings. First, cut the cuttings from 7 to 15 cm long. Then, put them in Epin's solution for 12 hours. While they are soaking, lay out slightly moistened sphagnum on gauze. We process each end of the cutting with dry "Kornevin" and put it on sphagnum, and cover it with gauze on top. Having rolled our gauze together with the cuttings into a roll, we place it in a plastic bag and can be hung on the window frame. Until spring, the cuttings will take root and are transplanted in containers with fertile soil. After two months, our seedlings can be planted in open ground.
• Reproduction by grafting... This method is the most time consuming and time consuming, therefore it is not very popular with gardeners. The only advantage of grafting is that in the end the plant adopts all the qualities of the mother bush.

Mugus Pine Care

For the good development of the pine, there is enough rain moisture during the season. Therefore, watering should be paid attention only after planting young seedlings. It is also recommended to water the plant in the fall to protect the plant from severe frosts, since wet soil will freeze less than dry soil. But it should be remembered that Mugus does not tolerate stagnant water, therefore it is recommended to make drainage channels from the bush.

Top dressing should be done within the first two years after planting, but very carefully. By exaggerating the dosage of fertilizers, there is a danger of stimulating the pine tree to gigantism. Already strengthened seedlings with a good root system should be fed. And yet, you should not fertilize the pine for the winter. This will lead to the formation of new shoots, which will not have time to get stronger and will die in winter.

Since this is an ornamental plant, its crown looks attractive anyway, so pruning can be omitted. The only thing is, in the spring, the missing branches are removed.

Disease and pest control

During very rainy summers, the pine can be attacked by fungus. With this disease, the color of the needles becomes brown. In this case, the damaged branches of the bush are removed, and the plant is treated with a preparation containing copper. Another disease that can affect a plant is Scleroderriosis or Umbrella disease. Symptoms of this disease - at the ends of the branches, the needles became brown and sagged. For treatment, it is necessary to cut off and burn the affected areas. Then treat the plant with a solution of "Fundazol".

Of the pests that can infect pine trees, some types of aphids and butterflies can be noted. For preventive control of them, the bushes are treated with the drug "Lepidocide".

> Mountain pine mugus

Mountain pine Mugus is a shrub or low coniferous multi-stemmed tree. Grows in Central and Southern Europe. More common in the mountains along the upper edge of the forest. The variety was bred in 1779. In Hungary, a balm is made from the thick oil of pine seeds.

Description

Mountain pine grows slowly. The dense crown reaches 3-5 m in diameter. Creeping shoots. For the first 5 years after planting, shrubs grow up to 5 m, and trees - up to 7 m, but by the age of 20 - 25 m in height. At the age of 8, cones appear on the tree. The needles are dark green, up to 4 cm. The cones are light brown, in the form of a wide cone. For mountain pine, the climate of central Russia is favorable.

Mountain pine Mugus is a shrub plant with creeping shoots

Positive aspects in the characteristics of the plant:

• soil of any structure and composition is suitable for planting: the tree will take root both in sandy or stony soil, and in wet or acidic clay;
• in the conditions of a severe Russian winter with snowfalls, pine branches will not break under the weight of snow;
• a developed branched root system serves as protection against soil erosion;
• with proper and regular maintenance, it is suitable for the formation of garden bonsai.

Mugus is planted in suburban areas in landscape groups with other coniferous and deciduous trees.

Planting and leaving

Growing tips:

• Boarding time: May or September.
• Location on the site. The pine tree is undemanding to sunlight, but it is preferable to plant it on the sunny side, so the plant will be resistant to parasites and diseases. The sun's rays contribute to the production of substances necessary for protection. Pine is drought tolerant, but regular watering makes the crown more lush.
• Soil selection. Any soil is suitable, but the ideal combination: turf soil - 2 parts, clay or sand - 1 part. The tree grows in poor soil. If the ground is heavy, drainage will be needed in the form of sand or gravel up to 20 cm.
• Landing rules. Observe the distance: for large varieties - 4 m, for undersized varieties - 1.5 m. Plant pine, raising it by 30-50 cm, so that when the soil shrinks, the root collar is at ground level. After that, mulch the area around the trunk and water.

Regular care will preserve the pine tree for years to come. Prune the shoots one year after planting. The growth of the plant will slow down, the crown will become more dense. Lapnik will protect young shoots from sunburn.

If all growing conditions are met, the tree will be healthy and tall. Its lush crown will decorate and shade the suburban area.

See also: description of the Rochefort grape variety