Mountain pine (mugo). Mugo Mugus (dwarf form): photos, planting and care

The mountain pine of the Mugo Mugo is characterized by the short stature and compactness of the forms. It has many varieties, in the form of a tree or shrub. Cultivated as an ornamental plant for decorating alpine hills and garden lawns.

Origin

The place of natural habitat of the species "pine mountain mugo" is the slopes of mountain massifs. It grows in the alpine belt of the mountains of Central and Southern Europe. It also occurs in the foothills. At home, the plant reaches a height of ten meters, but mostly there are shrubby forms with branches rising or creeping along the ground.

Description

The Mugo pine is a tall shrub. Depending on the variety, the shrub grows pyramidal or spherical as it grows. The trunk has a gray-brown color, which in the young plant is smooth, and only with age is covered with scales in the upper part of the trunk. Dark green short needles, no more than two and a half centimeters, very hard and dull, has a slightly twisted form around the axis. The new shoots eventually change the greenish color to gray-brown. After six years, the pine of the Mugo Mugo starts to bloom, and on the short legs grow small cones, the maturation of which ends in the second year after flowering.

Application in gardening

Due to its unpretentiousness, mountain pine has become very popular and is used for landscaping cities and private estates, decorating alleys and alpine hills. It does not require fertile soil and an abundance of moisture in it, grows in places not suitable for farming. In addition, the pine is resistant to frost, does not suffer from pests and air pollution. It is used to fix the soil on stony slopes, where other trees do not grow. Thanks to the slow growth, long retains its decorative form. Many new varieties with different shapes and sizes are derived.

Varieties of mountain pine

Dwarf species of mountain pine are very popular.

• Pine pine mint refers to shrub species of mountain pine, its diameter reaches three meters with age.

• The variety "Pug" has a spherical shape with short shoots. The maximum height of the plant reaches one and a half meters, but differs in the density of the bush and slow growth. Dark green needles reach a length of 2-4.5 cm with a width of two millimeters.

• "Mini Pug" is small in size. With a crown diameter of one meter its height does not exceed sixty centimeters. Dense and sharp needles grow in bundles. The bush grows two centimeters in height and three by width in a year. It is recommended for single planting or creating a group composition on the slides. The variety is unpretentious to the soil, frost-resistant.
• The pine mugo mugus, whose photo is shown below, is widely distributed in nature in the Balkans, foothills of the Alps. At a height of one and a half to two meters, the bush stretches over the ground and belongs to the group of creepers. At the same time, young shoots are raised upward. Cones of yellow-brown color have the same dimensions, sessile. The crone is loose and needs to prishchipke young shoots.

Mugo pine: planting and care

Planting seedlings of mountain pine are carried out in the spring, when frosts on the soil are unlikely, or in early autumn. It is advisable to choose plants under the age of five, because young seedlings get better. The place is better to pick up well-lit, although the plant tolerates and partial shade. The roots of the mountain pine are long, therefore it is required to prepare a pit not less than one meter deep and with a width exceeding the diameter of the earth's coma at the seedling. If the soil is clayey, or close to groundwater, then the pit is further deepened, the drainage from claydite is poured onto the bottom, and peat or sand is added to the ground when the roots are filled. This is necessary to prevent stagnation of water and decay of the roots of the mountain pine. It is recommended to add lime to acidic soils.

When planting around the root system with a clod of earth, a landing mixture consisting of sand, compost and mineral fertilizers is poured. The introduction of mineral fertilizers improves the survival of seedlings. Plant seedlings at a sufficient distance from each other. Depending on the variety, it should be between two and four meters. When planting it is recommended to pay close attention to the root collar. It can not be buried, it should be at ground level.

Care of seedlings

Pine trees differ from deciduous trees by the vulnerability of the root system, so they take a long time to succumb and, if poorly maintained, may die. Pine Mugo Mugo first two or three years after planting needs attention and care. In the summer, the seedlings must be watered regularly. To prevent soil compaction, the ground around the bush is loosened and mulched, allowing moisture to be retained in the soil. Although the plant likes lighted areas, it is recommended that young seedlings be covered from sunlight in hot days.

For the winter the seedlings of mountain pine need protection from frosts and cold wind. Suitable material for sheltering bushes is burlap or branches of spruce (lapnik), straw. Hardened pines do not need additional shelter. Young seedlings in the early years must be fed with mineral fertilizers. To do this, use complex fertilizers for coniferous trees or other universal fertilizing at the rate of 40 grams per square meter. In order to have a beautiful crown, every year the shoots are cut by the size of the gain.

Peculiarities of growing mountain pine mugus

Pine Mugo Mugus, planting which has some nuances, is one of the most popular species suitable for growing in suburban areas. Consider the features of planting and care.

Like other types of mountain pine, seedlings must be planted in deep pits with drainage and the addition of soil mixture from soil, sand and mineral fertilizers.

The pine mugo mugus does not survive in the shade, so it can be planted in well-lit areas. It is undemanding to the composition of the soil, but it does not tolerate water stagnation and soil compaction. It is also not recommended to plant it in autumn, otherwise the seedling may die from sudden frosts.

Due to slow growth, the Mugo Mughus pine does not need annual pruning. A feature of this variety is the splendor of the branches, which are located along the entire length of the trunk. Particularly beautiful are the raised tips of the branches, giving the plant a spherical shape.

Reproduction is carried out both cuttings, and seeds. Planting seeds of mountain pine in a pot with drainage and attaching a little attention and effort, you can grow a tree on your own. This seedling is characterized by greater endurance and survival.

In order to decorate your site with mountain pine beauties, we advise you to buy seedlings in special nurseries, where they are grown acclimatized to a specific locality.