Mugo Pine - General TLC

[The Specimen]

G'day everyone hope you all getting some sunshine & warmth and enjoying the garden.

This past weekend, it really felt spring has arrived here in Melbourne and I couldn't help myself take the pruners to my Mugo pine which I posted back in April.

Quick update to 11 Aug (yes a bit keen as not quite spring yet), I hope the tree will respond okay as I took off about 40% of branches that will not form part of the future design of the tree.

As in the pic below, I kept the branches on the actual tree itself to not weaken it further so that it could get sunlight inner and gain some streghnth.

Fingers crossed this late winter pruning will be okay otherwise a harsh lesson learned.

[Albo]

Just wondering if you have cut back the sacrifice at all? Can’t see it all in the picture but it looks very strong. Just wondering if it might take over if left too strong considering the main tree will be weaker now after the pruning.

[The Specimen]

Hey Albo, its a question I still find myself asking.. whether late winter/early spring vs late summer/early autumn?

Could it depend on what stage the tree is at which could determine whether early season or late season is better?

For example Bjorn L Bjorholm from Eisei-en Bonsai and Graham Potter from Kaizen Bonsai who i watched recently prunes their Scots Pines late summer/early autumn for a number of reasons including promoting more vigour for back budding. Mugo pines are single flush like Scots pine and both are native to Europe.

Does letting the tree grow vigorously with only candle work (not branch pruning) during the early and mid season encourage better back budding since the tree has so much energy?

But doesn't cutting branches late winter/early spring help better with healing and lets the tree focus energy where you want them to go?

I'm not sure but as long as both options support a healthy tree which I hope is true.

For the Mugo I hope the energy will go the the main tree and not the side branches that are there temporally as I didn't want to take off more than 40%. Hopefully no adverse reaction.. still watching and learning as I go

[Albo]

I personally don’t see a problem with what you have done as long as there are still plenty of bud. There was no repot/root pruning and the tree looks healthy.
All I’m saying is whenever you prune and wire you weaken that area.
You have a strong looking sacrificial branch on the left side. The tree may start to put its resources into that area if it’s left unchecked instead of the area you want it to.
Could you put up a photo of the sacrifice branch?

I would wait until more experienced hands than I comment before taking any further action though. Pines are not a strong area for me and I have never worked on a Mugo

[The Specimen]

Thanks for the tip, you are correct and raise a very good point Albo that the Mugo may put more resources into the sacrificial branches rather than the actual tree itself.

It looks like a 60/40 split of whats left so I will pay close attention to how the tree responds. I may tip cut a few areas in the sacrificial to reduce vigour in that area.

20250816_170410.jpg

Here's another angle for a possible front. Its a bit leggy but there are buds to cut back to. There are is no 3rd back branch with this view so a graft in future would be needed.

20250816_170442.jpg

[Ryceman3]

In relation to the sacrifice, I would look at doing something like the following...

Mugo_Specimen 0825.jpg

Strip it back to about the density at the tip shown (one to two developed shoots at the tip) and then wire/bend it until the tip is at the same level/preferably above the dotted line. This will help with resource allocation to the part you want to actually keep, and mean the sacrifice will also continue to develop as it becomes the tallest part of the tree. The reduction also means that any compromise with light/air flow from the excess foliage on the sacrifice is eliminated which should result in healthy growth and good budding options on the remaining tree.
Remember the sacrifice will only thicken the portion of the trunk below where it originates. It look kind of thick already compared to the rest of the tree you plan to keep, maybe it's already done the job required??
Nice tree, good luck with it.

[The Specimen]

Thanks Ryceman3, I had already taken off about 40% foliage recently and the left bunch is just what I have kept on for another season before I plan to remove them completely.

I was temped for instant gratification but managed to hold myself back and will wait to see how the tree responds.

Seeing that I do have lots of shoots/branches, has anyone grafted Mugos shoots for new branch creation?

Do they take well and any tips?