Mountain pine mugo mugo is characterized by stunted and compact forms. She has many varieties in the form of a tree or shrub. Grown as an ornamental plant to decorate alpine slides and garden lawns.
Origin
The natural habitat of the pine mountain mugo species is the slopes of mountain ranges. It grows in the alpine zone of the mountains of Central and Southern Europe. It is also found in the foothills. At home, the plant reaches a height of ten meters, but mostly shrubby forms with branches rising or creeping along the ground.
Description
Pine Mugo Mugo is a tall shrub. Depending on the variety, the shrub acquires a pyramidal or spherical shape as it grows. The trunk has a gray-brown color, which is smooth in a young plant, and only with age is covered with scales in the upper part of the trunk. Dark green short needles, not more than two and a half centimeters, very hard and dull, has a slightly twisted shape around the axis. New shoots eventually change from greenish to taupe. After six years, the mugo pine mugo begins to bloom, and small cones grow on short stems, the maturation of which ends in the second year after flowering.
Landscaping
Due to its unpretentiousness, mountain pine has become widespread 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; it grows in places unsuitable for agriculture. Moreover, pine is resistant to frost, does not suffer from pests and air pollution. It is used to fix the soil on rocky slopes where other trees do not grow. Due to its slow growth, it retains its decorative shape for a long time. Many new varieties with different shapes and sizes have been bred.
Varieties of mountain pine
Dwarf species of mountain pine are very popular.
- Pine pinus mugo belongs to the shrub species of mountain pine, its diameter reaches three meters with age.
- The Pug variety has a spherical shape with short shoots. The maximum height of the plant reaches one and a half meters, but differs in bush density 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 in width per year. It is recommended for a single landing or to create a group composition on a roller coaster. The variety is unpretentious to the soil, frost-resistant.
- Mugo mugus pine, the photo of which is given below, is widespread in nature in the Balkans, foothills of the Alps. At a height of one and a half to two meters, the shrub is spread out on the ground and belongs to the group of creeping. At the same time, young shoots are raised up. The yellow-brown cones are the same size, sessile. Crohn is characterized by friability and needs pinching of young shoots.
Mugo Pine: Planting and Care
Planting mountain pine seedlings is carried out in the spring, when frost on the soil is unlikely, or in early autumn. It is advisable to choose plants under the age of five, because young seedlings take root better. It is better to choose a place well lit, although the plant tolerates partial shade. The roots of a mountain pine are long, therefore, it is necessary to prepare a pit with a depth of at least one meter and with a width exceeding the diameter of the earth's lump in the seedling. If the soil is clayey, or groundwater lies close , then the pit is further deepened, drainage from expanded clay is poured into the bottom, and peat or sand is added to the soil when backfilling the roots. This is necessary to prevent stagnation of water and decay of the roots of mountain pine. It is recommended to add lime to acidic soils.
When planting around the root system with a lump of earth, a planting mixture consisting of sand, compost and mineral fertilizers is poured. The application of mineral fertilizers helps to improve the survival rate of seedlings. Planting seedlings is necessary at a sufficient distance from each other. Depending on the variety, it should be from two to four meters. When planting, it is recommended to pay close attention to the root neck. It cannot be deepened, it must be at ground level.
Seedling Care
Pine trees differ from deciduous trees by the vulnerability of the root system, so they take root for a long time and with poor care can die. Mugo pine mugo the first two to three years after planting needs attention and care. In summer, seedlings must be regularly watered. To prevent soil compaction, the earth around the shrub is loosened and mulched, which allows you to store moisture in the soil. Although the plant loves lighted areas, it is recommended to cover young seedlings on hot days from sunlight.
For winter, mountain pine seedlings need protection from frost and cold winds. A suitable material for sheltering bushes is burlap or branches of spruce (spruce), straw. Fortified pine trees do not need additional shelters. Young seedlings in the first years must be fed with mineral fertilizers. To do this, use complex fertilizers for conifers or other universal top dressing at the rate of 40 grams per square meter. In order for the plant to have a beautiful crown, shoots are cut every year by the amount of growth.
Features of growing mountain pine mugus
Mugo mugus pine, planting of which has some nuances, is one of the popular species suitable for cultivation 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 a soil mixture of soil, sand and mineral fertilizers.
Mugo mugus pine 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 does not tolerate stagnation of water and soil compaction. It is also not recommended to plant it in the fall, otherwise the seedling may die from sudden frosts.
Due to the slow growth, pine mugo mugus 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. The tips of the branches raised up are especially beautiful, giving the plant a spherical shape.
Reproduction is performed by both cuttings and seeds. Having planted the seeds of mountain pine in a pot with drainage and with a little attention and effort, you can independently grow a tree. Such a seedling is characterized by greater endurance and survival.
In order for mountain beauties-pines to decorate your site, we advise you to buy seedlings in special nurseries, where they are grown already acclimatized to a particular area.