radhatter’s Vance Wood Memorial Mugo

[radhatter]

Picked this up a few days ago and started off with the new nursery material instructions. It’s got a pretty ugly root cluster on the right side that I’m hoping I can remove over time but I’m new to Mugo, I read removing it may kill sections of the tree? I’ve got it in a pond basket potted in akadama, pumice, and lava rock. Assuming it recovers well over the next month I will likely do some wiring in August.

I have some clusters in danger of creating knuckles, when is the right time to prune these down to 2?

 

[stubmle]

when is the right time to prune these down to 2?

Vance said he would do it pretty much any time, just be sure to leave a stub to forestall dieback if you're taking off a large branch. Now would be as good a time as any.

HOWEVER, if you removed a lot of foliage already you probably want to let the tree recover first. How much of the original foliage did you take off? If more than 50%, I'd exercise caution. Waiting a year will not ruin the tree- cutting too much might!

 

[radhatter]

Vance said he would do it pretty much any time, just be sure to leave a stub to forestall dieback if you're taking off a large branch. Now would be as good a time as any.

HOWEVER, if you removed a lot of foliage already you probably want to let the tree recover first. How much of the original foliage did you take off? If more than 50%, I'd exercise caution. Waiting a year will not ruin the tree- cutting too much might!

I’d say I probably took off 40-50% already. Definitely at the point where I’m feeling cautious. I didn’t touch any of the extending growth on the branches I left. I think it’s best if I leave it to recover until next year

 

[Deleted member 47471]

I’d say I probably took off 40-50% already. Definitely at the point where I’m feeling cautious. I didn’t touch any of the extending growth on the branches I left. I think it’s best if I leave it to recover until next year

Trust that instinct for sure

 

[Deleted member 47471]

Picked this up a few days ago and started off with the new nursery material instructions. It’s got a pretty ugly root cluster on the right side that I’m hoping I can remove over time but I’m new to Mugo, I read removing it may kill sections of the tree? I’ve got it in a pond basket potted in akadama, pumice, and lava rock. Assuming it recovers well over the next month I will likely do some wiring in August.

I have some clusters in danger of creating knuckles, when is the right time to prune these down to 2?

View attachment 555425View attachment 555426View attachment 555427

I like the structure. What is your trunk line design looking like?

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Honestly if one is in the Seattle area, could take off more. But being as most folks are new to the tree, absolutely wouldn’t do so until one has got their horticulture completely dialed in for the tree. This includes using a known wintering over technique.

In any event, being as this is a five year challenge tree, the grow out window is pretty short.

Always been a bit iffy about Vance’s candle treatment vs the ‘Kimura’ energy balance method, especially in timing for Seattle, but dem rules is da rules!

Best of luck
DSD sends

 

[Paradox]

I treat mugo the same as scotts pine and JWP. I don't cut candles on them but will pinch shoots in half in spring if needed or trim shoots back in August if needed.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Different strokes. Each to their own. We candle balance to foster equal growth, with the usual exceptions. Seems to work really well and produce great back budding..

Not many Scots out here, so never tried them, although folks that do sometimes candle prune robust and healthy Scot’s like a JBP about every 3-4 years…

There seems to always be more than one way to skin that cat.

Best
DSD sends

 

[Paradox]

As Adair is fond of saying, there are few absolutes in bonsai