Mountain pine Pumilio and Mugus: differences and description of varieties and what is better to choose

Pumilio and Mugus are natural forms of pines. The formation of these varieties is due to the fact that mountain pines are distinguished by an extensive area of growth. In some conditions, the tree turns out to be taller and spreading, while in others it becomes low and compact. At the same time, the differences between the mountain pines of Pumilio and Mugus are of interest to many gardeners. They must be taken into account when choosing a particular type.

Description of Mugus

This culture is highly plastic, making it popular with designers. It can have the following varieties:

• 2x2 meter shrub;
• a small tree with one trunk;
• dwarf that creeps along the ground.

Mugus pine is characterized by the following features:

1. Spherical crown - to decorate the site, you can give the plant a carpet shape.
2. Dense needles - light green in spring, darker in winter.
3. Twisted needles grow in pairs. In length, they reach 4 centimeters. The life of the needles is 6-8 years.
4. Short shoots, curved up - after a while they become rough texture and light brown color.
5. Cone-shaped cones of a golden hue - appear at the ends of young shoots. Fruits are formed on trees older than 7 years.
6. Scaly ash-brown bark - as the tree ages, it becomes covered with brown growths. This is considered an important feature of all rocks.
7. Highly branched root system - thanks to this, the pine tree can grow in adverse conditions that are typical for mountainous areas.

Difference from Pumilio

Both types of crops belong to the genus Pinus and the Pinaceae family. Pumilio pine is characterized by the following features:

• height is 1.5 meters and diameter is 3;
• the branches are covered with long needles;
• cones are cone-shaped and formed at the age of 6;
• wood perfectly withstands the effects of heat and cold;
• crop can grow in any soil.

Comparing Mugus and Pumilio pines, it is difficult to say which species is better. Before planting, it is important to familiarize yourself with the main differences between these plants:

• Mugus mountain pine exceeds Pumilio by 0.5-1.5 meters;
• dwarf variety of Pumilio is characterized by a denser crown;
• Pumilio pine seeds are characterized by earlier ripening.

How to plant trees

In order for plants to develop normally, it is important to carry out planting work correctly. In this case, it is worth considering a number of recommendations.

Seat selection

Planting plants in a summer cottage should start with choosing a place. At the same time, it is recommended to take into account the requirements of pine for growing conditions. The landing site must meet the following criteria:

1. Light – Pine trees need full sun most of the day. At the same time, partial shade is allowed for a maximum of 2-4 hours a day.
2. Soil - the culture needs sandy, loamy, clayey soil with an acidic reaction. It is important to consider that when grown in alkaline soil, the needles of the plant become yellow.
3. Drainage - the plant needs loose, permeable soil without stagnant moisture.
4. Sufficient space for planting - it is important to maintain a distance of 2-3 meters between trees.

Soil preparation

First, it is important to check the drainage condition of your site. To do this, you need to dig a hole about 40 centimeters deep and fill it with water. With good drainage, after 12 hours all the water will be absorbed, and the pit will remain empty.

To plant a pine, it is recommended to do the following:

1. Dig a hole twice the size of the container or root layer. It is important that a person's palm fits between the walls and roots.
2. Save the excavated soil. It will be needed in order to fill the recess after planting the pine. If the land is not too fertile, it is worth adding compost or sod to it. Coarse sand should be added to heavy soil.
3. Loosen the bottom and walls of the recess. This will improve the growth of the root system in depth and width.
4. Lay out a layer of drainage. For this, it is permissible to use crushed stone, crushed brick or pebbles.
5. Plant a tree. This must be done to the same depth at which it grew in the container. It is important to avoid deepening the root collar, as this will negatively affect the development of the crop and provoke the development of root rot.
6. Place the tree in a recess, cover it halfway with earth, crush it and water it. At this stage, it is important to make sure that the tree is standing straight and in the center of the depression.
7. Sprinkle the hole with earth to the desired level.
8. Tamp down the soil to remove air pockets and keep the root system in contact with the soil.
9. Water the planting site well. When the soil settles, it needs to be poured and a side made on the border.

• Cover the trunk circle with a mulch layer. Its thickness should be 5-10 centimeters.

Need care

In order for mountain pines to develop normally, they need to provide quality care. It must be comprehensive.

Irrigation features

Newly planted trees should be watered every few days to keep the soil completely moist but not soggy. Conifers can hardly withstand excessive dryness and stagnant moisture. A month after rooting, plantings need to be watered every day. This should be done in the absence of natural precipitation. Mature pine trees need moisture only during a long drought.

Feeding

When first fertilizing, it is recommended to apply 100-200 grams of NPK 10:10:10 per 1 square meter of the trunk circle. Subsequently, the amount of fertilizer is calculated depending on the diameter of the trunk. For every centimeter you need to use 80 grams of nutrients.

Expert opinionZarechny Maxim ValerievichAgronomist with 12 years of experience. Our best gardening expert.Ask a QuestionIt is best to use top dressings that are slow-released. They will not harm the sensitive root system and will ensure that the crop uses nutrients gradually. Fertilizers should be applied before new growth begins in spring and mid-autumn. In winter, the use of such funds is not recommended.

Shaping and trimming

The considered types of pines can not be cut. However, many gardeners use this procedure to limit the size of the tree and give it an attractive shape. In this case, you should not carry out the procedure in the fall.

Tree pruning is recommended in the spring season. To do this, the candles at the ends of the branches are cut into 2 parts, which reduces the growth during the season. This helps to maintain the desired size of the crown and makes it thicker and more lush.

For pines of these species, an even and rounded shape is ideal. If individual shoots violate the correct outline of the plant, they can be cut. If thinned places have formed in the crown, it is worth leaving that new growth without pruning, which after some time will fill the voids.

Transplanting and propagating pine trees

It is recommended to transplant only plants older than 6 years. To do this, do the following:

1. Carefully dig the plant out of the ground. At the same time, as much soil as possible should remain on the roots. Without soil, the root system dries quickly.
2. Dig a hole larger than the root system of the tree being transplanted.
3. Pour drainage.
4. Pour out the composition of sand, turf and peat. These components are recommended to be mixed in equal proportions.
5. Gently tamp down the ground and form a hole.
6. Plentifully water the plant with water.

It is recommended to propagate pine in the following ways:

1. Seeds. They need to be stratified first.
2. Vaccination. This procedure is considered quite complicated. It can only be carried out by an experienced specialist.

To graft a mountain pine to a Scots pine seedling, it is recommended to do the following:

1. Remove needles from the trunk and rootstock in the grafting area.
2. With a knife, make a cut in the bark to clearly see the green layer of the cambium. This part is used for splicing.
3. Cut the bark into stock.
4. Combine the material to be grafted with the trunk of the main plant. In this case, it is important to ensure that the sections have the same height and are in contact with the layers of the cambium.
5. Tie the scion with a special rubber band. After some time, under the influence of external factors, the material will decompose.
6. Fill the joints with wax. This will help to avoid the development of pathologies.

Disease prevention

Mountain pines have strong immunity. But if the rules of care are violated, there is a risk of developing dangerous pathologies. The most common diseases and parasites these plants suffer from include:

1. Blister Rust. This fungal disease develops in autumn and causes yellowing of the needles. After that, the infection enters the young branches and trunk, causing orange swelling on them. Copper-based chemicals are used for treatment - Abiga-Peak, Arceride.
2. Scleroderriosis. With the development of pathology, the tops of young branches suffer. In this case, the affected needles acquire a brown color and crumble. To cope with the disease, you should use Bordeaux liquid or blue vitriol.
3. Bark beetles. When pines are affected by these pests, sawdust appears on the ground. Beetles eat the bark of plants. For the destruction of parasites, it is required to use a remedy such as "Bifenthrin" . This should be done from mid-spring to the very cold.
4. Aphids. This pest absorbs pine sap and causes the tree to dry out. When attacked by parasites, the needles are covered with a white layer. After some time, the crown becomes yellow and falls off. To destroy aphids, the affected areas should be treated with Decis or Karbofos. This is done monthly throughout the season.

Pumilio and Mugus are fairly common types of mountain pines that have certain features and differences. Therefore, before planting a particular crop on your site, it is important to read its description.

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