The mountain pine impressively demonstrates its status as an indestructible coniferous tree, not least when it comes to pruning. Keeping a Pinus mugo in shape with scissors is not a challenge, even for inexperienced hobby gardeners. Read here when and how to properly prune the robust mountain pine.
The mountain pine grows very slowly and therefore does not need to be cut every year
The best time is in spring
With a leisurely growth rate of 5 to 15 cm, the mountain pine does not require pruning every year. In order to keep the tree compact and to encourage a bushy habit, scissors should be used at least every 2 to 3 years. The best time for this measure is during the months of May and June, when the weather is overcast.
Tips for the ideal cut
Although a mountain pine is easy to cut, initial mistakes only grow out very slowly. If you heed our tips for professional cutting, your Pinus mugo will look like it has been peeled from the egg at all times:
- In May/June, thin out the tree thoroughly by cutting off all deadwood at the base
- Then cut off the growth of the shoots (candles) by half
- Alternatively, break off the candles in the middle by hand
The high pruning tolerance of a mountain pine also allows a deeper pruning by up to two thirds. This is often necessary when the tree thrives on a grave site or in a bucket. If you want faster growth, with a dense, bushy appearance at the same time, just shorten the candles by a third in early summer.
tips
The mountain pine grows in almost all locations where it is deeply anchored in the ground with its powerful root system. This property in particular qualifies the pioneer tree to stabilize slopes and embankments and at the same time to green them decoratively. The Humpy variety fulfills this task with flying colours, as it more than doubles its growth height of a maximum of 50 cm in width.