Mountain pine of Pinus mugo - the evergreen compact coniferous bush which is widely used in garden compositions. The pine differs in the slowed-down growth, easy adaptation to any weather patterns and indiscriminateness to soils.
Evergreen coniferous trees take place of honor in decorative gardening, ideally fitting into any style of landscaping. Gardeners appreciate mountain pine of shrubby type (Pinus Mugo) its unpretentiousness, grace of forms and good survival even in strongly polluted city atmosphere.
Preparation for landing
Mountain pine – plant unpretentious to views of the soil, but photophilous. For this reason the site for planting of pine has to be well lit, though the pine transfers half-shade not bad too.
Optimum time for landing of coniferous trees – the end of April - the beginning of May when the threat of frosts on the soil, or early fall when the earth is still well heated-up passes. Best of all change to the constant place is moved by young plants, age up to 5 years; more adult trees are planted only together with big lump of the earth. In order that the plant has better taken root, recommended to do landing hole slightly more widely, than that is demanded by the root system of pine since around earth lump specially prepared landing mix will be located. Sand, compost and mineral fertilizers have to be mixing ratio – it will provide to mountain pine the best adaptation on the new place and fast restoration of the roots injured at change. If the soil on the site clay, with tendency to stagnation of water, then landing holes have to be equipped with drainage from haydite or beaten brick, and soil needs to be facilitated by means of introduction of sand or peat. It is important to remember that the mountain pine does not love consolidation of soil and stagnation of water – the root system can begin to rot and the tree will die. When planting pine it is necessary to provide sufficient distance between trees – from 2 to 4 m, differently will be complicated forming of krone. Since the mountain pine has quite long roots, depth of landing hole has to be 1 m and more, but strongly it is impossible to bury root neck – it has to be at ground level.
Care for mountain pine
During the period of adaptation to the new place the saplings need thorough watering and shadowing from direct sunshine. To avoid consolidation of soil and death of plant, periodic loosening of the site and its mulching which will allow to keep soil moisture is recommended. The first 2-3 seasons it is recommended to bring in the soil universal fertilizing for coniferous trees or mineral fertilizers in small amounts – about 40 g on 1 sq.m. For forming of beautiful krone and delay of growth of tree carry out easy annual cutting of the escapes making year gain. That young plants have not suffered from frosts, the winter sun or dry wind, for the winter they are recommended to be covered with fir twigs or burlap. Adult trees are more resistant to influence of weather factors and do not need additional measures of protection.