Species · Conifers like juniper and pine
Mugo pine
Pinus mugo

Mugo pine grows slowly and naturally shrubby, with short needles and a trunk that thickens faster relative to its height than most pines — useful for compact, powerful-looking trees without decades of development. It is hardy to real cold and, unlike black or red pine, tolerates being left largely unpruned for a season without losing its shape.
Care at a glance
- Watering
- Water thoroughly, let the surface dry between waterings. Roughly every 2 days in spring, 2 in summer, 3 in autumn and 7 in winter.
- Light
- Full sun, six hours or more.
- Winter
- Fully hardy; a mountain species that prefers cold winters. Protect it when the forecast drops below -25 °C.
- Feeding
- Every 21 days, Apr to Sep.
- Repotting
- Every 3 to 5 years, as buds begin to swell, in Apr.
- Growth
- Slow growing. Hardy in zones 2 to 7.
The work calendar
| Work | JJan | FFeb | MMar | AApr | MMay | JJun | JJul | AAug | SSep | OOct | NNov | DDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prune | Sep | Oct | ||||||||||
| Wire | Jan | Feb | Oct | Nov | Dec | |||||||
| Pinch | May | Jun | ||||||||||
| Needle pull | Oct | Nov |