Pumilio mountain pine is a low overgrown shrub. This plant looks very beautiful in landscape design: in single gardens, groups, rock gardens. In this article, we will analyze what a mountain pine is. Description, reproduction, care, planting of this shrub will be covered in this publication.
Description of the plant
Pumilio Pine is a compact dwarf evergreen shrub with a dense crown. The needles are short, needle-shaped, sharp, 3-4 centimeters in length. The height of the shrub ranges from 1.2 to 1.5 meters. The cones are cone-shaped, brown, the shoots are directed upwards and form a dome.
Planting and caring for mountain pine in the garden is not difficult, because the plant is quite unpretentious in care. Pine is sun-loving, but at the same time frost-resistant, tolerates periods of drought well, can grow on both acidic and alkaline soils.
Natural habitat - central and eastern highlands of Europe.
After 30 years, the plant reaches 1 meter in height, and the annual growth is 5 centimeters in length and 12 centimeters in height.
Mountain Pine Mugo Pumilio: planting and care
The plant does not tolerate dark places, so it chooses a bright, well-lit area for planting. You can plant pine in almost any soil, it grows even on nutrient-poor land or dunes. In addition, the shrub is not afraid of urban polluted air.
Before planting, it is recommended to slightly lime acidic soils, you can add slaked lime to the planting pit. In early spring, when the soil is still frozen, the pine should be sprayed and watered with warm water, which helps it wake up after wintering. The rest of the time, care involves only moderate watering as needed.
Fertilizers are applied during the first few years after planting. Use special mixtures of fertilizers for coniferous plants.
In some cases, an adult plant should be tied up for the winter, as the branches can break under the weight of the snow cover.
Mountain pine is propagated by seeds, cuttings or by grafting. The least popular is propagation by seeds, since in this case it is very difficult to maintain the varietal qualities of the mother plant.
Features of cultivation
So, if mountain Pumilio pine appeared on your site, planting and caring for it is not difficult. HoweverFor effective cultivation of shrubs, you need to know a number of features. Firstly, the pine is watered only three times per season with a volume of 15-20 liters. Secondly, for the winter, young trees are protected with sawdust or spruce paws to avoid burns. Mineral fertilizers use the first two seasons.
If soils are too heavy, pine needs at least some drainage.
What else is the Pumilio mountain pine demanding for? Planting and caring for it should also include mandatory shelter from winter and spring sunlight. The shrub is protected from the sun for the first 2-3 years, it can be covered with burlap or spruce branches.
It is best to buy Pumilio pine seedlings in specialized nurseries, as the plants from them are adapted to local climatic conditions and take root well in a particular area.
If the autumn turned out to be long and rainy, then it is recommended to carry out preventive treatments of the shrub against fungal diseases.
Use
Mountain Pumilio pine is very diverse in use. Planting and caring for it is not difficult at all, so it can be used as an undergrowth and ground cover, as well as to create mixed groups. A shrub has proven itself well in rocky gardens, on the banks of reservoirs, to fix dry slopes. In addition, they can knock out other tall shrubs.
There are varieties of Pumilio pine that are suitable for growing in a pot. This way you can easily decorate balconies, rooftops or a small urban courtyard.
Since pine has volatile properties, it is recommended to plant it near children's and he alth facilities.
Pumilio pine benefits
The undoubted advantages of mountain pine include its frost resistance, which makes it possible to grow shrubs in various regions. In addition, pine is undemanding to soil quality, can grow even in an urban climate and endure air pollution and industrial emissions without loss. The extensive root system of the plant easily holds bulk soil. Pumilio pine is wind resistant, tolerates shearing well and is an indispensable link in landscape design.
So, the article considered the Pumilio mountain pine. Planting and caring for a plant, growing features are now known to you. Considering all the advantages of the shrub, we can conclude that the Pumilio pine is perfect for decorating the garden, and even a novice gardener can cope with caring for it.
