One of the most popular dwarf evergreens - pine Pug (Pinus mugo Mops) - is presented in this article. Shrub was bred at the beginning of the last century. He instantly began to enjoy interest due to his unpretentiousness and the beauty of the crown, which has a spherical shape. It is proposed to familiarize yourself with the detailed information about planting this pine tree, caring for it, its diseases and its use in landscape design below.
Botanical Description
The pug shrub is also called mountain pine. Its description is as follows:
- a type - dwarf plant;
- crown shape - spherical (either ovoid or pillow-shaped);
- shoots - densely growing, short, hard and elastic;
- needles color - dark green with shine;
- height - 0.5–2 m;
- width - the same;
- annual growth - up to 10 cm maximum in height and width;
- the kidneys - brown, resinous;
- root system - superficial, prefers loose soil;
- needles - in the form of dark green needles, the largest length of which is 4.5 cm;
- male strobiles have a decorative look;
- bumps rarely formed;
- frost resistance good one.
Did you know? If you imagine a mountain dwarf pine in the context, it is associated with an iceberg: after all, its upper part (crown) is small, and the roots grow more and more with time.
Origin of name
One can fantasize about the name, but most likely it is related to the similarity with the corresponding breed of dog. These animals, brought from China to Europe, have become very popular in the Netherlands, and the word originates from this language. A pug is both a character in ancient Greek mythology and a “cupcake” translated from Dutch (“mop”). Does a spherical mini-pine look like a cupcake? Quite. Pretty pretty guess. It corresponds to the fact that the pine variety was bred in the Netherlands by the breeder Hoftmann.
Landing
Pay attention to the conditions in which the described pine grows well:
- the soil should be fresh, fertile, sand and gravel;
- soil - slightly acidic;
- does not tolerate heat and too dry air;
- the best landing time is from the end of April to May (or August-September);
- photophilousness;
- better development on loose soil.
Important! Young plants must be closed for winter sunburn.
If you purchased Pug variety in a garden store, you need to get step-by-step instructions for planting this shrub.
Below is a list of all the required actions:
- Soil mix. It is optimal to prepare such a composition: two parts of turf with one part of sand or clay.
- Drainage. Make a 20 cm layer of sand or gravel.
- Distance. Dwarf plants need to be planted at a distance of 1.5 m from each other.
- Root neck. It must be left at ground level.
- Landing pit. Prepare it in advance (for half a month or more).
- Symbiotic fungi. Add the fallen needles to the soil mixture.
- Top dressing. Pipette 100 g nitroammofoski.
- Landing. Install a seedling in the pit, fill it with a mixture, lightly tamp.
- Watering and mulching. When planting, spill abundantly. When moisture is absorbed - mulch with dry needles or peat.
Video: Planting and caring for mountain pine
Pine care
Young pugs of the Pug variety require care. Adult shrubs become very unpretentious. In the early years, measures such as watering and fertilizing, loosening the soil, maintaining a layer of mulch should be implemented. Trimming is described in the corresponding paragraph of the article. Separately, it is worth talking about how susceptible Pugs are to diseases and pests. The application of shrubs in landscape design will be discussed later.
Watering and feeding
In the first few years, representatives of the variety need additional watering. It is carried out in summer and spring.. Adult plants are watered also in the fall - to supply moisture for the winter. Planted pine trees are watered often, abundantly, after 2 years, additional irrigation is stopped. Pug is considered very drought tolerant.
Important! All young seedlings of varieties of mountain pine should be watered three times a season with a water volume of up to 20 liters per plant.
You need to feed the bush with mineral fertilizers. Within 1–2 years, from 30 to 40 g of those are introduced. Further, do not feed. Rooted and developed plants themselves supply themselves with the necessary substances.
Loosening and mulching
If a crust of earth forms, it is important to loosen the soil. Thus, the process of air flow through the earth to the roots becomes established. Pug prefers loose soil rich in oxygen.
Mulching with dry humus and peat helps the shrub protect itself from temperature changes, sudden frosts, and sun rays at the end of winter. Recommended mulch layer - up to 6 cm. Loosening peat with the soil of the near-stem circle and gradually mixing them is normal for Pug.
Pruning
Trimming is carried out for three reasons:
- to remove damaged, dried or diseased shoots;
- in order to slow growth;
- to increase the density of the bush.
When forming pruning, those shoots that have grown over the past year are removed.
Possible diseases and pests
Pugs can be affected by diseases such as tar cancer or rust. Fungus diseases are caused. An orange coating is visible at the ends of the needles.
Did you know? Mountain pine can live for about 1000 years.
The fight is:
- removal of infected material (including the entire shrub);
- the destruction of plants that transmit the disease (currants, gooseberries).
Prevention is the treatment of copper-containing preparations and the cleaning of fallen needles
Butterflies and aphids are the main pests. The use of Lepidocide helps insects. Against aphids, which can not only damage the shrub, but also carry diseases that can destroy the plant, insecticides and karbofos are used.
Use in landscape design
In the design of landscaping, all dwarf plant species are well used as elements of rock gardens, rockeries, Japanese gardens (rocky). A pug is suitable for growing in a container - this method is convenient if the gardener wants to periodically change the appearance of the terrain. In landscape design, small varieties of mountain pine occupy a worthy place.
Layered compositions, low hedges from dwarf Pugs are an excellent example of introducing culture to a site. Slow growth, compact size and unpretentiousness are the main qualities that are commonly used to maintain a special style of a garden, cottage or other green area. By the way, Pugs land in winter gardens.
The decorative look described in the material is interesting in growing and attractive for the design of garden and park spaces. The plant is notable for its small whimsicality and beautiful crown shape. Dwarf pine mountain Pug is an ideal detail of any rock garden. Plant this charming shrub on your site and enjoy its appearance.
