每日吃瓜

Hello,I have a few questions regarding the further development of a Pinus mugo.The primary branches are present. The goal is to further develop secondary and, if necessary, tertiary branches.
I’ve already watched quite a few videos and read information about shaping a Pinus mugo.
I understand that to encourage further branching inward (i.e., backbudding), you reduce the number of buds at the end of a branch to a maximum of two and allow these to grow into candles of about 2 to 4 cm. These should then be pinched back to promote backbudding, which helps create buds further inward on the branch that can contribute to further branching.What stands out to me in the information and videos is that it seems the goal in the final shaping is to end up with only one bud with needles at the end of each branch that is kept (I mean the finest branching). Is that correct? Or can multiple buds with needles remain on such a fine branch? Or is that shaping-wise not the purpose?A second question: once you have the fine branching you want, I assume you no longer let the candles grow to 2 to 4 cm before pinching, but instead you do bud selection on each fine branch and pinch them immediately once the needles have emerged (so without letting them grow into long candles? And then you (partially?) pluck the old needles.Maybe these are basic questions, but I’m still not very into pines and have some doubts .I’m attaching a few photos; photo 1 shows how I bought it. Photo 2 and Photo 3 are after an initial shaping.
I hope the photos are somewhat clear, because I find it quite difficult to take a good photo of a bonsai...
I’ve also left quite a few needles on the primary branches where I still want buds, since I read that Pinus mugo only produces buds where needles are still present...Any feedback is always welcome ?

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You got it totally right about how to maintain growth on pines. Except possibly the only one bud in the end of each branch. I am not sure what you mean. But you got it right in earlier in the post. Two buds in the end of each branch it is.

I guess you bought the tree recently, took it home and started working on it. For next tree I recomend to learn how to grow the species healthy before starting working on it. And stick to the right time of the year without exceptions.? For pines the reduction and shortening of buds is still important, but that is 6 months away. You have plenty of time to study the topic until then.

The wiering is really ugly. But practicing is the only way to learn. I just want to highlight an improvement potential that is more relevant than how to finalize styling in 5-10 years.

The overall canopy form looks good, but the initial styling is not finished yet. You still have plenty of places with more than 2 branches.

For now, just focus on plant health. Come spring bud selection and shortening (I prefere cutting, not pinching). Come late winter 2026 resume the initial styling.?

Hi Tropfrog,

Thanks for this valuable feedback.

What I mean with "one bud with needles in the end of each branch" is following (see also picture below).

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It seems that the last branches in the ramification always end with one bud of needles, and not two or three.

What exactly do you mean with "You still have plenty of places with more than 2 branches"?? Do you mean primary branches at the same height?

Greetings
Gunther

Ok, now I understand what you mean. But I think you are overthinking things and it gets wrong. Trees do not have several buds for a long time. Once grown out they are no longer buds but branches. The picture you are using as reference is taken inbetween new branches has matured and next buds to develop. The care is the same. That tree will as well develop multiple buds, the owner reduce to two and shorten them every year.

yes, the most obvious place where there are multiple? branches in one place is on the trunk. But I think I can see places with multiple secondary branches as well. Do not atempt to do anything about it now. Wrong time of the year and and proboably too early in your posession.