Mugo Pines are dwarf trees, and they keep their shape well with yearly attention in the spring. . The right way and time to prune a mugo is when the new growth (candles) sprout out in mid spring; it doesn’t take very much time to trim them, then. This is the biggest question I get on the blog: when and how should I prune a mugo pine? The tip growth is called a “candle” due to its appearance; these light gold, slim spikes should be pinched or tipped back about two-thirds each year. Please don’t cut back into old wood or remove parts of a growing branch- it may not regenerate.

This popular evergreen is wildly variable in expected size. Their native range is western Europe, eastern Europe, southern Europe, and western Asia, which creates this incredible variation. From a well behaved dwarf to a form more in keeping with its tree status, I like the mugo pine no less for its indeterminate height at maturity.

[The Look] A globular shape with branches reaching out in a cupped direction, the needles are 1-2 inches long in fasicles (bundles) of two. Some of the variants are more dome shaped with a low spreading form. Bright medium green foliage, with small, dark gray-brown pinecones, provides a good looking evergreen accent.

Grows from 5′ to 20′ high, and of equal spread. The branchlets grow fairly compactly which gives the bush a nice full shape for garden use.

mugo pine highlights tulips

[How To Grow]
Hardy to zone 2, the Mugo likes loose, organic, moist soil… but is not picky. I’ve grown it both clay and clay loam soil.

This shrub does have some pest problems at times, including Pine sawfly and Pine needle scale. Description of more pest problems at this page, ‘bonsai mugo pine’.

Feed them in spring to early summer with an organic fertilizer. I don’t specifically feed my mugos, but keep them well mulched, and they get the benefit of whatever fertilizer, such as bone meal, that I use for bulbs in their vicinity. They do spread, so space bulbs and other plants accordingly- four to six feet from the center of the pines. ( I’ve had to move bulbs from beneath several times over the years.)

If you need to transplant them, late August to early fall is the best time of year to move pines.

[Fun Facts]
Mugo pines are a favorite for bonsai.
They are a natural choice for a Japanese or Oriental style garden.

Resources:
The closeup picture at top is by Josh Jackson
The tulips and mugo picture are copyright to me.
Monrovia

Ah, Annabelle, “my darling, my darling” – as the famous Poe poem goes, in the right place is no longer brazen, but a sumptuous hydrangea which can look lovely lining an allée, or in an awkward space created by the jog of a house corner. It has a very long blooming season since the pale cream inflorescence of sterile florets turns a soft green white, and then a deeper lime color which lasts until they brown late in the season. Even then, the flowers remain intact to catch the snow and give interest through the winter. This is one reason I like them paired with Sedum spectabile, which also is tough and holds its flower heads through winter.

Annabelle flowers

Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’ grows well in cold climates, even to Zones 2 and 3. It is native to the Eastern United States. They have a height of 4-5′ and spread of 3-5′ .

This hydrangea grows best when cut back in the new season, but since the old flower heads look very artistic in the winter landscape, simply wait until early spring and then cut the stalks to the ground. They will soon sprout new growth of rich green leaves that are a perfect foil for the blooms. Heavy rain can cause the plants to droop, like peonies, but they often have strong enough stalks to keep upright most of the growing season.

It is tolerant of most soils, and thrives in a range of light levels. Some say it needs moisture and doesn’t do well in full sun. That is not my experience. While that may be true of the mop heads like ‘Endless Summer‘ (which I love), I find that I can grow ‘Annabelle’ under the worst of dry conditions and in full sun. Perhaps that is because I live where the water table tends to be high, and moisture percolates up through it in droughty conditions. But I have found the smooth hydrangea to be a very tough plant, needing care only when first getting established. Like all newly transplanted plants, it then should receive regular moisture and some added organic matter. Hydrangeas do appreciate humus.

These shrubs tend to spread on their own through their roots, although not in a threatening way. Hydrangeas are easy to pull up and you can make new plants with just a little of the root attached.

Plants with pretty green-tinted flowers: Sedum spectabile, Annabelle Hydrangea, ‘Green Ice’ miniature rose, Alchemilla mollis.

Other hydrangeas:
‘Endless Summer’, Hydrangea macrophylla has beautiful blue to pinkish blooms.

You can purchase Annabelle at Jackson&Perkins.