Maple Tree · Gardenality Genius · Zone 10A · 30° to 35° F · Comment About Pruning
Unlike other dwarf mugo cultivars the Pumilio variety may need annual pruning to maintain a dense, rounded, low mounding appearance that many of us like to see of this pine in our gardens. Prune your mugo in the spring after the new growth (called candles) has almost reached their full length. Cut back the new growth by half to three-fourths depending on how low and dense you want your plant. The plant will produce growth buds at the point where the new growth was cut producing denser growth of branches next year. Try not to prune your plant to late in the spring as this may produce only one new bud that may not help thicken up your plant next year. Study your plant each year and decide how you want it to look and prune it accordingly. You may want it to have a more free form character and taller in height. In this case you may want to prune the new growth to a lesser degree or not at all. Try never to prune your plant back into older growth as new buds will not grow at these cut points.

Maple Tree · Gardenality Genius · Zone 10A · 30° to 35° F · Comment About Planting
The mugo pine is tolerant and grows well in clay, loam, sand, acidic or alkaline soils. The one requirement is a well-draining soil. It likes a moist, but not wet soil. Constantly soggy soil is a killer. Much of the mugo pines roots grow close to the surface. A two inch layer of mulch spread over the planting site will help to keep the roots cool in the warmer months.

Maple Tree · Gardenality Genius · Zone 10A · 30° to 35° F · Comment About Feeding
Pine trees do not need much fertilizer. In fact, if you fertilize your pine tree too much, or water it too often, you can make it grow too fast. The tree will not be the size and shape that it should be. Fertilize new pine trees once a year, until the tree is two or three years old. I always fertilize my pines in the early spring before new growth starts. The best type of fertilizer for pine trees is a slow releasing fertilizer formulated for pine trees or a fertilizer for shrubs and trees. The surface roots of the Mugo pine can be burned easily if fertilizer is applied to heavily. I usually apply the fertilizer at a lesser rate than noted by the manufacturer. When using a liquid fertilizer I cut the application rate in half. After the pine tree has been planted for two or three years, look at the new growth. If the tree is growing the rate it should be, do not fertilize it. After the first two or three years, the only fertilizer that your pine tree may need is iron. You can give iron to trees any time of year, spring, summer, or fall. Iron will help the tree to maintain its proper color.