When should I trim my mugo pine?

Mugo pines should be trimmed every year in the spring before the needles open. The most vigorous new growth should be trimmed first, followed by a second trimming a week later.

Native to Alpine Europe, the mugo pine, more commonly referred to as mountain pine, is a popular landscape plant. It's one of the denser pines, retaining its needles for more than four years. It's a shrub that may reach as much as 10 feet in height. Preferring sun or partial shade, the mugo pine grows best in moist loam. Its nut brown cone can be processed to make pine syrup.