Mugho Pines
Mugho pines are a popular evergreen shrub that is used in small areas. Most of their growth occurs in late April and early May in our climate.
In order to keep these pines confined to their allotted areas, we have to do some minor pruning every year. The new growth is called a candle on these plants and stretches from the tips of the branches. As the growth ages the needles will come from this new growth.
The best way to control the size of these pines (and many other varieties) is to pinch or snap the new growth off while it is still soft and the needles are not fully formed.
This is a better technique than cutting to avoid giving a brown cast to the plant. Snapping these branches will cause the plant to form increasingly dense branches as more buds form year after year.