Mugo pines...I know nothing about. But it looks like some great material. On a side note...when I hear of Mugo Pines...I think of a member on the B-nut forum...everyone there refers to him as the Mugo guy referring to his name when Mugo's are mentioned. His name is Vance. He has inspired a few to give Mugo's a shot.

I would leave your Mugo alone for another year, as far as doing aggressive techniques with it, like carving out the trunk. Mugos are particularly sensitive to this kind of activity. They tend to function connectively where certain roots support certain branches and conversly. Lose one you risk the other. If you start carving holes in the trunk and do not know what you are doing it probably will not end well. If you start something aggressively this next season that might not end well either.

I speak on this problem from experience. Mugos are pretty tough to a point, They will take a beating and come back with some pretty nice growth making you think all is well then if you attack them you may lose them.

And in case you're wondering, Mr. Wood has been "THE mugo man" for a very long time :-)!

That's true I've been making people sick of hearing about Mugos for a very long time.

Yes I will let this tree sit for a while. The color is currently a little off. Doesn't look its best. Should be dormant now which will give it some rest.
I will Re- evaluate Summer 2015 but probably no work till winter 2015 or spring 2016. Will probably reduce/remove some more branches next working.

And remember how weird Mugos are about repotting in July (at the least) vs spring like all other pines!