Many people associate coniferous trees with winter, New Year and Christmas holidays. Nowadays, landscape designers have completely broken these stereotypes, pines and spruces have become an excellent decoration for a personal plot or yard. They are often used as hedge, create unusual compositions in which conifers play in the forefront. It should be understood that to create unusual compositions, both ordinary types of coniferous trees from the forest and those bred in nurseries are used, which mainly differ in the color of the needles and the size of an adult tree. Let's look at how to plant and properly care for a beautiful spruce.
Content:
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Landing Rules
In order to grow a beautiful Christmas tree on your site, you need to know her preferences. Only the observance of some rules and recommendations from experienced gardeners will allow you to grow a prickly beauty without any problems.
In order for spruce to grow well, you must follow three simple rules
For the normal growth and development of a coniferous beauty, it is necessary to create certain conditions, the main of which will be:
- normal lighting
- soils required by characteristics
- good drainage
These three components, chosen correctly, will be the key to the rapid rooting of the bole in the chosen place and its normal development in the future.
In addition, spruces will continue to need some care, which is not at all difficult to provide. In addition to fertilizing, mulching and periodically watering if necessary, some types of plants will need pruning.. It is carried out for aesthetic purposes, to form an unusual design and to remove dry and diseased parts of the tree.
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Novice gardeners are confident in the judgment that they ate exclusively shade-loving, but this is not entirely true. Under natural conditions, spruce forests are practically devoid of shrubs and grass; nevertheless, young growth grows there and very successfully. Spruce will feel great exactly in a sunny, well-lit area, it will also tolerate partial shade not badly.
Spruce growing in natural conditions
Dwarf varieties and Christmas trees with colored needles are especially picky about lighting. For their normal growth and development, the sun's rays are necessary as moisture and properly selected soil.
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Priming
Choosing the right soil for spruce is very important, it will be difficult for the plant to grow on unsatisfactory soils, it will often get sick, and as a result, it may even die.
Do not allow excessive drying of the soil
The main explanation for this is that spruce is classified as a gymnosperm, and they tend to form symbiotic bonds with soil fungi.. Thanks to these connections, the plant will fully receive all the necessary substances for good growth and resistance to the environment.
For planting spruce, the following soil characteristics are required:
- acidity 4.5-6 Ph, higher values reduce the intensity of the work of symbiotic bonds
- for the normal growth of spruce, excellent drainage is necessary, the plant will not tolerate stagnant water
- excessive drying of the soil is also unacceptable, the roots will quickly die, and with them the plant
- landing on poor soils is possible, even calcareous
Experienced gardeners and masters of landscape design advise pouring a little needles, peat and sand when planting fir trees in a hole. Sawdust of coniferous trees will also be a good addition.
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Little beauties that can be purchased at the nursery
The choice of stem should be taken carefully, because how carefully the selection will take place depends on what to settle on the site. There are two places where you can make this choice these days:
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Landing Rules
In order for the forest beauty to grow quickly, to please the eye with saturated colors of needles, it is necessary not only to choose the right soil and choose a plant. The correct planting of the trunk will also become important, it depends on how quickly the spruce takes root and begins to develop in a new place.
spruce planting
The basic rules that gardeners are advised to use are as follows:
- any type of spruce is recommended to be planted on the site in late autumn or early winter, before the ground freezes
- the place is chosen for the bole based on the color of the needles, the darker it is, the less light the plant needs
- depending on the landscape composition being created, the distance between the trees is regulated, for tall ones it should be at least 3, for dwarfs one and a half meters is enough
- the root neck of the tree should remain at ground level
- when planting, laying drainage will be an important point; for this, broken brick or large gravel is most often used
- the soil near the trunk is not compacted
Planting in open ground at such a late date is carried out in order to minimize the possibility of infection of the root system with putrefactive bacteria. You should not be afraid that the stem horses will freeze out, spruce is a fairly frost-resistant plant.
Planting spruce will not take much time and will not cause trouble, the work is carried out in this order:
- The selected stem is prepared for planting; for this, an earthen ball is well soaked around the root system. The potted plant is placed directly with the container in a large container of water and kept for at least 4 hours at room temperature. A tree brought from the forest in a wrapped rhizome is also saturated with moisture by placing it in a container of water right in the winding.
- At the same time, I am preparing a pit, it is important that it be twice as large as an earthen clod on the rhizome. Drainage from broken bricks or crushed stone is laid at the bottom, covered with a mixture of forest soil, sawdust from coniferous trees, sand, peat and minerals. All components are taken in equal proportions, a fourth of mineral fertilizers will be enough.
- Next, they put an earthen clod with a trunk so that the root collar is at ground level and fill the hole from all sides with soil mixture or garden soil. From the edges to the center, the earth is slightly tamped; such a procedure is not carried out around the trunk.
- The final stage of planting will be watering the trunk and mulching the soil around. For mulch, peat, sawdust, bark of coniferous trees are used.
Until spring, the planted spruce is not touched. The fact that the tree has begun to be evidenced by young shoots, which may appear a little later than those of the accepted coniferous inhabitants of the garden.
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It seems to novice gardeners that spruce care is not needed at all, because the tree grows in the forest, and no one cares for it there. This judgment is not correct, spruce in the forest can grow and develop, and then die under adverse conditions. So that such a misfortune does not happen with a trunk in the garden, it is worth paying some attention to it.
So that the shtamb does not die, he needs care
For the normal life of spruce, it is necessary:
- Adhere to watering rules and comply with the humidity limit.
- Fertilize regularly, since under natural conditions, neighboring boles provide each other with them.
- Periodically trim old and diseased parts. For some stems, crown formation is essential, so pruning is carried out 2-3 times a year.
In winter, no special attention is paid to spruce, only in the first year it is necessary to cover young shoots with spruce branchesto keep them from freezing. Further, the plant will adapt to climatic features, the winter cold will not be terrible for them.
Watering and humidity
For rooted adult boles, watering is not needed, the trees perfectly tolerate the absence of moisture for a month.. With a longer absence of rain, you can water the tree yourself, for this they take at least 15 liters of settled water, well warmed up in the sun.
spruce watering
Dwarf varieties and young seedlings do not cope well with drought, the lack of moisture for 10-14 days can destroy the bole forever. Therefore, for trees and dwarfs planted in winter, it is recommended to carry out regular watering throughout the summer in the absence of rain for more than a week.
To reduce watering in the warm season, in order to retain moisture for as long as possible, soil mulching is carried out immediately after watering.
Usually used for this:
- shavings of coniferous trees
- bark and needles
- peat
- expanded clay
Other decorative stones are also used in landscape design to preserve moisture.In the absence of mulch, the soil around the tree must be regularly loosened and weeded from weeds.
fertilizers
In a garden, each of the plants must be periodically fed, spruce is no exception. Once a year, for normal development and prevention of certain diseases, the bole needs to be fed.
Conifer fertilizer
Fertilization is carried out in early spring, as soon as the ground has thawed. It is recommended to use universal mineral complexes for coniferous plants, which are dissolved in water according to the instructions and watered abundantly.
After planting, it is advisable to water the first years with water with a diluted growth and root formation stimulator. In the first few weeks after transplantation, under accompanying weather conditions, the needles are sprayed with Ferravit.
Peat and small sawdust from coniferous trees will give excellent nutrition for spruce; after mulching the soil for the winter, the excess is not removed by this method, they are mixed with the topsoil about 7 cm deep.
pruning
Pruning is required for all trees, including spruce. In this way, the trunk is freed from old, dry branches that spoil the appearance.
The crown must be formed carefully
The formation of a crown for fir trees is necessary, but this must be done carefully. Some varieties of spruce do not tolerate such haircuts, for others, the procedure will be an incentive for more branching. It is not recommended to cut the shoots strongly, a rare crown can cause the death of a tree at any age.
Young tall stems, often used as hedge, form in the form of cypresses with a narrow crown, it looks very impressive.
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At home, spruce can be propagated in two ways.
In their natural habitat, spruces reproduce in only one way, by seeds.. After the cones ripen, grains fall out of them on the ground, under normal climatic conditions, spruce sprouts will appear next spring, which will actively grow and develop all summer. If the cold of winter does not destroy the tender youth, the next season will harden the young Christmas trees even more. Further, they will no longer be afraid of frost or drought.
At home, spruce is propagated in two ways:
- cuttings, which is considered the most popular due to the shorter duration
- seed method less commonly used, it is mainly used in breeding for breeding new varieties
It should be understood that reproduction in any way will require sufficient time for both cuttings and seeds. Abandoned without attention, both will die equally quickly.
cuttings
Growing blue spruce cuttings
This type of reproduction involves cutting material for cuttings, this process is carried out according to the following rules:
- for this, lateral processes with stiff branches are suitable
- the ideal option would be an escape that is 1-2 years old
- the presence of an upper apical bud is mandatory, since all conifers have a monopodial type of branching
- each shoot must be no shorter than 6 cm, but no longer than 10
Cut the material for cuttings with a garden pruner or a sharp knife. The procedure is carried out in the spring, while it is important that the buds have not yet blossomed. With the help of a secateurs, the bottom row of small branches is removed, they will interfere with the placement of the cuttings in a container with a substrate.
To carry out rooting, it is necessary to prepare the right substrate, some ingredients will allow the cuttings to take root faster and take on a life of their own.
Spruce cuttings are ideally suited for a mixture of sand and peat in a ratio of 3: 1 or fine perlite. Each cutting is lowered into a previously prepared recess in the container by 2 cm and the soil is slightly compacted around. Watering the cuttings is not worth it, it is better to spray them several times a day and cover with a film. The created greenhouse effect will significantly speed up the process of root formation. An important point will be regular airing of the container., for this, the film must be removed several times a day, thereby providing fresh air access to the soil and cuttings.
You can simply make holes in the film, then you only need to open it for spraying, air circulation will take place naturally.
The container must be placed in a well-lit place, but the temperature must be kept within +25, higher rates will provoke the development of fungal diseases in young animals. In a month, the cuttings will have roots, they will begin to produce young shoots.
seed way
spruce seeds
Reproduction by seeds will take a lot of time, this method is often used by breeders in laboratories.
At home, using this method, you can also try to grow a bole yourself, for this you need:
- fresh seeds
- container
- dry sand or sand and peat substrate
- film or glass to create a greenhouse effect
Reproduction is carried out in two stages, the first of which is the treatment of seeds with cold, To do this, you need to do the following procedures:
- prepare the substrate, it can be sand or a mixture of sand and peat 3: 1
- the soil mixture is poured into a prepared container, the seeds are sifted over the surface, covered with a small amount of sand and put in the refrigerator for a month and a half at a temperature of no more than +3 degrees
- the next step is to place the container in a warm, well-lit place and water the soil abundantly
- it is advisable to cover the watered container with a film or glass, so the seeds will sprout faster
Only freshly harvested seeds are used for sowing, every year the seeds will lose their germination very much. The spring sun will contribute to the germination of seeds, it is during this period that it is recommended to start growing fir trees from seeds.
Seedlings are planted in open ground in the second year of life, young shoots will not withstand wintering in the open field.
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Schutte spruce
Coniferous tree species are rarely exposed to diseases, they have strong immunity to many diseases. However, with improper care, spruce can be affected by such diseases:
- Schutte appears as dark stripes on already yellowed needles. Over time, the needles fall off.
- gray mold most often appears with an excess of moisture on young boles and dwarf species.
You can fight them only with the help of fungicides, which are purchased in specialized stores. Dangerous pests include spruce mites, spruce-fir Hermes and bark beetles.. It will be possible to exterminate them by treating the boles with insecticides and removing the affected areas with secateurs.
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In landscape design two types of spruces and decorative varieties derived from them are used. Most often, trees are used as hedges or they try to create a corner of wildlife on their site with their help.
Spruce in landscape design
The main types are:
Based on one species, there can be both tall varieties and dwarfs. Care, reproduction and planting for spruces of all types is the same, preferences in soils may vary slightly.
Next, we consider in more detail the decorative varieties of each type.
Acrocon spruce
The basis of the variety is the European type of spruce, the stem can reach a height of 3 meters in height, up to 4 meters in diameter. Dark green needles are placed on branches of a wide-conical shape. The resulting cones of the tree have a bright red color, the branches are slightly raised, arched. It will not work to grow a bole on salty or dry soils, the tree will develop poorly even with stagnant water in the roots.
inverse
A feature of the variety is that weeping branches can be directed by tying in any direction. In height, the tree can reach 7 meters, it grows quite quickly, the diameter of the crown is up to 2 meters.
Maxwelly
A bright representative of dwarfs among the common spruce. Its height is rarely more than 2 m, the shape of the crown near the trunk is flattened, somewhat reminiscent of a plate or pillow. The tree is not afraid of frost and shady areas of the garden or yard, the diameter of the crown can reach two meters, which turns the spruce into a decorative pillow of yellow-green color.
Nidiformis
This spruce dwarf will become a real decoration of the site, it will be only a meter in height, but it will spread over two in width. From a distance, the stem resembles a nest or a large green ball; it grows and develops well both in the shade and in the sun. The worst enemies for him are an excess of moisture and its stagnation in the roots.
Ohlendorfi
Slow-growing dwarf, gives an increase of only 5 cm per year, reaches a maximum height of 6 meters with a crown diameter of up to 3 meters. The spruce branches are thick, because of this, with the help of timely pruning, a spherical or conical shape is achieved. The buds are reddish when young and slightly brownish when mature. The development of the bole will not interfere with acidic and alkaline soils, but it is better not to allow stagnant water.
Tompa
Look great in the shade, partial shade and in the sun will be a representative of the type of common spruce variety Tompa. Its crown shape requires almost no maintenance and pruning, it is not picky about soils. The height of an adult tree rarely exceeds one and a half meters, the stem has the same indicators in diameter.
Wils Zwerg
The variety is distinguished by a narrow-conical crown with densely arranged branches, belongs to dwarfs. It annually adds about 3 cm in height, in adulthood it has a trunk height of up to 2 meters, while the crown diameter is about a meter. A distinctive feature will be the color of the needles of the plant, it is light green, almost yellow. The variety is often grown in containers.
glauka
Variety of prickly spruce, which is brightly distinguished by bluish-gray needles. It grows up to 30 meters in height, while the color of the needles practically does not change. Looks great in group plantings as a hedge.
Glouca globosa
The dwarf species of the above-described stem, reaches a maximum height of 2 meters, annually adds 10 cm in each direction. The crown is spherical or wide-conical, lends itself well to formation.
Iseli Fatigiata
A variety of blue spruce, a distinctive feature of which is the growth of branches from the trunk almost vertically. Thus, the crown of the tree will be narrowly conical with a high top. The bole grows quickly, up to 10 cm annually. It reaches a maximum height of 10 meters.
Hupsi
A variety of spruce with an average height, can reach no more than 11 meters in height. The needles are blue, located densely on the branches, the crown is medium dense, cone-shaped.
Pendula Bruns
The three-meter trunk of the Siberian spruce species differs from its counterparts in the weeping appearance of the branches. The whole crown has a lowered appearance, the branches themselves do not reach for the sun, but for the earth.
Karelian
The most popular Siberian dwarf, grows well in cities in the sun and in partial shade. The height of the trunk will not exceed a meter, the diameter of the crown is also small, only one and a half meters. The needles have a rich green color, short. The stem is not afraid of any weather conditions; only constant stagnation of water in the roots can destroy it.
Nana
The variety is highly decorative, it can reach a height of 3 meters in height. A correctly symmetrical crown develops up to two meters, the needles on top have a dark green color, from below the color changes to white-blue. This allows the trunk to take a leading position in its use in landscape design.
VIDEO: How to plant a spruce
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