Rules for planting in the garden and caring for the Canadian Konik spruce. Spruce horse in a pot

Canadian conic spruce is a decorative form of spruce. Its height is up to 1 meter, but under certain conditions, spruce can reach 3 meters. Her appearance so original enough: conical shape, bluish-green color, the tree is characterized by softness and short shape, weak tap root and root system close to the soil surface. As a result, loosening is carried out very carefully.

Growth features

Konik spruce grows slowly, it grows only 3-4 cm per year. There are certain species that grow up to 10 cm. When they ate for 5 years, its height is about 20 cm, at this age it already stands out with some kind of decorative effect. At 10 years old, Canadian spruce reaches a height of 80 cm. It grows for 10-15 years and reaches a level of 1 meter. In the following years, spruce growth is characterized by some slowness, only 2-3 cm per year. When the spruce reaches the age of twenty, its height is 1.5 m, and the diameter of the base of the roof is 1 m.

Canadian Spruce Care

Konik spruce requires minimal maintenance. The crown of the tree does not require pruning. She lacks natural rainfall. But still, at least minimal care, but it is required.

If it's dry outside, then through the crown you need to irrigate spruce. A few days later, it is recommended to slightly loosen the soil. When summer comes, you need to feed the Konik spruce. To do this, take 5 kg of rotted organic matter and mix with the soil in the root zone. When October comes, you need to put a layer of peat compost 5 cm thick. As a result, the tree will better endure the winter season. To prevent spring browning, you need to wrap the spruce horses with burlap. This will serve as a protective element from the sun and will not disturb ventilation.

Spruce browning in spring is not a disease. In this way, Canadian spruce reacts to solar activity after winter. We can say that this is a seasonal vegetation. The soil that has not melted cannot fully saturate the roots with the necessary nutrition, as a result of which the spruce begins to turn brown. When the secretion of juice begins and the spruce of the horse has sufficient nutrition, then its color is restored.

Planting Koniki

Canadian spruce can be transplanted during the growing season. Planting Canadian horse spruce is not very difficult, however, it is recommended to follow certain rules:

Application of Canadian spruce

Konika is often used in landscape design. The tree looks great in a single form, as well as in a group. As for flower beds, it is planted there very rarely due to slow growth.

Spruce is used for various compositions. It is planted on terraces, near the house, in containers, and is also used to decorate the garden. A great option for horses is a smooth cut lawn. Wood is used for background flower arrangements , also combined with other conifers that have low growth.

Canadian spruce can be grown in a pot. To do this, you need to purchase it in a store, dig it out in the forest, or grow a seedling from seeds. This the seedling must be carefully transplanted into a pot, the root neck of the spruce should be at ground level. The root system in this case should not dry out. If you bought Canadian spruce in a store, then you need to replace the ground.

To create soil for spruce, you need to take turf and leaf ground, sand and peat, the ratio should be as follows 2:2:1:1. At the bottom of the flowerpot, put a drainage that has a layer of 10 cm. When you plant or transplant spruces, it is recommended to make fertilizer. Twice a season you need to make general top dressing.

For the normal functioning of the conic spruce, you need:

• make a normal light mode;
• in winter, it is required to provide the necessary humidity (80-90%) and normal temperature(+5-15 degrees);
• to prevent drying out or waterlogging, mulch with peat, its layer should be 5-6 cm. Mix this layer with the ground from time to time, and put a new layer on top.

Spruce canadian horse is characterized by slow growth and no need to cut it. Only dry and diseased branches should be removed.

With the advent of summer, take out the container with spruce outside under the trees. Do drip irrigation. Transplant it into a larger pot every year.

At good conditions Konika can live in a flowerpot for a long time than an ordinary spruce, which in a pot can exist for only 3-4 years.

Canadian spruce for the holiday

In connection with current trends spruce decoration in a flowerpot is considered very fashionable. New Year . When setting this plant as a Christmas tree, you need to find a place that will be remote from different sources heat. The best option would be to place the container on a cold window, however, if using spruce as a Christmas tree, this is not very possible. In no case should a flowerpot be placed on a south window, since there is a lot of sunlight there, and the tree does not tolerate direct sunlight. In any place where you put a flowerpot, you need to turn it to the light from time to time.

If Canadian spruce is placed in a heated room, then it is necessary to spray the crown from time to time. The best option would be if the air humidity is higher near the conic spruce. To do this, you can put dishes with water near the flowerpot. Or you can also do this: put one edge of the towel in the set dish with water, and place the other on the battery. If you are using last way, then don't forget to add water to the dishes regularly because it evaporates quickly.

When all the holidays are over, move the Canadian conic spruce to the loggia or balcony, if it is glazed. In this room, cover the flowerpot with spruce with a cap, this will give the plant the necessary humidity. As a cap, you can take a five-liter bottle that does not have a bottom. Flowerpot wrap warm material to keep the ground from freezing. But do not overdo it with warming, make optimal winter weather for spruce because it is not a tropical plant.

If it happened that the root system filled the entire pot completely, it must be transferred with lumps of earth into a flowerpot that is larger.

If you follow and adhere to all the rules for caring for spruce, create for her the necessary conditions, then Canadian horse fir will delight with beauty throughout years. It will perfectly decorate the room in the house., as well as create the uniqueness and originality of landscape design.

Konik spruce - planting and care, features of cultivation and pest control, all this has long been of interest to gardeners and landscape designers.

Konika is an ornamental variety of blue Canadian spruce.

North American dendrologists discovered this beauty back in 1904 in the Canadian mountains. Appreciating the beauty of this spruce, connoisseurs quickly spread it around the world.

Description

Konika - decorative forever green Tree. If grown at home, then it will grow up to 35 cm. In the garden, its height will not exceed two meters.

Cone-shaped, very fluffy branches, dense crown, small internodes, ten mm needles light shade and very soft - these are the features of Konika. The roots of Koniki are near the surface of the soil, not particularly deepening into it.

The tree lives for a very long time - up to 500 years, but the Konik spruce grows very slowly. mature tree gives no more than 3 cm per year. Up to 15 years, the tree grows more actively - up to 8 cm per year.

Reproduction methods

Spruce is propagated by cuttings or by planting seeds. Optimal time for cuttings - this is the beginning of June.

If you take winter cuttings, then they must be treated with a rooter, otherwise they will not take root. To take cuttings from the mother tree, lower branches are needed, up to 12 cm in size.

Cuttings are planted to a depth of no more than 2.5 cm, they must first be treated with growth stimulants. While the plant is rooting, the substrate should not dry out or become waterlogged.

Landing Rules

For spruce to grow healthy, you need planting material good quality. Important to choose appropriate place for landing. You can either grow seedlings yourself or buy them from a Christmas tree nursery.

When buying seedlings, you should pay attention to such trifles:

1. The roots of the seedling must be closed and placed in a specialized container. This will allow you to plant a spruce at any time.
2. If the roots of the seedling are not protected, then it must be planted on the day of purchase.
3. The horse system must be protected earthy clod undamaged and wrapped in burlap.
4. The seedling should not have dry and damaged branches.

As soon as it gets warmer, Konika can be planted. Choose an open, slightly shaded area, sheltered from piercing winds.

Due to the fact that Konika's roots suffer from dry, hot air, it should be noted that in autumn and spring, seedlings can be planted without soil, with clean roots, and in summer an earthen clod must be required.

The planting hole should take into account the dimensions of the roots. At the bottom it is worth making a layer of drainage from stones. The seedling placed in the pit is covered with soil. After planting, pour a bucket of water under each seedling. At the end, a circle is mulched near the trunk.

Care

Watering Koniki should be moderate and regular. In summer, in the heat, it should be watered every 4 days, pouring a bucket of water under each seedling. Sprinkling can also be done between waterings.

Periodically it is worth loosening the soil, taking into account the close location of the root system. It is better to mulch the loose layer with peat.

AT winter period it is necessary to cover the tree, leaving only the bottom of the spruce not closed. In the summer heat, Konika also needs shelter from direct sunlight.

Spruce Konik is fed from the age of three with an organic solution.

The following diseases can affect horses:

Spruce Konika - the best way needles for landscape design. Spruce looks great near a mowed lawn, near a flower garden and hedges.

In combination with other types of evergreen plants, Konika will emphasize the individuality of flowers and plant shapes. The charm of the terrace or veranda will give Konika in the hills. The Konik spruce is also used as a Christmas tree.

For amateur gardeners, here are a few recommendations:

• do not forget to protect Konika from the strong sun to avoid burning out the branches;
• do not be zealous with watering, high humidity increase the risk of root system fungus;
• when wrapping a tree for the winter, do not forget to leave small gaps so that the tree can breathe.

As you can see, the Konik spruce is one of the most beautiful and picky spruces, it will perfectly fit into any landscape, and caring for it will only bring pleasure.

See the following video for an expert on planting and caring for conic spruce:

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Spruce "Konika" or "Canadian spruce" botanical description belongs to the species of the genus Pine family. It's decorative evergreen, in flowerbeds and terraces reaches a height of 0.5 meters, and in the garden - 2 meters. the birthplace of this beautiful plant considered to be North America, where it was first used in decorative purposes at the beginning of the twentieth century. In this article, we will talk about how to properly plant a Canadian spruce and care for it.

The landing site must be maximum wind protection. Due to the peculiarities of the root system, the Konik spruce can die if it is planted in a place with a strong wind. At given tree there is one feature: over time, the tap root dies off, and the plant is held in the soil only due to superficial roots. Winds are especially dangerous for old plants, whose age has exceeded 12-15 years.

Also consider the fact that this loves a lot of sunlight. Partial shade may also be suitable for planting. But if you plant a plant in the shade, then it can lose all its decorative effect. In addition, the tree will grow more slowly, and over time it may completely wither and die.

A seedling is inserted into the prepared hole along with a clod of earth. The root neck (the junction of the root and trunk) should remain at ground level and in no case go deeper. Then planting material should be sprinkled with fertile soil and compacted a little. After watering warm water and, if necessary, secure (can be tied to two pegs).

Important! It is not recommended to purchase spruce seedlings with bare roots. Such planting material will hurt a lot, and in worst case- may even die.

After the spruce is planted and fixed, the soil around it can be slightly sprinkled with humus. In this case, the seedling will quickly start growing and take root.

How to care

Spruce Canadian Konica after planting in open ground requires special care. Timely watering, loosening and top dressing are the key to the decorativeness of your tree.

Watering and loosening the soil

Mature and established spruce normally tolerate two to three weeks of summer drought. But young dwarf trees need watering at least once every 1.5 weeks.

Did you know?Spruce wood was used in the manufacture of violins by such string instrument makers as Amati and Stradivari. Musical instruments from such wood they sound very beautiful due to the even distribution of the fibers.

It is necessary to loosen the soil during dry periods, which often occur only in summer. Loosening contributes to the fact that the internal soil moisture will evaporate less. At the same time, irrigation and rainwater will be better absorbed into such soil.

Top dressing and mulching

Any adult and young ornamental plant once a year needs. It is best to use those fertilizers that are designed specifically for coniferous ornamental plants. It is recommended to water newly planted seedlings with growth and root formation stimulants ("Herbamin",). Young seedlings in the first two to three weeks after planting need to be sprayed with Ferravit.

With a strong excess of moisture, the upper roots of spruce can rot. To prevent this from happening, the soil around the tree needs either shavings of coniferous trees, needles or bark.

Mulch helps to balance soil moisture and maintain its normal characteristics. Sometimes the soil around the plant is covered decorative stones, for example, expanded clay. This method of mulching, among other things, adds beauty to any terrace or alley.

Diseases and pests

Spruce Konik can be exposed to some and damaged by various. Timely struggle will help your plant stay beautiful and healthy. Here list of major diseases and pests of Canadian spruce:

1. Coniferous disease Schutte. The disease is fungal in nature. The plant first acquires a black tint, then it becomes covered with "hoarfrost", and then all the needles begin to fall off. With the timely detection of an ailment, the plant can be sprayed with a 3% solution. blue vitriol, or . With a severely neglected disease, the tree must be cut.
2. Tracheomycosis is a fungal disease of the root system of coniferous trees. This disease in most cases affects young trees. The needles redden over time and fall off. This disease is not treatable. Affected plants are cut and burned, and the soil is treated with a solution of copper sulfate.
3. - another view fungal disease, which affects the needles and forms yellow or orange growths on it. Over time, the needles begin to fall off. This disease is treated or "Vectra". Processing should be done once a week for a month.
4. Sometimes bark ornamental plant small brown or black bugs, which are called. They gnaw through the bark, lay their eggs there, and feed on wood. The chance to save the plant in this case is reduced to almost zero.
5. Spruce needles can be affected by a spruce larva, which is capable of laying up to 1500 eggs. She feeds on needles, as a result of which the latter falls off. To combat this insect, a 0.3% solution is used.

Konik spruce is a short, pyramidal form of Canadian gray spruce. It has been growing in our area for over ten years. This time was enough for the tiny Christmas tree to turn into a beautiful coniferous tree, and I gained experience in caring for it.

Spruce Konik at home

The story of my Konika's life began in New Year holidays when I received a tiny coniferous tree as a gift. He was not even visible under the shell of shiny tinsel. For greater "beauty" the needles were strewn artificial snow. At first, I kept a pot of Konika at home. Of course, all jewelry was removed from her, and the needles were carefully washed from the "snow". The Christmas tree was hard: the roots suffered in close flower pot with coconut fiber substrate. In the dry warm air, part of the needles crumbled. I had to transfer to a larger pot with normal soil and rearrange Konika on a glazed loggia. There, the Christmas tree lived in a flower pot almost until May. During this time, she did not grow up, but she got prettier and stronger.

Spruce Konik on the site

As soon as it got warmer, I transplanted Konika to a plot closer to the entrance to the house. She was so small and defenseless that at first she needed our constant attention. We studied scientific and popular science literature with interest, trying to understand the features of this unusual spruce. It turns out that a bonsai tree with a sail-like silhouette is a long-liver that preserves such best qualities ate Canadian gray as frost resistance and resistance to strong winds. You can plant Konika in a sunny place and in the shade. In May and early summer, Konika is especially good. It is at this time that young shoots grow, and the emerald needles seem very soft and fluffy.

Caring for Konika

This tree is easy to care for. However, it is necessary to take into account a number of its features. The slow-growing dwarf prefers loams, to which peat, sand and well-decomposed humus are added. It reacts poorly to calcareous soils. Loves moisture, but does not tolerate prolonged waterlogging. She loves a water shower, which is obtained using a spray nozzle on a hose.

Prefers partial shade, although it also grows in full sun. It is better to feed with special fertilizers for conifers. You can "salt" the soil with Kemira along the periphery of the crown.

Inherited high winter hardiness allows spruce to winter without additional shelter. But it is winter that is the most dangerous period for Konika. During this season and early spring, many spruces get terrible burns.

Shelter Koniki for the winter

Most Koniki owners cover their Christmas trees for the winter in order to protect the crown from sunburn. In late February - early March increases solar Activity. The sun's rays reflect off the white snow, becoming even brighter. If the fir trees do not have shading, then burns appear on the needles. Especially on the open part of the crown facing the sun. Trees can be protected with burlap, thick lutrasil, cardboard shields, kraft paper or cloth. lower part, which is under the snow, do not close to avoid damping. They also shade with spruce branches. When harvesting spruce branches, you can not take branches with small green formations, so as not to bring in Hermes, the scourge of conifers.

Our Konika wintered well for many years under several layers of old lutrasil. Until the store persuaded me to purchase a roll of special imported nonwoven fabric(Green colour). On its packaging were some bushes, roses and Koniks wrapped in this cloth. She almost ruined the Christmas tree: the needles under it strongly rotted and crumbled. By the way, the roses also suffered greatly. After that unfortunate winter, I began to cover Konika with snow. Only at the end of February I put some fabric on top of it.

Help for Konika, who received sunburn

Once I read on one of the forums (I don’t remember which one) a phrase that somewhat rudely, but very accurately describes spruces with burnt needles: “Konik has a classic look for this year: they all look like punks, with red-dyed tufts.” Even such a badly burned Christmas tree is worth trying to reanimate. To do this, at the end of April or in May, gently shake off the crumbling needles or wash it off with a strong jet from a hose. The crown of the tree should be moistened as often as possible with water from a watering can or hose. It will take quite a bit of time, and young shoots will appear on bare branches from living buds. The affected areas will gradually tighten. I am convinced: “You should not rush to cut branches with browned needles, and even those that were left completely without needles. All is not yet lost. It is better to take a watering can with water instead of secateurs.

Spruce Konik and other dwarf spruces

In Canada, a very beautiful gray spruce (Picea glauca) grows with a slender conical crown. The height of the gray fir tree is about 35 meters. This spruce is planted in middle lane Russia. Far from its homeland, the gray spruce feels good, but grows more slowly.

In 1904 in Canada there was historical event- North American dendrologists discovered and described a short mutant of Canadian spruce. The height of the pyramidal crown of this adult tree was no higher than four meters. So, an accidental discovery on the shore of a Canadian lake gave the world one of the most decorative fir trees with a dense conical crown. Konica (Picea glauca Conica) began to be cultivated in all countries. Numerous Koniks are descendants of the same natural dwarf spruce with gray. They have less prickly needles than other spruces.

Most fans consider all undersized spruces to be Koniki. pyramidal shape. They may have different coloring needles (green, blue, gray and golden). These spruces are often sold under common name"Konika", although they are not her, but various forms ate gray. Here brief information about some dwarf firs that are sold in garden centers near Moscow.

"Elegance Compacta". Conical crown, stronger growth than 'Konica'. Young shoots and buds are yellow-brown, needles are light green, 8-10 mm long.

"Dwarf". Strict conical shape. The needles are gray-green, 8 - 10 mm long.

Gracilis Compacta. Dwarf with a conical crown. Very dense and hard gray-green needles 7 - 10 mm long.

"Laurin". Dwarf form with weak growth. The crown is very dense. The needles are dark green.

"Rainbow's End". In summer, from mid-June to September, the needles have bright yellow tips.

Zuckerhut. Tree height up to 1.5 m. Dense conical crown with a noticeably pointed top. Soft bright green needles. Grows very slowly.

Form a quality harmonious space on the selected plot of land is simply impossible without correct selection garden plants. Of particular importance in landscape design are dwarf coniferous trees, which are used for a wide variety of purposes and can act as individual element design of a piece of land, as a living fence, and so on. Spruce in landscape design won a long time ago significant place and all thanks to the ability this plant stay attractively green throughout the year, and also thanks to its unpretentious care.

The small growth of dwarf spruce makes it possible to plant this tree in both large and small areas.

Until recently, the most ordinary spruce trees were used in landscape design, which, for their long life could reach a height of more than 25 m. However, after a species of spruce with a mutated growth gene was discovered in Canada, the height of which does not exceed 4 m, dwarf species won a place from their huge relatives

There are some requirements for planting a dwarf spruce. The soil before planting must be fertilized by adding 8-15 kg of humus per 1 m². By digging the surface layer of soil with the introduction of humus. In addition, you need to add phosphorus and nitrogen fertilizers. If the soil in the area for planting is sandy, it is necessary to dilute it by adding part of the soddy fertile land. Spruce is planted at a depth of 35-40 cm, so that not only the roots, but also part of the trunk are in the ground.

Canadian spruce fits perfectly into the design of a dry garden stream.

In addition, you need to drive a peg next to the trunk and tie up a tree so that the tree has support until the root system gets stronger. After planting, the conic spruce may dry out a little, in which case you should not immediately cut off the faded branches. As a rule, wilting of branches occurs in case of damage to the roots, which happens quite often when transplanting a tree, but not everything is so bad. With abundant watering, the tree will again begin to delight the eye with its bluish greens.

So, for planting fir trees, you need a conic the following materials and tools:

• cutting shovel;
• a hammer;
• wooden stakes;
• twine or twine;
• humus;
• nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers.

Dwarf spruce can also grow in a shaded area. The main thing is that the soil is rich nutrients. Young trees are planted in spring or autumn. Konik spruce is quite unpretentious, but it is still desirable to irrigate in especially dry months, since this tree comes from places where the soil remains frozen throughout the year, its root system does not reach more than 2 m in depth, which means that it draws water from deep layers of the earth will not be able to.

Despite the frost resistance and excellent tolerance of windy winters, the owners of such plants still have to sometimes cover the trees with burlap in sunny days to protect trees from sunburn.

If the horse grows in a shady place, special care for the Christmas tree is not required.

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Ways to use conic firs in landscape design

Dwarf spruce does not need care and pruning - enough high-quality soil and natural precipitation.

Many designers in recent times began to use these small trees for a variety of purposes. The decorative dwarf spruce is called "conic" due to its conical shape, it has a number of important qualities that have made it so popular for arranging garden plots. First, it is worth noting that this species spruce has a regular conical shape, and the tree does not need to be cut to form an even crown. Secondly, dwarf conic spruces grow slowly: only 3-4 cm per year throughout their lives and they don’t have any jumps in growth, like ordinary spruces. For comparison: many ordinary spruces at 10 years of age can stretch up to 50 cm per year, which ultimately leads to the fact that standing side by side trees have different heights.

Separately, it is worth considering how exactly you can arrange dwarf Christmas trees to get a harmonious picture. More recently, dwarf Christmas trees have been used to model a miniature forest. Such compositions look very impressive, especially in combination with other types of dwarf trees, although it is quite possible to simulate a small forest from some dwarf firs. When modeling a small forest in a flower bed, small dwarf birch trees are used, in combination with horses, to complement the composition. Small grass and dwarf flowers are additional elements formation of miniature flattering thickets. Such compositions look relatively small areas flowerbeds and lawns quite effectively, especially when the trees have not yet reached even half of their maximum growth. Besides, decorative fir trees conics can be used to form a kind of hedge. The small growth of Christmas trees allows you to plant them at a distance of no more than 0.5 meters, so even small trees in a hedge look great, and over time the fence will become a solid wall.

Among other things, spruce conics can serve as essential element to create an exquisite and at the same time strict design, that is, as an addition to a regular lawn. Usually in such cases, Christmas trees are located on the lawn in the form geometric figure or in a checkerboard pattern. Spruce conics can also be used to form a frame for lawns and alleys.

Designing a site design using dwarf firs is currently becoming an increasingly popular solution, as these plants are unpretentious, and the created landscape will retain its beauty for many years without requiring special care.