Black pine: description, height and dimensions, planting rules and tree care

Black pine in appearance resembles a traditional common variety. The only difference is the darker needles. The tree is characterized by decorative properties and is often used to decorate summer cottages. In order for the culture to always retain its attractiveness, it is important to properly plant and provide it with quality care.

Botanical description

Black or Austrian pine is called Pinus Nigra in botany. The height of the culture reaches 20-35 meters. The tree reaches its maximum size by 30 years of age. The plant can reach an age of 200-600 years. However, there are also centenarians over 800 years old.

In the early years, the culture has a pyramidal crown. However, as the tree grows, it takes on the shape of an umbrella. In this case, the diameter of the culture reaches 3 meters. Pine has a straight trunk and black bark, covered with bright grooves. The plant is often used for decorative purposes.

Despite the high frost resistance, the tree develops slowly in the middle zone and often freezes. At the same time, the culture is highly resistant to drought. The tree is characterized by a developed root system, which sinks quite deeply into the soil. Due to this, the tree is easily held on the mountain slopes.

Black pine is characterized by gray shoots. The needles of a young plant are distinguished by a bright green color. As it grows, it becomes dark and acquires brownish hues. The needles reach 15 centimeters and are quite thin. They are combined into bundles of 2 pieces.The fruits are presented in the form of yellow-brown cones, in which there are seeds about 6 millimeters in size. They reveal themselves after 3 years.

Popular varieties

The plant has many varieties that differ in appearance and size. This allows you to choose a culture in accordance with your requirements and use it to decorate the site. The most popular varieties of black pine include the following:

1. Nana - reaches a height of 3 meters. At the same time, the tree grows by 5 centimeters per year. It is characterized by a decorative spherical crown, which has an almost black color. Shoots differ in vertical growth. Another feature of the culture is the tap root system. This variety is quite photophilous. It does not thrive in shade and is intolerant of drought.
2. Pyramidalis - this plant has a narrow pyramidal crown. For 1 year, the culture increases by 20 centimeters.At the same time, the maximum height of the tree reaches 8 meters, and the diameter is 3. The culture has dark green needles, which grows in bunches consisting of 2 needles. The plant develops normally in any soil, but prefers a calcareous substrate to a greater extent. The characteristic features of the culture include resistance to frost and polluted air.
3. Fastigiata - this type of tree is distinguished by a narrow crown of a conical shape. It forms quite powerful shoots and is characterized by slow growth. For 15 years, the plant increases by 2 meters in height and 50 centimeters in width. The tree is characterized by shiny needles that form panicles. It also has cone-shaped brown buds. The plant is not too demanding on the composition of the soil and illumination. It develops normally in single plantings and is combined with other trees and shrubs.
4. Japanese - the average size of this crop reaches 25 meters. It grows mainly in Japanese gardens.In suitable soil, the plant grows up to 40 meters in height. At a young age, the crown has a conical shape, but over time becomes pyramidal. As the tree develops, the bark acquires a dark color and becomes covered with cracks. Thanks to powerful roots, the tree can be used to strengthen plantings. The needles form bunches and are near the edges of the branches. They are dark green in color.
5. Helga is a dwarf variety that has a conical shape. It is distinguished by long needles of a bright green color. The plant is characterized by not too fast growth. Within 10 years, it increases by 1 meter. In this case, the diameter of the crown does not exceed 1.5 meters. Ephedra is characterized by resistance to the influence of wind, however, bright sunlight can cause burns. The most suitable for the plant is loam. However, the tree can also grow in rocky soil.
6. Nigra is a fairly attractive ornamental crop that has dark green needles and is undemanding to growing conditions.Also, the plant has pronounced decorative characteristics. It perfectly complements parks and is suitable for growing in summer cottages.

Growth area

Black Nigra pine or other varieties of trees of this species thrive in both sunny and shady places. At the same time, the culture grows poorly in places where mountain magma accumulates. A well-developed root system helps the crop cope well with drought. The presence of suitable soil and sufficient light leads to the formation of forest areas.

Black pines are most often found in the mountains of Europe. Because the culture is often called mountainous. Under natural conditions, the culture grows in Algeria and in the Mediterranean countries.

Landing

Small seedlings are often sold in containers. Therefore, they can be planted in different periods - from mid-April to mid-October.You don't need to dig a big hole for this. It should be slightly larger than the dimensions of the container. When planting a culture, do not deepen it. It is important to ensure that the root neck of the tree is flush with the ground.

Aftercare

Pine Pinus Nigra is considered very unpretentious. For its cultivation, it is important to adhere to standard agrotechnical rules. In the first month, the culture should be watered once a week. Subsequently, the culture is moistened only during long periods of drought. This is required within the first 2 years after planting.

Some ornamental species have unique care requirements. In order to succeed in growing them, it is important to study the instructions at the time of purchase of seedlings.

Pine does not put forward specific requirements for fertilization. In early spring, the tree should be fed with a combined mineral remedy. This will help speed up the growth of green mass.

Black pine does not need shaping pruning. Sometimes at the beginning of the season it is required to remove diseased and old branches. This helps to give the plant an attractive appearance. Some ornamental varieties are sculpted.

Young trees need preparation for winter. To do this, the trunk circle needs to be abundantly moistened and covered with a mulch layer. Its thickness should be 15-20 centimeters. Trees should be treated with insecticides before the onset of cold weather. Branches in a spiral need to be tied with a rope. This will help prevent them from breaking under the weight of snow or wind.

Methods of reproduction

The tree is recommended to be propagated by seeds. Black pine cuttings practically do not take root. You can also breed a culture by grafting. However, only professionals can do this.

To propagate the culture by seeds, it is required to collect cones in the fall and dry them to extract the seeds.In autumn, they can be planted directly into the soil. When planting in spring containers, the seeds must be placed in the refrigerator for 2-3 months. Thanks to stratification, it will be possible to improve their survival rate.

Seeds are recommended to be planted in nutrient soil with an interval of 5 centimeters. It is important for them to provide a stable temperature at +20 degrees and moderate watering. After a year, seedlings can be planted in open soil.

Possible diseases and pests

The plant is disease resistant. However, sometimes it suffers from the following pathologies:

1. Pine spinner - is considered one of the most dangerous. With the development of this pathology, the needles become bright brown. In 1-2 years, the tree can completely die. Therefore, treatment must begin immediately. To do this, they are treated with Bordeaux liquid with a concentration of 1%.For the first time this is done in early May. Then it is required to carry out another 2-3 sprayings with an interval of 5 days.
2. Brown Shutte - most often develops in winter. In this case, the needles become brown and covered with a white bloom. For the treatment of pathology, it is worth using the drugs "Angle" or "Hom".
3. Cancerous cancer - this disease first affects the needles. They droop in the form of umbrellas and turn yellow-green. After the snow melts, the needles acquire a reddish-brown hue. If left untreated, dead spots appear on the bark. To combat pathology, "Fundazol" is used.

Black pine rarely suffers from pest attacks. However, sometimes it is attacked by pine scale insects. These small parasites live on the reverse side of the needles. As a result, the needles turn brown and fall off. To get rid of pests, trees should be sprayed in July with Aktellik.

Benefits of wood

This culture has many varieties that allow you to create attractive compositions. Their value lies in their ability to purify and disinfect the air.

Application in landscape design

The plant is often used in landscape design. It goes well with other conifers. It is also permissible to combine black pine with deciduous shrubs and flowers. This helps create a unique design.

Dwarf plants are often used for landscaping alleys, alpine hills, flower beds, flower beds. Such pines look great with heather plantings, cereals, stone compositions. For such ensembles, trees up to 4 meters high are used. Particularly successful will be varieties that are not very fast development.

Tall trees can be used as tapeworms or combined with other crops. Such trees are often used to delimit zones and decorate hedges. Many species are undemanding to conditions and develop normally in any type of soil.

Trees look great with deciduous crops and ground cover shrubs. However, they are not recommended to be combined with lilac, birch and bird cherry.

Black pine is an excellent ornamental crop that fits perfectly into a variety of compositions. In order for the plant to develop normally, it is important to carry out planting work correctly and provide it with full and high-quality care.

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