Cedar dwarf: description of pine, planting and care, application in landscape design

Pine elfin is a tree culture that differs in the crown of different species. Due to its unusual appearance, the plant is often called a shrub. If a large number of such cultures are found in one place, they resemble a carpet. Due to its high decorative properties, the plant is often grown in garden plots. At the same time, it is important to properly land and provide competent care.

Description of the tree

Pine elfin is also called dwarf pine. This culture is a small creeping tree that has widely spaced branches.They can form a crown of various shapes - cup-shaped, tree-like or creeping along the ground. Tree plants are more common in wind-sheltered areas where trees can reach 4-7 meters in height and 15-18 centimeters wide at the root collar.

The branches of dwarf pine are characterized by almost smooth gray bark. On the trunk, it peels off a little and has a dark brown hue with gray spots. In creeping plants, shoots are pressed to the ground. At the same time, their tips rise up by 30-50 centimeters. Young shoots of the culture are first green in color and covered with many red hairs. Subsequently, they become light brown.

For elfin cedar, trihedral bluish-green needles are characteristic, which reach a length of 4-8 centimeters and form bunches of 5 pieces. Maturation of cones occurs 2 years after the flowering of the culture. They are small in size and reach 4-5 centimeters in length and 3 centimeters in width.The fruits are elongated or ovoid in shape. Inside are small dark brown nuts, which are covered with a thin woody peel. Elfin pine begins to produce seeds at 20-30 years old and continues to do so until 200 years old. She brings the harvest with an interval of 2-4 years.

Cedar elfin at first has a taproot with lateral branches. After that, it dies off and the active development of lateral superficial roots is observed. If the roots sink into a growing layer of moss or sandy-stony deposits, adventitious roots form. If the branches of the plant are pressed against the ground, they can take root. All this makes the cedar elfin more tenacious.

Where the variety occurs

Siberian pine is found in Siberia and the Far East. It is even beyond the Arctic Circle. In the southern latitudes, the culture forms dense thickets at an altitude of 1 kilometer above sea level. In deciduous forests, the shrubs of this plant represent an independent lower tier.

Application and useful properties

Cultivated plant is often used in landscape design. It can be used for the following purposes:

• creation of rock gardens;
• forming a hedge;
• decoration of rocky gardens;
• decoration of flower beds;
• creating a backdrop for the lawn.

Cedar elfin looks great in voluminous pots. Therefore, it can be grown for landscaping arbors, winter gardens and terraces. In urban conditions, people place culture on balconies and loggias.

Nuts of this plant can be eaten. In addition, they are used to make butter, halva, confectionery fillings.

Wood of dwarf cedar is often used to make all kinds of souvenirs. The branches, roots and trunk of the plant are often used to produce turpentine and fragrant resins. The substance is used in traditional and folk medicine.

The tree itself synthesizes a lot of phytoncides, which contribute to the destruction of pathogenic microorganisms. Therefore, placing this coniferous plant on the site is quite useful.

Landing

A seedling of this type of cedar is worth buying in a nursery. For the middle lane, this culture is considered quite rare. When choosing a plant, it is worth examining its root system. It is important to ensure that the roots are not broken. The size of the soil clod should be more than 30 centimeters. In this case, the seedling itself must be at least 15 centimeters. It is important that he has he althy green needles and flexible shoots.

Preparing the site

Since Siberia and the Far East are considered to be the birthplace of creeping elfin pine, it can easily withstand a strong drop in temperature, fluctuations in humidity and intense winds. The culture prefers sunny areas, but it also withstands partial shade quite well. It is important to consider that when planted in shady places, the tree becomes less lush and loses its decorative effect.

Cedar elfin is not too picky about the composition of the soil. It can even grow in rocky soil. Due to this, culture is often used to create beautiful rock gardens. The only contraindication for this plant is an excess amount of moisture. Therefore, it should be planted in elevated areas or in places with deep groundwater.

Step by step planting guide

Glauca dwarf pine or other varieties are recommended to be properly planted. This should be done from mid-April to the end of May. In dry weather, planting operations are allowed from late August to early September.

When planting a plant, it is important to consider the following:

1. Make a recess for planting. It should be twice the size of the root ball. The minimum size of the pit is 70-80 centimeters.
2. Lay drainage on the bottom. It may consist of gravel, crushed stone or expanded clay. The drainage layer should be 15 centimeters thick.
3. Place a layer of sand. Its thickness should be 20 centimeters.
4. Place the soil substrate in the recess. To do this, you need to mix soddy soil, sand and soil for conifers in a ratio of 1: 1: 2. If the soil on the site is too heavy, it is worth liming with dolomite flour. At the same time, it is recommended to use 500-600 grams of the substance per 1 square meter.
5. Soak the roots of the seedling in a solution of potassium permanganate with a concentration of 3%. It takes 2 hours to keep the plant in liquid. This helps prevent the development of dangerous pathologies.
6. Pour a bucket of water into the hole.
7. Place the seedling in the planting hole. It needs to be planted along with a clod of earth. It is important to ensure that the root neck is flush with the soil surface.
8. Cover the trunk circle with a mulch layer. For this purpose, you can use pine bark, fallen leaves, sawdust. It is also permissible to use special artificial material.

When planting several crops, it is required to maintain the interval between them. It should be at least 3-4 meters. This is considered an important condition, as plants are difficult to transplant.

Aftercare

Cedar elfin is a very unpretentious culture. However, to maintain the decorativeness of the plant, you still need to follow some rules.

Water and fertilize

This species does not require frequent watering. With the onset of spring, you can pour 1 bucket under the plant per month. In hot weather, you can increase watering by 1.5 times. Spray the crop with cold water from time to time.

It is permissible to use mineral fertilizers to feed the Siberian dwarf pine. It is allowed to start applying such preparations from mid-spring.

Cutting

The tree requires periodic sanitary pruning. During this procedure, diseased, affected, weakened and dry shoots must be removed. Thanks to this, the tree will not waste its strength. In order to successfully apply culture in landscape design, crown formation is carried out. After the manipulation is completed, sections of the sections must be treated with a special substance.

Preparing for cold weather

Culture normally perceives the cold and the influence of other adverse factors. However, preparing the plant for winter is still required. The upper part of the root system must be covered with peat and straw. This is required to make a layer of 8 centimeters. With a large amount of snow for a tree, it is required to make a small frame and insulate it with a special covering material.

Pest Prevention

Pine elfin has a fairly strong immunity and rarely suffers from diseases and pests. However, if the rules of care are violated, the plant faces such problems:

1. Siberian hermes - this parasite absorbs all the juices of the tree, provokes a slowdown in its development and worsens the decorative characteristics. In this case, the needles are covered with a white coating in the form of a cobweb. If parasites are detected, the tree must be treated with insecticides. The method of microinjection into the trunks is also effective. However, getting rid of the Siberian Hermes for 1 time will not work. Subsequent treatments will be required.
2. Rust of needles - in this case, bubble-shaped yellow pustules appear on both sides of the needles. After some time, the disease begins to progress. At the same time, there is a fall of needles and a decrease in the decorative effect of the tree. To cope with the pathology, it is required to remove the affected shoots in a timely manner. Of no small importance is the treatment with immunostimulants and the introduction of microfertilizers.
3. Mushroom Schutte - plants planted in shady places are susceptible to this pathology. In this case, in spring, the needles acquire an orange-brown hue and are covered with small black growths of a rounded shape.To cope with the disease, it is required to remove dry branches and perform preventive treatments with Bordeaux liquid with a concentration of 1%. It is recommended to do this in early spring and autumn. In case of severe infection in the summer, it is worth using Hom.
4. Aphids - most often affects young trees that have delicate needles. To get rid of parasites, it is required to destroy ants in a timely manner, which contribute to their spread. Insecticide solutions can be used to spray trees. Effective drugs include Decis, Aktara, Fufanon, Actellik.
5. Shchitovka - when the dwarf pine is affected by this pest, the needles and young branches are covered with rounded brown cones. They provoke the deformation of young shoots and the death of the bark. To cope with pests, it is worth using trapping belts or collecting parasites by hand. In advanced cases, it is recommended to use insecticidal preparations "Fitoverm", "Aktara", "Aktellik".

Reproduction

It is not easy to propagate Siberian dwarf pine, because the culture is very slow in development. There are several suitable options for this plant:

• buying seedlings;
• using purchased or harvested seeds;
• application of layering from an adult tree.

The easiest way is to propagate the culture by layering. To do this, it is enough to bend the branches of the plant to the ground, lightly sprinkle with soil and water. As a result, roots will form in this place. After rooting, the cuttings are separated from the main crop and transplanted to a permanent site.

Cedar elfin is a beautiful and useful plant that is very popular with gardeners. For a crop to be successful, it needs to be well cared for.

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