Weymouth Pine: description and popular varieties, application in landscape design

Weymouth Pine is an ornamental crop from the Pine family. Plant height reaches 50-60 meters. There are also dwarf varieties, but they are quite rare. The culture has become widespread due to the ease of wood processing. In addition, it is often used in landscape design. In order for the plant to develop normally, it needs to be properly looked after.

Description of the tree

Weymouth Pine is a tree that has a lush and rounded crown. North America is considered the natural habitat of culture.She came to Europe thanks to the navigator George Weymouth. He brought this variety of wood to England in the first half of the seventeenth century. But the culture failed to adapt to the British climate and often suffered from fungal infections.

At a young age, the Weymouth pine is quite fast growing. During the first 30 years of life, it increases in height up to 20 meters. Subsequently, the growth of culture slows down. A young plant has a light and smooth bark, but with age it becomes covered with cracks and darkens.

The tree has thin branches. They are smooth or covered with fluff. The needles form buds of 5 pieces. The needles have a curved shape and reach a length of 10 centimeters. The color of the needles is different and varies from whitish to dark green. Because pine is often called white.

The flowering of the plant falls on the period from April to May. Cones ripen in autumn - a year after pollination. Then they crumble and drop seeds with wings. The buds are egg-shaped, brown in color and exude a resinous aroma.

This type of wood is characterized by resistance to the negative effects of external factors. Pine can withstand air pollution, temperatures drop to negative values and other negative factors. On average, Weymouth pine lives 400 years.

Common varieties

In nature, there are quite a few species and varieties of Weymouth pine. The most common ones are:

1. Minima - this pine began to be cultivated in the middle of the twentieth century. The plant belongs to dwarf varieties and does not exceed 1 meter in height. The culture has a spherical crown, which eventually becomes pillow-shaped. This pine is characterized by slow development - no more than 5-7 centimeters per year.
2. Makopin - this variety grows in the form of a shrub. It is characterized by long needles that form bunches. The buds are green at first but turn brown as they mature. Any soil is suitable for the plant, but at the same time it does not tolerate the active influence of the sun.
3. Himmelblau - this variety has blue needles. At the same time, the tree reaches a height of 3 meters and resembles a shrub in shape. Pine is considered shade-tolerant, but very demanding on the amount of moisture. The crop can be grown in a well-lit area. Only drained soil suits her.
4. Reinhaus - this dwarf tree does not exceed 1.5 meters in height. It is characterized by a dense crown of a spherical shape. Culture can hardly withstand the influence of moisture. Therefore, it can be planted in well-moistened soil. This variety makes an excellent addition to rocky and heather gardens.
5. Pendula - this tree is distinguished by long shoots and a weeping crown. Sometimes it has to be grown with support. In this case, the culture grows up to 4 meters. Without support, the tree does not exceed 90-120 centimeters in height. The culture is characterized by thin bluish-green needles. It develops well on black soil and in slightly acidic soil.
6. Nana - this plant forms a shrub and grows up to 1-3 meters. The lower branches are parallel to the ground, and the upper branches are directed in different directions. The symmetrical crown reaches a diameter of 2.5 meters. The needles have a fine structure and a green color with a blue tint.
7. Fastigiata - this tree is characterized by rapid growth and resembles a column in appearance. The variety is considered fairly resistant to frost. It is able to withstand temperatures down to -35 degrees. In addition, the culture is considered shade-tolerant and not too demanding on lighting. It can be grown in urban areas and used to create alleys.
8. Blue is an ornamental variety with beautiful soft blue needles. At a young age, the crown has a pyramidal shape. The plant prefers moist soil, but does not put forward special requirements for illumination.
9. Radiata - This tree needs enough sun. At the same time, it is resistant to frost. The plant is characterized by a conical and spherical shape of the crown. This variety is often used in landscape design. The culture feels great in alkaline soil, but does not tolerate heavy soil.

Distribution area

Weymouth pine comes from America. There the tree reaches an impressive height. Today it is found in almost every state. The culture is also common on the Canadian island of Newfoundland. It is also available in a number of provinces of the country, such as Nova Scotia, Quebec, Manitoba.

Culture came to Russia at the end of the eighteenth century. Initially, it was used as an exotic plant for decorating garden plots. After some time, pine became widespread in private households.

Where, when and how to plant

This tree with soft needles is often grown in garden plots. When choosing a seedling, it is important to give preference to he althy trees with a rich color of needles. The plant should be placed in a sunny area with well-drained soil. When planting several trees, the distance between them should be 3 meters.

In order for the Weymouth pine to easily adapt to new conditions, it is important to adhere to a whole set of rules:

1. Make a groove. It should be 2 times the size of the root system.
2. Place a drainage layer 15 centimeters thick at the bottom of the pit. It may consist of pebbles, expanded clay or crushed bricks.
3. Prepare the substrate. If there is clay soil on the site, it is required to mix the turf with sand in a ratio of 2: 1. For sandy soil, you need to combine soddy soil with clay in a ratio of 2: 1.
4. Pour part of the prepared substrate into the planting hole and place the seedling in the central part. It is important to ensure that the root collar of the tree is just above the ground.
5. Fill the hole with soil. It is important to carefully compact each layer. After that, the root neck should be flush with the ground.
6. Water the plant generously.
7. Cover the trunk circle with a mulch layer. For this, it is permissible to use bark, wood chips or straw.

Weymouth Pine is an undemanding crop. However, for full growth and development, the tree needs regular watering, soil mulching, fertilization and pruning.

Mature trees are drought tolerant. At the same time, young seedlings need to be moistened 2 times during the season. For 1 plant it is worth using up to 15 liters of water. After moistening the soil, it needs to be loosened and covered with a mulch layer.

Thanks to this, it will be possible to avoid the rapid evaporation of water and protect the seedlings from temperature fluctuations. Mulch also saturates the ephedra with nutrients. It may consist of cones, bark, sawdust. It is also permissible to use leaf humus and straw for this purpose.

In spring and autumn, the tree needs to be pruned.At the same time, it is recommended to remove diseased, damaged and dry shoots, and treat sections of cuts with garden pitch. Mature trees can not be covered for the winter, as they are highly frost-resistant. Young seedlings should be insulated with breathable material.

Reproduction instructions

Most often, pine with decorative needles needs to be propagated by seed or by grafting. Cuttings are also possible, but this method is considered less effective. When the shoots are treated with special root formation stimulants, it is possible to save 80% of the plants.

Propagate Weymouth pine by grafting can only professionals. However, this is the only option for obtaining new plants from decorative varietal forms. Therefore, propagation by seeds is considered the easiest and most affordable option.

Diseases and pests

Weymouth pine most commonly suffers from blister rust. In this case, the tree trunk is covered with resinous white streaks.In addition, there is a risk of drying of entire branches. To cope with the problem, it is recommended to treat the tree with Bordeaux liquid 3 times. This is required when the first orange spore pads appear.

In addition, young pine shoots often suffer from various fungal pathologies. Therefore, they should be systematically sprayed with Fitosporin.

Application

Weymouth Pine is considered a fairly popular crop that is often used in construction. Also, the plant can be used in landscape design.

In construction

The wood of this plant is characterized by a soft and uniform structure. Therefore, it can be used for the manufacture of furniture and finishing work. Pine wood is used to make high-quality building materials that are easy to process.

In design

The plant is often used in landscape design. Weymouth pine can be used to create various compositions. Low-growing varieties are located in small areas with rocky mounds. Larger varieties require more space.

Weymouth Pine is a very popular coniferous crop that has outstanding decorative properties. In order for its cultivation to give a result, it is important to follow the rules of agricultural technology.

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