Weeping spruce: description and popular varieties, planting and tree care

Spruces with a weeping crown are quite often used to decorate garden plots. Such varieties have a very decorative appearance, which is associated with the presence of a falling cascade of thorny branches. Thanks to this, trees are able to fill the space with a fabulous atmosphere. At the same time, it is important to choose the right crop variety and provide it with competent care.

Description of the tree

A distinctive feature of most weeping firs is the absence of a central trunk that grows upwards. At the same time, some varieties, on the contrary, have a pronounced straight trunk.

The height of a tree is usually affected by the location of the graft. Among weeping varieties there are very large and massive plants. They are characterized by a narrow crown, which is well suited for decorating small areas. Also, these plants fit perfectly into rocky gardens.

Weeping spruce is one of the ornamental types of oriental. The tree belongs to the Pine family and is predominantly found in Asia and Eastern Europe.

Such crops are considered undemanding to the composition of the soil. However, loam or black soil is more suitable for them. Many types of such spruces are resistant to frost. However, some varieties cannot stand dust and smoke.

Trees exude a lot of phytoncides and are able to ionize the air. Therefore, they are used in the garden not only as decoration, but also as a source of fresh air and a pleasant coniferous aroma.

Popular varieties

Today there are quite a few varieties of weeping firs, each of which has certain characteristics. The most popular of them include the following:

1. Pendula - is one of the most decorative types of weeping firs. This culture is characterized by rather flexible and dense branches, which are covered with dark green needles. On the lower part of the needles are wide stripes of a silvery-white shade. Young and old needles practically do not differ in color. Young buds are purplish-red, but turn brown over time. In length, they reach 6 centimeters.
2. Cobra - is considered an unusual variety. To achieve maximum decorativeness, at the initial stage of the growing season, the tree must be attached to a support. Thanks to this, the spruce will reach its optimal size and return to the ground, forming a wavy mat of gray-green branches. In this case, the tree will look like a arched cobra. For a year, this variety of spruce is able to increase by 50 centimeters.As an adult, the Cobra has vertical branches that spread down.
3. Inversa - this culture is characterized by slow growth. For 1 year, it increases by a maximum of 20 centimeters. The branches of the plant are covered with dense dark green needles, which do not change their shade all year round. Due to the absence of a central shoot, the culture looks very attractive. Another feature of the plant is considered to be a collapsed top. All these properties allow the use of spruce for the design of rock gardens. It also looks great in group plantings. It is possible to regulate the height of the crop by the length of the rootstock.
4. Froburg - this spruce has a straight trunk and falling shoots that spread under the crown in the form of a carpet. The use of a support helps to form an umbrella up to 2 meters in size from the culture. The plant looks great in single plantings. Another feature of the culture is a high degree of frost resistance. It is able to withstand temperatures down to -40 degrees.However, at an early age, the culture often suffers from return spring frosts.

Planting instructions

For planting a weeping crop, it is important to choose the right site. Spruce does not tolerate increased soil density and stagnant moisture. Therefore, a site with deep groundwater is suitable for planting a plant.

When planting a crop, it is imperative to provide a drainage layer of sand or crushed brick. Its optimal size should be 15-20 centimeters. When group planting weeping firs, the interval between them should be 15-20 centimeters.

For the plant, you need to prepare a hole 50-70 centimeters deep and 60 centimeters wide. When placing a seedling, it is important to ensure that the root collar is flush with the ground.

For a more comfortable adaptation of the plant, it is worth preparing a special nutrient substrate.This requires mixing leafy soil, turf, peat and sand. These components are recommended to be taken in a ratio of 2:2:1:1. Immediately after planting the culture, it should be watered with warm water. For 1 plant, it is recommended to use 40-50 liters of water. Also at this stage, it is permissible to feed.

Aftercare

Weeping trees can hardly stand the heat, so they need systematic watering. Moisten the soil once a week. Mature plants can be watered less often. For 1 watering, it is recommended to use 10-12 liters of water. In the first years after watering, it is desirable to loosen the soil. It is recommended to do this 5 centimeters deep. This procedure will provide young roots with oxygen.

Before winter comes, weeping spruce needs to be watered abundantly. This will help prevent the death of the young plant. Also for the winter, the trunk circle should be mulched with peat.The thickness of such a layer should be 5-6 centimeters. With the advent of spring, peat can not be removed, but mixed with the soil. To protect the culture from the cold, it must be covered with spruce branches.

Weeping spruces can be fertilized twice a season. At the same time, pruning is not required for such plants. However, in the spring, many gardeners carry out a sanitary procedure, during which dried and damaged shoots are removed. This manipulation should be performed after the end of the period of active sap flow.

Application in landscape design

Weeping spruce varieties help create a truly fabulous atmosphere in the garden. Particularly attractive are varieties that have blue needles. Such plants are great for creating multi-level landscape compositions. They also look good with bright flowers and low perennials.

Arched structures decorated with weeping fir trees are considered very popular. Such trees look good on the banks of reservoirs and along the paths.

Weeping fir trees look very decorative. Therefore, they are often used to decorate garden plots. For plants to look attractive, they need to be planted correctly. Compliance with agrotechnical recommendations is of no small importance.

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