Pruning blue spruce: rules for cutting and shaping when it can be done
The blue spruce is a very attractive ornamental plant that is often used in landscape design. This sympathetic culture looks great in different areas of the site - in the center, on the outskirts or near the entrance to the house. However, getting a truly beautiful tree is not so easy. Regular pruning of blue spruce will help in this.
Why prune a tree
The main purpose of pruning blue spruce is to change the shape of its crown. This is done in order to get lush branches. In addition, it is recommended to carry out sanitary pruning, which involves the removal of broken and dry branches.
If a person overdoes it in trying to make the spruce more magnificent, he will be able to remove the excess density by trimming. Thanks to this care, it will be possible to ensure that light enters the structure of the crown, to prevent the development of fungal infections and parasite attacks.
Having a decorative haircut will help make landings more interesting. This procedure will give the tree a complex spiral or spherical shape. Due to its slow growth, blue spruce can maintain its crown appearance for an extremely long time.
When to do it
Sanitary pruning can be done from time to time - this is done when the crown grows. However, the older the tree, the more often it has to be cut. So, a plant 2.5 meters high will grow 50 centimeters in 1 year, while the growth of a four-meter spruce will be 70-100 centimeters.
The best time to cut spruce is at the end of summer.In autumn, pruning can also be carried out, however, in this case, it is important that the cuts are overgrown until the cold weather. The next sanitary pruning will be carried out in early spring - before the start of bud development. To form young trees up to 3-5 years old, they should not be cut, but pinched. In this case, tender shoots must be removed during the entire development - until the beginning of June.
Cutting rules
To ensure a successful haircut, all tools are recommended to be treated with disinfectants. To do this, you can use alcohol, potassium permanganate or hydrogen peroxide. It is important to follow the step by step instructions. This will help to avoid disturbing the structure of the crown and the growth rate of the needles.
Pinching
To get a more lush and dense crown of a tree, you need to pinch it. This procedure should be carried out at the beginning of summer, when the development of young shoots stops.If you cut the crown too late, new buds will not have time to appear before the onset of cold weather. Therefore, their formation will be carried out only in the spring.
To pinch spruce, do the following:
- Completely break the candles.
- Trim small shoots with pruners.
- Remove large shoots. This can be done with a hacksaw or garden saw.
Shaping
It is recommended to form a blue spruce in the middle of summer. When working in winter or late autumn, the areas that remain after the removal of branches will suffer from frost. There is also a risk of crown growth stopping. Most often, shaping is done when the top of the tree is damaged.
To carry out the procedure, you need to do the following:
- Remove the upper part to the developed side branch.
- Tie a tight rail to the trunk. With its help, it will be possible to make the upper part evener. This will help her stay upright at all times.
What is sanitary pruning
In order for the culture to develop better, it is important to systematically perform sanitary pruning. At the same time, it is recommended to inspect the trees from time to time for the presence of weakened or damaged branches and remove them in time. If this is not done, there is a risk of damage to the firs by fungi.
To perform sanitary pruning, you need to do the following:
- Carefully inspect the tree.
- If broken or affected branches are identified, they must be carefully removed with a saw.
- Cut areas can be left untreated, as coniferous crops produce resin, which helps to achieve the desired degree of tightness.
How to care after pruning
After pruning a blue spruce, it is important to provide it with quality care. It affects the quality and speed of tree recovery. First of all, it is worth establishing the correct mode of watering and fertilizing. It is also important to periodically apply growth stimulants.
Water and fertilize
Sprinkling is required after blue spruce pruning. This means that it is recommended to pour water not only into the near-trunk circle, but also onto the crown. Moisten the tree is required evenly. Spruce does not withstand drought or waterlogging. Under each tree, a minimum of 40 liters of water is required. This should be done at intervals of 3 weeks.
To speed up the process of crop recovery before frost, you should use strong growth stimulants. To do this, it is recommended to pour a mixture of 50 grams of Epin and 10 liters of water onto the crown, and add a mixture of 30 grams of Zircon and 10 liters of water under the root.
Feeding the plant is required only at the end of October. Thanks to this, it will be possible to increase the frost resistance of a weakened culture. This requires a mixture of 100 grams of superphosphate and 10 liters of water.
Loosening
It is recommended to loosen the soil before each watering. Blue spruce is characterized by a well-developed root system. Therefore, it is permissible to cultivate the soil to a depth of 10 centimeters. It is also recommended to remove weeds every week, which can disrupt the development of the root system and cause the development of pathologies and pest attacks.
To further protect the tree from frost, it is recommended to mulch the soil. To do this, lay out a layer of sawdust, fallen leaves or straw. Its size should be 15 centimeters.
Pruning blue spruce is considered an important maintenance procedure that helps to achieve excellent results. With the help of timely and regular shearing, it is possible to give the plant a beautiful shape and avoid the development of dangerous diseases and pest attacks. At the same time, it is important to prune according to the rules and provide the culture with thorough care after the procedure is completed.
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