El Iseli Fastigiata: description, planting and care, application in landscape design

Spruce Iseli Fastigiata is called a rather interesting variety bred by American breeders. The culture belongs to blue spruces and is distinguished by a slender, narrow-conical crown. The plant is characterized by beautiful needles. When grown in a sunny area, it appears almost blue. Due to its excellent decorative properties, the plant is often used in landscape design. At the same time, it is very important to properly care for the culture.

Botanical description

Prickly spruce Iseli Fastigiata belongs to the large Pine family. It is characterized by a number of distinctive features:

1. The average height of an adult crop is 10-12 meters.
2. The crown in diameter reaches 4-4.5 meters.
3. The tree is growing pretty fast. For a year, the crop increases by an average of 20 centimeters.
4. The branches of the plant are covered with lush needles. In this case, the length of the bluish needles is 20-25 millimeters. When grown in full sun, they turn almost blue.
5. The entire length of the trunk is even and straight. It is covered with dense brown bark.
6. The tree is characterized by densely growing short branches. They are located at an acute angle to the trunk.
7. A young plant is characterized by an uneven cone-shaped crown. However, over time, it gradually levels off.
8. Buds are 3-4 centimeters in size. They stay on the tree for several seasons.
9. Culture is considered to be very photophilous and frost-resistant. She is able to withstand even the most severe frosts.

• The plant is undemanding to the composition of the soil.

Distribution area

Under natural conditions, the Iseli Fastigiata blue spruce grows in western North America.

The species is found in different states, among them - Utah, Idaho, New Mexico, Arizona. Due to the fact that the tree grows high in the mountains, it has become undemanding and hardy.

Landing

In order for the Iseli Fastigiate spruce to develop normally and retain its decorative effect, it is important to carry out planting work correctly. In this case, you need to do the following:

1. Dig a planting hole in a place with deep groundwater. Its depth should be 60 centimeters.
2. When planting several trees, maintain an interval between them of 2-3 meters.
3. Put a drainage of 15-20 centimeters in size at the bottom. For this, it is permissible to use crushed brick, expanded clay, sand.
4. Introduce 100 grams of nitroammophoska into the recess. It is also useful at this stage to use the Kornevin solution.
5. Place the seedling in the hole and sprinkle with earth so that the root neck is flush with the soil surface. To fill the recess, you need to make a composition of turf, leafy soil, peat and sand. These components are recommended to be mixed in a ratio of 2:2:1:1.
6. After planting, the young ate abundantly watered. For 1 plant, it is recommended to use 30-40 liters of water.
7. Cover the trunk circle with a mulch layer. To do this, you can use peat, bark, mowed grass. Thanks to this procedure, it will be possible to avoid freezing and drying out of the soil. The size of the mulch layer should be 5 centimeters.

Care Requirements

Spruce Iseli Fastigiata is a rather unpretentious plant. However, certain activities still need to be carried out. The variety does not tolerate dry and hot weather. Therefore, it needs a sufficient amount of moisture. The plant can also be pruned, especially when planting trees as hedges.

In the summer, spruce needs to be watered once a week. At the same time, 1 tree needs 12 liters of water. It is recommended to feed the culture 2 times during the season. To do this, it is worth using special preparations for coniferous plants.

Spruce of this variety grows well in fertile soil. In this case, the pH parameters should vary from acidic to slightly acidic. In order for the spruce to better cope with air pollution, pouring is carried out. It should be performed up to 3 times a month.

To make the soil breathe better and not dry out, it is recommended to loosen it regularly.This is required to be done to a depth of 5 centimeters. Mulching helps to retain moisture and ensure the desired level of fertility. For this purpose, grass or humus should be used. Also a great option would be the bark of coniferous plants.

Spruce of this variety does not need regular pruning. The need for this procedure depends on the purpose of planting a tree. When planting in groups or using the plant as a hedge, it is worth pruning periodically - this will increase the decorative properties of the plant. It is also mandatory to remove dry or diseased branches.

Pruning is recommended after the end of active sap flow. This should be done at the end of May. In this case, the tree does not need to be formed. With age, it itself acquires a beautiful shape. At first, the lower shoots develop faster than the upper ones. But with age, the crown flattens out.

Possible pests and diseases

To avoid the appearance of parasites and pathologies on spruce of this variety, regular preventive treatments with insecticides and fungicides are required. This type of coniferous plants is characterized by high resistance to diseases, since its needles and bark synthesize phytoncides. In addition, the culture includes special resinous components.

However, sometimes the plant still suffers from such parasites:

1. Aphids - removing weeds around the tree will help get rid of pests. Their chemicals can be used "Mospilan" or "Dantop". Of the biological preparations, Guapsin and Fufanon are effective. With a small number of parasites, you can use a soap solution or tobacco infusion.
2. Schitovka - Aktellik and Biotlin will help to destroy pests. To do this, you need to carry out several treatments, alternating preparations with each other. To physically remove pests, it is recommended to use a cloth dampened with soapy water.
3. Hermes - to get rid of parasites it is worth using "Aktara", "Commander", "Iskra". Mineral oil suspension solution is highly effective. To prepare it, you need to mix 30 milliliters of the substance with 1 liter of water.
4. Spider mites - these pests will be destroyed by means such as Aktellik and Fitoverm. With a small number of parasites, folk methods are enough. In this case, it is permissible to use a soapy solution or ammonia.
5. Coniferous bug - such means as "Calypso", "Confidant", "Mospilan" will help get rid of this parasite. From folk remedies, it is permissible to use a solution of olive oil. To prepare it for 1 liter of water, you need to take 2 tablespoons of the product.

Application in design

Spruce Iseli Fastigiata has pronounced decorative properties, so it is often used in landscape design. Such a plant can be placed even in a small area. It won't take up much space.

The variety is resistant to air pollution. Therefore, it is often used to decorate parks, alleys, squares. An additional advantage is the attractive appearance of the needles in the evening illumination.

In addition to the beautiful shape, the spruce attracts with the color of the needles. The blue tree goes well with darker conifers. It can also be combined with shrubs that have bright flowers.

Iseli Fastigiata spruce is a very attractive conifer that is often used to decorate garden plots. In order for the culture to develop normally, it needs to be properly looked after.

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