Spruce Lucky Strike: description, planting and care, application in landscape design

Spruce Lucky Strike is called a very spectacular culture, which is often used in landscape design. This plant has gained wide popularity due to the presence of a compact and at the same time fluffy crown. Another advantage of the plant is the presence of many spectacular cones. In order for the plant to retain its decorative effect for a long time, it needs to be properly looked after.

Description of spruce

Prickly spruce Lucky Strike is considered a typical representative of the Pine family, which has an unusual appearance. The plant has an irregular asymmetrical crown that looks somewhat disheveled.A distinctive feature of the culture is the uneven growth of branches. This creates a unique silhouette that perfectly complements any composition.

Spruce of this variety is characterized by a number of distinctive features:

1. Adult plant reaches a height of 1.3-1.5 meters.
2. The crown has a width of 20 centimeters to 1.5 meters.
3. The bark is yellowish brown.
4. The plant has a needle-shaped hard crown with a bluish sheen. The length of the needles is 2-3 centimeters. Young growth has a yellow-green tint.
5. Cones resemble candles in appearance and reach a length of 15 centimeters. They can have a very unusual color - from lilac red to light brown.
6. The branches are short and bend in different directions. This makes the tree especially attractive.

Spruce Lucky Strike is characterized by slow growth. The tree grows by 10-15 centimeters per year. Even an adult plant has a very modest size. Light, well-drained soil is suitable for this crop. It is best to use sandy or sandy soil.

Culture does not tolerate high groundwater and high humidity. In heavy soil, it is imperative to provide for the creation of a drainage layer. It is required to plant spruce in a well-lit place. The fact is that in the shade the branches stretch out, the needles change their color and lose their decorative effect.

Where does the name come from

Prickly spruce Lucky Strike was bred by Dutch breeders. This culture was obtained in 1983 in the nursery of the city of Boskop. The name of the plant literally means "lucky shot". The variety quickly became very popular among gardeners and remains in demand to this day.

Correct fit

A suitable place for planting Lucky Strike spruce is considered a sunny area, which has a light and loose soil with a slightly acidic reaction. To use the plant in landscape design, it is best to plant it in sandy or sandy soil.

The root system of the crop does not perceive stagnant moisture, therefore this variety is forbidden to be grown in marshy soil with high groundwater.

It is important to consider that the Lucky Strike variety can be planted at any time of the year. At the same time, seedlings should be bought in gardening stores. It is best to give preference to strong and he althy plants with closed roots.

To plant a crop, do the following:

1. Make a recess for planting 50-70 centimeters in size. Its diameter should be twice the size of the earthy coma around the root system of the plant.
2. Place drainage on the bottom. It may consist of pebbles, crushed bricks or coarse sand. The thickness of such a layer should be at least 15 centimeters.
3. Combine the soil that was obtained when digging a hole with sod, sand and peat. This must be done in a ratio of 2:2:1:1.
4. Place the seedling with a clod of soil in the recess. It is important to ensure that the root collar is flush with the ground.
5. Fill the hole with prepared nutrient composition and compact the soil a little around the seedling.
6. Pour 40-50 liters of warm water under the plant.
7. When the liquid is completely absorbed, cover the soil with a mulch layer. It may consist of tree bark or dry chips.

When planting several spruces of this variety, it is important to strictly observe the interval between them. It should be at least 2-3 meters. This is required so that the wide crowns of trees do not interfere with the development of each other.

Care instructions

In order for the spruce of this variety to grow and develop normally, it needs to be properly looked after. This plant requires timely watering and fertilization. It also needs to be trimmed from time to time.

Water and fertilize

Spruce Lucky Strike can withstand a short drought. However, in order for the tree to retain its decorative properties, it needs to be additionally watered in the summer. This must be done in the absence of precipitation for a long time. To strengthen the immunity of the tree and ensure its normal development, it is necessary to add nutrients.

So, when caring for a spruce, you should follow these rules:

1. In hot and dry weather, it is recommended to irrigate the tree once a week.
2. To water one plant, use 10-12 liters of warm water.
3. For the first time, top dressing should be applied immediately after planting. For 1 square meter, it is worth using 40 grams of nitroammofoska.
4. For adult plants, you need to use complex fertilizers for coniferous plants. They must be purchased from the store. Such funds are recommended to be used 2 times during the season. It is important to follow the instructions on the package.

Loosening and mulching

To improve the air permeability of the soil and facilitate the absorption of water during irrigation, the soil around the fir trees needs to be loosened from time to time. This should be done to a depth of about 5 centimeters. This manipulation is carried out after each watering or precipitation.

To reduce water evaporation and maintain soil moisture longer, a layer of mulch is required around the trunk. To do this, it is permissible to use dry pine bark. For the winter, the trunk circle area needs to be covered with a mulch layer of peat. Its size should be 5 centimeters. With the advent of spring, this substance simply needs to be mixed with the soil.

When growing Lucky Strike spruce in areas with severe winters, a young tree needs to be additionally insulated with spruce branches. This helps protect the culture from frostbite. In addition, the material avoids breakage of fragile branches under a layer of snow.

Cutting

Sometimes Lucky Strike spruce needs sanitary pruning. In more rare cases, she needs the formation of a crown. Pruning should be done in late spring or early summer. During the procedure, you need to remove dry and damaged branches.

A plant needs to be given a certain shape when creating a landscape composition or hedge. Pruning is usually required for trees older than 8-10 years. For this, it is recommended to use a sharp sterile instrument. Young spruces must be tied up so that they do not break under the weight of the snow cover.

Pest control

If you follow the rules of care, Lucky Strike spruce varieties rarely suffer from diseases and pests. If the gardener made mistakes when planting, the spruce is attacked by parasites and the development of pathologies. The most common problems in this culture include the following:

1. Spruce-deciduous hermes - this parasite belongs to sucking insects. It lays on the needles small red-yellow eggs covered with a fluffy coating. The larvae that emerge feed on the juice of the shoots. In this case, the needles turn yellow and deform. With the subsequent development of the pathology, the curvature and death of the shoots is observed. To cope with parasites, you should use tools such as "Decis" and "Karbofos".
2. Spruce beetle leafworm - lays eggs on spruce shoots. In this case, the appearance of caterpillars leads to damage to the wood. They gnaw through the bark and make round holes in it. After that, the caterpillars fall into the depth of the trunk. As a result, the branches are deformed and dry out. To destroy the leaf roller, use "Karbofos".
3. Schütte is a fungal disease that is accompanied by drying and yellowing of spruce. In this case, the needles of the plant become brown, and the branches dry up. Branches affected by the disease must be cut and destroyed.To cope with the pathology, it is worth using special means - in particular, Fundazol or Zineb.

Most often, spruce plantings suffer from improper soil care around trees, excessive or insufficient watering, and a deficiency of nutrients in the soil. To avoid the development of the listed pathologies and pest attacks, you should follow simple safety rules:

• choose the right landing site;
• use quality planting material;
• observe watering and fertilizing;
• loosen the soil in the area of the trunk circle;
• carry out sanitary pruning on time;
• follow the tree planting scheme;
• destroy the remains of plants and fallen needles.

Application of wood

This variety is considered universal. Because it is often used in landscape design. Culture is often planted in rockeries and neat compositions are created in small areas. In free spaces, this little spruce is lost.

Quite often the variety is used as a hedge. It is also used for fencing curbs and as a planting that limits a certain area of the garden. Since this crop is resistant to air pollution, it can be planted on the streets.

Also, Lucky Strike spruce can be placed as a single plant, planted in the central part of a small flower bed. It is often sold in pots to decorate balconies, loggias and terraces. The culture is in high demand among collectors of coniferous crops.

Spruce Lucky Strike is a fairly common culture that is often used in landscape design. In order for the plant to develop normally and retain its decorative properties, it must be properly looked after.

Recommended