Spruce Nidiformis: description, planting and care, application in landscape design

Nidiformis Spruce is an attractive coniferous plant that was bred in a German town located near Hamburg. This culture was described at the beginning of the last century. The tree is compact in size, because this variety is considered dwarf. The crown of this plant is characterized by an unusual shape, because it is often compared with a bird's nest. Spruce of this variety is considered undemanding to care and is resistant to frost.

Description

Common spruce Nidiformis has a height of just over 1 meter. At the same time, its width reaches 2 meters. The culture is slow growing. For a year it grows in height by 2-3 centimeters. The width of the plant increases by 5-7 centimeters.

A characteristic feature of the culture is a dense crown, which consists of evenly growing branches. They are covered with short and soft needles. As it develops, spruce acquires a round shape with a dense flattened crown. With the advent of spring, new shoots appear from the buds, which are covered with light green needles. Subsequently, it darkens.

In adult plants, by the age of 5, cones 12-15 centimeters in size appear. At first they have a green tint, and after maturation they turn brown.

Nidiformis is pillow-shaped and prickly. Each of the varieties has its own characteristic features. Like the rest of the conifers, the culture is considered a long-liver. With adequate care, she is able to live up to 250-300 years.

How to plant correctly

Nidiformis planting in open soil has certain features. Experts recommend buying seedlings with closed roots.Before purchasing, they must be carefully inspected. The needles should not have signs of pathologies. It is important that the cushion crown is not injured. In addition, there should be no signs of decay on the surface of the soil.

The seedling should be planted with a clod of soil, since there is already formed mycorrhiza. In addition, following this rule helps to avoid damage to the roots. At the bottom of the prepared recess for planting, it is imperative to provide a full-fledged drainage layer of crushed stone or sand. It should be approximately 20 centimeters thick.

To plant a plant in open soil, do the following:

1. Water the plant in advance. This will help avoid damage to the root system or the seedling itself.
2. Pull the spruce out of the container and place it in a prepared hole. The plant must be placed vertically.
3. Fill voids with substrate by mixing it with fertilizer. Lightly tamp the near-trunk circle and water the plantings abundantly.
4. Make sure the root collar is level with the ground. It cannot be deepened, as this can provoke rotting on the trunk.
5. After watering, lightly tamp the near-stem circle again and loosen the ground a little. Sprinkle the surface of the substrate with a layer of mulch.

Rules of care

Nidiformis spruce is an undemanding crop that easily withstands frost and does not need specific care. That is why it is often used in landscape design. However, in order for the culture to retain its decorative effect, it needs to be properly looked after. In doing so, you must follow these rules:

1. Plant a crop in a sunny area. The plant is a dwarf variety that has a low crown. Therefore, culture often encounters fungi. Landing in a well-lit area helps to avoid this.
2. Regularly remove weeds. Unwanted vegetation robs spruce of nutrients and spreads infections.
3. Use spider mite prophylaxis.
4. Cover young plants for the winter. The root system of seedlings is not yet strong, which can lead to freezing.
5. Fix crop before winter. Thanks to this, it will not break in severe frosts.
6. Mulch the soil near the plant.

Spruce does well with pruning, although this procedure is not mandatory. It can be carried out to maintain decorativeness. The tree grows faster in width than in height. Therefore, with age, the crown loses its symmetry.

Systematic pruning helps fix the problem. Plants that are the same height and width look best. The easiest way to maintain the desired shape of the crown is by systematically pinching young shoots at the stage of active growth.

Reproduction

Spruce of this variety can be propagated by cuttings. Planting material is required to be harvested in April or May. To do this, in the middle part of the plant you need to cut the branches. Their length should be about 10 centimeters. Cutting cuttings is required with a sharp knife or pruner.

For rooting, you need to use a substrate with the addition of top dressing for coniferous plants. It is also recommended to add peat to the soil. Before planting, the cuttings must be carefully cleaned of needles and immersed in Kornevin's solution for a day.

Then the planting material must be placed in the substrate, deepening by 50-60 millimeters. After that, the plants need to be watered and covered with a film. After 3-4 months, the roots of the plant should grow back. Until this happens, the cuttings need to be moistened, sprayed and ventilated in a timely manner.

Diseases and pests

Spruce Nidiformis is a fairly hardy plant. However, in conditions of high humidity, there is a risk of infection with pathogenic fungi that provoke Schutte's disease. This pathology poses the greatest danger to young immature crops.

To avoid the development of the disease, it is required to treat the plant with Bordeaux liquid of low concentration. It is also important to avoid accumulation of excess moisture in the soil.

From parasites, spruce suffers from leafworms, hermes, spider mites. To cope with harmful insects, it is required to use acaricides and insecticidal preparations.

Spruce Nidiformis is a fairly common plant that has excellent decorative properties. In order for the culture to develop normally, it is important to plant it correctly and provide competent care.

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