Spruce Belobok: description, planting and care, application in landscape design
Spruce Belobok is a fairly common crop that can be grown in different conditions. This coniferous plant can withstand unstable care, man-made soil and polluted air. A distinctive feature of the culture is the lush blue needles. At the same time, the crown is characterized by a cone-shaped shape. The plant is often used in landscape design. In order for the tree to retain its decorative properties, it is important to provide it with competent care.
Description
Belobok Spruce is a Polish variety of a dwarf spiny variety that was bred at the beginning of the twentieth century. The author of this culture is the Polish breeder Jan Bialobok. The name is connected precisely with the name of the scientist, and not with the features of appearance.
This crop is a dwarf variety that is slow growing. During the year, the plant grows by only 10-12 centimeters. At 10 years, the height of spruce does not exceed 2-3 meters. In this case, the width of the crown is 1 meter.
A distinctive feature of the spruce of this variety is the shade of the crown. The needles have a green-blue tint. At the same time, the young growth that appears in the spring is distinguished by a white-golden color that lasts for 1 month.
Spruce needles reach a length of 3 centimeters. They are sickle-shaped and radially arranged. The crown is horizontal. It is thick and lush, and also has a conical shape. At a young age, the plant is asymmetrical, but it evens out as it grows. The lower tier of culture is located near the ground itself. At the same time, he does not become naked with age.
Cones have a brown or red tint. They are male and female. As they ripen, the fruits acquire a green tint and a length of 10 centimeters. It is worth noting that cones do not appear on spruce every year.
Habitat
Belobok Spruce is an artificially obtained ornamental variety that is resistant to frost. Therefore, it is recommended to grow it in the Moscow, Smolensk, Astrakhan regions. The culture is able to withstand temperatures down to -34 degrees. When the tips of the shoots freeze, it is necessary to prune the crop.
How to plant a tree
To grow this crop, you need to choose sunny places or partial shade. At the same time, it is important to ensure that groundwater lies deep enough. Although the plant is considered shade-tolerant, with enough light, the shade of the needles becomes brighter. However, with an excess of lighting in spring, the tree needs to be protected.
It is best to plant the crop in loam or sandy loam soil, which is acidic. Planting work should be carried out in the spring, in the first half of summer or in autumn.During this period, the root system actively develops. But if necessary, the procedure can be carried out in the winter. In the case of group planting, a minimum spacing of 2 meters is required between plants.
To plant Belobok spruce, do the following:
- Prepare the drainage layer. For this, it is recommended to use expanded clay, charcoal, crushed brick or sand.
- Make a potting mix from leafy substrate, turf and peat.
- Dig a hole that is the same diameter as the root system. Its depth should be 50-60 centimeters.
- Pour drainage into the bottom. The thickness of this layer should be 20 centimeters.
- Water the landing site. To do this, pour 5 liters of water into the hole.
- Place the tree in the hole so that the root collar is flush with the ground. In this case, the barrel should be vertical.
- Sprinkle the hole with soil and tamp a little.
- Dig out a water dump according to the diameter of the root. Its width should be 10 centimeters.
- Water the plant. It is recommended to use 40 liters of water for this.
- Apply fertilizer. To do this, you need to take 100 grams of nitroammophoska and 10 grams of Kornevin and mix with 1 bucket of water.
A water dump is required in order for the water to linger as long as possible in the upper layer of the soil. This will help to fill all the voids in the roots of the plant with earth. After some time, it is recommended to cover the trunk circle with a mulch layer. This will saturate the soil with useful substances and help maintain the right temperature.
Features of care
Belobok spruce is not a very demanding plant. But he needs timely care and compliance with the rules of agricultural technology. Ground control is important.
White-tipped blue spruce requires moderate watering. It is important to avoid stagnant moisture in the root system. During a drought, it is recommended to water the tree once a week. In this case, you need to use 1 bucket of water.
Watering is recommended not under the root, but around the root ball - 30 centimeters from the trunk. To determine the need for moisture, you need to take a handful of earth and squeeze it in your hands. If it is dry and loose, watering is required. If the ground has a wet texture, the procedure should be postponed.
It is recommended to use warm water for spruce watering. In the case of using a liquid with a temperature of less than +12 degrees, there is a risk of damage to soil microorganisms. At the same time, watering is best done in the morning or in the evening.
Spruce Belobok needs to be properly fed. With an excess amount of fertilizer, the plant may begin to grow too rapidly. There is also a risk of lignification of the lower branches and development not in height, but in width.Therefore, fertilizers need to be applied only during the first 5 years during growth. Then feeding should be stopped.
It is recommended to fertilize the plant 2 times during the season. It is not recommended to use manure and nitrogen substances. It is best to use combined mineral products - in particular, superphosphate. It is best to use a supplement with magnesium, since this substance takes part in the photosynthesis of needles and gives it a rich color.
Also, a young tree is greatly benefited by organic matter. It needs to be applied in the form of biohumus and compost. They saturate the soil with nutrients and ensure their better absorption by the root system.
Loosening is an important point in the care of any plant. Spruce Belobok has a superficial root system. At the same time, moisture and vitamins do not linger in the roots and go into the ground. In order for the tree to get the maximum benefit, during the first 2-3 years, 2 times per season, you need to dig up the surface according to the size of the root ball.This is done to a depth of 10 centimeters.
Regardless of age, the root surface needs to be mulched every year. This is done at a distance of 50-80 centimeters. The procedure creates an optimal temperature for the roots, saturates the earth with minerals and retains moisture. Mulch can be made from the following materials:
- peat - restores soil structure and allows you to retain mineral fertilizers;
- compost - supports soil microflora and makes enzymes more active;
- shredded tree bark - reduces the rate of water evaporation and inhibits the development of weeds.
Under natural conditions, Belobok spruce does not require pruning. When growing a crop on the site, it is necessary to form its crown. The procedure is carried out for the first 8 years. After that, the tree remembers its shape and needs pruning only when pests attack. Manipulation should be performed with disinfected instruments in spring or early summer - after the active movement of juices is completed.
First, you should remove dried and yellow fragments, and then cut off living branches to form a crown. It is important to try to avoid creases of needles. After injury, it acquires a brown color and negatively affects the appearance of the culture.
Sections should be treated with garden mortar or charcoal. It is also permissible to use potassium permanganate or other special means for this purpose. Manipulation stimulates lateral branching, makes the crown dense and lush, and enhances its decorative properties.
Even minimal pruning is considered a lot of stress on a tree. After manipulation, the spruce weakens and loses its immunity. Therefore, after a few days, you need to spray the plants with drugs from diseases and pests. It is also necessary to use combined preparations that contain many trace elements to improve crops.
Reproduction
Propagation of Belobok spruce is carried out by seed or cuttings.To do this, the cones must be collected at the end of autumn or brought to a warm place. In this case, they will open and release the seeds. Then they need to be processed in a solution of potassium permanganate, put in a container with warm sand and put in a cool place for stratification. If there is no other suitable place, the plant can be stored in the refrigerator.
Well prepared seeds produce many sprouts. At the same time, not all cultures inherit parental traits. The main part of them grows as ordinary spruces that do not have light shoots. To preserve varietal characteristics, it is better to use cuttings for propagation. To do this, shoots must be harvested from plants older than 10 years.
The cuttings are not very good rooting. But in such a situation, you can be sure that you will be able to get a plant of the required variety.
For propagation, it is recommended to choose straight cuttings. Thanks to this, the spruce will turn out even and straight. They are recommended to be cut at the trunk. This must be done with a piece of wood. On it you need to make cuts from which roots appear.
Cuttings should be planted in a container with a substrate and removed in the shade. Roots will appear faster if the soil is warmed up from below or horse manure is poured onto the bottom of the container. It will rot and produce the heat needed to root the cuttings.
Application in landscape design
Bialobok spruce is perfect for single plantings. It also goes well with other trees in various compositions. Spruce is recommended to be planted near evergreen monochromatic perennials. Against their background, it stands out with an unusual appearance. Spruce of this variety looks very original on rocky hills, in combination with bright flowers of a Japanese garden, in rock gardens. Also, the plant is combined with mountain crops and large stones.
Spruce planted in a group will be an excellent decoration for patios located on terraces or near artificial ponds. From a group of such plants you can make a hedge. A tree under 10 years old can be kept in containers.
Threats to the tree
Quite often the plant is attacked by pests - stem, sucking, gnawing. If holes appear on the trunk or the appearance of the needles deteriorates, insecticides should be used. Effective means include Aktofit and Entocide. To cope with fungal pathologies, it is worth using fungicides - in particular, Topaz and Fital.
Belobok spruce is a beautiful ornamental plant grown by many gardeners. To get a strong and he althy tree, it is important for him to provide proper care.
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