How to plant a spruce: the rules of care and when it is better to root, at what distance from others

Green plantings on the site serve as its decoration and help purify the air. In addition, they can be used as a functional landscape design tool. One of the most successful options would be the use of coniferous plants. At the same time, not every summer resident knows how to plant a spruce on his site. In order for the culture to grow and develop normally, it is important to choose the right seedling and follow the recommendations for planting it.

How spruce breeds

Propagation of spruce can be carried out in various ways, each of which has certain features. So, you can breed a culture like this:

1. Seeds - this option is considered the most time-consuming. However, it does not always give the desired results. This method is recommended for summer residents who like to experiment and follow all stages of cultivation.
2. Cuttings - is considered a simpler and faster method. In addition, this technology is affordable.
3. Seedlings - this is the most simple and convenient method. However, it is associated with significant costs, since you will have to spend money on the purchase of high-quality planting material.

When to plant a tree

Planting work is permissible to carry out in spring and autumn. However, the first option is considered more preferable. The procedure is required before the start of the growing season. This should be done before sap flow. However, it is important to consider that the soil must be completely thawed from frost.Thus, planting work usually takes place in March or April.

It is worth noting that seedlings with closed roots can also be planted in late spring or summer. However, in this case, the plant needs to be shaded immediately after planting. In addition, it needs to be watered regularly. However, experts still do not advise planting a plant in heat or drought. In this case, the seedling will take too long to adapt.

How to choose a seedling

Quality planting material is recommended to buy in specialized nurseries. This is a guarantee of obtaining a plant of the required variety. Coniferous seedlings are sold in pots of different sizes - it all depends on the size of the crop itself.

When planting a Christmas tree in the ground, it is important to completely preserve the lump of substrate in which it was sold. Thanks to this, the culture will take root faster.

When buying spruce in a nursery, you should get expert advice on the size of an adult crop, its resistance to frost, and watering requirements.

To choose the right seedling, it is recommended to pay attention to the following signs:

• needles should be fresh and shiny;
• tender shoots should be present at the tips of the branches;
• trunk and branches should have a natural shape;
• it is important that there is no rusty or white coating on the needles;
• when lightly pressed, the branches should bend, not break.

If the spruce is sold in a too small pot, it means that it was dug specifically for sale and the root system was disturbed.

Suitable landing sites

An important stage in the planting work is the choice of a suitable place on the site. Spruce needs a sufficient amount of lighting. However, it should not be placed under scorching sunlight. The best option for the culture will be light penumbra.Do not plant a tree in deep shade or under too bright light.

For growing spruce, light and loose soil is most suitable. Light loam is considered the best option for this crop. It is important to consider that the plant does not tolerate stagnant moisture in the soil. Therefore, it is recommended to choose areas with a deep location of groundwater. Do not plant spruce in the lowlands in which moisture accumulates. If there are no other places to plant, it is imperative to provide a drainage layer.

When choosing a place to plant, you should definitely consider the future size of the tree. When buying small coniferous plants, they are allowed to be planted anywhere. This can be done even near the house. At the same time, large spruces should not be planted near the house or other fruit crops. The optimal distance between them is 10-15 meters.

If you plant a spruce near the house, its powerful root system will lead to the destruction of the foundation of the building. When close to other trees, spruce roots will begin to grow and absorb a lot of moisture from the soil.

Preparing the pit for planting

In areas with heavy clay soil, it is worth making a landing hole measuring 50x70 centimeters. For planting dwarf crops, a recess measuring 40x40 centimeters is enough.

A drainage layer of 10-20 centimeters must be poured onto the bottom. For this, it is better to use expanded clay. Separately, it is worth making a soil mixture. To do this, you need to mix garden soil, leaf humus, sand and lowland peat in a ratio of 2: 2: 1: 1. After filling the recess, the soil must be abundantly moistened. If necessary, it is permissible to add more land.

Planting work should be carried out 1 month after the preparation of the deepening. It is this period of time that is needed for natural subsidence of the soil.

Planting instructions

Planting a spruce seedling with closed roots is quite simple. In this case, you do not need to perform complex actions. To do this, it is recommended to do the following:

1. Place a drainage layer and a special mixture into the prepared recess.
2. Carefully pull the seedling out of the container. At the same time, it is important to avoid damage to the soil clod or ground fragments. To do this, you need to place the container on its side, gently knock on it and pull out the plant.
3. Install the seedling in the planting hole. In this case, the root collar should be 3-5 centimeters above the surface of the earth. Burying it is strictly prohibited.
4. Sprinkle voids with nutrient substrate.
5. Carefully tamp the soil in the trunk circle.
6. Generously water the plantings. For 1 plant, it is recommended to use 3-4 buckets of water. At the same time, it is required to pour in the liquid gradually, waiting for it to be absorbed.

If after some time after the completion of planting, the earth has settled, be sure to add the substrate to get the previous level, and water the plant again. When planting several trees between plants, you need to maintain the optimal distance.

Rules of care

In order for the plant to develop normally after planting, it needs to be properly looked after. In the first 1-2 years, spruce can not be fed. At this stage, care is reduced to shallow loosening and systematic watering. The use of mulch is important. This helps retain moisture in the soil and prevents soil compaction. Therefore, in hot and dry weather, it will be enough to water the spruce with 10-15 liters of water.

Large plants need more moisture. Plants should be watered in the evening. In this case, you need to use a watering can with a small diffuser. Sprinkling is important. Thanks to this, it will be possible to clean the coniferous crop from dust.

At the end of October, it is recommended to carry out water-charging watering and treat the plant with a preparation containing copper. For this, it is permissible to use "Hom" or blue vitriol.

In the first year after planting, plants need shelter for the winter. It is best to install a frame for this purpose, on which a breathable synthetic material is attached. The best options include agrospan, lutrasil, spunbond.

Standard crops also need to be prepared for winter. Without additional fixing, they can suffer from rain and snow. First, a plastic garden pitch with paraffin or beeswax in the composition is required to be applied to the grafting site. The scion of the standard form requires the use of a frame shelter. At the same time, the stem itself must be tied to a strong peg.

Popular spruce varieties

Today there are a lot of types of spruces that are distinguished by excellent decorative properties. The most famous varieties include:

1. Hokkaido - is the oldest species, which is mainly found in the Far East. The culture is an ancient variety 40-50 meters high with a regular conical crown.Spruce has yellow-green or yellow-brown shoots and flat dark green needles.
2. Brevera - North America is considered the birthplace of culture. The tree reaches a height of 20-25 meters. In this case, the diameter of the trunk is 45-75 centimeters. The culture has resinous buds and red-brown young shoots. As the tree develops, they acquire a silvery-gray color.
3. Eastern - often found in the Caucasian forests and northern regions of Asia Minor. The height of the plant can reach 35-50 meters. It is characterized by a dense crown and brown bark. The needles are short and square in shape.

Growing spruce has many features. To get an attractive and he althy tree, it is important to choose the right seedling and follow the recommendations for planting. It is also required to provide spruce competent care.

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