Banks Pine: variety description and characteristics, planting and care, application
Banks pine is a common crop that has excellent decorative properties. This tree is well suited for growing in temperate areas and is considered low maintenance. In order for the culture to grow and develop normally, it needs to be properly looked after. Prevention of diseases and pests is important.
Description of the pine tree
The conifer got its name in honor of the famous breeder Joseph Banks, who studied botany from the eighteenth to the nineteenth century.
This plant reaches a height of 20 meters. The thickness of its trunk usually does not exceed 25 centimeters. In rare cases, it reaches 60 centimeters. In the Canadian forests, there are also real giants - up to 30 meters in size.
This culture has a rounded and well-branched crown. It is characterized by twisted short needles. Each bundle contains 2 needles, the length of which reaches 4 centimeters. The color of the needles changes over time. Young needles have a yellow color, but over time it becomes a dark green hue. The tree blossoms in May.
Expert opinionZarechny Maxim ValerievichAgronomist with 12 years of experience. Our best gardening expert.Ask a QuestionIn addition to an attractive coniferous crown, the Banks pine has a beautiful red-purple bark. Additional advantages of the culture include resistance to low temperatures and a large amount of snow.Features of cones
The plant is characterized by unusual cones. They are short, strongly arched and pointed downwards. The scales of such fruits glisten in the sun, after which they acquire a gray matte tint.
Pine cones have a valuable composition and include many vitamins. They also contain essential oils and carotene. Therefore, the fruits of the plant are often used in folk medicine. With their help, you can get the following results:
- strengthen immunity;
- get rid of pathologies of the upper respiratory tract;
- restore the normal functions of the digestive organs;
- get rid of the flu and colds;
- increase hemoglobin content in the blood;
- prevent stroke.
Distribution area
Culture spread in Canada and the USA.In European countries, the plant began to be grown since 1785. In Russia, culture is perfectly adapted to the middle lane. Banks pine is considered undemanding to the composition of the soil and illumination. It perfectly withstands gusts of wind and dry air.
Popular varieties
This coniferous plant has different subspecies that differ in appearance and properties. Most often, dwarf hybrid varieties are used to design plots. Before landing, it is important to study the description of each. So, the most common varieties include the following:
- Uncle Fogy - This dwarf variety reaches a height of 2 meters. It is characterized by a weeping crown and a twisted trunk, which leans towards the surface of the earth. The plant has beautiful green needles and branches that practically lie on the ground.
- Banska Stiavnica - this culture is characterized by slow development and reaches a height of 1-1.5 meters.The plant has a dense and dense crown, which has a conical shape. The variety is popular because it has an unusual light green color of needles. At the same time, pine needles are quite dense and slightly twisted.
- Arktis - This dwarf pine has a loose and downy crown. At the same time, its needles have a grayish color. In height, the plant reaches about 3 meters. Its delicate branches point in different directions.
- Chippewa is a small evergreen tree with small light green needles. This variety is characterized by slow development. For 1 year, the tree grows literally by 2-3 centimeters. In addition, the plant has a flattened crown.
All described varieties are actively used in landscape design. But their predecessor, the Banks pine, is not inferior to the new subspecies in popularity. This plant is often used as a tapeworm. It also looks good in group plantings - in particular, as part of a hedge.Banks pine goes well with other coniferous crops. It can also be combined with deciduous plants. In addition to an attractive appearance, an unusual fresh aroma is considered an advantage of the culture.
Fit Tips
Evergreen coniferous plants should be planted in spring - from early March to mid-May. At this time, the ground begins to warm up after winter. It is recommended to buy seedlings of this pine in proven nurseries. This variety is well suited to sandy, loamy and peaty soil.
To plant a pine, you need to make a hole 1-1.5 meters deep, and place a drainage layer on the bottom. Before planting, the culture must be carefully removed from the container along with a lump of soil. In this case, it is recommended to avoid damage to the root system. After that, it is worth carefully placing the plant in the hole. It is important to bear in mind that when planting a seedling, you should not get rid of an earthen clod, which is a kind of protection for delicate pine roots.
After that, the culture needs to be covered with a composition based on sand and soil and fertilizing. In this case, the root part of the trunk should remain at the same level with the surface of the earth. If we talk about group planting, the interval between seedlings should be at least 3 meters.
Experienced gardeners do not recommend moving a tree that grows in the forest to the site. In this case, there is a danger that the tree will not take root or will quickly die.
Nuances of care
Despite the undemanding care, some rules of agricultural technology still need to be followed. So, young trees need constant soil moisture. They should be watered 2-3 times a month. In summer, this procedure is recommended to be carried out more often. Moist soil retains heat well and prevents the roots from drying out. It is also worth remembering about mulching and loosening the soil. These procedures help to maintain optimal humidity parameters.
For several years after planting, the crop needs top dressing. In spring, a young tree is fertilized with minerals. At the same time, an adult pine itself creates the necessary environment around itself from fallen needles, which contains all the elements necessary for the plant.
If we talk about pruning, then it is carried out only for decorative purposes. At the same time, cutting branches is required in early spring. Culture propagation is carried out by seed method.
The plant is highly resistant to frost. Banks pines do not die even in harsh Canadian conditions. However, during heavy snowfalls, the sprawling shoots of the plant cannot withstand the snow mass. Therefore, after the end of winter, a large number of branches break.
In order for a tree to survive the winter, you should follow the following rules:
- In late autumn, carefully fix the shoots near the top. It is important to avoid damaging them.
- Before the onset of frost, cover the shoots with a cotton cloth or use special material.
- Wrap the barrel to protect against hares and mice.
Thanks to the warming of the plant, he will be able to survive even the snowiest winter. At the first rays of the sun, the protective material must be removed.
Pest Control
Banks' pine suffers from a number of pathologies typical of conifers. The most common problems include the following:
- Rust - its development is due to the activity of fungal microorganisms. In this case, the main symptom of infection is the appearance of orange bubbles on the needles, which contain spores. Infected pine turns yellow and dries up. To cope with the disease, you need to use drugs based on copper. The most effective means include "Hom" and "Abiga-Peak" .
- Fusariosis - this pathology affects needles and shoots. In this case, the needles acquire a yellow-red hue. Gradually, the crown of the tree becomes more rare, the branches dry up, and the plant itself may die. It is impossible to cope with this pathology, therefore the pine must be destroyed.
Pine scale insect is one of the most difficult insects to breed, which often spoils conifers. Butterflies lay millions of eggs on the needles, from which caterpillars subsequently appear. Such larvae absorb the crown of needles, which leads to the death of the plant.
Pine silkworm is one of the most dangerous parasites. Its caterpillars can destroy entire forest plantations. Pest larvae enter the bark, young branches and buds, eating them from the inside. The affected tree eventually dries up and dies.
Use in design
Pine of this variety is often used for decorating plots. This culture looks great as a tapeworm and is used to create various compositions. The plant looks good with deciduous crops, shrubs and other conifers. The tree has a spectacular appearance and pleasant aroma. The plant can also be used to create a hedge.
Smaller copies of the Banks pine are also often used in landscape design. So, dwarf plants help transform the garden and at the same time do not attract much attention to themselves. A small culture can be placed on an alpine hill or near an artificial reservoir.Its dark green shoots look good with flowering shrubs.
Banks Pine is an attractive ornamental crop that fits well into a variety of compositions. In order for the plant to develop normally and retain its attractiveness, it needs to be properly looked after. Of great importance is the full protection of crops from diseases and pests.
