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Beautiful conifers can become the main garden, especially in cold climates, where the choice of decorative forms is not so great. Canadian spruce Pendula - a variety that has become popular due to the weeping crown, grows in a frost resistance zone of 3-7, but can withstand frosts down to -40 ° C (zone 2).
A specimen of a strange shape was found in the garden of the Trianon-Parc of Versailles. It was propagated by grafts and was described by botanist Elie-Abel Carrier in 1867. Unfortunately, most of the grafted weeping conifers are imported to Russia, so their cost is high, and the distribution is less than it could be.
Description of the Canadian spruce Pendula
Pendula is translated into Russian as a pendulum. This word can often be found in the names of varieties of deciduous and coniferous crops, it means that the tree belongs to one of three weeping forms:
- pendula - branches hang down in an arc;
- reflexa - shoots bend and fall sharply;
- inversa - branches first grow perpendicular to the trunk, then fall down in a cascade.
The Canadian Pendula spruce forms a short tree, reaching a size of 15 m at the age of 30 and giving an annual growth of 15-30 cm. By the age of 10, the variety grows to 1.5-3 m, this spread is explained by different climates and growing conditions. In Russia, Canadian spruce is always lower than at home.
Spruce Canadian glauca Pendula has rather rigid dense branches, curving in a steep arc at the trunk and hanging down in a dense blanket. If you do not cut the lower shoots, they will fall on the ground. The crown of Pendula is compressed, narrow-conical, with drooping shoots pressed to the trunk. The needles are dense, bluish-green.
The top grows straight only when tied to a support. Otherwise, it leans to the side, and it seems that the tree is bent into an arc or falls. Young shoots, formed from the whorl located on the top of the head, are first located perpendicular to the main shoot, then they hang. In an adult tree, the branches are arranged in peculiar tiers. This can be clearly seen in the photo of the Pendula spruce.
Spruce Pendula in landscape design
Thanks to its original crown shape, the Canadian Pendula spruce is often planted as a single focal plant (tapeworm). It looks good in the foreground of landscape groups, next to trees or shrubs with a columnar, round or pyramidal crown.
Pendula is suitable for romantic gardens, recreation areas or coastal artificial reservoirs. By the way, the variety will feel great near the water. The bluish-green needles and the weeping crown of the spruce will add expressiveness to the composition of trees and shrubs, which are highly decorative only for part of the season.
Pendula looks great when planted on the lawn or along the footpaths. Several trees can be placed at the front entrance - they will decorate, but will not block the view of the building facade.
It should be borne in mind that the Canadian spruce Pendula retains the average growth rate only at a young age, up to 10 years. Then it stretches much faster. On not too large areas, it can take a dominant position among ornamental crops. Since even the smallest spruce with side branches is at least 4 years old, this will happen rather quickly. Before planting a tree in rockery or on a rocky hill, you need to think about what kind of composition the composition will take in a few years.
Usually weeping varieties are allowed to grow freely, but the Canadian Pendula spruce does not need this - although its branches hang down, they adhere quite tightly to each other and do not interfere with other plants. But its shape strongly depends on how high the graft is made, and how the main conductor was tied up.
From abroad, Canadian Pendula spruces with a standardly formed crown are most often brought to Russia. Domestic nurseries have just begun to plant weeping conifers. In Europe and America, they learned to make real miracles from them. In the photo there is a Canadian spruce Pendula on a low trunk with a freely growing crown (not tied to the support by the main conductor).
Planting and caring for gray Pendula spruce
Pendula Spruce would be one of the most hassle-free varieties of Canadian spruce, but it is a grafted form. Her crown, although compressed, is not as dense as that of dwarf varieties. Therefore, cleaning the plant becomes not a vital procedure, but a cosmetic one. In the sun, Pendula burns less than most Canadian fir trees, and at least does not become bald on the south side. In addition, it is considered the most frost-resistant of the modern varieties of this species.
Seedling and planting plot preparation
The site for planting the Canadian Pendula spruce is chosen so that it is illuminated for at least a few hours a day. The tree tolerates partial shade well, in general, without the sun, the bluish-green needles become dull.
Groundwater should not approach the soil surface closer than 1.5 m at the spruce planting site. The soil should be acidic or slightly acidic, permeable to air and water, moderately fertile. It can become waterlogged for a short time, but the culture cannot stand drying out of the roots.
Spruce Pendula needs to be bought in garden centers, grown in a container. Most of the seedlings come to Russia from abroad. If a tree has a burlap root system, there is no guarantee that it will not dry out on the road. And conifers die slowly, the crown remains green for more than a month, even with a felled tree.
When buying, you should carefully examine the vaccination site. The top of the Pendula spruce should be tied to the support.
Landing rules
The landing pit is prepared in advance. Its diameter should be several times larger than the cross-section of the pot and be no less than 60 cm.The depth of the pit is at least 70 cm, the drainage layer of broken red brick or expanded clay is 20 cm.The planting mixture is prepared from turf soil, leaf humus, clay, sand , 100-150 g of nitroammofoska.
High-moor (red) peat is added to soils with a neutral or alkaline reaction - it not only acidifies the soil, but also improves its structure, makes it more permeable. A planting pit with 2/3 drainage is filled with the prepared mixture, filled with water and allowed to settle for at least two weeks.
You can start landing:
- So much soil is taken out of the pit so that the root collar of the Canadian Pendula spruce installed in the center is level with the surface of the soil.
- Fill the well with water and let it soak.
- If, for some reason, the Pendula spruce is not tied to the support, it should be installed as close to the main guide as possible before planting and secured. The existing one must be carefully examined. The garter can be too tight and sometimes cuts into the bark. It needs to be replaced with a freer one.
- The root of the Canadian spruce is covered with soil, constantly compaction to avoid the formation of voids.
- Check the position of the root collar and support (it should be directed vertically upward).
- A side is formed along the perimeter of the landing pit.
- Water the Canadian spruce abundantly.
- The trunk circle is mulched with sour peat or bark of coniferous trees treated with a fungicide. The layer must be at least 5 cm.
Watering and feeding
The first two weeks after planting, the soil under the Canadian Pendula spruce should not dry out. In the future, watering is needed regular, but moderate.Between wetting the soil, the top layer of the soil should dry out a little. Spruce Pendula does not like dry soil or stagnant water in the root area. In hot summers, the tree may require weekly watering.
The variety is relatively resistant to anthropogenic factors, but needs regular foliar feeding and epin treatments. This helps the tree to cope with air pollution.
Root dressing is recommended to be done with specialized fertilizers for conifers. Now it is not necessary to buy expensive imported brands - domestic manufacturers have launched cheap high-quality drugs on the market. So a gardener who has allowed himself to buy a Canadian spruce of a weeping shape will be able to purchase the necessary fertilizing. Fertilizers are sold separately for different seasons - spring contains more nitrogen, autumn is produced with a predominance of phosphorus and potassium.
Top dressing is given to the Canadian Pendula spruce according to the instructions for wet soil.
Mulching and loosening
The small roots of the Canadian Pendula spruce come close to the soil surface and react poorly if disturbed. It is necessary to loosen the trunk circle only in the first two years after planting the tree, to a depth of about 5 cm. In the future, the soil around the spruce is mulched with sour peat or pine bark, which is sold already treated for diseases in garden centers.
Pruning
The Canadian Pendula spruce has a beautiful weeping crown. Only branches that may appear below the grafting site need to be trimmed. Naturally, sanitary measures include the removal of broken, dry and diseased shoots.
If the design of the site requires some kind of special formation of the Pendula spruce, the first time the operation should be entrusted to a specialist. In the future, skilled gardeners will be able to maintain the desired crown shape on their own, based on the recommendations received.
The lower branches of the Canadian Pendula spruce often sink to the ground and lie on the ground. To prevent infection from getting to the tree from the soil, it should be covered with bark or ground cover plants. Otherwise, the lower shoots are cut or shortened - they should not lie on bare ground or peat.
Preparing for winter
Pendula is one of the hardiest varieties of Canadian spruce. It can winter even in zone 2. It is only necessary to cover the tree with spruce branches or white non-woven material for the first two years after planting. In the future, they are limited to mulching the trunk circle with peat, which is not removed in spring, but embedded in the ground.
The grafting site of the Canadian Pendula spruce is a problem. In the North-West, the Urals and Siberia, it should always be wrapped in nonwoven fabric and tied with twine.
Preparation for winter spruce consists in the autumn moisture recharge and fertilizing with fertilizers containing phosphorus and potassium.
Sun protection
Pendula prefers partial shade; the needles can burn in the bright sun. It does not fall off, like dwarf Canadian firs with a very dense crown, but turns brown. The needles will fall off only if you do not take any action for a long time.
When planting Pendula in the sun, you should be prepared to treat the crown with epin or zircon every 2 weeks. It is better if on the south side it will be slightly shaded by other plants. A mature tree (after 10 years) suffers less from the sun.
Reproduction
The Canadian Pendula spruce is propagated by grafts. The weeping form of its crown is not inherited when sowing seeds. Cutting also does not bring a satisfactory result. The crown of a grown tree is likely to be simply prone to drooping. The plant will not look like the Pendula variety.
Of course, it will be much easier to form the crown of such a tree with stretch marks, pruning and garters in a weeping form than with other fir trees suitable for such an operation. But that's a completely different story.
Domestic nurseries specializing in the cultivation of conifers have already begun to plant Canadian spruces. A number of Russian Pendula seedlings are already on sale, but this is not enough to satisfy the market. Most of the weeping firs come from abroad. It is extremely difficult to instill them on your own, but no one forbids trying.
Diseases and pests
The health of the Canadian Pendula spruce must be monitored with special attention, since grafted trees are more likely to suffer from fungal infections. If the disease affects the graft site, the tree will most likely die. You need to inspect the spruce every 2 weeks using a magnifying glass, gently pushing the branches apart.
Of course, you can rely on "maybe", it is quite possible that everything will be fine. But then one should not be surprised if yesterday the Canadian spruce was healthy, and today a specialist invited for a lot of money reports that the tree will not survive until spring.
The Canadian Pendula spruce is often affected by the snow chute, as its branches lie on the ground. Other diseases include:
- spruce whirligig;
- rust;
- stem and root rot;
- fusarium;
- bark necrosis;
- ulcerative cancer.
Common pests of the Canadian Pendula spruce:
- mite;
- gall aphid;
- caterpillars of the Nun's butterfly;
- mealybug;
- spruce leaf roll;
- hermes;
- spruce sawmill.
The crown of the Pendula is not as dense as that of dwarf varieties of Canadian spruce, so it is much easier to process it. Preventive spraying should be carried out regularly. They fight against diseases that have already appeared with the help of fungicides, pests are destroyed with insecticides.
Conclusion
Canadian spruce Pendula is a very beautiful tree with a weeping crown. It will decorate any site, and requires much less care than dwarf varieties.
