Content
Spruces, pines, junipers are unpretentious, and at the same time, ornamental plants, so the planting of conifers is very popular among the owners of country houses and plots. Greening and landscape transformation occurs quickly, especially if adult conifers are used. Young saplings are also suitable for this purpose, since they create coziness and a unique design of the backyard territory, dacha, park, public garden. In order for plants to begin and quickly begin to develop, you need to know the rules and subtleties of planting conifers.
When is it better to plant ephedra
It is believed that coniferous trees can be planted all year round. In the spring, as soon as the snow melts, young plants are planted. Roots begin to develop already at an air temperature of +3 oC, they are not afraid of frost. If the buds have begun to grow, then it is worth postponing the event until autumn.
Summer is the time for planting evergreen trees with a closed root system. But there is no guarantee that the plant was not in the container initially, but right before the sale. In this case, it will not take root, even with a healthy form and the creation of the necessary conditions.
The planting of conifers in the fall is carried out in early September, when the roots are actively growing, or in November, during the onset of hibernation.
Winter is the perfect time for landscaping. For adult plants, the survival rate at this time is 100%, despite the fact that they are considered extremely capricious.
Is it possible to plant conifers in winter
Planting conifers in winter has become very popular. This time is most suitable for large trees, large trees. Thanks to the method, time is not wasted on growing seedlings.
The winter landing has an explanation. In autumn, all life processes slow down, the tree goes into a state of dormancy, falls asleep and does not suffer from transplantation.
In winter, the plant is not threatened with desiccation, it is possible to transplant trees up to 14 m in height. Comfortable temperature for this procedure - up to -18 oC. With a further decrease in temperature, branches and roots may freeze and break due to fragility.
How to plant an ephedra correctly
Before planting coniferous trees, you should make sure that the earthen coma is well preserved. The roots should not dry out. Digging a hole, they are guided by the size of the seedling, the volume of the coma, with the addition of another 20 cm to the parameters. For a small ephedra, a hole 50 cm in diameter and 50 cm in depth is enough.
Drainage from broken brick, expanded clay, pebbles is placed at the bottom. Humus, sand, mineral fertilizer can be added to poor soil. On loams, it is worth adding sand, peat.
The root system is soaked in a large volume of water just before planting. The seedling is freed from the container, placed in the center of the hole without deepening the root collar, the soil is poured into the voids and tamped. Having made an earthen roller around the planting, watered abundantly. To retain moisture, mulch the soil around the trunk. At the initial stage, trees are shaded so that they do not burn under the sun's rays.
Further care for conifers consists in periodic watering, spraying with a growth stimulator, fertilizing with mineral fertilizers.
Selecting and preparing a landing site
When choosing a place, it is worth remembering that the life expectancy of the ephedra is large, the root system is developing actively, so the seedling needs to choose a permanent position for many years. It is necessary to provide that after planting the trees not only look spectacular on the site, but also do not interfere with growth.
A place of a certain size for planting conifers is allocated depending on whether the plant is a giant, a dwarf or a creeping species:
- the distance between cedars and firs should be 4 m;
- pines and spruces - 3 m;
- yews and junipers - 2 m.
Taking into account these indicators, conifers are planted in the country, in the personal plot, in the park.
Conifers are not demanding on the soil, they can grow on sandy and loamy soils. Evergreens love sunny locations. The most light-loving ones are pines, junipers, and larch trees. Green spruce, thuja, fir, yew are less demanding.
Seedling preparation
When buying conifers, pay attention to their appearance. You should not buy a seedling from which:
- the needles are dull, brown or withered;
- there are bare shoots;
- too many dry branches;
- the lump of earth is overdried and lags behind the walls;
- in the container, not an earthen lump, but fresh soil;
- with an open root system, there should be no sluggish roots.
Before planting, seedlings of coniferous trees are stored, observing a number of rules that require:
- do not leave the roots naked, they must be covered with earth;
- it is allowed to cover the plants with a damp cloth;
- it is advisable to spray or dip the needles in water;
- so that the root hairs do not die, it is necessary to keep the seedlings of coniferous trees before planting in the shade, in a cool place.
Compliance with the rules for planting conifers and caring for them will lead in the future to the development of seedlings, non-compliance - to death.
How to plant ephedra in the fall
If there is no time for planting conifers in the spring, planting dates can be postponed in autumn until November. This period is optimal: all processes in the body of trees stop, the root system works in slower mode. Until the ground freezes, the plants spend their energy only on rooting. If a seedling bought in a specialized store has a closed root system, its planting is reduced by transferring conifers from a container to a prepared pit. It must be done according to all the rules.
While the soil is not very cold, not frozen, the roots grow in the seedlings, so they are prepared for winter, and in the spring they begin to actively develop.
The planting of bare-root conifers dug out in the forest is often unsuccessful. Sometimes it, even if carried out in compliance with all the rules, leads to the death of the seedling. The reason is that ephedra lose the fungus mycorrhiza, their symbiotic partner. It is vital for the transplanted plants. To preserve it, you should dig out a seedling with a large clod of earth and carefully, without showered it, without exposing the roots, plant it.
Transplanting conifers in the fall
No matter how thought out the location of coniferous and deciduous plants, it is rather difficult to predict the speed of their growth and development. When conifers begin to interfere with their neighbors, it becomes necessary to transplant them, since no amount of pruning helps. This procedure is carried out in the fall. Problems are not observed if the height of the ephedra does not exceed human growth. Preparation begins several months before transplanting, for which they dig in the trunk along the perimeter of the coma, incising the roots. In November, a lump is dug up, wrapped in burlap, and transferred to a new place to the already prepared pit. The root collar must be slightly deepened, protecting it from freezing, the roots must be straightened.Ephedra takes root better if they maintain the orientation of the crown, that is, they position the tree so that the south side does not change to the north, and the west to the east. Further care for ephedra in the fall consists in watering, creating support if necessary and shelter from burns.
What to plant to conifers
Conifers are believed to acidify the soil. Among the shrubs that can grow next to evergreen species, tolerate and combine with them, there are:
- rhododendrons;
- spireas;
- hydrangeas;
- boxwood;
- barberries;
- Erica.
For a composition with conifers, herbaceous plants are planted:
- cereals;
- ferns;
- phlox;
- sedums.
The compositions can be different, but the needs for the quality of the soil of conifers and their flowering neighbors should be taken into account.
How to care for conifers
After planting, conifers require increased attention. In the heat, they need watering every other day under the root and over the crown. It is necessary to monitor whether the roots have eroded with water. Consumption is at least 15 liters per plant.
The established sun protection is removed two weeks after planting, if it was carried out in the spring, and after the soil has completely thawed, if planted in winter or autumn.
In the future, caring for conifers in the country, in a garden or park consists in timely sanitary pruning, feeding, mulching of the trunk circle, treatment with drugs to combat diseases and pests.
Watering conifers in autumn
For conifers, the greatest danger in winter is sunburn and drought. As soon as a thaw sets in, the ambient temperature rises, the needles evaporate moisture, and the roots at this time still cannot replenish its supply. The plant begins to dry out. To avoid this, in November, before the onset of severe cold weather and freezing of the soil, abundant watering of coniferous trees is carried out with the supply of 20 - 30 liters of water under the tree. Watering should be adjusted based on weather conditions: increase if autumn was dry, and, conversely, decrease if rainy weather.
When planting conifers before winter, watering is mandatory - in a prepared hole and under the root of an already planted tree.
Top dressing
Conventional complex and nitrogen fertilizers, manure are not suitable for conifers. They cause rapid growth, further yellowing and possible death of plants. The composition of the fertilizer is also important. Evergreen species need magnesium for photosynthesis. It is this component that should be included in the top dressing intended for conifers.
Experts advise to use mineral fertilizers and organic matter - compost, vermicompost.
Top dressing is carried out twice a season - the first time in May, during the activation of growth, the second in August. Later application may result in the growth not ripening until winter. For quick assimilation, feeding is carried out in liquid form in grooves made along the perimeter of the crown. To delay the action - in the form of granules, with their distribution over the entire surface of the trunk circle, later it will be necessary to mix the soil.
Loosening and mulching
According to the advice of specialists, excessive loosening of the soil has a detrimental effect on fertility, since during the procedure its layers are mixed, in which bacteria of different types live. As a result, they find themselves in an unusual environment and die. At the first time after planting, the loosening of the near-stem circles is carried out carefully, to a shallow depth, In the future, caring for the near-stem circles of conifers in the garden is reduced to mulching, which retains moisture, stops growth weeds... The best mulch is pine needles, fine bark, gravel. In addition to the decorative function, it also carries another - it easily lets air to the roots. But most importantly, mushrooms live in needles in symbiosis with trees. They cannot exist separately from each other. The required thickness of the mulch layer is 10 cm.
Trimming and shaping
Annual pruning of conifers for crown formation is not necessary. The exception is the sanitary disposal of sick, dry branches.
Periodic pruning is carried out to create a hedge, landscape decoration.
Pruning is carried out in late winter and early spring, thereby stimulating the formation of lush branches, reducing the risk of disease. The exceptions are larch and cypress: they are cut in November.
Pruning is carried out with sharp and disinfected garden shears, pruning shears, saws.
It is not recommended to remove more than 30% of green mass in one procedure.
To preserve the natural shape of the trees, the internal shoots are thinned. In thuja and cypress, two leading branches and tips are cut out. As a result, they become thicker and more attractive.
Shelter of conifers for the winter
After the autumn planting, careful shelter of the conifers is necessary. The purpose of protection is to prevent premature crown activation, when roots in frozen ground cannot supply moisture to the needles. In this case, burns of conifers are guaranteed.
Seedlings are protected with burlap or gauze. Covering with plastic wrap or non-woven material is undesirable, otherwise they can rot, undergo fungal diseases during temporary thaws.
The dwarf forms are considered the most unstable to frost. In winter, caring for conifers of this type consists in the need to fill them with an additional layer of snow, having previously placed a stone under the branches so that they do not break under the pressure of snow.
Thuja western, black pine, some types of junipers do not tolerate frosts at a young age, they need a special shelter from the cold.
Individual differences
When planting conifers, individual characteristics and conditions of their growth, the composition of the soil for different species of evergreens are taken into account.
Spruce
The tree requires:
- open lighted place or partial shade;
- lack of close occurrence of groundwater;
- mandatory drainage up to 20 cm;
- planting depth - 60 cm;
- the soil mixture includes sod and leafy soil, peat, sand;
It is not necessary to tamp the soil when planting trees, you should leave voids with air.
Pine
Her preference is open, lit areas. It is necessary to consider:
- the soil should include sod land, sand;
- planting depth - up to 1 m;
- drainage - at least 20 cm;
- seedling age - at least 5 years.
Juniper
Garden species of junipers are unpretentious, they need:
- sod soil, sand, peat;
- drainage - 15 cm;
- planting depth - 70 cm.
Larch
The tree needs a lit place, a large area because of its size. Landing features include:
- nutrient mixture composed of leafy soil, peat;
- drainage on heavy ground (20 cm);
- the age of the seedling is from 4 to 6 years.
Fir
For the development of a coniferous tree, you need:
- soil mixture of clay, leafy earth, peat, sand;
- penumbra.
Thuja
It belongs to the most unpretentious conifers. Growing conditions:
- sunny areas or partial shade;
- sod soil, clay, sand;
- drainage - 20 cm.
Features of caring for conifers in different regions
In the harsh conditions of the Ural and Siberian regions, coniferous trees are planted with zoned varieties and species:
- cedar pine;
- fir;
- common and gray Siberian spruce;
- ordinary pine;
- western thuja.
In order for the ephedra to take root, in the conditions of the Urals and Siberia, it is planted in the spring, after the snow has melted. Autumn seedlings require serious shelter, but even this does not guarantee survival. The timing of planting and caring for conifers in the Urals and Siberia depends on their harsh continental climate.
Top dressing of plants is carried out in the spring, after the soil thaws and the frost stops. Unlike the Moscow region, in the eastern regions, the soil under the conifers is not fertilized in August so that the shoots can form.Pruning in the western regions is carried out in late winter or early spring, and in the Urals and Siberia - in the spring, before bud break and at the end of summer. For successful wintering, the mulching of the near-trunk circle of coniferous trees is done slightly higher than in the Moscow region: up to 20 cm. If the plants are young, short or dwarf in shape, it is possible to hide with the help of tying and special covers. Adult zoned conifers successfully overwinter and do not require special shelter in the future. It is better to transplant large-sized trees in the eastern regions, as in the Moscow region, in winter.
Conclusion
Planting conifers on the site is a simple but exciting activity. With the help of large-sized and dwarf forms of evergreens, any site can be changed beyond recognition. With the use of thujas, yews, junipers, pines, it acquires a lively, cozy look, and caring for them is not burdensome.
