Balsam fir: description
Balsam fir is considered one of the best for use in landscape design. In addition to its beautiful appearance, this tree has not only a pleasant aroma, but also a healing one, disinfecting the air. Homeland is North America.
Description of balsam fir
This tree grows very slowly, in a year it can add up to 10 cm. The decorative type reaches 60 cm, and the wild one grows up to 30 meters. Life expectancy reaches 200 years.
Balsam fir has a tart odor that has a beneficial effect on the body as a whole.
The crown of this fir has the shape of a cone, so you do not need to additionally resort to its formation.
The needles on thin and frequent branches are soft, dark green, in decorative species, light green at the ends.
The tree tolerates frost well, but bad drought. Dry winds have a detrimental effect on her, therefore in the south she is practically not found
The buds are initially purple and oval in shape. In some species, the color may be purple. But, when the fruits are ripe, they turn brown. They are found mainly in the upper part of the tree. Large seeds are released in the fall.
In medicine, not only balm is used, but also resin, kidneys, bark and needles. They are highly valued because they have the effect of:
- disinfectant;
- warming up;
- bactericidal;
- anti-inflammatory;
- painkillers;
- antispasmodic.
Northern peoples consider this tree not only medicinal, but also sacred, they believe that its smell relieves depression.
Fir takes root better if planted in spring. To do this, you need to pre-select an area with a shadow or partially shaded. It is desirable that a reservoir is located nearby. The ideal soil is considered to be moist, loamy. But if it is heavy, then you need to prepare the place.
- Dig a 60x60x60 hole.
- Pour 3 buckets of water.
- After soaking, dig in the ground on half the bayonet of the shovel.
- Lay drainage in the form of broken bricks and small rubble 20 cm at the bottom.
- Pour out a mixture of mineral fertilizers and sawdust.
- Let it brew for 2 weeks.
- Place a 4-year-old sapling in the hole, spreading the roots out.
- Cover with earth mixed with humus and clay and water.
If an alley is planted, then the distance between the fir should be about 5 meters.
In summer, fir must be watered every week, and in spring, once every 2 weeks is enough. In this case, you need to loosen the soil and remove weeds.
Caring for balsamic fir includes not only feeding, which is required 4 years after planting, but also caring for the plant. Before winter, you need to make mulch from sawdust or peat with a diameter of about 0,5 m and a height of 10 cm, and cover young seedlings with spruce branches.
For planting for decorative purposes, there are about 20 types of trees, but more often the varieties “Kiwi”, “Nana”, “Hudzonia”, “Pikkalo” and “Green Globe” are chosen.
From the description of balsamic fir, it is clear that it is well suited for decorating a personal plot, performing not only a decorative function, but also a healing one.