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Fraser fir is a popular coniferous plant that many plant in their home gardens. Caring for her is simple, and the decorative qualities are very high. This culture is suitable even for owners of small farms.
Description of Fraser fir
The Fraser fir (Abies fraseri) is similar to the balsam fir (Abies balsamea) and is often considered a subspecies of it. The tree got its name from the Scottish botanist John Fraser. Fame gained in the southeastern part of America, it was cultivated in 1811.
Fraser fir is an evergreen coniferous tree of small size, the height reaches 10 m. The trunk is about 45 cm in girth. The crown is conical, the branches are straight, often at an angle of about 40°. The bark is thin and rather smooth, has a brownish-gray tint. The older the plant, the more cracks and irregularities appear on the trunk. Fraser fir is often referred to as Danish fir.
The needles are twisted at the base and arranged spirally. Their length is about 2 cm, and their width is 0,2 cm. The color of Fraser fir needles is dark green, changing to gray at the base. There are two silver stripes on the bottom. Cones in the form of a cylinder stand upright, their length reaches 7 cm, and their width is 3 cm. The color at a young age is purple, changing to light brown when ripe. The scales of the cones, located on top, are green, yellowish or purple, with resin protruding on them.
Fraser fir in landscape design
A popular plant in landscape design. But it is worth considering that the tree suffers from polluted air.
Fir is good to use in group plantings or alleys. Its neighbors can be birches, maples and various shrubs. If the plant is a stunted variety, then it is better to place dwarf conifers or perennials nearby that cover the soil.
Fraser fir is also often found in hedges. This is convenient because they do not need to be cut. Since the needles do not crumble for a long time, fir is also used in floristry.
Fraser fir is shown in the photo:
Which is better: Fraser fir or Nordmann fir
Fraser fir can be found commercially as a Christmas tree. She has a beautiful appearance and the ability to stand indoors for a long time without losing needles. Nordmann fir is also offered, but it has a not very symmetrical and rather loose arrangement of branches, which reduces the decorative qualities of the tree. In addition, needles quickly begin to crumble from it. Unlike Nordmann fir, Fraser fir has a denser and more accurate shape, well suited for use in landscape design.
Planting and caring for Fraser fir
In order for the tree to grow well and not lose its decorative appearance, you need to choose the right landing site. It is worth considering that the plant in the wild is found in the mountains, at high altitude – there is strong humidity and fairly cool air, short summers and long snowy winters. Accordingly, it is better not to place a tree in sunny open areas, partial shade would be ideal.
Seedling and planting preparation
When choosing a seedling, plants in containers are preferred. Planting such a fir is carried out at any time of the year, except for the winter cold. The root system in the container develops well, and the earth ball remains intact, which is extremely important for planting coniferous crops.
The peculiarity of firs is that mycorrhiza lives on their roots – a microorganism that helps to absorb water and nutrients. But it dries up within 10-15 minutes in the absence of an earthy coma. Therefore, it is not recommended to buy fir with bare roots, it will not take root and will die.
The site defined as a tree is dug up and all weeds are removed. Two parts of sod land are introduced into the soil, one part of sand and peat each – this will improve its properties.
Rules of landing
In general, Fraser fir is easy to plant. You must follow the rules:
- planting is possible both in spring and autumn, the tree will take root equally well;
- the pit is made twice as large as the earthen ball of the fir root system;
- the soil removed from the pit is mixed with compost before being filled back in;
- previously prepared soil is placed on the bottom;
- fir with a moistened clod of earth is placed in a pit and placed on the same level with the soil surface;
- the plant is covered with the remnants of the soil and lightly tamped;
- form a near-stem circle for watering and fertilizing.
This completes the Fraser fir planting process. It remains only to abundantly water and compost the surface of the earth next to it.
Watering and top dressing
Caring for fir will not cause great difficulties. It should be watered during dry weather, and moisture is also needed in the spring to stimulate the awakening and growth of the tree. It is recommended to sprinkle the crown at least once a week.
Fertilizers are applied in the spring before mulching. It is better to use granular preparations at the rate of 0,15 kg per 1 sq. m. Young firs are especially in need of top dressing.
Mulching and loosening
The circle at the trunk is loosened as a crust forms on the soil and mulched with needles. The plant also needs weeding. During these events, fir is inspected for the presence of pests and diseases.
Trimming
The plant is naturally compact, so no formative pruning is required. Sanitary measures are mandatory carried out in the spring, before the juice begins to move along the tree. Remove all dead and diseased branches.
Preparation for winter
Since under natural conditions the plant hibernates in fairly snowy areas, it must be sheltered from the icy wind. This is especially true for young trees – they are protected from recurrent frosts and too bright sun in the spring during the first 3 years of life. Adult Fraser fir has a high winter hardiness, while maintaining its decorative effect.
Features of caring for Fraser fir in a pot
When growing Fraser fir in a pot, for the successful development of the culture, the following rules must be followed:
- avoid stagnant water, use high-quality drainage and sump;
- watering is carried out at the root, and the needles are sprayed with water, which is previously allowed to settle;
- on hot days, sprinkling of fir with a cool shower is recommended;
- the first 2-3 years after planting, the plant can do without top dressing, and then granular products for coniferous crops are applied;
- the crown is not formed, but if there is a desire to do this, then the spring months are preferable;
- once every 2 years, fir should be transplanted into a larger pot, placing the root collar flush with the ground.
Reproduction
The tree is bisexual, seeds begin to form when they reach the age of 15 years. Best of all, they will germinate on soils rich in minerals, in moss, peat – in a fairly humid environment. At home, seeds are sown in the spring, until the buds wake up. You can also do it in winter. When sowing in the spring, cold stratification is needed for a couple of months. Seeds germinate at a temperature of about + 20 ° C, moderate watering is required.
This culture is not propagated by cuttings, because the shoots take root poorly. Only the seed method is used.
Diseases and pests
The plant does not feel well with sudden changes in temperature. The tree begins to shed its needles and may die. Another common problem is root rot. Bacteria attack the underground part of the tree with too much watering or poor drainage. Further, the disease spreads to the trunk and branches. The symptom is a sharp yellowing of the needles. You can save fir until the rot has spread to the trunk. The tree is dug up, diseased roots are removed, treated with a fungicide and placed in new soil.
The plant is subject to another type of rot, which is caused by tinder fungi. The disease develops on the roots and then moves up the trunk. The needles of the tree turn yellow, the color of the bark changes, voids form. The mushrooms themselves can be seen at the base of the trunk. Fungicide treatment will help.
Of the pests on Fraser fir, the most common are:
- spider mite – the main danger is that the pest forms 4-5 generations in one season. The plant is covered with small cobwebs, the affected needles turn yellow and fly around. The tick is afraid of excessive moisture, so a shower for the tree crown will be a good prevention. If the pest has already settled on the fir, then an insecticide is used against it.
- aphid – drinks juices from tree needles and causes them to fall off. The pest can be seen if you look closely, it reaches a size of 1,5 mm. Fallen needles are removed from the tree and burned. Insecticides are effective against aphids. As a preventive measure, copper sulfate is used.
- bark beetle – this name unites such pests as fir barbel, goldfish, nutcracker, and beetle. They cause damage not only to the bark of a tree, but also to the roots and needles. The branches die and dry up. Insects are collected and destroyed, a woodpecker living on a tree will cope well with beetles.
Conclusion
Fraser fir collects mostly positive reviews from gardeners, there are many attractive qualities in the description of its varieties, and beautiful photos of the tree are conducive to buying this particular variety. For those who live in the city, it can be a potted plant. Subject to all the rules for care, Fraser fir rarely gets sick and always has a decorative look.
Fraser Fir Reviews
