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European beech is one of the representatives of deciduous forests. In the past, this tree species was widespread, now it is under protection. Beech wood is valuable, and its nuts are used for food.
Description of the European Beech
The forest beech, or European beech, is a deciduous tree up to 30–50 m high. It has a slender, column-shaped trunk, which reaches 1,5–2 m in girth, and 3 m in the largest specimens. The crown of the tree is powerful, rounded, with thin branches. The European beech has a lifespan of 500 years.
On young shoots of forest beech, the bark is brownish-red, the trunk is light gray in color. The leaves of the plant are enlarged, up to 10 cm long, elliptical in shape. The sheet plate is shiny, slightly wavy at the edges. The foliage is dark green in summer, turning yellow and copper in autumn.
The roots of the forest beech are powerful, but do not lie deep. Female and male flowers are located separately on different branches. The flowers are inconspicuous, small, arranged on long stalks. Flowering occurs in May-April, at the same time as the foliage appears. The pollen of the plant is carried by the wind.
In autumn, the forest beech bears fruit. They look like trihedral nuts up to 2 cm long. Seeds ripen in the fruits. Nuts are roasted and eaten. They make flour for baking and butter. The product is fed to birds, small and large cattle.
Photo of European beech:
Where does the European beech grow?
In nature, the European beech grows in Western Europe, Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus. In Our Country, culture is found on the territory of the Kaliningrad region and the Crimean peninsula. The tree forms forests on mountain slopes above 1450 m above sea level.
In central Our Country, the European beech grows in nature reserves. The breed was introduced to North America and grows in the Rocky Mountains and the northeastern United States.
In European countries, beech forests occupy up to 40% of the total plant fund. A significant part of them was destroyed as a result of human activities. In many countries, beech massifs are under protection.
Forest beech grows slowly and tolerates darkening well. Wild and ornamental forms are thermophilic, react badly to drought. Mostly European species prefer forest or podzolic soils. The culture develops normally in acidic and calcareous soil. Forest beech practically does not grow on peat bogs, waterlogged or sandy soils.
European beech in landscape design
The European beech is used to decorate the forest park and park area. It is planted singly or in combination with other breeds. Forest beech is suitable for forming hedges and decorating lawns.
The most successful combinations of forest beech are with deciduous trees and shrubs: yew, juniper, hornbeam, mountain ash, oak, hazel, euonymus. For contrasting compositions, planting is practiced next to conifers: common spruce, white fir, juniper.
Decorative varieties of forest beech differ from the original form in appearance, structure of the bark, size and color of the leaves.
The most popular in landscape design are the following varieties of European beech:
- Atropurpurea (Atropurpurea). European beech up to 20 m high, grows in the middle lane as a shrub. When blooming, the leaves of the tree have a pinkish-orange color, then turn purple. The bark of the plant is light, smooth;
- Dawyck Gold (Dawyck Gold). Spectacular variety of forest beech with a narrow columnar crown. In summer, the foliage of the forest beech Devik Gold is bright green in color, turning yellow in autumn. The height of this European hybrid reaches 15 m;
- Tricolor (Tricolor). A European variety of forest beech up to 10 m high. In spring, the leaves are green, with a light border, in autumn they turn purple. The crown is wide and spreading. The annual increase is small;
- Pendula (Pendula). Compact forest beech of weeping type with purple leaves. The tree reaches a height of 5 – 10 m. The annual growth of the plant is no more than 15 cm. The culture tolerates frost well, requires an abundance of moisture and light.
Planting and caring for European beech
For the cultivation of forest beech, it is important to choose the right seedlings and a place for growing. The tree is then cared for.
Seedling and planting preparation
Healthy seedlings are chosen for planting. The plant is inspected for mold, rotten areas and other damage. It is best to purchase a seedling from a local nursery.
Under the European beech choose an open sunny area. The plant is able to develop in partial shade. When planting, take into account that the tree grows. Previously, the soil is dug up and fertilized with rotted compost.
Rules of landing
A landing pit is being prepared under a forest beech. It is left for 2 – 3 weeks to shrink. If you immediately plant a tree, the soil will sink and damage it.
Forest beech is planted in the fall, when the leaf fall has passed. It is better to choose the period from October to November, 2 – 3 weeks before the onset of cold weather. During this time, the seedling will have time to adapt to a new place.
European beech planting procedure:
- Under the seedling, they dig a hole measuring 1×1 m. Its depth depends on the size of the root system and is usually 0,8 – 1 m.
- If the soil is clayey, expanded clay or small gravel is placed at the bottom with a layer of 5 cm.
- To fill the pit, fertile soil and compost are mixed.
- Part of the substrate is poured into the pit and a bucket of water is poured out.
- After shrinkage of the soil, the plant is carefully taken out of the container and planted in a hole.
- After that, a wooden stake is driven in for support.
- The roots of the tree are covered with soil.
- The soil is compacted and watered abundantly.
- Forest beech is tied to a support.
Watering and top dressing
The European beech does not tolerate long drought well. Its roots are not able to extract moisture from the depths. Therefore, water it as the soil dries up. To do this, use warm settled water. It is brought in in the morning or in the evening, strictly in the trunk circle.
In spring, forest beech is fed with mineral fertilizers. Ready-made mineral complexes containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are used. In autumn, feeding of the forest beech is repeated. Among fertilizers, compositions are chosen where there is no nitrogen.
Mulching and loosening
Mulching the soil will help reduce the amount of watering the forest beech. Peat or humus is poured into the trunk circle. So that water does not stagnate in the soil, after watering, it is loosened to a depth of 15–20 cm. As a result, the roots of the forest beech better absorb moisture and nutrients.
Trimming
European beech requires sanitary pruning, during which old, dry and broken branches are removed. It is carried out in early spring or late autumn, when sap flow stops.
The shoots of the forest beech are also cut to obtain the crown of the required shape. Large sections are treated with garden pitch. Branches are cut to 1/3 of the total length.
Preparation for winter
In the middle lane, young forest beech plants are sheltered for the winter. At first, they are abundantly watered. For insulation, a layer of humus or peat 10-15 cm thick is poured into the trunk circle.
A frame is constructed over a forest beech and a non-woven material is attached to it. Many varieties tolerate temperatures as low as -40°C. Frost usually affects branches that are not covered with snow.
Reproduction
The easiest way to grow a forest beech is from seeds. The collected tree seeds are dried, then kept in the cold. After that, they are placed in wet sand for 1 – 2 months. When sprouts appear, they are moved to fertile soil. Seedlings provide a temperature of +20 ° C, watering and good lighting.
To preserve the decorative properties of the forest beech, vegetative propagation methods are used. To obtain seedlings, cuttings or layering are used. In the first case, shoots are cut in the summer, which are stored in a cool place. In spring, cuttings of forest beech are germinated in the ground. Layers are taken from the mother tree and bent to the ground. After rooting, they are planted.
Diseases and pests
Forest beech is prone to fungal diseases. In the second half of summer, powdery mildew is a danger to the tree. Its symptom is the drying of the leaves. A separate group of fungi causes rotting of plant wood.
With a sharp drop in temperature at high humidity, wounds may appear on the trunks: this is how frost cancer develops. Beech fruits are also affected by green or black mold, causing the seeds to lose their germination capacity.
For the European beech, silkworm caterpillars, moths, leafworms, sickle-winged moths, golden tails are dangerous. They eat leaves and weaken trees. Some insects damage the young leaves of the plant, its buds and buds.
Significant damage to the forest beech is caused by pests that feed on wood. This is a granular barbel, wood borer, bark beetle, woodworm. Under their influence, the growth of trees slows down, which as a result gradually dry out.
Aphids and mites can settle on beech shoots. Aphid colonies damage the forest beech, this is manifested by cracks in the bark. Fruit mites feed on the juice of leaves and buds.
Special preparations are used against diseases and pests of forest beech. The affected parts of the plants are pruned. European beech is sprayed in cloudy weather or in the evening.
Conclusion
European beech is used to decorate parks and alleys. The plant prefers a warm climate, it is resistant to urban pollution. Subject to the rules of planting and care, they get a tree that is amazing in its decorative qualities.