Contents
The Himalayan pine has several other names – Wallich’s pine, Griffith’s pine. This tall coniferous tree is found in the wild in the mountainous Himalayan forests, in eastern Afghanistan and in western China. Himalayan pine is valued for its decorative effect, so it is grown everywhere.
Description of the Himalayan pine
Himalayan pine belongs to the species of gymnosperms from the genus Pines. This tree grows up to 35–50 m in height. The crown has a wide-pyramidal shape of a loose structure. The branches are long, flexible, arranged horizontally, growing from the ground line. The decorativeness of the culture lies in the long thin needles. The length of each needle reaches 20 cm, and the thickness is about 1 mm, so the needles are very flexible. The needles are collected in bundles containing 5 needles. Young needles resemble those of Scotch pine, and with age, the needles hang down, which makes them look like willow. The shade of the needles can be bluish-green or bluish with a silvery sheen. Each needle grows on a tree for at least 3-4 years.
Cones after ripening become yellowish, their length is from 15 to 32 cm, width is not more than 7 cm. The shape is cylindrical, slightly curved. The seeds are equipped with an elongated wing; the total length is about 30–35 mm. Pine blossoms at the end of April, the timing is individual and depends on the region of cultivation. Cones ripen in the second year after flowering, around mid-October.
Young specimens are distinguished by a dark gray, smooth bark; in older trees, it becomes covered with cracks, changes color to ashen and in some places exfoliates from the trunk. The color of young shoots is yellowish-green with a characteristic sheen, the bark is absent.
The roots of the Himalayan pine are located in the upper layer of the earth, the central rod reaches a length of 1,5 m.
The life expectancy of the Himalayan pine in the wild is about three hundred years. Annual growth depends on growing conditions. Under favorable conditions, the pine tree shows an increase in growth of about 60 cm, the tree increases in width up to 20 cm every year, which is considered a good indicator for coniferous seedlings.
The approximate height of a tree that has grown in the conditions of central Our Country is 35 m by the age of 12. In the Crimea, a pine of the same age will grow twice as high, i.e. up to 24 m.
The degree of frost resistance of the Himalayan pine is high, the culture is able to withstand temperatures as low as -30 ° C, but branches break under the load of wet snow or blizzards.
Himalayan pine awakens at the first warming, which can result in damage to the shoots from return frosts. If the tree managed to survive, it will not give growth this season, because all forces will be directed to restoration.
Decorative needles can suffer from bright sunlight in the winter-spring period. Especially dangerous is the sun reflected from the dazzling white snowdrifts. It leads to needle burns.
Himalayan pine in landscape design
The main beauty of the Himalayan pine lies in the long hanging needles. The tree is actively used for landscaping park areas, it can be planted in a flower bed in a single copy or in groups. Coniferous seedlings go well with rocky hills.
The dwarf version of the Himalayan pine, Nana, is popular and forms a sphere up to 2 m in diameter. The needles of this subspecies are also decorative and hang like willows with age, but the needles are much shorter than those of a tall tree. The length of the needles does not exceed 12 cm. Another dwarf specimen of a spherical shape is Schwerinii Wiethorst. It was obtained by German breeders in the process of hybridization of Weymouth and Himalayan pines. The crown of this variety is dense, fluffy, spherical, with a diameter of up to 2,5 m.
Dwarf species are used for landscaping home gardens, they look good both in single and group plantings, they are planted in rocky gardens, on hills, in mixborders.
Planting and caring for Himalayan pine
In order for the seedling to be accepted and for a long time to be an ornament of the territory, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the requirements for its planting and cultivation.
Seedling and planting preparation
Himalayan pine can be grown on the territory of Ukraine, Belarus, as well as in the southern and middle latitudes of Our Country.
The choice of place is made according to the following criteria:
- the tree does not like gusts of wind, so it should be located behind a high fence, the wall of a building. The issue of wind protection is especially relevant in the northern regions;
- the place should be well lit, but not in direct sunlight, but in diffused light. Needles can suffer not only in summer, but also in the period of February – March during thaws and return frosts;
- Himalayan pine loves light, well-drained soil without stagnant moisture. Conifer will not grow in wetlands. Alkaline soils are not suitable for growing pine.
Before removing from the container, the seedling is well watered.
Himalayan pine planting rules
The approximate depth of the planting pit is 1 m. The size of the hole is determined by the container in which the seedling was purchased. They dig a hole about 2 times more than an earthen ball on the root system. The distance between adjacent trees should be about 4 m.
A mixture consisting of peat, earth and sand, taken in equal proportions, is poured into the planting pit. A layer of drainage (stones, pebbles, broken bricks, gravel, sand) falls asleep at the bottom of the landing hole. If the soil is clayey, heavy, the drainage layer should be at least 20 cm.
The seedling is placed in a hole along with an earthen clod, covered with prepared soil mixture from above.
Watering and top dressing
During the first two years, the seedling gets used to growing conditions, therefore, it needs regular watering and feeding. Older pines can grow during a drought period without additional soil moisture, but the trunk circle must be mulched.
Closer to autumn, it is recommended to feed the pine with potassium-phosphorus compounds, and in the spring, superphosphate will bring benefits.
Mulching and loosening
Mulching protects the root system from hypothermia and excessive evaporation of moisture. The mulch layer must be at least 10 cm. Peat, crushed tree bark, wood shavings or sawdust can be used as mulching materials. A layer of mulch prevents the soil from drying out and at the same time improves its composition.
Trimming
When carrying out shaping pruning, the rule should be followed that the growth should not be completely removed. Shorten shoots by no more than 30%, cutting off all branches.
After winter, sanitary pruning is carried out. At the same time, broken, frozen and dried branches are removed.
Preparation for winter
Young pine seedlings need shelter for the winter. But carefully winding the branches is not recommended, because this type of tree has very fragile wood.
It is best to build a frame, which is covered with covering material from above: burlap, film. Can be covered with ordinary spruce branches.
Shelter is made in late autumn, when the night air temperature drops to -5 ° C. The protective structure is removed in the spring, when the temperature is above zero during the day.
Shelter helps protect the tree not only from frost, but also from snowfalls, as well as from bright sunlight that can cause burns on the needles.
Reproduction
The reproduction of Himalayan pine occurs by seeds. Trees bloom in late spring, after which cones form. Seed ripening occurs the next year in the fall.
At home, it is possible to grow Himalayan pine from seeds for a very long time and not always successfully, it requires special conditions and care, so it is better to purchase a ready-made seedling from the nursery.
Diseases and pests
The following diseases are dangerous for pines:
- shutte;
- rust;
- shrinkage of shoots.
Fungicides are used as therapeutic and prophylactic agents. Spraying of the crown and the near-stem circle is carried out with such preparations: Maxim, Skor, Quadris, Radomil Gold, Horus. You can use copper-containing products. For example, as a preventive measure, crown treatment with Bordeaux liquid, copper sulfate, Hom, Oksikhom is used. These funds are processed no more than twice per season. The biopreparation “Fitosporin” is considered safer, which can be used several times with an interval of 2 weeks.
Of the pests on the pine, Hermes and aphids can be detected. To combat them, spraying the crown with special preparations “Aktellik”, “Aktara”, “Engio” is used. Processing is carried out in the spring, repeated in the summer.
Conclusion
The Himalayan pine is a tall representative of the Pine genus. Trees are valued for their decorative effect, therefore they are used in landscape design. Pine effectively combines with other coniferous and deciduous trees with a dark green crown. Himalayan pine trees adorn park alleys. They are used in single and group plantings. In the conditions of a summer residence, dwarf specimens of Nana are chosen to decorate the site. It should be noted that mature trees tolerate frost well, while young ones require shelter. Himalayan pine branches can suffer from snowfall, so in winter the snow is carefully chipped.
