Contents
Conifers, or conifers, are common as ornamental plants. They are suitable for growing in countries with a dry climate. Coniferous plants are included in the regional Red Books, in the lists of rare crops with useful medicinal properties. Their cultivation is associated with the implementation of special related activities, including top dressing. Fertilizers for coniferous plants are selected, depending on the characteristics of the soil and the climatic conditions of the region of growth.
Features of top dressing of coniferous plants
Ephedra, or ephedra, have special features that determine the main directions in care and maintenance.
Evergreen shrubs, unlike deciduous trees, do not have leaf blades. The inability to drop leaves in autumn indicates that the plant has enough nutrients. To care for conifers and determine what type of fertilizer they need, you should carefully study the main differences between conifers and deciduous species:
- due to the inability to shed foliage, conifers do not need additional autumn top dressing to form a new crown;
- due to the impossibility of producing a crop, they do not have the need to obtain material for the process of fruit formation;
- thanks to the needles, such plants receive the necessary amount of nitrogen from the air.
These features greatly facilitate the care of conifers. For top dressing, a scheme is used that takes into account the basic needs of the culture. Double annual feeding is enough to ensure the full development of the plants.
The difficulty is the selection of the type of fertilizer, since the future existence of a coniferous plant depends on the components of the composition.
There are a number of signs by which experts determine that the ephedra needs additional help. The most common causes are non-compliance with the rules of care or the peculiarities of the climatic regime of the area.
Characteristic signs of nutrient deficiencies for conifers:
- stunting (the trunk stops growing in height);
- the diameter of a tree trunk or the central trunk of a coniferous shrub ceases to increase;
- a rarer arrangement of branches, in comparison with other representatives of this culture;
- yellowing, tingling or blanching of the needles;
- resin emission exceeding the norm;
- formed buds dry out or become rotten.
The main part of top dressing for conifers enters the soil during the first planting. This complex fertilizer is enough for several years. Over time, the composition of the soil is depleted and begins to need additional help.
Fertilizers for conifers in spring and autumn are the key to annual weight gain, elongation and bud formation.
If deciduous trees need nitrogen, then coniferous plants react to it differently. Nitrogen is not the main additional element for the growth of conifers for the reason that they do not form ovaries and fruits. The fact is that nitrogen triggers the rapid growth of young shoots. For slow growing conifers, this can cause an imbalance.
Caution should be observed when adding natural organic top dressings. They can burn the root system and cause the death of plants.
The main task when choosing top dressing for a coniferous plant is to correctly calculate the composition and not oversaturate the soil with nutrients.
Types of fertilizers for conifers
Among all varieties of dressings for ephedra trees, preference is given to mineral mixtures. They can be single or mixed. The need for application is determined by the appearance of the needles.
Mineral Fertilizers
Among the variety of mineral mixtures for conifers, simple superphosphates are chosen. These are powder mixtures based on phosphorus. The element may be present in this fertilizer as phosphoric acid or as monocalcium phosphate. To facilitate use, gypsum, phosphorus compounds are added to the composition.
One option is dolomite flour. It is a powder obtained from sedimentary rock. It contains more than 90% dolomite. Dolomite flour reduces soil acidity, and also saturates it with calcium and magnesium. Ephedra do not like acidic soil, so the addition of dolomite flour often becomes a preliminary step before the main application of the selected complex. Dolomite flour is also used when planting seedlings of conifers.
Organic Fertilizers
Coniferous fertilizing with organic fertilizers is designed to saturate the soil with potassium and related trace elements. The property of organic fertilizer to actively influence the soil can damage conifers, therefore, among organics, only two of its varieties are suitable for them:
- Biogumus. This is a mixture that is formed as a result of the decomposition of the remains of the vital activity of soil worms. It is prepared artificially in biogas plants. The composition of biohumus is rich in humic acids, as well as calcium, phosphorus and magnesium.
- Compost. It is a composition formed as a result of self-destruction of complex waste products of plants and animals. The compost maturation period can last from 12 to 24 months. The term depends on the composition of the compost pit and composting conditions.
Organic fertilizers for conifers are not always useful. Top dressing is carried out according to a strict scheme, observing dosages. The optimal type of top dressing is mulching the top layer.
Complex fertilizers
For coniferous trees, special compositions have been developed that take into account the characteristics of the culture, and also combine the properties of several mineral elements at the same time.
These compositions include:
- “Hello for conifers.” It is used after the snow melts, in the spring. The product contains potassium, a small amount of nitrogen. Suitable for strengthening the root system and activating spring growth. To feed the tree, take 15 – 20 g of the composition, dissolve it in 20 liters of liquid, watering is carried out on a cloudy day;
- “Hvoinka”. It is used in the spring to promote branch extension. The drug contains more than 10% nitrogen .;
- “Universal for needles.” The tool is used during planting, as well as during any growing season, if it is necessary to activate shoot formation;
- “Aquarine”. In order to feed a coniferous plant, use 50 g of a water-soluble emulsion. “Aquarin” promotes growth and prevents the infection of coniferous trees with fungal infections;
- “Green Needle”. The composition of the drug contains an increased amount of magnesium. This element helps to strengthen the root system and the active development of young shoots. In combination with phosphorus and nitrogen, the product is recommended to be used in spring when the soil warms up to +8 ° C.
How to feed conifers in spring
Spring is the beginning of the growing season, when conifers need top dressing with minerals. At this stage, the addition of nitrogen is permissible, since during the summer period the active growth of the tree is fully justified. The main element that should be contained in spring fertilizers is phosphorus. It helps to increase the green mass, promotes the development of new needles.
In the spring, loosening of the soil around the trunk is carried out: this saturates the soil with additional air, making it lighter. Together with loosening in the spring, organic matter is introduced. For these purposes, ripe compost is suitable.
How to feed conifers in autumn
In autumn, conifers do not need additional nitrogen intake, like deciduous crops. They need potassium: during the winter period, it will contribute to the development of the root system.
Fertilization Rules
Ephedra are fed 2 times: in spring and autumn. The rest of the top dressing is made in case of urgent need.
All types of fertilizers are divided into dry and liquid. In order not to destroy the trees, adhere to the basic rules of dressing.
- Granular and powder dressings are distributed over moistened soil in the area covered by the crown of a tree or shrub, then the soil is loosened. Thus, the granules are mixed with the topsoil. Gradually, with rainwater and moisture from irrigation, the granules go down to the root system, while stabilizing the level of soil acidity.
- liquid mixtures. Solutions for conifers should be less concentrated than for deciduous crops. In order to feed the plants with liquid compounds, furrows are prepared at a distance of 8–10 cm from the trunk, poured with a solution, then covered with soil and leveled.
- Compost or biohumus is applied together with the topsoil after loosening. Organic fertilizers are considered one of the heaviest for any crop. For conifers, they are recommended to be divided into two equal doses.
Mulching is considered one of the additional methods of fertilizing. The top layer of soil is covered with selected materials, while an unprotected strip about 5–8 cm thick is left around the trunk.
Conclusion
Fertilizers for coniferous plants play the role of an accompanying element in care. The development and growth of coniferous crops depends on the choice of a complex of dressings. In this case, the characteristics of evergreen trees should be taken into account, avoiding their oversaturation with nutrients.
