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Mountain pine is a favorite of gardeners who arrange rockeries or rocky slides. Nurseries distribute dwarf and miniature forms, which are quite similar to each other. There are varieties with the original color of the needles or differing in the arrangement of needles on the branches.
Description of mountain pine
In its natural habitat, in the mountainous areas of Central and Southern Europe, mountain wild pine grows in the form of a tall tree or shrub, often of a spherical or broad-ovate silhouette. There are plants with shoots located vertically or creeping. A feature of the structure of the crown of bushes is the dense arrangement of branches to each other. The gray-brown bark of the trunk is smooth, dark scales appear at the top with age. The growing shoots are green, then gradually turn brown. The height of mountain pine shrubs by the age of 30 reaches 1-3 m, the diameter is up to 1,5-4 m. Most plants have a well-developed central tap root and sprawling superficial processes.
The development of shoots is slow, up to 6-15 cm, in breeding forms it is even much less. The needles of the mountain pine, pointed at the top, are stiff, in the form of a needle, often dark green or with a different shade in new varieties. Needles from 4-5 to 8-10 cm long, collected in bunches of several pieces. Dwarf pine blossoms after 6-10 years of development in May, every year. Numerous cones, in the form of a cone wide at the base, sessile, small in size, 3-5 cm wide, up to 5-8 cm long, with a gray-brown cover. Young fruits are grey-purple. Edible seeds will ripen in 1,5 years, by the end of autumn.
Varieties of mountain pine
The decorative coniferous species has been known as an element of garden and park art since the end of the 120th century. Appeared in Our Country since the beginning of the 2th century. Now experts have more than XNUMX species and varieties of mountain pine of dwarf and miniature forms. Many plants are very similar to each other. Various varieties of XNUMX forms of mountain culture are popular:
- Mugus, is actually a shrub;
- Pumilio – dwarf variety.
gnome
Gnom is a dwarf variety from Holland with an oval-rounded, dense crown that has been adorning gardens for almost a century. The maximum height is 2 m, extending only 80-90 cm in circumference. Dark green needles up to 4 cm densely cover the shoot. Pine Gnome loves sunny exposure, grows well in cities.
Cockades
A variety of mountain shrubs with an original color of needles, as if sparkling from afar, was bred in the middle of the last century in Germany. The sprawling crown with irregular shoots rises to 1,5 m. An interesting effect of the coloring of the needles, which is called the “dragon’s eye”, is especially noticeable when looking at the shoot from above. Green needles are painted yellow, first at the base, and then at the tops. Their combination creates the impression of a double bright ring. Kokarde pine is planted in partial shade to protect it from spring scorching.
Pumilio
Pumilio is a seedling of a wild mountain bush. The height can vary, on average the plant rises up to 1,5-2 m. Creeping shoots form a strongly prostrate crown – up to 3 m in diameter. Pine is unpretentious, easily tolerates a haircut, and is resistant to the weather conditions of the middle lane. Rigid needles of dark green color, medium size, up to 4 cm. Cones of a lilac shade, slightly rounded.
Hnizdo
According to the description of the mountain pine variety Hnizdo, which was bred by Czech breeders at the end of the last century, the plant has a curious shape of a compact crown. In the center, the shoots are shorter, which gives the impression of a smooth depression in the form of a nest. From the beginning of growth, the silhouette of a dwarf pine variety is spherical, and then becomes pillow-shaped. Growth is slow: by the age of 20, it is gaining up to 1-1,2 m in height, it also spreads in width up to 1,2 m. Branches with dense, but short, up to 2 cm, needles are densely arranged. Small cones up to 3 cm long. The needles do not fade in the spring sun, and develop well in partial shade.
Algau
Dwarf pine of Dutch selection, the prototype of which was found in the German Alps, is low. In the adult state, Allgau rises from 0,7 to 1 m, captures an area up to 1-1,2 m in circumference. The unpretentious variety of mountain shrubs has a high level of decorativeness, thanks to a dense lush crown in the form of a sphere. Dark green needles are collected 2 in a bunch. Quite long and hard needles, slightly twisted at the tops. A variety of low pine is not planted in the shade on dense soil. Seedlings are sheltered for the winter.
sunshine
A charming variety of mountain pine shrub Sunshine conquers with its luminous halo, which is created by the two-tone color of the needles. Long arcuate needles, creamy yellow at the base, turning bright green towards the top. The location of the needles is dense, the branches form a loose rounded crown. The light strip changes in intensity: young needles are lighter in summer, turning yellow with the onset of winter. Sunshine pine is best planted in a sunny area dominated by loam. Sprinkler irrigation is recommended in summer.
Golden Glow
Golden Glow is another glowing miniature pine bush with a hemispherical crown that makes the garden happy in winter. But it will not be possible to independently grow a seedling of this variety of mountain dwarf pine from seeds. Golden Glow belongs to a species that reproduces only through grafting. Straight needles, collected 2 in a bunch, are bright green in summer. The hue changes after frost, the color brightens and becomes yellow. The annual growth is only 4 cm: in 10 years, the bush reaches a height of 50 cm and 90-100 cm in diameter. Pine develops on any soil, in sunny areas. The Golden Glow variety tolerates frosts down to -34 ° C.
Ophir
Ophir is one of the excellent Dutch dwarf mountain pine varieties propagated by grafting. It grows slowly: a 10-year-old specimen reaches only 40-50 cm, and a 20-year-old spherical bush rises to 80 cm with a diameter of up to 1 m. An adult plant can take the form of a cone. The color of the hard short needles changes with the seasons: green in summer, golden yellow in cold weather. Planted in the sun, adding humus and sand to the substrate. In summer, sprinkling and mulching of the soil is preferable. In industrial cities, the attractive variety of the evergreen mountain shrub Ophir does not develop well.
Benjamin
The miniature German variety Benjamin is often grafted onto a tall trunk. This form of dwarf pine with a dense, flat-spherical crown is popular as an evergreen for balconies and terraces. Crown size 50-70, rarely 90-100 cm. Growth is very small, up to 3-5 cm per year. Shiny needles are dark green, hard and short. The picky dwarf pine grows in any well-structured soil. You can try to breed a mountain pine variety by propagation by cuttings through grafting.
Carstens Wintergold
A very decorative dwarf mountain shrub that changes color with the seasons. Bred in the 70s of the last century in Germany through the selection of seedlings. By the age of 10, the hemispherical crown grows only up to 40 cm, reaches 90-100 cm in diameter. Thick, short branches are covered with light green needles, 3-5 cm long, which acquires a golden tone in late autumn. With frost, the shade becomes more intense, with a transition to orange and copper. By the end of winter, the crown of young seedlings is covered from burnout in the bright sun. Egg-shaped cones of a variety from 2 to 6 cm, yellow-brown. Pine Carstens Wintergold radically transforms the mood of the winter garden.
Mountain pine in landscape design
Seedlings of the species in natural conditions live up to 1000 years. The established seedling is also durable. The shrub will harmoniously fit into the landscape, especially enlivening it in the off-season, which is poor in colors, and in winter. For dwarf pine, choose such areas where the plant will be comfortable for years:
- rocky slopes and slopes;
- rockeries and rock gardens;
- borders, partial fringing of water bodies, hedges;
- in combination with deciduous shrubs with the condition of planting miniature varieties of pine in the foreground, and taller ones as an evergreen background;
- background for flower arrangements from undersized plants;
- in the group of conifers on lawns;
- for decorating the lower plan of fences and walls of buildings.
All varieties of mountain pine shrubs are suitable for decoration. Especially appreciated are those that change the color of the needles and become cheerful lanterns in the winter.
How to grow mountain pine from seed
Seeds in cones ripen in late autumn. The collected cones are placed in a warm place so that they open. Seeds are placed in water, determining germination: heavy, suitable for sowing, fall down. Algorithm for planting mountain pine seeds:
- soaking in potassium permanganate solution for 30 minutes;
- germination in constantly moist tissue for 2 weeks;
- seeds with hatched roots are placed in separate pots, where crushed pine bark and sphagnum are placed for the substrate;
- containers stand in a bright, warm place, the substrate is moderately moistened;
- sprouts are shown by the end of March, mid-April;
- seedlings are planted in a permanent place the next year, kept in winter in a frost-free room.
In areas with mild winters, sowing is carried out directly into the ground, preparing the seeds by soaking for 3-6 days.
Planting and caring for mountain pine
It is better to buy pine seedlings in containers from local nurseries, where the trees have acclimatized during development. Successful planting of mountain pine in autumn, until mid-September, or in spring, from mid-April.
Seedling and planting preparation
Usually a sunny site is chosen for a mountain pine bush. Some varieties develop in partial shade. Saplings of mountain evergreen conifers are picky about soils, grow on loam and sandy loam, often in poor, dry areas. It is better if it is slightly acidic or slightly alkaline soils. Ornamental conifers are also planted on heavy soils, arranging drainage up to 20 cm in height. Adhere to the following proportions for the substrate:
- 2 parts of soddy soil;
- 1 part of humus, sand and clay equally;
- 0,3-0,5 parts of sphagnum.
The roots of the seedling are not soaked, they are only slightly moist. The woven processes are carefully straightened, trying to leave as much of the original substrate as possible.
How to plant a mountain pine
Seedlings of tall varieties are placed at intervals of 4 m, dwarf – 1,5 m. When planting, follow the rules:
- pits are dug according to the size of the straightened roots, adding 5-10 cm;
- the depth is determined taking into account the drainage layer from 10 to 20 cm;
- have the root neck at the level of the site;
- drive in a support for support;
- the soil is compacted, watered and mulched.
Watering mountain pine
While the seedling takes root, up to 30 days, it is watered along the perimeter of the near-stem circle in 3-4 days, 10-20 liters each. During spring planting, a seedling of ornamental pine is shaded, especially at noon. Watering is needed both in summer and autumn. The earth is moistened when a lump of soil compressed in a handful crumbles. Adult specimens are usually content with natural precipitation. Sprinkling of mountain shrubs is carried out during the dry period. In mid-autumn, pine trees are watered so that the soil is saturated with moisture.
Additional fertilizing
Dwarf pine is fed with preparations for coniferous crops according to the instructions. Once a month, the diameter of the landing pit is watered with a solution of organic matter. It is also recommended to apply a root growth stimulator at the beginning and end of summer so that small sprawling shoots form.
Mulching and loosening
The roots of mountain shrubs are provided with soil rich in oxygen. The near-stem circle is regularly loosened shallowly. Adult and young plants are mulched with forest needles, sawdust, especially conifers.
Trimming
The crown of a mountain shrub is trimmed to slow down growth. Pine easily tolerates pruning. Shorten annual shoots in the form of “candles” by one third, so that the crown is more dense and lush. Pine is freed from dry branches in the spring, cutting off the shoot into a ring.
Preparation for winter
Almost all varieties of mountain pine shrubs are frost-resistant, because the shoots ripen during the warm season and become woody.
But at very low temperatures, from -35 ° C, the tops suffer.
Care includes:
- after late autumn watering, pine bushes are mulched with sawdust, pine bark;
- young plants are covered with spruce branches or agrotextiles, which will serve as protection not so much from frost as from bright sunlight at the end of winter and in March;
- tall shrubs are tied so that the branches do not break off under the weight of snow;
- in February and March, the accumulation of snow inside the shrub is not allowed, which can serve as an optical lens and thus burn out the bases of the shoots;
- if ice has frozen to pine branches, they are sprinkled with peat or earth, under which the snow or ice crust melts without harming the plant.
Sometimes shrubs are watered with warm water to wake up after the snow has completely melted.
How to propagate mountain pine
Some types of conifers sprout well from a buried branch. But regarding the reproduction of mountain pine by layering, there are no positive responses in the sources. Perhaps the elfin form of pine is more successful in this regard. It is advised that those varieties that propagate by seedlings should be propagated using seeds. This is the most successful way to increase the population of the species. Some varieties of dwarf pine can only be obtained through grafting, which is accessible to specialists in terms of complexity.
Propagation of mountain pine by cuttings at home is also in doubt, since most gardeners emphasize that this is a complex process. The cuttings of the mountain shrub have a narrow layer of calus, which is why the segments of the shoots cannot release the rudiments of the roots. Special treatment of pine cuttings with growth stimulants, acids is necessary:
- indolylbutyric;
- indolylacetic;
- amber.
Rooting and strengthening of pine sprouts lasts more than a year.
Pests and diseases of mountain pine
One of the dangerous diseases of mountain pine is visible in the photo. Schutte fungal disease is of several types, which are caused by different pathogens. In spring, pine needles turn brown, turn yellow or turn gray, as well as in black spots, then crumble. Shrubs are also affected by gray rot, rust, bark cancer. Diseases are prevented by spring and summer treatments with Bordeaux liquid, copper oxychloride, and various insecticides, such as Abiga Peak, Tilt.
Among the pests of mountain pine, aphids, or pine hermes, are often found, which feed on the juice of needles. A sign of insect activity is a white fluff on the needles, and later a slowdown in the growth of shoots. Sawflies, mites, bark beetles also spoil the appearance of the coniferous paws of a mountain shrub. Insects are destroyed with drugs “Rovikurt”, “Aktellik” or others. Acaricides are used against ticks.
Conclusion
Mountain pine requires a lot of care in the first seasons, until it takes root. Further care is significantly reduced. Ornamental varieties of dwarf shrubs enliven the garden landscape, focusing attention in winter, and serve as a pleasant backdrop for flowering plants in summer.
