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Canadian pine or Hemlock is a rare variety of ornamental spruce. A lush spruce of the correct form fits compactly into the landscape of styled gardens. The variety is actively gaining popularity among modern summer residents who seek to live away from the city, but in comfort. Due to its unpretentiousness in care, decorative varieties of Canadian pine can be found in urban landscapes.
Description of Canadian pine
The tree has a beautiful appearance, splendor is given by slightly curved branches directed upwards. Canadian pine grows up to 50-75 m. The crown shape is a regular cone with a rounded top. The root system grows in the upper 25-cm layer of soil, so the young spruce must be propped up, protected from drafts, strong winds. A newly planted tree grows 3-4 cm per year. The life cycle lasts from 100 to 500 years under comfortable growing conditions. In the first 10 years, there is an accelerated crown formation and spruce growth.
The crown of the wild plant is more decorative, but has an average density with branches directed downwards. The needles are prickly, have a green tint with a bluish tint. After 10-20 years, light brown cones appear on each branch. The shape of the fruit is round, slightly elongated, without notches and thorns. An adult tree loves abundant watering, grows well in the shade, tolerates severe frosts down to -50 ° C. Pine grows mainly in Canada, although after being imported to the Federation, spruce has taken root only in the Northern and Central regions of the country.
Decorative varieties of spruce grow up to 1-2,5 m. The needles are only bright green and bluish. At the ends of young branches, protective caps grow, which fall off after the full growth of the crown. There are rounded, spherical and cone-shaped forms of the tree. The crown of a young pine tree must be formed through pruning. After 3-4 years of growth, 5-7 cm cones appear all over the pine. The root system is flexible, goes 40-50 cm underground. The plant is thickened, so the effect of compact splendor is created.
Planting and caring for Canadian pine
The time for planting Canadian needles can be chosen in any season. Spruce grows favorably on fertilized or slightly acidic soils. There should be an artificial or natural reservoir near the tree. If there is none, then an automatic irrigation system is used for frequent watering.
Seedling and planting preparation
The landing site is chosen with extensive shade or partial shade. In a dark area, the crown diameter grows up to 3 m. Favorable soil for growing Canadian pine is loam mixed with black soil sand. A pit for planting is prepared in the fall. The earth is dug up on a full bayonet shovel. Compost with crushed stone is poured at the bottom, which is dug up before planting.
You can try to grow the plant at home, but it is rarely possible to get high-quality seeds. For planting, they acquire a young pine tree 1-2 years old. High quality seedlings have no damage, rust on the needles and trunk. The soil at the base of the roots should not have a white coating, which indicates insufficient watering and the presence of fungal diseases.
A week before planting, the pine is hardened by temperature changes: they are placed in a dark and cold place for several hours, then they are kept in a warm and well-lit room for 5-7 hours. The seedling is sprayed with water or watered for 3-4 days in a row with a diluted solution of growth stimulants. Before planting, the roots can be cleared of the ground or planted along with the primary soil.
Rules of landing
Compliance with the recommendations when planting guarantees a good rooting of the root system. Planting rules are simple and standard for any kind of pine:
- the drainage layer of the soil should be loose, the thickness of the soil should be 30-40 cm;
- soil mixed with fertilizers is poured onto the drainage;
- the root system must be considered for damage;
- only young and strong seedlings are used for planting;
- the favorable season for landing is March or mid-April, when there is a constant positive temperature.
At the time of planting, the pine is watered abundantly so that the soil softens. The landing pit should have the following parameters: depth – 60 cm, width 50 cm. The dug soil is mixed with compost or superphosphates. Having distributed the roots over the fertilized soil, the trunk is covered with the remaining earth until the first shoots. A watering canal is formed around the needles, then watered: 2-3 liters per seedling. If necessary, the soil is compacted and topped up.
Watering and top dressing
The rate of watering depends on the life span of the pine tree. Young plants are watered once a week for 1-5 liters in the first year of growth. In the second year, the number of irrigations is reduced to 10-1 times a month, but the volume is increased to 2-20 liters. During the hot period, young Canadian needles are watered at dawn or after sunset so that the moisture does not evaporate quickly. After acid rain, it is recommended to spray with a strong stream of water, so the needles do not turn yellow. The crown of an ornamental plant is sprayed with water every day.
Top dressing is applied to the upper layers of the soil by watering or loosening the soil at the roots. Canadian spruce is fed at the time of planting, then annually in the spring and autumn season. Fertilizer in granules is scattered around the trunk in a small amount, then watered abundantly. Liquid dressings are diluted in water, added to the soil with each watering. Mineral fertilizers are applied in spring and autumn before preparing the pine for winter.
Mulching and loosening
If there is an imbalance in the air environment of the upper soil layer, the pine tree is mulched within the limits of the root growth diameter. For mulch, hay, peat, last year’s needles, sawdust of small or large chips are used, a natural material that will prevent soil spillage and provide a long-term greenhouse effect for the roots. Canadian spruce is protected by mulching from the appearance of a large number of weeds. The layer of mulch with the age of the pine is increased, changed every season, so that fungal diseases do not have time to develop.
Loosening is carried out weekly, but if there is free time – before each watering. Work with a garden rake or chopper. Weeds grow quickly on improved soil, therefore, with dense thickets, pine may stop growing due to stagnant moisture. The trunk circle should be clean of weeds and fallen needles. When loosening the soil, tools should not be buried more than 3-5 cm, then the plant is mulched or watered.
Trimming
Canadian pine is one of the varieties of conifers that require pruning and crown formation as they grow. Under the influence of shade or adjacent fences, the shape of the tree grows asymmetrically. For pruning use garden shears, secateurs. Protruding branches are cut to the main contour, which aligns the contour of the tree. In spring, autumn and before preparing for winter, Canadian pine is subjected to sanitary pruning. Tools are disinfected in a diluted manganese solution if several spruces are processed.
Preparation for winter
With the onset of the first frosts, Canadian pine is mulched with a fresh layer of hay, sawdust or peat. In windy regions, the trunk of needles is additionally covered with juniper or roofing material. Young seedlings are wrapped in burlap. The trunk, regardless of the age of the tree, is whitened to the first branches. Copper sulphate is added to lime for additional protection against insects. In the spring, shelters are not removed until the complete absence of frost or severe night frosts.
Reproduction
For breeding Canadian pine, several purchased seedlings of different ages are used. For the 3rd year of planting, the spruce grows single side shoots, which are cut off by a third and planted in a pot. For branching, pinch the top, water the needles abundantly. An increase of 1-2 cm and the appearance of green shoots indicate the favorable development and rooting of a young Canadian pine.
Some gardeners propagate spruce from seeds. Planting time is April or October. Planting material is planted in moist soil, covered with a film to create a greenhouse effect, 2-3 punctures are made. At the first shoots, seedlings begin to actively water. The seedlings are kept in a shady or dark place until the Canadian pine is 10-15 cm tall.
Diseases and pests of Canadian pine
The causative agents of fungal diseases can be a lack of moisture or improper mulching, due to which root rot develops. From lack of water, the needles begin to turn yellow and fall off. Also, Canadian pine can get sick with rust, shute or browning. Spruce is protected from fungal parasites by spraying with chemicals. With careful sanitary pruning, removal of fallen needles, and seasonal replacement of mulch, the pine tree will not get sick for a long time.
Conclusion
Canadian pine is a noble coniferous tree that will decorate and emphasize the prosperity of the garden owner. Spruce organically fits into classic landscape styles. By following the rules for planting and caring for Canadian spruce, you can not worry about the health of the tree and enjoy the accelerated growth of pine.
