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Swampy cypress in the wild grows in areas with a subtropical climate, but you can try to plant an outlandish plant even in your summer cottage. The tree is characterized by rapid growth, prefers a humid, warm climate and requires little or no care.
Description of swamp cypress
The swamp cypress (taxodium two-row) is a deciduous coniferous tree belonging to the Cypress family. Its height reaches 30-36 meters, the thickness of the trunk in diameter can vary from 1 to 5 m. The swamp cypress is considered a long-liver, the life of the plant is 500-600 years.
The trunk of young trees is tapered, the crown is narrow pyramidal. With age, the trunk of the swamp cypress acquires a cylindrical shape, and the crown – a pyramidal or widely spread shape. The bark of the tree is 10 to 15 cm thick, dark, red-brown in color, has longitudinal deep cracks. Shoots can be elongated or shortened.
Openwork slightly sagging shoots of marsh cypress are strewn with soft, feathery, linear leaves of a light green hue, having a rounded sharp top and resembling needles in appearance. The length of the leaves is 16 – 18 mm, the thickness is 1,5 mm, the arrangement is two-row (comb-shaped). In autumn, the foliage of the swamp cypress acquires a reddish, rusty color and falls off along with shortened shoots.
On shoots of cypress, rounded green cones with a diameter of 1,5 to 4 cm, which are formed from spirally arranged scales, also ripen. Taxodium is a monoecious plant. Female cones grow at the ends of the shoots. After maturation, they acquire a brown tint and crumble. Under the scales are 2 seeds. Male cones are located on the upper branches of the last year, the length of which is approximately 10 – 14 cm.
The roots of swamp cypress form unusual outgrowths on the surface, which are conical or bottle-shaped and are called respiratory roots – pneumatophores. They are able to rise several meters above the water or marshy surface of the soil, supplying the underground parts of the plant with air. Trees growing in drier soil do not have such roots.
Swamp cypress feels comfortable in moist soils without lime content, loves light and calmly tolerates cold snaps down to -30 oC. Taxodium is extremely resistant to rot and many pests and diseases. However, swamp cypress does not tolerate polluted, gassed air. The plant does not tolerate drought.
Where the swamp cypress grows
In nature, swamp cypress is often found along the banks of sluggish rivers. The swamp cypress also grows in the southeastern swamps of North America. The plant was brought to Europe in the 1813th century, and swamp cypress came to Our Country only in XNUMX.
In 1934, on an artificial dam in the gorge of the river. Sukko was created cypress grove, consisting of 32 trees. Currently, Cypress Lake is considered a monument of regional significance.
Swamp cypress is able to grow in soil with a high level of moisture, in river deltas. You can meet swamp cypress in natural, natural conditions in the Danube Delta, in the Crimea. Currently, the culture is actively grown in the regions of Central Asia, in Uzbekistan. The Krasnodar Territory, Kuban and the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus are also recommended for cultivation.
Swamp cypress in landscape design
Swamp cypress is considered a valuable forest species; recently, an outlandish tree has been increasingly used in landscape design as a park plant. It is ideal for decorating ponds, forming park alleys. Swamp cypress will feel comfortable in swampy, flooded areas, in oxygen-depleted soil.
In combination with swamp cypress, virginian juniper, beech, cedar, ferns, sequoia, oak, maple, linden, hops, birch, willow and pine look good. It is not recommended to plant a plant next to a larch. When forming a coniferous composition, it should be oriented in a western or eastern direction.
Planting and caring for swamp cypress
Despite the fact that taxodium loves light very much and needs bright lighting in winter, it needs light partial shade in hot summers. For planting swamp cypress, the south side of the site is a good choice. The tree quickly grows to a large size, so the seat should be spacious enough.
Preference should be given to moist soil, taxodium can be planted in a plot next to a small lake or pond. Under such conditions, the plant will feel most comfortable. Planting is done in the spring, before the buds begin to bloom on the trees.
Seedling and planting preparation
Swamp cypress is quite picky about the composition of the soil. It requires well-moistened and nutrient-rich sandy loamy soil with a neutral level of acidity. Taxodium does not like lime. Ideal soil mixture:
- from 2 parts of humus;
- 2 pieces of turf;
- 2 parts of peat;
- 1 part river sand
Taxodium should not be transplanted with bare roots. When buying a seedling, you need to check that there is a clod of earth and a package of canvas or burlap on the root system.
Rules of landing
Landing algorithm:
- Dig a hole for planting. Swamp cypress has a powerful root system, so the depth of the planting hole should be at least 80 cm.
- Drain the hole with sand or crushed bricks. The recommended thickness of the drainage layer is at least 20 cm.
- Add nitrophoska at the rate of 200 – 300 g per tree.
- Place the seedling in the hole so that the root connects to the stem at soil level. It is important not to damage the earthen ball during transplantation.
- After transplanting, swamp cypress will take some time to settle down. During this period, the plant should be regularly and plentifully watered.
Watering and top dressing
In the summer, swamp cypress needs abundant watering; for one plant, at least 8 – 10 liters of water will be required. Sprinkling in the summer should be carried out at least 2 times a month. Water the plant once a week, and on sandy soil – every other day.
After planting, taxodium should be fed annually with Kemira-universal fertilizer at the rate of 150 mg per 1 sq. m. After three years of top dressing, it is recommended to make 1 time in 2 – 3 years.
Mulching and loosening
Swamp cypress does not need to loosen the soil, because it has respiratory pneumatophore roots that provide the plant with the necessary air. Gently loosen the soil only if, after spring thaws and melting snow, a crust has formed on the surface of the earth: this will help the taxodium to better absorb and retain moisture.
For mulching taxodium, needles, pine bark, sawdust, straw and hay are used. Swamp cypress must be mulched after planting, young trees are also recommended to be mulched for the winter.
Trimming
Taxodium does not need pruning. It can even be said that pruning is contraindicated for this plant: after such a procedure, it becomes more difficult for it to adapt to sharp autumn temperature changes and survive the winter. Shortened shoots, along with needles, fall off on their own in the autumn.
Preparation for winter
Adult individuals calmly endure wintering and short-term cold snaps below -30 oC. Young trees are too weak and immature, they have a hard time with winter frosts, so they need additional protection. To prepare young plantings for winter? they must be mulched with a layer of dry foliage about 10 cm thick.
Reproduction
In nature, the reproduction of swamp cypress is carried out through seeds. In the summer cottage, taxodium, as a rule, is more often propagated by cuttings and grafting. However, the best option is to buy ready-made seedlings in special containers. Transplantation to a permanent place should be done only at a young age, since the taxodium is characterized by the rapid growth of the tap root.
When planting with seeds for hardening, it is worth stratifying them. To do this, they must be put in the refrigerator and stored at a temperature of +1 to +5 oC within 2 months. For sowing seeds, peat, river sand and forest litter are mixed in equal parts. The depth of the sowing box must be at least 15 cm, otherwise the tap root begins to bend as it grows, and this leads to the death of the plant. After a few years, the seedlings will be ready for transplanting.
Diseases and pests
Swamp cypress is considered extremely resistant to diseases and pests, only some varieties of Hermes threaten it. When insects are found, the affected parts of the shoots are cut and burned. The remaining pests are washed off with a strong pressure of water.
Rot and various types of fungi characteristic of wetlands are not terrible for taxodium: water is considered the native home of the plant. It is only important to ensure that the bark of the tree does not crack.
Conclusion
Swamp cypress is an exotic tree from which landscape compositions of extraordinary beauty are obtained. Caring for it is not difficult, since all the plant needs is well-moistened, swampy soil and regular watering.
