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Spruces, pines, junipers are unpretentious, and at the same time, ornamental plants, so planting conifers is very popular among owners of country houses and plots. Landscaping and landscape transformation occurs quickly, especially if adult conifers are used. Young seedlings are also suitable for this purpose, as they create coziness and a unique design of the backyard territory, cottages, parks, squares. In order for the plants to start and quickly begin to develop, you need to know the rules and subtleties of planting conifers.
When is the best time to plant conifers?
It is believed that the planting of coniferous trees can be carried out all year round. In the spring, as soon as the snow melts, young plants are planted. Roots begin to develop already at an air temperature of +3 oC, they are not afraid of frost. If the kidneys have begun to grow, then it is worth postponing the event until autumn.
Summer is the time for planting evergreen trees with a closed root system. But there is no guarantee that the plant was in the container not initially, but right before the sale. In this case, it will not take root, even with a healthy appearance and the creation of the necessary conditions.
Planting conifers in autumn is carried out in early September, when the roots are actively growing, or in November, during the beginning of hibernation.
Winter is the perfect time for landscaping. For adult plants, the survival rate at this time is 100%, despite the fact that they are considered extremely capricious.
Is it possible to plant conifers in winter
Planting conifers in winter has become very popular. This time is most suitable for large trees, large trees. Thanks to the method, time is not wasted on growing seedlings.
Winter planting has an explanation. In autumn, all life processes slow down, the tree goes into a state of rest, falls asleep and does not suffer from transplantation.
In winter, the plant is not threatened with desiccation, it is possible to transplant trees up to 14 m in height. Comfortable temperature for this procedure – up to -18 oC. With a further decrease in temperature, the branches and roots may freeze and break due to fragility.
How to plant a conifer
Before planting coniferous trees, you should make sure that the earthen coma is well preserved. Roots must not dry out. When digging a hole, they are guided by the size of the seedling, the volume of the coma, with the addition of another 20 cm to the parameters. For a small conifer, a hole 50 cm in diameter and 50 cm deep is enough.
Drainage from broken brick, expanded clay, pebbles is placed at the bottom. Humus, sand, mineral fertilizer can be added to poor soil. On loams it is worth adding sand, peat.
The root system is soaked in a large volume of water immediately before planting. The seedling is released from the container, set in the center of the hole, without deepening the root neck, the soil is poured into the voids and tamped down. Having made an earthen roller around the planting, it is watered abundantly. To preserve moisture, mulch the soil around the trunk. At the initial stage, trees are shaded so that they do not burn under the sun’s rays.
Further care for coniferous plants consists in periodic watering, spraying with a growth stimulator, and fertilizing with mineral fertilizers.
Choosing and preparing a landing site
When choosing a place, it is worth remembering that the life span of the conifer is long, the root system is actively developing, so the seedling needs to choose a permanent position for many years. It is necessary to provide that after planting the trees not only look spectacular on the site, but also do not interfere with growth.
A place of a certain size for planting conifers is allocated depending on whether the plant is a giant, dwarf or creeping species:
- the distance between cedars and firs should be 4 m;
- pines and firs – 3 m;
- yews and junipers – 2 m.
Taking into account these indicators, conifers are planted in the country, in the garden, in the park.
Conifers are not demanding on the soil, they can grow on sandy and loamy soils. Evergreens love sunny places. The most photophilous are pines, junipers, larches. Less demanding green spruces, arborvitae, firs, yews.
Seedling preparation
When buying coniferous trees, pay attention to their appearance. You should not buy a seedling from which:
- the needles are dull, brown or withered;
- there are bare shoots;
- too many dry branches;
- a clod of earth is too dry and lags behind the walls;
- in the container is not an earthen clod, but fresh soil;
- with an open root system, there should be no sluggish roots.
Before planting, seedlings of coniferous trees are stored, observing a number of rules that require:
- do not leave the roots bare, they must be sprinkled with earth;
- it is allowed to cover the plants with a damp cloth;
- it is desirable to spray needles or dip in water;
- so that the root hairs do not die, it is necessary to keep seedlings of coniferous trees before planting in the shade, in a cool place.
Compliance with the rules for planting conifers and caring for them will lead to the development of seedlings in the future, non-compliance will lead to death.
How to plant conifers in autumn
If in the spring there is no time for planting conifers, in the fall the planting dates can be pushed back until November. This period is optimal: all processes in the body of trees stop, the root system works in slow mode. Until the ground freezes, plants spend their strength only on rooting. If a seedling purchased at a specialized store has a closed root system, its planting is reduced to transshipment of coniferous trees from a container into a prepared pit. It must be done according to all the rules.
While the soil has not cooled down too much, it has not frozen, the roots grow in the seedlings, so they come prepared for the winter, and in the spring they begin to actively develop.
Planting coniferous trees with a bare root system, dug out in the forest, often ends unsuccessfully. Sometimes it, even performed in compliance with all the rules, leads to the death of the seedling. The reason is that the conifers are losing the mycorrhiza fungus, their symbiotic partner. It is vital for transplanted plants. To save it, you should dig a seedling with a large clod of earth and carefully, without showering it, without exposing the roots, plant it.
Transplanting conifers in autumn
No matter how the arrangement of coniferous and deciduous plants is thought out, it is quite difficult to predict the speed of their growth and development. When the conifers begin to interfere with their neighbors, it becomes necessary to transplant them, since no pruning helps. This procedure is carried out in the fall. There are no problems if the height of the conifer does not exceed human height. Preparation begins a few months before transplantation, for which they dig in the trunk around the perimeter of the coma, cutting the roots. In November, they dig out a lump, wrap it in burlap, and transfer it to a new place to an already prepared pit. The root collar needs to be deepened a little, protecting it from freezing, straighten the roots. The ephedra takes root better if they keep the crown orientation, that is, they position the tree so that the south side does not change to the north, and the west to the east. Further care for conifers in the fall consists of watering, creating support if necessary, and shelter from burns.
What to plant with conifers
It is believed that coniferous trees acidify the soil. Among the shrubs that can grow next to evergreen species, tolerantly treat them and combine, there are:
- rhododendrons;
- spirea;
- hydrangeas;
- boxwoods;
- barberries;
- erica.
For composition with conifers, herbaceous plants are planted:
- cereals;
- ferns;
- phloxes;
- sedums.
Compositions may be different, but the soil quality needs of conifers and their flowering neighbors should be taken into account.
How to care for conifers
After planting, coniferous trees require increased attention. In the heat, they need watering every other day under the root and along the crown. It is necessary to monitor whether the roots are washed away with water. Consumption is at least 15 liters per plant.
The established sun protection is removed two weeks after planting, if it was carried out in the spring, and after the soil has completely thawed, if it was planted in winter or autumn.
In the future, caring for conifers in the country, in the garden or in the park consists in timely sanitary pruning, top dressing, mulching the near-stem circle, and treatment with drugs to combat diseases and pests.
Watering conifers in autumn
For conifers, the greatest danger in winter is sunburn and drought. As soon as the thaw sets in, the ambient temperature rises, the needles evaporate moisture, and the roots at this time cannot yet replenish its supply. The plant is starting to dry out. To avoid this, in November, before the onset of severe cold and freezing of the soil, they carry out abundant watering of coniferous trees with a supply of 20-30 liters of water under the tree. Watering should be adjusted based on weather conditions: increase if the autumn was dry, and, conversely, decrease in rainy weather.
When planting conifers before winter, watering is carried out without fail – in a prepared hole and under the root of an already planted tree.
Additional fertilizing
Ordinary complex and nitrogen fertilizers, manure are not suitable for coniferous trees. They cause rapid growth, further yellowing and possible death of plants. The composition of the fertilizer is also important. Evergreen species require magnesium for photosynthesis. It is this component that should be included in the top dressing intended for coniferous trees.
Experts advise the use of mineral fertilizers and organic matter – compost, biohumus.
Top dressing is carried out twice per season – the first time in May, during the activation of growth, the second – in August. Late application may result in growth not maturing until winter. For quick assimilation, top dressing is carried out in liquid form in the grooves made along the perimeter of the crown. To delay the action – in the form of granules, with their distribution over the entire surface of the near-stem circle, later it will be necessary to mix the soil.
Loosening and mulching
According to the advice of experts, excessive loosening of the soil has a detrimental effect on fertility, since during the procedure its layers are mixed, in which bacteria of different species live. As a result, they fall into an environment unusual for them and die. At first, after planting, the loosening of the trunk circles is carried out carefully, to a shallow depth. In the future, caring for the trunk circles of coniferous plants in the garden comes down to mulching, which retains moisture and stops the growth of weeds. The best mulch is needles, fine bark, gravel. In addition to the decorative function, it also has another – it easily passes air to the roots. But most importantly, mushrooms live in needles in symbiosis with trees. They cannot exist separately from each other. The required thickness of the mulch layer is 10 cm.
Trimming and shaping
Annual pruning of conifers in order to form a crown is not necessary. The exception is the sanitary removal of diseased, dry branches.
Periodic pruning is carried out to create a hedge, landscape decoration.
Pruning is carried out at the end of winter-beginning of spring, thereby stimulating the formation of lush branches, reducing the risk of disease. The exception is larch and cypress: they are sheared in November.
Pruning is carried out with sharp and disinfected garden shears, secateurs, and a file.
It is not recommended to remove more than 30% of green mass in one procedure.
To preserve the natural shape of trees, thinning of internal shoots is carried out. In thuja and cypress, two leading branches and tips are cut out. As a result, they become thicker, more attractive.
Shelter of conifers for the winter
After the autumn planting, careful shelter of the conifers is necessary. The purpose of protection is to prevent premature activation of the crown, when the roots in the frozen ground cannot supply moisture to the needles. Burns of coniferous trees in this case are guaranteed.
Seedlings are protected with burlap or gauze. Shelter with plastic wrap or non-woven material is undesirable, otherwise they may rot, undergo fungal diseases during temporary thaws.
Dwarf forms are considered the most unstable to frost. In winter, care for coniferous trees of this type consists in the need to cover them with an additional layer of snow, after placing a stone under the branches so that they do not break under the pressure of snow.
Western thuja, black pine, some types of junipers do not tolerate frost at a young age, they need special shelter from the cold.
individual differences
When planting coniferous trees, individual characteristics and conditions of their growth, soil composition for different evergreen species are taken into account.
Ale
The tree needs:
- open lit place or penumbra;
- lack of close occurrence of groundwater;
- mandatory drainage up to 20 cm;
- planting depth – 60 cm;
- soil mixture includes turf and leaf soil, peat, sand;
When planting trees, the soil does not need to be tamped; voids with air should be left.
Pine
Her preference is open lighted places. It is necessary to take into account:
- the composition of the soil should include turf land, sand;
- planting depth – up to 1 m;
- drainage – at least 20 cm;
- the age of the seedling is not younger than 5 years.
Juniper
Garden types of junipers are unpretentious, they need:
- soil from sod land, sand, peat;
- drainage — 15 cm;
- planting depth – 70 cm.
Larch
The tree needs a lighted place, a large area due to its size. Boarding features include:
- nutrient mixture in the composition of leafy soil, peat;
- drainage on heavy soil (20 cm);
- seedling age – from 4 to 6 years.
Fir
For the development of a coniferous tree, you need:
- soil mixture of clay, leafy soil, peat, sand;
- penumbra.
Thuya
It belongs to the most unpretentious coniferous trees. Growing conditions:
- sunny areas or partial shade;
- soil from sod land, clay, sand;
- drainage – 20 cm.
Features of caring for coniferous trees in different regions
In the harsh conditions of the Ural and Siberian regions, coniferous trees are planted with zoned varieties and species:
- cedar pine;
- fir tree;
- common and bluish Siberian spruce;
- pine ordinary;
- western thuja.
In order for the conifer to take root, in the conditions of the Urals and Siberia, it is planted in the spring, after the snow melts. Autumn seedlings require serious shelter, but even this does not guarantee survival. The time frame for planting and caring for conifers in the Urals and Siberia depends on their harsh continental climate.
Fertilizing plants is carried out in the spring, after thawing of the soil and the cessation of frost. Unlike the Moscow region, in the eastern regions they do not fertilize the soil under the conifers in August so that the shoots have time to form. Pruning in the western regions is carried out at the end of winter or early spring, and in the Urals and Siberia – in the spring, before bud break and at the end of summer. For successful wintering, mulching of the near-trunk circle of coniferous trees is done somewhat higher than in the Moscow region: up to 20 cm. If the plants are young, low or their forms are dwarf, shelter is possible with the help of binding and special covers. Adult zoned conifers successfully overwinter and do not require special shelter in the future. It is better to transplant large-sized plants in the eastern regions, as in the Moscow region, in winter.
Conclusion
Planting coniferous trees on the site is a simple but exciting activity. With the help of large-sized and dwarf forms of evergreens, any area can be changed beyond recognition. With the use of thujas, yews, junipers, pines, it acquires a lively, cozy look, and caring for them is not burdensome.
