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Larch on the trunk has relatively recently become popular in landscape design. It was created on the basis of a common tree – larch. According to the classification, it belongs to the class of Conifers, the department of gymnosperms.
Description of standard weeping larch
Standard larch is formed in the process of pruning, shearing shoots. The second way of formation is special vaccinations. The result is a plant with a straight tree trunk and a mass of downwardly directed branches. Standard larch grows from 1 to 8 m. The dimensions depend on the place of inoculation. After it, the stem increases in size by 10 or 20 cm. Annually, the crown diameter will increase by 20 cm, height – by 30 cm. The width of the stem reaches 1,5 m.
In spring, larch forms bunches of needles on shoots. Soft needles have different tones of green. It depends on the type of stem. Shoots are thin, uneven. They have many tubercles, processes. In adulthood, male and female cones are formed. Women are especially beautiful. They are painted in bright colors, similar to miniature roses. In autumn, the needles turn yellow and fall off.
Weeping larch on a trunk in landscape design
Standard larch has a universal application in the design of any site. Serves as decoration:
- alpine slides;
- gazebos;
- flower bed;
- hedges;
- entrance to the house.
Looks great in a custom setting. Use it for group plantings with dark coniferous crops. The stem gives a good combination with various ornamental plants.
Varieties of larch on the trunk
In horticulture, low-growing varieties of weeping larch are used. They take up little space, attract attention with their appearance. Varieties of the Pendula form are common.
Repens – has branches directed downwards. Sometimes they creep along the surface of the earth.
Bullets – forms a mass of shoots descending to the ground. The color of the needles is light green.
Cornik – a low standard plant, forming a crown in the form of a ball of emerald color.
Krejci – a dwarf variety, up to a meter tall. The crown is irregular, fluffy.
Further, varieties based on Japanese larch.
gray pearl – has a dense crown. Its shape is spherical. It grows slowly, up to 2 m.
blue gnome – undersized variety. For 10 years it reaches 60 cm. The shoots are directed in different directions.
Bambino – the smallest variety. It grows by 2 cm annually. It grows up to 20 cm. It is a ball consisting of bluish-green needles.
Wolterdingen – dwarf variety. For 10 years it gains height up to 50 cm. The needles are painted blue-green.
How to grow larch on a bole
Specialists are engaged in the cultivation of larch on the trunk. Gardeners purchase a ready-made seedling. Fans of experimenting can form a stem themselves. Its rules are simple.
The stem is created by trimming the crown. The seedling is placed on the site, tied to a support. As they grow, cut off all shoots. When the desired height is reached, cut off its top. As a result, side shoots begin to grow actively. They need to be pinched to form a dense crown.
Weeping larch is obtained by grafting. A bole is chosen on which shoots of a different variety will be grafted. Grow to a certain height, cut off the top. Make a vertical incision with a sharp knife. The lower part of the grafted cutting is cut at an angle. Insert it into the incision of the stem, tie it with a polyethylene tape. The upper part of the cutting is smeared with garden var. A month later, the buds of the cutting will start to grow. Shoots are periodically pinched to form a dense crown.
Planting and caring for larch on a trunk
Larch is an unpretentious plant. By purchasing a standard form, they carry out preparatory work on the site. An ornamental tree is planted in early spring, before the buds open. In autumn, planting is carried out before the beginning of leaf fall, in the first half of the season.
Seedling and planting preparation
For planting larch on a trunk, a sunny place or partial shade is suitable. Choose a site with light, well-drained soil. In conditions with heavy acidic soil, drainage and liming are required. On sandy soil, the tree feels bad, it may die. Excessive moisture for larch is undesirable. When planting a certain type of tree, the natural conditions of its habitat are taken into account.
Use seedlings aged no more than 2 years. They are sold in containers with a closed root system. When planting, it remains to remove the seedling from the container, place it in the prepared seat.
Rules of landing
When landing, follow the rules:
- A hole is prepared for planting the bole. Its dimensions make it 2 times larger than an earthen coma.
- Peat, humus or compost is added to the soil taken out of the planting hole. For 1 part of the soil take 1 part of peat and 2 parts of humus. If there is a large amount of clay, sand is added.
- Pour a little prepared soil into the pit, place the root system along with a clod of earth.
- Fill the pit with the seedling with the prepared soil mixture, tamp the surface. Watered.
- The root system is deepened by 80 cm.
- When planting several plants, make the distance between the trunks up to 2-3 m.
Further care for larch on the trunk is simple.
Watering and top dressing
The seedling needs regular moisture. In dry weather, larch needs up to 2 buckets of water 2 times a week. During rains, watering is not necessary. Seasonal rainfall is enough for mature plants.
The growth of larches is activated after the introduction of potash and phosphorus fertilizers. The tree responds well to compost. Top dressing is carried out in the first years of growth. Nutrient mixtures are applied in the spring. It is recommended to use a special composition of “Kemira”. In June, urea is fed. Use 10 g per bucket of water. The stores sell special fertilizers for conifers.
Mulching and loosening
The trunk circle after planting and watering is mulched. This prevents the soil from losing moisture. Pine bark, peat, humus are used for these purposes. When using humus, mulching and top dressing are combined.
The soil around the larch seedling is weeded. Do not allow the formation of turf. The soil is loosened. Within 2 years, shallow loosening is carried out – up to 20 cm.
Trimming and shaping
Weeping larch care involves annual pruning and crown formation. There are 3 types of pruning:
- Forming. Carry out pruning in the spring. Remove excess branches, cut growth points. As a result, the tree becomes bushier. Such pruning is needed for young plants.
- Anti-aging. Perform pruning in spring or early autumn. Remove all weak shoots. Mature branches are shortened by a third. Young shoots will appear on them.
- Sanitary. Perform pruning as needed. The reason is the defeat of the tree by pests and diseases. Remove dried branches.
Larch is not shaped. Trimming to get a shape will not work. Weeping larch shoots are thinned out so that the sun penetrates to each shoot. Thin ones are removed, the rest are cut to half.
Preparation for winter
Young larch is being prepared for winter. They make a fence, cover it with non-woven or other material. Dried branches are removed first.
Reproduction
Larch seedlings on a trunk for their site are bought in specialized stores or nurseries. They are also engaged in self-propagation of the tree. Methods are used:
- cuttings;
- reproduction by seeds;
- vaccinations.
The first method is used by specialists in nurseries. It is labor intensive. Cut cuttings take root, you can grow larch from them.
When propagated by seeds, mature cones are taken. Seeds are soaked for 2 weeks. Sow in a mixture of sand and sawdust. Well moisturize. Observe the temperature regime. After the emergence of seedlings, they are seated in spacious containers. A year later, they are planted in open ground.
Propagation by grafting guarantees the purity of the variety. A vertical incision is made on the seedling, a cutting with buds is placed in it, bandaged.
Diseases and pests
Larch is resistant to diseases and pests. For prophylactic purposes, it is treated with a solution of copper sulphate.
Sometimes in the summer season, the needles begin to turn yellow and fall off. Aphids could be the culprit. It feeds on plant sap. Its larvae overwinter on larch. With the onset of warmer females begin to breed. They lay numerous eggs. The larvae that develop from eggs feed on needles. The presence of female aphids is easily identified by their white color. For the destruction of wintering larvae, preparations are used, which include paraffin oil.
The moth also lays larvae in the needles. As a result, the shoots grow slowly, the needles turn yellow and fall off. Destroy the pest with insecticides.
Shutte fungal infection. Yellow and brown spots appear on the needles. The needles fall off. It spreads over the tree during high humidity. Sick branches are removed, burned. Larch is treated with fungicides.
Conclusion
Larch on the trunk retains its decorative properties, subject to all agrotechnical measures. More attention requires a young trunk. Mature plants are unpretentious. With proper care, they grow for a long time.