It is simply impossible to create a high-quality harmonious space on a selected plot of land without correct selection garden plants. Of particular importance in landscape design are dwarf coniferous trees, which are used for a wide variety of purposes and can act as individual element design of a plot of land, as a living fence, and so on. Spruce in landscape design has long won a significant place, and all thanks to the ability of this plant to remain attractively green throughout the year, as well as due to its ease of care.

The small growth of the dwarf spruce allows this tree to be planted in both large and small areas.

Until recently, the most common spruce trees were used in landscape design, which during their long life could reach a height of more than 25 m. However, after a spruce species with a mutated growth gene was discovered in Canada, the height of which does not exceed 4 m, dwarf species won back place with his huge relatives

There are some requirements for planting dwarf spruce. Before planting, the soil must be fertilized by adding 8-15 kg of humus per 1 m². By digging up the surface layer of soil and adding humus. In addition, phosphorus and nitrogen fertilizers need to be applied. If the soil at the planting site is sandy, it is necessary to dilute it by adding part of the turf fertile land. The spruce is planted 35-40 cm deep, so that not only the roots, but also part of the trunk are in the ground.

Canadian spruce fits perfectly into the design of a dry garden stream.

In addition, you need to drive a peg next to the trunk and tie the tree so that the tree has support until the root system gets stronger. After planting, the conika spruce may wither a little; in this case, you should not immediately cut off the faded branches. As a rule, withering of branches occurs when the roots are damaged, which happens quite often when replanting a tree, but not everything is so bad. With abundant watering, the tree will again begin to please the eye with its bluish greenery.

So, to plant conik fir trees you will need the following materials and tools:

• cutting shovel;
• hammer;
• wooden stakes;
• string or twine;
• humus;
• nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers.

Dwarf spruce can also grow in a shaded area. The main thing is that the soil is rich in nutrients. Young trees are planted in spring or autumn. Konik spruce is quite unpretentious, but it is still advisable to water in especially dry months, since this tree comes from places where the soil remains frozen throughout the year; its root system does not reach more than 2 m in depth, which means it can draw water from deep layers of the earth will not be able to.

Despite the frost resistance and excellent tolerance of windy winters, owners of such plants will still sometimes have to cover the trees with burlap on sunny days to protect the trees from sunburn.

If the conic grows in a shaded place, the Christmas tree will not require special care.

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Ways to use Konik spruce trees in landscape design

Dwarf spruce does not require care or pruning of branches - high-quality soil and natural precipitation are sufficient.

Many designers in lately began to use these small trees for a variety of purposes. Decorative dwarf spruce received the name “konik” due to its conical shape; it has a number of important qualities that made it so popular for landscaping garden plots. Firstly, it is worth noting that this type of spruce has a regular conical shape, and the tree does not need to be pruned to form an even crown. Secondly, dwarf conic spruces grow slowly: only 3-4 cm per year throughout their lives and they do not experience any growth spurts, like ordinary spruce trees. For comparison: many ordinary spruce trees in their 10th year of life can stretch up to 50 cm per year, which ultimately leads to the fact that trees standing next to each other have different heights.

It is also worth considering exactly how dwarf Christmas trees can be arranged to create a harmonious picture. More recently, dwarf Christmas trees have been used to model miniature forests. Such compositions look very impressive, especially in combination with other types dwarf trees, although it is quite possible to simulate a small forest from only dwarf spruce trees. When modeling in a flowerbed small forest used in combination with bunks, small dwarf birch trees, which will complement the composition. Small grass and dwarf flowers are additional elements the formation of miniature forest thickets. Such compositions look comparatively small areas flower beds and lawns are quite impressive, especially when the trees have not yet reached even half of their maximum growth. In addition, decorative spruce koniki can be used to form a kind of hedge. The small growth of Christmas trees allows them to be planted at a distance of no more than 0.5 meters, so even small trees in a hedge look great, and over time the hedge will become a solid wall.

Among other things, spruce conics can serve the most important element to create a sophisticated and at the same time strict design, that is, as a complement to a regular lawn. Usually in such cases, Christmas trees are located on the lawn in the form geometric figure or in checkerboard pattern. Spruce conics can also be used to form the frame of lawns and alleys.

Designing a site design using dwarf spruce trees is now becoming an increasingly popular solution, since these plants are unpretentious, and the created landscape will retain its beauty for many years without requiring special care.

• Type: coniferous
• Flowering period: August, September
• Height: 15-40m
• Color: green with a dark red tint
• perennial
• Winters
• Shade-loving
• Drought resistant

In anticipation New Year's holidays Every family thinks about where to get and how to decorate the main character of the celebration - the Christmas tree. But if ten years ago many owners switched to artificial beauties, today everything real is coming back into fashion. Moreover, it is considered especially chic to have your own homemade Christmas tree, which will please the eye. all year round, not a couple of days. That's why in many shopping centers in December, green, prickly beauties appear in pots. They are bought both as gifts for friends and for home decoration. But there is one problem: the plant needs proper care, otherwise the needles may turn yellow and fall off in warm weather. Let's look at how to properly plant and care for konika spruce at home (this variety is the leader in New Year's sales!).

The main suppliers of coniferous potted plants are Denmark, Holland, Poland. These are the countries where flower business put on stream and they can grow even the most complex crops in a pot.

Coniferous plants are considered almost unsuitable for growing at home, since they need a long period of hibernation and low temperatures at this time. And all the Christmas trees that are sold in pots are grown only for temporary use. Konica is no exception, but just a dwarf hybrid of ordinary gray spruce, formed as a result of mutation.

The Christmas tree will stay warm for two weeks, and then in 90% of cases the plant will die. But there is still a 10% chance of keeping the conic until spring, and then planting it outside, and in exceptional cases, taming it to the home climate. If you were given a prickly dwarf beauty for the New Year, get ready to fight for her life. This is not a houseplant, and it life cycle must be in tune with the temperatures and humidity in which spruce grows in natural conditions.

The miniature Glauca conica spruce attracts buyers with its compact cone-shaped crown, which was formed as a result of mutation, without human intervention

Features of caring for a potted plant

So, a konika tree has appeared in your apartment, and you need to do everything to ensure that it survives at home.

Choosing a place in the house

Start by finding the coldest place in the house. This could be a window sill on the north side, a place inside double window frames, a glazed loggia or veranda. The ideal temperature is 3-5 degrees. The higher the temperature, the less chance the tree has to survive, since conifers have a dormant time in winter. And it can only be achieved at low temperatures.

You can decorate the konika with beads and tinsel, but warm room contribute only for the duration of the holiday, for a couple of hours. In a short time, the spruce will not have time to enter a stressful state due to temperature changes.

If you want to decorate a purchased plant, do not use floral sprays, as the crown will not be able to breathe normally and will die

If the loggia freezes during severe frosts, wrap the pot in woolen cloth (an old sweater, scarf, etc.) to prevent moisture from freezing on the roots. Crown subzero temperatures not afraid.

Provide humidity

High humidity is the second factor in the normal development of a plant. The needles are very sensitive to dry air, so you need to place a humidifier near the pot that will constantly blow on the crown. If it is not available, place bowls of water on both sides of the plant and spray the needles 5-6 times a day.

Watering, on the contrary, should not be abundant, since the root system is also dormant. It is enough to keep the lump of earth moist. To prevent drying out, cover the top of the soil with a sheet of paper or newspaper cut into a circle. They will not trap air, but will not allow moisture to evaporate quickly. You need to water and spray with water that has stood for several hours and warmed up to room temperature.

The problem may be that under all the window sills of the house there will be heating radiators, which will produce too much heat from below and dry out the earthen lump. In this case, the pot is not placed on the windowsill itself, but raised to an elevated position, like a homemade stand, an inverted pan, etc. The main thing is to remove it higher from the heat source.

Adjusting the lighting

Conifers are very sensitive to direct sunlight. They cause needle burns. Therefore, the window sill should be chosen on the side where the sun is only in the afternoon (not the south side). Diffused light is ideal. In this case, you need to turn the conic once a week so that each side of the tree receives light. If you neglect this, the needles on the side of the room will begin to turn yellow, crumble, and the tree will become “one-sided.”

Uneven light falling on the crown of the tree leads to the fact that some of the needles turn yellow, and then crumble, and the tree loses its beautiful appearance

In the absence of shaded window sills, make a homemade cover, placing it between the plant and window frame a large sheet of white paper (higher than the height of the tree). This is especially important to do at the end of winter, when the February-March sun begins to get very hot, and the plant has not yet come out of hibernation and is therefore very sensitive to temperature changes.

Transfer rules

Usually, potted plants are transplanted into fresh soil immediately after purchase, because they are sold in a substrate called “transportation”. Land cannot be transported across borders (this is a requirement of an international convention), so trees intended for sale abroad sit in sterilized peat or coconut fiber. They don't provide ideal conditions for the development of culture in the home environment.

While the seedlings are growing in nurseries, watering and fertilizing are carried out by airborne droplets without affecting the soil. No one will provide such conditions at home. Therefore, they try to immediately transplant purchased plants into fertile soil.

The Christmas tree requires slightly acidified soil, which can be obtained in a coniferous forest and sterilized in microwave oven within 10 minutes

Glauka spruce is very picky about transplants. The damaged root system takes about 3 months to take root, so the tree can only be replanted in the spring. IN winter time the seedling is still in a dormant state, and if it is provided with cold, then it will calmly survive in the transport substrate until March.

Another thing is a warm room. Peat dries instantly in warm conditions, which means your Christmas tree will have no chance of surviving in it. But if there is no cold room, the Christmas tree still needs to be transferred to a larger pot, filling the bottom and sides of the container with normal soil. There is no need to disturb the earthen ball with roots; leave this operation until spring.

If in winter you find a Christmas tree with many young shoots in the supermarket, refuse to buy it, as it is unlikely to survive in the house

The only case when replanting cannot be postponed is a heavily vegetating Christmas tree. Those. in the store during the sale she managed to release a lot of young needles and acquired quite decorative look(by the way, there are a lot of these trees in supermarkets!). If a plant begins to grow in winter, it means that it was not provided with resting conditions, it was woken up at the wrong time, and fresh shoots are a sign of “desperation.” Before dying, Konika tries to produce as many “offspring” as possible - young shoots that can be recognized by their bright light green color.

Root system will devote all its energy to the growing season, and there will be no nutrition in the substrate. The result is the death of the plant. Often such Christmas trees have rotten roots, since at the base of the neck the substrate clumps into a lump during transportation, and the moisture does not evaporate from there. There is no oxygen supply, which means that all conditions for rotting are created. Therefore, such konica Christmas trees are transplanted into ready-made soil for coniferous plants immediately after purchase. In this case, they do not use the transshipment method, but completely shake off the substrate from the roots of the tree and plant it in fresh soil.

Be prepared that after replanting the tree will shed some of its needles, will stand dull for a long time, and the young tips of the branches will dry out. This is a normal reaction of someone exhausted from moving and incorrect conditions storing the tree, and you can only hope that it will withstand the stress. You can only help it by maintaining a temperature of about 10 degrees and normal humidity.

Too wet soil causes rotting of the root system and inevitable death of the seedling, and it is no longer possible to restore the gray crown

How and when to “feed” the plant?

During the hibernation period and immediately after transplantation, conifers are not fed. At this time, the roots do not need much nutrition, otherwise the growing season will begin too early on a fragile tree. In the spring, the needles begin to be treated with epin or other biological preparations, especially those branches that have dropped their needles. The growth stimulator will awaken dormant buds and help the plant restore its former decorative appearance.

For irrigation, special fertilizers for conifers are used. They will maintain the desired level of soil acidity. “Feed” the plant once every 2 weeks from April to mid-summer. Next, they stop feeding so that the Christmas tree has time to go into hibernation mode before winter.

How to choose the right tree for your home?

If you like the European tradition of decorating on New Year container trees, and you are ready for the difficulties of care at home, then choose konica spruce in the store based on the following criteria:

• Do not buy glauka decorated for the holiday with sparkles and artificial snow. These decorations are applied with aerosols and clog the pores of the needles. The tree will die anyway.
• Gently move the barrel. If it wobbles in the pot, it means that the tree was recently transplanted here from another place. In this case, the roots are necessarily damaged, and the plant has little chance of survival.
• If the volume of the pot is too small in relation to the crown, do not take this tree. To develop a good crown, the tree must have strong roots. And most likely, when transplanting into a container, part of the root system was cut off with pruning shears, and the life of the crown was maintained with stimulants.
• Carefully pick out the soil from the side. If the tree grew in this land from the very beginning, then the roots will intertwine the entire space, forming a dense lump. This is a good seedling.
• Cuttings of roots that are not woven together indicate that the konika was grown specifically for the holiday, and it will not survive in the future.
• Many young shoots at the ends of the tree in winter are a signal that the tree was awakened untimely. Soon it will start to hurt.
• A healthy Christmas tree has dense, evenly colored needles, a bare bottom trunk and roots emerging from the drainage holes of the pot.

In general, the ideal potted crop for New Year's interior It is not conica that is considered, but araucaria. This is the only conifer intended for growing at home, so it will easily survive both winter transplantation and warm indoor conditions.

If you see a lot of roots in the pot, knocked together into a tight ball, it means that the Christmas tree has been sitting in this soil for more than one year.

The soft needles of araucaria look no less interesting in the New Year's tinsel, but you will be sure that the seedling will survive after the holidays

If you choose a seedling unsuccessfully and it begins to die, pick all healthy branches 7-10 cm long from the Christmas tree and place them in a glass of water diluted with a root growth stimulator. Perhaps by spring some of them will take root, and you will have your own planting material.

Features of planting in open ground

Since Glauca conica is not intended for growing at home, it can be preserved by planting it in open ground. Plant the tree near the porch and decorate it every year in winter instead of tormenting it in the indoor heat. True, glauka does not grow quickly, it adds 10-12 cm per year, so a meter-long specimen will only be obtained after 10 years.

Container Christmas trees, as we wrote above, are best planted in the spring. But if you use the transshipment method, then you can do it until October (2 months before the onset of stable frosts).

Location requirements

Konica likes moist, well-drained acidic soils. Ideal option- loams. Stagnation of moisture for its roots is certain death. If the site is located in a low-lying area, when planting, a layer of broken brick, expanded clay or coarse sand is poured onto the bottom of the hole. This will relieve the root system from stagnant water.

The landing site should not be sunny. It is advisable to find a shaded area so that the needles do not fry in the direct rays of the sun in the summer. It can be planted near fences, against the wall of a house, in an ensemble with taller conifers.

In the first years, konica seedlings grow upward, so they are not particularly decorative, but it is at this time that they should be planted in open ground

Landing instructions

The order of work is as follows:

1. When planting, the tree is carefully removed from the container, trying not to destroy the earthen lump, and immersed in water for 1-2 hours.
2. If planting in spring/summer, the roots are freed from the substrate, the roots are straightened different sides and planted on heaped fertile soil. You can buy 10 kg ready-made or bring soil from coniferous forest.
3. When planting in summer, choose a rainy week so that the seedling has time to emerge from stress state before the heat starts. For the whole summer, the Christmas tree must be shaded, creating a kind of canopy over it from non-woven material.
4. At autumn planting the root system is not disturbed, but only the tips of the tangled roots are carefully straightened, leaving the clump intact. This way the plant is less injured and has time to get stronger before winter.

And of course, after planting, the ground is covered with peat to maintain moisture, and in the fall - to insulate the roots.

Glauca conica can be planted as a tapeworm or be the center of a small flower bed, but it grows very slowly and becomes spectacular after 10-15 years

What is Glauca conica afraid of?

The most dangerous time for a Christmas tree is the end of winter. At this time, the sun and reflective snow strongly burn the young needles, causing them to turn red and then crumble. Burn sites recover poorly. Therefore, it is important to cover the seedlings with burlap or non-woven material, sewing them into a cone-shaped bag or tying them tightly to the crown with a rope. Of course, the decorative appearance of the area will suffer, but the plants will retain healthy needles.

And these conifers also love high humidity, and if the summer is hot and dry, the crown may crumble from dehydration. Therefore, in the summer you need to install a water hose with a sprinkler near the bunk and turn it on 5-6 times a day.

Growing conifers in an apartment is a troublesome task. A miniature artificial Christmas tree will decorate New Year's table no worse than the real thing and will withstand any decor. Consider whether it is worth tormenting the tree in the heat of the room if there is little chance of survival. Give the Christmas tree to friends or family who have own plot. It will be a joy for them, it will benefit the Christmas tree, and you won’t have to watch the slow death of the coniferous beauty.

Spruce "Konika" in the garden.

New Year is loved and inevitable, every family on the eve of the main holiday tries to solve the problem of purchasing a Christmas tree. At the end of the last century, many switched to artificial fluffy beauties, but today the fashion for everything real and genuine has suddenly returned.

A special chic is your own homemade Christmas tree, which will delight not only during the holiday, but will also continue to grow after its end. You can buy green beauties as a potted plant in a store, for yourself, or as a gift for relatives, friends, and acquaintances.

There is a problem: the plant needs care, otherwise the needles will simply fall off and the tree will die. The leader of New Year's sales is the Konika spruce. In many countries, such as Holland, Denmark, Poland, the cultivation of such crops has been put on stream.

Conifers are almost unsuitable for growing at home; they need a long period of hibernation and low temperatures. Konica is a dwarf hybrid of gray spruce, which was formed as a result of mutation and selection by breeders.

The tree grows well in middle lane, it is characterized by good winter hardiness, its small growth allows the plant to be settled even on small area. Under favorable conditions, the spruce can reach a height of three meters, but more often it grows up to one meter. Most of the roots are located close to the surface; agricultural practices such as loosening are best carried out with some caution.

The spruce can withstand two weeks of the New Year holidays in the warmth, then it needs to create such conditions so that the plant can survive until spring and planting outside.

Konika - fight for life

You were given or bought a “Konica” and you need to do everything possible to ensure that it survives home conditions.

Selecting a location

It is necessary to find the coldest place in the house, most likely it will be a window sill on the north side of the building, if available, a veranda or glazed loggia, a place inside double frames. Ideal temperature regime- from three to five degrees. Each degree higher means a decrease in the chances of survival; the peace needed in winter can only be ensured by low room temperatures.

"Konika" can be decorated as real Christmas tree: tinsel, beads, small toys, but they bring it into the warmth only for the duration of the holiday, for a few hours. During this time, the tree will not have time to experience stress due to unusual temperature changes. If the loggia where the spruce will always be located freezes, you need to wrap the pot itself with an old scarf or sweater, or any woolen fabric. This will prevent moisture from freezing on the roots; the crown is not afraid of frost.

Humidity and watering

The plant can develop normally when elevated level humidity. The crown is sensitive to dry air; you can place a humidifier or bowls of water near the container. Needles need to be sprayed several times a day. Watering should not be abundant, the roots are dormant and do not need excess moisture. The soil can be covered with a sheet of newspaper; the paper circle will not allow the moisture to evaporate quickly. Spray the plant with water at room temperature. There are heating radiators under the windows, they can be temporarily closed, and the plant itself in the pot can be raised to an elevated position; for this, a pan is used, homemade stand made from what you have on hand.

Spruce "Glauka Konica" in a pot.

Lighting, sun protection

Conifers are very sensitive to sunlight, especially if they are direct. On the north side of the house such problems will not arise; on the remaining window sills it is better to create the effect diffused light. A sheet of white paper can serve as a homemade shelter. This is especially true in February and early March, when the sun is already starting to get hot. Once a week, turn the spruce so that all sides receive light “recharge”, otherwise the needles may turn yellow and fall off.

Conifer transplant

Potted plants are replanted immediately after purchase; the earth ball cannot be transported across the border, for this reason the trees are forced to sit in coconut fiber or sterilized peat. Such a substrate is not able to provide normal conditions for development; it is called transport substrate. Seedlings in the nursery are watered and fed by airborne droplets; this type of care is difficult to provide at home. The Christmas tree requires acidified soil from a coniferous forest. To rid the soil of possible diseases and pests, it is sterilized in a microwave oven for ten minutes.

"Konika" does not like transplanting; the damaged root system has difficulty taking root. This process may take up to three months. The tree is replanted in the spring; if in winter the seedling is kept in a cold room, it will survive until March in the transport substrate.

A warm room makes its own adjustments. Peat at high temperature dries instantly, reducing the chances of survival. If there is no cold veranda, the tree still needs to be transplanted into a container larger size and fill the sides and bottom with ordinary forest soil without disturbing the root ball.

Spruce "Konika" in the nursery.

Transplantation cannot be postponed if the plant has produced a lot of new needles, that is, it has started to grow. Fresh shoots are a sign of despair, the plant was awakened at the wrong time, “Konica” is trying to produce offspring - tender branches with a lighter color. Not only the crown, but also the roots will devote all their strength to the growing season; they can rot in a confused substrate, from where moisture evaporates poorly and oxygen does not flow. A Christmas tree that has begun to grow must be replanted immediately after purchase; it is better to shake the substrate from the roots. After replanting, the tree may shed some of its needles; this is a normal reaction of a plant waking up at the wrong time of year. Temperature maintenance environment no higher than 10 degrees will relieve stress.

Plant nutrition

Immediately after transplantation and during the hibernation period, the plants do not need feeding. IN spring period The Christmas tree is treated with stimulating biological preparations; they will awaken dormant buds and help the tree restore its former decorative appearance. For irrigation, fertilizers are used for this type of plant, which are able to maintain the desired acidity of the soil. Feeding is carried out from April to mid-July once every two weeks.

Tree for home: how to choose?

If you are mentally prepared for the difficulties of care, then “Konika” spruce should be selected based on the following characteristics:

• you can’t buy a tree decorated with artificial snow or sparkles, they are applied with aerosols, and the spruce will die anyway;
• try to shake the trunk, if it wobbles in the container, it means that the plant was recently replanted, the roots could be damaged, there is little chance of survival;
• if the crown is too large in relation to the pot, there is also a possibility that the spruce was replanted and part of the roots was cut off, and the life of the upper part was maintained with stimulants;
• dig up the soil from the side, the roots should be braided into a tight lump, such a seedling will live;
• found root stumps indicate that Konica was grown for several holidays, it will not grow in the future;
• young shoots are a signal that the growing season began at the wrong time and the plant will get sick;
• A healthy, full-fledged Christmas tree has evenly colored and dense needles, the trunk is not bare at the bottom, and no roots should stick out from the drainage holes.

Spruce "Konika" in a pot.

The best potted crop for creating a New Year's mood is araucaria. This ephedra is intended for home grown, he will calmly endure all the hardships of winter on the windowsill. The needles of this plant under the New Year's tinsel look no less interesting.

If the Konica seedling nevertheless begins to die, you need to pick healthy branches up to 10 cm long from the tree with your hands and place them in a glass of water to which a growth stimulator has been added. It is better to pick branches with a “heel”. By spring, some of the cuttings will take root, and you will have your own planting material.

"Konica" near the porch.

Planting in open ground

Planted near the porch, it will bring no less wonderful Christmas mood than a domestic tree. “Konica” grows slowly, adding no more than 10–12 cm per year; a meter-long specimen of the tree will be obtained in ten years. Container trees are planted in the spring and two months before the onset of stable sub-zero temperatures. In this case, it is better to use the transshipment method.

"Konika" likes well-drained wet soils. Most best option– loam. Stagnation of moisture, waterlogging - certain death of the plant. You can try to correct a low-lying area with a layer of broken brick, coarse sand, or expanded clay. A shaded area is desirable so that the needles are not exposed to direct rays; spruce trees can be planted near a fence, against the background of a house wall, in a group with other conifers.

Procedure for landing

• The tree is carefully removed from the container without destroying the earthen ball; the roots are immersed in water for an hour or two.
• If planting is carried out in spring or summer, the root system is freed from the remnants of the substrate, the roots are straightened and planted on fertile soil, heaped. The soil can be brought from a coniferous forest or bought at a specialty store.
• Landing at summer period It is better to carry out in rainy weather; the seedling should come out of stress before the heat begins. A canopy is made of non-woven material over the young Christmas tree.
• In the fall, the roots are not cleaned, but only slightly straightened so that the injured plant has time to get stronger before the onset of cold weather.
• After planting, the soil is sprinkled with peat to maintain moisture and insulate the root system.

A dangerous time is the end of winter. The sun and its reflection from the snow cover can severely burn the needles, they will turn yellow and crumble. Burns are difficult to recover from. To avoid such a development of events, in early February, the seedlings are covered with non-woven material or burlap, simply tying them to the crown with twine, you can sew a bag in the shape of a cone.

If the summer turns out to be hot, they install a water hose with a sprinkler near the Konika and turn it on several times a day.

Buy a spruce in a pot if you have a plot on which you can later plant it, or give it to friends who have such conditions. Conifers cannot live at home, they are intended for the conditions in which they were born and formed; you should not torment the plants with an unusual atmosphere.

Photo of Konika spruce in garden design

Spruce "Konika", group planting.

For such an exquisite tree as Konika spruce, planting and care should be carried out according to special rules. This decorative plant is ideal for landscaping small areas. It grows from 180 to 250 cm in height and to approximately 75-80 cm in width. The Christmas tree of this species, like other coniferous plants, perfectly purifies the air. Konica is valued among gardeners not only for its miniature size, but also for its frost resistance and minimal care requirements.

Dwarf Canadian spruce has fluffy and soft light green branches and a dense cone-shaped crown. The length of the needles is 6-10 mm. The root system of a miniature Christmas tree is placed in upper layers soil, which greatly simplifies its replanting. For the first 10-15 years, the conifer actively grows, adding 6-8 cm per year. Subsequently, the growth rate drops to 2-3 cm per year. The lifespan of such a person varies from 300 to 500 years. Not every plant can boast such longevity. It can serve as a good companion for her; in the fall it will create a particularly colorful background in the garden.

El Konika

Konika spruce is grown at home for the first 3-4 years for full growth before transplanting into open ground. Its further existence in such an environment is not comfortable. The ornamental tree grows no more than 30 cm in length and often gets sick. To maintain life, low temperatures are required (not higher than +15°C) and periodic spraying of the crown with water. As indoor plant it is rarely grown.

The first years of seedling growth at home

To grow a strong spruce, planting and care must be done competently and carefully. It is recommended to grow the Canadian Christmas tree in 2 stages: at home (greenhouse) and in open ground. Before planting in open ground, it must strengthen in greenhouse or home conditions for 3-4 years. The tree is not always comfortable on the windowsill, since the plant does not tolerate positive temperatures above +10 °C.

For the winter experienced summer residents It is advised to move the seedlings to a balcony or other cool place so that the temperature does not exceed -10°C. It is important to prevent the soil in the container from drying out. Watering is carried out as the top layer of the substrate dries; during hot periods it is necessary to additionally spray the crown with water. Special fertilizers for conifers will help the seedlings grow and get stronger.

How to plant a spruce on the site?

After 3-4 years of growing in a pot, spruce is planted in open ground in the spring. The order of work should be as follows:

1. Choose a shaded place for planting so that the needles do not burn in the sun.
2. The tree does not tolerate drafts well, so you should take care of a windless place for planting.
3. The best soil for the Canadian picky dog ​​will be loamy, in wetlands with high level groundwater You can't plant such a tree.
4. The dwarf individual grows equally well both alone and in a group. Thuja, .
5. There is no time for boarding special significance, the main thing is that the weather is cool and cloudy, but there is no excess moisture in the soil. They ate enough for 7 days in such conditions to take root in a new place. Some gardeners believe that planting from a container can be done at any time of the year. If you are familiar with it, then there will definitely be no problems with growing this tree.

How to plant a Canadian spruce so that it takes root quickly? It is necessary to carry out preliminary preparation soil before planting.

Spruce is planted in loose soil with the following composition:

• 2 parts leaf soil;
• 2 hours of turf;
• 1 tsp peat;
• 1 tsp sand.

Compost should be added to clayey or excessively sandy soil. Rotted manure or special preparations for conifers are suitable as fertilizers. How to plant a spruce? First of all, the seedling must be carefully removed from the pot. The roots are cleared from the ground if the soil is deprived nutrients. If the tree developed in fertile soil, they dig it up with a clod of earth. Since the main part of the roots is located close to the surface, when digging you need to be careful not to damage them.

After planting, it is worth covering the root circle with protective material for a while to reduce moisture evaporation.

For such coniferous plant, like Canadian spruce, planting is one of the most important stages growing. Security comfortable conditions when planting in open ground - mandatory rule to ensure active growth of the tree. If you have succeeded in planting green spaces, then you can begin building a gazebo with a patio.

Specifics of caring for a coniferous plant

When Canadian spruce appears in the garden, care is carried out from the first days of its planting. The work plan should include:

• watering;
• feeding;
• sun protection;
• protection from pests and diseases.

A young seedling needs to be watered once a week, 10 liters of water is enough for one plant. Excessive moisture and stagnation of water in the soil can lead to the death of the tree. You can take care of this in advance - when planting, fence off the area from precipitation runoff. During dry periods, the crown is additionally irrigated with water. 2 days after this procedure, it is necessary to slightly loosen the soil under the tree.

Other aspects of seasonal care:

The advantage of a mini-Christmas tree is that it does not require trimming the crown; its cone-shaped shape is formed independently. Even a novice gardener can easily cope with the remaining stages of care.

Diseases of ate

Coniferous plants of this species are most susceptible to the following diseases:

1. Tracheomycosis is a soil fungus familiar to many that actively attacks roots. Signs of the disease: the needles turn red and fall off. This disease cannot be treated; the affected tree is dug up and burned to prevent infection of neighboring plantings.
2. Rust is a disease that manifests itself mainly on branches in the form of a growth orange color. The disease is treated with the drug Glycodin. For recovery, it is enough to spray the branches once a week.
3. Schutte disease is a common pine needle fungus, infection with which leads to blackening and death of needles. Course of treatment: spraying with a 3% solution copper sulfate, then with the drug Trichodermin.

Application in garden landscape It’s not for nothing that Konika ate is a success. The dwarf Christmas tree looks aesthetically pleasing in small areas, grows comfortably in a group or in the vicinity of other conifers, and is easy to care for. It goes well with rocky garden decorations and looks great on the lawn and among flowering shrubs.

Konika spruce (glauka) is a small coniferous tree that is only gaining popularity among Russian gardeners. The tree looks organic both on modern stylish sites and in simple traditional front gardens. Today you will learn about the features of this plant, how to plant it on your site and provide proper care.

Description of the coniferous plant

An interesting dwarf Christmas tree was discovered in Canada at the beginning of the last century. After a series of studies, scientists came to the conclusion that this tree appeared because Picea glauca (Canadian gray spruce) mutated. In appearance, the Canadian spruce conica looks like this:

• the crown is cone-shaped, very dense and fluffy;
• needles up to 1 cm in length of a light green shade densely cover the branches;
• in the lower (widest) tier the crown diameter averages 80 cm;
• The roots are not long, located close to the surface.

The growth of conika is very slow, young “individuals” add about 6-8 cm per year. At the age of 10-12 years, the height of the seedling is approximately 1 meter. After this peak, the growth rate noticeably decreases, and each year the height increases by only 2-3 cm. A Christmas tree can live for about 300-500 years.

Buying a seedling in a pot

Modern trends dictate the fashion for preserving natural green spaces, so you can decorate your room for the New Year by buying a konica spruce in a pot. In order not to spoil the holiday, you should adhere to some rules.

• When installing a conic as a New Year's tree, you should find a place that will be removed from all active heat sources.
• The tree only occasionally needs to be turned towards the light.
• If the room where the Canadian guest is standing is heated, it is necessary to spray the crown from time to time.
• Wood requires increased air humidity, so it is better to place a bowl of water near it.

• At the end of the holidays, be sure to put the spruce on the balcony or loggia, since in winter this plant requires a temperature of no more than +10 degrees, and this is extremely difficult to achieve at home. Cover the top of the crown with burlap to create a tree optimal mode humidity. Wrap the pot with insulation to prevent the soil from freezing.
• Dwarf Canadian blue spruce conika can grow at home for the first 3-4 years so that it can finally get stronger. After this, the tree is ready to be transplanted into the open ground of the site.

Planting a seedling on the site

Glauca conica spruce, like all representatives of its genus, cannot tolerate drying out of the roots, so when purchasing, pay attention to seedlings that are sold in a container with moistened soil. Planting koniki spruce is the most crucial moment on which the further growth and development of the tree depends. When planting, you should adhere to the following rules:

• Planting conics in the garden should be done on a cloudy day at the end of spring.
• Choose a sunny place without drafts. In the shadows correct form the crown may become distorted, and the tree will become less attractive.
• The hole for planting must be prepared in advance. The bottom should be covered with a layer of broken brick or crushed stone.
• The soil mixture should also be prepared in advance. A sand mixture is suitable for this purpose, garden soil, humus and peat in proportions 1/2/1/1. It wouldn't hurt to add a little mineral fertilizers, for example: Zircon, Epin.

The landing process looks like this:

1. Soil is poured into the hole on top of the drainage in such an amount that the soil from the container can then fit. Waters well.
2. The plant is carefully removed from the container and immersed in the prepared hole.
3. The trunk is well aligned on all sides.
4. The free space is filled with the prepared soil mixture.
5. The filled hole is well watered; this will require about 10 liters of water.
6. Finally, a small hole is created near the trunk for further watering, and the trunk itself is covered with a 5-centimeter layer of mulch (pebbles, gravel and other covering materials).
7. It is better to cover the tree at first so that the unaccustomed needles do not get burned in the sun.

Caring for decorative spruce

If you are wondering how to care for konica spruce, then care can be characterized as minimal. House conika does not require pruning, replanting or additional crown maintenance. Despite its unpretentiousness, insignificant proper care will additionally ensure the preservation of the beauty of the conica Christmas tree.

• In not very hot and dry summers, moisture is provided by natural precipitation.
• On hot days, water the plant regularly (as the top layer dries), while spraying the crown.
• The first two months require weekly watering. If a crust forms on top of the soil, be sure to loosen the top layer.

Attention! The tree's roots are located close to the surface of the earth. Therefore, the plant cannot easily tolerate soil compaction or trampling of the earth in an area with a diameter of 1 m around the crown.

• Sonica is resistant to frost, but, nevertheless, the first couple of years should be thoroughly mulched for the winter in the area near the trunk.

Important! Even though the tree can be grown in open ground, in the spring it can receive significant sunburn. Burns manifest themselves as browning of the needles. Professional gardeners recommend wrapping the crown with material in the spring so that it disperses sun rays and did not obstruct the passage of air.

Where is the best place to plant a Christmas tree?

Decorative spruce konika in open ground looks most advantageous in the most prominent areas:

• near the gazebo;
• at the entrance to the house;
• on the playground.

The dwarf guest looks great, both in single compositions and in group plantings in combination with coniferous trees other types. The trees are especially interesting in the off-season, when there is a green lawn at the foot, or contrasting ones.

The plant looks beautiful when new shoots appear, as the tree turns into a bright green cone fabulous beauty. In Russian latitudes, this period falls in May.

The most common diseases of Canadian spruce

Decorative conika spruce can be affected by various infections, and only timely detection of sores and their immediate treatment can save it.

• Rust—orange growths begin to appear on the branches, and the needles quickly turn yellow and fall off. The photo shows how badly the tree can suffer. As a treatment, treating the crown with special preparations such as “Vectra” and “Glyokladin” for a month, once a week, is suitable.

• Schutte's disease is caused by a fungus. The needles darken, then become covered with a whitish coating and fall off. Initially, you can save the tree by spraying it with a solution of copper sulfate, then treating it with Trichodermin and Alirin-B, and in advanced situations all that remains is to dig up and burn the seedling.

How much does a tree cost?

The price of an ornamental tree depends on its size and age.

• A 3-year-old seedling 13-18 cm in height costs about 200 rubles;
• you can buy a 6-year-old plant 65-75 cm in height for 1,500 rubles;
• the cost of a 13-year-old mature seedling 155 cm in height is about 6,000 rubles.