Blue spruces come from North America, but have spread beyond. Differ in unpretentiousness in leaving, resistance to severe climatic conditions.
Blue spruce has blue or bluish-gray needles. The crown of the tree is conical. A plant with oblong cones. The maximum age in the natural habitat is 600–800 years. Trees planted in other latitudes live no more than 100 years.
The height of the trees is up to 25-30 m, and larger representatives are also found. The average height of ordinary varieties of spruce at the age of ten years is less than four meters.
About seventy varieties were bred. These include massive trees, undersized fluffy forms, creeping. Some reach a width of two meters, rise half a meter above the ground.
Artificially bred varieties of blue spruce are frost-resistant, can withstand up to -35 ° C.
Varieties
Many available varieties can be grown independently or purchased in the form of seedlings. The main differences are in growth rate, maximum trunk height.
The most famous varieties:
- Dwarf blue spruce used to frame paths, arbors, does not take up much space, does not hang overhead. In height, no more than 1–2 m. Some species reach 5–6 m, but the growth rate is 3–5 cm per year. This allows us to classify them as dwarf ones. The cost of seedlings is from 500 to 1500 rubles. When grown in a shaded area, special care is not required. It is enough to conduct a periodic inspection. Reproduction is carried out mainly by cuttings.
- Spruce Glauka - two varieties: classic prickly spruce, miniature specimen. The tree reaches a height of 25 m, has a growth rate of 10 to 20 cm per year. Dwarf Glauca (Glauca globosa) grows no higher than two meters, increases by 10 cm per year. The cost reaches 8000 rubles. Reproduction is done by seed. The price of a seedling of ordinary spruce is 1000-1500 rubles. It is grown in nurseries from cuttings, seeds. Glauca globosa is planted in courtyards for decorative purposes. Ordinary spruce is found in cities. Group planting is in the form of green spaces. Large plants do not require careful maintenance. It is recommended to periodically prune dry branches. Ate Glauca globosa more attention should be paid to prevent excessive soil moisture.
- Blue Hupsey Spruce - variety up to 11 m in height. Planted in parks, forest belts. The tree stands out among other varieties with the most pronounced blue tint of needles. Often grown in recreational areas. Reproduction is done by cuttings. The cost of one seedling reaches 4500 rubles. The average growth of the tree is 10-12 cm / year.
Spruce Hupsi - the most resistant to microorganisms, adverse weather conditions. Plants planted in parks do not require maintenance.
Why planting should be done in spring
Planting in the spring allows the young tree to gain a foothold in a new place, to prepare for the winter cold. The plants planted in the fall often die without suffering harsh cold conditions: the root system does not have time to prepare, small damage does not recover before the onset of frost.
For planting, moistened loam with nutrients is suitable. It is advisable to feed spruce once a year during the first years with special fertilizers. Adding regular manure to the soil is not recommended.
To ensure long-term, high-quality growth, it is necessary to take into account the requirements:
- The soil should not be constantly dry: the nutrient medium necessary for spruce is created by mushrooms living in moist soil.
- Shady places are not suitable for planting: excessive humidity will be maintained, which will lead to decay of the tree.
- Blue spruce will not harm dry watering - loosening the soil. Keep in mind that the roots are close to the surface.
- It is necessary to pay attention to the appearance of the seedling. A reddish shade of needles indicates the appearance of a fungus, sprinkling of needles is a sign of excessive moisture. You can get rid of diseases by treating with chemicals.
In hot weather, watering young plants should be 12 liters per week per tree. It is necessary to pre-heat the water, otherwise the contrast between warm soil and cold water will negatively affect the health of the shoots.
How to plant a conifer seedling is shown in the video.
Propagation by cuttings
The method of growing plants by grafting is effective, it is used on an industrial scale. The essence of the approach is to use fragments of branches to get a full tree.
Main stages:
- The choice of cuttings for germination. Must be 7-12 cm in length, have a piece of bark at the base. The procedure should begin in April.
- Place the cuttings in a substrate consisting of equal parts of sand, perlite, peat.
- Maintaining constant moisture in the soil. It can be created by covering the soil with cuttings with a vapor-tight film or an inverted half of a plastic bottle.
- Moving cuttings after rooting in the greenhouse for final development. It is desirable to provide plants with bright sunlight for intensive growth.
Plant sprouted cuttings in the soil should be in a year. You can try to transplant several cuttings from the greenhouse in late autumn, but it is likely that they will not take root.
The video presents the features of propagation of conifers by cuttings.
Seed cultivation
Propagation by seeds is a less effective way. But it is from the plants grown from seeds that the highest quality seedlings are obtained.
You need to collect seeds in February. Landing is carried out in April. The seed of cones is a small seed with an impeller surrounding it. The latter must be deleted.
When using this method of reproduction, be patient. Tips:
- The collected seeds must be washed in water, processed in a weak solution of potassium permanganate, dried, hardened.
- Hardening is carried out in a refrigerator or a snowdrift in which the seeds are placed in a fabric bag.
- A few days before planting, the seed material is removed from the snow or refrigerator, dried, used in the near future, otherwise there will be no good germination.
- Seeds are planted on a peat-based substrate, in which fertilizers are added, a small amount of fungicide. Deepening should be 1-2 cm.
- After severe frosts, one-year-old sprouts can be planted in open ground. With great germination, it is enough to leave one sprout for 6-7 cm of the planting row.
A significant part of the trees can grow from seed spruce with green needles, and not blue. This is normal: only seedlings obtained by cuttings repeat the maternal properties completely.
Blue spruce trees are an inexpensive alternative to decorative trees. With independent cultivation, most of the time will be spent on caring for the sprouts in the first years of life. An adult tree will develop independently. From time to time it is necessary to use fungicides, insecticides to protect plants from pests and fungus. Blue spruce trees are rarely seen in home gardens, but they always emphasize the beauty of the home, its design.