Landscaping is a huge amount of creativity. In recent years, dwarf and medium shrubs, as well as some conifers, have become widespread. One of the representatives is balsam fir nana. Latin name - abies balsamea nana.
Today, Nana fir is actively used for aromatherapy and landscape design. In addition, fir is a traditional classic New Year's element of decor, which makes it possible to use it in winter options for decorating plots.
Balsam fir: photo and description
Balsamic fir is one of the representatives of the Pine family. In nature, it grows up to 20–25 meters in height, with a trunk diameter of 80 to 100 cm.
Other features of the tree:
- The bark is smooth, resinous, in young trees it is pale gray, in old trees it is red-brown, covered with cracks.
- The crown is conical, up to 7 m in diameter.
- Branches are frequent, thin, long, hanging down to the ground.
- Resin with a specific aroma, used in medicine.
- The tree only grows upward.
- The roots are on top of the soil.
- Reaches 200 years of age.
The needles of balsamic fir are dark green, soft, with a blunt end, 15–25 mm long and 1–3 mm wide, the arrangement of the needles is comb
Cones of a standard oval-cylindrical shape, 5-7 cm long, are located vertically at the top of the crown. Ripen and crumble in October.
Young buds have a dark purple hue, ripe ones are grayish-brown
It grows in the northern territory of the United States (occupying most of it) and in Canada. After the seeds of several varieties were brought to Russia, young fir trees became noticeable throughout the forest zones of the country. Good growth rates on a large scale are noted in the taiga and the Middle climatic zone.
Reproduction
Several breeding options for Nana fir are possible.
Cuttings. They are harvested at the very beginning of spring, until intensive sap flow has begun. Nana starts cutting balsamic fir in the morning or in the evening. The optimum cutting length is from 5 to 7 cm. Only young plants with annual shoots can be a source of planting material. One bud is left at the top of the cutting. The so-called heel cuttings take root most quickly. They are not cut off, but abruptly torn off. A piece of bark remains at the disconnection site. It is deburred. After the finished cutting is disinfected in a pale solution of potassium permanganate (several hours are enough). Now you need to choose a pot or box that is suitable for the size. A soil mixture of humus with leafy earth and sand is poured into it. Cuttings are placed in the finished substrate and sealed with foil. It is advisable to heat the containers from below.
In order for the cuttings to take root successfully, you need to provide them with a temperature a couple of degrees higher than room temperature. You will also need intense sunlight, regular ventilation and moisture. The first roots will go only by the second year. Balsam fir Nana has a slow growth rate.
Seeds. Choose a slightly immature bud. It dries up naturally for a while. Then the seeds are removed. They need to undergo cold hardening. The seeds are laid out on a piece of damp cloth and folded gently. Then they put it in a container with sand and send it to the refrigerator.They will spend several months there. In April, it's time to sow seeds. This can be done directly in open ground. You will need a separate bed with sod-sandy soil. The seeds are buried by 2 cm. It is not worth moistening. Instead, the plantings are covered with foil. In about a month, the first shoots will delight.
Attention! Young seedlings must be covered in winter. And a year later, they are transferred to the place where the fir will grow constantly.
Balsamic fir varieties
Decorative original trees are gaining more and more popularity not only abroad, but also in Russia. Dwarf balsamic fir varieties are especially popular with gardeners. They are not only beautiful, but also slow-growing.
Kiwi
A small shrub up to 50 cm in height with a rounded crown and dense dark green needles. Ideal for container growing and also used in rockeries, rock gardens and small gardens.
Kiwi can even be grown in a regular flower pot
Nana
A shrub that grows up to 1 m in height, the diameter of the crown reaches 2 m. The branches are dense, spreading, with short dense needles of a dark green hue. The variety looks good for landscaping roofs, terraces, as well as rocky plantings and containers.
Nana grows for a long time, for 10 years the tree adds only 30-40 cm in growth
Piccolo
A miniature tree with a height of only 30-50 cm, with a crown in the form of a ball. Most commonly grown in containers and as tapeworms. Also suitable for alpine slides.
The young growth of Piccolo has a rich bright light green hue.
Diamond
The most common species in Russia, bred in Korea. A compact tree (height does not exceed 50 cm) organically fits into the modern style of landscape design. Grown in containers. The tree is planted singly or in a group, in city parks, landscape compositions and along alleys.
The only negative is that the diamond is not resistant to frost. Therefore, in winter, it needs shelter with hay or burlap.
Hudsonia, or mountain fir
One of the most common dwarf varieties with a dense crown, branches with many shoots and short flat needles. In landscape design, the variety is rarely used, since it needs to be watered, sprayed and pruned at a certain time. Lands both singly and in a group.
Hudsonia is similar to the Korean diamond variety, but has its own characteristics when grown
Experienced gardening tips
Experienced gardeners are advised to carry out additional fertilizing of fir according to the seasons:
- In the spring, cow dung or bird droppings are introduced.
- In summer, compost is added to the soil (in small quantities).
- At the end of November, they are fed with superphosphates.
Mineral fertilizers are usually applied dry, adding a small amount of water is allowed.
Video: how to properly feed conifers
Balsam fir is unpretentious and, if grown correctly, does not cause problems. Ornamental trees are the best option for any landscape design. And even an inexperienced gardener can handle caring for any kind of fir.
Any part of the garden, cottage or local area will be beautifully decorated with balsam fir. The plant is widespread in many countries of the world, since it does not require special care. In addition, this coniferous version will perfectly fit into any design.
Features of planting and growing
You can plant any kind of fir at any time of the year, except for winter. It is recommended to prepare the landing site in advance, as the process takes time.
Choosing a landing site
To begin with, choose a suitable area with sufficient sunlight. An adult fir needs a lot of light, and half-shaded places are chosen for young trees.
Two weeks before planting, they dig a hole 60 cm deep and 50 cm wide. In this case, the size of the earthen coma must be taken into account.If fir trees are planted along an alley, the distance between the holes should be at least 2.5 m.
Soil preparation
When preparing the soil, it should be borne in mind that firs love moist and loose soil. Therefore (especially if the soil is heavy) prepare drainage (the calculation of the components is given per one well):
- The first layer of 20 cm is covered with crushed stone or fine brick.
- Add 250 g of any mineral fertilizers, for example, nitroammofosku.
- The third layer is covered with 10 kg of sawdust.
Prepare the substrate in advance from clay, leafy earth, peat and sand (2: 3: 1: 1). The prepared soil is poured over the drainage and the hole is left for 2 weeks.
Planting a seedling
For planting, seedlings that are 3-4 years old are best suited. Before disembarking, they are hardened: first they are put in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours, then they are moved to a warm place. After such a procedure, the seedlings tolerate sudden changes in temperature.
Before planting, the soil should be disinfected by watering it with a weak solution of potassium permanganate in a proportion of 3 g per 10 liters of water. And you can also use biological fungicides (Alirin-B, Fitosporin-M, Baikal EM-1 and others like them).
The planting algorithm is standard for all varieties of fir:
- The roots of the seedlings are moistened with water mixed with a small amount of a growth stimulant.
- Placed in a well on a substrate layer and covered with earth.
- Aryk is drawn around the tree for watering.
- They make a fence (young fir trees are unstable to winds).
The root collar of the seedling should be flush with the ground.
Seedlings can be grown independently or purchased in a special nursery
Loosening and mulching
After each watering, the soil near young seedlings should be loosened to a depth of 10–12 cm (keeping a distance to the trunk of at least 25–30 cm) and weeds should be weeded out. To maintain optimal humidity, you need to mulch the soil near the trunk circles at a distance of 5–7 cm with sawdust, hay or coarse gravel. A layer of mulch for a seedling should be 10-15 cm high, for an adult fir - 20-40 cm.
Pruning
Since firs are unpretentious, the pruning procedure is not carried out for the first 15 years of life. Only in the spring should dry and broken branches be removed. To give the tree an aesthetic appearance, the branches can be cut by 1/3.
Sanitary pruning will be performed every spring
Trim manipulations are performed before the juice starts moving.
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Balsam fir care abies balsamea
In order for the fir to bring aesthetic pleasure, it is necessary to follow the rules for caring for the tree.
Watering
Water the trees regularly and abundantly.In the absence of rain - weekly, in spring - 2-3 times a month. One tree needs 15–20 liters of settled water for one irrigation.
Fertilization
Depleted land has a detrimental effect on the growth of seedlings, therefore, complex mineral fertilizers for conifers should be periodically applied. Top dressing is usually done 2 times a year using manure, wood ash and potash additives. The first time the soil is fertilized in the 2nd or 3rd year after planting.
Fertilization is not recommended before the onset of the winter season.
Features of transplanting a tree from one place to another
It is better to replant fir in spring, while there is enough moisture in the ground. This requires:
- Dig up a tree, trying not to damage the roots, for this you need to make a circle with a diameter of 25-30 cm from the trunk.
- Move the fir to a new place, trying to keep a whole earthen lump.
- Disembark in the usual way.
The fir must be prepared in advance for transplantation a year before the procedure. For this, the soil around the trunk is pierced with a shovel, taking into account the diameter of the tree grown in the future.
Wintering
Before the winter season, fir trunks are whitewashed with lime mixed with copper sulfate. The trunk is wrapped with roofing material, and the earth is mulched. Then the roots are covered with spruce branches at a distance of 50–80 cm from the trunk.
Reproduction
Fir is propagated in three ways:
- Cuttings. A branch with an apical bud and two or three shoots is cut from a one-year-old seedling. The stalk can be planted immediately in a hole or container with high humidity. Cuttings cut from 2- or 4-year-old fir trees take root better.
- Seeds. Unripe, but already blossoming cones are cut off together with a branch, dried, then soaked. Sprouted seeds, several pieces at a time, are buried 1–2 cm in the ground and covered with a film, creating a greenhouse effect. The film is opened daily for airing for 2-3 hours.
- Saplings. Seedlings are purchased at any specialized store. They are sold in special pots with fertilized soil. All that remains is to transplant them to a new permanent place.
The best time for planting seedlings is from March to November, since during this period they take root well with any changes in temperature.
It is worth noting that planting with seeds is an unreliable method, it is better to purchase ready-made seedlings
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Diseases, pests and methods of dealing with them
Fir trees are distinguished by their endurance, but still they, like others, are attacked by pests and get sick. Dangerous pests are:
- fir hermes;
- pine cone fire;
- bark beetles;
- wireworm;
- shoot moth.
If the needles of the tree begin to turn yellow, this indicates an attack on it by fir hermes. The females of the insect become active in early spring, therefore, at the beginning of the season, a massive spraying of trees with Rogor or Antio liquids should be carried out. The solution is made in the proportion: for 10 liters, 20 g of the drug is taken.
Insecticides also stop the reproduction of shoot moths, bark beetles and pine cone moths.The processing is carried out during the period of caterpillar emergence and is repeated after 2-3 weeks.
Fir hermes is considered one of the most dangerous species of aphids, and if you do not start the fight in time, the tree will die.
The most dangerous diseases for fir are:
- root cancer;
- browning;
- rust, or rust fungus;
- brown shute.
Diseases can be avoided by spraying the crown with pesticides and applying cold and hot fog. In case of yellowing of the needles and the appearance of fungi, it is recommended:
- remove affected branches;
- process the cuts with garden pitch;
- burn the remote branches and needles;
- spray the crown with 2% Bordeaux liquid.
The causative agents of diseases can be non-observance of planting conditions, seedlings purchased by the sick, lack of moisture, pest attacks
