Ash description
If you search on the Internet for how this wonderful tree might look in the photo, you will notice that the bark has a gray tint, where over time deep longitudinal cracks of a small size appear on it. The buds are fleecy, river-colored.
Ash leaf location. The leaves consist of 7-15 leaves, usually develop after flowering and are quite large in size. Dark green, smooth, and a leaf underneath have a paler shade... Closer to the top, they sharpen, and are serrated along the edges. Thanks to the foliage, the impression of a certain delicacy is created.
Flower structure. His flowers do not have a calyx and a corolla, they are usually collected in bunches. As a rule, flowering begins around April-May, even before the leaves appear.
One of the most important differences of this beautiful tree from other tree species is the presence of red stamens in each flower.
Fruit - lionfish, 4-5 cm in size. First, a light green shade, then turn to brown. Above there is a small notch, but below, on the contrary, it is extremely narrow. They are called panicles, since they are collected, in inflorescences of several pieces. The seed is also narrow from below, and expands upward. They ripen throughout the summer, finish only in August, and stay on the tree all winter.
Fans of landscape design will be interested in the article and pictures about the varieties of fir.
Habitat
The geographical scope of its habitat is wide enough. Ash grows in some parts of Europe, in the Transcaucasia there is also a place to be in the Mediterranean and even in Asia Minor! In Russia, its area covers the entire European part of the country. Ash trees are enjoyed by residents of Crimea, Moldova, Ukraine and the Caucasus, where it grows high in the mountains, and if it has favorable conditions, then reaches an especially large size.
In the choice of soil for its habitat, ash is unpretentious, it grows even in wetlands. He looks favorably at the alder as at his neighbor. In fields, in felling areas, in deciduous and mixed forests, it occurs as an admixture, since it practically does not use ordinary clean plantations.
Ash grows very nimble and loves light, and can withstand frosts quite firmly, nothing threatens it up to -40 degrees. But better, of course, to cover it for the winterso that young shoots do not freeze, they have not yet fully matured.
It grows well in urban areas, but the dryness of the soil is no longer to his liking.
Where it grows in Russia
The presence of ash can boast: the Caucasus, Ukraine, Crimea, Moldova and some regions of Russia.
In our country, ash is found in the southern part. Especially where there is a broadleaf forest, near elm, oak and maple. Coniferous-deciduous forests may have single ash trees. Also in river valleys, near a lake or stream.
Sometimes found at the edge of the open sunny area.
Sighted in Yaroslavl, on the right bank of the Volga, in St. Petersburg, on the Medveditsa River and on the Volga Upland.
Decorative configurations
Consider its decorative cousins. They are often used in landscape design. There are several types of them:
- monumental, her crown is pyramidal;
- low, its crown is round, ordinary, of insignificant size, the growth rate is slow;
- weeping, branches are long, hanging down to the ground, the crown has the shape of a dome, growth can reach about 8 meters.
The wood has a very beautiful texture, its core is dark, but on top there is a light shade. In terms of density and strength, it is very similar to oak bark.
Spread
This plant is found all over the world. Ash grows in Russia mainly in the southern regions. The beauty and medicinal properties as well as the quality of the wood make it popular. It is used as an ornamental plant to decorate parks, city alleys, etc. As well as a valuable raw material for industry. In Russia, such a variety as ordinary ash is more common than others. It is planted to decorate landscape design, and is also used for the production of wood products.
Using
There is also a lot of information about the amazing properties of ash. Due to its unpretentiousness and its rapid growth, ash is a valuable enough tree for the creation of parks and alleys, road casing, city landscaping. Even in complex compositions, it looks great.
Ash products were durable, moderately heavy. They made many types of weapons from it. These were battle clubs, stakes with spears, and bows, and even spears and arrows. No wonder that ancient people considered ash a symbol of war.
But peaceful people also found wide application for it. It was used to make:
- rocker arms;
- sleigh;
- wheels;
- souvenirs;
- and small crafts.
The grip was a dish made of this material, the only decoration of which was the light and shiny texture of the wood itself. And even in shipbuilding, ash boards were known!
In our time, the functionality of this tree has expanded significantly:
- facing material;
- gymnastic bars;
- parquet;
- aircraft parts;
- items of sports equipment;
- oars;
- skiing;
- tennis rocket;
- turning products and so on.
Carriage, aircraft and shipbuilding can hardly do without this valuable tree. Plywood and furniture, tool handles and stair railings are often made of ash.
Its fruits contain fatty oils used for food. Immature people of the Caucasus cook them with vinegar and salt. As a seasoning they can be served to the table, to meat or fish. And it is even possible to preserve it, having previously scrupulously chopped it.
The seeds produce a dark green oil that can be used to produce paint, soap, and synthetic rubber.
Since there are many tannins in the bark, the paint is usually obtained from it brown, black or blue.
Application
Ash is used very widely in various fields. The wood is strong, bends well, does not chip or flake off.
Ash is used to make:
- medications;
- sports equipment (bats, rackets, skis, paddles, clubs, etc.);
- butts for weapons;
- paint (brown, black, blue);
- furniture;
- facing veneer;
- parquet;
- railings;
- skirting boards;
- window frames;
- hives.
Properties
Ash even used in medicine... Its medicinal properties are very diverse, which makes it possible to use it as an antipyretic, astringent, anti-inflammatory, wound healing and diuretic. It can also relieve pain and have a laxative effect on a person. All kinds of decoctions, tinctures, powders and medicinal tea are made from it.
Compresses can be made from a decoction of the leaves, which will help with sciatica, rheumatism and osteochondrosis. If you make a decoction of fresh crushed leaves, you can treat severe bruises, bruises and wounds. These compresses relieve swelling, relieve swelling and promote healing. BUT with such diseaseslike cystitis, pyelonephritis, urolithiasis, you can make an infusion from the crushed roots of this magic tree.
With the help of preparations containing ash, you can cure cough and get rid of worms. Decoction of ash roots can cure respiratory diseases. Kidney disease, dysentery, sciatica and worms will cure the decoction from the leaves.
Infusions calm the nervous system, strengthen sleep, and help to relax. A decoction of the bark is very effective in helping to get rid of colds. Tea brewed from ash leaves has a diuretic effect on the body, removes excess fluid. Seed powders also have a diuretic and diaphoretic effect. And with arthritis, a mixture of different parts of the plant will help.
Explain so widespread use of ash, in the form of drugs, can be affected by its rich chemical composition. It includes such active substances as essential oils, tannins, bitterness, coumarins, gum, resin, flavonoids.
But, despite all its useful properties, this plant is considered to be poisonous, so in no case should you use it without a doctor's prescription.
It is very important to know when to properly assemble the ingredients for all these infusions and decoctions. Leaves and bark must be harvested in early spring or early summer. Dry in the shade, the temperature should not exceed 40 degrees Celsius. The roots are harvested in the spring, and the fruits are usually harvested in the fall.
Reproduction
This plant can reproduce in a generative and vegetative way, that is, from seeds, or by cuttings or seedlings. If you need to grow trees from seeds, then it is better to use last year's seeds.
They should be planted at the end of summer so that they germinate and develop. For disembarkation, you will need to prepare special furrows 5 cm deep. Seedlings will appear by May. To care for them, you will need watering and weeding, and loosening the soil 1 - 2 times a month.
Seed propagation will require a lot of effort and expense. Therefore, this method is only acceptable for landing over a large area. And for planting one or three or four trees, it is better to purchase seedlings or cuttings.
Landing
When planting, it makes no sense to plant weak and damaged seedlings, because there is practically no chance that they will take root. Better to use strong seedlings. The choice of the place should also be taken with all care. As already written above, ash loves light. Therefore, it is not recommended to plant it in shady places.
He is indifferent to the type of soil, but still has its own preferences. It is worth planting it on moist, fertilizer-rich, fertile soils. And do not forget about its powerful root system, which grows very quickly, due to which root suckers are formed around them, they should be immediately cut off at the very base.
Ash is best planted in spring. If there are several of them, then place the seedlings at a distance of at least 5 cm from each other. When planting itself, the root must be placed 20 cm above the soil level, since the soil after planting becomes compacted and settles. Water the plant abundantly immediately after planting. In the next 5-7 days, it is recommended to make systematic watering.
The soil around the trunk must be weeded and loosened. When spring comes, do not forget about the introduction of nitrogen fertilizers. Also cut dry and damaged branches.
Care
The plant does not require special care. But in order for the tree to grow and not hurt, you need:
- Fertilize the plant twice a year. IN the autumn period is suitable for "Nitroammofoska" or "Kemira-wagon"... In the spring - urea, ammonium and calcium nitrate, manure;
- Be sure to remove dry and broken branches. It is not worth pruning, as the tree does not like it;
- All young seedlings, and those that have not reached 3 years old, are mulched in late autumn. If the winter is very frosty, then this can be done for an adult plant;
- After the seedling has been transplanted, it must be watered for a week.In the future, this procedure is carried out as necessary, if there is a severe drought.
If you stick to these simple rules, your garden will be blooming and inspiring.
Caution pests!
Ash most often suffers from damage to the spanish fly. These pests completely eat up the leaves, which can lead to the death of the young tree. Spraying the tree with calcium arsenate can help. In some parts of Russia, a plump leafworm is a common pest, which rolls the leaves into a tube.
The moth is also a threat to the leaves, which completely eats them. But one of the most unpleasant dangers is corrosive arboretum, which simultaneously infects all trees by penetrating the buds and leaf stalks.
The common seed weevil infects the fruit of the tree. This pest is found inside the seeds. Notice, perhaps by seeing small dark dots on the seed. As a rule, they begin to attack in May.
Photo pests
Oak
Oak wood is distinguished by its strength, strength, density of 720 kg / m3, hardness and weight.
The oak lives on average 1000 years. The trunk diameter can exceed 2 m. The older the tree, the higher the quality of its wood.
Our ancestors built wells from oak wood - the water in them did not "bloom", it was cold and clean. In the peasant economy, an oak table and an oak mortar were considered the best. Rims, runners were bent from oak, barrels, tubs, bowls were made. Oak piles were also driven into the river.
Oak wood is very durable and difficult to cut. Bends well. Has a nice large texture. Easy to paint. In a radial cut, the texture of the oak board is very beautiful. It is fragile in cutting with a cutter, requires a hard and sharp tool and care, it can withstand coarse threads well. For joinery, it is necessary to use oak aged 150-200 years.
Larch
The density of Siberian larch is 620-725 kg / m3 with a moisture content of up to 12%.
Larch is a genus of woody plants of the pine family, one of the most common species of conifers. This is the only genus of conifers whose needles fall off for the winter.
Larch wood is characterized by increased strength compared to oak. In addition to its special strength and resistance to external influences, it is characterized by good color and structure.
Possessing high physical and mechanical properties, at the same time, it requires a certain technological approach when processing it. Saw blades are heavily greased when sawing. It is difficult to process with ordinary tools, but it is well polished and painted. Prolonged exposure to water leads to a noticeable increase in hardness.
The cost of products or structures made of larch is higher than that of pine, but the products are much more durable.
Spruce
The average density of spruce wood at a standard moisture content of 12% is 445 kg / m3.
The total area of spruce forests in Russia is about 70 million hectares. Spruce lives 250-300 years.
Spruce wood is white, with a faint yellowish tinge, and slightly resinous. Spruce is a low density species. In terms of strength properties, it is somewhat inferior to pine. Bends slightly better than pine wood.
Spruce is a tree with exceptional properties. One of these properties is musicality. Since ancient times, I have been making musical instruments from spruce, including strings. The Novgorod gusli of medieval Russia was most often made from spruce. The wood is soft, light, used as a building material (boards, beams), for small crafts, for processing into wood pulp. It is used for the production of wood chemical products - paper, cardboard, cellulose. It is also used in decorative gardening and park building.
Beech
Density 660 kg / m3.
Beech is the second most common and valuable genus of the beech family after oak.These are deciduous trees, slender, columnar, 45-50 m high, with a trunk up to 2 m in diameter. Beeches grow up to 350 years old, most intensively at the age of 40-100 years. Life expectancy is over 500 years.
Beech wood is white with a yellowish or reddish tint. Annual layers are clearly visible. Older trees sometimes have ripe wood stained reddish-brown. This does not affect the quality, on the contrary, such trees are especially appreciated by master cabinetmakers, but they are quite rare. The color range of beech wood is quite varied - from pink to white. To remove this color and give the wood a more uniform shade, as well as make it more stable, the beech needs preliminary steaming. If this is not done, the texture of the wood will be very variegated. In terms of time, this procedure takes about three days.
Beech has perhaps the highest bending capacity, which has been widely used in the production of bent furniture. The wood is well processed, perfectly finished, accepts various paints and varnishes.
Due to its high wear resistance, beech is widely used for the manufacture of wooden stairs. The pleasant warm shade is the reason that it is often used for separate small items.
The light pinkish shade of beech evokes a warm sensation. The simple and noble structure of this flooring is the perfect finish to any interior.
BIRCH
The density of the wood is 650 kg / m3.
Birch got its name from its white bark. It is a nuclear-free breed. The wood is white, with a yellowish or reddish tint. Annual layers are poorly visible. The core rays are visible only in strictly radial sections.
The area of distribution of birch is very wide - 2/3 of the area of all deciduous forests in our country.
Birch is used for the manufacture of plywood and joinery boards, furniture, inventory, accessories, turning products, veneer. Birch wood is beautifully tinted, opening up almost unlimited design possibilities.
