Canadian spruce, gray, white (Picea canadensis, glauca, alba). Canadian spruce in the garden Canadian spruce

We liked how in the movies they decorate the fir trees for New Years and Christmas in front of the house, so we wanted something similar for ourselves. We thought and thought and settled on Konik. Firstly, its size is ideal for small areas, and secondly, it looks great all year round, especially since it can be planted in a pot and kept in the house in severe frosts (though the temperature in winter should not be higher than +5, we will place it in the summer kitchen).
The spruce was planted according to science, so we worked hard, selecting a pot and preparing the mixture for planting. For drainage, we took expanded clay, in a layer of approximately 8-10 cm. The soil mixture consisted of: 2 parts each of leaf and turf soil and 1 part each of sand and peat. Well, the landing itself was the same as on this page.

We gave this conika in a pot for the New Year. And then by February she began to look somehow worse. I rushed to the forums and was immediately shocked! It turned out that these beauties will not live at home; they need cold wintering and outdoor conditions.
We had to take it out onto the loggia; it’s open and almost always windless. The food there was much better. To prevent frost from destroying the root system, the pot was wrapped in thermal insulation that was left over from the walls. Until spring I water it very moderately. On especially frosty days, I took it into the house and placed it near the balcony block, where there is maximum light and away from heat. In the spring, I took the spruce to the dacha and planted it in the ground. I hope that he will cope well with the next New Year on the ground.

The Canadian spruce Glauca conica grows in the garden. In winter I did not cover it, because... I didn’t think that the spruce could get sunburn, but at the end of March the top of the spruce began to turn brown. When I started to find out why, it turned out that it was all the fault of the sun, which, reflected from the snow, caused damage to the needles.
Trying to revive the branches, I carefully removed the damaged needles using a hose with water. Then I simply frequently moistened the “bald” branches with a watering can. Recently, hints of new needles appeared in those places where living buds remained, and the burn areas began to heal.
Next winter I will cover the spruce with burlap, because... I heard a lot of negative reviews about the special material that is sold in the store.

I have long been attached to these Christmas trees, so I will share my experience in replanting. It is better to do this at a young age. If I need to replant a tree in spring or autumn, then this can be done with an open root system. If a spruce needs to be replanted in the summer, then only with a clod of earth. It is better to transplant on cloudy days.
After replanting, at first it is important to maintain optimal soil moisture and protect from direct sunlight.

From my own experience, I know that many novice gardeners are interested in how to care for a purchased spruce tree. The first thing to remember is the condition of the soil. If a tree is in waterlogged soil, its roots begin to rot and die. Christmas trees get sick for a long time and then die. Spruce also does not tolerate prolonged drought.
A site for spruce should be chosen with low groundwater and low precipitation. At the same time, it is good if there is a pond or reservoir next to the spruce, because... humid air will have a positive effect on the color of the needles and reduce the likelihood of them burning out.

Coniferous crops are very diverse; now they are quite common and popular among gardeners. Owners of private plots often choose unusual coniferous plants in order to give the landscape a beautiful and original appearance.

A cozy garden corner created with the help of different coniferous crops

General information and varieties of Canadian spruce

Canadian spruce, or gray spruce (white), is drought-resistant and winter-hardy. She lives up to 300-500 years. It was brought from Canada, which is why its name is appropriate.

The varietal forms of this spruce are diverse. These crops have a conical, spherical, cushion-shaped crown and different colored needles (from light green to bluish-blue). The coniferous tree reaches a height of 35 m. The bark of this spruce species is scaly and ash-brown in color. The branches are whitish-brown. On the site they will look great in a group and are suitable as single crops. The Canadian dwarf Christmas tree is very popular among gardeners and is even grown in pots. Such a plant is appropriate among crops and alpine hills. The most common dwarf varieties in gardening are:

Conica (up to 2 m high, has a narrow conical crown);
Alberta Globe (up to 1 m high, has a spherical crown);
Zucerhut (up to 1.5 m high, conical crown);
Sander's Blue (up to 0.7 m high, narrow-conical crown).

These spruce varieties are ideal for creating a beautiful landscape, since this plant grows slowly and is not pruned until it is 2 years old. This spruce has a decorative crown shape, which makes it popular among gardeners. It also tolerates frost well, is unpretentious to the soil, and requires moderate watering. This tree can be decorated for the New Year. The disadvantages of the Canadian dwarf spruce include susceptibility to pests (spider mites) and the need for partial shade in early spring.

Features of caring for Canadian spruce

Composition of coniferous plants

These trees rarely require watering and only when the soil dries out. The plant is watered moderately and the soil around the spruce is loosened so that oxygen can better flow to the root system. To reduce the growth of a tree (if it grows at home), you need to periodically remove buds from the Christmas tree. But the growth rate of dwarf Canadian spruce is already insignificant - only 2-3 cm per year. Therefore, the tree is not pruned until it is two years old. Plant blue spruce near fences, in partial shade. In an open place under the influence of sunlight, the plant can get burned (especially in March, when solar activity increases).

Propagation of Canadian spruce trees using cuttings

The tree propagates by seeds and cuttings. The best planting time for dwarf forms is spring and early summer; large plants are best replanted in winter. Let's consider a more accessible method of propagation - cuttings. This process is lengthy, but more reliable. It is better to carry it out in June; over the summer the seedlings will have time to take root well and prepare for winter. Lower branches up to 10-12 cm in size are torn off from the mother spruce.

Preparing spruce cuttings

The cutting must have a piece of bark from the mother plant - a “heel”, otherwise it simply will not take root.

A piece of bark from the mother plant - “heel”

Before planting, the lower part of the prepared spruce cuttings is treated with growth stimulants (for example, in Epine solution for about two hours). Next, the solution is diluted with water and used to water the substrate with planted cuttings, which are deepened into the substrate by about 2 cm. Please note that moisture in the substrate should be maintained constantly, but in moderation. Thus, there is nothing difficult in planting itself, and caring for a dwarf Christmas tree is even simpler.

Seed propagation in the garden strawberries we are used to, unfortunately, leads to the appearance of less productive plants and weaker bushes. But another type of these sweet berries, alpine strawberries, can be successfully grown from seeds. Let's learn about the main advantages and disadvantages of this crop, consider the main varieties and features of agricultural technology. The information presented in this article will help you decide whether it is worth allocating a place for it in the berry garden.

Often, when we see a beautiful flower, we instinctively bend down to smell its fragrance. All fragrant flowers can be divided into two large groups: nocturnal (pollinated by moths) and daytime, whose pollinators are mainly bees. Both groups of plants are important for the florist and designer, because we often walk around the garden during the day and relax in our favorite corners when evening comes. We are never overwhelmed by the scent of our favorite fragrant flowers.

Many gardeners consider pumpkin to be the queen of garden beds. And not only because of its size, variety of shapes and colors, but also for its excellent taste, healthy qualities and rich harvest. Pumpkin contains a large amount of carotene, iron, various vitamins and minerals. Thanks to the possibility of long-term storage, this vegetable supports our health all year round. If you decide to plant a pumpkin on your plot, you will be interested in learning how to get the largest possible harvest.

Scotch eggs - incredibly delicious! Try to prepare this dish at home, there is nothing difficult in preparation. Scotch eggs are a hard-boiled egg wrapped in minced meat, breaded in flour, egg and breadcrumbs and deep-fried. For frying, you will need a frying pan with a high side, and if you have a deep fryer, then that’s just great - even less hassle. You will also need oil for frying so as not to smoke in the kitchen. Choose farm eggs for this recipe.

One of the most amazing large-flowered tubs of Dominican Cubanola fully justifies its status as a tropical miracle. Warm-loving, slow-growing, with huge and in many ways unique bells of flowers, Cubanola is a fragrant star with a complex character. It requires special conditions in the rooms. But for those who are looking for exclusive plants for their interior, a better (and more chocolatey) candidate for the role of indoor giant cannot be found.

Chickpea curry with meat is a hearty hot dish for lunch or dinner, inspired by Indian cuisine. This curry is quick to prepare but requires some prep. The chickpeas must first be soaked in plenty of cold water for several hours, preferably overnight; the water can be changed several times. It is also better to leave the meat in the marinade overnight so that it turns out juicy and tender. Then you should boil the chickpeas until tender and then prepare the curry according to the recipe.

Rhubarb cannot be found in every garden plot. It's a pity. This plant is a storehouse of vitamins and can be widely used in cooking. What is not prepared from rhubarb: soups and cabbage soup, salads, delicious jam, kvass, compotes and juices, candied fruits and marmalade, and even wine. But that's not all! The large green or red rosette of leaves of the plant, reminiscent of burdock, acts as a beautiful background for annuals. It is not surprising that rhubarb can also be seen in flower beds.

Today, the trend is to experiment with unusual combinations and non-standard colors in the garden. For example, plants with black inflorescences have become very fashionable. All black flowers are original and specific, and it is important for them to be able to select suitable partners and location. Therefore, this article will not only introduce you to an assortment of plants with slate-black inflorescences, but will also teach you the intricacies of using such mystical plants in garden design.

3 delicious sandwiches - a cucumber sandwich, a chicken sandwich, a cabbage and meat sandwich - a great idea for a quick snack or for an outdoor picnic. Just fresh vegetables, juicy chicken and cream cheese and a little seasoning. There are no onions in these sandwiches; if you wish, you can add onions marinated in balsamic vinegar to any of the sandwiches; this will not spoil the taste. Having quickly prepared snacks, all that remains is to pack a picnic basket and head to the nearest green lawn.

Depending on the varietal group, the age of seedlings suitable for planting in open ground is: for early tomatoes - 45-50 days, average ripening periods - 55-60 and late ones - at least 70 days. When planting tomato seedlings at a younger age, the period of its adaptation to new conditions is significantly extended. But success in obtaining a high-quality tomato harvest also depends on carefully following the basic rules for planting seedlings in open ground.

Unpretentious “background” plants of sansevieria do not seem boring to those who value minimalism. They are better suited than other indoor decorative foliage stars for collections that require minimal care. Stable decorativeness and extreme hardiness in only one species of sansevieria are also combined with compactness and very rapid growth - rosette sansevieria Hana. The squat rosettes of their tough leaves create striking clusters and patterns.

One of the brightest months of the garden calendar pleasantly surprises with the balanced distribution of favorable and unfavorable days for working with plants according to the lunar calendar. Vegetable gardening in June can be done throughout the entire month, while the unfavorable periods are very short and still allow you to do useful work. There will be optimal days for sowing and planting, for pruning, for a pond, and even for construction work.

Meat with mushrooms in a frying pan is an inexpensive hot dish that is suitable for a regular lunch and for a holiday menu. Pork will cook quickly, veal and chicken too, so this is the preferred meat for the recipe. Mushrooms - fresh champignons, in my opinion, are the best choice for homemade stew. Forest gold - boletus mushrooms, boletus and other delicacies is best prepared for the winter. Boiled rice or mashed potatoes are ideal as a side dish.

I love ornamental shrubs, especially unpretentious ones and with interesting, non-trivial foliage colors. I have various Japanese spirea, Thunberg barberries, black elderberry... And there is one special shrub, which I will talk about in this article - viburnum leaf. To fulfill my dream of a low-maintenance garden, it is perhaps ideal. At the same time, it is capable of greatly diversifying the picture in the garden, from spring to autumn.

Dwarf and decorative ones are very popular among landscape designers. These trees fit perfectly into the composition, look great and, thanks to their coniferous nature, green the area all year round. Canadian conika is a prominent representative of the decorative spruce, with unusual short needles and a fluffy, regular-shaped crown.

Only those trees that are 4-5 years old are planted in the ground. Before this, it is recommended to keep the plants in special pots. This period is maintained so that the root system of the spruce, which is located mainly on the surface, becomes stronger. But for a longer period, Canadian conica should not grow in pots indoors, as this can lead to the death of the plant.

If the seedling was purchased with closed roots, then for this process you can choose an early spring month, when the snow has just melted. If the spruce tree has a bare root system, then to plant it you need to wait until the weather is consistently warm, not hot, and the soil has warmed up sufficiently.

Before planting, it is necessary to prepare the soil. To do this, organic or mineral complexes for coniferous crops are added to the hole. The soil is well watered to make it easier for the root system to adapt. After planting, the plant must be shaded from direct sunlight for several days. This will protect the needles from withering and rapid evaporation of moisture.

Canadian conika is propagated using cuttings and. The process is carried out in the spring:

Young, healthy branches are selected and separated from the trunk along with a piece of it, the so-called heel.
The cutting process is carried out in cloudy weather.
Trees are selected at an average age of 5 to 10 years; branches must be cut from the middle of the crown.
One cutting should be approximately 7-11 cm in length. It is separated with a sharp downward movement so that some wood and bark of the mother plant remain on it.
After preparing the material, all cuttings are kept in a stimulating solution for 20-25 hours.
The cuttings are immersed in previously prepared loose, fertile and light soil to a depth of 2-3 cm. It is recommended to plant them at an angle to the ground of 30 degrees.
The container with seedlings is placed in. After a while, young shoots should appear, after which the rooting process begins. It lasts for approximately 6 months. In some cases, the root system appears only the next year.
Plantings must be maintained regularly. Ventilate and water, sometimes adding stimulating components to the water.
The soil should not completely dry out in the container, but it is also not recommended to allow waterlogging.

For propagation using seeds, the source material can be purchased at a special store or collected well-opened, ripened cones in the winter. it is necessary to prepare for planting by treating them with disinfectant and stimulating solutions. After this, they are sown shallowly in a special container with loose and fertile soil.

One of the pests that can greatly harm the Canadian conike is the bark beetle. Only preventative properties can be used against it. If an insect infests a tree, it is impossible to save such a plant. It is urgently necessary to remove it from the site and burn it so that the pests do not move to neighboring plantings.

Also, sometimes coniferous trees are affected by the hedgehog moth. This can be seen by the yellowing and falling needles. If this pest is detected, then the infected plants and all neighboring ones need a 3% solution of BI-58.

With improper care, excessive watering and high humidity, fungal diseases attack coniferous trees.

Some of them can be cured. Rust will be noticeable by unsightly orange growths on the trunk and branches. To remove it, it is necessary to treat the infected plant with special chemicals once a week for 1-2 months. But tracheomycosis cannot be cured. It can be seen by the reddened needles, which fall off after a while. Such trees are promptly removed from the site and burned.

Dwarf coniferous trees are used as decorative plantings in gardens, parks and areas near private houses. When young, they are grown in pots and are often used to decorate offices and homes.

Landscape designers have been using these trees for many years to create evergreen compositions and decorative plantings.

Using simple gardening skills, you can grow a little green beauty on your own site. Simple rules of care and unpretentiousness of trees will allow you to enjoy the beauty of the plantings all year round. And the interesting natural forms of dwarf spruce trees provide an opportunity to show imagination and create a unique decorative composition.

More information can be found in the video.

Canadian spruce is a decorative form of spruce. Its height is up to 1 meter, but under certain conditions, the spruce can reach 3 meters. Its appearance is quite original: cone-shaped, bluish-green color, the tree is characterized by softness and short shape, a weak tap root and the root system is located close to the soil surface. As a result, loosen the soil very carefully.

Features of growth

Konika spruce grows slowly, only 3-4 cm grows in a year. There are certain species that grow up to 10 cm. When the spruce is 5 years old, its height is approximately 20 cm, at this age it already stands out for its decorativeness. At 10 years old, Canadian spruce reaches a height of 80 cm. It grows for 10-15 years and reaches a level of 1 meter. In the following years, spruce growth is characterized by some slowness, only 2-3 cm per year. When the spruce reaches twenty years of age, its height is 1.5 m, and the diameter of the base of the roof is 1 m.

Caring for Canadian spruce

Konik spruce requires minimal care. The tree crown does not require pruning. It has enough natural precipitation. But still, at least minimal care is required.

If there is a drought outside, then spruce must be irrigated through the crown. A few days later, it is recommended to slightly loosen the soil. When summer comes, it is necessary to fertilize the conika spruce. To do this, take 5 kg of rotted organic matter and mix it with the soil in the root zone. When October comes, you need to lay a layer of peat compost 5 cm thick. As a result, the tree will better withstand the winter. To prevent spring browning, you need to wrap the conika spruce with burlap. This will serve as a protective element from the sun and will not interfere with ventilation.

Spring browning of spruce is not a disease. In this way, Canadian spruce reacts to solar activity after winter. We can say that this is a seasonal growing season. Soil that has not melted cannot fully saturate the roots with the necessary nutrition, as a result of which the spruce begins to turn brown. When the juice begins to flow and the conika spruce has sufficient nutrition, its color is restored.

Planting Konica

Canada spruce can be replanted during the growing season. Planting Canadian conika spruce is not very difficult, however, it is recommended to adhere to certain rules:

Application of Canadian spruce

Konica is often used in landscape design. The tree looks great alone, as well as in a group. As for flower beds, it is planted there very rarely due to its slow growth.

Spruce is used for various compositions. It is planted on terraces, near the house, in containers, and is also used to decorate the garden. An excellent option for conics is a smooth, mowed lawn. Wood is used for the background of flower arrangements, are also combined with other conifers that are short in stature.

Canada spruce can be grown in a pot. To do this, you need to purchase it in a store, dig it up in the forest, or grow a seedling from seeds. This the seedling must be carefully transplanted into a pot, the root collar of the spruce should be at ground level. In this case, the root system should not dry out. If you bought Canadian spruce in a store, you need to replace the soil.

To create soil for spruce, you need to take turf and leaf soil, sand and peat, the ratio should be as follows 2:2:1:1. Place drainage at the bottom of the flowerpot, which has a layer of 10 cm. When you plant or replant spruce trees, it is recommended to make fertilizer. Twice a season you need to do general fertilizing.

For normal functioning of the conic spruce you need:

set the light mode to normal;
in winter it is necessary to provide the necessary humidity (80-90%) and normal temperature (+5-15 degrees);
To prevent drying out or waterlogging, mulch with peat, its layer should be 5-6 cm. Mix this layer with the ground from time to time, and put a new layer on top.

Canadian spruce is characterized by slow growth and no need to trim it. Only dry and diseased branches should be removed.

When summer comes, take the container with the spruce outside under the trees. Do drip irrigation. Replant it in a larger pot every year.

Under good conditions, conika can live in a flowerpot for a long time than an ordinary spruce, which can only exist in a pot for 3-4 years.

Canadian spruce for the holiday

Due to modern trends Decorating a spruce tree in a flowerpot for the New Year is considered very fashionable. When installing this plant as a New Year tree, you need to find a place that will be remote from various heat sources. The best option would be to place the container on a cold window, however, if you use the spruce as a Christmas tree, this is not very possible. In no case should you place the flowerpot on a south window, as there is a lot of sunlight there, and the tree does not tolerate direct sunlight. In any place where you place a flowerpot, you need to turn it towards the light from time to time.

If the Canadian spruce is placed in a heated room, then you need to spray the crown from time to time. The best option would be if the air humidity is higher near the konica spruce. To do this, you can place a bowl of water near the flowerpot. Or you can also do this: put one edge of a towel in a bowl with water, and place the other on the radiator. If you use the latter method, then do not forget to regularly add water to the dishes because it evaporates quickly.

When all the holidays are over, move the conika spruce to the loggia or balcony, if it is glazed. In this room, cover the flowerpot with the spruce with a cap, this will give the plant the necessary humidity. As a cap, you can take a five-liter bottle that has no bottom. Wrap the flowerpot in warm material to prevent the ground from freezing. But don’t overdo it with insulation, create optimal winter weather for spruce, because it is not a tropical plant.

If it happens that the root system completely fills the entire pot, it needs to be transferred with lumps of earth into a larger pot.

If you follow and adhere to all the rules for caring for the spruce and create the necessary conditions for it, then the Canadian conic spruce will delight you with its beauty for many years. It will perfectly decorate a room in the house, and will also create the uniqueness and originality of landscape design.