Blue Diamond spruce is a very attractive plant that has unusual light blue needles. The culture was bred in the Netherlands and is a hybrid obtained from several varieties of Colorado spruce. Since 2006, this plant began to spread en masse. It is actively used in landscape design to create various compositions. At the same time, it is important to provide high-quality care for the spruce.
What does a tree look like?
According to the description, prickly spruce of the Blue Diamond variety has a classic cone-shaped shape.It has an unusual color and is in demand during the New Year holidays because it has an elegant appearance.
The culture of this variety is characterized by the following features:
- Crown and height. Spruce is distinguished by the shape of an even cone. It reaches 5-7 meters in height. The crown reaches 2-3 meters in diameter.
- Needles. The needles have a dense structure and a silver-blue color.
- Growth rate. Spruce of this variety develops at a moderate pace.
- Decorative properties. The tree is characterized by a symmetrical, high-density crown.
The crown of Blue Diamond spruce has a regular, pointed shape that resembles a cone. The tree is characterized by even branches that emphasize the tiered structure. The plant is characterized by dense needles. The culture is characterized by slow development. It increases by 15-20 centimeters per year. The result is a small, neat tree that serves as an excellent decoration for alleys and parks.
Blue Diamond spruce is characterized by elongated cones measuring up to 10 centimeters. They have a rich brown color. The branches are able to hold their shape on their own. But from time to time they need a haircut. This is required to update the needles.
Adaptation to climate
Blue spruce is considered an unpretentious plant. It easily withstands low temperatures and grows in regions where temperatures drop to -40 degrees. The plant needs enough sun. In open areas it has a lush crown and has a sea green hue. The plant also develops well in the shade. But in this case, the crown looks shabby, and the needles become dull and take on a grayish color.
How to plant a tree correctly
In order for prickly spruce to develop well, it needs to be provided with suitable conditions.This plant is more suitable for open sunny areas. It develops best there. To plant a plant, it is important to properly prepare the soil. To do this, it is recommended to mix soil, sand and peat in a ratio of 2:2:1. Additionally, it is worth adding mineral fertilizer and a root growth stimulator.
After placing the crop in the ground, it needs to be watered abundantly. To do this, you should use 40-50 liters of water per seedling. Then it is worth covering the tree trunk circle with a mulch layer. It may consist of leaves or sawdust.
Care requirements
The plant is often used in landscape design. To use a crop to decorate a site, it is important to care for it properly. In this case, the following recommendations must be followed:
- Water the tree in a timely manner. It is recommended to do this as the soil dries out.
- Pruning regularly. This should be done in the spring. At this stage, it is recommended to remove old and dried shoots. Pruning frozen branches is of no small importance. After pruning, it is recommended to feed the tree and treat it with a fungicidal preparation.
- Loosen the soil in a timely manner. This helps saturate the root system with moisture and oxygen. It is important to take into account that the roots of the plant are superficial. Therefore, it is necessary to loosen the soil to a depth of a maximum of 5-7 centimeters.
- Apply fertilizers according to the schedule. In spring, it is best to use nitrogen substances; in summer, it is worth using phosphorus preparations.In the fall, potassium-based products will be a suitable option. This spruce variety responds well to the addition of organic matter and minerals. If the soil on the site is poor and contains a lot of sand, it is worth adding compost or humus.
- Protect the crop from weeds. It is recommended to remove them in time. This can be done by hand or using a general herbicide.
Mulch for the winter needs to be made fresh. To do this, you need to mix peat and sawdust in equal proportions and cover the area around the tree with this mixture. Its thickness should be 5 centimeters. You need to sprinkle the bark of coniferous plants on top of the mulch.
Reproduction methods
Spruce Blue Diamond can be used in landscape design. Therefore, many summer residents have a problem with propagating this crop. This can be done in different ways.
Many summer residents propagate spruce using the seed method. Among the advantages of this growing method, it is worth highlighting the possibility of obtaining a strong and strong plant, which has high winter hardiness parameters. However, there are also some disadvantages. A young plant may not adopt the generic characteristics of its mother crop. In addition, it will take 3-4 years to grow it.
To plant a crop with seeds, you need to collect cones. They need to be placed in a warm place. After the cones open, it is recommended to remove the seeds. They are subjected to stratification. To do this, the grains need to be placed in a container with sand and left outside until spring.You can also store planting material in the refrigerator.
Cuttings are considered a simpler and more accessible method of propagation. However, plants obtained by this method are less resistant to frost. In addition, they do not have such strong immunity.
To harvest planting material, it is recommended to break off a branch from the top of the tree in April. Then you need to treat the cutting with a solution of potassium permanganate and remove the needles and bark from the lower part. After which it must be placed in a growth stimulator solution. “Epin” or “Heteroauxin” are perfect for this purpose.
After a day, the plant needs to be planted in prepared soil. The substrate should consist of sand, peat and humus. It is recommended to mix them in equal proportions. Seedlings need to be covered with film, periodically moistened and ventilated.
The fastest and easiest way to plant is to use seedlings. In this case, it is enough to buy a healthy tree and plant it in a suitable place. It is recommended to buy varietal spruce seedlings from nurseries or from trusted manufacturers. As a rule, such places sell plants that are adapted to local conditions.
Protection from pests and diseases
Blue Diamond spruce does not tolerate high humidity. This is especially true in cold weather. In this case, the tree may suffer from gray rot. For the winter, the young tree must be covered with a fabric cover, and dry mulch must be scattered around the tree trunk. You can also use spruce branches as insulation.
Among the pests, coniferous crops can suffer from aphids and sawflies. When such parasites are identified, insecticidal substances are immediately used.
Application
It is not for nothing that spruce is called the “blue diamond”.This plant has a very attractive crown of unusual color. That’s why it is often used in landscape design. The plant can be used singly or in group compositions. At the same time, it is permissible to combine the crop with other coniferous crops - pines, thujas, cypresses. At the same time, the plant goes well with tall and low trees.
It is worth considering that Blue Diamond spruce can be the central object of the composition or, on the contrary, surround a taller coniferous tree - for example, a classic mature pine.
The culture of this variety is used to create the boundaries and outlines of a site. It can be used to form a hedge. It is also permissible to place the plant on the site in tubs. This applies to trees younger than 10 years old.
Blue Diamond spruce is a fairly common crop that fits perfectly into a variety of garden compositions. In order for the crop to look decorative and develop normally, it is recommended to properly care for it.
