Spruces with a weeping crown are quite often used to decorate garden plots. Such varieties have a very decorative appearance, which is associated with the presence of a cascade of thorny branches. Thanks to this, trees are able to fill the space with a fabulous atmosphere. It is important to choose the right crop variety and provide it with proper care.
Description of the tree
A distinctive feature of most weeping spruces is the absence of a central trunk, which grows upward. Moreover, some varieties, on the contrary, have a pronounced straight trunk.
The height of the tree is usually affected by the location of the grafting.Among the weeping varieties there are very large and massive plants. They are characterized by a narrow crown, which is well suited for decorating small areas. Also, these plants fit perfectly into rocky gardens.
Weeping spruce is one of the eastern decorative species. The tree belongs to the Pine family and is mainly found in Asia and Eastern Europe.
Such crops are considered undemanding in terms of soil composition. However, loam or black soil is more suitable for them. Many types of such spruce trees are resistant to frost. However, some varieties do not tolerate dust and smoke.
Popular varieties
Today, quite a few varieties of weeping spruce are known, each of which has certain characteristics. The most popular of them include the following:
- Pendula – is one of the most decorative types of weeping spruce trees. This crop is characterized by fairly flexible and dense branches that are covered with dark green needles. On the bottom of the needles there are wide stripes of a silvery-white hue. Young and old needles practically do not differ in color. Young buds are purple-red in color but turn brown over time. They reach 6 centimeters in length.
- Cobra is considered an unusual variety. To achieve maximum decorativeness, at the initial stage of the growing season the tree must be attached to a support. Thanks to this, the spruce will reach its optimal size and return to the ground, forming a wavy mat of gray-green branches. In this case, the tree will look like a arched cobra.Over the course of a year, this variety of spruce can grow by 50 centimeters. As an adult, Cobra has vertical branches that spread downward.
- Inverse – This culture is characterized by slow growth. In 1 year it increases by a maximum of 20 centimeters. The branches of the plant are covered with thick dark green needles, which do not change their color all year round. Due to the absence of a central shoot, the culture looks very attractive. Another feature of the plant is the collapsing top. All these properties make it possible to use spruce to decorate rock gardens. It also looks great in group plantings. The height of the crop can be adjusted by the length of the rootstock.
- Frohburg - this spruce has a straight trunk and flowing shoots that spread under the crown in the form of a carpet. Using a support helps to form an umbrella up to 2 meters in size from the crop. The plant looks great in single plantings. Another feature of the culture is considered to be a high degree of frost resistance. It can withstand temperatures down to -40 degrees. However, at an early age the crop often suffers from recurrent spring frosts.
Landing instructions
To plant a weeping crop, it is important to choose the right site. Spruce does not tolerate increased soil density and stagnant moisture. Therefore, an area with deep groundwater is suitable for planting the plant.
When planting a crop, be sure to provide a drainage layer of sand or crushed brick. Its optimal size should be 15-20 centimeters. When planting weeping spruce trees in groups, the interval between them should be 15-20 centimeters.
For the plant you need to prepare a hole 50-70 centimeters deep and 60 centimeters wide. When placing a seedling, it is important to ensure that the root collar is flush with the ground surface.
For a more comfortable adaptation of the plant, it is worth preparing a special nutrient substrate. To do this, you need to mix leaf soil, turf, peat and sand. It is recommended to take these components in a ratio of 2:2:1:1. Immediately after planting the crop, it should be watered with warm water. It is recommended to use 40-50 liters of water per plant. It is also permissible to fertilize at this stage.
Aftercare
Weeping trees can hardly tolerate heat, so they require systematic watering. The soil should be moistened once a week. It is permissible to water adult plants less often. It is recommended to use 10-12 liters of water for 1 watering. In the first years after watering, it is advisable to loosen the soil. It is recommended to do this 5 centimeters deep. This procedure will provide oxygen to the young roots.
Before the arrival of winter, the weeping spruce needs to be watered abundantly. This will help prevent the death of the young plant. Also, for the winter, the tree trunk circle should be mulched with peat. The thickness of such a layer should be 5-6 centimeters. With the arrival of spring, the peat does not need to be removed, but mixed with the soil. To protect the crop from the cold, it needs to be covered with spruce branches.
Weeping spruce trees can be fertilized twice during the season. However, these plants do not require pruning. However, in the spring, many gardeners carry out a sanitary procedure during which dried and damaged shoots are removed. This manipulation should be performed after the period of active sap flow has ended.
Application in landscape design
Weeping varieties of fir trees help create a truly fabulous atmosphere in the garden. The varieties that have blue needles look especially attractive. Such plants are perfect for creating multi-level landscape compositions. They also look good with bright flowers and low perennials.
Arched structures decorated with weeping fir trees are considered very popular. Such trees look good on the banks of ponds and along paths.
Weeping spruce trees look very decorative. That’s why they are often used to decorate garden plots. To make plants look attractive, they need to be planted correctly. Compliance with agrotechnical recommendations is of no small importance.
