A variety of decorative crops are used to decorate summer cottages. One of the most spectacular is the Korean fir, which is an evergreen tree belonging to the Pine family. The culture is distinguished by decorative dark green needles and violet-purple cones. They give the tree a special charm. Growing spruce with purple cones is simple, but some rules still need to be followed.
What is this variety called?
In botany, this crop is called Abies koreana. People often call it Korean fir, Korean spruce or even pine.Sometimes the plant is also called Chinese or Karelian. To choose the right crop, you need to know that there are only two correct names - Abies koreana and Korean fir. These phrases are considered synonyms and are used to refer to the same culture.
Detailed description of the appearance of the tree
The birthplace of the culture is considered to be the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and the adjacent Jeju Island. Under natural conditions, the tree is found on mountain slopes. It can be seen at an altitude of 1-1.8 kilometers. The plant predominates in mixed forests, adjacent to stone birch and small-seeded spruce.
This culture is characterized by the following features:
- Dimensions - in natural conditions the tree can reach 15 meters. At the same time, the crown width is 3 meters, and the trunk diameter is 50-80 centimeters. An ornamental tree usually does not exceed 4 meters. At the same time, the culture is characterized by slow growth.
- Crown shape – the tree is characterized by a regular conical shape.
- Bark – young trees are covered with light gray bark with a reddish tint. It has a smooth structure. As it ages, the bark turns brownish and becomes deeply furrowed.
- Shoots - at first the crop is characterized by yellow branches, but as they develop they become red.
- The buds are round in shape and covered with a thin layer of resin.
- Needles – this plant is characterized by small shiny needles. At first they have a prickly structure, but later become softer. The needles have a dark green color. There are light stripes on the bottom of the needles. As for the shape of the needles, they bend in the form of an arc.
- Cones - young plants have bright purple fruits covered with a dense layer of resin. The cones are characterized by a cylindrical shape and a length of up to 7 centimeters.They are arranged vertically, which makes the tree look like a Christmas tree decorated with candles. As they ripen, the cones do not fall off, but open directly on the tree.
- The seeds are wedge-shaped and brown in color with a reddish tint.
- Root system – Korean fir is characterized by fairly deep and powerful roots that are quite well branched.
Today there are many varieties of Korean fir. They differ in size and external features. New products include dwarf trees, which can be grown even in small areas. If desired, such plants can be planted in tubs or containers.
The most popular varieties of this type of fir include:
- Adelba;
- Aurea;
- Blue Cons or Blue Cones;
- Bonsai Blue;
- Blue Standard or Blue Standard.
Where is it used?
Korean fir is characterized by fairly compact sizes. That’s why it is often used in landscape design. The plant is perfect even for small areas. The tree can be used as a tapeworm or formed into a beautiful composition.
How and where to plant spruce
Korean fir is considered an undemanding crop that develops well in any conditions. However, following planting rules will help preserve the decorative appearance of the tree. In an uncomfortable environment, the plant will stop growing and lose its attractiveness.
When carrying out planting work, the following points must be taken into account:
- Location of the site. Fir requires a sunny place without strong winds and drafts.
- Soil composition. It is best to give preference to soil that contains a lot of sand and organic fertilizers. You should not plant fir in lowlands, because after rain a lot of moisture will accumulate there, which will negatively affect the development of the tree.
- Time for planting. Fir seedlings should be planted in open ground in early spring.
- Age of the seedling. Plants that have reached 4 years old adapt best to new conditions. At an earlier age, the probability of crop death is high. It is also not recommended to replant trees older than 10 years. At this age, plants have an already formed root system, so they have difficulty transferring to a new area.
Carrying out planting work is not difficult. To do this, you need to dig a hole the size of the root system, after which you need to fill it with peat and fertilizer. Then the fir should be placed in a recess, carefully straighten the root system, sprinkle with soil and compact the soil a little. After planting, the tree needs to be watered well.
When planting several trees, the distance between them should be approximately 5 meters. If this recommendation is violated, the fir trees will not form lush crowns. When using low-growing varieties to form a hedge, an interval of about 2 meters must be maintained.
How to grow properly
Korean fir is considered an unpretentious crop that is easy to care for. The tree needs to be regularly watered, loosened and fertilized. Young plants need the most moisture. They need to be watered up to 3 times a month.For mature trees, several waterings over the summer will be enough. During drought, the number of soil moistenings must be increased. To keep the soil moist for a long time, mulching is carried out. To do this, the tree trunk circle needs to be covered with sawdust or pine needles.
Only young trees need to be prepared for winter. To do this, it is recommended to wrap their trunks in paper or special material. Korean fir does not require crown formation. When growing this crop, it is enough to remove dry branches and cones. For feeding, it is worth using special preparations for conifers.
Pest Control
If the rules of agricultural technology are violated, Korean fir may suffer from the following parasites:
- Hermes - in this case, a white coating appears on the needles. To destroy parasites, the affected shoots should be removed, and the tree itself should be sprayed with an insecticidal solution.
- False scale insects - these pests infect the trunk and shoots, absorbing their juices. In this case, massive drying of the branches is observed. Insecticides help get rid of parasites.
- Spider mite - in this case, the tree is covered with white cobwebs. After some time, the needles become yellow and fall off. Acaricides help control ticks. For prevention, it is worth spraying the shoots with cool water.
Korean fir is a very ornamental plant that has unusual purple cones. This allows the active use of wood in landscape design. In order for a culture to grow and develop normally, it needs to be properly cared for.
