Gray spruce is an attractive ornamental crop that belongs to the Pine family. This plant is often used in landscape design for parks and summer cottages. In order for a crop to retain its decorative properties for as long as possible, it must be planted correctly. Compliance with agrotechnical recommendations during cultivation is of no small importance.
What kind of tree is this
According to the description, gray spruce is a beautiful crop measuring 15-50 meters in size. The specific height depends on the plant variety. The trunk diameter is usually no more than 1 meter.The crown of the plant is formed in the form of a wide cone. At the same time, compactness is achieved due to thick and dense branches. From them it is possible to determine the relative age of a culture. A young spruce tree has branches directed upward, while an old tree has branches that tend to the ground.
The bark of the tree is gray or brown in color. At the same time, protruding leaf cushions are clearly visible on it. Young branches usually have a gray-yellow color, and sometimes have a whitish tint. By the age of one year the shoots become straw-like.
The buds are brown-orange in color and ovoid in shape. They reach 6 millimeters in length and have a beveled top. Separately, you should pay attention to the needles of the plant. The following features are characteristic of needles:
- the length is 1-3 centimeters and the width is 5 millimeters;
- They have a tetrahedral cross-section and are slightly curved in the middle;
- are distinguished by a bluish color, which can vary from dark to light;
- has aromatic needles, which, when rubbed between the fingers, emits the smell of black currants;
- remains on the tree for 4-7 years.
The flowering of the crop begins in late spring. This variety is considered one of the most early-bearing. The first female fetuses are formed already at 7-10 years of age. At the same time, a large number of small young cones appear. They are distinguished by their green or purple color. Such specimens reach 8 centimeters in length and 2-3 in diameter.
As the cones mature, they grow, acquire a characteristic brown tint and become cylindrical in shape. Moreover, they are characterized by ocher rounded scales, which are quite soft to the touch. Male anthers are distinguished by a yellow or red tint.
Popular varieties
Today there are quite a few varieties of blue spruce, each of which has certain characteristics.
Canadian spruce Echiniformis
This is a dwarf variety that does not stretch upward too quickly. Spruce Echiniformis was artificially bred in France. By the age of 30, the plant’s height is no more than 50 centimeters. At the same time, the crown diameter reaches only 1 meter. Spruce of this variety is characterized by fairly thin green needles with bluish notes. The plant is considered to be quite light-loving. It is recommended to grow it in slightly acidic soil and water it often enough. The culture is perfect for decorating rocky hills.
Albert plant
This plant is considered a typical representative of the Albertiana group. It was grown in 1967 in the Netherlands. Spruce Alberta Globe is a miniature plant whose annual growth is a maximum of 24 centimeters. At 10 years old, the spruce does not exceed 25 centimeters in diameter. It is characterized by a dense and even crown of a rounded shape. The plant has light green needles measuring 6-9 millimeters.
Gray spruce Glauka Konika
This is a dwarf variety that was bred in 1904 in Canada. This plant belongs to the Albertiana group. By the age of 30 Konica grows up to 2 meters in height. Moreover, the width of its crown is 1.2 meters. The plant is characterized by a regular pyramidal crown. It is quite dense and smooth. The culture has thin radial needles of bright green color. In spring, she often gets severe burns.
Pendula plant
This plant appeared in the forests of Serbia. It is characterized by slow growth and a narrow, drooping crown. In 1 year the plant grows by 10 centimeters.By the age of 30, the culture reaches a height of 10 meters. This crop is characterized by dark green needles and flexible young shoots. The tree is resistant to frost. At the same time, it can withstand hot weather well.
Spruce Pendula Grows well in any type of soil. It easily withstands exposure to smoke and air pollution. In addition, the crop rarely suffers from pest attacks and the development of pathologies. Most often, Pendula is used to create landscape compositions.
Planting and care
All varieties of blue spruce often suffer from winter and spring burns. Therefore, they definitely need to be shaded. At the same time, artificial shading does not always give the desired effect. It is also worth considering that planting in partial shade leads to the fact that the needles of plants lose their decorative effect.
Therefore, when planting, it is recommended to take into account the following features of gray spruce trees:
- The tendency of needles to cause burns. It is important to find a place where the influence of bright sun will be minimal.
- Average frost resistance of many varieties. Therefore, the site must have protection from the cold north wind.
- Superficial root system. In dry areas, plants need to be watered regularly.
After choosing a place for planting, you need to prepare a hole. It is important that the diameter of the hole is 10 centimeters larger than the earthen ball of the plant. At the same time, it is recommended to make the hole a little larger in depth. When planting a plant in heavy soil, it is necessary to organize a drainage layer, and in light soil, add clay.
Planting spruce with closed roots is allowed throughout the warm period - from April to October. After planting, the crop must be well watered and covered with soil. The top of the tree trunk circle needs to be mulched.To do this, it is permissible to use bark or pine sawdust. The mulch thickness should be 5-7 centimeters.
When planting spruce in the spring, on the south side of the seedling it is necessary to install supports with a stretched agricultural mesh. This will help protect the young tree from the scorching sun. When planting crops in late autumn, it is necessary to install supports in order to place protective screens with the onset of cold weather. It is recommended to protect the plant from the sun for 3-4 years after planting.
In spring and summer, the plant needs to be fed. For this, it is permissible to use compost and vermicompost. It is also permissible to use potassium and phosphorus substances. At the same time, it is strictly forbidden to feed blue spruce with nitrogen agents.
Application
Gray spruce has excellent decorative properties. Therefore, its plantings are used to decorate and landscape parks and squares. The plant is also often used to decorate summer cottages. Spruce is excellent for forming natural windbreaks. It can also be used to create shrub ensembles.
Gray spruce is an attractive coniferous plant that is often used in landscape design. For crop cultivation to be successful, it is important to provide it with complete and high-quality care.
