Mountain pine Sherwood Compact is a dwarf coniferous plant that is compact in size and has a cushion-shaped crown. This culture is distinguished by its rather slow development and has bright green needles. The description of the Sherwood Compact pine says that this conifer is considered undemanding to growing conditions. However, it needs sufficient lighting.
Botanical description
Mountain pine Sherwood Compact is an evergreen dwarf shrub that is distinguished by a round, cushion-shaped crown of high density. This variety was obtained by Canadian breeder Andy Sherwood in the fifties of the last century. Thanks to its unique properties, the culture remains relevant today.
When growing a crop, it is worth considering the positive qualities of the plant. These include the following:
- compact size, making maintenance easier;
- undemanding to growing conditions;
- high degree of frost resistance;
- minimum care requirements;
- strong immunity.
The key disadvantage of the plant is the need to prepare for winter cold. However, this procedure is only needed for young crops that have not yet adapted to new conditions.
What does a tree look like?
Sherwood Compact pine reaches 50 centimeters by the age of 10 years. Moreover, its diameter can be 0.6 meters. The culture is distinguished by short and needle-shaped needles of a rich green color. It does not change even in the cold season.
Growth area
The distribution area of the Sherwood Compact pine is considered to be Central and Southern Europe - primarily mountainous areas. The culture is also found in the alpine and subalpine zones. It lives at an altitude of up to 2500 meters above sea level and is a tree-forming species. The culture is found in the foothills and is protected in nature reserves.
Mountain pine Sherwood Compact is considered not too demanding on the composition of the soil. In addition, the plant can withstand temperatures down to -34 degrees.
How to plant
Before planting a pine tree, it is necessary to clear the area of weeds, especially perennial weeds. Planting material should be purchased in a special plastic container. Such a plant will take root much better. When choosing a seedling, you should give preference to a crop that is 3-5 years old.
To plant a plant, it is recommended to do the following:
- Choose a well-lit place, prepare a hole there that is twice the size of the seedling, and a soil substrate.
- Make drainage and cover it with soil.
- Carefully remove the seedling from the container with a lump of soil and place it in the recess. In this case, the root collar should be located above the surface of the earth.
- Cover the plant with fertile substrate and compact the soil well to avoid the formation of voids.
- Form a circle around the trunk and fill it with water.
- Cover the area with a mulch layer 5-10 centimeters thick. You can use peat for this.
The choice of soil is of no small importance. It is recommended to plant pine of this variety in a sandy or sandy loam substrate. It is desirable that it has a slightly acidic reaction - pH 6-7. The plant can also be planted in heavy clay soil. However, to do this, it is recommended to pour a thick drainage layer at the bottom of the recess - its size should be about 10-20 centimeters. For this purpose, it is permissible to use crushed brick or expanded clay.
It is recommended to make the soil substrate yourself. To do this, you need to mix turf soil, river sand and peat in a ratio of 3:1:1. You can also add 20-30 grams of complex fertilizer to the composition.
Features of care
If all the features were taken into account when choosing a site for planting, caring for the Sherwood Compact pine will be quite simple. However, some agricultural technology rules still need to be followed.
Watering
Young pine of this variety requires abundant watering at least twice a week. During spring planting and hot summer, the plant must be periodically moistened by light sprinkling. In late autumn, seedlings should be watered generously, since moist soil does not freeze as much. This helps reduce the likelihood of needles burning in the spring.
An adult tree does not require regular watering, except in severe drought. The plant normally tolerates a lack of moisture, and falling needles help retain it. After the snow has completely melted, the pine tree needs to be freed from its shelter and watered with warm water. This speeds up the awakening from hibernation.
Top dressing
In the first 2-3 years after planting the plant in early spring or late autumn, it is recommended to feed the pine with mineral fertilizer or a composition for conifers. For 1 plant it is worth using 30-40 grams of the substance. Older pine trees will no longer need feeding, since it will receive all the useful elements from the coniferous litter. When planting a crop in a desert area, the seedling should be watered with Kornevin, and after a month, fertilizer for conifers should be applied.
Loosening the soil
The crop must be loosened periodically. It is especially important to do this during the first 1-2 years after planting. This helps saturate the root system with nutrients, moisture and oxygen. For adult plants, mulching with peat is enough. This procedure helps retain moisture and prevents the development of weeds.
Nuances of pruning
The shrub does not require special pruning.However, to slow down the growth of shoots and increase the density of the crown in the spring, you can cut young shoots by a third. It is not necessary to use scissors for this purpose. The branches can easily be broken by hand.
Preparing for cold weather
Young plants should be covered with spruce branches for the winter. This helps protect them from severe frosts and spring burns. In addition, burlap or special covers will help create a shadow. However, it is not recommended to use thick material or polyethylene, as the seedlings may begin to rot. At an older age, pine trees do not need to be covered. At temperatures above 0 degrees, plants need to be watered abundantly.
Reproduction methods
Pine of this variety can be propagated by seed or by grafting. Cuttings of this culture take root very poorly, so using this method is not recommended. The plant begins to bear fruit at about 6 years of age. At the end of autumn, small cones up to 4 centimeters in size appear on the crop. This happens once every 2 years.
The crop should be propagated by seeds in the spring. However, it is important to consider that when using this method there is a risk of losing the varietal characteristics of the plant. The shrub matures only 2 years after pollination. Therefore, this method can be used for crops that grow in natural conditions. In this case, the seeds must be collected and left to ripen. Only after this can they be used for planting.
Vaccination is considered the more preferable method.It involves growing a young shoot onto an adult pine tree. It is important to take into account that the procedure is very labor-intensive and requires certain skills. Beginner gardeners will not be able to do this manipulation.
Pest Control
The plant has strong immunity, but if the rules of agricultural technology are violated, there is a risk of problems. Untreated shrubs are often attacked by spider mites, pine sawflies, scale insects, and leaf rollers. These insects attack young shrubs and cause significant damage to them.
To avoid problems, plants need to be treated with insecticides twice a year. To prevent the development of diseases, it is worth using fungicidal drugs.
Application in landscape design
The plant is well suited for single and group plantings. To balance the composition, mountain pine can be emphasized with two thin or, conversely, powerful conifers. In addition, the Sherwood Compact variety is often used to decorate rockeries, alpine gardens, and heather compositions. It can be placed on mountains and slopes. The crop is also perfect for growing in containers.
Pine Sherwood Compact is a spectacular coniferous plant that perfectly complements any garden plot. This culture is considered very unpretentious. However, to maintain its decorative effect, it is necessary to follow a number of rules of agricultural technology. It is also important to protect the plant from pathologies and pests.
