Silvercrest pine is a beautiful plant that belongs to the Pine family. She is also often called Pinia. This crop has a considerable height and a compact umbrella-shaped crown. Due to its high decorative properties, ephedra is often used in landscape design. In order for the plant to develop normally and maintain its attractiveness, it needs to be properly cared for.
Description and appearance
According to the botanical description, the Italian Silvercrest tree is characterized by slow development.In 1 year, the crop increases by a maximum of 30 centimeters. By the age of 10, the pine tree grows up to 3 meters. However, some specimens reach a height of 15 meters. In cool climates, pine grows more slowly.
The plant is characterized by an irregularly shaped crown. As it develops, the crop becomes shrub-like and has a spherical crown. At 2-3 years old, the plant has a very unusual appearance. The tree has a short, twisted trunk. In this case, its branches are located at an angle of 60 degrees, but their ends are directed upward. The tree is characterized by a large, flat crown that looks like an open umbrella.
The attractiveness of the tree is emphasized by its decorative bark. At first, the young tree has smooth gray-green bark, but then it turns yellow-brown. In old trees, the bark becomes cracked and changes color from red-gray to gray-brown.
Silvercrest pine has silver-green needles that fall off after 3 years. Cones on trees most often grow singly, but sometimes they are collected in groups of 2-3 pieces. The fruits are characterized by an ovoid shape and a diameter of 11 centimeters.
3 years after the formation of the plant, modified shoots appear at the ends of the branches. At first they are green in color, but then change color. In this case, convex growths appear over the entire surface of the scales. By the end of the third season, the seeds fall off, but the cones remain on the tree for several more years.
A tree of this variety is characterized by fairly large seeds.They can be eaten. The sizes of the nuts vary. Moreover, the largest specimens reach 2 centimeters in length. The top of the pine seeds is covered with a brown shell with white splashes.
How to plant a tree
Silvercrest pine prefers light and loose soil. Calcareous or sandy loam soil is suitable for growing crops in the garden. This sun-loving plant does not tolerate shade. In this case, it develops slowly and becomes paler.
It is recommended to plant a plant with an open root system in late April or early May. A crop with a lump of soil can be moved into the ground not only in spring, but also in autumn. In the second case, this must be done 1-1.5 months before the arrival of the first stable frosts.
Selection of seedlings
It is recommended to buy a tree for planting on the site at a specialized nursery. In this case, you should give preference to specimens that grow in a container or have a lump of soil wrapped in burlap. Such plants can withstand transplantation more easily and easily adapt to new conditions.
When purchasing a plant, it is important to focus on its appearance. The needles must have a uniform green color and flexible structure. There should be no cracks, mold or breaks on the shoots. The optimal height of a 2-3 year old seedling is 50-70 centimeters.
Where to plant
Italian Silvercrest pine has difficulty growing in very wet areas. Therefore, it is worth growing in flat areas and providing the crop with high-quality drainage. The depth of groundwater should not exceed 2 meters.
When planting pine in rocky soil, a drainage layer is not required. If you plan to grow a plant in loam, you should use 2 buckets of sand or vermiculite per 1 square meter of tree trunk circle.
Landing instructions
The recess for planting must be made in advance - about 2-3 weeks. When growing several pine trees, it is important to maintain spacing between them. It must be at least 2 meters. The depth of the hole should be 2-3 times greater than the lump of soil. Usually a hole is made measuring 80x90 centimeters.
To plant a plant, it is recommended to do the following:
- Pour half a bucket of drainage into the bottom. It may consist of stones, crushed stone, pebbles. This will help avoid stagnation of moisture and rotting of the root system.
- Place a loose and nutritious substrate of peat, sand and turf on top in a ratio of 2:1:1. Then you need to pour water and leave it to absorb.
- Place the seedling into the hole. It is important to ensure that the root collar is 4-5 centimeters above the soil surface.
- Sprinkle the seedling with garden soil and compact it.
- Water the plant. For 1 seedling you need to use 10 liters of water.
- Cover the tree trunk circle with a mulch layer measuring 7-8 centimeters. It may consist of peat or pine sawdust.
Features of cultivation
In order for silver pine to retain its decorative properties, it must be properly cared for.
Watering
At first, Italian pine needs frequent watering. However, it is important to consider that excess moisture can cause rotting of the root system. After the seedling has adapted, the amount of watering needs to be significantly reduced.Once a month, about 50 liters of water must be poured under each tree.
Mulching
After each watering, the soil must be loosened and mulched. Thanks to loosening, it is possible to maintain moisture and breathability of the soil. This saturates the soil with sufficient water and oxygen. After loosening the soil needs to be mulched. To do this, it is worth using peat, rotted wood chips or pine sawdust. Thanks to mulching, it is possible to prevent the rapid evaporation of moisture and the active growth of unwanted vegetation.
Adding Fertilizers
Until the age of 10, coniferous plants need to be fed regularly. This will help stimulate their growth processes and maintain the desired decorative effect. The first time nutrients are applied the next year after planting. This should be done in early spring. At this stage, it is worth using a combined fertilizer for pine trees, which contains a lot of nitrogen. “Kemira-universal” and nitroammophoska are considered effective.
The second time, it is recommended to feed the pine with a mineral preparation based on potassium salt and superphosphate. Irrigation of the crown is required every 15 days. For this, drugs such as Epin, Quadris, and Heteroauxin are suitable.
Preparing for cold weather
Young trees are highly susceptible to temperature fluctuations. They can hardly withstand prolonged frosts. Therefore, a month before persistent cold weather, the plant needs to be prepared for winter. To do this you need to do the following:
- Spud the tree trunk circle with sawdust or peat.
- Bend the skeletal branches to the central conductor and secure with rope.
- Cover the tree with spruce branches or burlap.
Mature plants do not require such careful preparation for frost.For mature plants, it is enough to add a thick layer of mulch.
What can a tree become infected with?
Italian Silvercrest pine has strong immunity. However, if the rules of agricultural technology are violated, the plant may suffer from the following problems:
- Mealybug - the appearance of the pest is associated with frequent sprinkling of the crown in the evenings. Planting an infected plant can also cause problems.
- Spider mites - the risk of infection increases in conditions of extreme heat and drought.
- Rots - develop on trees that grow in wetlands or suffer from constant waterlogging.
- Resin cancer - accompanied by the appearance of red or orange spots on the trunk and adjacent branches.
To avoid infection with diseases, the plant must be treated with fungicides 2 times. “Skor” and “Hom” are suitable for this. Insecticides such as Enzhio and Fitoverm will help get rid of parasites.
Silvercrest pine is a popular ornamental plant that is often used for landscaping. In order for a tree to maintain its attractiveness, it needs to be properly cared for.
