Korean spruce - a beautiful coniferous tree belonging to the pine family. Like any spruce, it has cones (called female strobiles) and small cones (male strobils). Spruce never blooms, but is always decorated with cones. It is generally accepted that they have a standard brown color. But today you will be pleasantly surprised by the refutation of this error.
Description of Korean spruce
In the family of spruce, there are over 40 forest representatives. In the forest zones and on the plots of our citizens, European and ordinary spruce are most often found, and in Siberia - Siberian. The variety of spruce in a particular area depends on the climatic features of the strip. For example, Korean spruce is most widespread in the Far East. But all of them are perfectly adapted to the changes in our climate, and are also resistant to winter cold.
The first descriptions of this species of spruce appeared in 1919 thanks to the Japanese botanist Takenosin Nakai. He studied the flora of the Korean Peninsula and proved that Korean spruce is a species of the pine family, distinguishing it from the Siberian spruce. Here she got her name.
This species of coniferous has a gray color of needles with pointed tips. The shape of the spruce is presented in the form of a pyramid up to 30 meters high and in diameter up to 40 meters. For a year, a forest beauty grows to 30 centimeters. Cones in Korean spruce oval, up to 10 centimeters long with interchangeable scales. The needles have a tetrahedral shape and reach up to 2 centimeters in length.
Preparing the landing pit for spruce
Spruce is adaptable and can grow on any soil, but the most comfortable for it is well-fertilized soil with lots of humus. In arid soil begins to die, because it requires moisture. The place of planting of Korean spruce should be determined in a well-lit area, without the risk of flooding.
Planting pit should be located at a distance of not less than three meters from other plantings, including between fir trees of this species. Depth of planting depends on the root system of the seedling, but usually this happens in the range of 50-70 centimeters. In the landing pit, it is required to lay drainage at the bottom (broken brick, crushed stone no more than 15-20 centimeters high). And above the drainage layer, it is necessary to place a mixture of nitrogenous fertilizers with the addition of phosphorus and potassium. Thus, it will provide the tree with growth and development at its best. You need to fill up the root system with a soil mixture of turf and leafy soil in a volume 2 times larger than peat and sand.
Korean spruce planting
To provide protection against drying out of the roots of spruce seedlings, it is necessary to cover them with clay clatter or a damp cloth during their transportation. Landing is best done with an earthen lump. The level of the neck of the seedling should be at the level of the surface of the earth, and since the spruce does not tolerate dense soil, the neck should not be too tightly packed.
Coniferous Beauty Care
Korean spruce is unpretentious in leaving. Additional dressing (with the exception of planting a tree) is not required for her throughout her life. And she lives for a very long time: the peak of maturity falls on 30 years, and in natural habitats its maximum age can reach 300 years.
In the hot season, watering should be carried out 1 time per week with a volume of water with 1 full bucket. Adult trees can be watered less often: 1 time in 2 weeks. But you need to pay attention that the frequency and volume of irrigation depends on the condition of the soil and the age of the spruce.
If Korean spruce on your site is a hedge, then pruning can be done according to your design ideas. In other cases, pruning is required only for dry and old branches. Thus, Korean spruce, planting and caring for which is not a troublesome task, is suitable for gardeners of any skill level.
Tree feature
The coniferous tree harmoniously exists both in a single state, and in a group: together with birches, velvet, coniferous and deciduous trees. It has good noise absorption. Korean spruce is a very decorative tree that can ennoble the territory of any site. And the matter is not only in the beauty of its needles, the scope of branches and splendor, but also in the special shades of cones. The most common color, like most coniferous representatives, is a brown tint. But there is a Korean spruce with blue cones. Moreover, they have shades from blue to blue, with smooth scales with white, orange, yellow or blue “aprons”. Of course, cones will become such a wonderful addition to the coniferous tree and your garden.
Korean spruce very resistant to temperature changes, until the most severe frosts and sunshine does not burn under the rays of the active sun. But she is powerless against pests and diseases. The most dangerous enemies for her are bark beetles, butterflies, leafworm, barbel beetle and silkworm caterpillar feeding on spruce needles. To avoid the death of a tree, you must regularly inspect it for the presence of these pests.