Improvement of a personal plot is a favorite pastime of all owners of private lands. Trends in planting exceptionally practical fruit trees are a thing of the past. Increasingly, gardeners are interested in unusual plants that do not have utilitarian value. And if you want to impress your relatives with friends and plunge into disheartenment of ill-wishers, pay attention to the “white-sided" (spruce). Such a special tree will not leave anyone indifferent.
What does a “white-sided” look like: baby spruce
The tree species was bred by the Polish professor Stefan Bialobok, the head of a large arboretum. And almost immediately aroused universal delight - the spruce turned out to be very unusual (this photo shows). The crown in the first years of life has an irregular shape and high density, the trunk is initially weakly expressed. Adult needles have a beautiful bluish-silver hue, but the new spring sprouts are considered to be the main attractive feature: “white-sided” - spruce, which throws out soft cream processes. Due to them, the tree turns out to be elegant and bright. Moreover, as they age, they change color, so that the appearance, while remaining spectacular, decorates the garden in different ways at different times of the year.
"Belobok" is a very small spruce. The maximum height does not exceed 2.5 meters with a crown section of a meter. At the same time, the Christmas tree grows slowly, giving no more than 10-15 cm of annual growth. Due to the miniature size of the “proteinaceous" - spruce, suitable for planting even in small areas.
Christmas tree planting
First of all, you need to choose the right place. Prickly spruce "albaceous" loves the sun; can survive in partial shade, but lose its contrasting color. A good drainage layer is required, for which coarse sand or broken brick are quite suitable. Layer - at least 15 centimeters. The depth of the pit under the spruce "belobok" can vary from 5 to 29 cm, it depends on the size of the seedling. The main thing to watch out for is that the neck is not deepened. Immediately after planting, the Christmas tree is watered abundantly, after which hydration ceases for 2-3 weeks.
Interestingly, this spruce can be planted in the winter. True, then a special soil mixture is prepared, and watering is canceled.
Proper care
To make your spruce and magnificent spruce grow (photo), you will not need much trouble, but you will have to take care of the tree. There are few rules, but you need to follow them carefully.
- In the spring - spraying the crown with "Epin" along with other plants and fertilizing with fertilizers intended for conifers.
- Like all Christmas trees, "Belobok" does not tolerate drought with heat. With the onset of such weather, trees need to be watered abundantly once a week - up to 12 liters of water per instance.
- "Belobok" is a winter-hardy spruce with strong branches, so breaking off under a load of snow does not threaten them. But in the first couple of years after transplanting, it is better to cover the tree with burlap or lapnik: this will prevent late winter or early spring burns. The fir-tree and shelter of the near-trunk space with peat will be very positive. In spring, you don’t have to clean it, just loosen it, mixing with the soil.
And more - no hassle. Christmas trees are so sick so rarely that these cases are not worth mentioning. Just be sure to ensure that there is no stagnation of moisture: the surface root system from it quickly rots. If stagnation occurs in the area in the spring, it is better to make a drainage branch from the spruce growth site.
Features of landscape use
“Belobok” is a spruce mainly for individual, isolated plantings: this is how it looks most spectacularly. Looks good composition with elements of the Japanese garden; visually "clog" the tree will be large brightly flowering bushes located in the field of view near the "white-sided".
However, you can create group plantings with other plants. In this case, the Christmas trees are planted with a kind of framing around the taller trees, most often conifers. Make sure that the distances in the plantings are at least 2 m, and the trees have enough lighting: if they are constantly in the shade from higher plants, they will fade.
Unusual will be a hedge of Christmas trees. By the way, these trees lend themselves well to shaping and easily survive haircuts starting from the second year of life. True, at the same time, the plant’s colorfulness is greatly lost, so pruning is recommended in the fall: in the spring you will have a bright and unusual “fence” waiting for you.