Coniferous trees have long been famous for their healing and decorative properties. The most popular representatives of this family are evergreen pine trees, which number 120 species. The places of their growth in areas with a temperate climate are plains, and with tropical ones - mountain valleys. Pines have healing properties and serve as a worthy decoration of any landscape. Bright juicy greens and elegant fluffy branches delight the eye. They do not cease to admire all year round.
Mountain pine, description
This conifer is a very beautiful and useful plant. Currently, gardeners are passionate about this culture. It is increasingly being planted in personal plots. The most popular type is mountain pine. This type of coniferous plant has a variety of shapes and sizes. Grows in a fluffy bush or small tree. And it can be a groundcover form of a plant. Characteristic features of mountain pine are:
- Dark brown scales that cover the upper part of the trunk.
- Short, twisted, solid needles.
Small cones have short legs and are painted in a gray-brown shade. This pine tree blooms and bears fruit from the age of ten.
Mountain pine, the photo of which you see, has several advantages:
- She is very branchy and compact. This is important when planning landings on the site.
- It tolerates low temperatures and drought.
- It grows on any soil.
- Not susceptible to disease.
- Tolerant of air pollution and soil compaction.
- Does not suffer from heavy and frequent snowfalls.
The disadvantages include slow growth. Due to its excellent decorative properties, it is used for landscape design.
Planting in autumn
Planting mountain pine is carried out in the fall. The most favorable time is September, the middle of the month. If you plant a seedling later, he will not have time to take root. For the period of winter colds, the young tree needs to be covered with burlap or other suitable material. This will save him from frost, and later - from sunburn. When mid-April arrives, the shelter needs to be removed.
The photophilous plant is a mountain pine. Landing and care are carried out in areas flooded with sun. In the shade, the tree will grow poorly. Prefers light soils. If the earth is not friable, you need to make a drainage to a depth of twenty centimeters. For this, sand, broken brick or expanded clay is suitable. It will be nice to fertilize the soil with compost fertilizer: 100-150 g per one seat. If possible, use a mixture of land, humus, sand and peat for planting. It is important to remember one feature of this tree - roots that are not covered by the ground die very quickly.
Planting pine seedlings in autumn is carried out in pits 60 cm deep, with a diameter of one meter or more, depending on size. The root neck does not penetrate, but should be on the same level with the ground. After planting, abundant watering and mulching of the soil with sawdust, wood chips or peat is necessary. Remember, trees of 4-5 years of age have better survival. If you plan to plant several conifers on the site, you must observe a certain distance between them. Two meters are enough for this type.
Scots pine, description
This evergreen conifer grows in Asia and Europe. It can reach a height of forty meters. The crown of young trees has a pyramidal shape, while in old it is loose. Scots pine is distinguished by a straight trunk and reddish bark. Planting of pine in the fall is carried out in clay, peat or sandy soils. She is unpretentious to them. It can grow from a seed. It is enough to collect cones in the winter and treat them with a special solution against fungal diseases.
It’s easy to grow an ordinary pine. The main thing is that when planting the roots are not exposed, there should be a lump of earth on them. Otherwise, the seedlings will not take root and die. The advantage of this species is rapid growth, and the disadvantage is intolerance to gas contamination and smoke. That is why the forest beauty does not decorate city streets.
How to care?
An unpretentious conifer is an ordinary pine. Planting and care are carried out during the first two years. During this period, you need to feed the plant with mineral fertilizers. In subsequent years, this is not necessary. A lot of needles always fall from a tree. You do not need to remove it. A thick litter is formed from the branches, in which organic substances gradually accumulate. Eating them, the tree will grow normally.
It tolerates drought and does not need watering ordinary pine. Planting and care are carried out as necessary. It is necessary to moisten seedlings and young trees. Stagnant water does not tolerate well. This species of coniferous trees is resistant to winter cold. Only young pines need to be covered. Fern or burlap is suitable for this.
Using
This coniferous tree looks amazingly beautiful in individual plantings. To form a beautiful crown, carefully trim and pinch the tops of the twigs. A single tree does not require a large area, but it will not suffer inconvenience due to the large plants of another species planted nearby. Scots pine is used as a supplement to create hedges.
Historical information about the fruits of cedar pine
Thousands of years ago, the inhabitants of the Mediterranean countries were the first to evaluate the beneficial properties of pine nuts. Even in ancient times, the Romans used large white seeds for making wine. Ancient people realized that to quench thirst, get rid of heartburn, and overcome male weakness, you need to use the fruits of a cedar tree.
Soon the fame of the wonderful healing properties of the nut spread throughout the world. During the reign of Peter 1, Russia profitably traded them with Sweden, Persia and France. In nature, there are 28 species of this tree with similar edible seeds. But despite this, pine nuts from Russia, which are now the main wealth of the Siberian taiga, were of particular value.
Cedar pine, description
The life of this conifer is measured for centuries. Individual specimens grow up to 850 years, although the average age is 5-6 centuries. Cedar pine is called Siberian cedar. In nature, it grows in a forest zone and occupies vast territories. They are called conifers. Sanatoriums are often built in these places.
Cedar pine belongs to large-sized species of conifers . Landing and care take a lot of time. But all the costs are compensated when the tree grows and gives an abundant harvest of healthy tasty nuts. The height of an adult pine can reach 35 meters, and the diameter of the trunk - two. The thick crown in young trees has a conical shape, and in adults - ovoid. The trunk is covered with gray-brown bark with cracks, and young shoots with a reddish gun. The long and soft trihedral needles are collected in five pieces in bunches. After 4-6 years, the old needles fall off, new ones appear in their place. Cones of light brown color are large, in their cells there are many pine nuts, which are the main wealth.
The pine tree, whose photo you see, is growing slowly. For a year it adds 25-30 cm in growth. For example: a twenty-year-old tree reaches a height of 2.5 meters. In the natural environment, cedar bears fruit from 40-70 years of age, and in gardens with good care - from 15-20.
Cedar pine planting
This tree is moody, demanding on the composition of the soil. Although in the natural environment it grows in different conditions. It can be sands, swamps and rocky slopes. Planting cedar pine on its site requires preparation. The fact is that large cedars do not tolerate any interference in the process of their growth. During the transplant, they experience stress: after all, they will have to get used to a different climate and other growing conditions. Planting of pine in the fall is carried out in previously dug deep holes, taking into account the size of the roots of large trees. Cedar pine bark is very thin. In order not to accidentally damage it, you need to carefully and carefully treat the transportation of wood.
When planting, you need to consider that the pine is pollinated by the wind. Therefore, at a distance of eight meters from each other, several trees need to be planted, otherwise the crop should not be expected. It is advisable to immediately determine the plant at a constant place of growth. At first, systematic watering and fertilizing with fertilizers is carried out. So the seedlings get stronger faster. The trees that have taken root should have dark green needles and grow 10 cm in the first year. Planting of pine in the autumn is carried out by 2-3 summer seedlings. In the early years, pruning can be omitted. It is enough to break off several lateral buds on the central shoot.
The benefits of pine nuts
The fruits of Siberian pine have a huge set of healing properties and have great nutritional value. They are rich in balanced proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. Pine nuts are eaten, widely used in the culinary of different countries. They are the raw material for obtaining valuable nutritious oil.
Pine nuts have long been used in folk medicine to treat stomach, gastritis, and pancreatitis. The ground cake is contained in food vitamin supplements. Even walnut shells have valuable qualities: they produce anti-inflammatory and analgesic tinctures. They help get rid of rheumatism, arthritis and osteochondrosis. Eczema, lichen and other skin diseases are successfully treated with wrapping and lotions from a decoction of the same shell. The seeds of Siberian pine cones cope with vitamin deficiency, weight loss, contribute to the restoration of strength and increase immunity.
Pine from the forest: how to plant it?
Planting pine in the autumn from the forest is carried out by healthy, undamaged seedlings. The end of September or the beginning of October is the most suitable time for this. The sequence is as follows:
- Digging deep holes. If you plan to plant several trees, the distance between them should be four meters.
- In the forest, the edge of the forest, lit by the sun, is selected. If you take a tree from a darkened place, it will be weak and is unlikely to take root in a new place.
- You should take 1-2-year-old pines 40-70 cm high.
- Be sure to remember or somehow mark the landmarks of the tree relative to the cardinal points. In your area, plant a pine tree in the same way.
- Next, dig the plant without damaging the roots, then extract from the hole. This must be done carefully so that the lump of earth does not crumble, and the roots are not exposed.
- The dug out tree is put in a bag and placed in bulk container for transportation.
- A bucket or more of pine tree land is taken from the forest. It contains fungi in which the root system of the dug tree has developed.
- If the roots begin to dry during transport, they should be moistened.
- Before planting, the bottom of the dug hole is sprinkled with forest soil. Mineral fertilizers are added to it and a bucket of water is poured.
- Planting of pine in the fall is carried out by a seedling, which is placed in the hole, sprinkled first with forest soil, and then with ordinary soil.
- After that, the earth around the trunk is slightly rammed and the plant is watered well again.
- Direct sunlight can damage the seedlings. Therefore, they are covered with burlap.
Planting pine in the autumn from the forest is a troublesome business, but it's worth it. After all, your garden will be decorated with a small forest beauty.