Description of the fir plant, tips for planting and caring for a personal plot, breeding rules, how to deal with pests and diseases, interesting notes, species and varieties.
Fir (Abies) is included in the genus of evergreen representatives of the flora, which are part of the structure of the Pine family (Pinaceae). The main difference of this plant from the usual spruces and pines is that the fir cones are somewhat reminiscent of cedar. In this case, the growth of cones is directed upward and decay begins when they are still hanging on the branches. There is also a difference in the outline of the needles - in fir trees, it is flattened. Its main natural distribution area falls on the lands of the Northern Hemisphere, where a temperate, subtropical and tropical climate prevails. Such plants can also be found in Mexico, in the vastness of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.
These plants, unlike other pine representatives, such as, for example, spruce and larch, prefer more nutritious substrates, a wet growing regime and can easily tolerate even strong shading.
| Family name | Pine |
| Growing period | Perennials |
| Vegetation form | Tree or shrub |
| Breeding method | Generative (by seed) or vegetative (by cuttings) |
| Landing period in open ground | Last week of August or early September |
| Landing rules | For alleys, the distance between seedlings is 4–5 m, for group planting 2, 5–3, 5 m |
| Priming | Loose, nutritious, better than loam |
| Soil acidity values, pH | 5, 5-7 (slightly acidic to neutral) |
| Lighting degree | Partial shade, but can tolerate even strong shading |
| Humidity parameters | Depending on the species, but mostly 2-3 times in heat and drought |
| Special care rules | Fertilization, shelter of young plants for the winter |
| Height values | 0.6–80 m |
| Inflorescence shape or type of flowers | Male flowers are pineal earrings, female flowers are cones |
| Cones color | Purple |
| Flowering time | May |
| Decorative period | Year-round |
| Application in landscape design | As a tapeworm, in group plantings, on roofs and for landscaping terraces, in rocky gardens |
| USDA zone | 4–9 |
The genus name has many versions of its origin, but if we turn to the etymology, then according to one opinion the roots of the word “fir” go back to the term in the Karelian language “pihka”, which translates as “resin”. In all likelihood, the fact that the fir is distinguished from other conifers is that the resin passages are concentrated in the bark, and not in the wood itself, therefore its branches are characterized by a strong aroma. Another version speaks of the Latin word "fichte", which essentially means "spruce", while the Latin term "abies" has the same translation.
Among the varieties of fir, there are both tree-like and shrub forms. Plants are perennials characterized by a pyramidal crown. Moreover, its outlines can be both translucent and compacted, spreading or narrowed. Depending on the climate in which the tree grows, its height can vary within 0.5–80 m. In fir, the rhizome is basically rod-shaped, but at the same time it does not go deep into the ground and is located from the soil surface, lying only two meters away. When the plant is young, its branches and trunks are covered with a bark with a smooth grayish-brown surface, but over time, vertical deep cracks begin to cut through it. The arrangement of the branches is annular, they grow ascending or almost at right angles to the trunk.
Young shoots are decorated with needles and buds with a resinous coating. The needles have a flat shape, they are not too hard to the touch, there is a narrowing at the base. The edge of the needles is solid, on the back there is a pair of whitish stripes. The needles usually grow in two planes, like a scallop. The needles go singly. The color of the needles is dark green, occasionally there is a bluish-silver tint. About the length of the needles are measured within 5-8 cm.
Fir is a monoecious plant, so there are both male and female flowers on the same tree. The outlines of the men resemble earrings formed from a large number of small bumps. They possess a pair of pollen sacs, which are subsequently opened by a transverse slit. Standing cones are female flowers, endowed with two ovules. Such cones are characterized by ovoid or cylindrical-ovoid outlines. Flowering begins in late spring. Flowers are pollinated by the wind.
Curious
Fir from other members of the family in that its cones grow up, and do not hang from the branches.
After pollination, the cones ripen throughout the summer, while their covering scales, which are on the rod, begin to lignify and fly around. Then only the rod remains intact on the branches. Usually, full ripening occurs in September. Angular seeds with large wings are carried by the wind over long distances, facilitating reproduction. Each seed carries an embryo with several cotyledons.
This plant is not capricious, but it is useful and effective, so with a little effort you can decorate your garden plot with such an evergreen representative of the flora. In one place, some specimens can grow up to 300-400 years old.
Tips for planting and caring for fir outdoors
- Landing place fir seedlings are selected taking into account natural preference. It can be a semi-shaded or rather shaded location. It would be nice if there was an artificial or natural reservoir nearby, since the plant loves moisture.
- Fir soil pick up nutrient-rich, with good indicators of drainage, but it is better to stop the choice on loam. Soil parameters can vary from neutral to slightly acidic (pH 5, 5-7).
- Fir planting. For this, seedlings are used that are already 4 years old or more. The time for this operation may be mid-spring, or it is better to select the period from the last week of summer to early September. The day for planting is good, so it will be cloudy. We must not forget about the love of the fir for the shade. A pit should be prepared about two weeks before planting. Its size should be almost the same in depth, height and width - 60x60x60 cm. But finally, one should focus on the volume of an earthen coma from the root system of a fir seedling. When the hole is dug, then 2-3 buckets of water are poured into it. After the moisture has gone into the depths, you need to dig the bottom to a depth of about half the bayonet of the shovel. Then a drainage layer is placed in it, consisting of crushed stone or crushed brick. The thickness of the drainage is maintained at 5–6 cm. When the drainage is laid, the pit is filled in half with a soil mixture composed of river sand, peat crumbs, humus and clay, in a ratio (1: 1: 3: 2). 200-300 grams of nitrophoska and almost 10 kg of sawdust are added there. After a couple of weeks, the soil in the pit will settle and then you can start planting fir seedlings. When the plant is in a hole, its root collar should be flush with the soil surface. Before this, a mound of soil is formed, on which the seedling is placed. The root shoots of the plant are carefully straightened, and then the hole is filled to the top with the above soil composition. After planting, the substrate is squeezed well, and then watered abundantly. When an alley of fir trees is formed, the distance between the seedlings is maintained at 4–5 m, with a group planting this figure reaches 3–3.5 m (in the case of loose plantings) and only 2.5 m for compacted ones. After planting, it is recommended to mulch the trunk circle so that up to half a meter of soil around the seedling trunk is covered with the material. The mulch will be sawdust, wood chips or peat chips. The thickness of the mulching layer varies between 5–8 cm. When mulching is carried out, the root collar of the fir seedling should be free.
- Watering when caring for fir, only those species that are characterized by moisture-loving are required. For example, for a species such as balsam fir (Abies balsamea), it is recommended to moisten the soil only 2-3 times during the growing season and when the weather is dry and hot. You will have to pour 1, 5–2 buckets of water under each tree. Other varieties do not need watering, but if the soil is waterlogged, this will have a very negative effect on growth. Usually, plants have enough moisture from natural precipitation. After watering (if any), the soil must be thoroughly loosened to about 10-12 cm depth. Weeds should also be removed in a timely manner. The mulch layer is periodically renewed.
- Fertilizers when growing fir, it is recommended to apply it after planting, when 2-3 years have passed. To do this, in the spring, when the snow melts, 100–125 grams of the complete mineral complex (for example, Kemiri-Universal) is scattered in the near-trunk circle.
- Pruning recommended for the care of fir trees for crown formation. This is done in the spring, even before the juices begin to move. It is necessary to remove all branches that have dried out or were damaged during the winter period. With garden shears, the branches should be cut off no more than one third of their length. But usually, in fir trees, the crown is characterized by accuracy and rarely is it molded.
- Transfer when growing such conifers, it is a simple matter, since they tolerate this operation quite easily. If you have to change the place of growth of a young tree, then the substrate is pierced around with a pointed shovel, keeping the distance from the plant trunk within 30-40 cm. After that, the shovel is prying an earthen ball, burying the tool into the substrate approximately to the depth of the bayonet. Then the plant is removed from the soil and, loaded onto a wheelbarrow, is transferred to a new planting site. The seedling should be placed in a new hole very carefully so as not to damage the root system. In the case of transplanting an adult specimen, some preparatory actions are necessary - a year before the planned transplant, the soil is pierced in a circle, but the distance from the trunk is greater. Over the next 12 months, the fir inside the designated circle will grow young root shoots. This will allow her to cope with the transplant in the future. But it is important that several people are engaged in transplanting, since it will be difficult to cope with an adult tree alone, since it is necessary to leave the earthen lump intact.
- Wintering for fir is not a problem, as many varieties do an excellent job of coping with frost in our climate. However, this does not apply to young plants, therefore it is recommended to provide shelter for the winter months using, for example, spruce branches. Before this, the soil in the trunk circle should be covered with a mulch layer, which can be peat chips or dry foliage. The thickness of such a layer should be 10–12 cm. When the last winter days come and the sun's rays become more aggressive, it is also necessary to protect fir plantations from them. For this, a non-woven material is used to cover trees, for example, spunbond.
- The use of fir in landscape design. The plant, like any representative of pine, will always delight the look with beautiful green needles. It will also look good both as a tapeworm and in group plantings. Some varieties are suitable for growing in rockeries, stone gardens and even on roofs. They can be used for landscaping terraces and other recreational areas.
Read about farming techniques for growing larch.
Fir breeding rules
To obtain such interesting pine plants, it is recommended to use both generative (seed) and vegetative (rooting of cuttings) methods.
Fir propagation using seeds
Using this method requires patience and effort. This is because in mature plants, ripening cones grow at a fairly significant height. When the seeds in them are ripe, the scales fall off, opening access to them, and the seed material is immediately picked up by the wind and carried away. To obtain seeds, a completely unripened cone is torn off and it is left in the room for ripening by drying. When the scales open, the seeds can be obtained and stratified. For this, the seeds are kept for a long period in cold conditions. Immediately after collection, they are poured into a container and transferred to a damp basement so that the heat indicators are at zero. Some people put seeds on the bottom shelf in the refrigerator for vegetables.
In the middle of spring, you can start sowing. For this, a garden bed is being prepared in the open ground, the soil on which is mixed from river sand and turf. Fir seeds are buried in the ground only 2-3 cm. Watering of crops is not carried out, but the place is immediately covered with transparent plastic wrap to prevent the soil surface from drying out. With such a shelter, which will resemble a greenhouse, the seedlings will appear quite quickly. When 20-30 days have passed, you can see the first shoots. Then they begin to moisten the soil. After each watering, it is carefully loosened and the weeds that have appeared are weeded.
To protect the seedlings from frost during the first winter, it is recommended to cover them with spruce branches. When the new spring comes, the young fir trees are ready to be transplanted to a permanent place in the garden.
Important
At first, the fir seedling will grow very slowly, since the plant is growing the root system. According to measurements of a 4-year-old fir, its height indicators will vary within the range of 30–40 cm, but having stepped over the age of 7–8 years, the growth rate will begin to increase.
Fir propagation by cuttings
This method is very widespread, as the seedlings will be obtained faster. For this, spring is suitable, but always a cloudy day. The length of the blanks, which are cut from young annual shoots, should be 5–8 cm. It is important that the cuttings have a single (not even a pair!) Apical bud. The stalk is necessarily cut out with a heel (a piece of branch tissue). To perform such an operation, you can not even cut the workpiece, but abruptly tear it off, so that a piece of wood and bark separates from the adult shoot. A branch for grafting is picked up in the central part of the crown, preferably from the north.
Before planting a fir cutting, all fragments of the bark are removed from it and an inspection is carried out so that the bark does not flake off the wood. To prevent infection with fungal infections, it is recommended that the blanks be treated with fungicides before planting. Cuttings are placed in a vessel with Fundazol or Kaptan in 2% concentration for 5-6 hours. If there are no such drugs, then a solution of potassium permanganate can be used, but its color should be dark pink.
After disinfection, fir cuttings are planted in a container filled with a soil mixture of river sand, humus and leafy soil, the parts of the components must be equal. Cover the cuttings with a glass jar or cut plastic bottle. This will create a kind of mini greenhouse. To speed up rooting, it is recommended to heat the pot underneath. In this case, heat indicators should be 2-3 degrees higher than room temperature (20-24 degrees).
The place where the cuttings will stand is selected with good lighting, but protected from direct sunlight. When caring for seedlings, daily airing is necessary. In winter, the cuttings are transferred to the basement, where the heat indicators will be low, and the humidity is high. With the arrival of spring, you can plan to transplant young fir trees to a prepared place in the garden.
Important
Fir cuttings will take root for a rather long time, since in the first year there is a build-up of the collus - the tissue that covers the cut site, and only during the second year of the growing season will root shoots form.
It happens that cushion-shaped growths of a reddish-brown color appear on the branches of a plant, while the needles turn yellow. These signs indicate a fungal disease - rust. Then all shoots that have been defeated are recommended to be cut and burned, to remove all fallen needles. All the places of the cuts must be coated with garden varnish, the crown of the tree must be treated with a fungicidal agent - Bordeaux liquid in a 2% concentration. Further, the entire surrounding area next to the fir plantations is subjected to inspection, and if a shingle or starfish is found on them, provoking the spread of the fungus, then they should be dug up and burned.
Read also about possible diseases and pests of astrania when growing in the garden
Interesting notes about the fir tree
Since the main difference between fir and other coniferous representatives of the family is that resins are present only in its bark, and not in wood, that is, the possibility of using the latter for making not only musical instruments, but also in shipbuilding. The bark is applicable for the preparation of balsam, which is highly valued in medicine, and the branches and needles are used to obtain fir oil. If a decoction is prepared on fir bark and needles, then it will help to increase efficiency, raise immunity, relieve manifestations of toothache, and will serve to reduce the acidity of gastric juice.
For a long time, folk healers knew about the miraculous properties of fir resin, so they used it as an antiseptic. It was recommended to treat cuts and ulcers on the skin with such a substance, to lubricate wounds and abrasions. Among the Native American population, fir was an indispensable treatment for colds such as coughs, bronchitis, or throat ailments. Fir was used to relieve pain in rheumatism and otitis media, fir drugs helped with cancer and scurvy, removed the manifestations of tuberculosis and dysentery. If the patient suffered from pain in the joints and muscles, then they prepared medicines from fir bark and needles, and such drugs could also help with inflammation of the mucous membrane, gonorrhea and vaginal infection.
Fir cell sap is also of particular value, contributing to:
- improving hematopoiesis;
- increased immunity;
- removal of inflammation processes (especially pulmonary diseases);
- serves to prevent an increase in blood pressure;
- normalizes the digestive tract;
- can protect against radiation effects;
- increases the body's resistance to the negative effects of the external environment.
A phyto-cocktail prepared on such cellular fir juice is immediately suitable for use, however, it is not consumed in its pure form, but drunk diluted. Fir essential oil is also famous for its unsurpassed healing effect. There is information that this substance helps to stop the development of cancers and fights against oncology. Due to its bactericidal properties, fir oil is widely used for cosmetic purposes, namely, to cleanse the skin from lichen and edema, increase the elasticity of the epidermis, remove acne, warts and furunculosis, and helps smooth out wrinkles.
When using folk remedies from fir or medicines based on it, you should remember the following rules:
- refuse alcoholic beverages (even in the smallest doses);
- if there is an individual intolerance to fir;
- can not be used by people with epilepsy, stomach ulcers or symptoms of gastritis, renal diseases;
- children under 12 years of age;
- period of pregnancy and lactation;
- exceeding the dosage is not allowed, due to the possibility of allergic reactions;
- before taking, it is mandatory to carry out an allergy test - apply a couple of drops of the drug to the back of the hand and rub in, the reaction may occur after even 2-3 days.
Reception of such preparations based on fir should be carried out under the supervision of the attending physician and if even the smallest spots, redness, swelling or itching appear, immediately stop taking and contact a medical institution.
Description of species and varieties of fir
Balsam fir (Abies balsamea)
mainly grows in Canadian lands and in the United States, but in the north it does not reach further than the tundra. If the terrain is mountainous, then the height of growth of such trees is 1, 5-2 thousand meters above sea level. Differs in frost resistance and shade-loving, as well as the duration of growth, which can be up to two hundred years. In height, the trunk reaches 15–25 m with a diameter of about 50–70 cm. The color of smooth pine of young specimens is grayish-ash. In very mature plants, cracks appear on the bark, the color changes to brownish-reddish. The shade of the buds with a resinous surface is characterized by a lavender tone. The shape of the kidneys is in the form of an egg or a ball.
The color of the needles is dark emerald, their surface is glossy, with a length of 1.5–3 cm. The stomatal stripes run along the entire back surface. There may be a notch at the tip of the needle, or it may be blunt. When 4–7 years have passed, the needles begin to die off. When rubbed, a fragrant aroma is heard in the fingers. The cones have oval-cylindrical outlines, the height varies within 5–10 cm with a width of about 2–2, 5 cm. If the cones are not ripe, then they have an ink shade. After the seeds ripen, the color changes to brown. These buds have a very resinous surface. Cultivation dates back to 1697. It is customary to plant plants such as tapeworms or in groups.
Popularity in horticulture has the following forms:
- Hudsonia - a dwarf specimen growing in mountainous areas. The spreading crown is formed by very thickened branches with shortened shoots. Short needles have broad and flat outlines. On the front side, the needles are greenish-black, the back has a bluish-green tint. Cultivation began in 1810.
- Nana differs in a crown of spreading branches that grow horizontally to the soil. The tree reaches 0.5 m in height, the crown diameter does not exceed 2.5 m. Short needles grow densely. The color of the upper side is dark emerald, while the reverse has a greenish-yellow color scheme. Below there are a couple of lines of a bluish-whitish tone. Cultivation began in 1850. It is used for landscaping roof gardens, terraces and rocky gardens.
Also recognized are forms such as variegated and gray fir, dwarf and silver, prostrate and columnar.
Korean fir (Abies koreana)
from the name it is clear that this is a "resident" of the Korean region. Its height is 18,000 m above sea level. These plants prefer to form mixed and clean woodlands. Growth in young animals is slow, but over time the speed increases. The trunk is measured in height 15 m, with a diameter of about 50-80 cm. The outline of the crown is conical. In young specimens, the bark on the branches is a smooth ash color, sometimes a crimson tone is also present. The color of the bark in adult firs becomes chestnut, the surface is dotted with deep cracks.
The buds have almost round outlines, there is a slight resinousness. The needles grow lush, but rather tough. Each needle has a bend resembling a saber, and the top is decorated with a recess. Since there are two whitish stomatal stripes on the underside of the needles, its color is silvery, while the upper side is dark green. The cones are in the shape of a cylinder and measure 5-7 cm in length with a diameter of about 3 cm. When the cones are young, they are purple-crimson, changing to brown when ripe.
In European countries, this variety was brought, and began to grow only from the beginning of the twentieth century. Due to the needles of a two-tone color, the view is quite attractive, and there is also a high frost resistance. The main varieties that are grown in gardens and parks are:
- Blue Standard different from the base type in shade of cones - it is deep purple.
- Brevifolia the growth rate of this cultivar is rather slow, the crown is rounded and compacted. It differs from the base species in not so dense needles, the color on the reverse side, although grayish-white, but the upper one is of a marsh-green hue. Small buds are purple in color.
- Piccolo in height does not exceed 30 cm. The crown of an adult tree is formed by growing horizontally outstretched branches. Its diameter reaches 50 cm. The color and shape of the needles is similar to the basic type.
Caucasian fir (Abies nordmanniana)
occurs under the name Fir Nordmann … It is an endemic plant of the Caucasus, that is, natural growth occurs only in the mountainous Caucasian lands. The height of the trunk reaches 60 m with a thickness of about 2 m. The crown is rather branched and low-sagging, its outlines are narrow-conical. At the top, the crown has a sharpness, but if the tree is old, then this is not so pronounced. Until the fir reaches 80 years old, its trunk is covered with smooth bark, but then deepened cracks appear on it.
There is almost no resinous substance on the kidneys of ovoid outlines. The needles are 4 cm in length with a width of 0.25 cm. On the back side, as usual, there are a pair of whitish stripes, the upper one is dark emerald. On the shoots where the cones ripen, the tops of the needles have a soft sharpening, the needles on the vegetative branches are notched. In length, the cones are measured 20 cm with a diameter of 5 cm. While the young cones are greenish, the old ones acquire a dark brown color and become resinous. The species is characterized by a high growth rate, and the lifespan often reaches five centuries. The following forms are considered the most popular: gray and white-pointed, weeping and erect, golden and golden-pointed.
Related article: How to grow a cedar in your area
Video about growing fir in the garden:
