A general description of the spruce plant, how to grow a Christmas tree, advice on breeding, the fight against harmful insects and diseases in the care process, interesting notes, species.
Spruce (Picea) belongs to the genus of arboreal plants that are part of the Pine family (Pinaceae). Today, scientists believe that ate is the most ancient tree-like flora on the planet. The native habitat is rather vast territories, which include the lands of Europe, America and Asia. The largest number of plantings of this plant is found in Western Europe, central Russia, in the Urals, reaching the Amur watershed. There are up to 40 species of spruce, but there are varieties that can only be seen in some specific climatic conditions - for example, the type of Glen spruce (Picea glehnii) does not go beyond the southern coast of Sakhalin, and spruce can also grow on the Kuril ridge and the island of Hokkaido.
| Family name | Pine |
| Life cycle | Perennials |
| Growth features | Tree-like |
| Reproduction | Cutting, rooting cuttings or sowing seeds |
| Landing period in open ground | Late fall or winter |
| Disembarkation scheme | Depends on the type and variety |
| Substrate | Sufficiently aerated with drainage capability |
| Soil acidity, pH | Slightly acidic or slightly acidic 4, 5-6, 0 |
| Illumination | Sunny location, but can tolerate shade |
| Moisture indicators | Drought-resistant, but for young plants, watering should be regular |
| Special Requirements | Unpretentious |
| Plant height | 0.3m to 50m |
| Color of flowers | Bright purple |
| Flowering time | End of spring |
| Decorative time | All year round |
| Place of application | As a tapeworm, landscaping long alleys, flower beds, rocky hills and rockeries |
| USDA zone | 2–6 |
Spruce got its scientific name thanks to the word "pix" in Latin, which translates as "resin". All due to the fact that wood has secretions of this odorous substance. In Russian, the word "fir" leads to the Orthodox term "edlь", which means "the same."
While the tree is still young (10–15 years old), its root system looks like a rod. Over time, the main root begins to die off and the system takes on a surface structure. Usually the first years of a plant's life (3-4 years), it is pulled upwards, while side shoots are practically not formed. The spruce's trunk is straight, covered with gray bark, usually stratifying into thin vertical plates. The shape of the trunk is rounded. The wood is characterized by low resinousness, it is characterized by uniformity, whitish color with a barely perceptible golden tint.
The crown of spruce has the form of a pyramid or a cone. It is formed by whorled branches, which are located both drooping and horizontally spread perpendicular to the trunk. Shoots are covered with short needle-shaped needles, which are spruce "foliage". The arrangement of the needles on the branches is in a spiral order. The shape of the needles can be flat or have 4 edges. Its color can take on a green, blue, yellowish or bluish tint. For six years (and sometimes more) the needle does not lose its vitality, if it falls off, then new ones quickly replace it.
Often there is a gnawing of spruce needles by pests, such as nun butterflies, then the branches of the tree take the form of brushes. All due to the fact that pests gnaw too much needles. There is the formation of shortened and hard needles covering the branches - such branches are called brush shoots.
Spruce flowering is truly a forest miracle. To begin with, it takes place at the end of spring days and lasts only a week, but it can be very rare. Usually, people only occasionally see flowering, since skiing in the forest will no longer work - the snow has melted, and it will take a long time to wait for berries or mushrooms. But that's not all, spruce trees begin to bloom only after reaching an age of at least 25-30 years, and the height of the tree should be at least 3 meters. Considering that the growth rate of spruce trees is very low, about 10 cm per year, it is clear that these periods are quite rare.
Among the dark green needles, female inflorescences of bright ruby color are formed, resembling candles, although their size does not exceed a hazelnut. In some species, they are painted in bright crimson, orange or pale yellow colors. On the branches, male inflorescences, commensurate with peas, are not so noticeable. Although, scientifically speaking, spruce is not a flowering plant, therefore this process can be called flowering conditionally. In place of the inflorescences, the cones are familiar to us. It is also curious that spruce cones are not fruits, this is how modified shoots look like.
If you look at the spruce cones, they have a slight sharpening, their shape is cylindrical with a slight elongation. The length of the cone can reach 15 cm with a diameter of about 4 cm. The spruce cone consists of an axis on which numerous covering scales are located, which have seed scales in their sinuses. A pair of ovules is located at the top of the seed scale. These ovules have a false wing. With the arrival of October, the spruce seed material ripens, and then, through the wind, the seeds begin to spread over considerable distances from the mother tree. At the same time, they do not lose germination for 8-10 years.
The spruce begins to bear fruit, reaching the age of 10, but this time can be postponed by 60 years, everything directly depends on the conditions in which the tree grows. It is noticed that the process of flowering and fruiting in spruce trees during their entire "life" happens only about 30 times. At the same time, averaged spruce trees live 250-300 years, but there are also 600-year-old specimens.
How to plant and care for spruce outdoors?
- Where to plant. Despite the fact that many are sure that Christmas trees prefer shade, this is fundamentally wrong. Such a myth exists among people, since in the spruce forests there are practically no shrubs and grasses that inhabit the lower tier of the forest, moreover, they are very dark. Although many varieties of spruce can grow in full shade, trees are more comfortable in the sun. If you plant a spruce in an open area so that it is illuminated from all sides by the sun, then its crown will form in the form of a regular pyramid. When it comes to planting dwarf or miniature species, it is even contraindicated for them to be located in places with little shadow. The same will apply to those varieties of spruce that have colored needles. With a lack of lighting, the needles will gradually lose their color. The main criterion for choosing a spruce location should be the color of the spruce needles - the darker it is, the more endurance the spruce has.
- Soil when planting spruce. If you want to grow a beautiful and healthy Christmas tree, then it is important to choose the right soil right away. It is known that spruce is mycotrophic, that is, the tree forms a symbiotic connection with the hyphae (filamentous formations) of fungi. These mushrooms are microscopic in size and facilitate the absorption of moisture and nutrients from the substrate. It is this process that helps to improve the growth of the spruce forest in nature and the reproduction of trees. Low acidity is recommended (pH 4, 5–6, 0). If this requirement is not met, such bacteria develop in the substrate, which becomes the reason for the inhibition of the growth of fungi necessary for ate. Fir trees do not tolerate waterlogged soil and stagnant water, so the soil must have good aeration and the ability to drain. Picea will also be able to grow on sandstone or depleted substrate.
- Seedling selection. You can buy a spruce tree at a garden store or nursery, but you can also dig it up in the forest. If in the latter case a suitable tree is found, then after removing it from the soil, it is important to wrap the root system with a damp cloth, and cover it on top with plastic wrap or cardboard. Spruce roots can dry out quickly outdoors. We must try to plant the spruce as soon as possible in the prepared place. When the size of the Christmas tree is not too large, it is grown by planting it in a box or large pot. Forest spruce (even large) will take root more successfully when planting in winter. With a slight freezing of the soil, a groove must be drilled around the selected spruce tree, cutting off its root ball. Then such who is given the opportunity to freeze well. After that, it is necessary to beat it with boards, in order to avoid shedding the soil. The lump is "cut" from below with a steel cable. After removing the spruce, the root ball is wrapped in burlap. The transported Christmas tree should be immediately planted in a previously prepared hole, the size of which will be 2 times larger than the root ball. After planting, the pit is covered with not frozen pre-set soil mixture, on top of the trunk circle is mulched with peat and snow. With the arrival of spring, the mulch is raked off and the tree can be watered. In the nursery, the spruce tree is sold in a shipping container. It is important to choose the right plant, then it will successfully take root in the garden. The rules for choosing a spruce seedling are simple. The appearance of spruce needles should be shiny and smooth, green in color, dried needles are excluded. The soil in the container should be moderately moist; when the soil dries, the spruce will die. It is undesirable for the root shoots of the plant to look out of the container. A lump of earth, like the pot itself, it is advisable to choose large ones - if the height of the seedling is 1 m, then the diameter of the container is measured 50 cm.
- How to plant a spruce. The best time will be November or winter months, as this will make it possible not to develop root rot. The distance between seedlings directly depends on the variety and type of tree or landscape design. If tall varieties are planted, then 2-3 m are kept between the trees. When the hole is dug (its size should be twice the root ball), then a drainage layer is first laid on its bottom, which is broken brick or crushed stone, and then a mixture of forest soil and compost, and also add mineral fertilizing. When planting, the spruce root collar is set flush with the ground, but the soil is not very compacted near the trunk. When planting a spruce seedling with an earthen clod or from a shipping container, it is recommended to keep the plant in water for 2-3 hours. If the root ball is wrapped in a damp cloth, then it can be left on to avoid shedding the soil. The fabric is removed right before planting, the same is done with the container. You need to add soil around the perimeter and compact it in such a way that there are no voids left. After the spruce is planted, it is required to water it abundantly, and mulch the tree trunk circle with peat or compost.
- Moisture and watering when caring for spruce. When the spruce is old enough, it can normally cope with dry periods that extend over several weeks. However, this does not apply to dwarf spruce varieties; regular watering is required here. If the variety is undersized or the seedlings are still very young, and especially if they were planted in the winter months, they may suffer from a lack of soil moisture and die. Spruce trees planted in winter will require regular watering throughout the first growing season. When watering, you need to be careful and do not allow drops of moisture to fall on the needles. Since the spruce root system is located superficially, in order to avoid its decay from waterlogging, it is recommended to mulch the soil with pine bark or needles, sawdust or shavings of coniferous trees can be used. Such a layer will promote longer moisture retention and improve the characteristics of the substrate. Some gardeners use expanded clay or decorative pebbles as a mulch layer, which are placed in a tree trunk circle. If a layer of mulch is not applied, then it is recommended to regularly loosen and weed the weeds in the near-trunk circle of young spruce seedlings and trees.
- Fertilizers when caring for spruce. Like any ornamental plant, Picea also requires feeding. Usually, once a growing season, it is recommended to use complex mineral fertilizers that are intended for conifers. These are drugs - Green Needle, Aquarin, Agricola, Bona Forte and Florovit, as well as others with a similar composition. If a spruce was transplanted, it should be watered for a short time until sufficient adaptation has passed, watering it with growth and root stimulants, such as, for example, Epin, heteroauxinic acid or Herbamin, Kornevin. For a month you can spray the spruce crown with Ferravit.
- Pruning when caring for spruce, it may be necessary when dried shoots should be removed or if the branches are affected by any disease. Pruning too hard, however, will only damage the spruce tree and may kill the plant. Only the prickly spruce varieties (Picea pungens) need to be trimmed regularly to form the crown to resemble a narrow cypress.
- Spruce tree care in the winter months. So that the spruce needles of young seedlings do not suffer from frost, in the early years it is recommended to cover with spruce branches. If the shape of the spruce tree is narrow-headed, it is necessary to tie the branches with wire for the winter, since they can deviate due to the snow adhering to the shoots.
- Spruce in landscape design. Dwarf varieties can be planted in flower beds, next to flower perennials. Often, spruce trees are placed as tapeworms, dendrological compositions are formed, composed exclusively of representatives of spruce. With the help of planting in rows of fir trees, hedges can be formed. Small and dwarf varieties of Christmas trees are often used for planting in rockeries and rock gardens, they also plant curbs with them. If the crown has a drooping shape, then with the help of such varieties, arches are formed, some species are used when grown in the form of a trunk, and weeping forms are used as ground covers.
Spruce breeding tips
To propagate this evergreen tree yourself, you can use the method of sowing seeds (generative), rooting cuttings or layering (vegetative).
Cuttings
Such reproduction is possible with the help of blanks from lateral lignified branches, which are 1–2 years old.
Important
Cuttings must necessarily have a dormant bud at the top - apical, since all spruce representatives of the flora are distinguished by a monopodial type of branching. In this case, the lateral shoots on the shoot branch off from the unrestrictedly growing central axis of the branch (shoot of the first order). Without an apical bud, the seedling will not grow upward.
Spruce cuttings are best done in spring, before buds begin to bloom on the tree. Shoots with shoots of the 2nd order are cut off with a sharpened knife or pruner. The length of the stalk should vary in the range of 6-10 cm. Then the cut should be treated with a root stimulator (for example, heteroauxinic acid) and planted in a peat-sandy substrate (in a ratio of 3: 1), poured into a pot. The soil mixture can also be river sand, small perlite. After planting a spruce cutting, it is sprayed with boiled water, a cut plastic bottle (without a bottom) is placed on top or wrapped in a plastic bag.
When caring for spruce cuttings, it is necessary that the humidity does not fall below 85%. To do this, you need to periodically spray, but not the cuttings themselves, but the film from the inside. It is recommended not to spray in the evening, when the temperature drops and fungal infections are possible. The heat indicators under the shelter should also be maintained within 20-25 degrees, at higher temperatures the spruce cuttings can simply "burn out". To eliminate such consequences, holes are made in the polyethylene or the cork is removed from the cut bottle.
Rooting of cuttings
At the mother's spruce, the lower branch is selected, a circular notch is made on it to remove the peel and the shoot is placed in a prepared groove in the soil. In this case, the branch must be fixed in the ground using a stiff wire. When the cutting takes place next spring, it is carefully separated from the parent spruce and planted in a prepared place in the garden.
Seed reproduction
This process of growing spruce is very long and laborious. The seeds are taken from buds that are ripe but have not yet opened. Cones need to be dried so that they open their scales and then the seeds are easier to get. Then the seed is subjected to 6-week stratification at a temperature of 2-3 degrees. They are placed in a peat-sand mixture and placed on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. After this period (in February or March), the spruce seeds are pulled out, placed in a warm place and begin to moisturize abundantly. When the seedlings become visible, extra careful watering is needed so that the roots do not rot.
After that, the germinated seeds are planted with peat cups with a peat-sandy substrate. Then they cover it with a film until the seedlings of the Christmas trees grow up and get stronger. When growing, you need to remember about regular airing and watering. Seedlings are transplanted into the garden only in the 2nd year from the moment of sowing. If the planting will be carried out in the 1st growing season, then the seedlings must be covered with plastic wrap or cut plastic bottles.
Disease and pest control in the process of caring for spruce
Spruce trees planted in the shade and at high humidity levels suffer most from fungal diseases. The problem is gray mold, which affects young plants or dwarf spruce varieties. Treatment with fungicidal preparations is recommended.
Of the pests, spruce mites, spruce sawflies, bark beetles and barbel beetles, as well as spruce-fir hermes, spruce aphids are distinguished. To remove harmful insects, spraying with insecticidal and acaricidal preparations should be carried out.
Curious facts about the spruce
In the western region of Sweden, European spruce grows, whose age reaches 9550 years, taking into account several generations of its clones. Due to the exuded phytoncides and the contained useful substances, spruces serve as protection against bronchial diseases, infectious diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract, help to heal non-healing and suppurating wounds, and are used to treat neurological and cardiovascular diseases.
Types of spruce
There are many types and forms of spruce trees, but we will focus on the more famous ones.
Tall varieties:
European spruce (Picea abies)
also referred to as Norway spruce. The height of this coniferous tree will be from 30 to 50 m. The crown is conical, the branches grow drooping or outstretched. The bark is dark gray, cracking into small plates is present. The needles are green, tetrahedral, growing in the form of a spiral. The native habitat of the mountains of the Alps and the Carpathians, the Pyrenees and the Balkan Peninsula, the northern regions of America, the middle zone of Russia.
Red spruce (Picea rubens)
The average height is from 20 to 40 m, the trunk is 0.5–0.6 m across. The crown has a cone-like appearance, the length of the needles is 12–15 mm. The needles are soft, almost not prickly, the tip is rounded. Grows in England and Canada, Scotland and Appalachians, on the Atlantic coast.
Dwarf varieties:
Spruce Nidiformis
is a form of common spruce, taking the form of a shrub with a crown like a nest, needles of light green color. With a diameter not exceeding a meter, it reaches 40 cm.
Norway spruce dwarf Push (Pusch)
It is a mutation of the common Spruce variety - Acrocona. With an uneven shape, heights of 0.3–1 m, with a diameter of 0.5 m. Small pink cones are formed on branches of different lengths.
Dwarf blue spruce Glauca Globosa (Glauca Globosa)
A variety of blue spruce, characterized by a wide-conical crown and sickle-shaped needles of a light blue hue. Only after 10 years the height of the plant will be 3 m, the crown becomes round.
Spruce growing video:
