Growing Caucasian fir in the garden, planting and caring for an evergreen tree

Nordman fir is an excellent ornamental plant with which you can decorate any personal plots. So that you can also decorate your plot with this beautiful tree, below we will tell you more about Nordman fir and about its planting and care.

Nordman Fir: Description

The Nordman fir, or Caucasian, is a coniferous tree, which was first discovered by the botanist Alexander von Nordman, after whom it received its name. The plant belongs to the number of evergreen trees that can grow to 60, and sometimes up to 80 m in height (we are talking about the natural conditions of growth).

If you want to plant on your site Nordman fir, pay attention to her description:

• the crown of the tree is distinguished by a cone-shaped shape, which can reach 2-3 m in diameter;
• the trunk of a tree is thick; under natural growing conditions it can reach 2 m in diameter;
• the color and structure of the bark changes depending on the age of the tree - at a young age it is smooth gray-brown, begins to crack in a more mature one and becomes darker dull;
• branches on the trunk are densely, each slightly raised up;
• young shoots have a light greenish color with a slight yellowness, decorated with short and fluffy needles;
• the main branches are covered with dark green needles, shiny above and dull below;
• the length of the needles can reach 4 cm; when rubbed, a very rich pine aroma is felt, which is caused by the presence of a large amount of oils in the needles;
• the adult tree blooms annually (April-early May), covered with both male and female flowers; male flowers are represented as spikelets with a reddish tinge, and female flowers are represented by greenish earrings, which are formed mainly in the apex of the crown;
• large fruit buds up to 20 cm long are formed as fruits; they keep on branches vertically, have a short leg; immature cones have a green color, in the process of maturation, they become increasingly brown and coarse;
• the root system may differ depending on the characteristics of the soil: if the soil is soft, the root system goes deep into the root, if clay and rocky - spreads near the surface.

Under favorable growing conditions, Caucasian fir is able to live for about 700 years. It is noteworthy that the increase in the tree is observed regardless of age.

Main varieties

Tree has a number of varieties, among which you can choose the most attractive for you:

1. 'Golden Spreader'. Dwarf fir, which has a rather slow growth. For 10 years of active growth, the tree is able to stretch no more than 1 meter. The same diameter reaches his crown. The needles of this variety is small - only 2 cm in length, has a golden-yellow color in the upper part and yellow-white in the lower one. The variety is more adapted for cultivation in the southern regions of Ukraine, most often used to create rock gardens.



2. 'Jadwiga'. This variety is a hybrid, among the main advantages of which are rapid growth rates and a dense crown with dark green and white bottom needles. Thermophilous enough tree.
3. 'Pendula'. Quite a large tree, however, has a slow growth rate. Forms a narrow crown, consisting of thick branches covered with lush green needles. This variety is rather demanding to the place of cultivation - it is recommended to plant out protected from drafts areas with high humidity. It looks best on small areas.

What you need to know about planting plants

The dream of Caucasian fir at a dacha is feasible regardless of the characteristics of your summer cottage, as in growing this tree is unpretentious. In any case, you can also independently improve growing conditions for your favorite plant.

Choosing a landing site

The Caucasian fir is a tree that actively develops plots at an altitude of about 1200 meters above sea level.Therefore, it shows low growth rates in low areas, which, however, is not important for ornamental cultivation. The main feature (with the exception of some varieties) is the ability to actively grow in shady and well-lit places. This tree is not afraid of even strong winds, but prefers areas with high humidity.

What kind of soil is needed for successful growth

Caucasian fir Nordman likes nutritive soils rich in mineral fertilizers. Loam is best suited for planting, however, good tree growth is also noted when planting in heavier acidic soils.

Landing rules

Since the Caucasian fir breeds only with seeds, they are stratified for 1.5-2 months before planting.To do this, the seeds are placed in the soil previously filled in the container and left in the refrigerator or in the basement. After this, in spring the seeds are germinated in warmth, and the resulting seedlings are spiked into larger containers. Usually the plant is grown in pots for 5-7 years and only after that it is transplanted into open ground. This is due to the instability of young seedlings that can die under any adverse conditions.

Considering the circumstances described above, it is recommended to plant the fir on the site in the form of a seedling acquired in the nursery. For this, a pit is prepared with a depth of 80 cm and a width of 60 cm. It is recommended to add a layer of drainage to the indicated depth, the presence of which is mandatory when planting fir (crushed stone or gravel is used for this). For successful adaptation and growth of the tree, prepare soil mixture in the specified proportions:

• sand - 14.5%;
• humus - 14.5%;
• clay - 28%;
• peat - 42%.

To the mixture obtained, add a complex fertilizer and pour part of it into the bottom of the pit in the form of a hill.Spread the roots of the seedling over it and completely fill it with soil, leaving only the root collar above the soil surface. Watering will be necessary only when planting.

Peculiarities of care

Nordman's fir is not very demanding to care, however, depending on the growing conditions, it is still required to be looked after.

Watering and feeding plants

Nordman fir in growing requires periodic watering and fertilizing, which is carried out only during the growing season of the tree. Watering is carried out only for young saplings, mature trees can not be watered at all, as their root system is fully capable of providing large trees with moisture. As for dressings, they begin to be carried out only from 5-6 years after planting. It is best to use liquid complex preparations for fertilizer coniferous fertilizers.

Soil care

Young saplings of fir are very sensitive to the neighborhood with weeds, therefore it is very important to keep the near-trunk tree of the trees in perfect cleanliness. In order to maintain it longer, it is recommended to regularly mulch the soil around the Caucasian fir, using wood chips for this purpose.

Pruning

Nordman fir in general does not require pruning. However, if you want to make the tree more decorative, pruning is quite acceptable. The need for it arises in relation to old trees, on which there are many shrunken branches. So that they do not spoil the appearance of the tree - the branches must be carefully removed with a saw, not forgetting the processing of the cut-off place.

Diseases and pests of the plant

The Caucasian fir is quite resistant to various pests, but the succulence of its needles can still attract them. Under unsuitable growing conditions (the climate is not suitable, the soil or not enough fertilizers) some diseases can also affect this tree. We will get acquainted with the problems of Nordman fir in more detail.

• if the needles start to shrivel and honey drops appear on it - most likely the fir was struck by a false shield, which would help get rid of burlap traps soaked in glue from the caterpillars;
• cobwebs and yellow-brown spots on the needles - a sure sign of a spider mite, which is almost impossible to get rid of on an adult tree; dwarf fir is recommended to spray with infusions of dandelions and garlic;
• a white coating on the needles of fir usually leaves Hermes, which only insecticides effectively help to fight;
• the fir moth is also dangerous for the needles of the tree, so it is necessary to destroy its butterflies with biological preparations, and also dig up the soil around the trunk of the fir every spring to destroy the larvae.

Hopefully, you will no longer have a question about whether it is possible to plant fir on the site and how to take care of it. Consider only that with insufficient moisture, shoots and needles in the tree can dry out, so choose for planting on your site the variety of Caucasian fir that is more likely to take root on it.