Dwarf cedar - planting and care
Content:
Dwarf cedar: photo
Dwarf cedar is a woody plant with a variegated crown. Because of its appearance, it is often considered a shrub. A large number of these trees in one area look like a carpet.
Briefly about dwarf cedar
Dwarf cedar: photo
Dwarf cedar: video about cultivation
Dwarf cedar is a small creeping tree crop from the pine family. The crown is bowl-shaped, because it is formed by highly spreading branches. The bark of the plant is dark brown. Whitish spots and slight flaking are present. The branches have a smooth, gray bark. They themselves seem to be lying on the ground, but their tops grow upward. Young shoots of this tree are initially green in color, darken only with time. The needles are up to eight centimeters in length, the structure is in the form of three faces, the color is blue-greenish. They are placed as if in small such beams, about five needles in each.
It takes a long time for pollinated buds to mature, about twelve to fifteen months. By themselves, they are not huge, up to seven centimeters in length and up to three centimeters in height. Also, this tree forms small brown nuts, in the form of an oval. The nut will not be more than one centimeter long and no more than six millimeters wide. However, this culture begins to produce seed only after twenty to thirty years.
The root system is rather unusual. First, the central root is formed, followed by the lateral ones. But over time, the main root dies off as unnecessary. And the tree itself continues to develop sidewalls, which are located on the top of the soil.
Population of cedar elfin
This representative of woody plants is well adapted to impoverished soils and low temperatures. Due to the fact that his roots are located quite close to the top of the earth, he does not care about the cold. And because of its creeping growth, it survives the winter under a good layer of snow.
The habitats of dwarf cedar are quite extensive. It can grow both in the Far East and in Eastern Siberia. And in the north, it can grow even beyond the Arctic Circle. In the southern regions, it forms dense thickets in the mountains, at an altitude of eight hundred to nine hundred meters above sea level.
Dwarf cedar: application
This half-shrub-half-tree also has decorative features. It is successfully used for landscaping: summer cottages, courtyards, parks, alleys and so on.
Also cedar dwarf can be obtained:
- From nuts - high quality oil;
- From the cake - delicious halva, cookies, various fillings;
- Whole nuts - eaten;
- Crafts are made of wood;
- Resin and turpentine are obtained from trunks, roots and branches.
Also, this culture is very useful and is used in medicine, because the turpentine produced from it helps in:
- Treatment of diseases of the respiratory system;
- Treatment of diseases of the excretory system;
- Treating skin diseases.
Young cedar dwarf seedlings can be used for early healing of wounds and abrasions. And in past centuries, it was even used in the treatment of scurvy.
From its needles, you can get a natural green dye.
It can also help in strengthening slopes and preventing debris. He is also planted along the roads.
Landscape designers often use it for landscaping purposes. They decorate alpine slides and hedges.
This plant also has a huge plus - it releases phytoncides. Phytoncides are elements that fight a variety of pathogens.
Growing cedar dwarf from seeds
This plant can be propagated using seeds. They can be purchased from a garden store, or you can assemble them yourself.
To begin with, the seeds of the cedar dwarf must be prepared. This is done as follows: 1) For about six months, the nuts must be kept in a room with a temperature of two to five degrees Celsius; 2) Then they need to be planted in moistened soil with a distance of two centimeters. You do not need to sprinkle it on top with soil, you just need to cover it with wet moss. Named moss and will keep the percentage of soil moisture. Since the seed germination rate is not very high, a large amount must be planted.
Dwarf cedar: planting and care
It is not a demanding plant, tolerant of low temperatures. It is difficult to reproduce and does not grow rapidly. For good growth and development, you need to create the most comfortable conditions.
How to prepare a cedar dwarf seedling and planting site
It is very important to choose a suitable location. However, since it grows in nature on any soil, it is not picky about the quality of the soil. If the soil is purely sandy, then you just need to add clay, it should be twenty to thirty percent more than sand. It can grow both in open, illuminated places and in partial shade.
The root system of the bush does not grow deeply, and the branches spread along the ground, based on this, there should be enough space for it.
When choosing a cedar dwarf seedling, it is very important to pay attention to its root system. The roots should be in an earthen coma, healthy and intact. The twigs should be flexible and free of disease. The seedling must be at least fifteen centimeters high.
It is important to remember that it is best to choose elevated places for planting, because liquid will accumulate in the lowland, which will adversely affect the root system of the plant.
How to plant correctly
It is best to plant dwarf cedar in the middle or late spring. If autumn is dry, then it is possible in late summer, early September. Here are some nuances:
1) It is important to prepare the hole for planting. Its depth should be about eighty centimeters. The width is needed two to three times more than the earthen coma of the plant. At the very bottom of the planting hole, there should be a drainage layer of fine crushed stone, fine gravel, expanded clay. Further, the drainage layer should be covered with a layer of sand twenty centimeters. And then the hole must be filled with an earth mixture from: turf soil, coarse sand and special soil;
2) Even before planting, it is recommended to place the root system in a 3% potassium permanganate solution for about two hours. It can help prevent possible diseases;
3) When filling the pit with soil mixture, you need to pour out a bucket of water. After planting the plant, you need to pour out two more buckets of water. The root system must not be allowed to dry out;
4) It is necessary to plant the elfin together with its native lump of earth. This must be done carefully so as not to damage the root system. The neck of the root system should be flush with the ground;
5) If you plant several crops at once, then you need to maintain a distance of three to four hundred centimeters between them;
6) The upper part of the hole must be mulched, the layer should be about eight centimeters. As mulch, you can use: sawdust, tree bark, husks from sunflower seeds, and so on.
How to water and feed
This variety does not need to be watered as often. With the arrival of spring, you can limit yourself to one bucket every thirty days.If the weather conditions are too hot and sultry, then you can increase the watering by one and a half times. It is also recommended to spray with cold water.
You can feed and fertilize with mineral fertilizers. You can start the feeding season from mid-spring.
How to trim properly
This tree needs sanitary pruning, that is, you need to cut off all diseased, damaged, dry and weak branches. This is done so that the plant does not waste its energy just like that. In order to form the crown, pruning is carried out in April. The cut sites must be disinfected with a special agent.
How to prepare dwarf cedar for wintering
The culture is not afraid of cold weather and harsh conditions, but it is still worth preparing it for the winter period. The top of the root system must be covered with straw and peat, so that a layer of eight centimeters is obtained. If snow falls on a very large scale in your region, then you need to build a small frame with covering material for the tree.
How can you propagate dwarf cedar
It is difficult to propagate dwarf cedar, because it does it very slowly. There are approximately three suitable ways:
- Purchase grown seedlings;
- With the help of purchased or mined seeds;
- With the help of layering from an adult specimen.
It is very good if you have the opportunity to propagate the tree using layering. This is the least time consuming method. The twigs need to be bent in the ground, sprinkled with earth a little and watered. Roots are formed at the point of contact with the soil. After rooting, the cuttings can be separated from the parent plant and transplanted to a permanent place.
Probable diseases and insect pests
Although this plant is quite resistant to various lesions, the threat still exists.
Hermes Siberian
This is the type of pest that sucks out the nutritious juices of the plant, thereby inhibiting its growth and development. It gives out itself as a whitish bloom on needles.
You can fight with:
- Insecticidal drugs;
- Microinjections into the central trunk of the plant;
- Spraying with special means.
Needle rust
It's a disease. When it appears, growths appear on the needles in the form of bubbles of a yellow hue. Gradually, the tree begins to shed its needles. The affected branches must be removed, and the tree itself must be sprayed with special preparations, as well as fertilized.
Mushroom shute
This disease can manifest itself in those plants that do not like shady places. The branches of the plant change their color to orange-brown, and various growths of black color are also formed. The affected areas of the tree must be removed. And the plant itself is treated with special preparations.
Aphid
This insect pest feeds on plant sap and carries many infections. Also, ants can add this parasite to a tree in order to subsequently feed. The affected plant must be treated with an insecticidal preparation.
Shield
This is also an insect. It gives out itself brown in growths on a tree, the so-called shield, under which it lives. It is dangerous because the affected shoots begin to deform and die over time. If there are not many scabbards, then it can be collected and destroyed by hand. If, nevertheless, she thoroughly attacked the plant, then it is better to resort to insecticide preparations.
Conclusion
Dwarf cedar is an evergreen coniferous culture, which is distinguished by its decorative qualities. Quite not demanding in care. Resistant to frost, disease and pests. Perfectly decorate any place.
Dwarf cedar: photo
