Nordmann fir - a stylish solution for your garden

The use of coniferous trees in landscape design is the spirit of the times. The Nordmann fir, described by botany professor Alexander von Nordmann, is an excellent solution for garden design. It has been proven that pine aroma normalizes the nervous system. Strict geometric shapes fir and the color of the pine needles help to feel a sense of harmony.

Content:

• Description of Nordmann fir
• Popular varieties
• Rules for planting and care
• Use in landscape design

Description of Nordmann fir

The distribution area of ​​Nordmann fir (Caucasian fir) is wide. Species of this coniferous plant are found in the Caucasus, in the north of Armenia and Azerbaijan, and in Turkey. The climate of the mountains: its coolness and humid air is the most favorable environment; these beauties live there for hundreds of years.

During the first 10 years, growth is slow. After a well-developed, shallow root system is formed, the tree actively grows. The height of an adult fir is 60 m, and the trunk diameter can reach up to 2 m.

The crown is very decorative: thick, pubescent to the ground, shaped like a cone. Young branches are covered with light brown bark, old ones with gray bark with longitudinal cracks.

The trees are evergreen. The maximum length of needles is 4 cm, thickness is 2.5 mm. Young needles, just formed shoots, stand out as light green against the background of old branches with dark green needles.

Cones are up to 20 cm long and up to 5 cm wide. They begin to form in May after flowering once every two years. Over the course of a season, they turn from green to brown.They ripen by November. They give seeds wedge-shaped, brown or yellow-brown in color. The germination rate is low. Under natural conditions, fruiting begins at 30-40 years, with artificial plantings after 70 years.

Popular varieties

Cultivated varieties of Caucasian fir have been bred for decorative use:

• Golden Spreader
• Pendula
• Jadwiga

1. The Golden Spreader variety is a dwarf plant - a hybrid, bred to decorate rock gardens. It is distinguished by very slow growth. By the age of 10, his height is no more than 1 meter. The needles have an original golden color, glossy on one side of the needles, matte on the other.
2. Jadwiga is a tall variety. The crown is dense. The branches are covered with long, two-colored needles. The outer side is bright green, the inner side is white.
3. Pendula is a hybrid, grows slowly, requires care and compliance with certain growing conditions.

Bred variety in arboretums, can be grown on personal plots.

Rules for planting and care

The idea of ​​growing fir from seeds should be abandoned. Only specialists can do this. To decorate your garden, you should purchase a seedling from a nursery or online. Seedlings from 5 to 10 years old take root easily. Boarding dates are flexible. Can be planted in spring (April) and autumn during September.

Choose the right place for planting: well-lit, free from other plantings. The distance to plants or structures is at least 3 meters. Prepare the planting hole and soil in advance. Dimensions of the hole: diameter – 60 cm, depth – 80 cm. To fill, prepare a soil mixture of the following composition:

• loam – 2 hours
• humus – 3 hours
• peat – 1 hour
• coarse sand, washed – 1 hour

Mix the mixture and add 1 bucket of rotted sawdust and about 200 g of fertilizers containing nitrogen.After planting the seedling, the root system begins to form. We are preparing good conditions for her. Pour drainage into the bottom of the hole:

• crushed stone
• scrap brick
• gravel

Pour half of the prepared soil mixture into the bottom of the hole. After the pit has stood for several days, you can begin landing. If the seedling is bare-rooted, place it in water before planting. During planting, spread the roots evenly along the sides of the hole, do not deepen the root collar.

Fill the hole with the remaining fertile mixture. Water the seedling. At first, the young plant may be sick. In hot, sunny weather, cover it from direct sunlight. It will be easier for the fir to adapt to new conditions.

Regular watering is especially necessary in the first year after planting. The soil must be constantly moist. After five years, combine watering with fertilizing. Use specialized fertilizers for coniferous plants. Adult plants do not need watering. The root system of a tree is capable of providing the plant with moisture.

Video about planting and propagating fir:

Spring feeding with fertilizers is needed. Until the tree gets stronger, weeds can harm it. Weeding and loosening the tree trunk circle is an important element of care. You can reduce maintenance time by using mulch. Any sawdust will do. Layer thickness 10-15 cm.

Crown care

The respectability of the garden plot depends on the beauty of the crown and its well-groomed appearance. tree pruning need not. It is performed only for aesthetic purposes. Remove dried, damaged and gnarled branches. Timely control of pests of coniferous plants helps preserve the decorative appearance of fir. A tree can suffer from a number of pests:

• false scale insects
• spider mite
• fir moth

False scale insects cause drying and yellowing of needles. You can save a tree from it with the help of hunting belts. It's easier to make them yourself. You need old rags and glue from the tracks. Spider mites entangle branches with cobwebs, and needles become covered with rusty spots. You can fight the mite only while the tree is small. Garlic infusions help. The fir moth spoils the needles. The main type of struggle is digging up the tree trunk circle. In addition, you can spray the young tree with insecticides.

Use in landscape design

Dwarf varieties of fir decorate rock gardens. They can be planted singly or in groups on the lawn. Tall trees serve as a beautiful and functional decoration of the park's alleys. Group plantings of Caucasian fir, rowan, birch, and maple look good on personal plots.

A Nordmann fir planted on the site will delight you with its bright greenery all year round. In its shade you can while away hot summer days, inhaling the fresh aroma pine needles. In winter, you can decorate it with garlands and cheerfully celebrate the New Year right in the garden.