Among all kinds of conifers, Tsuga occupies a special place among landscape designers and simple plant growers. The plant is able to decorate any household plot, while becoming the perfect complement or the main "highlight" of the garden. However, not every fan of exotic flora is aware of the existence and all the advantages of this species from the Pine family. The article provides a detailed description of the Canadian Tsugi, as well as considers all the subtleties of its successful cultivation in the Moscow region and other geographical areas.
What is Tsuga
By Tsuga it is customary to understand a variety of an evergreen coniferous plant from the Pine family. This is a fairly large and powerful tree, which in the natural environment can reach a height of about 30 meters. The native land of this species is the territory of North America and the Far East, where wild-growing forms are not only widely found, but also are typical representatives of the flora of mountain mixed forests.
The plant is distinguished by a thick and wide crown, which becomes uneven, friable as it ages. The trunk of all Tsugs is strong and powerful enough, it is covered with a brown, flaky bark, with numerous cracks all over the surface. The main advantage of the species is its flat needles, which taper into a shortened petiole.. It grows on shoots, in two rows, on leafy pillows. The color of the needles is saturated, all kinds of bright green shades are characteristic of it.
Did you know? Tsuga was first described by the world famous Swedish naturalist Karl Linnaeus in 1863, in the second edition of his scientific work Species plantarum.
During the growing season, two types of cones are formed near the tree - male and female. The first - smaller, grow in the growth zone of the needles of the second year. Female ones are larger, hanging, with thin scales. After pollination of the female cone, small dark brown seeds with long pterygoid formations are formed.
Description and characteristics of Canadian Tsugi
Canadian Tsuga is considered the most popular and famous species among plant growers. In nature, a representative of the genus Tsuga can grow to maximum parameters, however, in an artificial environment it is often found in the form of a stunted shrub.
This is explained by the rather slow growth activity of the species, the average tree needs to grow at least 40 years to reach a height of 10-15 m. At this point, at least 1-2 cardinal changes in the concept of landscape design occur, and as a result, the tree is replaced with a new one vegetation.
The crown shape of this species is wide-pyramidal, conical, not more than 1-2 m wide. It is formed by thin, sprawling branches. Shoots are characterized by slight pubescence, as well as a distinct, yellow-brown hue. Oval, pointed buds grow on the branches, as well as flat, fairly small needles, blunted on the edge. The average length of individual needles is in the range of 0.5-2 cm. The hue of the needles is bright and saturated. On the front side the color is dark green, on the back - all kinds of light green tones, on top of which 2 small narrow stripes are observed. During vegetation, grayish-brown, oval cones up to 2.5 cm long grow on mature forms.
Tsuga Canadian is included in the list of the most unpretentious plants - it can develop perfectly on almost any soil, with minimal lighting. However, this tree prefers to grow on moisture-intensive, well-fertilized substrates with a slightly acidic pH (5-6).
Use in landscape design
Tsuga is one of the most versatile plants that can successfully complement almost any landscape.. The tree is used for landscaping private adjoining territories. For this purpose, the plant can be planted alone, as the main element, or used for mass planting along garden roads. Often, the species is used to create decorative fences, for this purpose seedlings have small groups consisting of several copies.
Important! Canadian Tsugu is used exclusively for landscaping spaces away from large megacities. The tree does not tolerate excessive pollution of soil and air, therefore, within the urban zone fades in a short time.
Especially valuable is the formation of rock gardens. The graceful needles of the tree can perfectly complement the artificial rocks, as well as give the landscape a "naturalness". In addition, the view allows you to create a tier of landings, which is important enough to create a comprehensive composition.
Features of planting and care
This representative of coniferous plants is considered quite unpretentious, so even a minimum of knowledge and skills is enough to grow a full-fledged tree. However the most decorative specimens are found exclusively in those growers who strictly adhere to a specific method of growing crops. This requires not only choosing the right place for a tsugi, but also observing all care measures.
Video: Tsuga Canadian
Selection and preparation of a place and a seedling
The choice of a place for planting a tree should be treated with special attention. Culture does not tolerate transplants, so the area for future planting should meet all general requirements to the maximum. Regardless of the climatic conditions of the region, slightly shaded areas in the eastern side of the garden, away from roads and drafts, are suitable for planting.
Sufficiently stringent requirements are put forward to the substrate. It should be well fertilized, and also have a slightly acid pH and good drainage.. To do this, approximately 2 weeks before planting, the site must be cleaned of weeds, residues of vegetation and debris, and then fertilized with peat or humus at the rate of 5-10 kg / m². It is also recommended, if necessary, to lighten the soil. For this, 1 to 3 buckets of sand need to be added per 1 m². After this, the soil should be plowed well to a depth of at least 30 cm.
Immediately before planting, a seedling should also be prepared. The root layer of the soil must necessarily be well poured with water at room temperature, and then treat the shoots and trunk of the plant with protective agents. To do this, spraying with the drug "Fitosporin" is used. After the sprayed seedling dries, it becomes completely ready for planting.
Important! When planting in a group, the minimum distance between seedlings of about 1.5-2 m should be taken into account. Neglect of this requirement will lead to the gradual oppression of each other by neighboring plants.
Phased landing
Planting is carried out in the spring, from late April to mid-May or throughout August and September. Moreover, in the suburbs and colder climatic zones, August is considered the most acceptable period for winter landing. Otherwise, the seedling will not take root well and will freeze during the first severe frosts.
Video: Landing a Canadian Tsugi on an Alpine hill
The procedure involves the following sequential steps:
- Dig a landing hole 70 cm in depth, 80 cm in diameter.
- At the bottom of the pit, place a drainage layer of rubble or broken brick about 20 cm thick.
- Fill the hole with soil so that the root system growth point is deepened by no more than 5 cm. In order for the plant to take root as quickly as possible, it is recommended to add superphosphate and nitroammophoska to the planting hole (according to the manufacturer's recommendations on the package).
- Place a seedling in the recess along with a root layer of soil, and then densely fill the remaining voids with soil.
- Water the plants well with clean and well-maintained water at room temperature.
Watering and feeding
Priority manipulations in the cultivation of healthy Tsugi are considered to be the proper watering and top dressing of the plant. Irrigation of the soil should be performed at least 1 time per week, during summer drought, the irrigation rate is increased to 2-3 procedures per week. Water needs to be applied both under the root and sprinkling the crown, while at least 5-10 liters of fluid per procedure should be spent on one plant.
Water the tree throughout the entire growing season, subject to an average daily temperature of at least +5 ... + 10 ° C. The last watering is carried out in November, but in the suburbs and colder regions this should be done no later than the end of October.
Provided that the site is properly prepared, the first top dressing is applied no earlier than 2-3 seasons after planting. This procedure is carried out once a year, in the second half of April. For fertilizer use any complex mineral mixtures intended for conifers ("Stimovit", "Compo", "Agrecol", etc.).
Soil cultivation and mulching
Loosening of the soil should be carried out the day after watering or heavy rain. This agricultural technique is required, it allows you to supply the soil with oxygen, which favorably affects the growth of Tsugi. Only the upper layers of the substrate are loosened, to a depth of not more than 10 cm, otherwise there is a high probability of damage to the root system.
Did you know? Tsuga is a real relict species, its ancient forms existed even in the time of dinosaurs, about 200 million years ago.
To preserve valuable moisture in the soil and create a particularly favorable microclimate in the substrate, planting is recommended to mulch. To do this, you need to grind the tree trunk circle, and then fill it with chopped straw or hay, sawdust, humus, etc. At the same time, it is recommended that the thickness of the mulching layer be at least 10 cm. As the weathering (drying out), the mulch needs to be updated. Do this during an active growing season, about 1 time per month.
Pruning
Growing a decent instance of Tsugi also provides for periodic pruning of the plant. They begin it no earlier than the third year after planting and are performed throughout the entire warm period of the year. In early spring and autumn they do sanitary cleaning, during this period dry and broken branches are cut. Tree formation is carried out from spring to the first half of autumn, the plant is given a spherical or regular conical shape. When giving the tsuga the intended configuration, it is recommended to shorten the shoots by no more than a third, otherwise the procedure can lead to their withering and even death.
Video: How to prune conifers
Disease and Pest Prevention
Canadian Tsuga is considered a resistant species to all kinds of infections and pests.. However, if all the subtleties of leaving the tree are not observed, immunity may decrease, which creates favorable conditions for its defeat by various pathogens. The most common cause of withering and death of this species are various parasitic insects. They include shields, ticks and moths. They not only eat young needles, but also become the main cause of infectious lesions.
To protect the tree from pests, it is imperative to eliminate all kinds of plant debris from the site. In addition, sprinkling of the crown and sanitary cleaning should be carried out regularly. In the case of pests, the plant is sprayed twice, with an interval of 14 days, with any complex insecticide (Decis, Shar Pei, Inta-Vir, etc.).
Among the infectious lesions, rust and late blight are considered the most common.. For the control and prevention of late blight, the drug “Fundazol” is used, in the case of rust, “HOM” is considered the most effective. For prevention, spray the tree up to 3 times during the growing season. In order to overcome the infection, treatments are carried out twice, with an interval of 14 days.
Tsuga Canadian is a unique representative of the flora. The plant has a rather exotic appearance, while it can be successfully grown in almost any household plot. Culture requires a minimum of attention and care, but it grows only in regions with favorable environmental conditions. Therefore, it is recommended to plant a tree away from major highways, as well as over-urban areas.
