The mountain view of pines combines a wide variety of varieties. One noteworthy is the artificially bred dwarf variety Varella. Read more about its botanical features, as well as the rules of cultivation and direction of use, read below.
Botanical tree description
Pinus mugo Varella pine is a decorative dwarf, slow-growing tree. The plant is distinguished from others by its original appearance, for which it was loved by many gardeners and landscape designers. Due to the slow growth, densely packed crowns and different size of needles, this specimen resembles a spherical bush.
Did you know? One of the gems called amber is nothing more than a frozen resin of pine.
Description of the main botanical characteristics of mugo Varella:
| Root system | stem with a large number of highly branched processes, which allows the plant to withstand significant gusts of wind and remain stable |
| Height of the stem | from 1 to 1.5 m |
| Diameter | from 1 to 1.2 m |
| Crown shape | spherical |
| Annual growth | 10 cm |
| Shoots | densely located, densely branched, grow at an acute angle relative to the trunk, tolerate pruning well |
| Needles | dark green, thick, elongated, summer needles 3 cm long, spring needles 7 cm, one-year-old needles 10 cm, due to this, a fluffy effect is created |
| Bumps | ovoid, reach a length of 5 cm, young green, brown with age, open at the beginning of winter |
| Seed | small brown |
Vegetation can develop well on any type of soil, even with low fertility. The acidity of the soil is also of little importance, but still slightly acidic is preferable. When landing, drainage is required. Varietal unit has high winter hardiness, little susceptibility to diseases and pests, drought-resistant. It can normally grow both in plentiful light and in partial shade.
Origin of name
The name Pinus for mountain pine is borrowed from Theophrastus - “pinos”. This is an ancient Greek scholar who is called the "father of botany." He described in his writings more than 500 plants, among which, in fact, was the appearance of mountain pines. The variety Varella itself got its name in honor of the place in which it was obtained. His breeding was done by Polish scientists in the karstens Varel nursery.
Landing
Planting of the considered vegetation can be carried out in the fall or in the spring. The time frame is the end of April - the beginning of May, the middle of August - the beginning of September. The site begins to be prepared six months before planting. At this stage, the soil is dug up to a depth of 40 cm. For each m² 10 kg of sand, 20 kg of soddy soil and 10 kg of compost are applied. Then they dig again, only to a depth of 20 cm.
Buy seedlings only in specialized nurseries, which give complete information about the varietal characteristics of the plant, the conditions for its cultivation and can provide quality certificates for their goods. Otherwise, there is a great risk of buying poor planting material, which will take root and hurt for a long time.
Phased landing process:
- Dig a hole 3 times the size of the rhizome (it turns out a depth of about a meter). When planting several plants between the pits, a distance of 1.5 m is left. If you combine the variety in question with the overall coniferous species of trees, then between the holes you should do a step of 4 m.
- To put 15 cm of expanded clay on the bottom of the hole, and on top of 5 cm of sand - this will be a drainage that will protect the root system from overmoistening.
- Pour 5 liters of water into the recess and wait until it is completely absorbed.
- Put in a hole a layer of nutrient soil with a thickness of 20 cm, consisting in equal parts of sand, turf soil, compost. To this composition in an amount of 20% of the total mass should be added wood ash.
- Set the seedling in the center of the recess, carefully distribute the roots around its perimeter. Be sure to make sure that the root neck is above the soil. Fill the hole with soil, slightly tighten the trunk circle with your hands.
- Pour 10 liters of water into the hole.
- After completely absorbing the liquid, mulch it with peat, mixing it first with 30 g of superphosphate, without closing the root neck.
Pine care
Care for the variety under consideration consists in the implementation of basic agricultural measures.
The main work that needs to be carried out on the site where Varella pine is grown:
- moisturizing and feeding;
- soil care, consisting in loosening and mulching;
- pruning
- prevention of diseases and pests.
Watering and feeding
Given that this vegetation is a drought tolerant variety, it will not require frequent watering. During the first year of life, only landed specimens are introduced with 5 liters of water for each weekly. It will be enough for adult plants to moisten the soil once a month, introducing 10 l of liquid under each.
Top dressing is applied only during the first 2 years from the time of planting. Fertilize the plants in the spring (early May) and autumn (early September). At the beginning of the year, it is better to make mineral dressings.
Superphosphate is suitable - it is distributed in a dry form in the trunk circle at 40 g / m² to a depth of 5 cm.
At the end of the season, it is better to use biohumus or compost. These fertilizers will require 5 kg / m² barreled circle. After 2 years from the moment of planting, mineral fertilizers are ceased to be fully applied. Biohumus or compost is added at the end of the season in order to increase the layer of mulch, which will protect the root system from freezing and increase soil fertility.
Throughout the season, you can add 2-3 tbsp to the water for irrigation 2-3 times wood ash for each plant. This will provide the pines with potassium, magnesium and calcium - it is these microelements that they need most. Also, this approach will help protect vegetation from the spread of fungal diseases and pests.
Important! For pine, you can take specialized fertilizers for conifers. the main thing — pay attention to the composition, it should not contain nitrogen, otherwise too active growth of shoots will start, which will not have time to ripen in a season and freeze in winter.
Loosening and mulching
Soil cultivation should be carried out after irrigation and rain. Do not go deeper than 5 cmotherwise there is a great risk of damage to superficially located root growths. At first, after planting, it is very important to remove weeds in time, which can destroy a crop that has not yet matured.
Needles falling from a tree should not be removed.
It will play the role of natural mulch, maintaining optimal humidity. Over time, the needles will begin to decay, mixing with humus and compost, laid at the moment of fertilizer, which will create a special microflora and will contribute to the full development of the plant.
Pruning
With the help of pruning, you can give the vegetation any shape to your taste - sphere, hemisphere, cube, etc. When carrying out the manipulation, do not remove more than 1/3 of the shoots. You always need to start with those branches that are bare, dried out or damaged. It is better to start pruning from the age of two in spring (early May).
To carry out the manipulation, a sharpened secateurs are used. After cutting each branch, the tool must be disinfected with alcohol. Wound surfaces on a tree are dusted with wood ash, and then covered with garden varnish so as not to infect the infection.
In principle, this species of pines can develop well without carrying out forming pruning - it already has a beautiful crown. Mandatory is only sanitary manipulation, which involves the removal of damaged, dried, improperly growing branches.
Possible diseases and pests
Diseases of this vegetation is very rare. For prevention, use the technique described above - add wood ash to the water for irrigation. In conditions of high humidity, you can dust the soil around the tree with ashes and sprinkle branches on it.
If agricultural farming techniques are not respected on Varella pines, scabies or a spider mite can settle. To prevent this, at the beginning of the season, spraying on the shoots and soil with the Fitoverm preparation should be carried out (diluted according to the instructions). Also in the prevention of pests will help the already described manipulation using wood ash.
If pests have already appeared on the plant, sanitary pruning should be carried out immediately, removing all affected parts. Then use Sunmight (for the tick) or Aktara (for the shield). Dilute preparations according to the instructions. With multiple lesions, it is better to carry out 2 treatments with an interval of 10 days.
The use of wood in landscape design
A compact plant of the variety in question will help transform any landscape design.
It looks equally good in:
- single landings;
- combination with other coniferous varieties;
- border compositions.
Due to its small size, vegetation can be planted densely enough to emphasize the zoning of a particular territory. It can also be used in the organization of alpine hills, rockeries, combining with stones of different textures and colors. In addition, this variety is ideal for growing houses in pots, creating bonsai.
Did you know? Of all species of pines, the longest needles are in the marsh. They reach 45 cm.
The variety of mountain pine Varella is attractive for its compactness, high decorativeness, as well as its unpretentiousness in care. The plant can be grown both in open ground and at home, creating unique compositions for decorating the garden or interior. In addition, conifers are attractive for their ability to clean the air, which has a beneficial effect on the environmental situation and human health.
