The genus of spruce includes 34 primary species and 4 hydrogenic. One of the most beloved among gardeners, gardeners and landscape designers is blue or prickly (Latin Picea pungens), so named because of the original color of the needles. When choosing a grade of spruce should pay attention to The Blues native to North America. Its description, characteristics and growing characteristics are given in the material.

Botanical Description

Representatives of the variety of barbed spruce The Blues (The Blues) are characterized by compact dimensions. Up they reach up to 1.8 m, in breadth - up to 1.2 m. The shape of the crown is weeping, narrow. She's very hairy. The variety is distinguished by large needles and a beautiful color of needles - silver-blue. The tree bears fruit in light brown cones.

• Spruce The Blues has the following characteristics:
• high level of decorativeness;
• compact crown;
• fast growth rates - a tree can add 30 cm per year;
• unpretentiousness in leaving;
• lack of soil requirements;
• good adaptation to the conditions of the city;
• drought tolerance;
• frost resistance up to -34 ° С.

The described variety is actively used to compose landscape compositions. It is suitable for single and group landings. Grown in squares, parks, gardens, along walking paths. To get interesting shapes, the tree is planted in horizontal, vertical and inclined position.

Landing

Landing success depends on several factors:

• the right choice of site, given the preferences of the plant;
• compliance with the recommended deadlines;
• soil preparation;
• compliance with planting technology;
• healthy and strong planting material.

Important! You should choose a seedling with a closed root system and when planting, do not destroy the earthen lump. If the roots are accidentally exposed, then the exposed area must be treated with a rooting agent, for example, “Kornevin” or “Heteroauxin”.

Spruce should be planted in large, open, sunny areas protected from the winds. When planted in the shade, the tree will significantly reduce its decorative effect, will grow slowly, and its lifespan will be significantly reduced. From other plants and buildings, a distance of 2.5 m must be observed.

Landing is planned for April or September. For spruce, it is very important that it is planted when the weather is warm. Therefore, it is better not to rush with the landing, but to wait for the moment when the threat of return frosts passes. The best soils for growing the described tree are loam, sandy loam. But it may well be put up with peatlands, sandy, damp rocky soil.

Land preparation

Soil preparation should be done a few weeks before planting. It is necessary to dig a hole with a depth of 50–70 cm. To fill the hole, prepare a mixture of turf (2 hours), leafy soil (2 hours), peat (1 hour), sand (1 hour). At the bottom you need to lay a drainage with a height of 15 cm from broken brick, sand.

Important! When planting blue spruce should be monitored so that the root neck is placed at the same level with the surface of the earth.

Landing rules

When planting a seedling from a container, proceed as follows:

1. The day before planting, the plant is abundantly watered so that it easily leaves the pot.
2. A sapling is removed along with an earthen lump.
3. Set it in the center of the pit.
4. They fill the voids with prepared earth.
5. In the near-trunk zone, at some distance from the trunk, a groove is made along the entire diameter. A bucket of water is poured into it.
6. Lay a layer of mulch from the bark of pine or peat.

Care Features

Spruce does not require much attention and serious care. Periodic watering, fertilizing, loosening, mulching, pruning, preventive measures against diseases and pests are sufficient for it. More attention is required by young plants.

Mature specimens already have a well-developed root system, strong immunity, are able to independently obtain nutrients and moisture, as well as withstand adverse conditions, pathogenic bacteria and insects.

Did you know? The oldest European spruce named Old Tikko grows in the Fulufjullet National Park (Sweden). According to scientists, she is 9550 years old.

Watering and feeding

Only young trees require regular watering. In the first years after planting, they need to be watered every week, using 5-12 liters of water under one plant, depending on weather conditions. As they grow older, the frequency of hydration is reduced to one irrigation in 2–4 weeks. Adult trees do not need watering. They lack moisture that precipitates, and the root system easily copes with finding it in the soil.

Like all conifers, representatives of this variety respond well to sprinkling - watering along the perimeter of the crown with a scattered stream of water.

Feeding conifers is optional. This can be done if necessary, for example, when the tree stops growing, it starts to lose its decorative effect. For conifers, only mineral fertilizers are suitable.

It is better to purchase ready-made complex mixtures designed specifically for these crops. Fit Uniflor, "Agrecol" etc. Organics can not be used in the cultivation of fir trees, because the nitrogen and nitrate contained in these fertilizers is detrimental to conifers.

Loosening and mulching

After each irrigation and precipitation, the earth in the near-stem circle should be loosened. This event prevents the formation of a hard crust on the surface of the soil. By conducting it regularly, it is possible to improve the moisture and air conductivity of the soil.

As a result, water and oxygen freely and in the required volumes enter the root system, which positively affects the growth and development of the plant. Since the roots of the spruce are superficial, the earth should be loosened gently and shallow to avoid damage. Recommended depth 5–7 cm.

Another important care measure is to mulch the soil in the trunk circle.

This procedure allows you to reduce the number of irrigation, cultivation, weeding and maintain the optimal level of soil moisture. As mulch, wood sawdust, pine bark, wood chips, peat are used. The recommended layer height is 5–9 cm. Before wintering, the mulch should be changed.

Pruning

Trimming spruce must be done when necessary. In spring and autumn, branches are cut off, which are shrunken, frozen, burnt, and give the crown an irregular shape. The described variety tolerates pruning well and is quickly restored after it.

It is important to use pre-sanitized garden tools during the procedure. After cutting, the places of cuts must be treated with copper sulfate and glossed over with garden var or the special RanNet preparation.

Diseases, pests and their prevention

The described coniferous tree has strong immunity and well resists harmful insects. and pathogenic bacteria. But with the mistakes made during planting and agricultural technology, it can be affected by diseases and attacked by pests.

To prevent this, preventive measures should be taken:

• in autumn, thoroughly clean the area from plant debris;
• carry out deep digging of the soil in the near-stem zone;
• to double spray in the spring and autumn periods with a copper-containing preparation.

Did you know? The famous Italian string instrument master Antonio Stradivari used the wood of spruce ordinary to make the upper decks of his unique violins.

Of the diseases, the following are most dangerous for spruce:

Of the pests, prickly spruce can attack such:

Thus, Picea pungens The Blues spruce is suitable for cultivation in summer cottages, home gardens, garden plots, and in city parks. It is not demanding on soil composition and overall care. When choosing a good place, it retains decorativeness all year round and is able to live up to 70 years.