Among the ornamental shrubs that are widely used in the field of landscape design, hybrid - the pine Schwerin Withhorst is especially valuable. It has compact dimensions, is characterized by medium growth rates, is able to maintain an aesthetically attractive appearance year-round. What are the features of cultivation and care of the described plant - learn from the article.
Botanical tree description
Pine Schwerin Withhorst (Pinus schwerinii Wiethorst) is a hybrid evergreen perennial plant, which is the result of selection of Weymouth pine and Himalayan Griffith. The creator of the variety was Count Schwerin, who in 1905 grew a hybrid in his Wilmersdorf park, Germany. It is advisable to begin the description of the conifer with its appearance.
Schwerin pine is a dwarf plant whose height rarely exceeds 2–2.5 m. It belongs to the category of crops with average growth rates. By the age of 10, the pine tree reaches a height of 80 cm, a width of about 50 cm. The annual growth ranges from 15–20 cm, but under good climatic conditions and proper care it can reach up to 40 cm.
Did you know? The highest pine tree in the world is considered the Lambert pine, the growth zone of which is North America. The height of the plant is about 80 m.
A feature of the culture is its surprisingly beautiful, fairly dense crown, which has the correct symmetrical pyramidal shape. Perennial needles fluffy, soft, 10-12 cm long, It differs in an unusual color, which varies from silver-blue to bluish-green. Needles are collected in bunches of 5 pieces, which visually creates the effect of fluffiness and volume.
The advantage of the described plant is that it does not grow in width, maintains the correct shape, which avoids forming trimming. From its genetic basis, pine has gained strong immunity, high resistance to frost, and the ability to withstand up to -34 ° C. The fruiting of the culture is plentiful, it begins to lump from a young age.
Landing
According to experienced gardeners, planting Schwerin pine does not require special efforts or skills, however, to obtain a healthy, strong, decorative tree in the process of performing work, it is necessary to observe several important rules regarding the choice of a seedling and a place for it. The plant prefers to grow in well-lit, sunny areas that are reliably protected from drafts and cold winds, and are also far from fruit and berry crops.
The coniferous tree negatively relates to increased soil moisture, which adversely affects the state of the root system. For planting, experts recommend choosing areas with well-drained, light, nutritious soil. Pine normally tolerates infertile, acidic soils, but is not able to fully develop without high-quality drainage, which must be taken into account when planting.
When choosing a seedling, you should pay attention to the following aspects:
- the tree trunk should be strong, strong, without breaks and signs of disease;
- the needles of a quality plant have an elastic, elastic structure, has a saturated uniform color;
- seedling shoots should be fluffy, without "bald spots."
The best option would be to buy a seedling in specialized garden markets or nurseries that are professionally engaged in plant breeding. For planting, you need to choose a pine tree with a closed root system. Planting seedlings may be carried out in early spring, approximately in April, or at the end of September - two months before the expected frosts. During autumn planting, the soil on the site needs to be dug up, carefully enriched with humus and sand.
Important! After planting a seedling for stability, it is recommended to tie it to a support.
Landing technology is based on the following steps:
- Dig a recess three times the size of the root system of the plant.
- On the bottom of the hole, lay a layer of drainage using broken brick, expanded clay or pebbles.
- Part of the seized soil mixed with ash in half with sand.
- Top off the drainage layer with a layer of fertile soil.
- Together with the earthen lump, lower the seedling in a strictly vertical position into the pit.
- Cover the plant with soil so that the neck of the root remains slightly above surface level.
- Tamp the soil around the seedling lightly, moisten liberally with settled non-cold water.
Pine care
In the first year of growth, young pine is quite sensitive to climatic conditions and needs regular, proper and competent care. Caring for a plant is quite simple, the main thing is to follow the scheme of irrigation and top dressing, carry out soil cultivation and preventive treatment of ailments.
Watering and feeding
Withhorst pine is a moisture-loving plant that requires plentiful, high-quality moisturizing. In the summer, when the weather is hot, the plant is watered twice a week. Under normal climatic conditions, it is sufficient to carry out irrigation measures 1-2 times every two weeks, focusing on the state of the soil.
Important! When feeding pine trees, one should not get carried away with organic means, an excess of which can provoke the development of fungal ailments.
At the same time, the culture has an extremely negative attitude to the waterlogging of the soil, which can provoke decay of the root processes. As for feeding pine, then the first portion of nutrients is applied directly upon landingusing 30 g of potassium phosphate product per bucket of humus. The second time the culture is fed in the fallintroducing complex mineral preparations specially designed for conifers into the soil.
Loosening and mulching
One of the mandatory activities related to pine care is loosening and mulching of the soil. The latter is carried out immediately after planting the plant. The trunk circle is carefully covered with a layer of natural mulch (mowed grass, last year’s needles), which allows you to save moisture in the soil, create favorable conditions for the development of the root system, and protect the roots from freezing.
Loosening is carried out before each watering, deepening into the ground by 5-8 cm. This procedure makes it possible to enrich the soil with oxygen and nutrients, thereby activating the intensive development of root roots.
Pruning
Schwerin pine does not require cardinal forming pruning, since its branches are not prone to strong growth, and the pyramidal shape is maintained throughout the life of the plant. In early spring, sanitary cutting of shoots is carried out, during which sick, too weak and thin, broken branches are removed.
Video: how to make pine trees beautiful
Possible diseases and pests
Perennial of the described variety has strong immunity, rarely affected by diseases and pests. In some cases, due to increased humidity, it may suffer from rotting of the roots.
Of the parasites, the greatest danger to pine is:
For the prevention and treatment of conifers, gardeners practice spraying the tree with fungicidal and insecticidal drugs.
Did you know? Pine wood is highly durable. Pine log cabins are able to serve more than 150 years. They used to be used for the manufacture of ship masts, telegraph poles.
Preventive measures allow avoiding such pine health problems:
- regular loosening of the soil;
- timely destruction of weeds on the site;
- soil moisture control;
- strict adherence to fertilizer regimens and dosages;
- spraying plants with insecticides and fungicides.
The use of wood in landscape design
Schwerin pine is highly regarded by landscape design enthusiasts. Thanks to its compact forms and unpretentious care, it is great for creating original and unusual decorative compositions. The culture is harmoniously combined with other conifers, heather varieties, flower plants. Quite often it is used to form alpine hills, when decorating rocky dumps or gardens in an oriental style.
Perennial looks great as a solitary plantation or in group plantings. Schwerin Withhorst pine is a hybrid, dwarf very spectacular culture that will become an amazing decoration in the garden or on the garden. She adapts well to a new place, does not need complicated care. Compliance with the simple rules of agricultural technology will allow even novice gardeners to grow a real coniferous fluffy miracle in their area.
