Increasingly, landscape designers choose to implement spruce in landscape gardening art. They are not demanding in care, withstand low and high temperatures and are always pleasing in green. One of the most popular conifers for design is considered Picea abies Inversa, which will be discussed in the article.

Description and history of the variety

The first mention of the variety dates back to 1855. The British R. R. Smith, who conducted his research in Shropshire, is considered his discoverer. Since then, the tree has gained considerable popularity in modern landscape design. Despite the general similarities with other representatives of its botanical family, Inversa spruce has features. Her crown is noticeable from afar - they form it exclusively artificially.

For this, the technique of grafting or tying branches is used. The owner can independently choose the future appearance of the tree, having formed it at an early stage of growth.A feature of the variety is also considered that the spruce does not have a main trunk. For this reason, it is necessary to choose the largest shoot and strengthen it with the help of supports.

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According to the general description, a tree can grow up to a maximum of 8 m. Its average height is 5–6 m.The diameter of the crown often reaches 2 or more meters. Upon reaching 10 years of age, spruce can grow up to 1.5 m per season. These characteristics are characteristic of wild plants. Cultivated and artificially formed trees may not match them.

Landscape design application

Thanks to its unusual appearance, Inversa spruce can give any garden a special appeal. Compared to other varieties, it can be used even in small areas or on stone slides. The described conifer fits perfectly into any composition composed of plants in containers. It is allowed to plant it on the lawn and as part of a group of decorative flowers or shrubs.

In addition, spruce can be planted in the following compositions:

1. On a flower bed with perennial flowers.
2. Like a single tree.
3. In dendrological groups.
4. Hedge.
5. To create borders.
6. Rockery.
7. Group landing. In this case, other varieties of spruce will become its neighbors.
8. Rock garden.
9. Arch.

The design options are really great variety. In this case, the gardener can connect his imagination and independently come up with a place for future tree planting.

Landing

An ordinary seedling can be purchased in a specialized nursery. Landing is recommended either in late autumn or in winter. It is believed that during this period the probability of damage to the root system by rot is minimized. Nevertheless, most gardeners prefer early spring, when the soil begins to be again enriched with useful trace elements after winter.

Where to plant

The weeping sapling of Inversa is mistakenly considered shade-loving. This myth appeared due to the fact that most of the forest thickets where conifers grow are practically not lit by sunlight, so shrubs and even grass rarely grow in them. In fact, the plant can grow quite effectively in the shade, but its needles and crown will change.

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Evergreen paws will become darker in color. In this case, the crown will develop only on one side or completely lose its natural form. Varieties that are not very tall cannot grow in the shade at all. Therefore, designers and gardeners recommend choosing a sunny area.

In addition to choosing a territory, you should definitely make sure that the soil is selected correctly. Inverse spruce trees are considered mixotrophs: in other words, they are interconnected with fungal hyphae that are underground. Thanks to this symbiosis, the tree receives additional nutrients. In this regard, the acidity of the soil should be in the range of pH 4.5–6. Otherwise, the destruction of fungi will begin, the number of beneficial microorganisms and bacteria will decrease.

Landing is carried out on soil, which passes air well and makes it possible to quickly drain water from the upper layers. Even on sandy or poor land, Inversa spruce will feel comfortable.The only unfavorable factor that leads to the death of the tree is considered to be excess moisture.. In this case, the plant can successfully develop over several years and suddenly die off. For this reason, outflow of water should be closely monitored, especially during the rainy season.

Landing algorithm

In order for the European variety to take root well in our country, planting must be carried out strictly according to the algorithm:

1. A depression is dug in the soil - 10-15 cm below the basal neck so that drainage can be laid. The width should be increased by several centimeters on all sides of the same indicator of the root system.
2. Drainage is laid at the bottom of the pit. Most often it is small crushed stone or broken brick.
3. The seedling is carefully removed from the container. It is placed in a recess and dug up with earth.
4. Only the planted plant is watered abundantly. It is recommended to pour water into those few centimeters on the outside of the pit that were left when it was created.
5. If necessary, the first top dressing is introduced, spraying from pests and diseases is carried out.

To improve the growth of spruce, mulching of the soil is allowed.

Care

After planting and over the next few years, the tree should be carefully looked after. The crown needs special attention. Protection against diseases and pests is also important. Comprehensive care is very important for the normal development of the tree.

Watering

An adult tree tolerates a period of drought, which can last up to several weeks. A young tree will need artificial water application. If it does not follow, then the spruce may soon die, especially when it was planted or transplanted in the winter season. Spruce Inversa is actively watered in the first season after being placed in open ground.

Watering should take place so that moisture does not get on the needles. To prevent decay of the roots located in close proximity to the surface of the earth, a layer of mulch is created that absorbs excess moisture. Create it from sawdust, bark or pine needles. In this way, the soil composition at the roots of the spruce can also be improved. If mulching is not carried out, the gardener will have to constantly loosen the earth around the plant.

Top dressing

The European variety in question is not demanding on top dressing. It must be carried out, but you can use any available organic and mineral fertilizers. At least once a year, the tree needs to be fertilized with both organic and chemical compounds. This method is called complex. Manure or peat can be effectively combined with any commercially available softwood fertilizer.

Those plants that have recently been transplanted can be further treated with compounds that strengthen the roots and activate growth. It is allowed to spray needles with Ferravit already in the first week after planting in open ground.

Soil loosening

It is necessary to loosen the soil from time to time. This procedure is carried out with the following objectives:

• air flow to the roots;
• weed removal.

The root system of spruce is located very close to the surface of the soil, so it needs to ensure a constant flow of air. This will allow the tree to actively develop. Inversa spruce, like any other representative of this coniferous family, is not inclined to tolerate the close proximity of any plants, especially if it is weeds. Consequently, during loosening of the soil, weed removal is also carried out.

Mulching and preparing for winter

In addition to mulching, which is carried out during planting or transplanting, it is necessary to do the same procedure before the onset of winter. It is especially important to hide the roots in the first couple of years of life ate in the open ground. For this, lapnik is used.

If the crown was formed, then for the winter it must be tied with wire. This is done if a lot of snow falls in winter and the branches spontaneously begin to bend under its weight.

Crown formation

The formation of the crown of Inversa spruce is considered one of the most difficult care procedures. The reason for this is the lack of a central shoot and trunk. Its branches begin to grow down and immediately stretch to the surface of the soil. To ensure growth in height, it is necessary to choose one of the shoots and to direct using artificial support up. With each new development of the branch, it is again tied up with twine or wire.

Video: Trimming and shaping spruce

Growth will continue until support is available. The rest of the spruce can develop sideways or down. If you carry out a regular pinching procedure, you can get a new crown shape. As soon as the gardener decides that upward growth is no longer required, the support is removed. After some time, the escape itself will reach the ground.

Breeding

There are two different ways to increase the number of Inverse fir trees in a plot:

1. Cuttings.
2. The seeds.

The description of this process in botany is called vegetative and generative propagation, respectively. For the first case, cuttings and cuttings are used. To create new seedlings, use those shoots that have been on spruce for more than 2 seasons. An apical kidney should form at the apex. Since all coniferous plants have a monopodial branching type, it is necessary for rapid upward growth.

Cuttings are created in early spring. At the same time, new buds should not bloom yet. The branch is cut with a sharp blade or secateurs. The shoot should have a length of 6 to 10 cm. To get a good root system, it is allowed to dip the stem in a solution of the growth accelerator. Then it is placed on a substrate. It is allowed to use a mixture of peat and sand in a ratio of 3: 1.

After planting, the stalk is sprayed and covered with a film to preserve moisture. Humidity should be in the range of 80–85%. To maintain this level, it is enough to moisten the film itself. If the temperature begins to drop, the spraying process should be stopped to prevent rot. The temperature inside the cover should not exceed + 25 ° C - for this, ventilation holes are made in it.

Important! The selection of insecticides and fungicides is wide and varied. You should choose only those that are suitable for a particular variety or family of plants.

Reproduction of Inverse spruce using seeds is a painstaking and lengthy process:

1. The seed is extracted from the formed, but not yet opened cone. For this, the fruits are dried. As soon as they open, they extract the seeds.
2. After that, they are placed in sand, which is mixed with peat, and placed in a refrigerator at a temperature of +2 ... + 3 ° C for several weeks.
3. Then they are removed, they begin to water abundantly.
4. The first shoots appear in late winter or early spring, when the first rays of the sun become warmer.
5. At this time, you should water the plant very carefully, since excessive moisture will cause the process of root decay.

Spruces grown in this way are planted only in the second year.

Diseases and Pests

Although Inversa spruce, like any other representative of this family, is considered a resistant plant, some diseases can still affect it. The most dangerous is a fungal infection. One of the most dangerous strains is called shute: when it appears, the needles begin to turn brown and fall. You can recognize the disease by specific dark stripes that appear on already yellowed needles.

Also gray mold appears on the spruce - more often on dwarf conifers and young seedlings. The causes are moisture and shade of densely growing shoots. To ensure protection, the trees are sprayed with any available fungicidal solution.

The most common and dangerous for spruce tick. It is very difficult to notice, and therefore it is difficult to take countermeasures in a timely manner. A sign of infection is a change in the color of the needles - it often turns brown.

Spruce-fir hermes also often affects young plants. This insect leaves galls after itself: aphids begin to develop in them. As soon as such neoplasms were noticed, the branches are cut and burned, and the tree is treated with insecticides.

A sawyer can live on a young spruce. Due to its life activity, a characteristic brown coating remains on the needles. For destruction, various coniferous insecticides are also used.

Bark beetles and barbel can cause irreparable harm to the bark and trunk. It is almost impossible to destroy them, therefore exclusively preventive measures are applied. In early spring, seedlings are treated with insecticides. In the category of maximum risk are trees that are poorly developed.

With the help of an insecticide, you can get rid of green aphids. It affects almost the entire tree and sucks out the juices from it. If the gardener will be as reverent as possible about his plantations of Inversa spruce, then the tree will delight him with its unusual shape for more than one year. Only a timely reaction and observance of the rules of care guarantee a good development of the tree in a summer cottage or garden.