Content
Spruce Majestic Blue is an interesting representative of evergreens, characterized by a symmetrical crown and blue needles. Crops planted on the site will quickly grow and make their contribution to the landscape.
History of appearance
Blue spruces come from the USA. The Glauca Majestic Blue variety has always been grown for decorative purposes. Some states have made Glauka Majestic Blue their state symbol.
Description and characteristics of Majestic Blue spruce
The official name of the prickly spruce is: “Picea pungens blue majestic.” The culture has a pyramidal crown. The needles are densely located, the branches do not droop, like those of the weeping spruce.
The gray-gray color of the Majestic variety remains throughout its life; it does not change even under the influence of sunlight
The trunk is gray, while the branches extending from it are light brown at the bottom and olive at the top. The spiny needles reach 30 mm in length and grow radially. Majestic's lifespan is 500-700 years.
Dimensions and height of Majestic Blue spruce
The tree has significant dimensions: the average height is 15 m, the crown diameter is 7 m. Already at the age of 10, Majestic Blue reaches 450 cm. The annual growth is about 18 cm.
Places of growth
Spruce is mainly distributed in the West. Many plantings are located in Europe, where they are accustomed to landscaping parks with the help of conifers. The variety is also grown in Russia, since the frost resistance of thorny trees is consistently high.
Advantages and disadvantages
One description makes it clear - the Majestic Blue spruce is an ornamental plant.
The plant grows quickly, has a beautiful crown and strong immunity
Pros:
- the needles retain their natural color regardless of the lighting;
- unpretentiousness;
- resistance to cold;
- may be pruned;
- nice smell.
Minuses:
- the tree is voracious, its roots deplete the soil;
- does not grow well in the shade.
Planting and care
Spruce is planted on the bright side, where it is able to reveal its potential. A distance of 150 cm is kept between seedlings. The soil chosen is acidic or slightly acidic, loamy and well-drained. Planting can be done in autumn or spring.
The ideal planting material is a ready-made seedling aged two years or more, not too tall, with healthy branches and dense needles. Trees older than five years old do not survive re-adaptation well.
After digging a hole (60 x 60 x 80 cm), drainage is formed from sand and pebbles. Peat, leaf soil and special fertilizer for coniferous plants are placed on top. After this, the Majestic Blue spruce is planted, being careful not to damage the earthen ball.
Before transplanting, water the soil thoroughly
The root collar is left on the surface. The next step is dense watering (with warm water) and mulching with spruce branches.
Poor places for planting are depressions: ravines, old riverbeds, lowlands. Groundwater flows under such areas, which harms the root system. And although it spreads along the surface, some of the roots, along with nutrients, will receive a lot of unnecessary liquid.
Spruce Majestic Blue is undemanding; minimal growing conditions are required. Temperatures below -35 °C will not be a problem for it, but for the first year it is better to cover it if the region is cold. Loosening and weeding are carried out periodically.
Reproduction methods
Blue spruce trees are propagated by two methods - using seeds and cuttings. Other technologies do not work on this variety: the tree does not form root shoots or side shoots. Even if you cut the stem of a seedling, it will either dry out or turn into an asymmetrical bush.
Cuttings are an effective and simple procedure in which it is possible to preserve the varietal characteristics of a crop. Seeds for growing spruce are suitable for people who are truly passionate about botany. The process is characterized by labor intensity, the first results appear within a month.
Diseases and pests
Majestic Blue does not suffer from frequent illnesses. The same applies to insects - they hardly bother the crop. Experienced gardeners recommend not to neglect preventive treatments of spruce, since some diseases (fusarium, rust, schutte) and pests (aphids, spruce sawfly) can pose a danger to young and adult plants.
Photos in landscape design
Spruce is suitable for planting hedges; it also looks beautiful when used alone
Majestic is not recommended to be planted near tall trees - they create shade and take away a lot of nutrients
To create an accent, Majestic blue spruce is planted next to contrasting plants.
Conclusion
Majestic Blue spruce is a vibrant crop included in the group of prickly blue conifers. It has a slender pyramidal crown made up of numerous olive-colored branches. At the same time, the trunk itself is gray.
Reviews of blue spruce Majestic Blue
