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Serbian spruce trees with a weeping crown are very popular and are expensive. The high price is due to the fact that they do not propagate by cuttings or seeds - only by grafting. In addition, domestic nurseries are just mastering the operation and cannot saturate the market. Serbian spruce Pendula was first described by German botanist Fritz Kurt Alexander von Schwerin in 1920. The only thing known for certain about the origin of the variety is that it originated in Europe.
Description of Serbian spruce Pendula
The status of the Serbian Pendula spruce (Picea omorika Pendula) as a separate variety is questioned by experts. This is stated in Humphrey Welch and Gordon Haddow's 1993 World Conifer Checklist and other sources. Scientists believe that Serbian spruce Pendula is the collective name of plants belonging to a species with a weeping crown shape. They have significant (from a botanical point of view) differences, and should be classified as different varieties.
Weeping spruce Pendula, like all weeping forms, does not have a trunk.He is “raised” from a randomly selected strong shoot, constantly tied to a support, and is called a leader or guide. Therefore, we need to talk about the height of drooping forms with caution. What do manufacturers and gardeners mean: the length of the conductor or how much the Serbian Pendula spruce rises above the soil surface? It would be good to consider this issue in detail.
If you choose a good conductor and constantly tie it to a strong support, the Serbian Pendula spruce will form a narrow-conical tree with flexible branches hanging along the “trunk”. They grow so densely, forming an impenetrable canopy, that it is impossible to see the leader’s bark.
As can be seen in numerous photos of the Serbian Pendula spruce, a mature tree resembles a column rather than a cone, even a narrow one. If grown with constant leader tying. With this formation, Pendula reaches 3 m in height with a width of 1 m by the age of 10. Every year the size increases by 10-15 cm. Serbian spruce grows more slowly in width, adding 5-10 cm. But the side branches are tightly pressed to the leader, and a visual The effect is that the volume increases worse.
After 10 years, Pendula begins to grow faster, and by the age of 30, the length of the central conductor reaches 10 m. Of course, if the branch is tied firmly, it was not broken and was done without pruning. After 30 years, Serbian spruce continues to grow, but slowly. The largest size of a tree tied to a support, known and included in the specialized literature, is 15 m.
When forming the Serbian Pendula spruce as a column, the crown width reaches a maximum of 3 m (after 30 years). Usually it does not exceed 2 m in an adult tree.
Usually weeping forms lie on the ground without support and continue life, becoming similar to a ground cover plant. Not so Serbian spruce Pendula. If you do not intentionally bend it to the ground, the central conductor stretches upward. True, he chooses a “winding path” for this. The trunk bends bizarrely, which is why it is impossible to find two identical Penduls not tied to a support.
To close the question about the nature of tree growth, a few words should be said about the support. If gardeners want to grow tall, straight Serbian Pendula spruce, it is not at all necessary to look for a long thick stick somewhere. It is enough to have 2-3 straight strong rods on the farm.
Over time, the leader becomes woody, and from a flexible thin shoot turns into a powerful thick branch. Then the support can be untied - the Serbian spruce will no longer bend anywhere. And adapt to the top. Thus, when growing Pendula, 2-3 rods are used simultaneously.
The needles of the Serbian spruce Pendula are greenish-blue, flat, 8-18 mm long. The bark is reddish-gray, superficial but powerful root system. Cones rarely appear.
For different forms of Pendula, the recommended growing zones without shelter vary - from 4 to 2. So it is better to clarify this question when purchasing spruce. High resistance to urban conditions.
Serbian spruce Pendula Bruns
This form of Pendula spruce is most often found in landscape design and is better described. The variety was isolated in 1955 by the Bruns nursery, located in Bad Zwischenahn, Germany.
Serbian spruce Pendula Bruns is a coniferous tree, reaching 1.5-3 m by the age of 10 years when tied vertically. Seasonal growth of the leader is 15-30 cm, side shoots increase by 15-20 cm. A rigidly tied tree looks like a column or very narrow a pyramid with drooping branches pressed to the trunk. By the age of 30 it can reach 10 m.
If the omorika Pendula Bruns spruce is not tied up, first it stretches upward, then the conductor begins to bend. So there are no two identical specimens grown without support. The lower branches lie on the ground without pruning and form a kind of skirt.
The Pendula Bruns spruce differs from its original form in its intensive growth, more lush, dense needles, dark green above, bluish below, which creates an interesting visual effect. The length of the needles is up to 2 cm. Young needles are light green. Frost resistance zone 2-7 (according to Jan Van der Neer).
Spruce omorika Pendula Cook
Serbian spruce Pendula Kuk is very similar to the Bruns variety, but grows slower and lower. The increase in the leader per season is 5-10 cm, the maximum length of the central conductor after 30 years is up to 10 m, but often does not exceed 5 m. It is the last figure that should be used in Russia.
The central conductor does not want to grow vertically from the very beginning. If you do not tie it up, the tree will begin to bend just above the grafting site. Over several seasons, the Pendula Cook variety forms a remarkably gnarled tree with drooping branches. Its crown is often called “dancing.”
The color and size of the needles are the same as those of the Bruns variety: young ones are light green, mature ones are green with a blue tint. But the branches of the Serbian spruce Pendula Kuk are thinner and weaker, but not so much that without a garter the tree will lie on the ground and become like a ground cover plant. Frost resistance for Russia is low - zone 5, that is, areas where temperatures below -28 ° C have not been recorded in the entire history of observations.
Spruce Pendula in landscape design
Serbian spruce Pendula with a curved crown is used in romantic and landscape gardens. It looks great when planted alone against a lawn or flower bed. Serbian Pendula is planted in the foreground of large and small tree landscape groups.
Spruce trees, tightly tied to a support, can form an alley. An arrow-straight tree planted in a landscape group will serve as a magnificent vertical accent.
Serbian Pendula will appeal to all exotic lovers. It is simply irreplaceable when planning exotic gardens; it will help out where you need to divert attention from something.
By manipulating the garter and supports, Pendula spruce can be used to create a fantastic plant. It will grow tall and slender, leaning to one side or twisting in different directions. In addition, no one forces you to tie the support strictly vertically: you can use several at once, and guide not only the leader, but also the side branches.
Planting and caring for Serbian spruce Pendula
Despite its exotic appearance, the Serbian Pendula spruce is an easy-to-care plant, at least compared to other representatives of the Picea genus. It tolerates urban conditions well, is not too demanding on soils, has excellent health and is rarely damaged by pests.
Preparing seedlings and planting area
Serbian spruce Pendula is planted in a sunny place, but can be placed in partial shade. She prefers acidic or slightly acidic loose loams, but will put up with neutral soil, although she will not feel the best.
When preparing a planting mixture, high-moor peat is almost always added to the substrate - it not only normalizes the pH level, but also improves the structure of the soil. There is no need to remove stones, if they are in the soil - Serbian spruces grow in the mountains and will respond favorably to their presence in the earthen mixture.
Pendula will grow quite large, and although its central conductor is strong, its root system is superficial compared to other weeping spruce trees. Therefore, the planting site must be protected from strong winds, otherwise it will simply uproot the tree.
When choosing seedlings of Serbian Pendula spruce, imported ones should be taken in plastic containers. Domestic ones can be purchased with a lined earthen lump.
The grafting site of the Serbian spruce Pendula should be well joined, undamaged, the needles should be fresh and elastic. Otherwise, the tree may not take root or die quickly. The needles must be in good condition for at least the last three years. If they have begun to crumble or have partially dried out, there is no need to take Serbian spruce. Even the reddish tips of the needles should make you refuse to buy.
Sometimes they try to sell another spruce instead of the expensive Pendula. Small trees do not always look like adults, and unscrupulous traders take advantage of this. It is impossible to insure yourself for all occasions, but when purchasing you need to pay attention to the following points:
- The Serbian Pendula spruce, even the smallest one, four years old, is always sold with a support.This is done because the leader is formed, albeit from a strong branch, but still a branch. It can easily break during transportation, caring for the tree in a nursery, when buyers are looking at the product. Growers will not take risks, and always grow Pendula spruces tied to a support.
- An ungrafted tree cannot be a weeping spruce. Even if the branches are drooping and the trunk is bent. You can give a hanging shape to any tree using guy ropes and bending the shoots to the ground. On small spruce trees the operation is not so labor-intensive. And weeping forms are expensive. The owners will plant a tree on the site, in the absence of spacers it will straighten the branches, and a spruce tree will grow in the usual shape, only crooked.
- There are no rooted Pendulas. If you root cuttings of Serbian silver spruce, trees will grow that only tend to form a weeping crown. That is, a regular tree will have branches at a different angle, or several branches will look down. Such a spruce will have nothing in common with a varietal spruce.
Landing rules
Containerized Pendula spruce trees can be planted at any time, but this should not be done in summer. Unless the weather is cool, cloudy, and should not change in the next 2 weeks. If we talk about the best time for planting, then in the south it is autumn, in cold regions - spring.
In the pit for Serbian spruce Pendula, the substrate is completely changed only on dense alkaline soils. To do this, prepare a mixture of turf soil, acidic peat, sand, clay and leaf humus.
On others, the soil is simply improved if necessary:
- when the soil reaction is alkaline or neutral, high-moor (acidic) peat is added;
- excessively light sandstones are made more dense with clay;
- the structure of poorly permeable soil is improved with leaf humus and turf soil;
- on those who are soaking, they make a drainage layer, 1.5-2 times more than recommended, or build an embankment.
The planting hole for the Serbian spruce Pendula is dug 2 weeks or earlier so that the soil has time to subside and the root collar of the Serbian spruce does not fall through. The size of the excavation should be approximately 1.5-2 times larger than the root with a lump of earth. Therefore, it is better to immediately make it voluminous. The depth is needed so that it can accommodate drainage (15-20 cm), soil (layer up to 10 cm) and spruce root.
After the planting hole has been dug, drainage is laid and 2/3 of the remaining volume is filled with prepared substrate mixed with nitroammophoska (up to 150 g). Fill with water.
There is nothing special about planting the Serbian Pendula spruce - any gardener can handle it. To avoid mistakes, you need to follow several rules:
- prepare the hole in advance so that the soil subsides;
- plant Serbian Pendula together with a support;
- do not remove the burlap from the lined earthen ball;
- monitor the position of the root collar - it should coincide with the ground level or be slightly higher (2-3 cm);
- compact the soil added when planting spruce so that voids do not form;
- water Pendula generously, spending at least 10 liters per small tree, or a bucket of water for every 1 m of the length of the central conductor for large trees;
- mulch the ground under the Serbian spruce.
Watering and fertilizing
After planting, you need to water the Serbian Pendula spruce frequently, not allowing the earthen coma to dry out, but avoiding waterlogging and stagnation of water. In the future, moisturizing should become rare, but plentiful and regular. With each watering, the tree uses the same amount of water as when planting. In hot summers, the soil is moistened every week.
Sprinkling the crown in hot weather is mandatory, preferably daily. This prevents the needles from drying out, washes away dust and prevents the appearance of many pests, primarily spider mites. In warm weather, it is advisable to spray the crown several times a week.
It is necessary to feed young Pendula 2 times per season, as well as large-sized ones in the first 2 years after planting. Mature trees (after 10 years) – desirable. Fertilizers are used specialized ones intended for coniferous crops. They are produced separately for spring and autumn.
Foliar feeding allows the Serbian Pendula spruce to receive the necessary microelements, since they are poorly absorbed through the root. They are done no more than 2 times a month, adding epin or zircon to the balloon. Magnesium sulfate is useful for pine needles, especially in urban conditions. It is applied in addition to water-soluble fertilizers containing a full set of microelements, or a chelate complex.
Mulching and loosening
Serbian spruce Pendula does not tolerate trampling of soil in the root area. During the first years it is regularly loosened, especially after watering or rain, and later replaced with mulching. For weeping spruce trees, covering the soil with acidic peat or pine bark is of great importance:
- creates a suitable microclimate;
- does not allow to germinate weeds;
- retains moisture;
- improves the absorption of nutrients;
- protects the root from overheating.
Trimming
Serbian spruce Pendula does not need pruning, but it tolerates shearing well. For sanitary purposes, remove all dry and broken branches.Formative pruning is usually limited to removing or shortening the lower shoots lying on the ground. But often they are left as is, placing pine bark under the branches to avoid contact with the ground.
Preparing for winter
In the first two years after planting, the Serbian Pendula must be covered by wrapping the tree in white spandbond and securing it with twine. The soil is covered with a thick layer of high-moor peat. In the spring it is not removed, but embedded in the soil.
The spruce can then overwinter without shelter in zone 4 and above. They only protect the grafting site if for some reason it is not covered with a canopy of branches.
Reproduction
Serbian spruce Pendula, like all drooping forms, is propagated only by grafting. Even specialists from domestic nurseries still rarely carry out this operation, and most of the planting material comes from abroad. Amateurs cannot vaccinate conifers.
Diseases and pests
All Serbian spruces, including Pendula, are very healthy. If a tree is planted correctly and cared for regularly, diseases and pests rarely appear.
Serbian Pendula can be affected by insects that are destroyed with insecticides:
- spruce sawyer;
- aphids;
- mealybug;
- butterfly Nun (caterpillars);
- spider mite;
- spruce budworm;
- Hermes.
Diseases are treated with fungicides, the following should be highlighted:
- Schutte;
- wound cancer;
- rust;
- fusarium;
- necrosis;
- rotten.
To minimize the damage caused by pests and diseases to the Serbian Pendula, spruce trees are regularly inspected, paying great attention to the grafting site.
Reviews of Serbian spruce Pendula
Conclusion
Serbian spruce Pendula is a beautiful tree with an exotic crown shape, healthy, well adapted to urban conditions. The variety does not require careful care and will be easy to grow even for novice gardeners.
Ekaterinburg. You recommend covering the Serbian Pendula for the winter by wrapping the tree in white spandbond.But many sources write that under such cover the spruce trees rot, that the spandpond allows ultraviolet light to pass through and that the spruce trees burn. Please explain what to adhere to? Thank you!
Good afternoon.
Yes, indeed, in the last few years information has appeared that spruce forests covered with white (and black) spunbond get burns. And often it is very difficult to restore such damage. As you understand, such information is based on the personal experience of those who grow spruce trees. And often it takes time to obtain it, sometimes up to several years. Even 5-7 years ago we even heard of such a concept as “cold burns”.
As for your question, what is the best way to cover. Instead of spunbond, you can also use burlap. But this material is quite expensive in price. Some gardeners even cover spruce trees with gauze.
In recent years, many have been using façade mesh to cover spruce trees. It comes in different densities. The façade mesh performs its function perfectly: it shades trees, protects them from sunburn, and is well ventilated. Another plus is that it can be used for several years.
It is important that the material chosen for the shelter allows air to pass through well. Otherwise, the trees under the shelters will rot and freeze.
When covering Pendula spruce, be sure to install frames onto which the material is thrown. There were cases when, in places where spruce branches came into contact with the covering material, the needles and branches simply burned out.