Content
Norway spruce Frohburg belongs to the category of weeping varieties. It looks original and decorative, and grows relatively slowly. The culture is practically free of defects, hardy, and does not require complex care. All this led to its popularity among amateur gardeners and landscape designers.
History of origin
Norway spruce Frohburg appeared on sale in Europe in 1973, in Russia only in the early 2000s. This selection variety was created by specialists from the Swiss nursery A. Haller Nursery.
Description of Norway spruce Frohburg
Frohburg is a weeping spruce. Its trunk is erect, but needs support. Otherwise, upon reaching a certain height, it begins to droop or even “dance”, bending in different directions.
If there is support, the crown is relatively symmetrical, evenly developed, in the form of a narrow cone
The lower branches are creeping, almost lying on the ground. They form a kind of wide skirt or train. The needles are a rich green shade with a glossy tint, densely dotting the branches. The needles are short (1-2 cm long), hard, prickly.
Height of Frohburg spruce
The height of the Frohburg spruce reaches a maximum of 5 m, the diameter of the crown is 2 m. It grows slowly, with shoots adding about 20 cm per season. The growth rate is the same for both young and adult trees.
Frost resistance
In terms of cold resistance, different sources classify Frohburg spruce as USDA zone 3 or 4. This means that with minimal shelter or without it at all, it is able to successfully winter at temperatures of -40-34 °C or -34-29 °C, respectively. High frost resistance allows Frohburg spruce to be grown in most Russian regions.
Advantages and disadvantages
Its large ovoid or cylindrical cones also contribute to the decorative appearance of the Frohburg spruce. They change their bright greenish-purple hue to chocolate brown as they ripen.
Compared to other weeping species, Frohburg spruce has a narrower crown and slower growth rate than the Pendula variety.
Pros:
- relatively small dimensions;
- slow growth rate;
- decorative appearance, visual appeal;
- original crown shape;
- undemanding conditions at the landing site;
- basic agricultural technology, easy care;
- cold resistance;
- wide possibilities of use in landscape design.
Minuses:
- low drought and heat resistance;
- unsuitability for planting in unfavorable environmental conditions (heavily dusty, polluted air).
Landing Features
Given the low heat and drought resistance of the Frohburg spruce, even seedlings in containers are planted in spring or autumn, taking into account the peculiarities of the local climate. It is not too picky about growing conditions, but ideally the landing site should meet the following criteria:
- good lighting;
- loamy or sandy soil;
- neutral or close to this soil pH;
- at least 3 m to the nearest obstacle.
Uniform lighting, the absence of cold drafts and sharp gusts of wind are important for the symmetry of the crown
The dimensions of the pit for the Frohburg spruce are determined by the size of the container with the seedling. Usually 50-70 cm in depth and diameter is enough. At the bottom, a layer of any drainage 15-20 cm thick is required. The most important points during planting are to water the soil at the beginning and at the end of the procedure, leave the root collar flush with the surface and mulch the tree trunk circle.
Care instructions
To maintain the decorative appearance of the Frohburg spruce, it requires basic care:
- Watering. Needed only in summer, in extreme heat and in the absence of precipitation. They are carried out every 5-7 days, spending 10-15 liters of water per tree. Additionally, the crown is sprayed or sprinkling is practiced.
- Loosening. Required after each watering. The soil is loosened to a depth of no more than 5-6 cm and very carefully.
- Feeding. Two root dressings are enough - at the beginning and at the end of the season. Fertilizers are exclusively complex for conifers. Additionally, to maintain the decorative appearance of the needles, the crown is sprayed with special products every 3-4 weeks.
- Trimming. Frohburg spruce requires only sanitary pruning in late spring or early summer. She does not tolerate any shaping haircut well, recovers slowly, and may even die.
Dosage, frequency of fertilizer application, and other important nuances of feeding are determined according to the instructions for the drug
Reproduction methods
Frohburg spruce is propagated by cuttings. Planting material is obtained from trees aged 4-10 years. Cuttings are branches 6-10 cm long, located horizontally. They are carefully broken off along with the heel.
Frohburg spruce cuttings are harvested in the spring. The best time for this is early morning. It is advisable to plant them as soon as possible.
Before planting, the base of the cutting, cleared of needles, is kept in a biostimulant solution for a day. They are rooted in any loose, breathable substrate. Frohburg spruce cuttings are planted at an angle of 30-45°, deepening by 3-4 cm. If there is a greenhouse, rooting takes 8-10 weeks.
New specimens of Frohburg spruce are transferred to a permanent place 2.5-3 years after rooting
Diseases and pests
Frohburg spruce, planted in a suitable location and provided with minimal care, rarely suffers from disease. However, it does not have innate immunity against pathogens, so a neglected tree may well become infected:
- fusarium;
- necrosis of the cortex;
- different types of rot;
- pine needle rust;
- Schutte.
Frohburg spruce is also attacked by pests in unfavorable conditions:
- spruce aphid;
- sawfly;
- bark beetle;
- weevil;
- moth.
To avoid undesirable consequences, preventive treatments with insecticides and fungicides suitable for conifers are recommended. They are carried out in strict accordance with the instructions for the drug.
Application in garden design
The unusual appearance of the Frohburg spruce allows it to be used alone, including as a container crop. It looks especially impressive against the backdrop of a well-groomed green lawn.
In group compositions, it also inevitably becomes the main emphasis. Frohburg spruce is combined with related crops to create coniferous gardens or other weeping plants.
The tree is consistently in demand as an element of a rock garden, rock garden, heather garden or traditional Japanese rock garden
You can plant Frohburg spruce on the banks of a natural or artificial reservoir. But it is placed at some distance from the water. The tree cannot tolerate a waterlogged substrate; the roots quickly begin to rot.
Conclusion
Norway spruce Froburg is distinguished by its unusual weeping crown, relatively small size and slow growth. It is able to take root in most Russian regions, does not impose any special requirements on the landing site, and does not require complex care. Of course, the variety has some disadvantages, but they do not spoil the overall picture.
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