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Pines are very unpretentious and responsive trees. In addition, among them there is such a variety of species and varieties that any of the most intricate fantasies can be easily brought to life. Decorative pine can appear in almost any shape and any size. And if you add to this the variety of colors of pine needles, the choice will seem simply inexhaustible.
Decorative pine in landscape design
Many are accustomed to imagining a pine tree in the form of a giant rushing upward with a cap of fluffy needles at the very top of the trunk. But pines are so different that sometimes it’s even hard to imagine.
Small pyramids in the shape of Christmas trees can be used to decorate the entrance gates. Trees or shrubs with a spherical crown will decorate patios or rocky gardens. There are very low-growing varieties in the form of cushions or creeping shrubs; they will look great in rock gardens and large flower beds.
Pines in the form of weeping willows can decorate the banks of reservoirs, and from slender rows of cylindrical trees you can create a real hedge.
From trees of various shapes with multi-colored needles, you can create a whole decorative group that can decorate the garden no worse than perennial flowering shrubs. And even better, since it will retain its decorative effect all year round.
Finally, pine trees are also perfect as a tapeworm towering over a lawn or flower bed.
Decorative varieties of pine trees
The most famous and familiar to the eye is the Scots pine. But even this species has many decorative varieties that are completely different from their original variety.
- Fastagiata – the tree looks like a column, due to the branches closely pressed to the trunk.
- Globoza Viridas– does not exceed 1.5 m in height, and has an almost spherical crown shape.
- Pendula – grows very slowly, and the weeping shape of the crown looks very interesting and unusual.
- Gold Queen - a slow-growing variety with golden-hued needles.
There are many more decorative types of pine, and many of them can easily withstand the climatic conditions of most Russian regions.
Mountain
One of the most popular types of decorative pine. The plants are very compact, grow slowly and are ideal even for growing in a small area.
Black
This species is native to Central and Southern Europe. The pine tree is named so for the dark color of its bark. Unlike other species, it is shade-tolerant.
There are many decorative forms and varieties: pyramidal, dwarf, golden and others.
Veymutova
One of the most decorative types of pine, originates from North America. It is distinguished by the bluish color of its soft and long needles. The branches grow almost horizontally, which provides additional decorativeness to the crown.
Rumelian
In another way, this species is also called Balkan pine. It is characterized by rapid growth, unpretentiousness to growing conditions, and can grow even in partial shade. The needles have a bluish tint, thick and dense. At the age of 10 it reaches a height of 2.5 m. Mature trees grow up to 20 m.
How to grow decorative pine from seeds
In general, pine is considered the simplest among other representatives of conifers in terms of agricultural technology for growing from seeds. Moreover, the seed method of propagation can be considered practically the only one for it, since its cuttings either do not take root at all, or the formation of roots occurs with great difficulty.
Most decorative species do not even need stratification. But the freshest seeds germinate best. Therefore, it is better to collect them yourself in the nearest coniferous forest, park or arboretum. If the desired species does not grow nearby, then you can look for ornamental pine seeds from collectors.
The soil for sowing seeds is prepared as lightly as possible. In heavy soil, pine seeds may not germinate at all, and if sprouts do appear, they will quickly die. It is best to mix high peat with sand in equal parts.
It will be useful to soak the seeds in water at room temperature before planting. You can add one of the growth stimulants (HB-101, Zircon, Epin).The seeds are soaked for 24 hours, but you can also keep them in damp gauze until they germinate.
You just have to make sure that the gauze remains damp all the time. The sprouted seeds are placed in moist, light soil to a depth of no more than 1 cm and wait for sprouts to appear.
The box with germinating seeds must be immediately placed in the brightest place possible. Any shading can lead to a stop in the growth and development of seeds.
Therefore, after the emergence of seedlings, they must be regularly sprayed or watered for preventive purposes with the addition of any biological fungicide, Fitosporin, Alirin-B, or their analogue.
In the autumn of the year of planting, ornamental pine seedlings can already be transplanted into separate containers for further growth. With proper protection, primarily from rodents, they can even be immediately planted in the ground in a permanent place.
Planting and caring for decorative pine in open ground
Decorative pine is an unpretentious plant and does not require particularly careful care. However, if all planting rules are followed, the trees will be able to take root well and delight with their appearance and healing aroma for many years.
Preparing seedlings and planting area
It doesn’t matter whether the ornamental pine seedling was grown from seeds at home, or was purchased at a nursery or on the market, the main thing is that before replanting it must have a ball of earth on its roots. Pine trees transplanted with bare roots take root with great difficulty and can be painful for a long time.
The sunniest place on the site is chosen for planting decorative pine.Only in the first week after planting can the seedling be shaded if the weather is sunny.
Groundwater should also not come too close to the surface. In any case, a drainage layer with a depth of at least 10 cm must be installed in the hole for planting pine trees.
Landing rules
The volume of the planting hole should approximately correspond to the size of the earthen ball on the roots of the pine tree and be slightly larger. It is especially important to dig a hole of greater volume and depth. The bottom of the planting pit is covered with drainage made of crushed stone or broken brick. Then add a little nutritious soil consisting of turf soil, humus and sand.
A lump of earth is placed on top, and the gaps are filled with a nutrient mixture. Since the root collar of a pine tree should be level with the ground, when planting you can even place it a little higher. After all, over time, thanks to watering, the earth will settle, and the root collar will also sink.
Watering and fertilizing
In the first years of life, young seedlings require regular watering, about once a week and even more often if the weather is dry and hot. Mature trees are watered only 1-2 times throughout the entire season. One tree requires about 50-80 liters of water. In hot weather, pines, especially young ones, will respond favorably to sprinkling the crown after sunset.
It is best to use compost as a fertilizer for decorative pine trees. It is either diluted in water for irrigation, or mixed with mulch in a tree-trunk circle.
Mineral fertilizing can be applied only in spring and it is advisable to use special granular fertilizers for conifers.
Mulching and loosening
Since the roots of the pine tree are located a short distance from the surface, it is not recommended to frequently loosen the soil near the trunk.
To protect against weedTo preserve moisture and additional nutrition, the root zone is mulched with a layer of 6-8 cm. It is best to use crushed bark of coniferous trees or the top layer of soil from a pine forest for this.
Trimming
Pine takes well to pruning and, if necessary, its crown can be shaped in any convenient way.
Annual sanitary pruning is mandatory, during which all dry, damaged or diseased branches are removed.
Protection from diseases and pests
If you fulfill all the necessary requirements for caring for pine, then most likely diseases and pests will not be able to harm the tree. But for preventive purposes, it is recommended to spray the crown with Fitoverm against pests in early spring. And to prevent diseases, water the tree with a biofungicide solution several times during the warm period.
Preparing for winter
Ornamental pines, as a rule, tolerate frost well. But it is still better to prepare the youngest trees under the age of 4-5 years for the winter period. To do this, the entire surface of the earth under the crown is covered with a layer of peat, about 10 cm high. And the crown is covered with spruce branches, which are fixed with a rope. The first spring sun, which can cause burns, can also be dangerous for young pine seedlings. For protection in the first spring months, the seedlings are covered with a special light non-woven material.
Gardening tips
Experienced gardeners advise paying attention to the following points when growing ornamental pines:
- When planting and replanting, and even when sowing pine seeds, it is advisable to add a little pine needle litter to the planting soil. The mycorrhiza present in it will facilitate the survival of pine trees in a new place.
- Several times a season, young pine seedlings should be watered with Heteroauxin or Kornevin. This will help the growth and development of the root system.
- Only seedlings under 5 years old should be replanted. Older trees tolerate replanting much less well.
- In the spring, pine trees throw out many shoots in the form of candles, from which new branches then grow. If you cut them, it will look ugly at first. But over time, this will lead to the formation of additional side shoots and the formation of a dense crown.
Conclusion
Decorative pine, if desired, can even become the main decoration of the site. Especially if you carefully choose the appropriate species or variety and plant it according to all the rules.
