Content
European or Falling Larch (Larix Decidua) belongs to the genus (Larix), Pine family (Pinaceae). Under natural conditions, it grows in the mountains of Central Europe, rising to a height of 1000 to 2500 m above sea level.
European Larch was first described by Philip Miller in 1768. It was originally known as Deciduous Pine. In New Zealand, where the forest service plants the crop to control erosion, it is commonly referred to as "wildwood".
What does European larch look like?
European larch is a tall or medium-sized coniferous tree with needles that fall off in the winter and a straight trunk. The size of old specimens ranges from 25 to 35 m, with the average trunk diameter reaching 1 m, in rare cases - 45 and 2 m, respectively.
Among the larches, the European one is considered the fastest growing - it adds 50-100 cm every year. Interestingly, the crop grows in size the fastest in 80-100 years.
A young tree has a narrow, conical or pin-shaped crown, often irregularly shaped, which becomes much wider with age. The branches are horizontal or hanging, with ascending ends. Young shoots are thin, picturesquely falling from raised skeletal branches. The bark is yellowish or gray-yellow, smooth, old bark cracks and turns brown.
The needles of European larch are bright green, flat, soft, 1 to 3 cm long, collected in bunches of 30-40 pieces on short shoots. In autumn it turns golden yellow and falls off. In winter, the crop is easily recognized by its gnarled branches.
The flowering, unlike most other coniferous genera, is quite attractive. In spring, round golden male cones appear on European larch simultaneously with young needles. They are located on short leafless shoots, mostly on the underside of the branches. Pollen travels nearby.
Oval-round cones 2-4 cm long, with 40-50 scales, ripen in the same year, can hang on the tree for up to 10 years. They are light brown in color and covered with soft bristles.
The lifespan of European larch is more than 500 years. The oldest specimen officially recorded was 986 years old.
European larch, unlike other species, has low frost resistance. Without shelter, it can only winter in zone 4; many varieties are even more heat-loving.
There are three main subspecies of European larch, the main difference of which lies in the geographical location of the natural habitat and the structure of the seed cones:
- Alpine European larch – Larix decidua var. Decidua;
- Carpathian European larch – Larix decidua var. Carpatica;
- Polish European larch – Larix decidua var. Polonica.
Varieties of European larch
Since European larch is a very beautiful, but tall crop, and also grows very quickly, breeding is aimed at creating low varieties. But still the trees very quickly reach several meters. For a small garden, or where a tall plant is simply not needed, since it shades a large area, varieties grafted onto a standard have been bred.
European larch Puli
The Hungarian variety Larix decidua Puli owes its appearance to Jose Mikolos, who selected and grafted a seedling found with strongly drooping branches in the mid-90s of the last century.
The crown is weeping in shape and forms a dense curtain of thin branches covered with light green needles, which change color to golden in the fall. First, the shoots beautifully fall from the height of the trunk, then spread along the ground.
If the plant is left alone, it will first form a kind of skirt around the trunk, then spread in different directions like a ground cover. Pruning started at an early age and directing the shoots in the right direction will help create a real masterpiece. You can even prevent the branches from lying on the ground if you constantly shorten them.
There is no need to talk about the height of the Puli larch on the trunk - it depends on the grafting and the rootstock. And the branches will cover the area that landscape designers and owners will provide at their disposal.The annual growth is more than 30 cm; in any case, by the age of 10 years, the crown diameter will exceed 4 m if the branches are not shortened.
Frost resistance – zone 5.
Little Bogle Larch
The Australian variety Larix decidua Little Bogle is derived from a witch's broom discovered in 1990.
This is one of the rare cultivars that produces a clearly defined leader. Therefore, the Little Bogle larch variety on a trunk is usually grafted low, and it forms a kind of curved trunk, reaching a height of 130 cm by the age of 10. It grows slowly, adding 10-12.5 cm every season.
The shoots of the European larch variety Little Bogle are often twisted and form a wide asymmetrical crown, vaguely reminiscent of an oval or egg.
European larch Krejci
One of the most original coniferous trees is Larix Decidua Krejci. The variety arose from a deformed seedling discovered in 1984 by Czech Ladislav Krejci. It is very difficult to propagate it, as well as to bring it to planting in a permanent place, so the plant remains rare and expensive.
The European larch variety Krejci is a slow-growing tree with sparse shoots twisted and growing in unexpected directions. Every year they become thicker, adding 8-10 cm in length. At 10 years the plant does not exceed a height of 1 m.
Even a photo of the European larch Krejci makes an indelible impression.
European larch Repens
The English variety Larix Decidua Repens has been known for 200 years and is always popular. It is grafted onto a trunk, the height of which determines the size of the tree.
In the photo of the European larch Repens you can see trees that are different from each other, however, they are the same variety.The shape of the crown depends on where this or that branch “went” - first they rise 50 cm, then fall.
By carrying out annual pruning and removing branches sticking out in the “wrong” direction, a ball or dome can be formed from larch, with shoots that do not touch the ground. If it is grafted onto a low trunk, the result will be a ground cover plant, in the center of which there will be a green “fountain” slightly higher than 50 cm.
The tree grows relatively slowly, adding about 30 cm annually. The needles are light green in spring, golden brown in autumn. Frost resistance – zone 4.
Larch Kornik
The dwarf variety Larix decidua Kornik clearly came from a witch's broom. It grows grafted onto a standard, the length of which determines the size of the plant. Standard height is 1-1.5 m.
It is a neat ball with dense short branches directed upwards and emerald foliage, turning golden in autumn. Even though the needles fall off in winter, the Kornik larch grafted onto a trunk does not lose its decorative effect.
European larch on a trunk
A significant part of modern varieties are plants grafted onto a trunk. This allows you to limit the height of European larch, but does not always slow down the growth of shoots. As a result, you can get a tree of the desired size, and the shape of the crown will depend on the scion. Conventionally, vaccinations can be divided into three types:
- The simplest option is to graft shoots of a species of larch onto a standard. The plant is limited in height, and the already drooping branches lie on the ground and spread like a ground cover.
- Breeders are looking for shoots of strange shapes, with original needle coloring or other interesting deviations from species characteristics. Then they are propagated by grafting and observed. If clones pass on altered forms from generation to generation, a new variety emerges.
- Many interesting cultivars arise from witches' brooms. A new variety of European larch will not necessarily have a weeping crown. It may resemble a hedgehog, consist of several intricately curved branches or another original shape.
Grafted European larches are expensive, but have a unique crown. It is impossible to find two identical ones, and if you start pruning at an early age, the shape of the tree can be adjusted or directed in the desired direction.
A very interesting option for creating an arch from the seemingly well-known variety of European larch Pendula is shown in the photo.
European larch in landscape design
The culture is very attractive for decorating parks, public and private gardens. Particularly popular are the low-growing and standard-grafted forms of European Larch Larix Decidua.
The only disadvantage of the crop is its insufficient frost resistance for Russia - zones 4 and 5. We often plant other species that are more resistant to low temperatures.
When planting a tree, you first need to carefully study the characteristics of the variety. Only some grow slowly and take up little space, the rest need space, even when grafted onto a trunk.
European larch looks good as a tapeworm; it can be planted on a lawn, in a parterre, or in the foreground of landscape groups - the tree is sure to attract attention. Autumn golden needles look especially original.Even in winter, gnarled, gnarled branches do not spoil the appearance of the garden, but give it a unique zest.
Larch is precisely the crop in which the imagination of the owner or landscape designer can be fully expressed. It is important to remember that tree formation must begin as early as possible. Only then can you create an original crown that is unlike anything else, preserving its decorative effect and without harming the plant.
Planting and caring for European larch
Larch is undemanding to soils, but it grows better in drained podzolic or sod-podzolic soils, and poorly on sand. Suffers from drought and stagnation of water at the roots. It tolerates urban conditions well, which makes it attractive for landscaping parks and squares where automatic watering is installed.
It is better to plant larch, dug up with a clod of earth, at the age of 6 years; for container plants, the period is limited to 20 years. Then there is a danger that the tree will not take root.
It is better to choose autumn for planting, waiting for the needles to fall. Varieties of European larch that can withstand low temperatures in cool regions where summers are not hot can be placed on the site in the spring, before buds open. This does not apply to container plants - they are planted throughout the season, except for the hottest months.
You need to choose an open place, since larch does not withstand shading. Be sure to take into account the growth rate of the crop, and do not plant plants that require good lighting nearby.
Preparing seedlings and planting area
The planting pit is prepared no less than 14 days in advance.If it is necessary to completely change the substrate, it is prepared from leaf humus, peat and sand, taken in a ratio of 3:2:1. The drainage layer is standard – 20 cm.
First, gravel or broken brick is poured into the dug hole, then the remaining volume is filled 70% with the prepared substrate. Fill with water until it stops being absorbed and allow to settle.
It is better to take a seedling of a species plant from a local nursery. Grafted larches are most likely to be imported and are purchased in a container. At the same time, they check the humidity of the earthen coma, the flexibility of the branches, and the freshness of the needles (if any).
Landing rules
When planting any trees, they try to disturb the roots as little as possible. Larch should be handled with the utmost care. Planting is carried out in the following sequence:
- Some of the soil is removed from the hole with a shovel.
- Place a seedling in the middle.
- Cover the earthen ball with substrate, constantly squeezing it from the edge of the hole to the center.
- A mound is formed along the edge of the tree trunk circle to retain moisture.
- Water generously until water stops being absorbed.
- When the moisture leaves, mulch the soil with a layer of 5-7 cm.
Watering and fertilizing
European larch, like other species, is demanding when it comes to watering. She needs them not only after planting, but throughout her life. Of course, at first it is watered more often, but even after complete rooting, the operation is carried out in the hot summer 1-2 times a week. In the cool season, moisture is reduced, but not stopped, and in the fall, moisture is recharged.
European larch is fed twice a year with specialized fertilizers for coniferous crops.They are produced separately for spring - with a high nitrogen content; in summer-autumn, phosphorus and potassium predominate.
Fertilizing cannot be neglected, since European larch is a deciduous tree:
- in the spring, with a lack of nitrogen, young needles will grow weak and will not be able to ensure a successful growing season during the season, which may result in the death of European larch in winter;
- In autumn, phosphorus and potassium help the crop to safely endure the dormant period, increase winter hardiness, and reduce the likelihood of frost damage.
Foliar feeding is of great importance, delivering to European larch those substances that are poorly absorbed through the root, but are vital for the plant. Spraying is done no more than once every 14 days. If the tree is too tall, treat at least that part of the crown that can be reached.
Mulching and loosening
Loosen the soil under young plants in the year of planting and throughout the next season after rain or watering. Then they limit themselves to mulching the tree trunk circle. To do this, it is better to use pine bark, which is sold in garden centers already treated against pests and diseases. It is divided into fractions from 1 to 5 in size, so it’s easy to choose the one you need for your site.
Trimming
European larch tolerates pruning well at a young age. Reading this statement, novice gardeners often ask the question: “What to do next?” The answer is simple: continue the formation started earlier. In adult larch, young shoots can be completely removed or shortened, but old shoots should not be touched.
So, if you are going to give a tree a specific shape, or direct its branches in one direction or another, you need to start right away.A larch is not an apple tree, which can be run until it completely loses fruiting, and then cut out 1/3 of the skeletal branches at a time to put it in order. This is a crop, the “education” of which must be started from a young age, or left alone, limited to sanitary pruning.
Preparing for winter
European larches need shelter in the year of planting. Then the trees are protected from the cold only with a thick layer of mulch, moisture is recharged in the autumn, and they are fed with phosphorus and potassium at the end of the season. Special attention is paid to the grafting site - if it is not protected by branches, it is better to wrap a layer of white agrofibre around the trunk.
The frost resistance of the species plant and most varieties of European larch is low - zones 4 or 5.
Reproduction
European larch is propagated by grafting and seeds. Cuttings take root better than pine, but not by much. Those who like to propagate the crop vegetatively on their own will not be able to, and even in nurseries the operation does not always end in success. The percentage of rooted cuttings is extremely low, even among specialists.
Vaccination is also not an operation for amateurs. But you can try to germinate the seeds after stratification, however, even here you should not particularly expect to bring the seedling to planting in open ground.
Diseases and pests
The main pests of larch are silkworms, which feed on buds, soft leaves and young cones. Other insects that can harm crops include:
- larch sawyer;
- larch budworm;
- larch case-bearer;
- larch fly;
- pinworm;
- larch moth.
At the first signs of damage, larch is treated with an appropriate insecticide.
The main disease of the crop is considered to be rust, the intermediate host of which is birch, and rarely alder. Larch can be affected by cancer and shutte. Treatment consists of treatment with fungicides.
In order to reduce the likelihood of diseases and pests, you need to regularly carry out preventive treatments and inspect the larch.
Conclusion
European larch is a fast-growing, not too frost-resistant species that has produced many attractive varieties. The crop is recommended for use in urban landscaping in irrigated areas, as it tolerates air pollution well, but requires regular watering.
