Content
Japanese larch is the brightest and most beautiful representative of the Pine family. Thanks to its beautifully colored needles, ease of care and rapid growth, the plant is widely used in gardening. Kaempfer's larch prefers to grow in a sunny place and harmonizes perfectly with ornamental shrubs, junipers and other conifers. The uniqueness of the species lies in the fact that it has features of deciduous and coniferous trees.
Description of Japanese larch
Japanese larch Kaempfera is a deciduous coniferous plant native to the island of Honshu. The species has only recently been known in Russia, but has already gained great popularity. Kaempfer larch can grow in cold and dry climates, withstands returning spring frosts, and is unpretentious in care.
Japanese larch is a tall conifer that reaches a height of up to 30 m.The plant has a powerful trunk with thin, peeling bark and long, slightly spiraling branches. At the beginning of winter, annual shoots acquire a lemon-brown color with a blue tinge; adult shoots turn dark brown.
Kaempfer's larch is a fast-growing plant, the annual growth is 25 cm in height and 15 cm in width. The pyramidal crown is covered with bluish-emerald blunt needles reaching a length of up to 15 mm. In autumn, the needles turn a light lemon color, thereby giving a decorative look to the garden plot.
Fruiting occurs at the 15th year of life. Kaempfera is covered with round-oval cones 30 mm long, arranged in 5-6 rows. The fruits are formed from thin scales and can remain on shoots for up to 3 years, forming light brown small seeds.
Japanese larch has strong wood, which is why the plant is widely used in the woodworking industry. Furniture, souvenirs, window frames and door panels are made from it. Wood is also used for the construction of private houses, as it has bactericidal properties, refreshes the air and drives away pests and parasites.
Japanese larch differs from other species in its vitality, durability and greater immunity to diseases. It can also withstand severe frosts, minor droughts and sudden changes in temperature and humidity.
By growing Kaempfer larch, you can stock up on valuable natural gifts that cope with many diseases:
- resin or resin quickly heals wounds, treats abscesses, boils and carbuncles;
- young needles strengthen the immune system and quickly recover from colds;
- A decoction of the shoots soothes joint pain, treats bronchitis and pneumonia.
Kaempfer larch in landscape design
For many homeowners, Japanese larch is the main plant in landscape design. Since the tree is decorative, unpretentious, has the ability to change color, has rapid growth and durability.
In garden compositions, Japanese larch is planted in coniferous gardens, next to juniper, and used in single and group plantings. Diana larch on a trunk is distinguished by its unique beauty. A properly formed tree is a beautiful waterfall of hanging branches located on a perfectly straight trunk. Japanese larch Diana will look great in rock gardens, front gardens, flower beds and as an openwork hedge.
Varieties of Japanese larch
Thanks to the efforts of breeders, several varieties of Kaempfer larch have been developed. They differ in size, needle color, crown shape and maintenance requirements. Among the popular varieties, anyone can choose one that will look harmonious in their garden plot among other plants.
Kaempfer's larch Diana
Diana (Diana) is a tall variety, under favorable conditions it grows up to 10 m. The plant is in demand among owners of personal plots for its luxurious appearance. Japanese larch variety Diana has spiral-shaped shoots and bright pink miniature cones. The weeping crown is covered with delicate, soft needles, which are colored light emerald in summer and bright lemon in autumn.
In the first few years, young Kaempfer larch grows very quickly, then development slows down.Diana prefers to grow in moist, alkaline soil.
In landscape design, Kaempfer larch variety Diana is used in single and group plantings, in coniferous gardens, next to ornamental shrubs and surrounded by perennial flowers.
Japanese larch Stif Viper
Japanese larch Stiff Weeper is a standard tree with creeping shoots. The variety is low-growing, reaches a height of 2 m, a width of 1 m. The beautiful crown is formed by hanging side shoots, so the variety is in demand and looks great in any garden compositions.
The needles of the Japanese larch Kaempfer Stif Viper are sky green and fall off after the first frost. Female buds are red, male buds are lime green.
Japanese larch BlueDwarf
Kaempfer Blue Dwarf larch is a dwarf variety with a hemispherical crown, up to 2 m high. The plant is slow-growing, the annual growth is about 4 cm. In the spring, the tree is covered with soft, dense needles of a bluish-emerald color, in the fall they change color to rich yellow.
At the end of summer, small red cones with thin, slightly bent scales appear on the larch. In winter, larch sheds its needles, but the cones that stay on the branches for several years add decorative value.
The variety is frost-resistant and loves fertile, well-drained soil. Does not tolerate drought and low air humidity.
On a personal plot, it looks harmonious in rocky and coniferous gardens, rock gardens, and mixborders.Young specimens respond well to pruning, so they can be formed as a standard tree. The original form is suitable for creating alleys and contrasting compositions of ornamental trees and shrubs.
Japanese larch Blue Rabbit
Japanese larch Blue Rabbit is a tall variety with a pyramidal crown. In favorable conditions, adult specimens reach up to 15 m. The variety received its name for the blue color of the needles, which become golden-red in autumn.
The tree is cold-resistant, so it can be grown in all regions of Russia. Kaempfera Blue Rabbit is a fast-growing variety, resistant to gas pollution, and retains its decorative appearance throughout its life. Kaempfer's Blue Rabbit larch prefers to grow in well-drained, breathable soil with high humidity.
Larch Kaempfer Pendula
Japanese larch Pendula is a medium-sized variety, the height of the tree reaches 6 m. The slow-growing tree forms long, heavily drooping branches, which with age cover the ground with a coniferous carpet.
The soft, fluffy sky-emerald needles add a decorative touch to the look. Pendula is not demanding in terms of care and soil composition, but, like other varieties of larch, it does not tolerate dry and waterlogged soil.
Planting and caring for Japanese larch
Kaempfer's larch is a decorative long-liver with beautifully colored needles. To grow a beautifully growing tree, you need to decide on the variety, choose the right site for planting and observe timely care.
Preparing seedlings and planting area
It is better to purchase Japanese larch seedlings from nurseries.When purchasing, you need to pay attention to:
- rhizome, it must be well developed;
- the trunk must be flexible and elastic, without signs of rot or mechanical damage;
- the needles are rich green; if they are colored brown or dark brown, it means that the plant is at the stage of death; you should not purchase such a seedling.
Japanese larch is a long-lived tree that does not tolerate transplantation well. Therefore, when choosing a site, it is necessary to take into account that the plant will grow in one place for about 15-20 years.
Kaempfer's larch grows and develops well in an open, sunny place. Thanks to a powerful, well-developed branched root system, it can grow in open space, without fear of strong gusty winds.
The soil for planting should be nutritious, well-drained, neutral or slightly acidic. Since the plant does not tolerate swamps, the planting site should be located at the top and away from bodies of water.
Landing rules
Experts recommend planting seedlings in the spring, when the soil warms up to + 12 °C. It is better to work in the evening:
- The planting hole is dug to a depth of 80 cm. A 15 cm layer of drainage (expanded clay or broken brick) is laid at the bottom.
- When planting several specimens, the distance between planting holes should be at least 2-4 m. The interval depends on the size and shape of the crown.
- The seedling's root system is straightened and placed in the center of the planting hole.
- The hole is filled with nutritious soil, compacting each layer to avoid the formation of air voids.
- The top layer is compacted, mulched and watered. At least 10 liters of water are consumed per specimen.
Watering and fertilizing
Abundant and frequent watering is necessary for a young plant for 2 years. Irrigation is carried out 2 times every 7 days at the rate of a bucket of water per 1 seedling. As the root system grows, watering is carried out only in dry summers. During the hot summer, the plant will not refuse irrigation using the sprinkling method. This will increase air humidity and give the needles a healthy and decorative appearance.
Every year, before sap flow, fertilizing is carried out with liquid fertilizers, which are specially designed for coniferous species. To avoid burning the root system, fertilizers are diluted and applied strictly according to the instructions.
Mulching and loosening
After each watering, shallow loosening of the soil is carried out. To conserve moisture, stop growth weed, the tree trunk circle is mulched. Straw, fallen leaves, sawdust, pine needles or rotted humus are suitable as mulch. The mulch layer should be at least 7 cm.
Trimming
In the first 2-3 years after planting, formative pruning is carried out, giving the crown a decorative appearance. Adult plants require regular sanitary pruning. In spring, unwintered, mechanically damaged and dried shoots are removed.
Low-growing varieties are often used to create a standard tree. In this case, the formation is carried out throughout the season.
Preparing for winter
Kaempfer's larch is a frost-resistant species, so plants at the age of 6 years do not need shelter for the winter. To protect young larch from upcoming frosts, you need to:
- cover the crown, trunk and branches with breathable material;
- insulate the root system with spruce branches or sawdust.
Reproduction
Japanese larch can be propagated by cuttings, grafting and seeds. Cuttings and grafting are complex and time-consuming processes, so they are not suitable for a novice gardener. Most often, such propagation is used in nurseries and garden centers. In favorable conditions, the root system of the cuttings grows quickly, the graft heals, and in the 2nd year the plant can be planted in a permanent place.
Propagation by seeds:
- In the fall, before the leaves begin to fall, the cones are collected and put in a warm place for ripening. Ripening is determined by open scales.
- The collected seeds are soaked in warm water for 2 days. To avoid infection, you need to change the water every 5 hours.
- The prepared container is filled with preheated, nutritious soil.
- The seed is buried 4-6 mm.
- The soil is spilled, the container is covered with polyethylene and put in a warm, sunny place.
In such conditions, a Japanese larch seedling develops for 1.5 years, after which it can be transferred to a prepared place.
Diseases and pests
Japanese larch has strong immunity to many diseases. But if the care rules are not followed, larch can be affected by:
- larch moth;
- coniferous mealybug;
- aphid;
- caseworm caterpillars;
- bark beetles;
- larch sawfly.
If treatment is not started in a timely manner, the growth and development of the Japanese larch stops, its decorative properties are lost, the metabolic process is disrupted, the tree becomes depleted and dies. When pests appear, it is necessary to treat with insecticides, such as: “Karbofos”, “Fozalon”, “Decis”.
Among fungal diseases, rust and schutte are considered the most dangerous. For treatment, fungicides, Bordeaux mixture or any copper-containing preparation are used.
Conclusion
Japanese larch is a godsend for conifer lovers. But before choosing a variety, it is necessary to take into account the height and shape of the crown, as this directly affects the decorativeness of the planting. Care requirements, cold tolerance and disease resistance should also be assessed.
