Content
Varella mountain pine is a rather original and decorative variety, which was bred at the Carstens Varel nursery in 1996. The name mountain pine (Pinus) was borrowed from the Greek name for pine from Theophrastus - pinos. If we turn to Greek mythology, we can find the legend of the nymph Pitis, whom the god of the north wind named Boreas turned into a pine tree.
Description of the mountain pine Varella
If we consider the description of the mountain Varella pine, it is worth highlighting the following points:
- The tree has a rather dense and compact crown, which has the shape of a ball. An adult tree can reach a height of up to 1-1.5 m, a width of about 1-1.2 m. Every year, the mountain Varella pine grows by 10 cm;
- the needles have a dark green tint, are elongated in shape, and have small curves at the ends. The size of the needles in length is 10 cm. The needles are located quite densely, young needles are much shorter compared to adults, as a result of which a halo appears around the crown;
- plants of this variety are undemanding in care and grow well in a slightly acidic environment. Growth is slow, Varella pine loves the sun.Quite a wide root system. Varella perfectly withstands strong gusts of wind and low temperatures;
- has a high level of resistance to most pests and diseases. As a rule, plants of such varieties are used in the design of rocky gardens; they grow well both in group and single compositions;
- in landscape design they are combined with other coniferous tree varieties.
It is also worth noting the fact that mountain Varella pine is capable of releasing phytoncides into the air, which kill microbes in the environment.
Mountain Varella pine variety in landscape design
Mountain pine, variety Varella, is often used in landscape design. This popularity is explained by the fact that the tree is capable of holding any shape, including artificial ones. The tree has an attractive appearance, which gardeners like so much.
Varella pine grows small in size, it can be used not only for single, but also for group compositions, combined with other types of plants. Some experienced gardeners note that if you regularly use a minimum amount of fertilizer, it is possible to speed up growth.
Planting and caring for pinus mugoVarella pine
To obtain a beautiful decorative tree, it is enough to pay a minimum of attention to the Varella mountain pine. During the growth process, it is necessary to promptly remove weeds, carry out sanitary pruning and crown formation. To prevent a number of diseases, many gardeners recommend carrying out preventive measures by spraying trees with chemicals.
Preparing seedlings and planting area
Mountain pine is a light-loving tree; in some cases it can grow in partial shade, but in the shade it almost always dies. That is why it is recommended to choose an open sunny place for planting.
This variety is unpretentious to soil. Pine can be planted in acidic, sandy, sandy loam and even poor soil. But if the land is infertile, it is necessary to apply fertilizer first.
The purchased planting material should be kept for several hours in a solution with the addition of a rooting agent, which will allow the seedling to take root in a new place much faster.
Landing rules
For better survival, planting material is planted in open ground after cold weather or at the beginning of autumn. Mountain Varella pine grows best in a sunny location. Before planting, you will need to dig a hole up to 1 m deep. If the soil is heavy, then drainage is poured to the bottom. Most often, broken stone or brick is used for the drainage layer, and a layer of sand is poured on top. After the drainage is filled in, it is recommended to make a layer up to 20 cm high from nutrient soil.
Before planting the pine tree, a small amount of water is poured into the bottom of the hole. The root system must be carefully distributed over the hole and then covered with soil.
If the plant was purchased in a store, in a special bag, then, as a rule, it is not removed, since over time the material decomposes in the ground without causing harm to the Varella pine. In some cases, Varella mountain pine is sold in plastic containers - it is recommended to get rid of it.
Watering and fertilizing
During the first 2 years after planting mountain Varella pine in open ground, it is recommended to apply fertilizing and fertilizer. For these purposes, it is recommended to use mineral fertilizers. For each bush, about 30-40 g of fertilizer is applied to the tree trunk circle. After 2 years have passed since planting, the tree does not need feeding.
It is not recommended to remove the needles that fall from the tree during the growth process, since thanks to them a rather thick litter is formed, in which organic nutrients subsequently accumulate - this is quite enough for the normal development of the tree.
Since this variety is drought-resistant, the plant does not need constant irrigation. In addition, it is worth considering that the layer of fallen pine needles perfectly retains moisture. The exception is Balkan pine, which needs watering.
Mulching and loosening
Despite the unpretentiousness of the mountain Varella pine, the tree requires care, as a result of which you can count on the pine to grow large and beautiful. The most important thing in care is timely removal of weeds. As is known, weeds take a large amount of nutrients from the soil, as a result of which they are not enough for the full development and growth of the tree.
It is recommended to loosen the soil around the Varella pine, as a result of which the root system receives a sufficient amount of oxygen. Mulching the tree trunk helps slow down the growth of weeds, while a thick layer of mulch also prevents rapid evaporation of moisture.
Trimming
The only problem that most gardeners face when growing mountain Varella pine is pruning the crown.Thanks to this procedure, a fairly thick cover is formed on the tree, and the crown can be given any shape. As you know, wood perfectly holds not only its natural, but also its artificially created shape.
When carrying out formative pruning, it is not recommended to remove more than 1/3 of the crown - this rule is the most important. The first step is to remove all bare branches, since they dry out quite quickly and do not give the tree an attractive appearance.
Pruning is carried out using a sharp knife. It is recommended to process each cut using varnish, potassium permanganate solution or varnish for these purposes. The period of pine dormancy lasts from the second half of February until the first days of March; it is at this moment that it is recommended to prune the crown.
Preparing for winter
Before sending the mountain Varella pine for the winter, it is recommended to first prepare the tree. Before winter, it is recommended to water the plant generously one last time and apply fertilizer if necessary. Since mountain Varella pine can withstand low temperatures, it is not necessary to cover it for the winter.
In early February, it is recommended to cover the plantings with sun protection film. A construction mesh with small cells is excellent for these purposes. The mesh is removed after the snow has completely melted. This is necessary so that the bright rays of the sun do not burn the needles.
Reproduction of pine mugo Varella
If necessary, you can propagate mountain pine variety Varella. For reproduction, 2 methods are used:
- cuttings;
- seeds.
If the first method is chosen, then cuttings that are 3 years old are used for planting. It is not recommended to use planting material that was taken from the forest.This is due to the fact that such specimens rarely take root.
The most common method of propagation is seed. After the planting material has been purchased, it is recommended to keep it in a cold place for a month, and then place it in warm water, as a result of which the seeds wake up and a rapid germination process begins.
Diseases and pests
As already mentioned, mountain pine of the Varella variety is not susceptible to pests and various types of diseases. Despite this, preventive measures are recommended. If the plantings are not sprayed in a timely manner, the trees may be affected by scale insects or spider mites. Among the soil pests that attack the root system, it is worth highlighting the beetle and cutworm.
To prevent diseases, it is necessary to treat trees with insecticides in the spring. The amount of solution used depends entirely on the size of the pine tree. During the processing process, it is necessary to ensure direct contact of the drug with the roots of the Varella pine.
Conclusion
Varella mountain pine is an excellent option for landscaping, which is loved by landscape designers. As you know, it is best to purchase plants in specialized stores or nurseries. It is not recommended to bring planting material from the forest, as there is a high probability that such seedlings will not take root. An excellent solution would be to purchase planting material from a person who propagates pine trees at home.With proper care, you can get a beautiful tree that will attract attention.
