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Balsam fir is an evergreen ornamental plant with medicinal properties. The birthplace of coniferous trees is North America, where pine species predominate. Fir is actively used by gardeners and landscape designers to create comfort and style on the site. The plant is adapted to all climatic zones, so there are no special difficulties when growing.
Description of balsam fir
The description of the tree cannot be reduced to one characteristic, because more than 50 species of balsam fir have been bred, and 20 of them are for decorative purposes. Ordinary fir grows quickly in natural conditions up to 14-25 m. The needles are ring-shaped, shiny and smooth. Depending on the variety, the color of the crown in the upper part is dark or light green, in the lower part it is greenish-white or matte green. The length of the needles is 2-4 cm, width is from 1 to 3 mm. The crown diameter is 4-7 m. The top of the fir is blunt-conical and forked.
The shoots are round and brown. The cones are elongated, obtuse-ovate, ripe - reddish-brown, young - matte gray-violet. The fir self-pollinates by the wind through male flowers in the form of small earrings. After ripening, the cones fall off on their own. The bud remains on the fir tree as a core. New needles are renewed on the branches every 4-5 years and have a resinous and tart aroma. Balsam fir tolerates drought well, frosts down to -40-45 °C.
Decorative varieties grow up to 1-2 m. The crown is trapezoidal, spherical or flattened, there are several tops that need to be trimmed during growth. The branches are arranged densely, there is no knotting. The cones grow from 3 to 5 cm. The colors of the needles range from bright green to blue. The average lifespan of wild and ornamental trees is from 250 years.
Where does balsam fir grow?
Most varieties of balsam fir grow in Canada, USA, and their range extends from the shores of the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean. After the importation of some varieties into Russia, good growth rates were observed in all forest loamy zones of the country. In the Taiga and Central climate zone, the plant independently reproduces on a large scale. However, fir cannot be found in forest-steppe or steppe zones - the soil is of poor quality.
Use in landscape design
In landscape design, balsam needles are used to complete the image of a thematic or classic style of garden composition. With the presence of an evergreen tree, a harmonious atmosphere appears on the site even in the winter season.Trees are often planted in front of summer cottages, using a single planting scheme or combining the plant with other dwarf varieties. For example, fir of the Brilliant variety has an original crown shape and small growth, which allows you to compactly place several trees in front of the house or along the garden path. These trees are combined with other pine species: cypress, boxwood, juniper, thuja. Needles are popular in garden landscapes of northern, English or minimalist styles.
Varieties of balsam fir
Wild varieties rarely take root after transplantation - changes in soil and climate can injure the plant, which is why dwarf firs are the most popular today. Decorative varieties of coniferous trees are most adapted to changeable weather conditions. This allows you to independently cultivate a new variety or grow fir after transplanting a seedling from one region to another.
Balsam fir Piccolo
Slow growing evergreen dwarf tree. The plant grows well in acidified soils, which allows the tree to be planted in any area. The growth reaches 0.5-1 m, then development stops. The crown is up to 50 cm in diameter. The first few years of cultivation require regular watering 3-4 times a week. Piccolo develops favorably both in the sun and in the shade and partial shade. Mature needles are green; with the onset of spring, shoots of a bright light green color appear.
In landscape design it is present as the main detail of a coniferous garden in Japanese or Alpine style. Planting along a stone path mixed with moss or heather will create a cozy and modern environment. At home, gardeners extract fir oil themselves.Flowering and young branches are cut for home decor; the phytoncides released by the Abies Balsamea Piccolo fir destroy germs and viruses indoors.
Balsam fir Nana
A shrub from the Pine family, it grows up to 1-1.5 m. The branching of the crown reaches 2-2.5 m, the needles are thickened, but pruning of branches is not required. The fir is a bright green hue, the lower branches darken with increasing age. The tree grows to the shape of a round or flattened ball. The plant is self-pollinating; after the growing season, purple cones appear, which develop on the upper branches of balsam needles and ripen by mid-November.
For planting, seedlings are purchased in peat pots with a prolonged substrate, which will allow the plant to quickly take root. Balsamic Nana grows for a long time - 30-40 cm in 10 years. Suitable for decorative cultivation in pots. Experienced gardeners advise replanting fir every 3-4 years in March or November, then rooting will be favorable and the tree will not get sick.
Balsam fir Diamond
The most common and popular type of decorative tree, often found in Russia. The variety was bred in Korea. The growth of the plant stops at 0.5 m. The spherical shape of the tree fits compactly into the modern style of landscape design. A favorable place for Diamond balsam needles is shade or partial shade; under these conditions, the tree stretches 4-5 cm per year. Water the fir 1-2 times a week. The diamond is not frost-resistant, so the tree is covered with hay and cloth for the winter. The variety can be propagated at home with seedlings or seeds.
Other varieties of balsam fir
About 30 varieties of wild and ornamental balsam fir grow in the country. In the natural environment along the forest belt of Russia you can find fir of the White, Macedonian, Caucasian or Sakhalin varieties. The lifespan of these varieties is more than 300 years. Of the dwarf varieties, Kiwi, Hudsonia, Green Globe, and Molly fir are rarely found. They are similar to the Brilliant or Nana varieties, but have some peculiarities when grown. For example, if the balsam fir Piccolo is unpretentious in planting and care, then Molly or Kiwi require a strict schedule of watering, pruning and spraying, so these varieties are rarely purchased for landscape design.
Planting and caring for balsam fir
You can plant an ornamental tree in any season of the year, except winter. If possible, there should be a pond with shade or partial shade nearby. In order for fir to initially begin to bring aesthetic pleasure, it is necessary to follow the planting rules and organize watering and fertilizing.
Preparing seedlings and planting area
For planting, seedlings are purchased 3-4 years old, when the plant reaches 20-25 cm in height. Wild varieties can be grown from seeds or cuttings. The roots of purchased seedlings are inspected for the presence of root cancer, rot or other damage. When examined, the needles should not fall off, be faded or yellowed. Dry branches are cut down to living tissue. Before planting, the fir is hardened by temperature changes: put in the refrigerator for 3 hours, then in a warm place. Planting is done together with root soil.
Balsam fir does not grow well on heavy soils and does not always take root on sandy or black soil. Good growth and rooting is observed on loams and slightly acidic soils.The planting site is prepared 5-10 days before planting. Heavy soils are diluted with drainage. Dig a hole 50 cm deep and wide, pour drainage or small pebbles on the bottom. The distance between trees should be 2-3 m, although the parameter depends on the type of seedling. Before planting, the soil is disinfected.
Landing rules
The description and planting rules for balsam fir are standard, regardless of the chosen variety. For rooting to go well, the following rules must be followed:
- the drainage layer should be at least 20-30 cm;
- It is better to pour a layer of mixed fertilizers on top of crushed stone or pebbles;
- the root collar should be located flush with the ground;
- You should not purchase young seedlings with a thin trunk;
- The optimal time for planting is March or September, for transplantation is November or April.
The roots of the planting material are moistened with water, which is mixed with a small amount of growth stimulants. The seedlings are placed on a layer of substrate and covered with the remaining soil. An irrigation ditch is formed around the trunk. Balsam needles are watered with a small amount of water. Young trees are not resistant to strong gusts of wind, so fir is tied to a trellis or planted next to a fence.
Watering and fertilizing
Balsam fir responds to frequent watering, but do not overwater the soil. At the first watering, 1 tree should use up to 2-3 liters. An adult tree needs up to 10-15 liters of water. There are up to 2-3 waterings per week. During the hot summer season, the frequency of watering is increased to daily 4-5 times a week.
Fir is fed 2-3 times every year. Manure, potassium supplements, and wood ash are suitable as fertilizers. The first feeding is done 2-3 years after planting. The gardener is recommended to carry out additional fertilizing according to the seasons:
- apply manure or bird droppings in the spring;
- in summer, during active growth, add a small amount of compost to the soil;
- at the end of November or before the first frosts, the needles are fed with superphosphates.
Mulching and loosening
Fir roots quickly overgrow weed, so after each watering you need to loosen the soil and remove weeds. For the winter and to preserve moisture for a long time, the ditch around the trunk is mulched with hay, sawdust, and large crushed stone. The layer thickness should be from 10 to 15 cm. The mulch layer for an adult tree is 20-40 cm.
Trimming
With the onset of spring, decorative varieties are inspected for the presence of dry or diseased branches. The lower branches are cut by a third or removed completely. The crown is trimmed to give shape. The sanitary section is carried out every season. Tools are disinfected in a solution of manganese or wood ash.
Preparing for winter
For the winter, the tree trunk is whitened with lime mixed with copper sulfate. The roots are mulched and the trunk is wrapped in roofing felt. Spruce branches cover the roots 50-80 cm from the trunk, because the root system develops in the upper layers. To prevent rodents, the roots are sprinkled with substances with a pungent odor. With the onset of spring, young trees are covered with fabric on the sunny side so that the branches do not get burned in the sun.
Reproduction
Balsam fir is propagated by cuttings, seeds or seedlings.A young branch with an apical bud on which there are several shoots is cut from a one-year-old seedling. The cutting can be planted directly into the hole or placed in a container with high humidity. Cuttings from 2 or 4 year old trees take root well.
The seeds are obtained from blossoming cones, which are cut off together with the branch when unripe. The planting material is dried, then soaked and waiting for germination. You can plant several seeds at once and cover the greenhouse. Every day until the shoots appear, the greenhouse is opened for 3-4 hours.
Diseases and pests
Like any coniferous plant, fir is affected by fungal diseases and is attacked by pests. The most dangerous diseases:
- root cancer;
- browning;
- brown shutte;
- rust.
The causative agent may be non-compliance with planting rules, poor-quality planting material or insufficient amount of water during irrigation. The occurrence of the disease can be avoided by spraying the needles with pesticides or treating with hot or cold fog.
Conclusion
Balsam fir is an ornamental crop that does not cause any special problems when grown. Dwarf varieties are spreading all over the world, breeders are developing new varieties, which means that the population of evergreen shrubs will not decline. They are unpretentious to growing conditions and bring aesthetic pleasure to the garden landscape or home environment.
