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A personal plot is a kind of artist’s canvas. What the landscape will be like depends on the owners and designers. Why not try recreating themed corners dedicated to different plants. Fir has had a beneficial effect on people since ancient times. The ancient Greeks considered this plant sacred, identifying it with the goddess Hecate. Today, Nana balsam fir is widely used in aromatherapy. By planting such a plant on your site, you can get your own corner of relaxation. And in winter it will turn into a fairy-tale playground, shrouded in an atmosphere of magic and celebration.
Description of balsam fir Nana
Balsam fir Nana comes from the Pine family. These are small trees about 1 m high. The crown can be cushion-shaped or have a geometrically regular conical shape. The branches of balsam fir are quite spreading and decorated with dense needles. It is short - only 4-10 mm in length and no more than 1 mm in width. Glossy, with a rich green tint in adult specimens and a delicate light green tint in young ones.The centers and edges of the needles also have a light shade, and below they are decorated with a white stripe with a bluish tint.
When growing, you need to take into account the features of the superficial root system of Nana balsam fir. It also has other features. For example, all resin passages are concentrated in the smooth bark. In other conifers they are located in the wood. Conical cones are highly decorative. Their colors vary from pure brown to various hints of purple.
Balsam fir Nana in landscape design
Looks original as a hedge. Balsam fir Nana harmoniously combines with various trees and herbs. It will become a real decoration for the alleys. The proximity of pine needles to an artificial pond will be quite interesting.
Planting and caring for Nana fir
Growing Nana fir does not require any special skills. It is enough to create comfortable conditions, and the tree will delight you with its beautiful appearance.
Preparing seedlings and planting area
You need to approach the choice carefully. The best Nana balsam fir seedlings can be found in nurseries or specialty stores. Additionally, you can consult with the staff. You should not purchase seedlings younger than four years old. In appearance, the trees should be healthy, with even, smooth bark without injuries or dried shoots. It is also necessary to pay attention to the soil in the container. If you care for the plant properly, it will be clean and moderately moist.
The most optimal time for planting in the ground is spring. It is necessary to select a shaded place in advance.An additional advantage will be the proximity of a reservoir. But planting Nana fir near the road is a bad idea. She cannot tolerate gases and dry air.
The soil must first be prepared:
- It should be cleared of weed and dig over. Balsam fir Nana prefers soft loamy soils.
- About two weeks before planting, a hole is prepared.
- Next, two buckets of water are poured into it. The moisture must be completely absorbed into the soil.
- After this, another digging is carried out (approximately to the bayonet length of a shovel).
- Drainage is placed on top: brick fragments and fine crushed stone.
- Now it's the substrate's turn. It is best to prepare it yourself from clay and humus with sand. Also add about 10 kg of sawdust, a little peat and nitrophosk (200-300 g). Mix everything thoroughly.
- The planting hole is filled approximately halfway with the resulting mixture.
This is how the soil will remain for the next 14-15 days. It should shrink.
Landing rules
A small mound is made from the earth. A balsam fir seedling is placed on it. The roots need to be carefully straightened. The level of the root collar should coincide with the level of the upper edge of the hole. The Nana fir seedling is sprinkled with earth and lightly compacted. Now the plant needs to be watered abundantly.
2.5 m of free space is left between the trees. If they are planted on alleys, then at least 5 m.
Watering and fertilizing
You cannot overdo it with moistening the soil. But desert conditions are not suitable either. Throughout the spring, two or three waterings are done. For this purpose, only settled water is used. Afterwards the soil is weeded and loosened. In summer, crown sprinkling is used.
Balsam fir Nana loves a fertile environment. As soon as two years have passed after planting, it is time to fertilize. The procedure is carried out every year in the spring. Feeding is applied to the tree trunk circle (100 g of Kemira for each specimen). You can additionally support balsam fir in the fall. During this period, mineral complexes are used.
Mulching and loosening
Heavy soil with dried crust can kill balsam fir. In order for the roots to breathe and receive enough moisture, loosening is required. Considering that the root system is superficial, no deeper than 10-12 cm. Along the way, it is necessary to get rid of weeds.
Mulching is usually carried out after planting Nana fir (moisture conservation) and in the fall (plant insulation). The best raw materials are tree bark, wood chips and sawdust. The maximum layer does not exceed 10 cm. For young bushes, a 5-centimeter layer of mulch is sufficient. You cannot cover the root collar of balsam fir.
Trimming
Carry out only as needed. Nana firs do not tolerate excessive manipulation of the crown. Sanitary pruning is carried out before the sap begins to flow. Dry and damaged Nana fir branches are removed only with special garden shears. Before the procedure, at least 10 years must pass from the date of planting. Sometimes the shoots of balsam fir Nana are pruned more often, but not more than by a third of their length.
Preparing for winter
As a typical representative of conifers, balsam fir Nana calmly tolerates frosts. Young bushes are additionally insulated with spruce branches. The tree trunk circles are covered with a layer of peat.The top of the Nana fir can be covered with special fabric covers. They will not only protect the plants, but will also become an additional decoration of the site.
Reproduction
There are several options for propagating Nana fir.
Cuttings. They are harvested at the very beginning of spring, before intense sap flow begins. Start cutting Nana balsam fir in the morning or evening. The optimal cutting length is from 5 to 7 cm. Only young plants with annual shoots can be the source of planting material. One bud is left at the top of the cutting. The fastest to take root are the so-called cuttings with a heel. They are not cut off, but sharply torn off. A piece of bark remains at the site of detachment. It is cleaned of burrs. Afterwards, the finished cutting is disinfected in a pale solution of potassium permanganate (a few hours is enough). Now you need to choose a suitable size pot or box. A soil mixture of humus with leaf soil and sand is poured into it. The cuttings are placed in a prepared substrate and sealed with film. It is advisable to heat containers from below.
In order for the cuttings to successfully take root, you need to provide them with a temperature a couple of degrees higher than room temperature. You will also need intense sunlight, regular ventilation and moisture. The first roots will appear only in the second year. Balsam fir Nana has a slow growth rate.
Seeds. It is necessary to select a slightly immature bud. It dries naturally for some time. Then the seeds are removed. They need to be cold hardened. The seeds are placed on a piece of damp cloth and carefully rolled up. Afterwards they are placed in a container with sand and sent to the refrigerator. They will spend several months there. In April it's time to sow seeds.This can be done directly in open ground. You will need a separate bed with turf-sandy soil. The seeds are buried 2 cm. There is no need to moisten them. Instead, the plantings are covered with film. In about a month you will be pleased with the first shoots.
Diseases and pests
Balsam fir Nana is resistant to various diseases. Only unsuitable climatic conditions can weaken her immunity.
In this case, you may encounter the following diseases:
- Spruce-fir hermes. The needles begin to turn yellow and small white lumps appear. They are similar to cotton fibers. They can be controlled with systemic insecticides.
- Pine needle rust. A fungal disease common in spring or summer. Young animals are most affected.
Among the pests the following specimens can be observed:
- Cone fire. The larvae hatch into caterpillars that gnaw through the cones and eat the seeds. The plant is treated with insecticides.
- Click beetles destroy the root system of Nana balsam fir. You should be especially careful in May.
- Bark beetles Only weakened bushes are affected. Sometimes these pests appear on the site along with low-quality fir seedlings.
Conclusion
Balsam fir Nana is rightfully considered the queen among conifers. Caring for her will not bring much trouble. Its oils, rich in beneficial substances, will help you relax and have a beneficial effect on the heart and blood vessels. By planting a fir on your property, you can acquire not only an unusually beautiful shrub, but also a home healer.
