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Dwarf pine is an excellent option for small gardens where it is not possible to grow large trees. The plant is unpretentious, grows shoots slowly, and does not require special care.
Features of growing dwarf pines
Dwarf pine is an evergreen coniferous plant rich in resin. The crown is pin-shaped or creeping, with numerous trunks. Shoots are elongated or shortened, covered with needles. The needles are arranged in bunches. Cones - hanging or erect, vary in shape and color.
Dwarf pine develops slowly. The annual growth ranges from 3 to 15 cm per year. In height, such plants reach no more than 30 - 50 cm.
Most hybrids are obtained by processing planting material, which led to gene mutation. There are also natural dwarfs. Their compact size helped them adapt to climatic conditions. This includes varieties of mountain pine.
Growing dwarf pine has a number of features:
- plants are compact and occupy a minimum of free space;
- sensitive to lack of light and moisture;
- may suffer from sunburn;
- suitable for growing in containers;
- tolerate winter well;
- susceptible to fungal diseases.
Dwarf pines in landscape design
Dwarf varieties have found their place in landscape design. They are used to decorate rockeries, rocky gardens and alpine slides. Low-growing plants are suitable for covering slopes and slopes.
Conifers make a good alternative to a lawn. Dwarf hybrids are placed next to perennials, shrubs and trees. The plant is placed in the center of the composition or as an addition to it.
With the help of conifers, mixborders and borders are created. In this way, paths and spaces near fences and buildings are designed. When planting, take into account that pine grows over time. The seedlings are placed in such a way that they do not interfere with each other.
Types of dwarf pines
Popular varieties of dwarf pine:
- Nana. Representative of black pine. The shrub is compact, up to 1.5 m high. Annual growth is 5 cm. The trunk is dark brown, with strong shoots. The crown is spherical in shape. The needles are hard and dark green. The cones are brown-yellow and grow up to 5 cm. The Nana variety requires moderate watering and even tolerates Arctic frosts.
- Jane Kluis. Dwarf shrub with a cushion-shaped crown. Belongs to a densely flowered species. It reaches a height of 1.2 m, a diameter of 1.8 m. It grows slowly, reaching 0.8 m in 10 years. The shoots are rigid and directed upwards. The needles are light green and do not change color throughout the year. The plant is provided with good drainage and natural light. The shrub tolerates winter frosts down to -30 °C.
- Schmidti. Evergreen pine in the form of a neat shrub. Representative of the white-faced species.The crown consists of numerous shoots directed upward and located very densely. The bark is hard, light in color. The needles are long, emerald in color. The shrub is up to 0.5 m high and grows up to 1 m wide. Growth is no more than 3 cm per year. The winter hardiness of this dwarf pine is down to -30 °C.
Important! The Schmidty variety prefers fresh, drained soil and does not tolerate stagnant moisture.
- Gnome. Mountain pine of the Gnome variety is a small tree or shrub. The crown is dense and neat, spherical. Annual growth is no more than 10 cm. It reaches a height of 2 m, grows up to 2 m in width. The needles are short, dark green. Cones are round in shape, single. The dwarf pine variety Gnome grows on any soil and is resistant to frost and urban conditions.
- Pug (Mops). Dwarf hybrid of mountain pine. The tree is no more than 1.5 m wide and high. The shoots are short, the needles are straight, dark green, up to 5 cm long. The Pug variety branches well and forms a rounded crown. The hybrid is drought tolerant and prefers sunny areas. Increased winter hardiness, up to -45 °C.
- Ophir. A miniature pine tree up to 0.5 m high and no more than 1 m wide. Abundant small shoots form a spherical crown. It grows by 5 cm annually. The needles are prickly and short, slightly twisted. In summer the color is bright green, becoming lemon-orange in winter. The cones are small, round, brown in color. This variety of dwarf pine prefers open areas and tolerates drought well. Winter hardiness - down to -30 °C.
- Humpy. A dwarf shrub up to 50 cm high and 100 cm wide. The shoots form a small dense mound. The needles are short and yellow, dark green in summer. In winter, the needles turn brownish-red. This dwarf pine grows slowly, up to 4 cm per year.The frost resistance of the shrub is high, up to -30 °C. Does not tolerate saline and swampy soils well.
How to grow dwarf pine from seeds
To propagate dwarf pine, take ripe fresh seeds. Cones are collected in October-November. It is best to remove them from the tree rather than pick them up from the ground. The buds are kept warm so they dry faster. The resulting seeds are left in a cool place.
2 months before planting, planting material is immersed in water. If the seeds are on the surface, they are discarded. The remaining specimens are placed in a solution of potassium permanganate for 30 minutes, then washed and kept in water for a day. The swollen seeds are mixed with moistened sand and placed in the refrigerator for 30 - 40 days.
In April, the seeds are planted in containers with soil, a layer of sawdust 2 cm thick is poured on top. The containers are covered with film and kept warm. Seeds can take a long time to germinate. When the seedlings become stronger, they are transplanted into a substrate for conifers.
Dwarf pine is cared for at home: watered moderately and fed with mineral complexes. Plants are transferred to an open place after 2 - 3 years. The plantings are fed with rotted manure, watered, and the soil is loosened.
Planting and caring for dwarf pine
Successful cultivation of dwarf conifers largely depends on the planting location. During the growing season, plants are constantly looked after. In the fall they begin preparing for winter.
Preparing seedlings and planting area
For planting, seedlings aged 3-5 years with a closed root system are selected. It is best to select plants from a local nursery. Select specimens without damage, mold or other defects. Before planting, the roots of the seedling are immersed in water for 3 hours.
Dwarf pine grows on sandy and loamy soils. When growing in clay soil, be sure to make a drainage layer. It is best to choose a lighted area with moderate moisture for plants. The soil is dug up in the fall and cleared of weed and other plant residues.
Landing rules
The procedure for planting dwarf pine:
- A hole is dug in the area. Its dimensions depend on the dimensions of the seedling.
- To fill the pit, prepare a substrate consisting of turf soil and sand in a 2:1 ratio.
- A 20 cm thick drainage layer of fine gravel or expanded clay is poured onto the bottom.
- The hole is half filled with substrate, watered and left to shrink.
- After 2 - 3 weeks, a small hill is formed in the center of the pit from the remaining soil.
- The seedling is placed on top, the root collar should be at ground level.
- Soil is poured onto the roots, compacted and watered.
Watering and fertilizing
Dwarf pine requires moderate watering. Its roots are not able to penetrate deeply and extract water from deep layers of soil. Excess moisture is also detrimental to the plant. Pine trees are watered with warm water during drought. Choose morning or evening.
To feed dwarf hybrids, mineral complexes for conifers are used: Pokon, Forte, Compo, etc. The substances are applied dry or dissolved in water. During the season, 1 - 2 feedings are enough. Use fresh manure and other fertilizers containing nitrogen with caution.
Mulching and loosening
To prevent moisture from evaporating from the soil, mulch is performed. Use humus or crushed bark.For pine, it is useful to loosen the soil when a crust begins to form on the surface. When loosening, try not to damage the roots, which are located in the top layer of soil.
Trimming
Healthy trees do not require annual pruning. Only damaged or dry branches should be removed. The crown is trimmed to give it the desired shape. Processing is stressful for conifers. Therefore, shoots are shortened by no more than 1/3 of the annual growth.
The best period for pruning dwarf pine is from late February to March. To reduce the growth rate, young shoots are pinched in May-June. As a result, the crown branches better and takes on a compact appearance.
Preparing for winter
Most dwarf hybrids are resistant to winter frosts. In order for plants to better withstand the cold, preparation begins in late autumn. First, the soil is watered abundantly. Under each conifer, add 1 - 2 buckets of water.
Then the tree trunk circle is mulched with humus or pieces of bark. The second option is preferable because it does not delay the penetration of oxygen into the soil. At the same time, moisture stays in the soil longer.
Snowfalls lead to breaking off pine shoots. In winter, the branches of coniferous trees are very fragile. The snow is brushed off with a brush. If an ice crust appears on the shoots, a support is placed under them. The easiest way is to build a frame from wooden planks or boxes.
Diseases and pests
The cause of dwarf pine disease is often improper care. If the wrong place is chosen when planting or watering standards are not followed, the plant turns yellow, loses its decorative appearance or dies.
With a lack of light and high humidity, pine trees suffer from fungal diseases:
- Rust. Orange bubbles appear at the bottom of the crown. Anti-rust products containing copper are used.
- Tar cancer. The lesion appears as yellow or orange lesions. If treatment is not started on time, the plant will die. It is important to clean the wound and treat it with copper sulfate solution. Garden varnish is applied on top.
- Umbrella disease. The first sign of the disease is the death of the apical bud. To stop the damage, diseased and dead shoots are regularly removed.
Dwarf pine attracts aphids, sawflies, spider mites, moths and other pests. The insecticides Actellik, Lepidocid, and Inta-Vir are used against them. The drugs are diluted with water in the concentration indicated on the package. Plantings are sprayed during the growing season.
Gardening tips
Conclusion
Dwarf pine grows without problems in different climatic zones. The plant will decorate alpine hills and small gardens. Caring for a pine tree comes down to watering, fertilizing and sheltering for the winter. If you choose the right place for planting, the tree will delight the eye for several decades.
