One of the most decorative and striking representatives of the Pine family is the Italian Silvercrest pine, or Pinia. A tall plant with a compact umbrella-shaped crown, it is very popular in modern landscapes. This culture is spread throughout the Mediterranean and southern Russia.
Pine Silvercrest: description of the plant and care
Brief information about the variety
- Colour: dark green.
- Height: at 10 years old - 3 m, maximum height - 15 m.
- Crown diameter: 5-7 m.
- Growing regions: south of Russia.
- Landing features: loves a sunny place. The landing pattern is 2x2.5 m.
- Immunity: low frost resistance, high disease resistance.
- Life span: 400-500 years.
General characteristics
The Italian Pinia Pine (pinus pinea silvercrest) is a long-lived plant. The life span of a tree is 400-500 years.
The description includes the following distinctive qualities:
- the crown is dense, compact umbrella-shaped, in old specimens - with open shoots;
- the central conductor is short, often curved, reaches 3 m by the age of 10, the maximum height is 15 m;
- the circumference of the tree at maturity is 5-7 m;
- the bark is smooth, gray-green, in adult pines it acquires a yellow-brown color, in older pines it is gray-brown with numerous cracks;
- the needles are collected in bunches of 2-3 pieces, long - 10-15 cm, narrow, emerald shade, covered with a light bluish bloom in winter;
- cones are round or oval, from 8 to 15 cm, formed in several pieces;
- the first chocolate-colored seeds are formed in the third year of cultivation, the size is 15-19 mm.
Refers to fast-growing conifers - the annual growth is 30-35 cm.
Growing regions
This crop can be grown in regions with warm climatic conditions, i.e. only in the south of Russia.
This is due to the fact that the tree has a weak frost resistance and is able to withstand a slight decrease in temperature - up to -12 ° C.
Therefore, landing in the Moscow region and other regions of the Middle and Central strip is not recommended.
Even with good insulation, the seedling will freeze in 2-3 years and die with the first frosts characteristic of these zones.
Beneficial features
This culture, like most conifers, has useful properties:
- phytoncides secreted by the plant cleanse the air well, have a beneficial effect on the human nervous system, normalize sleep, eliminate headaches, irritability;
- when grown indoors, pine is able to neutralize the action of all pathogenic bacteria and microbes;
- oils based on pine needles and cones are used for soothing baths, in the treatment of bronchitis, pneumonia, coughs and colds.
Contraindications include individual intolerance, pregnancy and lactation, as well as kidney and liver diseases.
Landing rules
Silvercrest pines like to grow on light and loose soil; sandy loam or lime earth is suitable for growing them in the garden.
This sun-loving plant does not tolerate shade (it develops poorly and looks faded in a shaded area).
The optimal time for planting seedlings is late April or early May, provided that specimens with open roots are used.
Conifers with an earthen clod can be planted not only in spring, but also in early autumn - 1-1.5 months before the onset of the first stable frosts.
Selection of seedlings
Good quality seedlings are sold in nurseries
A tree for planting in a personal plot can be purchased at a gardening nursery.
It is better to take specimens planted in a container or with an earthen lump wrapped in burlap. They tolerate the transplant procedure more easily and take root well in a new place.
When buying, you should pay attention to the appearance of the plant - the needles should be of a uniform green color, flexible, shoots without cracks, cracks and mold.
Pines with a height of 20 cm are always cheaper, because are rejections, so it is better to refuse them. The optimal length of a seedling 2-3 years old is 50-70 cm.
Site preparation
Pine Italian Silvercrest does not develop well in waterlogged areas, so the landing site should be flat and with good drainage.
The optimum depth of groundwater passage is at least 2 m.
When planting on rocky ground, no drainage is applied. If you plan to grow on loamy soil, add a couple of buckets of sand or vermiculite to the 1 m² garden.
The plant does not tolerate the acidity of the soil, therefore, in addition, loams and sandy loams with an acidity level above 6 units are deoxidized with dolomite flour, calcite or slaked lime (350 g per 1 m²).
Landing technology
Landing pits are harvested in about 2-3 weeks. When growing in groups, it is necessary to maintain a certain distance - at least 2 m, in a row - 2.5 m.
The depth of the hole should be 2-3 times the size of the earthen lump. Approximate parameters - 80x90 cm.
- Half a bucket of drainage from pebbles, brick chips, dropouts, stones or crushed stone is poured to the bottom. Such a layer will prevent stagnant moisture and root rot.
- A loose and nutritious soil mixture of peat, turf and sand is laid on top - 2: 1: 1. Then it is poured with water, allowed to be absorbed.
- The roots are lowered along with a lump of earth so that the root collar is 4-5 cm above the soil surface.
- Filled with garden soil, tamped, watered - 10 liters per seedling.
To protect against rapid drying, a layer of mulch (7-8 cm) from peat or coniferous sawdust is applied.
Care requirements
Silvercrest is undemanding in care, during cultivation it is necessary to ensure regular watering, loosening and nutrition - in this case, the pine reveals all its decorative qualities and practically does not get sick.
Watering
Until the seedlings take root, it should be frequent and regular - at least once a week.
When the conifers start to grow, moisture is minimized, and carried out only after the top layer of the earth has dried to a depth of 6-7 cm. Water consumption is 5 liters per one copy.
For adult plants from 3 years old, 3 waterings per season are enough at the rate of 50 liters per pine tree.
This variety loves high humidity, and therefore grows mainly in the area of the Black Sea coast.
The main care of this crop includes frequent sprinkling of the crown, especially on hot days - the procedure is carried out in the evening to avoid sunburn. Frequency - once every 3 days.
Loosening and mulching
A loosening procedure after each watering helps to maintain its moisture and breathability, as a result of which the roots receive a sufficient amount of moisture and oxygen.
To avoid the appearance of pests and diseases, weeds are additionally removed, the soil is weeded between the rows.
At the end, mulch is applied under each tree. Use peat, rotted wood chips or coniferous sawdust. The mulching layer prevents moisture evaporation, excessive growth of unnecessary vegetation.
Fertilizer
Pine needs regular fertilization
Up to 10 years old, conifers are regularly fed to ensure full growth, decorative effect and high immunity against diseases.
- The first feeding is carried out the next year after planting in early spring - a complex fertilizer is used for pines with a high nitrogen content (nitroammofosku, Kemiru-universal).
- The second time is fertilized in the fall with a mineral composition of superphosphate and potassium salt.
Foliar dressing in a chelated form is of particular benefit for this culture. They increase decorativeness, protect against harmful insects.
The crown is irrigated no more than once every 15 days. The drugs are Quadris, Epin, Heteroauxin.
Pruning
This variety of ephedra does not need a shaping haircut, the only thing that needs to be done every spring (in the middle or end of March) is to remove frozen, shrunken and broken off branches. Shoots growing at the wrong angle and thickening the crown are also subject to cutting.
The operation is carried out with a sterile pruning shears or a knife, and after it the injured places are sprayed with one of the fungicides - a solution of copper sulfate or Bordeaux liquid.
Shelter for the winter
Young pine trees are very sensitive to sudden changes in temperature, they do not tolerate severe and prolonged frosts.
Therefore, a month before the onset of the first stable cold weather, they need to be insulated:
- spud the near-trunk zone with pine chips, sawdust or peat;
- bend the skeletal branches to the central conductor, fix with a rope or twine;
- cover with burlap, spruce branches or other covering, breathable material.
For mature plants, a thick layer of mulch is sufficient.
Features of house maintenance
Growing this crop in a pot is not easy and is rarely successful because in captivity, the tree suffers from a lack of light, moisture or fresh air.
In the south, it is grown in tubs or containers on glazed and cool loggias.
Some make bonsai from ephedra, although this process is difficult due to the difficulty of keeping it at home.
Yet many manage to achieve it by providing the proper requirements for growth and development:
- light and cool wintering with temperatures ranging from 6-8 ° С;
- humidity at the level of 75-80% by frequent spraying;
- regular but moderate watering;
- daylight hours for 12 hours, in winter - with the help of artificial light;
- periodic examination for signs of disease, pests, and, if necessary, treatment with special preparations.
With such care, the tree feels comfortable and pleases with its decorativeness all year round.
Reproduction
Pine can be propagated by seed
The Italian pine is propagated by seeds. It is not suitable to do this by layering, because the tree initially forms a high crown, and the cuttings practically do not take root.
The seeds have a high germination rate - almost 95%, even without a preliminary stratification procedure.
The seeds collected from the cones are sown into a wet substrate of peat and sand (1: 1). Close up to a depth of 2 cm. Sprinkle with warm water and cover with foil.
Germination can take several months. During this time, crops are provided with stable heat within 20-23 ° С, humidity at 75-80% by frequent spraying. The seedlings are periodically aired, and after the emergence of seedlings they dive into separate containers.
A transplant to the site is carried out only after 5 years of growing at home.
During this time, young seedlings often die from various parasites, diseases, with insufficient care (overdrying, overflow). Only a few specimens can survive to this age.
Usually self-cultivation of this ephedra fails, and many gardeners recommend using ready-made seedlings from the nursery.
Diseases and pests
When grown in the southern zone, the Pinia pine practically does not get sick.
But if the rules of agricultural technology are not followed, the planting scheme is violated or an already infected seedling is used, an adult tree can be damaged by several diseases and parasites.
- Mealybug. The appearance of the pest is caused by frequent sprinkling of the crown in the evening, when the pine tree remains wet at night. The second variant of infection is planting an infected plant.
- Spider mite. Appears in extreme heat, drought and dry air.
- Different types of rot. Trees growing in wetlands or suffering from frequent overflow are susceptible.
- Resin cancer or blister rust. Signs - the appearance of red or orange spots on the surface of the trunk and adjacent shoots. It develops during a period of high humidity and thickening of plantings.
For prevention, you need to use healthy and high-quality planting material, follow the planting scheme, regularly and moderately water, fertilize and keep the site clean.
In order to avoid infection with diseases, two-fold treatment with fungicides is carried out - Ridomil Gold, Skor, Hom with a solution of copper sulfate or Bordeaux liquid.
It is necessary in early spring, before the beginning of the growing season, and in the fall, before the onset of cold weather, to irrigate the crown and near-trunk zone.
Insecticides will help against parasites - Actellik, Aktara, Fitoverm or Engio.
Application in garden design
In the landscape design of the garden, this needles occupies a special place:
- on large household plots, it is planted singly or in groups;
- used in landscaping park areas and alleys;
- combined with different varieties of pines, thujas, junipers;
- a plant grown in the form of a bonsai is an original decoration of gazebos, terraces and other adjacent territories;
- in forest areas, this culture is used to create protective belts.
Pine Italian or Pinia / Nikitsky Botanical Garden
Plantplezier Pinus pinea Silver Crest
Reviews
Positive feedback from gardeners made this plant even more attractive and in demand:
- when grown in the south, the ephedra does not create problems at all - it practically does not get sick, does not freeze over the winter and retains its decorative properties all year round;
- many people prefer this variety because of the possibility of creating a miniature bonsai composition that adorns different corners of the garden and building;
- the needles perfectly cleanse the air, they are not afraid of gas pollution, therefore they are planted anywhere on the site.