Fir Nordman: care and feedback

Evergreen coniferous plants always attract attention, and all thanks to fluffy and fragrant twigs, beautiful and slender form. As a rule, these are forest dwellers, they are poorly adapted to the gassed city air. Therefore, to enjoy the beauty and aroma, it is best to plant a coniferous plant in the garden in the country or country house. Many landscape designers advise to pay attention to such a tree, as fir Nordman. Care for her is quite simple, the most important thing is to choose the right place, compare the conditions most suitable for her, with the climate in your region. In addition, it does not require additional pruning or shaping the crown, having a naturally beautiful shape.

Fir Nordman: description

The homeland of this evergreen tree is the mountains of the Caucasus and Asia Minor. From the white variety it is distinguished by higher decorative. The color of the bark is light gray, matte. The needles are dark green, rich in shade with characteristic shine and length from 15 to 40 mm, which creates a feeling of fluffiness. If you rub a few needles in your hands, you will immediately feel a tart citrus fragrance - a distinctive feature of the fir Nordman. In comparison with other relatives this species grows very fast. It can reach a height of up to 50 meters and a crown diameter of 7-8 m.

Nordman's fir has very unusual cones, large cones - up to 20 cm in length, cylindrical in shape, abundantly covered with resin in a mature state. In addition, she is a long-liver, grows in nature for 500-800 years, easily tolerates frosts to -25-30 degrees. Fir in the Caucasus (Nordman) in Europe is popular as a "Christmas tree". In the markets, in stores, through the Internet, actively sell seeds, felled trees and already grown plants in pots. The latter option is the most humane, you can dress up the fir on New Year and Christmas, and in the spring you can land in the garden.

Choose location on site

Fir Nordman - this plant is predominantly penumbra, although it can withstand both the shadow and the bright sun. Because of its well-developed and powerful root system, it is resistant to winds. Demanding to clean air, does not tolerate gas contamination of cities and industrial areas, when choosing a place, this must be taken into account. Nordmann's fir is unpretentious, but still does not like being disturbed. Therefore, the location on the site should be chosen at once, so that then there are no numerous transplants. In the natural habitat, the tree grows quickly, but, for example, Nordman fir in the Moscow region will annually grow only 12-15 cm.

How to choose a plant

If you buy seedlings, it is best to do it in the store and choose the ones that are in individual containers. Young fir trees with bare root system are worse to survive and there is a big risk that the plant will die, especially for specimens that are sold on the market. As an option - buying fir in the nursery, when it is dug in front of your eyes. Do not take too small seedlings, it is best to give preference to medium specimens aged 4-5 years. Be sure to carefully inspect the plant for damage to pests or fungal diseases.

The soil

Planting fir Nordman, like other coniferous trees, is best in the early spring - in April - or in the autumn, in September. The depth and width of the pit depend on the size of the seedling and its root system, but not less than 70 cm in depth and width. To the composition of the ground, Nordman fir is undemanding, but still prefers loamy and light soil in structure. It is possible for a better survival to prepare the land for planting yourself. To do this, mix clay, humus, sand and peat in a ratio of 2: 3: 1: 1. It is recommended to add mineral fertilizer. At the bottom of the pit it is necessary to fill the drainage with a layer of 20 cm (brick crumb, large river sand, pebbles, sawdust). The distance between the trees in the group planting is desirable to be done at 3-5 meters, the plants will look good one by one, and the dwarf form is allowed even on the flower bed.

Humidity and watering

Fir Nordman does not like dry air, so you need to take into account the specific climatic conditions when choosing this tree for your site. In a too hot summer you can spray trees, but you need to do this after sunset or early in the morning. The tree prefers moist soil, but without stagnation of water, so a good drainage is necessary when planting. Usually the adult fir has enough natural natural moisture in the ground, therefore additional artificial watering is required only in the case of a very arid summer (2-3 times per season). Top dressing should be started from the second or third year of growth. In spring, in the mulch soil, near the tree trunk, granules of special fertilizers for coniferous plants are introduced or "Kemiru-universal" is applied.

But young specimens of Nordman fir must first be watered regularly, thus maintaining the necessary moisture of the soil, so that the plant is better suited. The circumferential circle near the tree must necessarily be weeded from weeds and preferably mulched with peat or sawdust.

Cultivation from seeds

This is the main way of reproduction. Some sources still talk about cuttings, but this is quite difficult and the success rate is very small. The appearance of rootlets in the cuttings will have to wait at least six months.

Seeds of fir Nordman can be bought or collected from an adult tree, you need to do this before the bumps open up. The best time for planting in the soil is autumn. Fresh seeds have very high germination. You can plant in the spring, but for this you need to subject the stratification seeds and sow them in the end of March-April into shallow containers, to a depth of 1.5-2 cm. The temperature for the shoots is 18-25 degrees, the sprouting occurs on average through 3- 4 weeks.

Young seedlings need shading - this is an important condition for their successful growth. When the plants reach 15-20 cm, they can be planted in a permanent place. In conditions of severe frost, the seedlings must be covered with lapnik or special material, since there is a threat of freezing to the level of snow cover.

Pests and diseases

Fir Nordman is practically not susceptible to various diseases and pests, which is another big plus when growing it on the site. But with excessive moistening or choosing the wrong place where water stagnation is observed, fungal diseases can appear, most often it is rust. At the first sign of the lesion, the tree should be treated with a solution of copper sulfate.

Of the pests, the most common are fir aphids and fir moths, affecting shoots. In this case, there can be only one way out - processing with a solution of special insecticides. It will not hurt to do this for prophylaxis in the spring.

Varieties

If the garden area is small, then experts advise plant decorative forms - it is weeping, bluish, erect, golden fir Nordman (photo).

All of them differ in the color of the needles, as well as the shape of the crown and the size. The golden fir Nordman grows by only 1 meter in ten years. Has unusual needles of golden yellow color. It is widely used in southern regions for rock gardens. Weeping fir is reminiscent of the shape of the willow, long shoots hang down, is also small in size.

If the site requires a beautiful tree, shade-tolerant and fast-growing, then undoubtedly one of the best candidates will be Nordmann's fir. The comments of landscape designers are exceptionally positive, because thanks to its even pyramidal shape and thick dark green form it has high decorative qualities with minimal care.