Spruce Canadian horse - planting and care. Konik spruce: caring for a fluffy beauty from Canada

Have you ever seen a small, decorative Konik spruce? If yes, then you are probably surprised by her unusual appearance, because the plant does not exceed 30 cm in height. Today Konika is used for decoration, because it fits perfectly into any landscape design gives it sophistication and beauty. The topic of this article is spruce canadian horse: planting and in open ground and care. It will help you create the most suitable conditions for the plant so that it takes place as quickly as possible in your territory.

Spruce Canadian horse: planting in open ground and care.

Spruce Canadian Konika - how to plant?

The peculiarity of this spruce is its conical shape, thanks to which it is possible to create an elegant appearance to the adjacent area. Fluffy, dense branches of bright green color will add brightness to your autumn and winter landscape. The fluffiness of the plant allows it to reach a diameter of more than 80 cm. Does spruce grow quickly? Unfortunately, there are no gardeners. Each year, its growth is about 10 cm. Not much, but the plant is long-lived and easy care, which will be within the power of anyone, even a novice summer resident.

Is it difficult to grow Konika? No. The main condition is the creation of an optimal temperature regime for it. Spruce cannot be grown in the northern regions, where the winter temperature drops below -15 degrees. The plant simply will not withstand such sudden changes, so pay attention to this important aspect. What to do in this case? Better solution- grow Konika in a decorative pot that you can easily bring indoors for the winter.

Because the plant is small, it won't take up much precious space. At home, you only need to provide everything the necessary conditions: regular watering, application of quality fertilizers and a small amount of diffused light. Direct ultra-violet rays can cause damage to the plant, due to which the needles will acquire a dark purple hue.

Rules for planting Canadian Konika in open ground:

Planting material (seedling) must be prepared for planting: grow to the desired size (10-15 cm), soak for a while.
The landing site is chosen very carefully. The plant does not like direct sunlight and does not tolerate neighborhood with tall trees or shrubs. The best option is to choose a dark area for spruce, without drafts, unfavorable neighbors and ground water.
The soil should not be acidic, so it is recommended to mix it with a small amount of ash. In order for Konika to take root and begin to grow actively, it is important to create for her the most suitable soil. It can be purchased in specialized stores or mixed garden soil, turf, peat and sand.
Planting time is selected depending on the soil system. Plants with open system planted at any time of the year, except for winter, with closed - in spring or autumn. Planting should be done on a cloudy, non-hot day, and the plant itself should be covered with some material for a couple of days to protect delicate needles that are not accustomed to the sun.

Caring for Konika is a simple task

Konika will please those who do not have time for long care. Spruce grows beautifully without your attention. It tolerates drought very well, as long as you provide it with a shady spot. The only thing that can upset you is the attack of pests or diseases. To prevent problems, it is recommended to use special preparations that will protect your plant. It can be iron sulfate, trichodermine or alirin. In the case when the spruce is badly affected, you should not save it - it may be useless. Much better to burn it.

So, spruce canadian horse, landing in open ground and care behind which is simple, will be a great addition to your landscape area. We hope that our advice will be useful to you.

How to plant Japanese quince in open ground? Rules…

It is simply impossible to form a high-quality harmonious space on a selected piece of land without correct selection garden plants. Of particular importance in landscape design is dwarf coniferous trees, which are used for a wide variety of purposes and can act as a separate design element of a piece of land, as a living fence, and so on. Spruce in landscape design has long won a significant place, and all thanks to the ability of this plant to remain attractively green throughout the year, as well as due to its unpretentious care.

The small growth of dwarf spruce makes it possible to plant this tree in both large and small areas.

Until recently, the most ordinary spruce trees were used in landscape design, which, for their long life could reach a height of more than 25 m. However, after a species of spruce with a mutated growth gene was discovered in Canada, the height of which does not exceed 4 m, dwarf species won a place from their huge relatives

There are some requirements for planting a dwarf spruce. The soil before planting must be fertilized by adding 8-15 kg of humus per 1 m². By digging the surface layer of soil with the introduction of humus. In addition, you need to make phosphorus and nitrogen fertilizers. If the soil in the area for planting is sandy, it is necessary to dilute it by adding part of the soddy fertile land. Spruce is planted at a depth of 35-40 cm, so that not only the roots, but also part of the trunk are in the ground.

Canadian spruce fits perfectly into the design of a dry garden stream.

In addition, you need to drive a peg next to the trunk and tie up a tree so that the tree has support until it gets stronger root system. After planting, the conic spruce may dry out a little, in which case you should not immediately cut off the faded branches. As a rule, wilting of branches occurs in case of damage to the roots, which happens quite often when transplanting a tree, but not everything is so bad. With abundant watering, the tree will again begin to delight the eye with its bluish greens.

So, for planting conic fir trees, you will need the following materials and tools:

cutting shovel;
hammer;
wooden stakes;
twine or twine;
humus;
nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers.

Dwarf spruce can also grow in a shaded area. The main thing is that the soil is rich in nutrients. Young trees are planted in spring or autumn. Konik spruce is quite unpretentious, but it is still desirable to irrigate in especially dry months, since this tree comes from places where the soil remains frozen throughout the year, its root system does not reach more than 2 m in depth, which means that it draws water from deep layers of the earth will not be able to.

Despite the frost resistance and excellent tolerance of windy winters, the owners of such plants still need to sometimes cover the trees with burlap on sunny days to protect the trees from getting sunburn.

If the horse grows in a shady place, special care for the Christmas tree is not required.

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Ways to use conic firs in landscape design

Dwarf spruce does not need care and pruning - enough high-quality soil and natural precipitation.

Many designers have recently begun to use these small trees for a variety of purposes. The decorative dwarf spruce is called "conic" due to its conical shape, it has a number of important qualities that have made it so popular for arranging garden plots. Firstly, it is worth noting that this type of spruce has a regular conical shape, and the tree does not need to be cut to form an even crown. Secondly, dwarf conic spruces grow slowly: only 3-4 cm per year throughout their lives and they don’t have any jumps in growth, like ordinary spruces. For comparison: many ordinary spruce trees at the age of 10 can stretch up to 50 cm per year, which ultimately leads to the fact that nearby trees have different heights.

Separately, it is worth considering how exactly you can arrange dwarf Christmas trees to get a harmonious picture. More recently, dwarf Christmas trees have been used to model a miniature forest. Such compositions look very impressive, especially in combination with other types of dwarf trees, although it is quite possible to model a small forest from some dwarf firs. When modeling on a flower bed of a small forest, small dwarf birches that complete the composition. Small grass and dwarf flowers are additional elements formation of miniature flattering thickets. Such compositions look quite impressive in relatively small areas of flower beds and lawns, especially when the trees have not yet reached even half of their maximum growth. In addition, decorative conic spruce can be used to form a kind of hedge. The small growth of Christmas trees allows you to plant them at a distance of no more than 0.5 meters, so even small trees in a hedge look great, and over time the fence will become a solid wall.

Among other things, spruce conics can serve as essential element to create a refined and at the same time strict design, that is, as an addition to a regular lawn. Usually in such cases, Christmas trees are located on the lawn in the form geometric figure or in a checkerboard pattern. Spruce conics can also be used to form a frame for lawns and alleys.

Designing a site design using dwarf firs is currently becoming an increasingly popular solution, as these plants are unpretentious, and the created landscape will retain its beauty for many years without requiring special care.

Spruce Konika - a miniature coniferous tree, which is a dwarf variety canadian spruce.

Due to its compact size and decorative effect, this mini-Christmas tree is successfully used in landscape design for coniferous gardening. small plots, the area of \u200b\u200bwhich does not allow the placement of trees of large species.

Outwardly, the tree looks extremely attractive - the lush crown has the shape of a cone, the length of soft bluish-green needles is from 6 to 10 mm.

Growing in diameter up to 75–80 cm, Konika grows very slowly in height, adding about 6–8 cm per year.

As a rule, active growth is observed in the first 10 years of a tree's life, growth slows down over time, and the height of an adult plant rarely exceeds 180–250 cm.

The root system of the Christmas tree is located in the upper soil layer, which greatly facilitates its transplantation. In addition, the baby is undemanding in care and has a high frost resistance. To ensure a comfortable stay of the tree on garden plot, suitable conditions must be created for it.

Location

For planting Koniki, fertile loamy soils are suitable that retain moisture well, and the acidity of the soil in this case does not matter, but the tree reacts extremely painfully to excessive alkalization.

As a "place of residence" for a miniature beauty, a shady place protected from the wind should be determined, while avoiding hills and swampy lowlands. It does not build to plant Konika in places with groundwater close to the surface.

Dwarf spruce looks great both in a single planting and in a group. Thuja, juniper and other conifers are suitable as neighboring species for Konika.

In combination with them, miniature Christmas trees are used to create "dense" coniferous corners on the site. Geometric group plantings of mini-spruces look very impressive in the design of a trimmed lawn.

A single baby Christmas tree will decorate the front lawn, and during the winter holidays it will perfectly cope with the role of a Christmas tree.

Landing

Christmas trees that have reached the age of 3-4 years are subject to transplantation into the ground, all this time they are kept in pots to form the root system. However, Konik should not be grown as a home potted plant; with age, it is difficult to tolerate room conditions.

Planting dates are determined depending on the form in which the seedling was purchased - a closed root system allows planting from early spring to late autumn, including the summer months, and a plant with open roots can be planted in the ground only in autumn and spring period s.

Before planting, the soil must be well moistened.

In order for the baby to recover faster after transplantation, you can add half a bucket of rotted organic matter to the soil or feed the seedling with complex fertilizer for coniferous crops. For several days, the newly planted tree should be sheltered from direct sunlight.

Care

Due to the unpretentiousness of Konika, serious care is not required for her; for her well-being, it is enough to take the following measures:

Watering- the soil under the baby Christmas trees should always be well moistened, its drying out is highly undesirable, since Konika does not tolerate a lack of moisture. In dry periods, it is recommended to water the tree through the crown, especially such a shower is shown to young Christmas trees. 2-3 days after the procedure, the soil of the near-stem circle should be loosened, preventing the formation of a dried crust on the surface of the soil, blocking the access of air to the roots.
top dressing- in the first days of spring, it is recommended to feed the plant with a complex fertilizer suitable for conifers ("Epin", "Zircon") or sprinkle the trunk circle with rotted peat compost. It should be remembered that the roots of the mini-Christmas tree are located in the upper layer of soil, therefore, in no case should you tamp the soil of the near-stem circle.
Shelter for the winter- despite the excellent winter hardiness of Koniki, the most dangerous period for her is the end of winter and early spring. It was at this time that the first hot rays of the sun, reflected from the snowy surface, strongly burn the soft needles of the fir trees. To avoid the unpleasant consequences of exposure to the sun, it is customary to cover Konik for the winter, using burlap, lutrasil, wooden and cardboard shields for this purpose. It should be ensured that the covering material does not cover the spruce too tightly, since natural air circulation must be maintained inside the structure. The surface of the near-stem circle of Koniki is mulched with peat for the winter (layer thickness is about 5 cm). In the spring, the mulch is buried in the ground, providing the tree with additional nutrition.

Important! The plant retains its beautiful pyramidal shape on its own, so no additional work cutting and shaping is not required.

If Koniki is affected by tracheomycosis, it will not be possible to cure it, at this moment all actions should be aimed at saving neighboring plants from infection. The diseased tree is dug up by the roots and burned.
Schutte's disease is a fungal infection that affects needles. Treatment is carried out with the help of copper-containing preparations.
Rust - in this case, pathogenic myceliums, similar to orange growths, settle on spruce branches. To save the ephedra, fungicidal sprays are used.

The activities discussed above are quite enough for the full development of the dwarf Christmas tree, however, their absence or untimely implementation can affect the health and appearance of Konika in the most negative way.

Source: http://OnWomen.ru/el-konika.html

Konik spruce: description, planting, care, place in the garden and photo

Thanks to the correct type of crown and neutral green color, conifers tend to fit harmoniously into any landscape.

For example, Konik spruce looks great in both simple traditional front gardens and artsy newfangled modern garden styles. How to plant it on the site, how to ensure proper care, can be found in the article.

Appropriate photos, a description of the conifer, as well as information about the height of an adult tree are also attached here.

History and description of the plant, its maximum height

At the beginning of the last century, an interesting dwarf spruce was discovered in Canada. After some research, scientists came to the conclusion that this plant appeared as a result of a natural mutation of the Canadian spruce (Picea glauca).

The conic spruce looks like this:

The crown of the tree is very dense, has the shape of a cone.
Light green needles (up to 1 cm in length) densely cover the branches.
The average crown diameter at the bottom of the plant is 80 cm.
The roots are not long, located closer to the surface.

Horse grows very slowly. Young trees add 6-8 cm per year. By 10-12 years, the height of the plant reaches about 1 m. After that, the growth rate slows down and grows only 2-3 cm per year.

At home, in Canada, the maximum height of the conic reaches 3-4 m. In Russian latitudes, this figure is even less - 1.5-2 m. Such a small growth is due to a decrease in the distance between internodes, combined with increased branching. This circumstance "flattened" the tree from top to bottom.

The progenitor of the conic, Canadian spruce, has the same number of internodes and branches, but its height, due to the greater distance between them, is 25-35 m. Thanks to the beautiful conical crown, this tree is used in the USA as the main decoration for Christmas in the most significant places in the country .

Acquisition of a seedling and planting it on the site

Konik spruce, like all its relatives, does not tolerate even the slightest drying of the roots. Therefore, you need to purchase a small tree in a container, where a clod of earth is constantly moistened.

Advice. It is best to purchase conic seedlings in trusted garden centers. Buying spruce in the market from an unknown seller, you can lose time and money.

Landing is considered a very important moment. The further growth and development of the tree depends entirely on this manipulation. When landing, it is advisable to adhere to the following rules:

It is necessary to plant a horse in the garden either at the end of April or at the end of August. Just at this time, the roots of the plant grow intensively, which contributes to good survival.
The place should be chosen sunny. In the shadow correct crown plants may change, and spruce will become less decorative.
Considering small size horses, it can be safely planted near the house.
The landing pit should be prepared in advance. The bottom must be strewn with a layer of rubble or broken bricks.
It is also advisable to prepare the soil mixture in advance. For spruce, a composition of garden soil, sand, peat and humus (2: 1: 1: 1, respectively) is suitable. From mineral fertilizers, you can add nitroammophoska.

The landing itself should be carried out as follows:

Soil is poured over the drainage layer in such a way that a clod of earth from the container fits into the pit. Well watered.
Carefully remove the plant from the container and lower it into the hole.

Attention! It is impossible to allow the destruction of an earthen coma during landing. If this happens, then over the next 15-20 minutes, you need to cover the roots with moist soil and lightly tamp the ground.

The trunk of the plant is leveled on all sides.
The free space is filled with soil mixture.
Well watered planting. This requires at least 10 liters of water.
At the end, a shallow hole is created near the stem for further watering and cover it with a 5-centimeter layer of mulch.

Caring for dwarf spruce

Conic care can be called minimal. It does not require pruning or any other maintenance of the crown.

The fertilizer that was planted during planting is enough for her for several years.

If the summer is not hot and not very dry, the supply of moisture to the plant occurs due to natural precipitation.

Despite these qualities, proper care can further increase the decorative effect of spruce.

For example, during hot periods, you should regularly water the tree while irrigating the crown. The first couple of months after planting, soil moisture is required weekly.

In case of formation of a crust on the soil around the trunk, be sure to loosen the top layer.

Attention! The roots of the Konik spruce are almost on the surface of the earth. Therefore, the plant does not tolerate trampling and significant soil compaction at a distance of 1 m around the crown.

Although the conic spruce is winter-hardy, in order to avoid freezing, it is recommended to mulch the soil around the near-trunk circle well for the winter for the first 2-3 years after planting. Too small seedlings can be completely covered with spruce branches before frost.

Dwarf spruce in landscape design

Despite the fact that the horse loves sunny places, in the spring the plant can get significant sunburn. This is manifested by browning of the needles.

The main thing is that the material does not interfere with the passage of air and is able to scatter the bright rays of the sun.

The place of horses in the garden, as well as diseases that can affect the plant

at the entrance to the house;
near the gazebo;
At the playground.

A dwarf spruce is good both in single and in group plantings with fellow tribesmen or with conifers of other species. Such groups especially decorate the site in the off-season. At the foot of the conic, a calm green lawn or contrasting antennaria, survivors look great.

Spruce is especially beautiful during the formation of new shoots - it turns into an emerald green, fabulously beautiful cone. IN middle lane this time falls on May.

Carry out preventive treatment of spruce

Konik spruce can be affected by various fungal infections, the timely detection and immediate treatment of which will help save the plant.

Rust - orange growths appear on the branches, the needles turn yellow and crumble. As a treatment, the treatment of the crown and trunk with special preparations is used for a whole month with an interval of 1 time per week.
Coniferous Schutte disease - caused by a fungus. When affected, the needles darken, then covered with a white coating and fall off. With timely detection of the disease, plants can be saved. In advanced cases, it remains only to dig up and destroy the spruce.

The small growth of the once mutated Christmas tree turned out to be a significant advantage for her. Such a plant will decorate any site, and anyone can plant and care for it.

Canadian Spruce Konik: video

Source: https://dachadizain.ru/derevya/el-konika-opisanie-posadka-uxod.html

Rules for planting and caring for Konik spruce

Spruce Konik - a dwarf conifer - one of the most popular coniferous plants for planting in the garden

Coniferous plants will help to make the air in your yard even cleaner and healthier. To date, there are many species from the smallest to huge, often outgrowing the height of a five-story building.

However, the area of not all yards allows you to grow a prickly giant, so dwarf coniferous plantations are very popular. One of the most popular is the Konik spruce.

Landing

In order for this coniferous tree to take root as close as possible to your country house, in a small square or garden, the following landing conditions must be observed:

choose a slightly darkened place for dwarf spruce, because due to constant exposure to the sun, it will definitely burn;
in the landing area should not be strong wind or constant draft;
often a spruce dies in early spring, when it is flooded with a large amount of melt water, so this planting criterion should be foreseen from the very beginning in order to protect its green beauty;
landing is allowed at any time of the year, even during warm winter. However, it is better to do this in spring or autumn in cool weather with minimal exposure to sunlight - this way there is less risk that the tree will not take root;
it will be easier for this coniferous tree to take root in a new land if pleasant cool conditions are created for it during the first seven days of planting;
it is recommended to water the Konik spruce at least twice a week, 10 liters under the stem of the plant;
it is strictly forbidden to plant a tree in wetlands or land with a high level of groundwater.

It is strictly forbidden to plant the Konik spruce in the city, because the polluted air of the metropolis has an extremely detrimental effect on its crown, causing various diseases of the tree. In the worst case, the tree may die.

It will also be possible to achieve the goal in the normal rooting of the plant by properly preparing the soil:

It should be well dug up and light.
When planting a Canadian spruce from a pot, you need to shake the whole earth well from the roots. This should be done because trees are often sold in soil that is practically devoid of substances useful for the plant. Ideally, the soil for spruce should consist of the following components: soddy and leafy soil, peat and sand (it is important to keep the ratio 2:2:1:1, respectively).
If this plant is transplanted from good soil, it is necessary to dig it out with a clod of earth, which will preserve the structure and condition of the roots, most of which are located close to the surface of the earth.
The land should be further enriched with special organic materials: up to 80 g of long-acting broad-spectrum fertilizer for coniferous plants, as well as a bucket of well-rotted manure.
in clay or sandy soil add compost and soil.
It is necessary to prevent the evaporation of moisture; for this, the soil around the spruce must be mulched with peat with a layer of 50-70 mm.

If you keep a spruce indoors, the temperature in the room should be no higher than 15 C, and you can not do without constant spraying of the plant and humidifying the air.

reproduction

For breeding Konik spruce, cuttings are used. Despite the fact that this process is long and laborious, it is always possible to grow a good tree in this way.

cuttings dwarf canadian firs are recommended to be performed in early June.

The cuttings planted in enriched soil within three months at the cut site have time to create a special tissue that promotes the healing of the wound of the plant.

It is from this tissue compacted over time that weak roots will appear on the cuttings a year later.

for cuttings, it is better to use the lowest branches of an adult spruce, the length of which will vary between 10-12 cm;
it is necessary to separate the branch from the tree with a part of the bark of the trunk or the branch from which the cutting grows directly. In the people, such a cutting with a small bark of a tree is called a “heel”. If this is not done, the plant will die;
special growth stimulants are considered an excellent tool for good growth of cuttings, in which you need to keep the lower part of the cut branch for at least 2 hours;
it is better to plant a branch in the substrate to a depth of up to 2.5 cm;
do not forget to water the plant with a growth stimulant diluted in water. This should be done regularly, preventing the substrate from drying out, but not pouring it too much;
regular loosening of the substrate will also contribute to the good development of Konik spruce.

A stalk grown in this way can be transplanted to a permanent place of Canadian spruce growth only after 4-5 years.

Perennial flowers are a very profitable decoration for suburban area. How to choose and plant them correctly read here.

Read about the rules for planting and caring for oleander by clicking on the link http://greennirvana.ru/rasteniya/cvety/oleandr-sazhaem-rastim-uhazhivaem.html.

Care

As a result of the fact that Konik spruce is unpretentious plant, she does not require special care in relation to herself. However, we still consider some of the features of her care:

Spray the needles regularly (at least 2 times a week).
Feed with a root and growth stimulant, as well as 5 kg of rotted manure (in early summer).
In October, the area near the tree trunk is mulched with peat compost (its thickness should be within 5 cm), which is covered with a layer of soil in early spring.
It is possible to provide oxygen access to the entire root system only by loosening the soil.
Drying out of the soil can only be avoided by mulching.
With the advent of winter, the crown of the Canadian spruce should be protected with burlap or cardboard, tying the tree around on all sides. In this case, the lower part of the crown should remain open in order to avoid wrangling the tree. Spruce Konik is a frost-resistant plant, but it is necessary to cover it for the winter in order to protect it from possible burning under the influence of sunlight.
If the spruce is burned, the affected branches should not be cut. With the advent of spring, the crown of the dwarf spruce is well watered and new branches grow on their own.

will clearly show how to plant and care for Canadian dwarf spruce:

Pest and disease control

In most diseases in spruce, needles are affected.

Among the most common diseases of Konik spruce, it should be noted:

Tracheomycosis(soil fungus) that affects the root system. As a result, the needles begin to turn red and fall off.

Young plants are most susceptible to tracheomycosis. It is impossible to cure a tree affected in this way.

To protect the rest of the plants, the infected are dug up with a large amount of soil and must be burned.

Rust(fungus branches). It manifests itself as very noticeable orange growths on the branches. Yellowed needles fall off. You can treat such a disease with Glycodin or Vectra. Spraying with these drugs should be repeated 3-4 times, not more than 1 time per week.

Schutte needle disease(coniferous fungus). As a result of this disease, the needles on the tree become black, covered with a white coating and fall off.

You can save the affected plant with a 3% solution of copper sulfate. Then sprayed with "Trichodermin" or "Alirin-B".

If the spruce is affected too much, it must be burned.

It can gnaw through the bark and lay its eggs inside it. bark beetle. Beetle larvae eat wood. It is impossible to save such a spruce, so it must be burned as soon as possible.

The rules for planting, choosing soil and growing viburnum bulldenezh are described in this article.

How and what to make drainage for flowers - read about it here http://greennirvana.ru/uchastok/drenazh/drenaj-dlya-cvetov.html.

Don't know when to plant grass for your lawn? This is discussed in detail here.

Variety feature

The birthplace of Konik spruce is Canada, but in our country it has taken root well.

El Konika - dwarf species coniferous, so it can reach a maximum height of 3 meters

The height of such beautiful tree is a maximum of 3 m. In diameter, its average size is 1.5 m. It grows rather slowly - by 5 cm in 12 months, as a result of which the crown becomes very dense and grows exclusively cone-shaped.

The main feature of the Konik spruce is that, having a bright green color, it does not prick at all, therefore it is considered safe for the smallest children and animals.

Application in landscape design

Spruce Konik is the decoration of any garden or yard. It goes well with other plants and by itself will never spoil the overall landscape.

The original use of dwarf Canadian spruce is to place it in pots on rooftops. So it forms a special green roof. Such a spruce looks great on a well-cut lawn.

An elegant fluffy Konik spruce will always help to decorate a strict rocky garden, giving it a truly complete, unforgettable appearance.

Jul 14, 2015Elena Timoshchuk

Source: https://greennirvana.ru/rasteniya/hvoynyie/el-konika-posadka-i-uhod.html

Rules for planting in the garden and caring for the Canadian Konik spruce

IN decorative design landscape adjoining territory coniferous plants are often used.

Recently, Canadian spruce conica has become extremely popular.

Planting and caring for this little beauty will not require significant labor, but such plantings are guaranteed to transform your garden.

Konika in landscape design is a versatile tool for creating great compositions

Amateur gardeners, along with professional designers, are happy to use dwarf spruce in their plots, finding the most unusual use for it.

If you intend to plant a plant in your local area, you should take into account the following rules:

The most suitable place for Koniki will be an open area with fertile, moisture-intensive loams.
Spruce can tolerate a slight lateral blackout, one has only to take into account that in this case crown density may suffer.
Before planting, the soil must be fertilized and dug 40 cm deep.
The optimal application rate is 10-12 kg of rotted manure per 1 m2.

Important! It is also allowed to cultivate the soil with combined NPK fertilizer in the amount of 80-100g/m2.
If the landing site has sandy soil, it should be further improved by adding fertile loam or soddy soil.
Transplantation of Koniki with an open root system is carried out in autumn or early spring. During the summer period, the procedure is carried out in cool weather, preferably on a cloudy day. At the same time, an earthen lump must be left on the root of the plant.
For the first two weeks, it is recommended to keep the soil moist, and also to shade the plant until it gets stronger.

Canadian spruce is a dwarf ornamental species, so it grows slowly. On average, the annual growth is 3-6 cm. However, under favorable conditions, there are peaks in the active development of the plant, when the branches lengthen by 10 cm per year.

As a rule, this happens at the age of 6-7, at which time the crown of Koniki becomes denser and becomes quite decorative. Good growth can last up to 13-15 years, in connection with which the height of the spruce becomes about 1 m.

In the future, the branches will lengthen without stopping by 2-3 cm per year.

Konika in landscape design

Landscaping with Canadian spruce is the best option for both small and spacious gardens.

Canadian spruce looks great in the garden both in a single performance (solitary) and in a group planting. Due to its slow growth, it is rarely used to decorate flower beds.

But after active growth and crown compaction, Konika looks great in mixborders.

Important! Solitary planting requires sufficient sunlight.

Abundant lighting allows spruce not to reach up in search of rays, but to form a dense and luxurious crown.

The area, occupied by the composition, should be correlated with the parameters of Konika. In a small clearing, spruce should be of the appropriate size so that the landscape design is harmonious. The same can be said about a large area and a single landing.

When planting a tapeworm, the following features should be taken into account:

It is necessary to take into account the background of the composition. For this reason, it is best to use plants of a different variety or species.
Best of all, Konika looks on a well-groomed lawn.

Canadian spruce in the garden will be spectacular in a variety of variations.

Group landing can solve such interesting problems:

form a green background that will hide unpresentable buildings, as well as enliven the garden landscape;
effectively fill the open space in the local area - lawn, clearing, lawn, etc.;
mask the unsightly trunks of tall trees.

Group planting Koniki can be tight or openwork. However, the main task of the plants planted in the composition is to add color and picturesqueness to the garden.

Canadian spruce - a great option for decorating flower beds and flower beds

Among the alternative ways to use Canadian spruce, the following aspects can be distinguished:

Konika is often used to design a "green roof".
To do this, the plant is planted in special containers and placed on the roofs of buildings, terraces, open verandas.
Dense crown and decorative shape looks great in large rock gardens.
Canadian spruce looks good in quality background for flower arrangements. At the same time, it can be combined with other undersized conifers.
Konika is also used for zoning space on a smooth cut lawn.
Tall plant species are often used as a "living" hedge. Similarly, you can form alleys in parks or large gardens.

Care rules

Maintaining soil moisture and fertilizing it is the basis for caring for Canadian spruce

Canadian spruce is good not only for its decorative qualities, but also for its ease of care. The plant does not require annual pruning or any care for the crown.

Natural precipitation and fertile soil, which is laid during planting, are quite enough for him. However, this does not mean that Konika does not need care at all.

Proper handling of the tree will improve the decorative qualities.

In the dry season, spruce needs intensive watering with crown irrigation. If a soil crust has formed, the soil in the area of \u200b\u200bthe circle around the trunk must be loosened without fail. Enough shallow manipulations.

To prevent spring "burning", Koniki bushes must be wrapped with burlap or other dense material that scatters the sun's rays and also provides air flow.

The main thing to remember is that this phenomenon is not a weakness. decorative spruce, but only acts as a reaction to increased solar activity after the soil frozen in winter.

You will understand about the spring "burning" by characteristic feature: the needles acquire a brown tint, which disappears after the resumption of the circulation of juices.

Also, at the beginning of summer, Konik needs to be “feeded”, adding 4-5 kg to the root zone shallowly. rotted organic matter.

In the second half of October, mulching should be carried out with a 5 cm layer of peat compost.

These manipulations will improve the wintering conditions of spruce, activating the activity of favorable microfauna.

In early spring, the soil should also be mulched, carefully planting fertilizer in the root area of the plants. A coniferous tree responds no less well to various types of synthetic dressings, which can always be purchased at specialized points of sale.

Thus, we examined the basic rules for planting and decorating a garden with Canadian spruce.

Miniature Konika needs proper care, since most diseases are in one way or another associated with a violation of the rules of tillage.

Remember that with abundant or insufficient watering of the soil, low air humidity or excessive room temperature, the coniferous beauty begins to dry.

: Canada Spruce Planting Rules

Pear trees are almost an integral part of any garden.

But the question always arises before an amateur gardener Do you want a disease-resistant pear with tasty fruits, like in southern varieties, and winter hardiness, Late varieties of fruit trees are able to delight with their gifts in the autumn and winter months, when Repair raspberry Caramel is an extremely productive crop, which deservedly belongs to the most popular among Late varieties of fruit trees that can delight with their gifts in the autumn and winter months, when most gardeners seek to grow something unusual to the envy of their neighbors. exotic black raspberry on the Cherry plot, Russian gardeners grow with pleasure, if the climate allows. The Chocolatnitsa variety is used by the Pear - a fruit that we have loved since childhood. Almost every garden grows this Apple tree Melba is quite in demand among gardeners due to the many positive qualities, such as good yields Given the number of varieties of pears, it is not surprising to get confused in the process of finding your own, suitable variety that will justify

Spruce "Konika" in the garden.

The New Year is loved and inevitable, every family on the eve of the main holiday tries to solve the problem of acquiring a Christmas tree. At the end of the last century, many switched to artificial fluffy beauties, but today the fashion for everything real and genuine has suddenly returned.

A special chic is your own homemade Christmas tree, which will delight not only on a holiday, but will continue to grow after it ends. You can buy green beauties as a pot culture in a store, for yourself or as a gift for relatives, friends, acquaintances.

There is a problem: the plant needs care, otherwise the needles will simply crumble and the tree will die. The leader of New Year's sales is the Konika spruce. In many countries, such as Holland, Denmark, Poland, the cultivation of such crops is put on stream.

Ephedra are almost unsuitable for growing at home, they need a long hibernation period, low temperatures. Konika is a dwarf hybrid of gray spruce, which was formed as a result of mutation and selection of breeders.

The tree grows well in the middle lane, it has good winter hardiness, small growth allows you to settle the plant even in a small area. Under favorable conditions, spruce can reach a height of three meters, but more often it grows up to one meter. Most of the roots are located close to the surface, such agricultural practices as loosening are best done with some caution.

For two weeks of the New Year holidays, the spruce will be able to withstand the heat, then it needs to create such conditions so that the plant survives until spring and landing on the street.

Konika - the struggle for life

You were given or you bought a Konika and you need to do everything possible so that it survives home conditions.

Location selection

It is necessary to find the coldest place in the house, most likely it will be a window sill on the north side of the building, if available - a veranda or a glazed loggia, a place inside double frames. The ideal temperature is from three to five degrees. Each degree is higher - a decrease in the chances of survival, the peace necessary in winter can only be provided by a low temperature in the room.

"Konika" can be decorated like a real Christmas tree: with tinsel, beads, small toys, but it is brought into the heat only during the holiday, for several hours. During this time, the tree will not have time to experience stress due to an unusual temperature difference. If the loggia, where the spruce will be constantly located, freezes, it is necessary to wrap the pot itself with an old scarf or sweater, any woolen cloth. This will not allow moisture to freeze on the roots, the crown is not afraid of frost.

Humidity and watering

The plant will be able to develop normally when elevated level humidity. The crown is sensitive to dry air, you can put a humidifier or bowls of water near the container. Needles need to be sprayed several times a day. Watering should not be plentiful, the roots are sleeping and do not need excess moisture. The soil can be covered with a sheet of newspaper, a paper circle will not allow moisture to evaporate quickly. Spray the plant with water at room temperature. There are radiators under the windows, they can be temporarily closed, and the plant itself in a pot can be raised to an elevation, for this they use a pot, a home-made stand made from what is at hand.

Spruce "Glauka Konika" in a pot.

Lighting, sun protection

Ephedra are very sensitive to sunlight, especially if they are direct. On the north side at home, such problems will not arise, on the remaining window sills it is better to create the effect of diffused light. a sheet of white paper can serve as a homemade shelter. This is especially true in February and early March, when the sun is already beginning to bake. Once a week, the spruce is turned so that all sides receive light “feed”, otherwise the needles may turn yellow and crumble.

Ephedra transplant

Potted plants are transplanted immediately after purchase, an earth ball cannot be transported across the border, for this reason the trees are forced to sit in coconut fiber or sterilized peat. Such a substrate is not able to provide normal conditions for development, it is called a transport substrate. Seedlings in the nursery are watered and fed by airborne droplets; at home, this type of care is difficult to provide. Herringbone requires acidified soil from a coniferous forest. To rid the soil of possible diseases and pests, it is sterilized in microwave oven within ten minutes.

"Konika" does not like transplants, the damaged root system takes root with difficulty. This process can take up to three months. The tree is transplanted in the spring, if in winter the seedling is in a cold room, it will live until March in the transport substrate.

A warm room makes its own adjustments. Peat at high temperatures dries instantly, reducing the chances of survival. If there is no cold veranda, the Christmas tree still needs to be transplanted into a larger container and fill the sides and bottom with ordinary forest soil, without disturbing the root ball.

Spruce "Konika" in the nursery.

Transplantation should not be postponed if the plant has released a lot of new needles, that is, it has started to grow. Fresh shoots are a sign of despair, the plant was woken up at the wrong time, "Konika" is trying to give offspring - tender twigs with a lighter color. Not only the crown, but also the roots will give all their strength to the vegetation, they can rot in a stray substrate, from which moisture evaporates poorly and oxygen does not enter. A Christmas tree that has started to grow must be transplanted immediately after purchase, it is better to shake off the substrate from the roots. After transplanting, the tree may shed some of its needles, this is a normal reaction of a plant that wakes up at the wrong time of the year. Temperature maintenance environment no higher than 10 degrees will ease stress.

Plant nutrition

Immediately after transplantation and during hibernation, plants do not need to be fed. In the spring, the Christmas tree is treated with stimulating biological products, they will wake up the sleeping buds and help the tree restore its former decorative appearance. For irrigation, fertilizers are used for this type of plant, which are able to maintain the desired soil acidity. Top dressing is carried out from April to mid-July once every two weeks.

Tree for the house: how to choose?

If you are mentally prepared for the difficulties of care, then Konik spruce must be chosen according to the following criteria:

you can not buy a tree decorated artificial snow, sparkles, they are applied with aerosols, and the spruce will die anyway;
try to shake the trunk, if it staggers in the container, it means that the plant was recently transplanted, the roots could be damaged, there is little chance of survival;
if the crown is too large in relation to the pot, there is also a possibility that the spruce was transplanted and cut off part of the roots, and the upper part was kept alive with stimulants;
open the soil from the side, the roots should be braided into a tight lump, such a seedling will live;
found stumps of roots indicate that "Konika" was grown for the sake of several public holidays, in the future it will not grow;
young shoots - a signal that the growing season began at the wrong time and the plant will get sick;
a healthy, full-fledged Christmas tree has evenly colored and dense needles, the trunk is not bare from below, roots should not stick out of the drainage holes.

Spruce "Konika" in a pot.

The best pot culture for creating a New Year's mood is araucaria. This conifer is designed for home growing, he will calmly endure all the hardships of winter on the windowsill. The needles of this plant under the New Year's tinsel look no less interesting.

If the Koniki seedling still begins to die, you need to pick healthy branches up to 10 cm long from the Christmas tree with your hands and put them in a glass of water, to which a growth stimulator is added. It is better to pick branches with a “heel”. By spring, some of the cuttings will sprout roots, and you'll have your own. planting material.

"Konika" near the porch.

Landing in open ground

Planted near the porch, it will bring no less wonderful New Year's mood than a home tree. "Konika" grows slowly, adding no more than 10 - 12 cm per year, a meter-long copy of the tree will be obtained in ten years. Container Christmas trees are planted in the spring and two months before the onset of stable sub-zero temperatures. In this case, it is better to use the transshipment method.

'Konika' likes well-drained moist soils. The best option is loam. Stagnation of moisture, waterlogging - the certain death of the plant. You can try to fix the lowland area with a layer of broken brick, coarse sand, expanded clay. A shaded area is desirable so that the needles are not under direct rays, spruces can be planted near the fence, against the background of the wall of the house, in a group with other conifers.

Landing procedure

The Christmas tree is carefully removed from the container, without destroying the earthen ball, for an hour or two the roots are immersed in water.
If planting is done in spring or summer, the root system is freed from the remnants of the substrate, the roots are straightened and planted on fertile soil, filled with a slide. Land can be brought from a coniferous forest or bought at a specialized store.
Planting in the summer is best done in rainy weather, the seedling should get out of stress before the heat starts. A canopy is made of non-woven material over a young Christmas tree.
In autumn, the roots are not cleaned, but only slightly straightened so that the injured plant has time to get stronger before the onset of cold weather.
After planting, the soil is sprinkled with peat to retain moisture and warm the root system.

Dangerous time - the end of winter. The sun and its reflection from the snow cover can severely burn the needles, it will turn yellow and crumble. Burns are difficult to heal. To avoid such a development of events, at the beginning of February, the seedlings are covered with non-woven material or burlap, simply by tying to the crown with twine, you can sew a bag in the form of a cone.

If the summer turned out to be hot, a water hose with a sprinkler is installed near the Konika and turned on several times a day.

Buy a spruce in a pot if you have a plot on which you can later plant it or give it to friends who have such conditions. Ephedra cannot live at home, they are intended for the conditions in which they were born and formed, you should not torment the plants with an unusual atmosphere.

Photo spruce "Konika" in the design of the garden

Spruce "Konika", group planting.

Konika - spruce, recognized as the oldest in Europe and one of the decorative forms genus of gray conifers. It was discovered in the Canadian wild in 1904. Very quickly, this species gained extraordinary popularity and became the most grown representative of the conifers after the blue spruce. Miniature, with a perfect crown correct form, it is unpretentious and well suited for multifaceted applications in landscape design.

Description of the species

On the site, especially when it is small, it is difficult to grow a full-fledged coniferous tree, but this statement does not apply to Konik. Its decorative value lies in its small size, regular cone-shaped crown and bluish tint of needles. And this is not all the positive aspects of the evergreen.

External characteristics of the tree

Under normal conditions, the average height of Koniki is about 2 m, and in a favorable climate - 4. This makes the tree versatile. It can be used for both field planting and indoor container growing.

The diameter of a middle-aged spruce is 2 m. The tree looks lush and voluminous. Konika can grow for about 300 years. However, her growth is very slow. During the first decade of life, Konik increases by a maximum of 10 cm each year, but after that, development slows down significantly and amounts to 3 cm annually. Further, this figure is halved.

Soft spruce needles are not dangerous for small children and curious animals

The shape of the crown, forming a pointed cone, is not the result of careful care. This type of tree takes itself, in a natural way.

The crown of spruce is dense, saturated. The needles are green-gray, the needles are short, up to 1 cm in length, not prickly at all. Cones on the tree are rare. They are oblong in shape and about 6 cm long.

The root system is superficial, like many representatives of conifers, therefore, when planting, transplanting and loosening the soil in the near-stem circle, care must be taken not to damage the horizontal roots located in the upper soil layer.

plant varieties

There are several selected varieties of Konik spruce:

"Elegance Compact". Bred in Czechoslovakia in 1950. Canadian spruce (glauca) is similar to Konika but has a few differences. The tree grows much faster - by 5 cm per year. It is stronger than Koniki, more hardy, has yellow-brown buds, a lighter shade, and light green, young shoots. The main color of the needles is bright green. Cones are formed up to 8 cm. Growth in height is limited to 2.5 m.
Size of spruce needles reach 1 cm
"Alberta Globe". It was found and selected in the Netherlands in the second half of the 20th century and recognized as a natural mutation of the Canadian spruce. It looks more like a shrub. The height and diameter of the spruce is 1 m. It has a decorative appearance with a dense crown, but not strictly cone-shaped, but rather spherical. Shoots are arranged in a radial order. For a year, the growth averages 10 cm in height and up to 4 cm in width. A ten-year-old tree has a diameter of 40 cm. The needles are soft, the length of the needles is 9 mm. The color of the plant is yellowish, but with the formation of new shoots it aligns to green. Cones on this tree are also rare guests. When they appear, they are small, light brown in color, located at the ends of the shoots.
Spruce exudes a strong coniferous aroma
"Dwarf". The gray or Canadian spruce fully corresponds to its name, since it does not grow above 1.5 m. The dwarf plant has a narrow cone-shaped crown, fluffy branches.
Spruce needles "Gnome" reach about 8 mm
"Lauren". The rarest of the representatives of the genus, with a maximum achievable growth of 1.5 m. For the first 10 years, its size increases by 5 cm annually, then development slows down significantly to 2 cm. Needles up to 8 mm long, soft.
The spruce crown has the shape of a regular sharp cone

growing conditions

All varieties of ornamental spruce Konik grow well in various regions of Russia. They are winter-hardy, withstand frosts of more than 30 ° C, unpretentious to soils. Plants have the following features:

They prefer to grow in an open, bright place. They require some midday shading to keep the plants from getting scorched, especially in early spring when solar activity is high and during the height of the hot summer.
The tree is afraid of wind and drafts, as well as groundwater. Moisture stagnation can provoke root system jamming, rot and death of spruce.
Dislikes Konik and cramped quarters. Therefore, you should not plant it between large trees, which will suppress the already slow growth and prevent the plant from demonstrating all its decorative effect.

In the shade, the tree will also grow, but the color of the needles will fade and the decorative properties will decrease significantly.

The popularity of Canadian spruce in our country is not as high as that of the prickly variety known as blue. But under different names - gray, white - these plants are increasingly grown in Russian private farms.

reproduction

Adult Konika can be propagated in two ways - cuttings and seeds. Both options are quite long and to get a young grown seedling, especially from a seed, you will have to wait patiently for several years.

Nevertheless, these methods are used by amateur gardeners. They experiment with the seeds of various plants and their generic characteristics.

seeds

The Konik spruce has one breeding feature - only a few seeds from a cone can inherit the decorative features of the mother tree. Therefore, growing a plant in this way is a kind of lottery. Even if the seedling sprouts and begins active growth, it may not be decorative enough.

To get busy seed cultivation Koniks, it is necessary to take a well-ripened cone in autumn or winter and prepare the soil.

The substrate for it must be nutritious and have high rate acidity. For its manufacture, peat, a sod layer, leafy soil and purified sand are mixed - all in equal proportions. Sowing depth - 1 cm. The container is placed in cool, close to natural conditions, and seedlings can rise in the spring.

Seed germination of Konika spruce is good and the long-awaited seedling appears in almost 100% of cases

In a year, a seedling, with full and proper care, will grow to a maximum of 20 cm, but it will not get stronger enough for transplanting into unprotected soil.

Konika is often grown in home floriculture for several years, and only when it reaches a height of 1 m and above is planted outside.

cuttings

This method is used more often than seed propagation and has betterresultsin terms of survival. A plant from a cutting will have one hundred percent maternal signs of decorativeness. But the process is not fast - to get a seedling suitable for soil that does not have protective coating will take several years.

A seedling from a cutting can be planted in a certain street place in 3-4 years

Cuttings are carried out in June, so that the rooting process occurs in the fall. The cut of the cutting overgrows within 2 months, and by September it can begin to take root, which should be fixed in the soil before winter.

Cutting and planting process:

For cuttings, the lower branches of the mother tree about 12 cm long are cut off. Be sure to separate them with the “heel” and part of the bark from the trunk, otherwise they will not take root.
The prepared planting material is placed in a solution of "Kornevin" and aged for 2 hours.
A substrate is being prepared - exactly the same composition as for sowing seeds.
The cuttings are buried 2.5 cm into the soil, watered with a dilute Kornevin solution and sent to cool and humid conditions or left in the greenhouse if the cultivation takes place outside.
In the hot summer, plantings are ventilated and shaded.

How to plant

Most fast way get one or more evergreen coniferous trees on the site - place high-quality seedlings purchased in the nursery.

Buying a seedling

Before buying and planting, you need to carry out a number of activities - find a suitable place that meets the conditions for good growth, prepare the soil.

It is best to buy a plant in a nursery, where there is a guarantee that they will sell you exactly the desired variety and the tree will not be sick.

The selection of seedlings is carried out according to the following rules:

It is better to purchase an instance that has a closed root system. It can be landed at any convenient time.
If you bought a seedling with open roots, you should not subject it to long-term transportation. It is necessary to plant such material immediately.
Be sure to pay attention to the state of the root system. Even in the open form, it should have a full-fledged earthen clod.
When transporting, it is necessary to cover the open roots with a damp burlap or protect them from possible damage in another convenient way.
A thorough inspection of the purchased seedling is required so that it does not have dried, diseased branches and damage.

Location selection

It should be sunny, in the shade the tree will not grow well. Do not plant the plant in the wind or draft.

Konika is an actively "breathing" plant, so it does not tolerate air pollution very well. For planting in urban areas, especially near busy highways, you should choose another representative of conifers.

The place chosen on the site for planting spruce also depends on the desired landscape composition.

There are many options for using Koniki in garden design and they involve both single and group or border planting.

The land in the intended square should be fertile, moderately acidic. Enrichment welcome organic fertilizers in the previous planting season. Before placing the plants, the soil is carefully dug up to a state of moderate friability. The substrate must pass well not only moisture, but also air to the roots.

Planting process

Spruce can be planted outside at almost any time of the year, except for winter. In the spring and autumn season, it is permissible to place in open field a tree whose root system is not protected, and in summer only seedlings with closed roots can be used.

The roots of Koniki are thin and do not tolerate the influence of dry hot air, so if you plant a plant in the heat with open roots, it can dry out.

Planting steps:

At the bottom of the prepared pit of the required size, drainage is poured with a layer of about 5 cm.
A mixture of peat, leafy soil, turf, sand with a slight addition of organic matter is being prepared.
A small mound is formed in the depths of the pit, on which the seedling is installed.
The roots are carefully straightened and the recess is covered with prepared soil with the addition of complex fertilizer.
A near-stem circle is formed, which will facilitate watering.
Immediately after planting, 12 liters of settled water is poured under one seedling.
The trunk circle must be mulched with clean peat, wood chips or medium fractions of tree bark.

Video: spruce planting in open ground

How to care for a Konik spruce

A coniferous tree does not require such tireless and careful care as garden crops, but still it needs to be paid attention from time to time, to take care of it correctly so that it does not die and shows all its decorative effect.

Seedling care: table

care event	Description
Watering	The tree will need watering twice a week. Each time, 10 liters of water are consumed for one copy. Konika loves sprinkling, so in the summer you can spray it weekly from shower hose or watering cans. It is important to ensure that the root system is not constantly wet, in order to avoid its decay.
loosening	This procedure is necessary for the seedling so that the roots can receive enough air. It is important not to loosen deep, since horizontally located processes are close to the soil surface.
Mulching	From time to time, the mulch covered during planting must be changed or topped up in order to provide the roots of the seedling with an optimal moisture regime and protect it from weeds.
Shelter	It is necessary to cover the plant not only from frost in winter, but also from the bright sun in summer. In the warm period, shading is provided - in the hottest hours, the seedling is completely wrapped in cardboard or burlap. In winter, the crown of the tree is covered with spunbond, and snow is poured under the trunk
top dressing	If organic matter is added during planting or complex fertilizers are applied, then fertilizing is not carried out in the first four months. In the future, it is carried out in all seasons, except for winter. Top dressing is carried out every two months with organic matter diluted in water.
pruning	Konika belongs to varieties that do not need a decorative haircut. Her crown has a naturally regular conical shape. But damaged or dried branches must be selectively removed as they appear, carrying out sanitary pruning.

Diseases, pests and their control

This tree is not affected by numerous diseases and pests to the same extent as other ornamental and fruit plants, but still, it will have to be protected from several diseases, and when the first signs appear, it will be treated. These include the following ailments:

Tracheomycosis. The seriousness of this disease is evidenced by the lack of resuscitation measures and the recommendation of gardeners to immediately dig up the tree, carefully removing all its roots, and burn it away from the site, in order to avoid spread to other specimens. Tracheomycosis is not treatable. If it hits Konika, then the tree will have to be destroyed.
Signs of tracheomycosis are reddening of the entire crown cover and total fall of the needles.
Rust. This disease can be dealt with if you notice its signs in a timely manner. On the branches with rust, growths form orange color. The needles begin to gradually turn yellow, dry and fall off. You can cure a tree with the Vectra preparation, using it according to the instructions.
Schutte's disease. A sign of infection is a whitish coating on spruce needles. The tree must be sprayed with copper sulphate to fight infection.
Many people want to have their own Christmas tree at home, and live, not artificial. Konica is suitable for home cultivation if it is properly cared for.
Buying a pot coniferous beauty ahead of new year holidays, keep in mind that it is not intended for perennial cultivation. After a maximum of a few weeks, 90% of such trees wither and die in the hot and dry conditions of the apartment.

In winter, Konika, like all conifers, needs coolness. The plant is in a hibernation period, so if you want to save a potted specimen bought for Christmas, you need to provide it with optimal mode.
Konika - by no means indoor plant, her biorhythms are natural and adapt to life in an apartment with difficulty
First you need to find the coldest place in the house for the tree. It can be a north window sill, a space between double frames, a loggia or a glazed balcony.
It is worth bringing a tree into the heat only for a short time holiday. And in no case do not spray with floral sprays, artificial snow and other "decorations".

After the holiday, Konika goes back to a cool place and stays there until spring. For the crown, the sub-zero temperature of an unheated balcony is not terrible. The pot, especially if the soil in it is wet, will have to be wrapped with burlap or insulated in some other way.
If a cool place in a room with central heating is chosen, a humidifier should be installed next to the plant or the crown should be sprayed several times a day and a bowl of water should be placed next to it.
Transplanting from a transport pot and substrate, if the tree is bought in the winter, is best done in the spring
Watering should be carried out, but not plentiful and occasionally. Water at room temperature, settled for several days, is suitable. It is better to mulch the soil in a pot.
The direct rays of the sun for the tree are undesirable. If the place is chosen on the windowsill, it is necessary to create shading at noon, especially in February - March. But the plant needs light for the health of the needles, so the pot can be turned every week with the other side to the light source.

For transplanting, a free pot or container is selected. It is filled with a mixture of peat with sand, leafy soil and turf. added complex fertilizer. The tree is carefully rolled into a new pot along with a lump.
In April, you can start feeding, take the plant to fresh air and even transplant it into open ground, if necessary.
Use in landscape design
Konika is a tree beloved by landscape designers for its bright and outstanding decorative qualities.. The crown does not need to be cut, it grows slowly. Spruce can be used both for group and for single landings, as well as form green hedges.
Design options:
- Solitary landing. It can be carried out both in open ground and in a pot, which is exhibited in a certain place. The second option is preferable because the location of the tree can be changed depending on the preferred design.
- Hedge. Konica is the best plant for this purpose of all the conifers, since there is no need for thorough care of the crown. When planting a hedge, it should be borne in mind that the diameter of a middle-aged tree is 2 m. Thickened plantings can lead to crown diseases and pest damage.
- Use in garden compositions. The correct, neat crown cone of Koniki looks great in rock gardens and rockeries, and also serves as a noble background for flowering plants.
- Decoration of the entrance or window group. Often Konika is planted in duplicate on both sides of the front door or large window.
- Symbol of the New Year. Spruce can be used as a festive tree. When growing in a container, it can be brought indoors for a short time, and if it is in open ground, it can be festively decorated right in the yard.
Decoration methods: examples in the photo
Ephedra goes well with a variety of flower arrangements Spruce Konika looks good as a hedge Ephedra can be interesting to decorate the front entrance to the house You can select a variety of combinations of coniferous trees and shrubs depending on the landscape Miniature Konik spruce will be a great holiday decoration