One of the most decorative coniferous crops in modern gardening is considered to be the Korean Fir Diamond. The plant of the family Abies koreana Wils has many varieties, is most common in the northern United States and Canada.
Korean Fir Diamond
Brief information about the variety
- Colour: bicolor needles - emerald on the surface, on the underside - silvery-green or bluish with longitudinal stripes.
- Height: 0.5 m.
- Crown diameter: 0.7-0.8 m.
- Growing regions: bicolor needles - emerald on the surface, on the lower side - silvery-green or bluish with longitudinal stripes;
- Landing features: scheme: 5x4 m. Sunny place with a little shading.
- Immunity: high frost resistance, good immunity against diseases.
- Life span: 400 years.
General characteristics
Fir Brilliant - a dwarf plant with a lush and very beautiful crown, is an original addition to any garden composition.
The culture description includes:
- maximum height - 0.5 m;
- circumference - 0.7-0.8 m;
- the form is cushion-shaped, sometimes cone-shaped or pyramidal, thick, squat;
- bicolor needles - emerald on the surface, on the lower side - silvery-green or bluish with longitudinal stripes;
- average length of needles - about 2 cm, curved;
- cones are one of the most unique and highly decorative elements of the crown: they resemble candles in appearance, dark brown in adult plants, bluish-green or dark purple in young ones;
- grows slowly - the annual growth is 3-4 cm.
The dwarf ephedra is a long-lived crop with a life expectancy of 400 years.
Distributed in the northern hemisphere and suitable for growing in temperate climates. In Russia, they are planted in the central, middle latitudes, as well as in the north with the possibility of shelter for the winter.
Landing features
Despite the good winter hardiness, young seedlings need warmth for full growth - the air temperature is at the level of 13-15 ° С, the soil temperature is 10-12 ° С.
Therefore, the optimal time for planting is late April or early May.
Sapling selection
The choice of planting material must be approached seriously and responsibly, because further growth, decorativeness and life expectancy of the grown ephedra will depend on its quality:
- it is recommended to take bushes 1-2 years old in containers, flowerpots or with an earthen lump, since closed roots can more easily transfer the transplantation procedure to the site and are not injured than in plants with an open root system;
- the aerial part should be saturated green, juicy, without any defects (cracks, breaks on the bark, mold, black and red spots on the needles);
- the optimum height of a seedling for planting is 20-25 cm, age from 4 to 10 years, because younger specimens have poor survival rate.
Site and soil preparation
A sunny area is suitable for planting
For the cultivation of this culture, a sunny area is suitable, where there are no strong winds and swamps. When planting on waterlogged soil, it is necessary to make good drainage - add a couple of buckets of sand, vermiculite per 1 m².
Korean balsamic fir Diamond can grow on any type of soil with a high acidity level. Therefore, in addition, the bed is sprinkled with peat - 15-20 kg per 1 m².
Open field planting technique
The depth of the planting hole depends on the size of the earthen clod - they pull out 2-3 times more, on average, 80-90 cm.When group planting, a distance of 5 m between seedlings is observed, in a row - 3-4 m.
Drainage from crushed stone, pebbles or broken brick is laid on the bottom, then it is half filled with a nutrient mixture - from peat, turf and sandy soil in a ratio of 1: 1: 1.
The roots are lowered along with the ground, trying to leave the root collar on the surface. The hole is filled with fertile soil mixture, trampled around the trunk, watered with water - 10 liters are consumed per plant.
To avoid drying out of the soil and roots, the conifers are sprinkled with peat or pine chips, sawdust.
Planting in a pot
Miniature fir looks great as a pot culture, it decorates any area in the garden and the local area.
The needles grow slowly, so for planting it, you can take a container or pot the size of an earthen ball with drainage holes. Expanded clay or pebbles are poured to the bottom, then the nutrient composition that is used when planting in the garden.
Deepen the roots, sprinkle with soil, tamp and watered with settled water.
Care requirements
Regardless of the method of planting, Korean balsam fir requires the same care.
- In the first weeks, it is necessary to provide shading at lunchtime, otherwise the young seedlings will burn in the sun, turn yellow and die. To do this, use burlap or agrofiber.
- Regular watering is equally important, which will stimulate the rapid build-up of roots and aboveground parts. The soil is moistened as it dries to a depth of 5-6 cm. Typically, the frequency in dry summer is once every two weeks. Adult specimens from the age of 5 years can be watered less often - 3-4 times per season.
- The first feeding is carried out 3 years after planting in open ground or a pot. Complex fertilizers are used for coniferous plants at the rate of 100-120 g per 1 m² plot.
- To facilitate maintenance, the near-trunk zone is mulched with peat or coniferous sawdust. Mulch prevents unnecessary vegetation from growing and protects the soil from drying out. Also, after watering, the soil is loosened to maintain its moisture and breathable qualities. To avoid the invasion of pests and various infections, the area with conifers should be weeded regularly and weeds should be removed.
- A shaping haircut is needed periodically. The essence of the procedure is the annual pinching of the apical kidneys. Carried out in early spring before the beginning of the growing season. This makes the crown more lush, thick and symmetrical. Additionally, in early spring and late autumn, it is thinned out - the branches growing inward and at the wrong angle are removed. In order to avoid the appearance of sores, parasites, to support decorativeness, cut out all parts damaged by frost and winds.
- To protect them from freezing in winter, young seedlings are spudded, the above-ground part is covered with spruce branches or wrapped in burlap. The shelter is removed in the spring, when the threat of return frosts has passed. Insulation is not required for adult conifers.
Transfer
Trees should be regularly inspected for pests.
This procedure is carried out in case of damage to the root part of diseases, decay of the root neck from waterlogging and the need to change the soil composition.
The transplant technique consists of several stages:
- first, the near-trunk zone is dug in at a distance of 40-45 cm from the trunk in order to avoid the risk of injury to the roots;
- then dig it with a garden shovel;
- in order for the plant to take root better in a new place, it must be planted together with the dug out earthy clod.
After transplanting, the fir is watered and mulched. Further care is the same as for adult specimens.
Diseases and pests
Like other conifers, this crop can be damaged by various parasites and diseases, especially if agricultural technology and care are violated.
The most inveterate pests are the pine cone moth, fir hermes and shoot moth. Specialized means - Engio, Aktara or Aktellik will help to destroy insects. The solution for spraying is prepared at the rate of 20 g per 10 liters of water.
At the initial stage of the lesion, 1-2 treatments are required, at the advanced stage - 3-4 with an interval of 7 days.
Of the diseases, rust often damages, shute. Treatment consists of several stages:
- removal of damaged parts to healthy tissue;
- covering wounds with garden pitch;
- utilization and incineration of cut branches;
- irrigation of the crown and soil in the near-stem zone with a solution of Bordeaux liquid of 2% concentration.
To protect against diseases and pests, it is necessary to use high-quality and healthy planting material, avoid thickening, keep the site clean and take care of the conifers on time.
Reproduction methods
The best and most effective way of propagation is with a cuttings containing 1-2 buds at the top. For cultivation, use a healthy, mother plant from the age of 5 years.
Cuttings 15-20 cm long, with a piece of old bark, are cut in the middle of summer. The lower part (2-3 cm) is freed from needles and outgrowths, then planted in a moist substrate of peat, sand and coniferous sawdust (1: 1: 1).
They are planted to a depth of 3-4 cm under a slight slope, moistened, covered with a transparent film and placed in a warm place with a temperature of 18-19 ° C.
After about 2-2.5 months, the cuttings will release the first buds, then it will be possible to remove the shelter, continue to water, loosen the soil and monitor the condition of the young seedlings. Yellowed, withered specimens must be disposed of immediately, since they can become a source of infection for healthy plants.
A transplant to the site is carried out at least a year after rooting.
This procedure is best done in early autumn, so that the young conifers have time to take root before the onset of the first cold weather. Planting rules and scheme are the same as for purchased seedlings.
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Application in landscape
Balsamic Korean Fir is a unique element in landscape design. The plant is used in different compositions:
- planted singly in flower beds;
- combined in group plantings with undersized, creeping and tall coniferous shrubs and trees;
- used on alpine, rocky and rocky slides, ridges;
- linear planting along alleys, curbs looks impressive;
- a plant planted in a pot or container is suitable as a New Year's or Christmas tree;
- flower beds with ephedra, surrounded by decorative deciduous or flowering crops, look good and original.
Reviews
Korean fir with a compact crown and slow growth is loved by many gardeners:
- good frost resistance and high decorativeness throughout the year allows you to create indescribable beauty from several conifers in any region of our country;
- some are satisfied with other qualities of a miniature shrub - it does not take up much space in the garden;
- others like the possibility of planting in a pot, thanks to which it is possible to make a living and ever-green decoration not only in the garden, but also next to the adjoining area - gazebos, terraces;
- fir successfully propagates by cuttings, so many grow new specimens from the tree already on the site.