Lawson's cypress Columnaris (fits into any landscape design due to its dense crown and neat appearance. But in order for it to take root in Russia, you need to provide it with proper care.
Description of cypress Lawson Columnaris
The variety arrived in our country not so long ago. Wild ancestors grew in America and Eastern Eurasia, but the plant itself was only bred in 1941 by the Dutch breeder Jean Speck. It is now actively used in landscape design throughout Europe.
Brief information about the variety
- Needle color: brownish to pure green.
- Plant height: does not exceed 5-10 m.
- Crown width: about 200 cm.
- In which regions is it growing: Hastily cultivated in the South of Russia, in the Volga region and the Middle zone.
- Landing features: prefers sunny or light shade.
- Immunity: no resistance to scale insects, spider mites and fungi.
- Life span: at least 10 years.
Growing regions
The Southern Federal District is considered the most suitable for growing the Lawson Columnaris cypress.
This is due to the fact that wild cypresses, like cultivated varieties, need moisture and an abundance of light, high temperatures.
Some gardeners managed to cultivate this variety in Central Russia and the Volga region (for example, there are cases of its growth in summer cottages in the Moscow region). But in such conditions, the plant will require special care and attention.
General characteristics
Columnaris is an evergreen plant with a straight stem, 5-10 m high. It has a narrow columnar shape, upward taut and thin shoots that form small branches 10 cm long.
The diameter of the crown of an adult cypress reaches 2 m, and the average increase in width reaches 10 cm. The color of the needles varies from green to brownish (but in the Columnaris Glauka variety it is blue).
The root system is strong, branched, which allows it to cling tightly to any soil.
Landing
Miniature cypress is sensitive to growing conditions. And not all specimens take root in a harsh climate.
To grow a full-fledged shrub, you need to choose the right seedling and prepare a place for it.
Sapling selection
Anyone can purchase Columnaris at a specialized gardening store or nursery.
You should not trust private traders: their goods are not certified and processed in accordance with the norms.
Some gardeners advise buying plants that are bred in your area, because they are already adapted to weather and climate conditions. It is better to choose shrubs in containers of 3 or 5 liters (that is, small), because the grown flora does not take root well in a new place.
Site preparation
Choose a sunny place for planting
Columnaris cypress prefers to grow in an area with a lot of sunlight or in light shade (for example, on a small hill). This arrangement also allows you to get rid of the accumulation of moisture in the roots.
There are no requirements for the chemical composition of the soil, it is only desirable that it be loose, fresh and well-drained.
Preparing the soil for planting a plant consists in loosening it and introducing organic humus.
Landing technology
- Preparation begins in the fall. A hole is made in the chosen place 60 cm wide and 80 cm deep.
- It is watered with dechlorinated water, drainage is placed on the bottom (broken brick, gravel and small stones are suitable)
- There is a partial filling of the pit with nutrient soil (it includes sod land, leaf litter, sand and peat)
- Already in the spring, the deepening and roots of the seedlings are watered abundantly.
- Plants are placed in the center and covered with soil. The root collar should be flush with the surface.
- The trunk space is mulched with bark, large wood chips.
Care
Caring for Lawson's cypress Columnaris is quite simple, although the plant is alien to the climatic conditions of Russia. But without observing the rules of watering, feeding and mulching, it is not realistic to grow a good tree.
Watering
The description of the places of original growth proves that the shrub is sensitive to watering.
You need to moisten the soil around it at least once every seven days. Water consumption per adult plant is about 10 liters, young shoots during the active growing season should have up to 12-15 liters, but for old trees 5 liters are enough. Seedlings and young cypress trees respond well to spraying. Therefore, once a week it is worth moisturizing the green part.
Top dressing
It is customary to make top dressing in spring and early June. If you deviate from this fertilization regime, the plant simply does not have time to prepare for wintering. Youngsters are fed 60 days after planting.
And the adult cypress trees of Lawson Columnaris are fertilized every 14 days as they grow in height. The most productive are special feeding for evergreen flora (Novofet, Agricola and others). Package instructions should be followed, but young shrubs should receive half the fertilizer dose for mature ones.
Mulching and loosening the soil
Loosening is mandatory for cypress trees, it should be carried out after any rain or artificial irrigation.
The cypress must be fertilized
Accuracy is a must: the roots of the young are located near the surface and are easily injured. Together with this, it is worth organizing weeding.
Cypress trees generally do not tolerate close proximity to other plants. The last step is mulching. As a mulch, it is most convenient to use chips or tree bark.
Haircut and trim
The formation of the crown of a cypress falls in the spring, you can start trimming the plant in the second year of its life. The greenery will be able to give any desired shape, but it is worth considering that unnecessarily long branches or those that grow in the wrong direction must be removed.
You need to cut the branches and cut the leaves using special tools that have been disinfected. These include tongs and garden shears.
Preparing for winter
The cypress is resistant to low temperatures. But for the first three years, it is worth covering the tree, because the bright spring and winter rays of the sun can have a bad effect on the quality of the needles.
Each one is individually wrapped in sacks made of craft paper or plain burlap. In colder regions, it is recommended to grow small cypress trees not in open soil, but in large tubs. Then for the winter you can easily protect the plant from frost by transferring it indoors.
Reproduction
Lawson's Columnaris cypress trees can be propagated in one of two ways standard for the cypress family: cuttings or seeds. The action algorithms will differ markedly.
Seed reproduction
Seed propagation includes the independent collection of fruits and the isolation of seed from them. For young seedlings to grow successfully, it is important to carry out stratification in time and subsequent correct sowing.
The process begins in February: you need to soak the seeds in a stimulant for 480 minutes, then they are immersed in moistened river sand.
The seed pot should be at a temperature not higher than 5 ° and at high humidity. After 30 days, the container is moved to heat.
Seed growth takes a long time. The first shoots appear in 2.5-3 months. Next, you need to wait until the seedlings get stronger, and then you should move the plants into separate pots.
Cuttings
Cutting is considered an easier and more practical way to grow cypress trees.
In the spring, cut branches 15 cm long. Remove the bark from the bottom, soak the twigs in a growth stimulator for 8 hours. Treated cuttings are planted in soil saturated with minerals to a depth of 5 cm.
The crown is covered with bags, which creates the effect of a greenhouse, and after that they take root quickly enough. After 45 days, new needles begin to form.
Diseases and pests
Examine trees regularly for signs of disease
The cypress has good immunity and is almost immune to the influence of pests.
The greatest risk for him is represented by fungal diseases, scale insects and spider mites. An infected plant can be easily identified by the rapidly falling yellow needles.
Complex treatment with acaricidal agents will help, or you will have to say goodbye to the bush.
Also, due to improper watering, the roots may suffer. They can be saved by removing the affected parts and then fertilizing them with fungicides.
Use in landscape design
- Lawson's cypress is easy to give the desired shape, so it is used when creating hedges.
- The plant fits into alpine slides and rocky gardens, because it matches its natural habitat. If planted in containers and tubs, it can decorate terraces and attics.
- The needles of the Glauka variety have a blue tint and successfully emphasize the cold tones of buildings;
- The shrub is often planted near pools: moisture improves the quality of green mass and activates growth;
- Primroses and perennials bloom well under the tree, so it is found in club compositions.
Reviews
Lavson's cypress Columnaris is liked by the gardener because of its excellent decorative properties and relative resistance to the natural conditions of Russia.
Among the shortcomings, the inability of the plant to winter in severe frosts and a large level of snow is noted (but there is an option to provide wintering outside the street).
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