Fir Caucasian Borjomi. Siberian, Korean and Caucasian fir - the choice of wood species. What are the advantages of container cultures

evergreens coniferous plants always attract attention, and all thanks to fluffy and fragrant twigs, beautiful and slender shape. As a rule, these are the inhabitants of the forests, they are poorly adapted to the polluted city air. Therefore, in order 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 are advised to pay attention to a tree such as Nordmann fir. Caring for her is quite simple, the most important thing is to choose the right place, compare the conditions that are most suitable for her, with the climate in your region. In addition, it does not require additional pruning or crown formation, having a naturally beautiful shape.

Nordmann fir: description

This evergreen tree is also native to Asia Minor. It differs from the white variety in a higher decorative effect. The color of the bark is light gray, matte. The needles are dark green, saturated shade with a characteristic luster and a length of 15 to 40 mm, which creates a feeling of fluffiness. If you grind a few needles in your hands, you will immediately feel a tart citrus aroma - a distinctive feature of Nordmann fir. Compared to other relatives, this species is growing very fast. It can reach a height of up to 50 meters and a crown diameter of 7-8 m.

Nordmann fir has very unusual cones, large - up to 20 cm in length, cylindrical in shape, richly covered with resin in a mature state. In addition, it is a long-liver, grows in nature for 500-800 years, easily tolerates frosts down to -25-30 degrees. Caucasian fir (Nordmann) in Europe is popular as seeds are actively sold in markets, in stores, via the Internet, and already adult plants in pots. The last option is the most humane, you can dress up a fir on New Year and Christmas, and planted in the garden in the spring.

Which place to choose on the site

Nordmann fir is a plant predominantly in partial shade, although it can withstand both shade and bright sun. Due to a well-developed and powerful root system, it is resistant to winds. Demanding on air purity, does not tolerate gas pollution in cities and industrial areas, this must be taken into account when choosing a place. Nordmann fir is unpretentious, but still does not like to be disturbed. Therefore, the location on the site must immediately be chosen permanent, so that later there will be no numerous transfers. In its natural habitat, for example, Nordmann fir in the Moscow region will annually give an increase of only 12-15 cm.

How to choose a plant

If you buy seedlings, it is best to do it in a store and choose those in individual containers. Young firs with a bare root system take root worse and there is a big risk that the plant will die, especially for specimens that are sold on the market. As an option - buy fir in the nursery, when it is dug up in front of your eyes. You should 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 by pests or fungal diseases.

The soil

Planting Nordmann fir, like other conifers, is best in early spring- in April - or in autumn, in September. The depth and width of the pit depends on the size of the seedling and its root system, but not less than 70 cm in depth and width. The Nordmann fir is undemanding to the composition of the soil, but still prefers loamy and light soils. For better survival, you can 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, be sure to pour drainage with a layer of 20 cm (brick chips, coarse river sand, pebbles, sawdust). The distance between the trees in a group planting is desirable to be 3-5 meters, the plants will look good one by one, and the dwarf form is allowed even in the flower bed.

and watering

Nordmann fir does not like dry air, so you need to take into account specific climatic conditions when choosing this tree for your site. In too hot summers, you can spray the trees, but this should be done after sunset or early in the morning. The tree prefers moist soil, but without stagnant water, which is why good drainage is needed when planting. Usually, adult fir has enough natural natural moisture in the soil, so additional artificial watering is required only in case of a very dry summer (2-3 times per season). Top dressing should begin from the second or third year of growth. In the spring, granules of special fertilizers for coniferous plants are introduced into the mulched soil near the tree trunk or Kemira-universal is used.

But young specimens of Nordmann fir should be watered regularly at first, thereby maintaining the necessary soil moisture so that the plant takes root better. The near-trunk circle near the tree must be weeded from weeds and preferably mulched with peat or sawdust.

Growing 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 the roots of the cuttings will have to wait at least six months.

Nordmann fir seeds can be bought or collected from an adult tree, this must be done before the cones open. The best time for planting in the ground is autumn. Fresh seeds have a very high germination rate. You can start planting in the spring, but for this you need to stratify the seeds, and sow them at the end of March-April in shallow containers, to a depth of 1.5-2 cm. 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 seated on permanent place. In conditions of severe frosts, seedlings should be covered with spruce branches or special material, since there is a threat of freezing to the level of snow cover.

Pests and diseases

Nordmann's fir is practically not susceptible to various kinds of diseases and pests, which is another big plus when growing it on the site. But with excessive moisture or choosing the wrong place where water stagnates, fungal diseases may appear, most often it is rust. At the first signs of damage, the tree must be treated with a solution of copper sulfate.

Of the pests, the most common are fir aphids and fir moths that infect shoots. In this case, there can be only one way out - treatment with a solution of special insecticides. It also does not hurt to do this for prevention in the spring.

Varieties

If the garden area is small, then experts advise planting decorative forms- this is a weeping, gray-gray, upright, golden Nordmann fir (photo).

All of them differ in the color of the needles, as well as the shape of the crown and size. Nordmann's golden fir grows only 1 meter tall in ten years. It has unusual needles of golden yellow color. Widely used in the southern regions for rock gardens. Weeping fir resembles a willow in shape, long shoots hang down, and are also small in size.

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

Spreading

It grows in the mountains of the Western Caucasus on the northern and southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus and on the ridges of the Lesser Caucasus (Adzhar-Imereti and Trialeti) at an altitude of 1200–2000 m.

Wood

One of the largest firs, reaches a height of 65 m and a diameter of more than 2 m. The crown is cone-shaped, dense, occupies most of the trunk. The base of the trunks is often thickened and ribbed. The bark is dark, covered with easily separated elongated plates. The needles are dark green, 15–40 mm long, with a bright white lining due to a large number stomata, stays on branches for 9–13 years. Blooms in April-May. Cones are brown-brown, often resinous, 15–20 cm long, with large wide seeds and curved covering scales. They crumble in October-November, leaving rods sticking up on the branches. Seeds 8–12 mm long, bitter, shiny with a brown wing covering the seed. Caucasian fir is thermophilic. Demanding on air humidity. Very shade tolerant. It usually propagates by seeds. Grows faster than other types. Lives up to 800 years. It is used as a water protection, mountain protection and decorative breed.

Wood

The breed is non-core, but with ripe wood, has no resin passages. Homogeneous white color. It pricks well. At 15% humidity the density is 0.42 g/cm³, at 12% humidity 0.38 g/cm³.

Drying

Volume shrinkage coefficient 0.43%.

Strength

The compressive strength along the fibers is 502×10 5 Pa, with static bending - 995.6×10 5 Pa. End hardness 308.2 × 10 5 Pa.

Fortitude

Weakly resistant.

Technological properties

Well pricked, processed.

Application

Used as lumber, in chemical processing; as balances - to obtain cellulose, as well as in construction.

Nordmann fir is an interesting coniferous plant that is often used in the design of gardens and summer cottages. The tree has a neat wide crown and emits essential oils that give the needles a specific aroma. Coniferous culture requires good care, only then will it please the owner of the site with a healthy, attractive look.

According to the variety description, fir has the following characteristics:

Lifespan. The tree is long-lived. There were specimens that were 7,000 years old.
Kind of needles. The needles are light green color and shiny surface. Small needles are located on a branch horizontally. The length of the needles does not exceed 4 cm. The trunk is covered with gray shiny bark. As it matures, it acquires a brown hue. Under natural habitat conditions, the change of needles occurs every 13 years.
root system. The plant has powerful deep roots. It grows best in loose soils. The root system of a tree is sensitive to changes in humidity.
Frost resistance. Fir can withstand severe frosts; it is used as an ornamental crop in regions with a harsh climate.

There are the following varieties of Nordmann fir, which have their own distinctive features:

golden spreader. dwarf variety characterized by the presence of a recess in the center of the crown. The plant grows slowly. The average height of an adult specimen does not exceed 1 m. The outer surface of the needles is marsh-colored and has a characteristic sheen. The inside of the needle is distinguished by a light yellow color and lack of gloss. The variety is grown in rock gardens.
Jadwiga. Differs in fast growth and big height. The outer sides of the needles are dark green, the inner ones are white. Branches covered with dense needles form a dense crown.
Pendula. The hybrid is characterized by slow growth and a wide spreading crown. The needles have a rich green color. The plant does not tolerate high humidity and mechanical damage to the barrel. Pendula fir is cultivated in arboretums and summer cottages.

How to plant fir?

The procedure for planting and caring for Caucasian fir includes the following steps:

Choice of location. The tree grows well in the mountains, in the lowlands its growth slows down, which does not affect the decorative qualities. Fir can be grown in both lit and shaded areas. The plant is not afraid strong wind, however, is sensitive to drought.
Soil selection. Fir feels comfortable in nutritious soils containing a sufficient amount of minerals. Loams are suitable for planting, but the tree can also grow on acidic soils. Fir is planted next to mountain ash, spruce, barberry, thuja or juniper.
Selection of seedlings. Strengthened young plants with a developed root system are planted. When buying seedlings, pay attention to the presence of signs of disease.
Training landing pit. The hole should have a depth of 90 cm and a width of 60 cm. When digging a hole, an increase in depth is provided for arranging drainage. It is formed from gravel or rubble.
Soil backfill. Sand, peat, clay and humus are mixed in a ratio of 1:3:1:2. The resulting mixture is fertilized complex top dressing. After that, half of the pit is filled with soil.
Planting a seedling. The plant is installed in the hole, straightening the roots. Fill the soil so that only the root neck remains above the surface. A near-stem circle is formed, which is thoroughly moistened.

Rules for the care of Nordmannian fir

Fir care is not particularly difficult and involves the following activities:

Watering. The tree is watered abundantly only in the first year after planting. After the formation of a powerful root system, the plant begins to receive moisture from the soil.
Soil cultivation. To preserve the decorative qualities of fir, the near-trunk circle is regularly freed from weeds. Mulching helps reduce the frequency of weeding. The soil is covered sawdust or peat. Over time, the tree itself creates a protective layer of fallen needles.
Top dressing. Fertilizers begin to be applied 5 years after planting. The plant needs minerals, so complex liquid top dressings are used. They are introduced during the period of active formation of cones.
Formation. It is not necessary to trim healthy fir branches. Sanitary haircuts are aimed at removing fungus-affected, dried or damaged shoots. Pruning is done annually, in the spring. The saw cuts are covered with garden pitch.
Pest control. This variety of fir is resistant to diseases, but fungal diseases can spread if the humidity increases or the use of infected seedlings. Treatment with a fungicidal solution helps to cope with gray rot, shute and rust. Insect pests are destroyed by spraying with insecticides.
Preparing for the winter. Mature plants are resistant to low temperatures, seedlings must be protected. The trunk circle is insulated with fallen leaves, the trunk is covered with spruce branches.

How does a plant reproduce?

Cuttings rarely take root, so seeds are used to breed fir at home. For 2 months they are kept in freezer. In spring, seeds are sown in containers with nutrient soil, which is pre-disinfected by calcining in the oven. The strengthened sprouts are transferred to separate pots, where they grow for 5-7 years. After this time, the seedlings are placed in the ground.

Do you know what kind of tree a fir is? It is an evergreen with a deep root system. It has a wide conical shape with outstretched branches. The tree grows slowly annual growth is 3 to 5 centimeters. At 30 years old, the size of a fir tree reaches two to three meters in height, and in general, some species of this plant can grow up to sixty meters.

Prefers in nature open sunny places and partial shade. Fir needles can be either gray-blue or dark green. She has tough and relatively thick shoots. Likes fresh, deep, slightly acidic soil. Can grow even on sandy, dry soil. best time fir planting - from March to November. This plant looks great both in and in a single planting. Fir flowering (the photo of the tree is presented in this article) is beautiful.

The tree lives 300-400 years, old-timers are also known in history, which were more than 700 years old.

The name of the plant comes from the German Fichte, which means "spruce" in translation.

How to distinguish fir from spruce?

The fir tree (the description will be presented to your attention below) looks like a spruce, and an inexperienced person can easily make a mistake. However, the differences between the two plants are significant.

What does a fir tree look like? His crown is located at the base of the trunk, unlike spruce and pine. The needles are very soft, with long and flat needles. Spruce needles are hard, short and prickly. Each fir needle has two white stripes on the underside. The needles are slightly sharp, located on reproductive shoots, or rounded towards the end (such needles grow on vegetative branches).

The needles on fir branches grow only on two sides, so the shoots themselves look “flat”. In spruce, the needles are located on the shoot in a circle.

There are two types of fir cones - men's cones are more like earrings made of small "flowers". Female cones are large, cylindrical or egg-shaped, growing upwards, as if "sitting" on a branch. Spruce cones usually hang down.

In winter, fir needles remain bright, unlike other conifers, whose needles fade slightly in the cold season. If you cut a fir branch and bring it home, then the needles will not dry out and fall off, unlike Christmas tree needles. Therefore, fir is more often used in home decoration on new year holidays, created from twigs beautiful compositions which can look good for a very long time.

Types of fir

In total, there are about 50 species of fir, some of them are quite low, only 30 cm in height and look more like shrubs. Mighty trees are also found, up to 80 m high. Some varieties grow in southern countries, for example, in Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico. But most of all, fir is common in the forests of Europe and Russia, from the Southern Urals to the Arctic Ocean. Accordingly, the frost resistance of fir depends on its type.

Siberian fir

The Siberian fir tree species is a frost-resistant plant that is common in the taiga northern forests of Russia. Usually chooses to grow places closer to the water, for example, in river valleys and highlands. Siberian fir (a photo of the tree is given below) has a cone-shaped and rather narrow crown. The needles are dark green with soft, shiny and narrow needles. The length of the needles is three centimeters. Traditionally, two white stripes on the underside of each needle. The size of adult Siberian fir trees is quite impressive. They reach a height of 30 meters.

plant trunk gray color, the bark is smooth, thin at the top and on the branches, and thick and cracked below.

The cones are light brown in color, grow straight up on the branch.

There are several varieties of Siberian fir - blue, motley, elegant.

Siberian fir is a valuable plant and is protected by the state.

Fir Nordmann (Caucasian)

This is an endemic plant found only in the Caucasus, therefore it is included in the list of protected plants. Lives in nature for 500 years.

Caucasian fir is a tall, powerful tree that grows up to sixty meters in height. In this case, the thickness of the trunk can even reach two meters. The crown of this tree is lowered low, the shape is conical, the top is narrow.

Dark green needles, with slightly pointed, long four-centimeter needles. There are two white stripes on the underside of each needle.

The bark on the trunk is smooth and shiny, even in its lower part. Only when the tree reaches the age of eighty, cracks may appear on the trunk below.

Cones ovoid, large. Usually they are twenty centimeters long and five in diameter. The buds are dark green when young and turn brown when mature.

Nordmann's fir also has its own varieties - golden, gray, weeping, upright.

Korean fir

The homeland of this plant is the mountains of the southern part of the Korean peninsula. This plant tolerates high altitude conditions well, including winter frosts, as it grows at an altitude of 1800 meters above sea level. The peculiarity of this type of fir is that it grows very slowly at a young age. However, after a few years, its growth is greatly accelerated. This is a relatively low fifteen-meter tree, with a rather thin trunk up to eighty centimeters. The crown has a traditional conical shape.

A feature of this species is the color of the bark. Young trees have a thin, smooth, ash-colored bark. With age, this color changes to purple or dark brown with a chestnut tint. At the bottom of the trunk of trees that have lived for several decades, the bark is covered with cracks.

The needles of the Korean fir are very beautiful, thick and lush. However, the needles are harsh and slightly curved upwards, have a saber shape. Below, each needle is an ash-silver color that spreads along two stomatal bands.

The cones of this type of fir are very beautiful, cylindrical in shape, unusual lilac. However, the size of the cones is small, reaching only three centimeters in diameter, and only seven centimeters in length.

This very beautiful tree is very popular in landscape design because its varieties are very different from each other. For example, "Blue Standard" has bright purple buds, and "Piccolo" reaches a height of only 30 centimeters.

Balsam fir

This type of fir (a photo of a tree and cones is given in this article) was brought to the territory of Eurasia from across the ocean, since it is naturally distributed in the USA and Canada. Balsam fir grows in latitudes with a rather harsh climate, up to the tundra. It is also found in the highlands, at an altitude of up to two thousand meters above sea level. The peculiarity of this plant is that it is not long-lived, like other types of fir, its limit is 200 years.

Balsam fir has not very high growth- up to twenty-five meters. The thickness of the trunk in this case can reach seventy centimeters.

The bark is ash-colored and smooth on young trees. Brown with a reddish tint, the trunks are found in old plants.

Needles of balsam fir up to three centimeters in length. The needles are not sharp, dark green, soft. If you rub a few needles in your palms, you can feel a pleasant characteristic smell. The peculiarity of the needles of this tree is that its needles are “long-playing”, they do not fall off for seven years.

This fir has very beautiful cones of interesting shape, up to ten centimeters long, but at the same time narrow - just over two centimeters in diameter. Young cones are very beautiful, they have a dark purple. When they ripen, they change color and become brown and resinous.

Interesting varieties of balsam fir. "Hudson" - a dwarf tree with dense branches and a wide crown and variegated color of needles. "Nana" is also a low shrub-like plant, only 50 centimeters in height. The color of the needles is unusual, has a yellow-green tint.

How to plant fir?

Like all conifers, the fir tree (the photo and description of which became the subject of our review) is an unpretentious plant. However certain features and the rules for planting and caring for this tree must be known.

When planting, it is better to take a container culture, since such plants can be planted almost all year round. They take root well in spring, summer, and even autumn. The only time it is not recommended to plant plants is during severe frosts in frozen ground.

What are the advantages of container cultures?

The lump with the roots is preserved in its entirety. For conifers, this is extremely important. The fact is that on the roots of all coniferous plants, including fir, a special microorganism lives - mycorrhiza, which helps plants absorb moisture and nutrients from the soil. When dried, this microorganism dies. If it is proposed to buy a coniferous seedling with an open root system, then in no case should you buy it. Most likely, such a tree will not take root.

The coniferous fir tree is a champion in endurance, perfectly withstands drought. Nevertheless, it must be planted correctly so that it subsequently grows well, looks beautiful, fluffy. One of the first conditions for proper fit fir is the choice of location. It should be well lit, sunny or, in extreme cases, light partial shade. The second condition is to properly dig a hole in which to plant fir.

How to properly dig a hole when planting?

It is necessary to dig a hole for the future plant, approximately 20 centimeters wider and 30 centimeters deeper than the clod of earth protecting the roots of the seedling. How to correctly determine the depth of a dug hole? This is easy to do - put the shovel handle across the pit. It will serve as the defining level. Place a seedling with a clod of earth in a hole and look at the level of how deep the plant will be planted.

Under no circumstances should you deepen root collar, from there the first root of the seedling will grow after planting. This place only needs to be lightly sprinkled with earth. Therefore, if you have deepened the hole too much, then you must definitely add earth or make a drainage layer. Broken brick can be used as drainage. Fir does not like when moisture stagnates in the roots.

Work with the drainage layer and top dressing of the plant

The drainage layer is lightly sprinkled with earth. After that, you should again measure the depth of the hole, whether it is suitable for the seedling or not, not forgetting to use the shovel handle. If everything is in order, then a little mineral fertilizer can be applied to the layer of earth covering the drainage, one hundred grams will be enough. After that, be sure to mix the soil so that there is no direct contact of the fertilizer with the roots of the plant.

We place the seedling in the hole and fill in the open space around the roots. It's good if you use special blend:

- 3 parts.
Sand - 1 part.
Peat - 1 part.

Proper planting of fir and watering

Try to plant the plant strictly vertically. The soil around the trunk of the seedling should be slightly tamped down with your hands to settle any voids that may have formed during planting. You can form a side around the plant from the ground so that water does not spread when watering. Water the plant well immediately. This should be done from a watering can or hose, substituting a hand under the stream of water so that the soil does not erode.

You can pour water directly on the top of the fir, on the twigs - conifers love this very much. Water the seedling should be three times, allowing water to soak into the soil each time. Just need to pour about a bucket of water.

The first watering is very important for the survival of the plant, which must be saturated with moisture. In addition, all the voids that still remain in the hole are gradually filled with heavy, moist earth.

Mulching

After the moisture has been absorbed, it is advisable to mulch the plant. You can do this with peat or coniferous wood chips, the spruce branches of the thuja are also suitable. Carefully cover with this material on the ground, and it is not necessary to remove it during subsequent watering. It will perfectly pass moisture and prevent it from evaporating excessively.

fir care

After planting, coniferous plants are watered quite often. Once a week, a bucket of water should be poured under the tree. Mineral substances that were introduced into the root system during planting will last for approximately 2-3 years. Throughout this period of time, the plant does not need to be fertilized with fertilizers.

sunburn

young conifer tree fir is afraid of sunburn. In spring and summer, when the sun begins to bake strongly, fir needles can burn, turn yellow and then crumble. This can be avoided if the plant is slightly shaded with straw, spruce branches or craft paper, burlap, leaving gaps for diffused lighting. It is also necessary to protect the seedling from the wind. To do this, it should be tied to a peg.

When and how to use fertilizers?

After the plant is well rooted, and this will happen in 2-3 years, you can begin to fertilize it. Fir - evergreen, it does not require quick replenishment nutrients as for deciduous trees. Therefore, it does not need a lot of fertilizer.

by the most the best fertilizer for conifers (including fir) is the introduction of good humus or compost into the trunk circle. How to do it? Loosen the soil a little, apply fertilizer and mix it with the ground. You just have to be careful, because root system fir is shallow, so it is worth adding fertilizer only on the very surface of the soil.

The following mineral fertilizers are suitable for fir: 30-40 grams of nitroammophoska per square meter trunk circle. Top dressing is applied once a year, in spring or at the very beginning of autumn. In no case should you fertilize the soil for fir in late autumn. This can provoke the growth of new shoots that do not have time to mature and suffer in winter, freeze.

pruning

Nature has endowed the fir with a very beautiful crown, as a rule, this plant does not need pruning. Unless in the spring you will notice after the winter a broken branch or a dried one, as a result of some kind of physical impact. For example, there was too much snow, and branches young tree couldn't handle the load.

If fir grows and develops in conditions suitable for it, then the immunity of the plant will be strong. The tree will not suffer from diseases or pests. However, if the plant experienced stress, for example, during a hot dry summer there was little watering and the branches dried up, the needles began to fall off, such a plant may be affected by diseases.

Fir usually suffers from fungal diseases. Especially favorable for the appearance of the fungus raw, warm winter. This can be dealt with by using special preparations.

Phytotherapy

Of all the species of this plant, Siberian fir is mainly used for medical purposes (photos of the tree and leaves, or rather the needles were filed above). Many different medicines are produced from its resin.

Resin in fir is formed in special formations, nodules, on the stem of the plant. It contains 30% essential oil and 70% vegetable resins. Turpentine is produced from fir resin, which is widely used. For example, for turpentine baths according to Dr. Zalmanov's prescription.

Essential oils of fir (photo of the tree and leaves above) are remarkable in that they have a calming effect on nervous system man, relieve migraines, They can be used for baths and massages, adding to the base oil. Fir essential oil is also used for cosmetics, in particular for very effective masks for hair. There are no contraindications to the use of this natural remedy, except for individual intolerance, allergies.

From ancient times in medicinal purposes not only resin or resin is used. Needles, bark and even wood can also help get rid of many diseases. Fir needles contain a large number of vitamins, especially vitamin C. Its content is especially increased in winter period, it helps trees and animals that eat needles to survive the cold.

In summer, the content of fir needles increases essential oils. In addition to vitamin C, the needles contain vitamins A, E. Preparations from fir needles and decoctions have a diuretic property and help strengthen the walls of blood vessels. Needles can help a person with heart disease, colds, broncho-pulmonary, rheumatic. The range of application of fir needles is quite wide. The successful use of preparations from fir needles in post-stroke manifestations is known.

Vitamin infusions are prepared from paws and needles. In order to preserve the content of vitamin C in fir needles, it must be collected in winter and stored under snow in the yard or in the freezer of the refrigerator. In summer, coniferous fir legs can be used immediately.

Fir branches are used for bath procedures. This is especially useful in winter - add a fresh, small foot of fir to a birch broom for a steam room. This will enhance the healing massage. Under the influence of boiling water, the needles will begin to release useful essential oils that are pleasantly smelling and good for the skin and respiratory organs.

It must be remembered that resin and needles should be collected only outside the cities, in ecologically clean areas - in the forest, taiga, away from industrial enterprises.

Long walks in the fir forest are very useful. Here the air is always clean and saturated with phytoncides, which are excellent for the respiratory system. It strengthens the immune system and helps asthmatics.

musical plant

Fir is used not only for healing, but also for the manufacture musical instruments. This tree has a very good properties to create beautiful sound resonance. When the tree dries, empty resin passages are formed inside the trunk and bark, which have a wonderful resonating effect.

In the desire to create a corner of natural nature on their backyard, many gardeners try to grow various plants.

Among the wide variety of species available, a tree that is ideal for these purposes can be considered caucasian fir.

The distribution area of the tree is the mountainous terrain of the Caucasus and Asia Minor. Also, a large number of representatives of this plant can be found in Denmark, where the tree is cultivated artificially.

Lat. Ábies nordmanniána (photo)

Outwardly, the Nordmann fir, according to the description, is a typical representative of conifers, distinguished by a clearly defined pyramidal crown. The average plant height is approximately 60 meters. Some specimens in natural conditions reach a height of up to 80 meters. At the same time, the diameter of the trunk of the oldest specimens is about two meters.

There are many legends associated with the tree, one of which dates back to ancient Greece.

There is a legend that the wood of this plant was used to build the famous Trojan horse. It is this fact that gave the name to the bottom - the tree of Apollo. Also Caucasian fir is the most common tree in the celebration of Christmas.

The tree has a long lifespan. Average term The existence of each instance is approximately 700 years. A distinctive feature of this species from other conifers is appearance needles, which on the reverse side has two parallel white stripes. At the very beginning of its appearance, the needles have a light green tint. As the tree matures, the color changes towards dark and the needles acquire a lacquer sheen.

Another original feature of this plant is the color of the cones, which can acquire purple hue depending on variety and growing conditions.

Features of growing fir

Growing this tree on a personal plot has its own nuances, which begin from the moment the plant is prepared for planting. Fir is planted by planting a specially prepared germinated seed, which must first be subjected to natural wintering conditions.

This can be achieved by placing the seeds in, where a breathing hole needs to be made above each grain. After that, the container with the harvested seeds should be placed in a cold place. The procedure itself is called stratification. It must be carried out about two months before planting seeds in the ground.

Following the stratification procedure is the process of seed germination, which must be carried out in ordinary pots. Since young shoots are distinguished by long growth, if you want to get Caucasian fir on the site, it is best to contact specialized stores to purchase an already prepared seedling, which should be at least 5-10 years old.

Younger shoots simply will not survive, older ones may not take root, because fir is very sensitive to transplantation and does not respond well to a change in habitat.

Before planting, the place where the tree is planned to be planted requires preliminary preparation, which includes:

creation of an open space, excluding the overlap of the incoming natural light branches of other trees;
fertilizing the soil, which should be fertile;
calculation of the distance between adjacent firs, which should be at least 2.5 meters.

As you already understood, choosing a landing site is not so difficult.

Planting fir in open ground

Planting a tree on a personal plot should take place in strict accordance with the following scheme:

Moreover, the abundance of watering should be observed throughout the entire first season of tree growth, which will provide the latter with the maximum degree of comfort for adaptation and settling in a new place.

Features of caring for Caucasian fir

Despite its unpretentiousness, the tree requires compliance with a number of conditions, especially important in the first years of life, which will ensure the reliable strengthening of the fir in a new place.

sufficient soil moisture. Because the conifers trees are distinguished by strength and power, they require proper watering, providing normal growth plants;
constant feeding with a complex of nutrients;
normal lighting. At first, the seedling requires a sufficient amount of natural light, which will allow it to develop. Only later will the tree itself be able to "clog" all its surroundings;
mandatory mulching to avoid weed growth.

Another important condition to preserve the tree in the first year of life is its reliable shelter during the winter, for which a special film can be used.

Caucasian fir in landscape design

The plant was liked by gardeners as an element in the design of a personal plot.

The massiveness of the crown, beautiful, wide needles, a variety of colors, unpretentiousness - all this serves as arguments "for" planting Caucasian fir on the site to create a unique design.

It should be noted that the plant of this species is much larger than its European counterpart, while distinctive feature tree is a saturated crown, which, when lowered, touches the ground.

While watching the video, you will learn about growing fir.

In countries Western Europe This is the plant most widely used for decorative use and as a tree in afforestation.