Conifers, belonging to the numerous genus Larch (in Latin Larix), have an amazing ability to shed needles when winter comes. At the same time, the decorativeness of the openwork crown is preserved, which explains the use of this culture in the arrangement of summer cottages.
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Description and types
Larch is a monoecious tree crop. On one plant in the spring, round-ovoid yellow male spikelets are formed. Womens are distinguished by a greenish or reddish tint.
Larch can reach a height of 80 m. Their average age varies between 300-400 years, although there are 900-year-old trees and even older. The crown is loose and delicate, penetrated by the sun. In young plants, it is conical. As it develops, an ovoid or round shape is observed.
Soft needles, flat with a pale green juicy color, on elongated shoots are located spirally. On the shortened branches, bundles are formed, containing 20-40 needles each. In the fall, the tree is completely bare. Only cones remain, preserving the decor of the tree.
The following varieties of ephedra are most popular with gardeners:
- European larch. The tree is common in the central and western regions of Europe. Flowering begins in April. The light-loving species, undemanding to the soil structure, has a high winter hardiness.
- Siberian larch. Occurs in the forest-tundra, forest, forest-steppe zone. The pyramidal crown gradually acquires an oval-rounded shape. The flat narrow-linear needles are painted in a light green tone with a noticeable bluish bloom.
- Sukachev's larch. The natural range is located in the Urals, northeastern Europe. The shoots of this species are yellow with a shiny surface. By the beginning of autumn, the needles acquire a golden-yellow hue.
- Daurian larch. Often, this species develops several peaks, which gives the tree the appearance of an ornamental tall shrub. Differs in bright green needles, shiny yellow buds, red bark.
- Kuril larch. Horizontally oriented long branches create an ovoid-conical wide crown.
- Primorskaya larch. The upper surface of flat needles is painted in a dark green tone, and the inside is bluish.
- Tamarack. Winter-hardy slow-growing culture. Several decorative forms have been developed on its basis, for example, "Aurea" with golden-yellow needles or "Glauka" with a steel-blue color.
Fine-scaled larch (Japanese) is often used. It is distinguished by reddish brown bark and branches that twist slightly in a spiral. There are several decorative varieties of this tree:
- Aureovariyegata (yellow spots are visible on the needles);
- Blue Rabbit (narrow conical crown, bluish needles);
- Berwise (with hanging branches);
- Diana (green needles acquire a golden yellow color in the fall);
- Nana (dwarf variety with a dense crown and bluish-red needles);
- Pendula (weeping slow-growing form).
Features of growing larch
If a decision is made to plant larch in the garden, it must be borne in mind that these trees develop better next to mushrooms, creating mycorrhiza with them - a symbiosis. Therefore, whenever possible, the mycelium of camelina, oil can or yellow-brown flywheel is introduced into the trunk circle.
Under natural conditions, larch easily takes root even on rocky ground. But when planting, it is worth setting aside a site for this culture without excessive waterlogging with a drained nutritious soil substrate. Preference is given to sandy loam or light loam. This will ensure good development.
The tree is winter-hardy, durable. The main requirement, which must be taken into account, is the planting of light-loving larch in a sunny place.
For reproduction, the seed method is more often practiced. Cones can be harvested by yourself in the fall and dried. After cracking them, the seeds are harvested. Given their low germination, sowing is carried out before winter in containers with peat-sandy soil. In the spring, they put them in a sunny place, performing regular watering.
Young shoots in 1-2 years are transplanted to a specially designated garden bed - a school, where they will get stronger. 5-6-year-old seedlings are transplanted to a permanent place. During the first year, they are systematically watered.
Larch will serve as a decoration for any site. It is inappropriate to plant it near tall trees to exclude shading. In the fall, the tree is pruned to form a crown.
Do you have larch growing on your site?
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