The genus of cypress trees includes several dozen species of evergreen gymnosperms and shrubs. These are thermophilic plants common in the tropics and subtropics of the Northern Hemisphere: Central America, USA, North Africa, China, the Himalayas, and the Mediterranean. In Russia, cypresses grow on the Black Sea coast: in the Caucasus and Crimea. These conifers belong to the ancient relict species that have existed on the planet since the Tertiary period.
V natural environment cypresses can reach heights of 35–40 m, and various garden and hybrid varieties range from 2 to 10 m. Also bred dwarf growing in indoor conditions... These trees are considered to be straight-stemmed and slender, but among them there are often patriarchs, gaining in girth of 5-6 m and more. Many of them have a lifespan of 400–500 years. The leaves of trees are narrow and small, bright or dark green, needle-shaped in young age, in adult specimens, it becomes scaly and grows, in a tiled pattern tightly adhering to the branches. The leaves contain a large amount of phytoncides and essential oil repelling harmful insects.
Monoecious cypresses - male and female cones grow on the tree. They are small in size, they have an ovoid or almost spherical shape, the scales are very dense, stiff. The seeds are slightly flattened and provided with light wings. The bark of cypress trees is reddish-brown or olive-gray, tends to flake off with age in thin plates. Numerous shoots form a dense, often spreading crown, but they can grow in different directions, giving the trees the appearance of columns, pyramids or giant pins.
Among the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, cypress was considered a symbol of sadness. He was planted in cemeteries, and the branches were brought to the dwelling of the deceased or decorated with them graves and tombs. For Christians and Muslims, on the contrary, this tree symbolizes life and immortality.
Cypress trees have outstanding decorative qualities and in the southern regions are an integral part of most landscapes: they are planted in parks, gardens, alleys. These trees purify the air from harmful impurities and salts of heavy metals and are simply pleasing to the eye. Botanists did not come to a consensus as to whether some species of cypress belong to the same or different families. The reason is their isolation and difference in properties. In total, about 15–25 plant species are distinguished, combined into one genus of trees. Some of them are the most popular.
Other names are common cypress or Italian. Distributed in southern Europe: France, Spain, Italy, Greece, Western Asia. V wildlife grows up to 30 m, has a spreading wide crown of irregular shape, leaves are scaly, gray-green or bluish-green. The bark of young trees is light brown; in adulthood it becomes gray. The breeding varieties are much lower, they can have a pyramidal or columnar crown due to the peculiar direction of growth of the branches. Evergreen cypress is capable of growing up to 1000 years, and it reaches full maturity only by 100 years. This tree is notable for its relative frost resistance - it can withstand cold up to -20 ° C, is able to grow on poor rocky soils at an altitude of 1300-2000 m above sea level.
This species is native to North America: the southwestern United States and Mexico. It is also popular on the Crimean peninsula and in Transcarpathia. Arizona cypress lives up to 500 years, grows up to 20 m. It tolerates frosts down to -25 ° С, winds and dry summer weather. The branches of the trees are spread horizontally, forming a wide crown-shaped crown. The leaves are dark green. The size of the cones is about 3 cm. The bark of these trees, with age, turns from light gray to a brown-brown hue and begins to exfoliate from the trunks in narrow stripes. Salient feature- heavy wood, unlike other types.
The Mexican, or Louisiana, species grows in Central America, Mexico, and the southern United States. Among cypress trees, it is considered a giant, as it reaches a height of 40 m. The trunks are covered with dense reddish bark. The branches extend almost from the base of the trunk, are spread horizontally and form a wide pyramidal dark green crown, reminiscent of a tent. In older trees, shoots penetrate, the lower ones drop almost to ground level. Small cones - about 1.5–2 cm. Despite its mighty appearance, this cypress is afraid of frost. Needles and young shoots are used as raw materials for obtaining aromatic substances.
The native land of the tree is India and the Himalayas. One of the most graceful species, it stretches up to 45 m in height, while the trunk diameter remains about 70–80 cm. The crown is narrow pyramidal, the leaves are bluish-green or dove-gray. Is different high speed growth, tolerates drought and extreme heat well, but is not resistant to cold weather.
Grows in the southern states of the United States. Differs in high growth rates, thermophilic. In the wild, the trunks of adult cypress trees stretch up to 20–25 m, the shoots are multi-branched, located horizontally. The crown shape in young trees is pyramidal, in mature trees it is spreading and tent-like. A characteristic feature is the yellowish-green or golden hue of the leaves, emitting a light lemon scent. The large-fruited cypress got its name for big size cones - about 4 cm in diameter.
Cypress wood belongs to sapwood, wide-layered, uniform, differs in softness, resembles in technical properties. The massif has a light brown color with a mild natural pattern, it is well cut, sawn and polished. Cypress does not lend itself to mold, does not crack or warp from time to time. The good natural oiliness protects the fibers from moisture.
In the wide industry, this lumber is not used due to the high cost and long maturation of the wood. Expensive high-quality furniture is made from cypress, used in shipbuilding, artistic design. Church accessories, including rosary beads, wooden crucifixes, are cut out of the massif, icons are painted on cypress boards.
For the temperate climatic zone, cypresses remain exotic plants and are usually grown in greenhouses or on adjoining territories... For planting in gardens and on household plots breeders have developed special compact varieties based on the most unpretentious and resistant to unfavorable weather conditions species. Arizona, for example, was taken to create decorative varieties: Compact, Pyramidalis, Ashersonian. These are shrub-shaped cypresses, with a beautiful bluish shade of needles and crowns that tolerate haircut well.
On the basis of the evergreen species, dwarf varieties have been bred: Forluselu, Montrosa, as well as the columnar Indica variety and the pyramidal Strickta variety.
If you wish, it is not difficult to grow a spectacular tree on your own. Important conditions for cypress trees are:
Plants propagate by seeds and cuttings. For landscaping the garden, it is optimal to purchase seedlings in the nursery, but you can try to germinate them yourself in containers or flower pots.
The soil should include sod, leafy soil, river sand and peat in equal parts. Before planting, any suitable drainage is placed on the bottom of the container, then the earth is covered and the seeds are placed at a depth of 2 cm. The boxes should be exposed to the sunny side, and the soil should be moistened regularly. After a few months, the seeds will sprout. Dwarf shrubs can be used as an element of home decor: in a room in pots, cypresses look unusual and elegant, they purify and heal the air.
Rooted cuttings or grown shoots are planted in the spring at a temperature of 13-15 ° C. It is necessary to choose a place in the garden half-shaded: direct sunlight is harmful to young cypress trees, but they cannot be left completely without light. The best option- at some distance from walls, fences or tall trees. Placing a plant in open ground, it is important to take care not to damage the fragile roots. The holes for them should be spacious. When planting several trees, a distance of about 1 m is observed between the Turks. It is advisable to strengthen the seedlings with sticks.
In the first months, young cypresses need to be watered abundantly: the seedling needs a bucket of water per week. Spraying is carried out in dry weather. You need to feed the trees 2 times a month with complex fertilizers. With the onset of cold weather, seedlings will need additional protection: roots with needles or sawdust, in severe frost they cover whole cypresses.
After 3-4 years, the intensity of care is reduced: 2 dressings per season are enough; watering the trees is required in severe drought.
Since cypresses grow quite quickly in the first years after planting, after 1–2 seasons you can begin to trim their crown, giving the desired shape. Frozen and dried branches are removed in March, with the onset of heat they are completely trimmed. During the growing season, you can cut off up to 30% of all greenery without harming the tree.
Sometimes, looking at evergreen conifers, people think: why does a person have such a short life on earth? Intelligent beings who can think, feel and create, on average, live 70-80 years, and ordinary trees- more than a thousand. Perhaps someday the dream of eternal life will come true, and then people will be able to enjoy environment fully. Until this time has come, it is worth getting to know better different kinds conifers to decorate your summer cottage with them.
It is these evergreens that harmoniously fit into any landscape design. Their austere and sophisticated forms stand out clearly on the green lawn in summer. And in cold weather, they refresh Vacation home rich greenery and pleasant resinous aroma. Many gardeners grow evergreen beauties on their plots, because their diversity is truly impressive. They are tall and dwarf. They are found in the form of a pyramid or a cone. Therefore, the unforgettable landscape of coniferous trees remains in the hearts of grateful people forever. Let's take a closer look at the most popular types.
Among the huge number of coniferous long-livers, unique specimens are especially impressive: the Old Tikko spruce in Sweden (more than 9 thousand years old), the Methuselah pine in the USA (about 5 thousand). In general, there are up to 20 such trees on the planet.
Probably, there is no person on earth who has not heard about this tree. Many poems and songs have been composed about him, pictures and fairy tales have been written. The plant is associated with various holidays, customs, and sometimes bad omens. Because of this, the plant suffers from excessive felling, which brings a lot of grief to nature lovers.
Spruce is an evergreen coniferous tree that belongs to the Pine family and can grow to a height of 35 meters. It has a pyramidal or triangular shape crown, ending with a sharp top. Branches are located along the entire trunk, so it is practically invisible from the side. They grow dark green needles with a glossy shiny coating, which are much shorter than those of pine.
The tree is found almost everywhere in the Northern Hemisphere. It is the main component of the Russian taiga, where it grows next to oak, pine, hazel, etc. In nature, there are about 50 types of spruce. Some of them successfully take root on lawns. country houses... The following types are especially widely used.
Spruce roots are close to the soil surface, so strong hurricane winds can knock it down. Therefore, the tree should not be planted near living quarters.
This type of spruce is characterized by a wide conical crown with hanging branches. It is considered slow growing. For 30 years it grows up to 4 meters in height. Plant diameter about 3 m. Prefers shaded areas. Spruce tolerates cold temperatures well. V summer heat needs watering.
The tree has a columnar crown and flowing weeping branches, which, like a train, touch the ground. Grows up to a maximum of 8 meters. The diameter of an adult plant is about 2.5 m.
A dwarf shrub in the form of a wide cone. It tolerates winter frosts and shaded places without problems. It grows up to one meter in height. The diameter of an adult shrub is 2 m.
The famous spruce stands out for its needles blue... It grows up to 2 meters in height. Used in many countries to decorate urban and suburban landscapes. Due to the fact that the tree lends itself to shearing, original blue balls are made from it, which delight their fans all year round.
Evergreen representative of the genus "Pine". It differs from its close relatives in the features of the needles:
White stripes are visible on the underside of each needle, which gives the plant a festive look. The fir tree is decorated with purple cones, which is its main highlight. It grows slowly over 10 years, after which growth accelerates. Lives about 400 years. Breeders brought decorative varieties, which are used to decorate urban and suburban areas.
Since the needles of a tree have healing properties, growing a fir in a summer cottage is a great idea. She helps in the fight against colds, sciatica and wound healing.
The tree has a straight trunk and a narrow crown resembling a column. Grows up to 10 meters. The dense branches point upwards, giving the tree a majestic character.
This fir is famous for its long branches outstretched above the ground, which can reach 2.5 meters in length.
The variety is characterized by original silvery needles, the tips of which are painted in a whitish color. Every spring, shoots of a yellow color of a luminescent nature emerge from its buds. Such unusual combination creates a stunning view of the country house site. And it lasts almost a whole month.
A dwarf tree that grows only up to 50 cm. The diameter of an adult plant is 1 m. The crown is rounded, slightly flattened. It takes root wonderfully in small areas.
Since time immemorial, these trees have been considered a symbol of greatness. In their natural environment, they grow at an altitude of 3 km above sea level and resemble real giants. They grow up to 50 meters. They live for more than two centuries.
Despite its greatness, it is unique tree as it can beautify any garden landscape. Placing it at the front door creates an atmosphere of some kind of celebration. On spacious lawns - home comfort.
Some dwarf varieties are used to grow bonsai plants. To create original landscapes, species are widely used that differ:
When choosing a suitable species, it is advisable to first get acquainted with the plant. For home cultivation use the following varieties:
Many people think that if a tree is called larch, then it is not a coniferous species. In fact, this is not the case. The plant is a representative of the Pine family, but unlike its relatives, it loses its needles in the fall.
Larch grows up to 50 m in height. In this case, the trunk reaches 1 m in diameter. The branches grow in a chaotic manner, with a barely noticeable slope. The result is a cone-shaped crown. The needles are noticeably flattened, soft to the touch, bright green in color. In the natural environment, there are 14 different varieties. For garden design the following types are used:
This variety allows you to create magnificent landscapes on the territory of summer cottages.
Biologists count over a hundred different varieties of such an evergreen. Moreover, a distinctive feature is the number of needles on one bundle. The pine tree often grows up to a height of 50 meters. The straight trunk is covered with reddish-brown cracking bark. Long needles are located on the spreading branches of the tree and have a rich aroma. Pine lives for about 600 years and perfectly tolerates cold weather and summer heat.
Planting a pine tree should be done quickly, as its roots can dry out in a quarter of an hour. Such a plant does not take root in a new territory.
For garden decoration breeders have created original miniature species:
Without a doubt, such evergreen living decorations are suitable for creating landscape rock gardens or mixborders. In any case, a pine tree can become the hallmark of a summer cottage.
An evergreen tree of this type is almost always used to decorate city parks and green areas. Recently, this plant has been widely used to decorate home gardens. It is prized by gardeners for its ability to withstand severe winter frosts, drought and high humidity.
The thuja tree is distinguished by lush branches, on which are scaly leaves of a dark green color. Each year, the plant is covered with miniature bumps that resemble scattered beads on green cloth. Besides traditional forms, thuja are:
Most often, for the design of the personal plot, seedlings called "Occidentalis" are used. The tree can grow up to 7 m in height, and create a crown of about 2 m. Another type - "Sloth of Gold" - has a golden shade of needles. Perfectly takes root in shady places garden.
Medium-sized variety - "Columna" amazes with its dark green needles with a glossy sheen. It does not disappear even in winter, for which it is highly valued by lovers of green spaces. "Columna"
Compact type of thuja tree - "Holmstrup" has a conical shape, despite its height - 3 m. It tolerates cold winters wonderfully, lends itself to pruning and is used as hedge... Another giant - "Smaragd" - grows up to about 4 m. The diameter of an adult tree is up to 1.5 m. The needles are juicy, dark green in color with a shiny sheen. Such a beauty will surely decorate the countryside landscape of connoisseurs of greenery.
Having got acquainted with the majestic conifers, it is easy to find the right option. Let it go suburban area will turn into a green oasis of joy, where hardy conifers grow.
Conifers are mostly evergreens, woody or shrubby, with leaves in the form of needles. The needles are needle-shaped, scaly or linear leaves. Conifers belong to the class of gymnosperms. Whole Plants conifers there are about 600 species. It is difficult to list the names of all conifers, but you can imagine a list of the most famous and common conifers in our strip.
Pine is an evergreen coniferous tree that grows throughout the entire territory of Russia, it is distinguished by long needles and unpretentiousness to natural conditions... Sunny pine groves are a real natural sanatorium.
- coniferous decorative tree from the cypress family, many varieties of thuja are widely cultivated for landscaping parks and private farms.
- in the wild, it grows in the tropical zone, it is also successfully bred as an ornamental tree or shrub, foliage differs from all previous conifers, leaves on upward-directed shoots are arranged spirally, on horizontal shoots - linear. Yew is very poisonous, only seedless berries are edible in it.
– coniferous shrub the cypress family, used for ornamental gardening.
- a mighty tree of the North Ocean coast of America of the cypress family. Long-lived trees of this genus live for several thousand years.
Is a beautiful coniferous tree that grows wild in the mountains of China.
The above list of conifers describes plants, each of which has many species - these are just the most common conifers.
In addition to those listed, conifers include: cypress, hemlock, ginkgo, araucaria, oritedrus, pseudo-suga, cunningamia, cryptomeria, sciadopitis, sequoiadendron and many others.
Conifers are one of the most popular plants in landscape gardening. Almost all conifers are evergreen and retain their decorative effect and appearance all year round, and only some breeds drop needles for the winter.
Most conifers are tall trees: spruce, pine, thuja, fir
Among conifers and evergreens, there are many plants growing in the form of shrubs:
Spruce, thuja, fir, cypress trees are used by gardeners as an ideal background for garden and park plants. A chic evergreen hedge (see more about hedge plants) will not only outline the boundaries of your garden, hide from prying eyes, but also hide the imperfections of the landscape.
If the plants for the hedge were eaten, then after 3-4 years of regular shearing, you can get a dense green barrier that neither man nor animals can overcome.
With the help of several thujas or spruces, the garden space can be zoned and its perception can be changed by planting plants taking into account different shades of the color of the needles.
Without use additional materials you can organize a quiet nest for reflection, a Japanese-style garden, or maybe a regular English park. And all this will not lose its decorative effect all year round!
To make your garden look new every season, you only need to plant flowering perennials, annuals and bulbous flowers to coniferous and evergreen shrubs.
The combination of conifers and roses is considered the most spectacular and noble, by the way, roses also belong to evergreens and have soil and care requirements similar to conifers.
Topiary art - giving plants different forms clipping is another facet of using coniferous evergreen trees and shrubs in the art of creating the perfect garden.
The variety of forms is far from all the advantages of conifers. Conifers do not require special care and are rarely damaged by pests and diseases.
Healing air energizes us. Conifers are decorative in summer, but they are especially beautiful in winter time years when they create a pleasant contrast with deciduous forms of plants. Therefore, conifers for the garden are an irreplaceable choice.
Due to their impressive size and amazing color of the needles, compositions with the use of conifers will decorate any territory.
Experiment, plant ephedra - dwarf, slowly growing forms of spruce, pine, thuja and juniper in rocky gardens and alpine hills. Covered by the paws of a juniper, the stony garden plants can grow comfortably even in the sun.
Watering... Mostly young trees need watering. They are watered abundantly at least once a week at the rate of 15-20 liters of water per plant.
Conifers need to be watered abundantly in the fall - evergreen crops often dry out in winter period not from cold weather, but from lack of moisture. Drought-resistant species (for example, pine) do not need additional watering, and trees such as thuja suffer from a lack of moisture.
Sprinkling. All conifers need sprinkling, especially in the spring-summer period. In dry weather, sprinkling is good in the morning or evening. During the first year after planting conifers, it is carried out every other day. Thanks to sprinkling, the needles are cleared of dirt and dust.
Mulching - prevents the soil from drying out, restricts weed growth and maintains the required soil temperature in the root zone. Coniferous bark, peat and fallen leaves are used as a mulching material.
Many conifers prefer areas protected from the bright sun and cold winds, sufficiently moist soils and good drainage... Plant your coniferous plant in such a place, and it will fully reveal its decorative qualities. Most conifers hibernate better when placed in groups.
As tapeworms, conifers are better suited, which normally tolerate wintering in the open air. It can be pine, spruce, larch. Plant these conifers along with other decorative evergreens and deciduous plants for a warmer, more sheltered climate.
In addition to flower crops, interest and demand for evergreen and coniferous trees and shrubs has increased recently. And this is understandable. Because they look the same all year round, support the composition of the garden or plot, which in itself is very beneficial and attractive. In addition, these plants are very beautiful and harmoniously combined both in a group and one at a time.
In gardens and in private plots, you can choose a warmer place for planting grapes, for example, on the sunny side of the house, garden pavilion, verandas. It is recommended to plant grapes along the border of the plot. The vines formed in one line will not take up much space and at the same time will be well lit from all sides. Near buildings, grapes must be placed so that water flowing from the roofs does not fall on it. On level ground, it is necessary to make ridges with good drainage due to drainage furrows. Some gardeners, in the experience of their colleagues in the western regions of the country, dig deep planting holes and fill them with organic fertilizers and fertilized soil. Pits dug in waterproof clay are a kind of closed vessel that fills with water during monsoon rains. In fertile soil, the root system of grapes develops well at first, but as soon as waterlogging begins, it suffocates. Deep pits can play a positive role in soils where there is good natural drainage, permeable subsoil, or reclamation artificial drainage is possible. Planting grapes
It is possible to quickly restore an obsolete grape bush by the method of layering ("katavlak"). To this end, healthy vines of a neighboring bush are laid in grooves dug to the place where the dead bush used to grow, and sprinkled with earth. A top is brought to the surface, from which a new bush then grows. Lignified vines are laid on layering in spring, and green vines in July. They are not separated from the mother bush for two to three years. A frozen or very old shrub can be restored by short pruning to healthy aboveground parts or by pruning to the “black head” of an underground stem. In the latter case, the underground bole is freed from the ground and cut down entirely. Not far from the surface, new shoots grow from dormant buds, due to which a new bush is formed. Grape bushes, neglected and severely damaged by frost, are restored due to stronger fatty shoots formed in the lower part of the old wood, and the removal of weakened sleeves. But before removing the sleeve, form a replacement for it. Grape care
A gardener who starts growing grapes needs to study the structure well vine and the biology of this interesting plant. Grapes are lianas (climbing) plants, they need support. But it can creep along the ground and take root, as is observed in wild-growing Amur grapes. The roots and the aerial part of the stem grow rapidly, branch strongly and reach large sizes. Under natural conditions, without human intervention, a branched bush of grapes with many vines of various orders grows, which comes into fruiting late and yields irregularly. In culture, the grapes are formed, give the bushes an easy-care shape that provides high yield quality bunches. Planting lemongrass
Chinese schisandra, or schizandra, has several names - lemon Tree, red grapes, gomisha (Japanese), cochinta, kozyanta (Nanai), Kolchita (Ulchi), usimtya (Udege), uchampu (Oroch). In terms of structure, systemic relationship, center of origin and distribution, Schisandra chinensis has nothing to do with the real citrus plant lemon, but all its organs (roots, shoots, leaves, flowers, berries) exude a lemon scent, hence the name Schizandra. The lemongrass vine, clinging or twining around the support, along with the Amur grapes and three species of actinidia, is an original plant of the Far Eastern taiga. Its fruits, like real lemon, are too sour for fresh consumption, but they have medicinal properties, a pleasant aroma, and this attracted a lot of attention to him. The taste of Schisandra chinensis berries slightly improves after freezing. Local hunters who consume such fruits claim that they relieve fatigue, give the body vigor and improve vision. The consolidated Chinese pharmacopoeia, compiled back in 1596, says: "The fruit of the Chinese magnolia vine has five flavors and is classified as the first category of medicinal substances. The pulp of schisandra is sour and sweet, the seeds are bitter-astringent, and the overall taste of the fruit is salty. it has all five tastes. " Grow lemongrass
