Japanese larch

Peculiarities

Otherwise, European larch is called falling. It belongs to the pine family. In its natural habitat, it grows in the mountains of Central Europe at an altitude of 1000-2500 m above sea level.

European larch is a tall coniferous tree, the needles of which fall off with the onset of winter cold. The trunk of this green beauty has an even structure. The sizes of older specimens sometimes reach 25-35 m. The average trunk diameter of a luxurious European larch is 1 m.

Falling larch is considered one of the fastest growing. Every year it can add 50-100 cm. It is worth noting that the fastest growth rates occur during the period when the tree turns 80 to 100 years old.

The young tree has a narrow crown. It can be conical or pin-shaped, and an irregular shape is often observed. The branches of a tree are either horizontal or falling with ascending tips - the description of different specimens may differ.

Young shoots of European larch are usually neat and slender. They fall beautifully from slightly raised skeletal branches. The bark is distinguished by a yellowish or gray-yellow tint. Has a characteristic smooth texture. Over the years, the bark can begin to become covered with impressive and noticeable cracks, acquiring a brown color.

The needles of this tree have a bright green color. It is flat and soft. The needles are collected in a kind of neat bundles of 30-40 pieces on short shoots. In the fall, it inevitably turns golden yellow, after which it falls off. In the winter season, this chic culture can be recognized by the branches of the nodal species.

The flowering of European larch is particularly attractive, which makes it stand out among other coniferous genera. In spring, golden male cones with a round structure appear on this tree simultaneously with young needles. These elements are found on short, leafless shoots, mainly in the lower part of the branches.

This beautiful, solid tree can live up to 500 years. The oldest specimen recorded at the official level was 986 years old.

The frost resistance of this tree, unlike other conifers, is not the highest.

It is important to take this feature into account before getting to know the European larch better. If the plant is not provided with a high-quality and reliable shelter from frost, it will be able to overwinter normally only in zone 4

Certain varieties are even more demanding on the ambient temperature.

Use in landscape design

The culture in question is insanely popular when it comes to decorating parks, gardens (both private and public). Especially relevant today are the undersized specimens that were grafted on the trunk of the Larix Decidua larch shape.

In landscape design, European larch can take on the role of the main decoration, but we must not forget that this tree does not like the influence of low temperatures, frosts are destructive for it. Needles of this species can survive in 4 or 5 zones.

European larch can be planted right on the lawn, in the foreground of the entire landscape group. In all cases, the tree will draw a lot of attention to itself. Autumn needles, which acquire a luxurious golden hue, look especially interesting and fresh. Even in winter seasons, gnarled, knotty branches cannot harm the entire appearance of a garden or park. On the contrary, these details make the design more original and attractive.

Larch is the culture that gives free rein to the imagination of the owner and the landscape designer.

But we must remember that it is important to start building a tree at an early stage.

Larch: a brief description

Larch (Lárix) is the most common woody member of the Pine family. In their natural environment, these trees grow up to 50 m in height. They have a slender trunk with a thick brown bark covered with deep furrows. In mature specimens, it can grow up to 1 m in diameter.

The crown of the larch is openwork. The branches at first form a conical shape, and as the tree ages, they turn into an oval with a flattened top. In windy areas, baldness of the north side is possible. The needles are not prickly, bright green, slightly flattened. The length of the needles is up to 4 cm. On long branches, they grow singly or in a spiral, and on short branches they gather in bunches.

The culture enters the fruiting phase in the 10-15th year. In larch, the size and shape of the buds depend on their sex. Male fruits with yellow scales, oval, up to 10 mm long, and female fruits are reddish, sometimes scarlet, of smaller size. Seeds are winged. A tree with bare branches overwinters, adapts well to any frost, and needles reappear in the spring.

Botanists distinguish about 14 species of larch. Almost all of them are cultivated in the Northern Hemisphere. In Ukraine, massifs of this coniferous tree can be seen in the western part of the Carpathians. The culture adapts well to salt marshes, prefers sunny areas, is sensitive to strong winds.

Larch is often found in gardens, mainly European, Japanese, Siberian species, less often Daurian. Decorative specimens need mulching of near-trunk circles, loosening of the soil and systematic spring feeding with mineral complex fertilizers. In order to combat parasites and for prevention, the tree is treated with copper sulfate.

Did you know? Globally, larch is valued for high-quality wood, which on the Brinell scale scores 109 points, slightly inferior to oak (110).

Landing rules

The planting procedure is usually carried out in the spring after the end of winter frosts. It is advisable to wait until the air and soil have warmed up to a stable temperature of 8-12 ° C. The work can be carried out both in cloudy and sunny weather. Step-by-step landing algorithm:

Mark the planting site so that an interval of 2-4 m is maintained between the trees, depending on the variety of larch.
Dig planting holes 70-80 cm deep

Lay expanded clay or broken brick at the bottom with a layer of up to 15 cm as a drainage system.
Carefully spread the roots of the plant, place in an upright position in the planting hole, leaving 5-7 cm of the root collar. Cover with a mixture of fertile soil, sand and peat in a ratio of 3: 2: 1.
Tamp down the area of the trunk circle so that no voids remain

Water the plant abundantly with water at the rate of 10 liters for each tree.

When choosing seedlings, it is important to pay attention to the condition of the root system. There should be no traces of damage, infection with diseases or pests on it. It is recommended to use seedlings 2-3 years old to make the adaptation process as comfortable as possible.

It is recommended to use seedlings 2-3 years old to make the adaptation process as comfortable as possible.

Planting and caring for Japanese larch

Kempfer's larch is a decorative long-liver with beautifully colored needles. To grow a beautifully growing tree, you need to decide on the variety, choose the right site for planting and observe timely care.

Seedling and planting plot preparation

Japanese larch seedling is best purchased in nurseries

When buying, you need to pay attention to:

rhizome, it should be well developed;
the trunk must be flexible and resilient, without signs of rot and mechanical damage;
the needles are rich green, if it is colored brown or dark brown, it means that the plant is at the stage of death, you should not buy such a seedling.

Advice! A Kempfer sapling will take root better at 2-3 years of age.

Japanese larch is a long-liver that does not tolerate transplanting well. Therefore, when choosing a site, it is necessary to take into account that the plant will grow in one place for about 15-20 years.

Kempfer larch grows well and thrives in an open, sunny location. Thanks to a powerful, well-developed branched root system, it can grow in open spaces without fear of strong gusty winds.

The soil for planting should be nutritious, well-drained, neutral or slightly acidic. Since the plant does not tolerate waterlogging, the planting site should be located at the top and away from water bodies.

Landing rules

Experts recommend planting seedlings in spring, when the soil warms up to + 12 ° C. It is better to work in the evening:

The planting hole is dug up to a depth of 80 cm. A 15 cm layer of drainage (expanded clay or broken brick) is laid on the bottom.
When planting several specimens, the distance between the planting holes should be at least 2-4 m. The interval depends on the size and shape of the crown.
At the seedling, the root system is straightened and set in the center of the planting pit.
The well is filled with nutritious soil, compacting each layer to avoid the formation of air voids.
The top layer is compacted, mulched and spilled. One copy consumes at least 10 liters of water.

Important! In a properly planted seedling, the root collar is located 5-7 cm above the soil surface

Watering and feeding

Abundant and frequent watering is necessary for a young plant for 2 years. Irrigation is carried out 2 times in 7 days at the rate of a bucket of water per 1 seedling. As the root system grows, watering is carried out only in dry summers. During the hot summer, the plant will not refuse irrigation by sprinkling. This will increase the humidity of the air and give the needles a healthy and decorative look.

Every year, before sap flow, fertilizing is carried out with liquid fertilizers, which are specially designed for conifers. In order not to burn the root system, fertilizers are diluted and applied strictly according to the instructions.

Mulching and loosening

After each watering, shallow loosening of the soil is carried out. To retain moisture, to stop the growth of weeds, the tree trunk circle is mulched. Straw, fallen leaves, sawdust, needles or rotted humus are suitable as mulch. The mulch layer should be at least 7 cm.

Pruning

In the first 2-3 years after planting, formative pruning is carried out, giving the crown a decorative look. Adult plants need regular sanitary pruning. In the spring, remove non-wintered, mechanically damaged and dried shoots.

Low-growing varieties are often used to create a standard tree. In this case, the formation is carried out throughout the season.

Preparing for winter

Kempfer's larch is a frost-resistant species, therefore, plants at the age of 6 years do not need shelter for the winter. To protect young larch from the upcoming frost, you must:

cover the crown, trunk and branches with breathable material;
insulate the root system with spruce branches or sawdust.

Important! Before the shelter, the earth is abundantly shed and fed with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers

How to care?

Kempfera is a fairly unpretentious plant that requires very little maintenance. It is able to grow and develop successfully in almost any conditions, without requiring constant guardianship from its owner. The rules for caring for a camper are simple.

During the first year of life, young larch trees will require frequent watering. In the summer season, 17–20 liters of water are added under each tree at intervals of 1–2 times every 7 days.If the weather is dry and hot, you can slightly increase the amount of irrigation. As the root system grows and strengthens, the need for moisture decreases; at this time, larch needs water only during the drought period.
Young larch requires frequent sprinkling with cool water. It is best to carry out the treatment every other day in the morning hours - such spraying allows you to preserve the color of the needles and repels many garden pests.
In the first year of its life, Kempfer larch requires frequent loosening. The procedure must be carried out every time as the crust forms around the trunk circle. In parallel with this, weeding is carried out; for crops over the age of 3 years, this procedure is no longer necessary.
The soil must be covered with a layer of mulch throughout the growing season, which allows water to be retained on the soil surface, protects the roots from hypothermia, and also protects the camper from the appearance of weeds. Usually peat is used as mulch, as well as sawdust, straw or crushed tree bark.
Every year in early spring, even before the buds swell, fertilizer should be applied. Ready-made complex formulations for coniferous crops are suitable as top dressing. Kemira is highly effective; it is added in a dosage of 100–150 g / sq. m.
Every year, the plant requires sanitary pruning - the removal of all damaged shoots and branches. Larch needs molding only in the first three years of life, during this period all deformed shoots are cut off, as well as branches that form against the direction of crown growth. Tall plants are usually given a cone-shaped appearance, and undersized ones - a spherical shape.
Larch in the stage of immature seedlings must be covered for the winter, as well as during the spring frost. For this, burlap or kraft paper is usually used. Adult winter-hardy campers do not need any protection, even if their shoots are damaged - the plant will quickly recover, by the beginning of summer all unpleasant consequences will completely disappear.

Japanese larch varieties

Thanks to the efforts of breeders, several varieties of Kempfer larch have been bred. They differ in size, color of needles, crown shape and maintenance requirements. Among the popular varieties, everyone can choose one that will look harmoniously on the garden plot among other plants.

Kempfer Larch Diana

Diana is a tall variety that grows up to 10 m under favorable conditions. The plant is in demand among owners of home gardens for its luxurious look. Japanese larch variety Diana has spiral shoots and bright pink miniature cones. The weeping crown is covered with delicate, soft needles, which are painted in a light emerald color in the summer, and in a bright lemon in the fall.

In the first few years, young Kempfer larch grows very quickly, then development slows down. Diana prefers to grow in moist, alkaline soil.

In landscape design, Kempfer's larch of the Diana variety is used in single and group plantings, in coniferous gardens, next to ornamental shrubs and surrounded by perennial flowers.

Japanese larch Stif Viper

The Japanese larch Stiff Weeper is a creeping stem tree. The variety is undersized, reaches a height of 2 m, a width of 1 m. The beautiful crown is formed by hanging side shoots, therefore the variety is in demand and looks great in any garden compositions.

The needles of the Kempfer Stif Viper Japanese larch are painted in a sky-green color, falling off after the first frost. The female cones are red, the male cones are lemon green.

Important! Kempfera Stif Wiper does not tolerate drought and stagnant water, grows poorly at low air humidity. In dry, hot summers, regular watering is required in the evening.

Japanese larch BlueDwarf

Kempfer Blue Dwarf larch is a dwarf variety with a hemispherical crown, up to 2 m high. The plant is slow-growing, the annual growth rate is about 4 cm. In the spring the tree is covered with soft, dense needles of a bluish-emerald color, in the fall it changes color to rich yellow.

At the end of summer, small red cones with thin, slightly curved scales appear on larch. In winter, larch sheds needles, but cones, which stay on the branches for several years, give decorative effect.

The variety is frost-resistant, loves fertile, drained soil. Does not tolerate drought and low air humidity.

On a personal plot, it looks harmoniously in rocky and coniferous gardens, in rock gardens, in a mixborder. Young specimens lend themselves well to pruning, so they can be formed like a standard tree. The original shape is suitable for creating alleys and contrasting compositions of decorative trees and shrubs.

Japanese larch Blue Rabbit

Japanese larch Blue Rabbit is a tall variety with a pyramidal crown. Adult specimens in favorable conditions reach up to 15 m. The variety got its name for the blue color of the needles, which becomes golden-red in autumn.

The tree is cold-resistant, so it can be grown in all regions of Russia. Kempfer Blue Rabbit is a fast-growing variety, resistant to gas pollution, retains a decorative appearance throughout its life. Kempfer's Blue Rabbit larch prefers to grow in well-drained, breathable soil with high humidity.

Kempfer Pendula Larch

Japanese larch Pendula is a medium-sized variety, the height of the tree reaches 6 m. The slow-growing tree forms long, strongly drooping branches, which, with age, cover the ground with a coniferous carpet.

Soft, fluffy sky-emerald needles give decorativeness to the view. Pendula is not demanding on the care and composition of the soil, but, like other varieties of larch, it does not tolerate dry and waterlogged soil.

Important! Kempfer Pandula larch reproduces exclusively by grafting

What does larch look like: the appearance of a tree and its photo

Larch in the photo

Larch is a monoecious coniferous plant of the pine family. Unlike other conifers, larch sheds its needles annually, along with deciduous trees. Larch is widespread in the Northern Hemisphere (Europe, Asia, America) in the cold, temperate and partly subtropical zones.

Look at the photo - a larch tree at a young age has a pyramidal crown, and then, as it ages, it becomes rounded:

Branching is not typical for conifers, presents an indistinct whorliness, rather a spiral arrangement of needles and branches.

Branches of two types - elongated vegetative and shortened generative. On the same tree there are both female and male flowers. The shortened, fruit branches differ from the elongated ones and in the needles. On them needles sit in 20-60 pieces, and on growth ones singly and spirally. The needles are small, flattened.

The shortened shoots die off after 10-12 years, but, depending on the conditions, they may not die off, but germinate into growth ones.

The larch tree deserves a special description during fruiting, when spherical spikelets of different sizes appear on one shoot - male and female. What does larch look like during this picturesque period? Male balls are yellowish and sit on very short shoots. Female bumps are larger than male ones. They also appear on shortened shoots and simultaneously with males. At the base, they are surrounded by rare needles. Flowering occurs in early spring, simultaneously with bud break.

Cones ripen in the fall of the year of flowering. After the seeds have spilled out, they can hang on the tree for another 2-4 years. Seeds are light, round, with wings. They are often empty, unfertilized, which affects their low germination.

These photos show what larch looks like in winter and summer:

Distribution and ecology

This tree is endemic to the Japanese island of Honshu, i.e. its natural habitat was limited to this particular island. Hence the origin of another of its names - Japanese larch. In nature, the tree grows in large homogeneous tracts in the mountain forest belt at an altitude of at least 1600 m above sea level. At a lower altitude, there are single larches, preferring oaks, beeches and hornbeams as neighbors. At home, this type of larch has been cultivated for a long time and is a traditional object of bonsai art - a technique for growing a miniature copy of a real tree.

Larch looks great both on its own and in group plantings

Japanese larch is well adapted to cold and dry climates, resistant to late spring frosts. Among all types of larch, it tolerates shading best. Cultivated trees grow successfully on podzolic soils and black soil, but they thrive best on fresh and thick layers of clay and sandy soils.

Japanese larch, planting features

Saplings of Japanese larch are planted in early spring, before bud break, or in autumn, as a rule, at the beginning of leaf fall.

The most favorable terms for planting young larch trees in the ground in a permanent place is 1-2 years of age of the seedlings. At the age of 2 to 6 years, it is better to plant seedlings in a soft container, and at an older age - exclusively in a rigid container or with a frozen soil clod.

Choosing a place for planting Japanese larch

When choosing a planting site, it is important to examine the basic preferences of the perennial crop. And given the fact that Japanese larch is a real long-liver, you should initially think over and choose a suitable place for coniferous wood for many years

Japanese larch prefers fertile, drained soils with a neutral, slightly alkaline or slightly acidic reaction of the environment. Moreover, the culture is rather picky about the soil composition. The plant will thrive on clayey soil or mixed loams, chernozems and podzols. Does not tolerate the culture of wetlands, grows worse on sandy soils.
The place for planting light-loving larch must be chosen open and sunny, light partial shade is also possible. The tree is not afraid of drafts and winds, thanks to its powerful and deep roots.
A hardy and viable culture, Japanese larch, "feels" great in urban, smoky and gas-polluted conditions.

Agricultural technology of planting Japanese larch

When planting several seedlings of perennial larch on the site, it is necessary to leave a distance between the trees of at least 2-4 m, taking into account the specific variety and the further growth of the coniferous tree.
Before planting, preparatory work is being carried out: a planting hole is dug out and a soil mixture is prepared from leaf earth, sand and peat in a ratio of 3: 1: 2, respectively.
The depth of the planting pit will be approximately 70-80 cm

When planting seedlings, it is important not to damage the vital mycorrhiza (a useful symbiosis with the mycelium of the fungus), which is located on young, thin roots.
In the case of dense clay soils, a drainage layer with a thickness of at least 20 cm must be laid on the bottom of the planting pit. Broken brick, slate or crushed stone is suitable as drainage.
The seedling is placed vertically in a hole, the roots are straightened, covered with prepared soil mixture

Periodically, the landing site is tamped to avoid the formation of voids.
The root collar is not buried during planting. After planting, the seedling is spilled with water.
Japanese larch calmly tolerates transplantation until the age of 20. Naturally, the older the plant, the worse it will adapt to a new place.

Japanese larch, popular varieties and varieties

Consider the most popular and beautiful varieties of Japanese larch, successfully cultivated in the horticultural environment of our country.

Japanese larch "Pendula"

The weeping decorative form of Japanese larch, "Pendula", grows into a relatively short (6-10 m) compact tree. Landscape designers growing this variety of larch are attracted by the slow growth rate of the coniferous tree. This quality allows you to preserve the intended, original appearance of the landscape for a long time.
"Japanese larch Pendula" stands out for its picturesque branches hanging to the ground. As it grows, "weeping" shoots begin to creep on the ground with a decorative plant "carpet".
The needles of the variety are soft, gray-gray. Trees are unpretentious to care for, undemanding to soil, although they grow best on fertile, drained soil. The plant does not tolerate wetlands.

Japanese larch "Stif viper"

Japanese larch "Stif viper" is a coniferous species of deciduous trees on a trunk, and is characterized by long shoots creeping along the ground.
The grafting site determines the future shape and height of the plant. Usually the weeping variety of larch grows no more than 2 m in height and 1 m in crown diameter.
The needles of this variety of larch are bluish-green in color, falling off in winter. On an adult tree, male (yellow) and female (reddish-brown) cones are clearly visible.
Beautiful and attractive crown "Stif Viper", with a small number of side shoots, allows the variety to be used in many landscape compositions.
Japanese larch "Stif viper" is planted as a single dominant planting, and in group mixed compositions.
A low-growing variety of larch is picky about high air humidity and does not tolerate both drought and stagnant water. The variety is frost-resistant, light-requiring.

Japanese larch "Diana"

A beautiful and elegant variety of Japanese larch, distinguished from others by unusually twisted, spiral shoots and cones, bright pink in color.
In height, the adult Japanese larch "Diana" reaches 8-10 m. In width, the hemispherical crown grows up to 5 m.
The needles are painted in a delicate shade of light green, which, with the onset of autumn, "transforms" into a fiery yellow. The bark is rich, brown.
Saplings grow quickly, but with age, the growth rate decreases markedly.
This variety of larch prefers moist and alkaline soils. The culture is hardy and light-requiring.

Japanese larch "Blue Dwarf"

Japanese larch "Blue Dwarf" differs from other varieties in the sky-blue color of the needles. Soft needles turn yellow in the canopy, and crumble for the winter.
A dwarf and compact variety of larch on a trunk grows no higher than 0.6 m, with the same crown diameter of an adult, mature plant.
The variety is characterized by increased winter hardiness and gas resistance. The culture prefers open sunny areas or light partial shade, as well as moist, nutritious soil.
A dwarf variety of decorative larch is used for growing in rock gardens, rocky gardens, coniferous compositions and for the formation of natural hedges.

Japanese larch "Blue Rabbit"

The variety of Japanese larch "Blue Rabbit" is recognized as one of the most beautiful and spectacular. Silver-blue needles and yellowish spherical cones are the main distinguishing characteristics of this variety of larch.
Deciduous coniferous tree changes the shape of the crown with age: from a narrow cone to a wider cone shape.
The tree can grow up to 15-20 m in height. The growth rate is average.
The culture is wind and winter-hardy, not susceptible to attacks by pests and lesions of various diseases.
The plant regularly needs pruning, sunny areas, and does not tolerate drought or stagnant moisture.

Japanese larch is distinguished by a large varietal variety and, as a rule, is offered in the form of grafting on a trunk. The height of such plants depends on the height of the stem and the place of grafting.

Although, over time, you can independently increase the height of a tree with drooping branches. To do this, choose the most powerful shoot and straighten it, fixing it to the support. After a few years, this manipulation is carried out with other shoots hanging from the new top. The result is an unusually attractive tree with drooping branches along the entire length of the trunk.

Japanese larch: planting and care

If you become the owner of a Japanese larch seedling, then remember that the most optimal time for planting it is considered the beginning of autumn or early spring. The planting hole should be prepared based on the size of the root system. As a rule, the width, height and depth are the same - 50 cm. Cover the plant with the excavated soil, mixing it in equal proportions with peat. If the soil is heavy, clayey, it is also recommended to add coarse river sand.

Larch trees are perhaps the most unpretentious conifers in northern latitudes. Caring for a tree consists in proper watering, loosening, mulching the soil, pruning and treating pests.

Watering larch is necessary only in drought conditions. A large tree needs about 20 liters of water. Frequency - 1-2 times a week.
Loosening is necessary for young plants. Weed in parallel so that the weeds do not drown it out.
Mulching is necessary for everyone - it helps to improve the properties of the soil, prevents moisture from evaporating from it and prevents the roots from overheating. Use sawdust, wood chips, or peat.
Pruning is carried out only when necessary (sanitary) and very carefully.
Treatment with fungicidal and insecticidal preparations is necessary for prophylaxis. In general, Japanese larch has excellent immunity.

Place of growth

Planting can be carried out both in the Middle Lane and in more northern regions. In nature, this plant grows in highlands. You can meet a tree:

in the mountainous regions of Japan;
in the Far East;
in the highlands of China;
in the Russian Siberian taiga.

Wild varieties differ from the cultivated size and shape of the crown. Typically, wild varieties have a long, elongated trunk and a lush crown resembling a hat. From a distance, this plant can be confused with a pine tree. Cultivated varieties are lower than wild ones, and the shape of the crown can be very diverse.

This is due to the peculiarities of selection: domestic and foreign breeders specially bred varieties with an unusual crown shape so that they could be used in landscape design. In wild larch, the needles usually have a rich green color. In cultivated varieties, the needles can be light green, and gray, and even bluish. One of the most popular cultivars is called the Blue Rabbit.

Care features

The list of the main activities for caring for Japanese larch includes watering, loosening, mulching and pruning the crown. Crown pruning is not only an effective way to get rid of dead shoots, but also an event that helps to give the crown the required shape. If pruned correctly, after this event, the larch will grow better and look more beautiful. Where larch grows in nature (in the mountains and in the taiga), the soil is rather poor, therefore, an excess of fertilizing can only harm the proper development of the plant.

Japanese larch is often used in landscaping. Most often it is planted in parks. This tree looks very beautiful in autumn, when the green needles change color to yellow and gradually begin to fall off.

Planting Japanese larch in the country is undoubtedly worth it.This plant will certainly be in the spotlight. It is best to choose decorative varieties of Japanese larch, characterized by a bizarre crown shape.