European larch

How to plant?

When landing larch trees it is important to consider its timing. Experienced gardeners recommend planting a plant in early spring or in the first half of autumn.

Particular attention should be paid to the choice of the site, since in the case of transplantation, the tree may die - it does not like this procedure. You need to choose a sunny place for planting, but the seedling will feel comfortable in partial shade.

The crop prefers to grow in light soil with good drainage.

In general, these trees are not too demanding on growing conditions.

The planting process is as follows:

1. dig a hole 80–90 cm deep and 60–70 cm in diameter;
2. make high-quality drainage with a layer of 20 cm;
3. prepare the substrate - for this, combine the garden soil, humus and dolomite flour, add part of the mixture to the pit;
4. pour 10–20 liters of water;
5. carefully remove the seedling from the container along with the earthy clod, straighten the roots, if necessary, remove the tips with a knife;
6. place the seedling together with the support, usually it is already included in the container upon purchase;
7. make sure that when planting, the root collar remains above ground level;
8. fill the free space with the remaining mixture and tamp the planting site;
9. mulch the soil with peat, sawdust or chopped bark in a layer of 5 cm.

Description of the plant

Usually, low-growing plants with a height of 1 to 8 m are used in landscape design (crown diameter - 100-200 centimeters). However, in nature, ephedra can reach 35-40 m.

The color of the needles shows several shades of green at once, but there are also bluish varieties. By autumn, the tree turns golden and loses its foliage.

Weeping larch is distinguished by branches hanging down, which look especially impressive on the trunk. It grows quickly enough, adding 20-30 cm per year. On adult conifers, cones grow - greenish or bright reddish colors (female), similar to roses.

High-standard forming of a grape bush

A tall stem is more often used in the south, in places where the grapes do not need shelter for the winter. Due to this formation, the fruit buds on the vine are laid closer to the base of the shoots, which increases the average mass of the bunches formed by the plant, and, therefore, gives an increase in yield.

Due to the accumulation of perennial wood, the average annual yield is significantly stabilized, and the winter hardiness of plants increases. Such bushes have less polarity, shorter internodes are formed, and the diameter of the vine increases.

The main condition for choosing a high-stemmed grape formation is a strong or medium growth potential of the variety; choice for planting a well-developed seedling, in a previously prepared fertile soil with regular watering.

1st year

In the spring, the overwintered shoot is cut off 2-3 buds above the ground. In the summer, two strong, well-developed shoots are left, the excess is broken out. A support is installed next to the bush, about 1.5 m high. As the shoots grow, they are tied up. (fig. 3)

The first year of the formation of grapes on a stem

The best shoot is immediately determined - it will go to the formation of the trunk. The stepsons are removed from him. The second escape is left for reserve in case the first is lost for some reason. In addition, it helps the plant build up the mass of roots that is so necessary for its full development.

By the fall, it is necessary to build a trellis: the first tier of wire at a height of 100-120 cm, the second 130-150 cm - it should consist of 2 parallel wires, green shoots will grow in them.

2nd year

In the spring, before the start of sap flow, the main shoot is shortened to the selected stem height. Everything else is deleted. (Fig. 4 / a)

The second year of the formation of grapes on the stem

After the awakening of the bush, the formation of the sleeves begins. At the same time, two shoots growing from the upper buds are left on the trunk for development, the rest are removed. When the vines reach the required length (half the distance left in the row between the plants), they are pinched and tied to the first tier of wire.

As the stepsons are formed, the bush is further formed: the first stepson is left at a distance of 10 cm from the beginning of the sleeve, the next ones - after 20 cm, while all of them should be located on the upper side of the sleeve. (Fig. 4 / b)

3rd year

If the growth of grapes in the second year was distinguished by significant strength, then good stepchildren were formed on the sleeves, suitable for the formation of horns (fruit links will be located on the horns). If not, stepchildren form during the given growing season.

For the formation of horns, each of the shoots is cut into two buds, by the fall of them two new shoots will grow. All shoots must be tied to the second order of the trellis to avoid twisting the shoulder. (Fig. 5)

The third year of the formation of grapes on a stem

4th year

Now a fruit pair is formed: a fruit vine and a replacement knot. (Fig. 6) The first, depending on the variety, can be cut into 5-6, 6-8, 8-10 buds, the second - into two.

Further, the annual formation is carried out according to this principle - the principle of a fruit pair or (second name) a fruit link.

If there is a risk of freezing of the vineyard, in the second year, the reserve sleeve can not be removed, but placed on an additional trellis stretched at a height of 60 cm from the ground. In this case, two extreme stepsons are left on it, and in the fall they are sheltered for wintering.

In the spring of the third year, the stepsons are shortened by 3-4 eyes. Cover again in autumn. In the spring of the fourth year, the shoots are cut into 5-6 eyes, and at the base of the bush one shoots are left for growth. In the fall, the stepsons that have grown from the left eyes are shortened by 10-12 buds.

In the next spring, 2-3 buds are left on the coppice shoot, and 2 knots are left on the sleeve. If the stem was damaged by frost in winter, it is cut off, the reserve sleeve is placed in its place and the shoulders are formed. A reserve sleeve is formed from the coppice shoot.

The fourth year of the formation of grapes on a stem

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 consider this feature 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.

Application

Larix decidua has long been used by humans. First of all, the wood of the tree is valued. It has been used in construction for a long time. Buildings made of European larch have high insulating qualities. They keep warmth well and do not penetrate noise from the street. The essential oils released from the logs act like a natural air ionizer.

European larch wood does not rot, therefore it is used in places with high humidity and temperature extremes:

• on the decks of ships;
• on outdoor terraces;
• for pile construction.

Larix decidua needles contain many useful substances (essential oils, ascorbic acid). Traditional healers used a decoction of green needles to prevent scurvy. In modern cosmetology, perfumery, aromatherapy, essential oil extracted from the needles of European larch has found application. It also has therapeutic properties and is used, in the form of inhalation, to treat pathologies of the respiratory tract.

The bark of European larch includes tannins, which are extracted for the needs of the leather industry. In addition, the bark contains organic acids, gum, kakhetins, anthocyanins.

The best varieties of Siberian larch

Siberian larch (Larix sibirica) is characterized by an even, powerful trunk, up to 45 m high, thick light brown furrowed bark, wide light green needles with a smoky bloom and branches growing at right angles with curved ends and large woody cones. On young trees, fruit scales are painted in a rich burgundy color. In size and shape, Siberian larch cones resemble elongated nuts. The tree is common in Siberia. Differs in wind and drought resistance.

Decorative forms are:

• pyramidal (with a pyramid-shaped crown);
• compact (with a dense crown and dense branches adjacent to each other);
• weeping (with drooping branches);
• blunt (the shape of the crown of this larch is cylindrical, without a pointed top).

Reproduction methods

Reproduction of decorative larches is a rather difficult process. And not everyone can be successful the first time.

It is easier, of course, to buy seedlings in the nursery. But many people like to experiment.

Larch propagation can mainly be done in two ways:

• seeds;
• by cuttings.

To use the first method, you need to collect ripe buds. Remove the seeds and soak them in water for up to 2 weeks. Then the seeds are placed in a container with wet sand to a depth of 5 mm. And they leave them alone until next year. The only thing you need to make sure that the sand remains wet all the time.

Planting seedlings in open ground in spring, after noticeable warming. But it is better to keep them in greenhouse conditions for another year, planting seedlings in spacious containers.

Cutting is a more complicated method than the previous one. This method is used mainly in nurseries.

Growing

European larch has proven itself as an ornamental plant. In landscape design, it is used in compositions with plants such as:

• rhododendrons;
• broom;
• chubushnik;
• lilac.

In autumn, larix green needles are favorably set off by a colorful palette of deciduous trees and shrubs.

For planting larch, seeds or seedlings are used. Seeds are removed from ripe cones and sown in prepared soil. However, the process of growing a tree takes a long time, therefore, most often, seedlings are used when planting. They are purchased in special nurseries.

When buying, you should pay attention to the color of the needles. It should be bright green

This indicates the health of the plant.

For planting European larch, it is important to choose the right place. It should be located in a sunny area, t

because lack of light causes disease in larix. The soil should be rich in humus, with good drainage. European larch does not like stagnation of moisture in the soil.

Planting a seedling should be done in early spring or late autumn. A large hole is dug under the root system. A seedling with a preserved earthy clod is transferred to it. From above, the pit is filled up with a peat-sod mixture.

In order for the tree to safely take root in a new place and start growing, a number of agrotechnical measures are carried out:

1. Mulching.
2. Watering.
3. Fertilization.
4. Loosening.
5. Weed removal.

European larch is well adapted to frost, therefore, seedlings do not need winter shelter.

Larch care is straightforward and can be done by any gardener.

How to propagate larch: conditions for growing a crop from seeds

The most rational way of reproduction of larch is seed. Only freshly harvested seeds are suitable, but even among them the germination percentage is small. When stored under normal conditions, germination is lost after a year, and sometimes even after 3-4 months, but if they are kept in an airtight container at temperatures from 0 to H-5 ° C, then they will rise in 10 or more years.

Seeds freshly dropped from the cones are capable of immediate germination, since their embryo is in a shallow dormancy stage, but dried and even more so stored seeds need to awaken the embryo with the help of stratification.

The following methods of sowing crop seeds are most rational:

• Winter sowing. In the fall, immediately after harvesting, without drying, the seeds are sown in the ridge to a depth of 3-5 cm and mulched to a height of 1-1.5 cm. In the spring, after germination, the plants are cut open or left on the ridge until autumn or next spring.
• Snowing. Seeds are sown in boxes in autumn or winter, kept warm for 2-3 weeks and then brought out under the snow until spring. In the spring - at the beginning of summer, after the emergence of seedlings, the plants are spread out in the ridge or left in boxes until autumn.
• Cold stratification. At the end of winter, seeds are sown in boxes or bowls in an earthen mixture consisting of rotted leaf earth, peat and coarse sifted sand in a ratio of 3: 1: 1. Crops are kept warm for 2-3 weeks, and then stored in a refrigerator or basement at a temperature of +3 to +5 ° C for 1-2 months, maintaining an even moderate level of substrate moisture and a constant temperature.

Stratified seeds for growing larch are transferred for germination in a light warm (+ 18 ... + 25 ° С) place. Seedlings are protected from direct sunlight and watered moderately. If the seeds have sprouted too thickly, then a pick is necessary. When the heat comes, the crops are taken out into the garden, and after hardening they are planted in the ridge.

When growing larch seeds from seeds, seedlings are unpretentious and develop quickly.

Creeping forms can be propagated by horizontal branches, but rooting rarely occurs in the first year.Cutting is possible, but it is very difficult and ineffective.

How to grow larch from seeds

In nature, larch reproduces with the help of flake seeds. Before sowing, the planting material, which is carried out at the end of April, must undergo cold stratification for 30-40 days.

The seeds are soaked in water for 24 hours, then mixed with a small amount of wet sand or vermiculite, placed in a bag and left in the refrigerator at a temperature of 3-5 ° C.

After the required time has elapsed, the seeds are removed from the refrigerator and sown in open ground in a mixture of peat and sand (3: 1) to a depth of about one and a half cm. Watered with a spray.

Seedlings

The soil should be moderately moist, but not wet. At the end of summer, seedlings must be thinned out. For the winter, they are covered with spruce branches. After 2 years, at the beginning of spring, young seedlings can be transplanted to a permanent place.

The transplant is carried out with a part of the earthen coma so as not to damage the roots. For the next 2-3 years, plants need insulation in winter.

Diseases and pests

Larch needles fall off or larch turns yellow. Various factors lead to the problem.

Spruce-larch green hermes (Adelges laricis) is an aphid that feeds on spruce and larch sap. Causes damage to needles that turn yellow and fall off prematurely. During the larval phase, the pests hibernate on the tree.

Aphid defeat

In the spring, after reaching puberty, females lay eggs, giving rise to the next generation. The larvae feed on young shoots, causing their deformation.

On the threshold of spring and summer, winged forms migrate, while the rest still feed on needles. Hermes females are noticeable as they are covered with a white matter, similar to fibrous flakes.

Signs of aphid infestation

Pests are dangerous for young and weakened trees

It is also important to avoid planting larch near natural spruce trees. To combat hibernating larvae, a preparation based on paraffin oil should be used.

Another pest is the moth (Carchophora laricella), which lays the larvae in needles. The pest causes yellowing of the needles, weakens the tree, and restricts the growth of shoots. Moles are killed with a systemic insecticide

Schütte is a group of fungal diseases. It is characterized by the appearance of yellow spots or stripes on the needles, which subsequently become reddish brown and fall off.

Fungal disease

The development of the disease is favored by high humidity, manifests itself suddenly in rainy weather. The affected shoots are removed and burned, the plant is repeatedly treated with an appropriate fungicide.

Larch also turns yellow due to a lack of moisture in the soil or a lack of sunlight.

Dwarf varieties and larch on a trunk in landscape design

Larch on a trunk is an amazingly beautiful coniferous tree, which looks most impressively as a tree in rockeries, on small lawns or flower beds with ground covers and in a variety of compositions with other representatives of conifers and shrubs.

Low specimens are planted near the entrance to the house or garden. Large tapeworms are the focal point of any landscape. In landscape design, this form is used to create oriental garden styles.

Low-growing forms will look great surrounded by heathers, dwarf pine or spruce, creeping golden junipers, ornamental deciduous shrubs. This combination maximizes the beauty of miniature varieties.

Medical use

Planting larch is a great way to stock up on valuable natural medicines for the future: resin (resin) and young shoots.

It is believed that the resin of the tree has a healing effect, heals severe wounds, helps to heal abscesses, boils, abscesses. The gum is applied externally: it is applied to a wound or an inflamed area.And for internal use, traditional healers recommend using tea, decoctions and infusions from young shoots. Young green shoots are harvested in the spring, when they just appear on the tree. Young needles are very soft and tender. It is collected, dried in the sun or with an automatic dryer, and then used to prepare medicines.

In the old days, young shoots were used to treat scurvy, a dangerous disease caused by a deficiency of some vital vitamins. Most often, the prisoners exiled to Siberia suffered from scurvy. Also, young larch needles are used to strengthen the immune system, prevent acute respiratory diseases. Regular consumption of young pine needles infusion soothes joint pain in case of gout, arthritis and arthrosis. A decoction from shoots is used in the treatment of bronchitis and pneumonia.

Industrial use

Larch wood is widely used in the woodworking industry due to its unique properties. It is very resilient and easy to process. It is traditionally made from it:

• home and office furniture;
• souvenirs and other handicrafts (nesting dolls, wooden spoons, whistles, toys);
• parts for industrial equipment;
• window frames;
• door leaves.

Wood is also widely used in the construction of rural log houses, especially in those regions where the tree is widespread in the wild: taiga and mountains. It is believed that due to the bactericidal properties of wood, such houses always have fresh air, and pests and parasites do not start. In large areas where wild larch grows, there are often woodworking factories.

Breeding features

You can propagate a tree in various ways:

1. Layers.
2. Seeds.
3. Cuttings.

The first method is the simplest, but most effective. Even under natural conditions, European larch is often rooted by layering. To do this, the lower shoot is fixed to the ground at the end of spring and the main part is sprinkled with soil, abundantly moistened. Water continues to be supplied throughout the season. By the fall, roots will appear, after which the layering is given another season for development. Then, towards the end of summer, it is carefully separated from the mother tree and planted in a permanent place.

Seed propagation of European larch is more laborious, although this is also an effective method. To obtain seed, it is necessary to track the moment of disclosure of the cones. This can happen in both spring and fall. The seeds are simply taken out of the sinuses, and in some varieties, the scales have to be opened. Then they are kept for 4 hours in cool water and immediately planted in open ground (in the spring) or stored in the refrigerator until planting (in the autumn harvest).

Important! For the winter, the sprouts are mulched with leaves, sawdust, and covered with fiber.

Seed germination of European larch is about 10%, so you need to sow a lot of grains

The third breeding method is cuttings. New seedlings do not take root well, even if they are provided with comfortable conditions (humidity and greenhouse air temperature). Therefore, the cultivation of European larch from cuttings is practically not used.

Japanese larch, planting features

Planting Japanese larch seedlings carried out 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.
• A 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.
• 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 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 beneficial 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 pit, 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.

Diseases and pests

Due to waterlogging, larch can be attacked by Schütte fungi. Signs of the disease: loss of needles, the appearance of yellowish and brown spots. Infected shoots must be cut and burned, and the tree must be sprayed with fungicides. For prevention, proper care and treatment with medicinal preparations is necessary.

Common pests are aphids and spruce moths. Both cases are characterized by yellowing and falling of the needles (in summer). At the first sign, the tree is treated with a solution of laundry soap or paraffin oil products. If insects are not removed, it is necessary to resort to insecticides.

Care

Larch does not tolerate waterlogging and does not need watering with systematic precipitation. In a dry, hot period, it is watered 2 times a week, and in addition, they do evening sprinkling.

Top dressing

It is especially important to apply fertilizers in the first 3-4 years after transplanting. Top dressing is carried out in early spring, using special complexes for conifers, compost or universal formulations like Kemira

Mulching and loosening

The soil in the near-trunk circle is loosened after watering to provide oxygen access and at the same time get rid of weeds. To facilitate maintenance and reduce moisture evaporation, mulching is used. Dry crushed bark or peat chips can be used as mulch.

Pruning

Larch needs annual sanitary pruning: dry and damaged branches are removed in early spring. For an adult tree, a rejuvenating procedure is done - weak shoots are cut off and mature branches are shortened.

Formation is carried out as needed, thinning the crown and setting the direction of growth to the branches (however, it will not work to create the correct figure from the ephedra).

Formation of the trunk

To form a stem, a young ephedra is tied to a peg and the shoots are cut off as it grows. When the seedling reaches the desired size, the top is cut off so that the side branches develop. To create a fluffy crown, they are regularly pinched.

Preparing for winter

Larch tolerates frost well

Larch is a frost-hardy plant that adequately tolerates winter cold. Mature trees do not need shelter, but it is advisable to shade them from the direct sun in February and March (to avoid burns).

Young conifers protect from wind and snow: they tie up branches, protect, cover with spruce branches or non-woven material.

Breeding features

Cuttings from Pendula larch take root for a long time, require careful maintenance, the use of growth stimulants and greenhouse equipment.

A common way to reproduce ephedra is by sowing seeds:

• extract "nuts" from the cone and immerse it in water for a day;
• pour sand into the box, mix it with the seeds;
• leave the larch for 30 days in the refrigerator for stratification;
• sow the material to a depth of 2 cm in a mixture of peat and compost;
• protect plantings with foil until shoots appear;
• as soon as sprouts appear, remove the shelter, mulch the soil with sawdust or bark, moisten the soil.

Transplanting young trees is possible only 1-2 years after sowing the seeds.

Important! If grown from seed, Pendula larch can reach 8-10 m in height as it grows.

To propagate the culture on your site, it is preferable to use a graft

For the procedure, you should use young seedlings, whose age is no more than 3-5 years. The stock will be freshly cut shoots of Pendula larch.

Vaccination is required in the middle of summer:

• separate the apical shoots from the mother tree, up to 10 cm long at an angle of 45 °;
• remove excess branches from the stock, and then make cuts on the upper part of the trunk up to 1 cm deep;
• insert the stock into each groove, and fix the junction using a thread;
• wrap the shoot tightly with a bandage or gauze over the thread.

Within 1-2 months, the scion grows, after which the bandage and thread should be removed

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 tree, description

Coniferous beauties are able to withstand permafrost conditions and a harsh continental climate, which allows them to be grown in areas with cold winters.

By the middle of autumn, all the needles are painted in golden colors, so that after they crumble with a yellow waterfall and revive again in the spring. At the end of March, the branches are covered with young and soft needles of a pale green color.

Bloom

The larch blossoms are impressive.In late March - early April, when the needles bloom, the tree is covered with decorative female flowers-cones, similar to a small cone of brightly colored petals-scales from pink to crimson.

Unfortunately, the tree blooms quite rarely and only when it reaches maturity.

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.

European larch: which variety to choose for planting

European larch (Larix decidua) is widespread in the western and northern regions of Europe. Prone to intensive development. In the natural environment, it stretches up to 50 m, and in our latitudes it reaches only half that length, has a dense conical crown and a powerful trunk. The needles are bright green. Cones are reddish. Flowering begins in May. The tree adapts to any soil, including limestone and loam, but does not tolerate nearby groundwater. All types of larch prefer slightly acidic substrates.

Many people confuse European and Siberian larch, not understanding what their main differences are. In fact, this breed is characterized by weeping shoots extending from skeletal branches. Young fruits of purple or scarlet color in the form of a small rose. In addition, the crown can be decorated with cones for years, in which seeds have not developed. And Siberian larch loses foliage and, accordingly, decorativeness earlier than other species. By these signs, it is easy to recognize which species a particular larch tree belongs to.

Did you know? Unlike pine and spruce, larch sheds needles, has a crown with a conical frame, flattened soft needles and small brown cones of various sizes.
Garden options for European larch are represented by varieties:

• Kornik - the tree grows up to 1.5 m and up to 1.2 m in breadth, has a spherical crown. Short branches are covered with numerous buds, needles are green, up to 3 cm long. Prefers moist fresh soil. Kornik larch is also cultivated in standard form.
• Repens is a fast growing tree with a trunk up to 1.5 m in height and a crown diameter of up to 80 cm. It is cultivated in the form of a trunk. Creeping shoots, very flexible and branched. Recommended for small gardens, rock gardens and container growing.
• Kellermannii is a dwarf bushy form with thick flexible shoots and dense needles.