Fir trees are evergreen trees that grow from the 3rd to the 8th zone of frost resistance, i.e., where the minimum winter temperature is from -12 ° С to -40 ° С. It is better to transplant them when they are in a period of rest. About what you need to know for a successful transplant and the basic rules for its implementation, read further in the material.
When to transplant fir
Planting trees on the site begins in early spring before buds open. They will form roots if the air temperature rises above + 5 ° C. In the same way they can be planted in the fall - in September or October. Fir trees take root, calmly endure winter and in spring will already give new growth of branches.
To a new place
If the tree was planted incorrectly and after some time there was a need to transplant it, then they do it either in the spring before buds open, or in autumn. The criterion for starting the landing is the air temperature. On the ground, frost should not be expected. Of course, the tree can be transplanted in the summer, but conifers do not tolerate planting in the summer heat and will hurt.
In winter, the tree is also not disturbed. Fir, unlike deciduous trees, do not fall into a state of complete rest. This means that a poorly rooted root system will not be able to get moisture from the soil necessary to support the needles. Therefore, postpone landing until spring.
From the forest to the plot
Fir reaches a height of 60–80 m and a trunk diameter of 3.5 m. Therefore, no one replants adult trees. But You can always take a small seedling from the forest and plant it on the site. This should be done in March before the tree begins active sap flow. Fir will grow over 200 years, so it is better to immediately select the right site.
Important! Forest young fir need to be landed on the site on the same day when they dug up and brought home.
When transplanting, try to take as much soil as possible in which the tree grew from the forest. It contains mycorrhizal fungi. They form a single system with the roots, processing phosphorus and other difficult to assimilate substances, and in exchange receive photosynthesis products from the tree.
For planting, select fir in the forest no higher than 0.7–1 m. It is advisable to take one that grows separately, and not in a group.
Such trees are considered more resistant to disease and will better adapt to a new place. In order to reproduce the landing in vivo later, you can mark the cardinal points on the trunk with a marking tape. And when planting in a permanent place, unfold the tree in the same way.
Fir is dug and removed along with the soil. The crown diameter of 70 cm of the tree will be about 25–40 cm. Then the roots, together with the soil, are lowered into a moist burlap. It is necessary not to damage the branches during transportation. It is also forbidden to drag a tree by the trunk, so as not to break.
How to transplant fir to the site in the fall
For planting in autumn, you will need to choose a cloudy day in September. It is advisable that after the end of the process a little rain begins. There are not many rules for transplanting fir.
You will need:
- prepare the site and the pit;
- bring a seedling from the forest along with the soil;
- prepare materials: broken brick for drainage, sand, compost.
While you are preparing to plant, lay the tree brought neatly on its side so as not to damage the branches.
Choosing a place to land
Fir trees grow in a shady area. But you can choose a sunny one. The main thing is that when the tree reaches its optimum height, it does not interfere: it does not create a thick shadow in the garden, does not close windows, and does not interfere with communication systems.
There should be a distance of at least 10 m between the tall fir and the nearest building.
The same applies to fences and other structures, including sidewalks and driveways, where the largest roots can eventually cause deflection of flat sections of the route, alleys. Ground water should be lower than 2 m from the surface to prevent stagnation of water and decay of the roots.
2 weeks before planting, you will need to prepare a pit. For this, the site is dug up. Remove the weeds. The depth of the pit will be about 60 cm. And the width will depend on the size of the root system.
Important! Also pay attention to the fact that all conifers are prone to burns, including fir. Therefore, the area should be shaded naturally after 3 hours of the day.
Soil preparation for fir transplantation
Good soil is the key to successful tree growth. If it is poor, just supplement it with organic fertilizers. Heavy and clay - add with sand. The goal is to create the largest possible area of fertile and healthy soil that can be developed by roots.
therefore the size of the planting hole will always be 2-3 times larger than the diameter of the root system of the seedling. Remove weed roots and stones larger than a fist from the soil. You can leave those that are smaller by putting them in the drainage layer.
Tree planting:
- Dig the site.
- Dig a hole to a depth of 0.5-0.7 m.
- Be sure to lay the drain at the bottom. It can be pebbles, stones, broken bricks. The layer thickness is 15–20 cm. It is necessary to limit the contact of the roots with excess moisture.
- Now fill the pit with a mixture of sheet soil or compost mixed with river sand. This is necessary to increase the nutritional and water-holding properties of the earth. Also add 10 kg of sawdust and 200 g of nitroammofoski to the composition.
- Stir and fill the bottom of the pit with a slide. Now install a seedling on it and pour in the soil brought from the forest.
- Straighten the roots on the sides of the earthen cone and begin to fall asleep with soil mixture. As a result of planting, the tree should be at the same level that it grew in the forest.
After the completion of work, the trunk circle can be mulched. This will help maintain moisture in the soil and inhibit weed growth. Mulch will also protect the soil in heat from overheating, and in winter from frost. The height of the layer is 10 cm. It should be located around the tree, but not reach the trunk 15 cm to prevent the root neck from wetting with water.
How to care for fir after transplantation
Despite the fact that conifers are unpretentious in conditions for cultivation and care, they still need the attention of a gardener.
After planting the fir you need:
- to water;
- fertilize;
- loosen the soil after watering;
- mulch;
- carry out sanitary pruning;
- fight pests.
Did you know? Conifers do not just decorate the garden; in winter they provide birds with vital protection against rain and icy winds. Therefore, gardeners recommend planting about 1/3 of coniferous trees on a site.
Proper watering
Water recently planted fir quickly, soaking the soil with 1-2 buckets of water. The soil needs to become moist, but not liquid. Excess water flushes useful substances into the lower layers of the soil, where the roots of the plant can not yet reach them.
Continue to water weekly for the first year of growth. The exception is moments of drought. If the topsoil is dry, water irrespective of when the previous watering was. Adult trees can be watered less often - 1-2 times a month.
Evergreens never cease their activity completely. Therefore, you will need to start irrigation in early spring and continue until late autumn. The last watering is carried out 2-3 weeks before the onset of frost.
For trees planted near the track, sprinkling is carried out periodically. This helps to remove dust from them. But you need to do this in the morning, so that the moisture has time to dry, and the needles do not get burns from the daytime sun.
Soil cultivation and mulching
During irrigation, the soil is compressed. Air does not penetrate into it, which means that the vital activity of beneficial soil bacteria ceases. And this negatively affects the development of the root system. Therefore, loosening is carried out after each watering. And combine it with the removal of weeds.
For cultivation, a garden hoe is used. They dig it into the soil by 10 cm.
But if you covered the near-trunk zone with mulch, then you do not need to loosen it. Mulching protects the soil from compaction and prevents weeds from growing. In addition, organic mulch is a source of nutrients for fir. Under the influence of moisture, it is crushed and releases the organic matter contained in it to the soil.
Fertilizer and fertilizer
As for fertilizers, unlike hardwood, fir does not need nitrogen for development. Therefore, when buying pay attention to those mixtures, in which the ratio of parts is indicated, as 5-10-10, where the numbers are the percentage of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in solution. Spend feeding in early spring in March or April. The use of compost in the amount of 3-5 kg per 1 square. m. You need to repeat top dressing in June, when the cones begin to ripen.
Did you know? Fir has a developed root system. Therefore, it can be planted in a problem area to prevent soil erosion.
Pruning
The most common cause of pruning of evergreens from an aesthetic point of view is the increase in density. So, the branches can stretch out and then the tree seems exhausted. To stop intense growth, you can pinch the tops during the period of the appearance of new growth.
In response to this, the lateral buds awaken, and the branch becomes denser. Crohn's fir is formed in the form of a cone. Therefore, it is almost not subjected to molding trimming and cut only when the branch interferes for some reason.
When the fir reaches a height of 1.5 m, you can trim the lower branches near the trunk. This opens the bottom of the tree for oxygen access. Dry branches are pruned as soon as they are found. To do this, wipe the edges of the cutting tool with alcohol before and after work. This will not infect fir with pathogenic microflora.
Important! It is forbidden to remove more than 1/3 of the green mass from conifers. This can cause the death of the tree.
Diseases and Pests
Insect control methods can vary. Someone prefers biological control methods: pheromone traps, attracting birds or predatory insects to the garden, and someone immediately switches to the use of insecticides. Each gardener decides which method to choose based on his experience and desire.
All conifers can propagate by cuttings and seeds. For fir, another way is available - layering. If its branch is in contact with the soil, then it will take root.
The fight must begin with the correct identification of the source of the problem. To combat insects, it is important to know when infection occurs, and to combat fungi - diseases that are characteristic of conifers in your area and the period of their activation. Inspect fir regularly for pests and diseases.
Spray small trees with a direct stream of water from a garden hose nozzle. So you remove small infections with ticks, aphids and caterpillars. To treat intense infection, you will need to use insecticides. And you need to do this quickly to prevent the falling of needles and the infection of other trees.
The main types of prevention and treatment of fir:
- provide the right conditions for growth and development (irrigation, oxygen access and sunlight);
- destroy the affected parts of the plant (branches);
- pour needles with water in order to wash off insects;
- attract ladybugs to the garden to control aphids and other sucking pests;
- attract tits to control the caterpillars.
The main pests:
Name of insects | Damage | Methods of struggle |
Aphid | It sucks juice from small branches, causing minimal damage, if there is no secondary infection with fungal infections that settle on aphid secretions. | Rinse off with a strong stream of water. These insects can no longer return to the plant from the ground. Or spray with an insecticidal soap solution. |
False shield | It affects the top of the shoots. | In early spring, hunting belts are installed on the trunk. Then they collect pests and destroy them. |
Fir moth | Her larvae (caterpillars of black color) eat up needles. | The trunk circle is dug up in the autumn to destroy wintering larvae. |
Spider mite | It affects the needles. | Destroyed by spraying with acaricides. |
If there is black, oozing liquid on the tree, spots or ulcers are signs of fungal diseases. In such a situation, you need to clean the tree to a healthy bark, treat it with a solution of 0.5% copper sulfate and cover it with garden var. As a prevention of fungal diseases, they are sprayed with copper sulfate or another fungicide in the spring, when the kidneys open. And then repeat after 2 weeks.
Video: How to plant and care for fir
Winter care
The most important thing to do is to provide fir with the necessary amount of water. To do this, it is abundantly watered in mid-October. Small seedlings are susceptible to frost injury and can be damaged by a large mass of snow. Therefore, a frame is installed around them and they are fitted with agrofibre or covered with spruce branches.
Did you know? All conifers can propagate by cuttings and seeds. Another way is available for fir — layering. If its branch is in contact with the soil, then it will take root.
The top of the structure is left ajar to let in sunlight. It is necessary for photosynthesis. Burlap coating is used where there is insufficient snowfall. It will protect plants from frost instead of snow cover. Mature trees can tie branches closer to the trunk so that they are not broken by snow.
The process of planting or transplanting fir is simple. After this, the tree will not hurt, but it needs to acclimatize. And to help him in this, try to choose the right landing site and provide fir fertile soil.