Planting material. Coniferous trees and shrubs. Larch. Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi): photo, description, varieties, planting and care Japanese larch stiff weeping planting and care

Japanese larch cultivars:

In decorative terms, Japanese larch surpasses all others both with its unusual storey crown and long needles of the original color, the shape of cones. It goes well with spruces, pines, junipers, lindens, oaks, ash trees, rhododendrons and others. ornamental shrubs. In culture since 1861.

Growth speed, undemanding to soil conditions and frost resistance allow this species to be widely used in green building in group and single landings and landscape compositions. In Japan, it is widely cultivated in the form of bonsai - as indoor bonsai grown in peat.

Larches are interesting not only for the general outline of the crown, but also for the graphic nature of the branches, which is clearly visible in winter. In this regard, larch varieties with twisted branches are extremely interesting, for example L . kaempferi “Diana” . Noteworthy varieties with weeping crowns. A special group is made up of compact dwarf forms, for example L . kaempferi “Blue Dwarf” .

Location: larches are perhaps the most unpretentious of conifers northern latitudes, they are able to grow even in urban conditions, they do not tolerate only stagnant moisture in the soil. Durable. They have a well developed root system deep into the soil. Grow fast. Smoke and gas resistant. Winter-hardy.

Landing: plant larches on permanent place should be as soon as possible optimal time- at 1-2 years of age. The best time planting - autumn after leaf fall or early spring before bud break. The distance between plants is 2-4 m, the places are open, sunny, only Japanese larch tolerates shading. Larches easily tolerate transplantation up to 20 years of age. The root system is deep and provides full wind resistance. On young thin roots there is mycorrhiza, which is important not to damage when planting. Planting depth 70-80 cm.

The soil: undemanding to soils, successfully grows on calcareous, podzolic soils, chernozems, better - on loams, poorly - on sands. The soil mixture consists of leafy soil, peat and sand (3:2:1). Drainage only on heavy clays: broken brick with a layer of 20 cm.

Care: in early spring, before the start of shoot growth, 100-120 g of "Kemira" / m 2 are applied. It suffers from summer drought. At this time, 15-20 liters are watered under each tree 1-2 times a week. Loosening is carried out only under young plantings with a depth of 20 cm, removal of weeds is mandatory.Mulching - after planting with peat or sawdust with a layer of 5-6 cm.Tolerate a moderate haircut only at a young age.Adult plants do not cover, young Japanese larch trees cover the first 1-2 years after planting from spring frosts kraft paper.

Larches, like pines, need the relationship of roots with fungi - mycorrhiza. Most suitable for the formation of such mycorrhiza are some races of oil, boletus and porcini mushrooms, so watering a young larch with water after washing the mushrooms collected in the forest will be a very good help (in the most literal sense - we will put mushroom spores on it!). You can also dig in the near-trunk circle old, wormy mushrooms with obviously mature spores.

If the height of an already grafted weeping larch plant seems insufficient to you, then, as with other strongly weeping forms of trees, it can be increased by “cunning”. To do this, the most powerful of the drooping shoots in the spring must be straightened up, tied to a support peg. After a couple of years, this procedure can be repeated with shoots hanging from the new “crown”, and the result will be unusually decorative column from long drooping branches growing along the entire length of the new trunk.

Diseases and pests: larch mining moth. The needles become white and flabby. Damaged shoots should be removed, in case of severe damage, treat with a solution of any insecticidal preparation made on the basis of mineral oils.

Also a group of insects related to aphids called coniferous insects. It is not difficult to recognize the worms - they “wear” white fibrous shields on their backs that protect them from predators. You can also find these pests on firs and spruces. In some dry years, when the rain does not knock the worms to the ground, they multiply in such numbers that the branches seem to be covered with frost. With such a strong defeat, insecticides should be resorted to.

Shoots of large larches (European, Siberian and Japanese) that have just begun to grow can be damaged by late spring frosts but the trees recover in the same summer.

reproduction: seeds, because the cuttings take root very poorly. Grafting is advisable only for the reproduction of especially valuable species and decorative forms.

The main method of reproduction of species larch is sowing seeds. For this, cones are collected at the end of autumn. current year and stack them in a warm, dry place where they open up and release the seeds. It is better to sow before winter in boxes with light soil, where young plants will then spend a year or two before transplanting into a school in spring. Larch seeds germinate rather poorly, and therefore it is better to sow densely. In the spring, boxes are placed on sunny place and water regularly. Seedlings planted in time grow rapidly and in the fourth or fifth year of life reach a height of a meter and even one and a half. And from the age of nine or ten, on rich soil, young plants can begin to bear fruit.

Varieties propagate spring vaccination on seedlings, but coniferous grafting is a mysterious process, its success (unless, of course, it happens in industrial nursery greenhouses) depends on a combination of so many climatic factors that it will be much more reliable for ordinary lovers to purchase a ready-made seedling of a cultivar they like.

Usage: Widely used in landscaping. Look good in alleys and small group landings in squares and parks, when creating large arrays, in pure and mixed groups. In mixed groups of various kinds larch color scheme of needles in spring and summer includes all shades of green: from pale green in western larch to gray and gray-green in Japanese larch and European larch. AT autumn period the color of the needles is mainly golden yellow, which is lost along with the needles at different times. In the Siberian larch, the coniferous fall ends in the second half of October, the Siberian larch sheds its golden dress only in November.

Partners: complex groups of larches and rhododendrons, mock oranges, lilacs, brooms are very good. It goes well with shrubs and trees, in which the leaves turn red in autumn.

Beautiful, fast-growing tree up to 35 m tall. Long, thick, almost horizontal branches form a peculiar, wide-pyramidal crown. For the most part, the multi-vertex trunk is covered with relatively thin, reddish-brown bark. Young shoots are reddish with a bluish bloom. The bark of the branches is gray, the buds are shiny, dark brown. The needles are long, up to 5 cm long, blue-green. Cones in youth - yellowish-green, spherical (2-3 cm) with thin, leathery scales, bent at the top like rose petals, remain on the branches for up to 3 years. Seed scales numerous, thin, rosette-shaped, rounded. The seeds are small, light brown, with a dark brown wing.The needles are painted in autumn in bright yellow tones much later than other species, creating bright spots in plantings within a month.

Usually it does not suffer from frost, the shoots become completely woody. Quite demanding on soil conditions, prefers clay and loamy soils, photophilous, demanding on air humidity, develops well in the city. It tolerates shading better than other larches. Reaches a reproductive state in 15-20 years.

In a decorative sense, this species surpasses all others both in its unusual storey crown, and in the long needles of the original color, the shape of cones. It goes well with spruces, pines, junipers, lindens, oaks, ash trees, rhododendrons and other ornamental shrubs. The speed of growth, undemanding to soil conditions and frost resistance allow this species to be widely used in green building in group and single plantings and landscape compositions. In Japan, it is widely cultivated in the form of bonsai - as an indoor bonsai grown in peat.

Larch (Kempfer) Japanese "Blue Dwarf" - Larix kaempferi "Blue Dwarf"
Dwarf, compact form with sky blue needles. Height 0.6 m, crown width 0.6 m at the age of 10 years. Dwarf form, compact, usually grafted on a trunk. The needles are soft, sky-blue, long, autumn color is yellow. Shoots are thin, graceful.
Optimal growing conditions Winter-hardy, frost-resistant. Light-loving, but endures shady areas. Prefers wet and fertile soils. Smoke and gas resistant, tolerate the urban environment well.Landing in filled mineral fertilizer pits. Top dressing is carried out in the spring before the start of shoot growth. Regular pruning is required in the spring, removal of non-decorative, broken, densely growing shoots. Water during the dry period 1-2 times a week.
Use Looks good in group, avenue plantings, gardens, parks, squares, when creating various mixed groups. Dwarf varieties and cultivars are used for growing in stony, coniferous gardens, rock gardens. Also used to create hedges.

Larch (Kempfera) Japanese "Blue Rabbit"
stands out special color needles and the shape of cones. It is considered one of the most beautiful larches in the world.A deciduous tree with a crown shape that changes with age (from a narrow to a wide cone), from 15 to 20 m high. The youngest branches are drooping. Young shoots are reddish, with a bluish bloom. The bark of the branches is grey.The needles are annually falling, long - from 1.5 to 3.5 cm, soft gray-blue-silver shade. In autumn, it turns into bright yellow, golden tones much later than other species.Cones in youth are yellowish-green, spherical - 2-3 cm in diameter, with thin, leathery scales, bent at the top like rose petals. Remain on branches up to 3 years.The growth rate is average.
Photophilous. Winter-hardy, but there are also freezing. It tolerates urban conditions well, resistant to pests and diseases. Wind resistant. Trimmed in Japan.
Features of agricultural technologyPlanting in a well-lit area is recommended. It grows best on well-drained, fertile sandy loam and loam, does not tolerate stagnant moisture and drought.
Used in single and group plantings, in combination deciduous trees and ornamental shrubs.

Larch (Kempfera) Japanese "Diana"
A beautiful variety with unusual spiral, twisted shoots, bright pink cones during the flowering period.Height 8-10 m, crown width 3-5 m. In adult plants, the crown is hemispherical. The bark is red-brown. Spiral branches. The needles are needle-shaped, tender, green, in autumn - yellow. At a young age, it grows slowly, then faster. Blooms in spring, female cones - pink, male - yellow.
Optimal Growing Conditions
When landing, it is necessary to fill the landing hole well. During the dry period, watering is necessary.
Usage

Larch (Kempfera) Japanese "Stif Viper" (`Stiff Weeper`)
Sufficiently wide weeping crown with green needles and beautiful cones during the flowering period.Height 1.5-2 m, width 0.8-1 m, usually weeping Crohn's graft, hanging branches, with some side branches. The needles are bluish-green, falling down. Female cones are red, male cones are yellow.Winter hardy, frost hardy. Photophilous.Prefers moist fertile alkaline soils.
When landing, it is necessary to fill the landing hole well. During the dry season, irrigate.
Usage. As a tapeworm on lawns, in groups with trees and shrubs, in various stylized gardens.

To order large sapling krupnomer) American larch ( checkout )

Location: extremely light-loving.

Larches, like pines, need the relationship of roots with fungi - mycorrhiza. Most suitable for the formation of such mycorrhiza are some races of oil, boletus and porcini mushrooms, so watering a young larch with water after washing the mushrooms collected in the forest will be a very good help (in the most literal sense - we will put mushroom spores on it!). You can also dig in the near-trunk circle old, wormy mushrooms with obviously mature spores.

Landing: larch should be planted in a permanent place as early as possible, the optimal time is at 1-2 years of age.However, this age is unacceptable for landscaping work, therefore 6-year-old plants are planted in soft containers, at an older age - always in a rigid container or with a frozen lump. The best planting time is autumn after leaf fall or early spring before bud break. The distance between plants is 2 - 4 m, the places are open, sunny, only Japanese larch makes shading. Larches easily tolerate transplantation up to 20 years of age. The root system is deep and provides full wind resistance. On young thin roots there is mycorrhiza, which is important not to damage when planting. Planting depth 70 - 80 cm. It is undemanding to soils, it grows successfully on calcareous, podzolic soils, chernozems, it is better on loams, badly on sands. The soil mixture consists of leafy soil, peat and sand (3:2:1). Drainage only on heavy clays: broken brick with a layer of 20 cm.

Care: in early spring, before the start of shoot growth, 100 - 120 g of "Kemira" / m2 are applied. It suffers from summer drought. At this time, 15 - 20 liters are watered for each tree 1-2 times a week. Loosening is carried out only with iodine by young plantings deep 20 cm, removal of weeds is mandatory.Mulching - after planting with peat or sawdust with a layer of 5 - b m.Tolerate a moderate haircut only at a young age.Adult plants do not cover, young trees of Japanese larch for the first 1-2 years after planting from spring frosts cover craft paper.

If the height of an already grafted weeping larch plant seems insufficient to you, then, as with other strongly weeping forms of trees, it can be increased by “cunning”. To do this, the most powerful of the drooping shoots in the spring must be straightened up, tied to a support peg. After a couple of years, this procedure can be repeated with shoots already hanging from the new "crown", and the result is an unusually decorative column of long drooping branches growing along the entire length of the new trunk.

Diseases and pests: larch mining moth. The needles become white and flabby. Damaged shoots should be removed, in case of severe damage, treat with a solution of any insecticidal preparation made on the basis of mineral oils.

Also a group of insects related to aphids called coniferous insects. It is not difficult to recognize the worms - they “wear” white fibrous shields on their backs that protect them from predators. You can also find these pests on firs and spruces. In some dry years, when the rain does not knock the worms to the ground, they multiply in such numbers that the branches seem to be covered with frost. With such a strong defeat, insecticides should be resorted to.

In spring, in April, larches are often affected by hermes - a species of aphids that "specialize" in feeding on coniferous sap. In places where it accumulates, the needles bend and turn yellow. Caterpillars of the larch spider leafworm are recognized by their dense cocoons. Striped larch sawfly damages needles. To combat these pests, trees are sprayed with fozalon or chlorophos.

Caterpillars of the larch sheath bearer eat the needles in spring. In this case, spraying with horn (dimethoate or BI-58) and chlorophos in late April-May helps. And again in June, in the season of the departure of butterflies from cocoons.

Against bark beetles, beetles and barbels, trunks, crowns and tree trunks are treated with decis or karbofos. Do this in the spring, before the appearance of pests after wintering.

Shutte fungus infects larch when high humidity air. In May-June, red-brown spots appear on the needles, then it turns yellow and falls off. To prevent this from happening, in July-September, the trees are sprayed with cineb, 2% colloidal sulfur or Bordeaux liquid.

Shoots of large larches (European, Siberian, Western and Japanese) that have just begun to grow can be damaged by late spring frosts, but the trees recover in the same summer. The more graceful Dahurian, Olginskaya and American larches do not suffer from frost at all.

Usage: widely used in landscaping. They look good in alley and small-group plantings in squares and parks, when creating large arrays, in pure and mixed groups. In mixed groups of different types of larch, the color scheme of needles in spring and summer includes all shades of green: from pale green in western larch to gray and gray-green in Japanese larch and European larch. In autumn, the color of the needles is mainly golden yellow, which is lost along with the needles in different dates. In Gmelin larch and Siberian larch, the coniferous fall ends in the second half of October, Siberian larch and American larch shed their golden dress only in November.

From any larch, in addition, you can make a very spectacular dominant plant for a container mini-rock garden. This application is greatly facilitated by the frost resistance of these trees, combined with the ability to tolerate sharp fluctuations in soil temperature (and this, in our climate, is the main reason for the narrow range of plants used in such compositions). In order for a kind of bonsai to flaunt in a stone trough, it would be best to dwarf varieties, but, we repeat, they practically do not happen on a wide sale. But even here you can go to the trick. You just need to choose a young seedling with small increase high and dense crown. After planting in a mini rock garden, such a plant, of course, is never fertilized. As a result, the growth of larch is greatly slowed down and it really becomes like bonsai. If the shoots grow stronger than necessary, they can be cut slightly. Do it like you do fruit trees best in spring. To make the crown of such a “dwarf” thicker, pinching can be done in June-July.

And in the usual medium-sized rock gardens, “creeping” larches look very exotic, which are nothing more than a weeping form grafted onto a very low trunk.

Partners: complex groups of larches and rhododendrons, mock oranges, lilacs, brooms are very good. It goes well with shrubs and trees, in which the leaves turn red in autumn.

To order large sapling krupnomer) American larch ( checkout )

Description of wood - ornamental and coniferous plants

Azalea /// Apricot Manchurian /// Amorpha shrub /// Aralia Manchurian /// Aronia chokeberry /// Japanese cranberry /// Barberry /// Amur velvet /// Warty birch /// Euonymus European Fortuna /// Common privet /// Bobovnik anagyrolifolia /// Hawthorn /// Buddley /// black elderberry /// Elderberry /// Canadian elderberry /// Weigela early /// Weigela blooming /// Gingko biloba /// Hydrangea /// Hydrangea paniculata /// Hydrangea gray /// Action rough /// Derain white /// Deren offspring /// Pedunculate oak /// Oak red /// Honeysuckle Tatar /// white willow /// Willow brittle /// red willow /// willow /// Iva Matsudina /// purple willow /// creeping willow /// Irga canadian Kalina gorodina Viburnum ordinary Caragana treelike catalpa bignoniformes /// horse chestnut /// Keriya japonica /// Cotoneaster splayed /// Cotoneaster horizontal /// Cotoneaster brilliant /// False maple /// Ginnala Maple /// sugar maple /// Tatar maple /// Silver Maple /// Japanese maple /// maple red /// False maple /// Norway maple /// field maple /// Ash-leaved maple /// Potentilla shrub /// Hazel tree /// common hazel /// Linden small-leaved /// Linden broad-leaved /// Goof narrow-leaved /// Goof silver /// Mahonia holly /// Three-lobed almond /// Sea ​​buckthorn /// Alder gray /// Nut ailantolium /// Butternut /// Manchurian walnut /// Walnut black /// Holly /// Pachysandra apical /// Vesicle viburnum /// Robinia locust /// dog rose /// gray rose /// Rosa rugosa /// Rosa femoralis /// rose wrinkled /// Rosa Rugotida /// rose multiflora /// rowan aria /// Mountain ash /// Rowan Turin /// Rowan rotundifolia /// Rhododendron /// Rowan broadleaf /// Lilac Hungarian /// lilac preston /// Common lilac /// Skumpia tannery /// Snowberry white /// Spirea varieties and types /// Stephanandra incised leaf /// Stag sumac /// Poplar pyramidal /// Poplar black /// Forsythia medium /// Forsythia intermediate /// Forsythia ovoid /// genomeles /// Common bird cherry /// Cheryomusha Virginskaya /// Bird cherry late /// Mock orange crown /// Chubushnik Lemoine /// Chubushnik small-leaved /// Chubushnik virginsky /// Rose hip /// common ash /// Black pine /// Siberian cedar pine /// Scotch pine ///

After buying my house, I chose decorative crops for arranging a green zone for a long time. The choice fell on conifers, among which Japanese larch was especially fond of. Unlike the Konik spruce, the tree grows and develops rapidly, and practically does not need care.

I have been growing this plant for about three years, during which time the planting has never been infected. dangerous diseases, pests. In the article I want to tell the basic rules for caring for Japanese larch.

Japanese larch– deciduous coniferous plant belongs to the Pine family. AT wild grows on the basis of Honshu in Japan, prefers mixed forests located on mountain ranges.

Today it can also be found on Sakhalin, some regions of Siberia. Since the end of the 19th century it has been cultivated as decorative culture for landscaping household plots. Main botanical features:

• grows up to 35 m;
• forms a powerful trunk with a diameter of 50 to 100 cm;
• has branched branches, thanks to which it is provided reliable protection from the wind;
• young branches often twist in a spiral, in adulthood they form a wide crown of a pyramidal shape;
• the bark is quite thin, but dense. It is painted in a red-brown shade, scales;
• the needles are painted in a bluish-green hue, rather long and blunt. Grows up to 0.5 cm;
• annually forms yellow or greenish inflorescences;
• cones are formed from 5-6 rows of scales, having a variety of shapes and colors.

Japanese larch is uniquely resilient and resilient. Rarely affected by diseases and pests, can withstand very coldy, temperature fluctuations.

Popular varieties

Today, several varieties of Japanese larch have been bred, differing external features, content requirements. The most popular of them:

• Pendula. Variety series including all weeping varieties of Japanese larch. The tree is able to grow up to 10 m, it is formed voluminous and compact. Branches of a falling type, without shaping, can reach the ground and spread along it with a green carpet. The needles are very soft, painted in a bluish color;
• Stiff Weepers. A standard variety represented by a low-growing tree. The maximum height is 2 m, the crown diameter rarely exceeds 1 m. Forms a large number of lateral shoots, tolerates shaping well. It is used as part of single or group landscape compositions;
• Diana. AT comfortable conditions can grow up to 10 m in height. As the shoots grow, they twist in a spiral, the cones are painted in pink shade. Light green needles are very soft and tender. Slow growing and prefers moist areas;
• Blue Dwarf. Dwarf and rather compact variety, maximum height tree - 60 cm. It grows on a trunk, forming a spherical crown. Soft needles are painted blue, turn yellow in autumn, after which they almost completely crumble.

When choosing a variety of Japanese larch, it is important to consider the height and shape of the tree, which directly affects the future decorativeness of the planting. In addition, maintenance requirements, frost resistance and disease resistance should be assessed.

Location selection

Japanese larch is a long-liver, in one place it can grow and develop up to 15-20 years without the need for a transplant. That is why it is important to responsibly approach the choice of a landing site.

The plant prefers well-lit places, but can grow comfortably in partial shade. It has a powerful root system, so it is not afraid of exposure strong wind and drafts.

Larch feels comfortable on fertile and well-drained soils with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction. The plant is unpretentious to the composition and quality of the soil, can grow both on a clay substrate and on chernozem, loam.

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 warm up to a stable temperature of 8-12 ° C. Work can be carried out both in cloudy and sunny weather. step by step algorithm landings:

1. Mark a place for planting in such a way that an interval of 2-4 m is maintained between the trees, depending on the variety of larch.
2. Dig landing 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.
3. Carefully straighten the roots of the plant, place in vertical position in the planting hole, leaving 5-7 cm of the root neck. Fill with a mixture of fertile soil, sand and peat in a ratio of 3:2:1.
4. Tamp the area trunk circle so that there are no voids. Plentifully water the plant with water at the rate of 10 liters per tree.

When choosing seedlings, it is important to pay attention to the condition of the root system. It should not show signs of damage, infection by diseases or pests. It is recommended to use seedlings aged 2-3 years, so that the adaptation process goes as comfortably as possible.

Features of care

Japanese larch - unpretentious plant in need of minimal care. It can quietly grow and develop in almost any conditions, does not require regular care. Basic tree care rules:

• during the entire first year of life, larch should be watered abundantly with a frequency of 1-2 times a week in summer. The optimal amount of water per plant is 10-15 liters. As the root system develops, the plant needs to be watered to a lesser extent, mature plants need to be watered only during the dry season;
• during a drought, it is desirable to carry out sprinkling of the crown cold water. The procedure allows you to maintain the health and decorativeness of the needles;
• in the first year, loosening should be carried out regularly as a crust forms on the surface in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe trunk circle. At the same time, weeding is also carried out; for plants from 2-3 years of growth, the procedure is not necessary;
• during the season it is recommended to mulch the soil. This allows you to retain moisture on the surface of the soil, reduces the risk of hypothermia of the roots. For mulch, it is most convenient to use sawdust or dry peat up to 7 cm thick;
• Every year, before the swelling of the kidneys begins, top dressing is carried out in the spring. It is recommended to use as a fertilizer special formulations for conifers trees, for example, Kemira. The optimal dosage of the agent is 150 / m 2.

In the first 2-3 years, regular pruning is carried out. Cut off all deformed shoots, as well as parts of the plant that form outside the direction of growth.

For tall trees, pruning is not mandatory; it is carried out in the spring only for sanitary purposes - old, diseased and deformed branches are removed. Most low-growing varieties are suitable for creating a spherical shape, shaping can be carried out throughout the season.

reproduction

It is easier and more efficient to propagate larch by seeds, since cuttings - laborious process, which does not always lead to the desired result. Varietal varieties of culture in a nursery are propagated by grafting; this method is not suitable for private gardening.

Seed propagation technology:

1. In the fall, before the foliage begins to fall, you need to collect the cones, and then place them in a dry and warm place to ripen. You can determine the readiness for planting by opening the scales, after which you can get the seeds.
2. Before sowing planting material should be soaked in warm water for 2 days. Water should be changed every 4-5 hours to avoid the development of infections.
3. Sowing is carried out in individual containers. As a substrate, it is recommended to use a mixture of soddy soil, sand and peat in equal proportions. You need to deepen the seeds by 4-6 mm, the soil should first be warmed up.

After planting, the container should be placed in a warm, humid and bright place. Under such conditions, seedlings develop for 1-2 years, after which they are transplanted into open ground spring. By this time, the plant should form a strong root system, grow up to 1.5 m.

Diseases and pests

Pest infestation is most often observed when growing larch in adverse conditions. The most dangerous of them:

• larch moth;
• coniferous bugs;
• coniferous aphid;
• cover-bearing caterpillars;
• bark beetles;
• larch sawmill.

If treatment is not started on time, insect infestation reduces the rate of growth and development, the decorative effect worsens, and there is a possibility of the plant dying from exhaustion, metabolic disorders. Used for pest control chemical insecticides(Decis, Karbofos, Chlorophos, Fozalon).

findings

• Japanese larch is a coniferous tree widely used in landscape design.
• In the wild, it can grow up to 35 m, cultivars always short and compact. Forms a beautiful soft needles colored in different shades of green.
• For cultivation, you need to choose a well-lit place, protection from the wind is not required. Planting of seedlings is carried out in the spring in individual holes with an interval of 2-4 m.
• The plant has a unique unpretentiousness. Careful care required only in the first year of growth. It includes regular watering, fertilizing and shaping as needed.

Botanical name: Japanese larch, fine-scaled, Kaempfera

Homeland of Japanese larch: Japan, Korea

Lighting: light-loving, shade-tolerant

The soil: clayey and loamy

Watering: in summer, seedlings should be watered 1-2 times a week, mature trees need watering only during the dry season

Maximum tree height: 35 m

Average lifespan of a tree: 500 years

Landing: seedlings, grafting

Description of Japanese larch with a photo

Japanese larch (lat. Larix leptolepis) belongs to the deciduous genus of the Pine family. This light-loving tree in nature grows on sunny dry slopes at an altitude of 1600 to 2700 m above sea level. Most often, trees form pure or mixed forest stands.

The long, thick, almost horizontal branches of this beautiful, fast growing plant create a wide pyramidal crown.

Most often, Japanese larch, as seen in the photo, has a multi-vertex trunk covered with not too thick red-brown bark. Young shoots of a reddish hue are covered with a bluish bloom.

The buds are dark brown, shiny, blue-green needles reach 5 cm in length.

With the onset of autumn, the needles of Japanese larch turn bright yellow much later than the needles of other trees, due to this, these plants look landscape compositions bright, eye-catching spots.

Cones of Japanese larch are spherical, yellowish-green, with leathery, thin scales, bent like rose petals. On the branches, cones persist for up to 3 years, forming small, light brown seeds.

Trees of this species are resistant to low temperatures, but quite demanding on soil conditions. They develop quite well in urban environments. The reproductive state is reached at the age of 15-20 years.

The speed of growth and frost resistance make it possible to widely use Japanese larch in the preparation of landscape compositions, as well as in single plantings.

Her decorative properties well combined in plantings with pines, spruces, junipers, as well as lindens, ash-trees, oaks, and many other plants. By right, we can say that these trees are universal. Weeping Japanese larch in her dwarf forms widely cultivated in Japan in the form of bonsai.

Japanese larch: planting and care

Japanese larch, which is planted and cared for from early spring, requires early alienation. These trees should be planted in a permanent place as early as possible - best of all, at 1-2 years of age. The most favorable period for planting is early spring (before bud break) or autumn (immediately after leaf fall). The distance between plants should be at least 2-4 m. The landing site is open, sunny areas, light shading is possible.

The root system is deep, branched, which ensures high wind resistance of trees of this species. Planting and caring for Japanese larch is not too difficult, but it is important not to damage the mycorrhiza present on thin roots. The recommended planting depth is 70-80 cm.

The soil mixture should consist of leafy soil, peat and sand in a ratio of 3:2:1. On heavy clays, drainage should be used (bottom landing pit carpeted broken brick layer of 20 cm).

Young seedlings may suffer from summer drought. During this period, watering should be carried out 1-2 times a week at the rate of 15-20 liters of water for each tree. Loosening is carried out only around young seedlings, to a depth of 20 cm, adult trees do not require loosening. Weeds must be removed, especially in the first years after planting.

Haircut Japanese larch (see photo) tolerates only at a young age, molding is contraindicated for mature trees. In order to protect immature seedlings from spring frosts, you can cover the trees with kraft paper.

Japanese larch "Stiff weeper" (Stiff weeper)

Japanese larch "Stiff weeper" (Stiff weeper) - a plant on a trunk with shoots creeping along the ground. Depending on the place of vaccination weeping form"Stiff weeper" reaches 1.5-2 m in height with a diameter of up to 1 m. A beautiful crown with a small number of lateral processes on hanging branches makes it possible to use Japanese larch Stiff weeper in the most sophisticated compositions. Looks great in sunny lawns as a single tree or in mixed plantings.

The needles of the trees of the Stif Viper variety are bluish-green, falling late autumn. The female cones are almost always red, while the male cones are yellowish. Japanese larch "Stiff weeper" (Stiff weeper) is very demanding on air humidity. Like all low-growing trees, it does not tolerate drought and stagnant moisture. If the summer is dry, additional evening watering is recommended.

Japanese larch "Pendula" (Pendula)

Japanese larch "Pendula" (Pendula) - a weeping form, reaching a height of 6-10 m.

Trees of this variety grow slowly, which makes it possible to preserve for a long time. original view landscape composition.

"Pendula" is a very picturesque plant. Its branches can grow to the ground and spread like a carpet over it, creating bizarre, decorative patterns.