How fast pyramidal poplars grow. Poplar is a natural filter of polluted air. Green alleys and streets of Dushanbe
Everyone knows beautiful tall trees- . They are in almost all yards, some plant them on suburban area or near a private house. In our article, we will tell you what a pyramidal poplar is and give a description of it.
Short description
The pyramidal poplar belongs to the Willow family. In height, it can reach 40 meters, and in width - up to 1 meter. It has a pyramidal crown: the branches rush upwards. Flowering falls on March-April. One poplar tree can live for over 300 years. The tree has a smooth gray bark, a well-developed root system. Growth is pretty fast.
Important! Despite the fact that poplar belongs to light-loving plants, in the first year of life it is better to provide him with shading. It can be done artificial way- by creating a canopy or shelter.
It grows best on loamy, slightly acidic and neutral soil, loves moisture, light and tolerates frost well. Often found on roadsides.
How to choose seedlings when buying
If you decide to purchase seedlings, we do not recommend going to the market. To find a really healthy one, it is better to contact a specialized store or a farm that is purposefully engaged in growing seedlings. 
Please note that young tree should have light bark, several shoots. Look at the root system - if it is not visible due to a large number land - it is better not to buy such a plant. Acquire better seedlings males - they do not produce fluff, which adversely affects people's health, causing allergies.
Selecting a landing site
When choosing a place to plant, be sure to consider that the tree will grow and have a powerful root system that can damage the foundation and destroy the asphalt. That is why it is not recommended to plant poplars closer than 50 meters from buildings, and also too close to the roadway. 
Pyramidal poplar loves open sunny areas - this must also be taken into account when choosing a place to plant.
Step by step boarding process
In order for a tree to take root, it is necessary to observe certain rules and recommendations. It is best to plant in autumn or spring - it is at this time that the trees take root best. It is necessary to plant cuttings, on which there must be several live buds.
We invite you to familiarize yourself with step by step instructions poplar planting:
- It is necessary to dig a hole 1 meter deep.
- Provide the seedling with a good one.
- Deepen the seedling into the hole. In this case, the root neck should not be deeper than 2 cm.
- Sprinkle the seedling with earth.
- Tie up for more stability. young tree to the support until it gets stronger.
When creating a row of pyramidal poplars, it is necessary to plant trees at a distance of 1.5x3 meters or 2.4x4 meters. young tree care
Planting and caring for pyramidal poplar require some effort. Young trees are recommended to be watered twice a month. Since the tree has a developed root system, it is necessary to pour at least 25 liters of water under each seedling. Periodically, it is recommended to loosen the soil around the trunk - this will contribute to the rapid growth of the tree. 
In autumn and spring, it is necessary to perform a bayonet to a depth of 10-15 cm.
Mature tree care
After 6-7 years, loosening the soil can be omitted. occurs extremely rarely, once a month is enough, and with regular rainfall, you can not water the tree at all. After this time trunk circles usually seeded. From time to time it is necessary to carry out pruning to form a crown. After this procedure, all sections with a diameter of more than 2.5 cm are covered with garden putty.
Pruning should be done every year from young age. It is worth cutting half the length of the shoots, leaving 10-20 cm on the poplar. Shoots should not stick out of the crown, it should be even. Since the rate of growth of the pyramidal poplar is quite high, pruning may be required more frequently.
Did you know? Poplar is the only tree that constantly saturates the atmosphere with oxygen. The rest of the trees are able to produce oxygen only during daylight hours.
If you want to rejuvenate a plant, you only need to cut off its tops, which make up about 10% of the entire height of the tree. After the trimming process has been carried out, without fail fertilizers are applied, regular watering and loosening of the near-stem circle are carried out. Strong pruning should be done in winter or early spring, before active sap flow begins. Pruning a pyramidal poplar is a rather painstaking work, but the beauty and health of the tree depends on it.
Diseases and pests
Among the most common poplar diseases are necrosis. Also, a tree can infect certain types of tree cancer. In case of disease, the plants must be destroyed and treated with creosol and fuel oil. 
Often young trees are affected by fungal diseases. Negative influence plants can also be affected by pests that lay larvae on the foliage. To prevent their invasion or destroy existing ones, apply.
Application in landscape design
Among the main useful features poplars - purification of air from dust, gases, so it is extremely necessary to plant it in big cities. Often it is used to create compositions in parks, alleys. It can be planted both singly and en masse.
Important! If you are aiming to grow trees for sale, you need to plant male and female plants- this will improve the quality of seed reproduction.
The beautiful crown of pyramidal poplars makes them in demand when creating original ones. Also, with the help of trees, beautiful, high green protective walls are created. 
Reproduction methods at home
There are two ways to propagate poplar: seeds and cuttings. Let's consider them.
Growing from seed
This method is quite complicated, so it is practically not used at home. If, nevertheless, you decide to try to grow poplar in this way, you will need to purchase seed, germinate it, plant it in containers with special soil and wait until seedlings appear. However, as practice shows, in most cases, this method of growing at home does not give the expected results.
Today it is quite difficult to imagine both the roadsides and the streets of villages and cities that would not be surrounded by poplars. It is these trees that are considered to be, so to speak, the owners of the streets. The exact country of origin of the poplar is unknown, experts agree that it could be either Afghanistan or the Himalayas. Poplar has the appearance of a slender tree, the height of which can sometimes reach 35 meters.
Pyramidal poplar has a rather narrow columnar crown. Most often it can be found in the culture of Italy, which is why another name for this variety appeared - Italian poplar. In the culture of this plant, it is rare to find female individuals.. In addition to the pyramidal, it also has other no less amiable names, which include such as Italian poplar, columnar and Lombard.
plant description
This type of tree is striking in its extraordinary harmony. In addition, the roofing sheet has a unique crown, which is often quite narrow or columnar. If the tree is not pruned in a timely manner, it can reach quite large sizes. Such poplars grow quite quickly. Often in the middle of autumn, the pyramidal poplar completely loses its leaves. The plant is quite frost-resistant, although it can be severely damaged in severe frosts.
Morphological characteristics
- the height of the trunk can reach up to 45 meters;
- branches directed mainly upwards or obliquely;
- the leaves are diamond-shaped;
- flowers are united among themselves in catkins;
- compared to other varieties of poplars, the pyramidal has a significantly smaller leaf plate.
Pyramidal is the only plant that is able to enrich environment oxygen throughout the day. At the same time, photosynthesis in its leaves happens even at night. The male tree is considered the most cultivated.
In general, the lifetime of a tree directly depends on the following factors:
- living conditions;
- timely and correct pruning crowns
Tree care rules
When it comes to creating a row of pyramidal-type culture, it is imperative to maintain a distance between trees, which should not be less than 2 by 3 meters. The poplar root system is quite long and wide, which is why the planting pit should not be less than 1 meter deep.
Soil conditions
Most favorable soils for planting are fertile soils, which must necessarily include the following components:
- sod land;
- sand;
- peat.
If the soil is classified as heavy, it is imperative to place a layer on the bottom of the hole before planting. drainage type which should be placed no more than one third of the pit. In order for the poplar to please for more than one year with its beauty, the landing is carried out in areas where there is free access to sunlight.
Regarding fertilizers, this tree prefers nitrogen and potash. When planting, nitroammophoska is applied with the calculation of 100 grams per square meter landing. A tree of this type loves moisture, therefore, when watering one plant, it is necessary to use at least 30 liters of water. Plants of the first year of life, in the absence of rain, are watered at least three times a month. In addition, it is important not to forget about watering during the drought period. At this time, even mature trees require watering. To achieve more moisture, the first years of the life of seedlings, it is recommended to loosen the near-stem circle.
After winter and summer, you should also not forget about piercing near the trunk to a depth of at least 20 centimeters. This kind of procedure will in autumn period prepare the poplar for winter, and in the spring, with the help of this procedure, the ingress of oxygen and air into the root system increases. Pyramidal poplar over the age of 7 years does not require loosening, then the soil around it can be safely sown with lawn-type grass.
Care after landing
After planting and watering, it is worth mulching with peat or sawdust.
Mowing and pruning should be done annually. After pruning, the resulting wounds are treated with a special lubricant for garden trees. During cutting, it is worth leaving twigs of at least 20 centimeters. In addition, it is important to ensure that the crown of the tree is as even as possible.
To rejuvenate the plant, it is worth periodically cutting off its top. However, after carrying out such a procedure, it is imperative to feed the plants and dig up the earth near the poplar trunk.
This tree does not require preparation before winter. The plant is quite resistant to frost and sudden changes in temperature.
After a complete cutting of a tree, a bunch of undergrowth can grow quite quickly, which can be partially cut off and, thus, form a new tree.
reproduction
This type of tree can reproduce in two ways:
- Vegetative propagation method - with this type of poplar twigs, they take root rather quickly. For cuttings, mainly shoots are used, the age of which does not exceed one year.
- Propagation method using seeds.
Among the poplars, a group of pyramidal ones is distinguished, which differ sharply from other species in the shape of their crown. With its monumental, pyramidal, dark green crown, it gives a special, southern character to the landscape, resembling slender, pyramidal cypresses. This is slender tree with a very narrow, columnar crown, dressing the trunk freely standing tree from the earth. This group includes several types of poplars: pyramidal poplar, Soviet pyramidal poplar, Chinese pyramidal poplar, and black poplar can also be called. Poplar pyramidal - Рopulus pyramidalis Borkh The birthplace of this poplar is not exactly known, presumably - Afghanistan, Asia Minor, the Himalayas. This is a slender tree up to 30 m tall, with a very narrow, columnar crown, covering the trunk of a free-standing tree from the ground. Due to the abundance of this species in the culture of Italy, it is often called "Italian" or "Lombard poplar". Morphologically (except for the shape of the crown) it differs little from black poplar, but ecologically it is very much. The leaves are rhombic or triangular (like the osocor), but somewhat smaller; foliage and flowering occurs earlier than in black poplar; leaf fall - in late October - early November, thus, its growing season is longer, and frost resistance is lower.
In culture, there are mainly male specimens (female ones are found in the cities of the Lower Volga region). Longevity in urban plantings depends on habitat conditions. Very spectacular tree in single, group, ordinary and alley plantings. Good for quickly creating green protective walls. Soviet pyramidal poplar - Populus x sowietica pyramidalis Jabl. (Populus alba L. x Populus bolleana Lauche) - a tree up to 30 m tall with a narrow pyramidal dense crown. It grows, like all poplars, very quickly. AT middle lane Russia does not bloom. Winter hardiness is high. 85-95% of spring cuttings take root without special treatment. Common in landscaping.
Chinese pyramidal poplar
Chinese pyramidal poplar (Populus tomentosa) - a tree up to 1 5 m in height, often multi-stemmed. Growing in China Far East and in some areas Central Asia. One-, biennial poplar shoots are thin, ribbed, like the trunk, greenish- gray color. They grow upward at an acute angle, creating a beautiful pyramidal crown. The leaves are rhombic-elliptical in shape with a narrow wedge-shaped base, steeply pointed at the top, 12X8 cm. Light green above, whitish-bluish below, with finely serrated edges. Leaves fall after persistent frosts.Chinese pyramidal poplar is photophilous, demanding on moisture, with a lack of it sheds a leaf.
Chinese poplar is hardy. Does not need pruning. Well rooted lignified and green cuttings. When planted in heated greenhouses in April, lignified cuttings are suitable for transplanting into open ground in May for further cultivation. In the first year, Chinese poplar needs shading and regular watering, especially in dry, hot summers. In the nursery, seedlings are grown for 5-6 years.
In landscaping, poplar is used little, but deserves wide distribution. It is good to use Chinese pyramidal poplar for planting plots, growing green walls, in single and group, 3-5 copies, plantings. It looks good when creating small groups made up of trees. different structure crowns
poplar breeding
Poplars are easily propagated both vegetatively (cuttings or root offspring) and seeds.Shoots (cuttings) of poplars
Poplar branches take root easily when placed in water or even stuck in moist soil (the exceptions are goat willow and aspen). In order to grow poplar seedlings from cuttings, it is enough in the spring (preferably before the leaves begin to bloom or, in extreme cases, when the buds are just starting to burst) to cut the annual shoots of these trees. Annual shoots are easy to determine: these are the thinnest branches at the ends of large branches or at the top of the trunk, on which the buds are directly located and on which scars from last year's leaves are visible. As a rule, the length of one-year growth is up to several tens of centimeters (in the lower part of the tree crown, such growths can be much shorter). It is better not to use parts of older branches for cuttings: they usually do not have viable buds.After cutting off annual branches, divide them into cuttings 15-20 cm long. Make sure that each cutting has several live buds, especially in its upper part (the one that was closer to the top of the shoot). Plant the cut cuttings in moist soil at a distance of 10-15 cm from each other, with the upper end up (this is a must) and in such a way that about a quarter of the length of the cutting with one or two buds remains above the ground. After planting, regularly water the bed with cuttings until the shoots growing from the buds begin to grow rapidly and reach a height of 10-15 cm.
By autumn, from the planted cuttings will be ready for planting on permanent place seedlings several tens of centimeters high.
poplar seeds
Poplars are equally easy to propagate by seeds. The well-known "poplar fluff" is the seeds of poplars along with hairs, thanks to which the seeds are easily dispersed by the wind. You can collect poplar seeds from the ground (in those places where noticeable lumps of poplar fluff collect due to the wind), or you can directly from the trees - at a time when the seed boxes begin to open and the seeds begin to scatter. The collected seeds remain viable for a very short time - from several days to several weeks. Therefore, it is best to sow them almost immediately. To do this, you need to prepare a small bed (preferably in the area most thoroughly cleared of weeds), level its surface with a rake, and then spread the collected clumps of fluff with seeds on the leveled surface (either evenly over the entire surface of the bed, or in rows). After that, pour the decomposed fluff with water from a watering can - as a result, the hairs on the seeds will stick together, and the seeds will be right on the ground. Do not cover the seeds with earth - let them remain right on the surface. Water them regularly, so that the surface of the earth is wet all the time; you can also cover it with some covering material (for example, polyethylene) for the first two or three days. In a few days shoots will appear. When seedlings reach a height of 5-6 cm, they must be thinned out so that the distance between plants is 5-10 cm (otherwise thickened seedlings will interfere with each other's growth). By autumn, you will receive poplar seedlings suitable for planting in a permanent place.poplar root
The root system of poplars is quite powerful, going far beyond the crown projection, with large quantity root offspring, actively capable of reproduction. Specially digging up pieces of poplar roots for cutting cuttings is a very laborious task, but you can always find ready-made root suckers near mature trees.- Botanical description
- Spreading
- Application
- poplar species
- Landing
- reproduction
- Diseases and pests
The genus of poplars is one of the most common and numerous among the representatives of the Willow family. In the temperate climate of Russia, it is difficult to find a place where these trees would not be found. Their popularity is due to unpretentiousness to others. natural conditions, frost resistance, rapid growth and the ability to recover even with the destruction of most of the trunks.
Botanical description
Poplar (Populus) is a large dioecious deciduous tree. Most adult specimens of all species reach a height of 30–35 m, in favorable conditions outgrow the mark of 50 m. Trunks are straight, with a diameter of 60–120 cm, branching is rare. The crowns are dense, broadly ovoid, tent-shaped or pyramidal in shape. The bark is greenish-gray, silvery or black, in young shoots it is olive, smooth and thin, in adulthood it thickens, darkens and becomes covered with deep longitudinal cracks. The root system is superficial, with numerous branches diverging from the trunks to the sides almost horizontally. Root shoots spread far beyond the projections of tree crowns. In some species, similarities of central rods grow with age, going to great depths.
The buds are large, 5-10 mm in size, resinous, fragrant. Leaves are simple, petiolate, smooth, dark green, with back side noticeably lighter, arranged alternately on the shoots. The shape of the plates is wedge-shaped, heart-shaped or ovoid: with a wide rounded base and a pointed tip. Margins entire or finely serrate. When blooming, young leaves are sticky from the resin.
Inflorescences: cylindrical spikelets in the form of dangling catkins up to 17 cm long. Males are reddish or burgundy, females are light yellow or pinkish, somewhat longer. They bloom simultaneously with the leaves in April or early May. Fruits: small dry boxes with 3-4 doors. They ripen in early summer, inside they contain a mass of dark seeds 1–2 mm in size, pubescent with thin white hairs. It is easy to distinguish female specimens of poplar in June, when thick flakes of fluff fly from the branches and boxes swollen with seeds fall.
Trees mature and begin to bloom at the age of 10–13 years.. Life expectancy in urban areas is typically 50–70 years, and further growth is often hindered by fungal damage. AT wild nature poplars live up to 150-200 years and more.
Spreading
The natural habitats of the genus Populus cover territories with a temperate and subtropical climate throughout the northern hemisphere: almost throughout Europe, Asia, North America and East Africa. Trees prefer moist fertile soils, but successfully adapt to any type of soil, enduring long-term droughts and waterlogging. They grow in river valleys, on mountain slopes, as part of mixed broad-leaved forests, adjacent to birch, maple, oak.
Application
Poplars are gas-resistant and able to withstand polluted city air, including those near industrial areas. Broad leaves clean the environment from harmful impurities and release more oxygen than conifers. Damaged specimens quickly recover, acquiring long young shoots within a year. Many species are decorative, are a source of inexpensive wood. Greens and tree buds contain pharmacologically active substances. These qualities determine the value of poplars for industry and landscaping.
Wood
Poplar refers to soft rocks, low resistance to biological and mechanical influences. It is a sound porous yellowish-cream or light brown material with a fine discreet texture, viscous, prone to cracking and swelling. The density of the dry mass does not exceed 420 kg/cu.m. Its physical and mechanical properties are low. Wood is easily crushed, damaged by fungus and quickly destroyed. It is used in turning, pulp and furniture industries. From poplar produce:
- paper;
- matches;
- packaging container;
- artificial fabrics;
- charcoal;
- not expensive kitchen utensils: cutting boards, bowls;
- cuttings of shovels and other agricultural implements;
- glued building and finishing materials.
The medicine
Some types of poplar, such as black and common, are medicinal plants. The value for medicine is the buds of trees. They contain a number of biochemically active compounds:
- glycosides;
- organic acids;
- tannins;
- essential oil;
- gum;
- resins.
The buds are harvested in April, before the start of active vegetation.. Extracted from raw materials salicylic acid and populin used in the pharmaceutical industry. Preparations based on them have antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial effects, reduce pain, stimulate activity gastrointestinal tract, liver, increase the separation of sputum from the lungs.
Traditional medicine recommends the use of decoctions of poplar buds for the treatment of pneumonia, bronchitis, stomatitis, use for intestinal diseases, cystitis, nephritis, rheumatic pains, hemorrhoids, wash cuts, abrasions, ulcers with them.
For smokers who want to break their addiction, poplar water makes it easier to wean from nicotine.
Poplar bud extract is used in anti-dandruff shampoos and other hair care products.
Gardening and landscape design
The property of poplars to purify the air from dust and gases is indispensable for city streets. Fast-growing straight-stemmed trees are suitable for planting in parks, squares, along roadbeds. Species with compact ornamental crowns: poplar or pyramidal poplar, can be grown on the borders of plots. Breeding only male specimens allows you to get rid of the main annoyance of poplar plantations - the summer "snowfall" from clods of fluff.
Powerful root system reinforces slipping soil on rough terrain and along the edges of ravines.
poplar species
The genus Populus includes almost 90 species. Most of them are wild, but there are also hybrid varieties, bred artificially in order to combine decorative qualities and resistance to adverse environmental conditions.
balsamic
Homeland - North America and some areas of Chukotka. Occurs in groups and singly. frost-resistant fast growing species. In a year, the shoots increase in height up to 1 m. Mature trees are 20–25 m tall, the crowns are sprawling, ovoid. The bark in the lower part of the trunks is dark gray, thick, fissured. Above - smoother and lighter, with a silvery sheen. The leaves are large: 7 × 12 cm in size, wedge-shaped, with a wide base, pointed, the edges are finely serrated. Top part leaf - dark green, glossy, lower - lighter, with a bluish tinge. In the spring, when the buds open, the poplar gives off a strong, resinous odor.
White (silver)
Found on greater territory Russia, Central Asia. Prefers fertile soils river floodplains. The height of adult specimens is 25–30 m, the crowns are spherical, spreading. The bark is greenish gray, noticeably lighter in the upper part of the tree. Leaves are ovate with notched margins. Above - dark green, smooth, the back side is light, silvery-green, with slight pubescence.
The species differs from others in its deep root system, it suffers damage worse than others, the crowns suffer and deform from frequent haircuts.
On the basis of silvery poplar, decorative compact forms up to 7–12 m high have been developed for growing in gardens and in adjacent territories.
Black (speck)
Distributed in the temperate zone of the European part, in Siberia, in the Caucasus. The trunks of adult trees are high - up to 30 m, the crowns are wide pyramidal. The bark is dark gray in the upper part, almost black below, with deep cracks. The leaves are rhombic in shape, with small teeth along the edges. It is frost-resistant, insensitive to polluted air. Used in landscaping.
Pyramidal
It comes from Asia Minor, looks like black poplar and is considered its variety. Differs in decorative narrow cone-shaped crowns. Suitable for creating hedges, alleys, planting along roads. The leaves are triangular, serrated, smaller than those of the sorrel. Frost resistance is lower. The pyramidal poplar sheds its leaves later than others, remaining "dressed" until the end of October.
bay leaf
Northern view, grows mainly in Siberia. It differs in the characteristic shape of the leaves: oval, with solid edges and a sharp tip, 5 × 12 cm in size. The height of the trees is 17–25 m, the trunks are straight, slightly branched. The bark is dark gray, the crowns are tent-shaped. Shoots are yellowish, with cork growths. Laurel poplar is unpretentious, grows on any soil, endures prolonged frosts. Dislikes intense heat.
Fragrant
Far Eastern light-loving species. It grows very fast, resistant to prolonged cold, sensitive to polluted air. Trees reach a height of 20 m or more. The bark has a greenish-silver tint, the crowns are wide, sprawling. Kidneys with characteristic strong aroma. The leaves are large: 6 × 10 cm, heart-shaped, glossy. On the back, bluish-green, petioles with slight pubescence.
Canadian
Hybrid, one of the largest species: the height of the trunks of most trees reaches a 40-meter mark. The crowns are regular, wide-pyramidal. The bark is gray, smooth, with a small number of shallow cracks in the lower part. The leaves are dark green, wide, wedge-shaped, fragrant. They fall in late autumn. The winter hardiness of this species is lower than that of black or laurel. Canadian poplar grows very fast and tolerates pruning well.
Landing
Poplars should be placed on flat areas away from buildings and communications. At least 10 m should be retreated from the walls of buildings, roads and sidewalks. The soil is preferably slightly alkaline or neutral, loose. Although poplars grow on almost any soil, heavy clay soils are undesirable for them.
Trees are traditionally planted in April or September.. Pits for seedlings are dug 60–70 cm deep and wide. group landings the distance between them should be at least 3 m. The bottom is covered with a drainage layer of 15–20 cm. Any organic fertilizer: compost, humus or rotted manure. The root neck is left at the surface level. Thin and long specimens are recommended to be tied to supports. After planting, the tree should be watered abundantly.
Care
No other ways to stimulate the development of trees are required. Poplars are among those species that grow "before our eyes." Most of them in the first year after planting add up to 80-100 cm in height, while gaining wood mass. With slow development, organic and phosphate fertilizers can be periodically added to the soil.
Trim crowns preferably with early age: early spring or October. You can remove up to 30% of the length of the shoots per season. It is desirable to lubricate the places of cuts with garden pitch to prevent fungal infections.
reproduction
Poplars are usually bred by seed in nurseries, as they quickly lose their germination capacity. Poplar vegetatively reproduces faster and easier. As planting material cuttings and adventitious shoots are used. It develops in places where the trunks are damaged, around the stumps of felled old trees. You can root young annual shoots.
The cuttings are cut 25–30 cm long and placed in moist soil for 2–3 months, leaving ¼ of the length outside. Before rooting, the sprouts are regularly moistened.
Diseases and pests
Blisters and embossed brown spots on the bark of trees can be a sign of damage. bacterial cancer or dropsy. Infections lead to the further appearance of deep cracks and wounds, deformation of the trunks. At home, it is impossible to cure them, diseased seedlings are removed.
The appearance on the bark of reddish, brown, yellow or black growths, flagella, droplets indicates damage by cytosporosis and other fungal diseases. Trunks in such cases are treated with fungicides, patients side shoots delete.
Of the pests of poplars, the most well-known caterpillars are leaf rollers, sawflies, mealybugs, scale insects, miners, aphids, and gall formers. Their presence can be guessed from the damaged leaves, the appearance of spots, holes and growths on them. Affected trees should be regularly treated with insecticides, the crowns should be cut to a large part of the length, the soil under the trunks should be cleaned of weeds and spray with chemicals.
Among the poplars, a group of pyramidal ones is distinguished, which differ sharply from other species in the shape of their crown. With its monumental, pyramidal, dark green crown, it gives a special, southern character to the landscape, resembling slender, pyramidal cypresses. This is a slender tree with a very narrow, columnar crown, covering the trunk of a free-standing tree from the ground. This group includes several types of poplars: pyramidal poplar, Soviet pyramidal poplar, Chinese pyramidal poplar, and black poplar can also be called. Poplar pyramidal - Рopulus pyramidalis Borkh The birthplace of this poplar is not exactly known, presumably - Afghanistan, Asia Minor, the Himalayas. This is a slender tree up to 30 m tall, with a very narrow, columnar crown, covering the trunk of a free-standing tree from the ground. Due to the abundance of this species in the culture of Italy, it is often called "Italian" or "Lombard poplar". Morphologically (except for the shape of the crown) it differs little from black poplar, but ecologically it is very much. The leaves are rhombic or triangular (like the osocor), but somewhat smaller; foliage and flowering occurs earlier than in black poplar; leaf fall - in late October - early November, thus, its growing season is longer, and frost resistance is lower.In culture, there are mainly male specimens (female ones are found in the cities of the Lower Volga region). Longevity in urban plantings depends on habitat conditions. A very effective tree in single, group, ordinary and alley plantings. Good for quickly creating green protective walls. Soviet pyramidal poplar - Populus x sowietica pyramidalis Jabl. (Populus alba L. x Populus bolleana Lauche) - a tree up to 30 m tall with a narrow pyramidal dense crown. It grows, like all poplars, very quickly. In central Russia does not bloom. Winter hardiness is high. 85-95% of spring cuttings take root without special treatment. Common in landscaping.
Chinese pyramidal poplar
Chinese pyramidal poplar (Populus tomentosa) - a tree up to 1 5 m in height, often multi-stemmed. It grows in China, the Far East and in some parts of Central Asia. One-, biennial poplar shoots are thin, ribbed, like the trunk, greenish-gray in color. They grow upward at an acute angle, creating a beautiful pyramidal crown. The leaves are rhombic-elliptical in shape with a narrow wedge-shaped base, steeply pointed at the top, 12X8 cm. Light green above, whitish-bluish below, with finely serrated edges. Leaves fall after persistent frosts.Chinese pyramidal poplar is photophilous, demanding on moisture, with a lack of it sheds a leaf.
Chinese poplar is hardy. Does not need pruning. Well rooted lignified and green cuttings. When planted in heated greenhouses in April, lignified cuttings are suitable for transplanting into open ground in May for further cultivation. In the first year, Chinese poplar needs shading and regular watering, especially in dry, hot summers. In the nursery, seedlings are grown for 5-6 years.
In landscaping, poplar is used little, but deserves wide distribution. It is good to use Chinese pyramidal poplar for planting plots, growing green walls, in single and group, 3-5 copies, plantings. It looks good when creating small groups made up of trees of different crown structures.
poplar breeding
Poplars are easily propagated both vegetatively (cuttings or root offspring) and seeds.Shoots (cuttings) of poplars
Poplar branches take root easily when placed in water or even stuck in moist soil (the exceptions are goat willow and aspen). In order to grow poplar seedlings from cuttings, it is enough in the spring (preferably before the leaves begin to bloom or, in extreme cases, when the buds are just starting to burst) to cut the annual shoots of these trees. Annual shoots are easy to determine: these are the thinnest branches at the ends of large branches or at the top of the trunk, on which the buds are directly located and on which scars from last year's leaves are visible. As a rule, the length of one-year growth is up to several tens of centimeters (in the lower part of the tree crown, such growths can be much shorter). It is better not to use parts of older branches for cuttings: they usually do not have viable buds.After cutting off annual branches, divide them into cuttings 15-20 cm long. Make sure that each cutting has several live buds, especially in its upper part (the one that was closer to the top of the shoot). Plant the cut cuttings in moist soil at a distance of 10-15 cm from each other, with the upper end up (this is a must) and in such a way that about a quarter of the length of the cutting with one or two buds remains above the ground. After planting, regularly water the bed with cuttings until the shoots growing from the buds begin to grow rapidly and reach a height of 10-15 cm.
By autumn, from the planted cuttings, seedlings several tens of centimeters high will be ready for planting in a permanent place.