Larch is considered one of the most common conifers used in landscape gardening art. Its unique needles can complement almost any site, and all sorts of varieties allow you to create a truly individual landscape design. The article provides a detailed description of one of the most popular types of wood, larch Pendula (Pendula), and also discusses all the subtleties of planting and care of this plant.

Biological description of larch Pendula

Pendula refers to one of the varieties of European larch. This is a fairly large tree, which in natural conditions (forests of the Central and Western parts of Europe) can reach a height of up to 8 m. However, in cultural conditions, the average specimen does not exceed 6 m, while the crown diameter is not more than 1 m.

Weeping cylindrical crown is one of the most striking distinguishing features of the tree. Shoots are often formed from a small apical growth point, and then, as they develop, grow to elongated drooping branches with several small lateral branches. The needles of the plant are soft and pleasant to the touch, gathered in bunches.

In the active phase of vegetation, the coniferous cover has a rich bluish-green hue. In autumn, the color of the needles changes to golden, after which at the end of the season the tree discards it. The trunk of Pendula's all sorts of brown tones, while the shoots are characterized by a red-brown hue.

As the vegetation grows, cones of ovoid-conical shape appear on the tree, up to 4-6 cm in length and no more than 2.5 cm in diameter. Men’s are golden in color, women’s in red. After pollination, female cones form obovate seeds up to 4 mm long with a thin semicircular wing. Larch blooms from April to May, bearing fruit 3-5 years after planting.

Video: Larch Pendula

Advantages and disadvantages of the species

Like any ornamental plant, this representative of the so-called European type of larch has both advantages and some disadvantages. Every gardener is obliged to get acquainted with them, since only in this case it is possible to create a complete picture of the plant, as well as provide him with the right place in the garden.

• The main features of this species include the following features:
• Pendula is characterized by a fairly high growth rate relative to other conifers, the average annual growth of the tree is about 35 cm;
• with proper care, the tree is able to grow for at least 100 years;
• differs in unpretentiousness, as well as increased frost resistance;
• this larch always looks not only elegant, but also exotic, and can also be successfully combined with most decorative species;
• the tree is able to absorb a significant amount of harmful substances from the atmosphere, as well as adsorb dust.

No serious deficiencies were found in this species, with the exception of increased demand for care (including protection against damage by pests and infections). Otherwise, it is almost impossible to achieve a highly decorative plant. Also, when planting Pendula, one should take into account the fact that her needles at the end of the growing season fall. And this can negatively affect the decorativeness of the flowerbed when creating a complex evergreen composition.

Did you know? Larch is the main building material used for the construction of Venice. Numerous piles were created from its wood, which have been the basis of the city since the Middle Ages.

How to grow Larch Pendulu

Despite the fact that larch is not common in the garden, this plant can be grown without difficulty in almost any area. To do this, you only need to choose a suitable place for the tree, as well as provide it with daily attention.

This involves the implementation of various agricultural procedures that ensure the optimal microclimate in the soil and the balance of nutrients.

Seat selection

Pendula is planted in open and well-lit areas, no closer than 5 meters from garden buildings or other tall vegetation. In the natural environment, this plant develops on well-drained fertile substrates with moderate moisture capacity.

Therefore, the tree will grow best in areas with well-fertilized sandy-loamy or loamy soil, with a groundwater level of at least 1.5 m. The pH of the substrate is also important, its value should be about 7–9 units.

How to prepare the soil

As mentioned above, the optimal soil microclimate is especially important for growing larch. Without this, the plant will not only develop for a long time, but may eventually die. That is why the soil before landing must be prepared. Begin this procedure about 2-3 weeks before the estimated date of planting.

Did you know? Larch is considered the most frost-resistant plant in the world. Some varieties of wood are able to safely withstand frosts to -65 ° C.

First of all, you need to clean the site of weeds and other contaminants, and then create the optimal mechanical composition of the soil. To do this, depending on the density of the soil, from 1 to 3 buckets of sand / m² are applied. Along with it, it is recommended to add fertilizers. For this purpose, approximately 100 g / m² nitroammophoski and about 5 kg / m² rotted manure, compost or humus are used.

After this, the soil needs to be plowed well. If the site is located in marshy regions or differs by an acidic pH (below 7), it is recommended to leach the soil. To do this, along with fertilizers on 1 m² of the site, you need to add 250-500 g of lime.

Landing time

This species can be planted both in early spring (mid-April) and in autumn (second half of October). However, early planting is considered the most acceptable: only it allows the seedlings to take root with guarantee in a short time. This makes it possible at the end of the season to get a full-fledged plant that can withstand almost any seasonal frost.

Important! Only young and healthy seedlings no more than 2 years old are suitable for planting. Such trees are often no higher than 40-50 cm.

Planting and reproduction

You can get a successful instance of Pendula on your site in two ways: by vaccination and the so-called cuttings. Despite the fact that the tree transfers both of these procedures without any problems, they are recommended to be carried out only by experienced gardeners. Otherwise, the survival rate of young seedlings will be no more than 40-50%.

Video: Planting Larch

Cuttings

Cuttings are the easiest way to get on the site of any subsidiary plants. However, for this it is necessary to master some of the intricacies of the procedure. Cuttings are selected from actively growing shoots no more than 3 years old; the end of May is best for this (after the tree has restored the crown). The blank for the future seedling should be selected from the trunk shoot, no more than 20 cm long.

Important! Cutting cuttings with a knife is not recommended; a fragment of the shoot must be broken off from the mother plant. At the same time, a small “heel”, about 1-2 cm long, should form on the cut in the fault zone.

Selected cuttings are germinated in special soil for indoor plants on the most illuminated windowsill, providing moderate watering (the substrate should always be slightly moist). After 3 months, the shoot is rooted, but the cuttings become ready to dive into the open ground no earlier than a year later. Otherwise, transplantation can significantly damage the root system.

Vaccinated

Vaccination is considered the best method of obtaining a new instance of Pendula on the site. Only this procedure allows you to easily get a graceful headquarters, having formed a crown according to personal preferences. Young seedlings, about 3-5 years old, take as rootstock (the basis of the future stem), freshly cut cuttings serve as a scion.

Important! They begin vaccination at the height of summer, the middle or the second half of July is best for this.

Carry out such a procedure as follows:

1. Apical shoots, about 10 cm long, are cut from the mother plant. The cut-off site needs to be cleaned of bark, and then sharpened at an angle of about 45 °.
2. Trim the excess branches on the rootstock, and then make small cuts about 1 cm deep in the upper part of the trunk.
3. A rootstock should be inserted into each cut, and then the joints should be fixed with a tight thread.
4. Next, the junction of the stock and scion should be tightly wrapped with bandage or gauze.
5. The growth of the scion lasts about 1-2 months, after this period the bandage, as well as the fixing thread must be removed.

Further care

To get a truly healthy and full-fledged tree, immediately after planting, the seedling must be surrounded by qualified care. This is easy enough to do. For this, it is only necessary to ensure timely watering, top dressing and pruning of larch, as well as timely prepare the plant for wintering.

Proper watering

Watering a tree in spring and autumn is carried out approximately once every two weeks, in summer its multiplicity is increased to two procedures per week. For irrigation use only clean and settled water at the rate of 10-20 l of liquid / plant.

Watering is carried out in the early morning or evening under the root. Sprinkling the crown is done as necessary to clean the needles from dust, as well as other pollutants, and only in the late evening.

Fertilizer and fertilizing

Two fertilizers per season are sufficient for larch: spring (April) and autumn (mid-October). The first 3 years after planting, Kemira Universal mineral fertilizer is used for this (based on the manufacturer's recommendations). In the future, the tree is fed with any complex fertilizer based on phosphorus and potassium compounds.

Pruning

Periodic pruning of larch is the main condition for a regular crown with elegant weeping branches. Do the procedure in spring and autumn, after the fall of the needles. All dry shoots spoiling the shape of the crown must be removed. During this period, shortening of the branches is also carried out. At the same time, cutting shoots by more than a third is prohibited, otherwise the procedure can cause their death.

Winter preparations

Despite the fact that Pendula tolerates winter frosts perfectly, it is recommended that the tree be prepared for wintering. Otherwise, part of the branches, especially young ones, may freeze and die.

Important! Begin the procedure after lowering the average daily temperature to + 10 ° C. At this time, the tree is pruned, fed and well watered.

A few days after this, you need to update the mulch, and also cover the crown with a dense burlap, spanbond or any other alternative material that lets steam through. Other means of protection include straw or hay.

The covered material is covered with shoots and, if possible, the trunk, which then needs to be well fixed with a strong twine.Shelter is removed after a full spring thaw and an increase in average daily temperature of not less than + 5 ° С.

Mulching and cultivation

Loosening of the soil is carried out after each irrigation or heavy rains, but at least 1 time per week, to a depth of about 10-15 cm. Neglecting this rule will cause a deficiency of free oxygen in the soil, which will not affect seedling growth positively.

Important! To achieve the optimal microclimate in the soil, it is recommended to mulch the tree.

Mulching begins immediately after planting, and then periodically, about 1 time per month, the mulch layer is updated. To shelter the trunk circle, crushed straw, hay, sawdust, conifer needles, etc. are used.

Use in landscape design

Pendula larch in landscape design is of universal importance. The plant is ideal for group compositions with both coniferous and deciduous, as well as grassy species. In addition, the tree can become the central object in landscape design or successfully complement the upper tier of the flowerbed with a contrasting green-blue color of the needles.

Pendula larch is an example of an incredibly decorative and unpretentious plant, which in the garden can become both a central plant and an addition to the composition. The greenish-blue needles of the tree is an excellent contrast, which can emphasize almost any landscape design.

However, the tree is particularly demanding on the soil microclimate, therefore, before planting, it is necessary to carefully check the parameters of fertility, pH and the mechanical composition of the substrate, and then bring them to the necessary requirements.