Siberian pine cedar

Siberian cedar, or as it is also called, Siberian pine, is a large noble tree with a powerful evergreen crown. Geographically, this tree grows in Western and Eastern Siberia, in the Urals, it is found in Northern China and Mongolia. Siberian pine tolerates the absence of light well, therefore it is considered a shade-tolerant tree. Prefers soil with good drainage, so that it is light in composition, moist sandy loam and loamy.

During a drought period, Siberian cedar loves strong watering and spraying young crowns with water. In general, this amazing tree is considered a long-liver, an interesting fact is that up to 80 years old Siberian cedar actively feeds on moisture from the soil, after 80 years the opposite process occurs, it gives it back. The height of the Siberian cedar can reach forty-five meters. As for longevity, a tree can live up to eight hundred years. Siberian pines are usually planted with seedlings; sowing of seeds is also very popular.

Siberian cedar belongs to the evergreen trees of the pine family. The trunk diameter of this amazing tree can reach two meters; there are specimens with a large diameter.

Siberian cedar is a happy owner of a dense beautiful crown, and sometimes several tops. Thick knots are located on the trunk of a tree with a gray-brown color. Older trees are covered with cracked bark, which looks like rough scales. The needles of a cedar are soft, dark green and covered with a bluish bloom. The length of the needles can reach 15 centimeters, they are in a bundle of five pieces.

Siberian cedar can be safely classified as a slow-growing tree species. Its growing season is very short, no more than 50 days a year. As for the cedar root system, it is very interesting and represents the following: a short tap root (40-50 cm) with lateral roots creeping away from it, at the ends of which there are tiny root hairs. Fungi roots or mycorrhiza can grow on these hairs. If the soil conditions are favorable, that is, it is light with a good drainage system, then the most powerful anchor roots reaching three meters in depth are obtained on the taproot. It is they and the root paws that are responsible for the stability of the entire tree.

Siberian cedar cones and seeds

Siberian cedar or Siberian pine are famous for their "pine nuts", in other words, seeds. More about this. Siberian cedar belongs to dioecious monoecious plants. Male and female cones of this tree get along well on the same living space. Male ones are concentrated at the base of the shoot, female at the tips of the growth shoot, near the apical bud. Shoots are pollinated with the help of the wind. The shape of the kidneys is conical.

Ripe buds are very large in size up to fifteen centimeters, while they can grow up to eight centimeters wide. Young bumps have a purple hue, gradually acquire brown with age, and at first they resemble an egg in shape, and later acquire a diamond-shaped shape.The scales of the cone are highly compressed, in order to fully mature they need about fifteen months.

The seeds of the Siberian cedar themselves are egg-shaped and rather large in size: one and a half centimeters in length and a centimeter in width, their color is dark, closer to brown. These giants begin to bear fruit at about 60 years of age, surprisingly, especially when compared with the life cycle of a person or animal.

Planting and caring for Siberian pine cedar

The cultivation of Siberian cedar is possible. This plant needs a strong potassium supply. But nitrogen in the soil has a bad effect on the development of the root. Compared to its coniferous and deciduous counterparts, Siberian cedar, being young, does not differ in active growth. Often, cedar plantings are overgrown with aspen, birch, and spruce. Therefore, it is necessary to do "weeding" in time. It is best to plant cedars in the open space and away from firs, which are very fond of settling in the shade of the spreading crowns of the cedar.

Aesthetically, cedars look great with birches, but here it is important to take into account the detrimental effect of the latter on the growth of any of its neighbors. Therefore, you need to maintain a distance when planting these trees in a common ensemble.

Before planting Siberian cedars, it is important to prepare and calculate everything in advance. It is better to mark the territory in advance in order to provide the trees with the necessary space, experts recommend maintaining a distance of at least 9 meters.

Siberian cedars reproduce well as seedlings, and it is best to purchase those that have been grown in containers. Such seedlings are distinguished by a whole undisturbed root system, they take root well and begin to grow actively from the next year after planting.

When transplanting from a container, it is important to pay attention to the roots. Often they are strongly twisted, they must be carefully straightened and placed with special care in the landing pit so as to avoid twisting or bending. If the soil is too heavy in composition, you need to add sand there. The seedlings do not need bedding, since parasites can live in them, which are not averse to spoiling the root mycorrhiza.

Siberian cedar needs soil mulching to maintain a high level of tree fertility and to provide natural ventilation and oxygenation of the upper layer. Mulch saves the tree from freezing during the period with low temperatures (winter), retains moisture when growing cedar on light sandy loam. Mulch is added every year to activate the growth of adventitious roots, through which the tree gains growth.

Siberian cedar diseases and pests

Like many tree species, Siberian cedar is not immune to parasites and pests. The main source of danger for young cedar seedlings is bark beetles, especially chalcographs. As soon as the spring warmth comes, these unbearable pests fly along with it. Chalcographers find the weakest and most painful Siberian cedar tree by smell and start gnawing holes under the bark. Where later the females lay eggs, from which the larvae hatch. As a result, tree bark tissues die, which can lead to the death of the entire tree. Thus, it is important for the grower not to miss the moment when these insects begin their raids. To find out that a pest has settled in a tree is simple: holes with drops of resin are formed on the tree trunk, like a cedar is crying. It is not easy to protect a tree from these pests; it is better to entrust this work to specialists.

Mighty cedars are also endangered from the side - Siberian Hermes. This pest sucks sap from the tree, slows down growth and negatively affects the decorative qualities. This parasite is dangerous not only for seedlings, but also for mature trees. Outwardly, Hermes resembles fluff covering the needles and bark of a tree. Hermes white hair growths create the main difficulty in the fight against it. They prevent the drugs from reaching their goal - the insect's body, are its natural defense.An interesting fact is that not only the insects themselves are covered with these fluffy growths, but also the eggs laid by the females. Thus, in order to fight these reptiles, drugs are needed that act through the sap of the tree itself.

In addition to insect pests, poor cedars are susceptible to diseases that significantly complicate the life of the plant and can lead to its death. The most common disease is pine needles rust. It appears during warm, humid seasons. This disease is striking at once, its distinctive features are orange-yellow blisters on the needles, reminiscent of rust in color. As they ripen, the bubbles turn into powder, which is actually the spores of fungi infecting needles. As a result of such a negative action, the needles become covered with rusty spots and die off, fall off. To prevent the appearance of this disease, it is recommended to arrange weeding of the nearby neighborhood from sow thistle and coltsfoot, as well as other representatives of the flora on which part of the life cycle of coniferous rust develops and passes.

Another most dangerous infection for Siberian pine is blister rust and shoot crayfish. A harmful parasitic fungus causes these sores and they heal very poorly. It is possible to save a tree in an infection situation only at the initial stage. Therefore, to prevent diseases in Siberian pine, medications designed to strengthen the root system and anti-stress drugs should be used in a timely manner.

Thus, this mighty beautiful tree, in essence, is a small child for whom you need an eye and an eye. With the right care and attention, this tree can delight a family for generations, and it's worth it. Siberian cedars are powerful long-lived giants, created by nature to amaze people with their beauty, article and useful properties contained in the air next to them, the oil extracted from its fruits, and the fruits themselves, which carry a whole storehouse of useful important properties.