Pseudotsuga (Pseudotsuga) is a species of coniferous tree that belongs to the numerous Pine family. In the wild, it lives mainly in China, the Japanese islands and in the coastal regions of North American countries. Trees in their natural environment are capable of reaching gigantic sizes. The crown looks like a conical shape, formed from drooping branches.
The decorative properties of the plant are admired by many gardeners, therefore, the pseudo-tree takes its rightful place among traditional pine and spruce species. The trees bear fruit with lush, scaly cones. A dense evergreen coniferous pseudo-slug will undoubtedly decorate any site and become a successful embodiment of bold design ideas for organizing landscape design.
Description of pseudo-life
Pseudo-slug is a tall tree that is considered to be a real long-liver. Its height can reach more than 100 m, and the width of the trunk in the section of an adult specimen is 4.5 m. The surface of the branches is covered with gray bark. With aging, cracks appear, and the crust becomes brown and flakes off. There is a thick cork layer under the bark, which provides reliable protection of the rock from various natural disasters.
The branches are arranged horizontally. The crown is conical with rounded outlines. The ends of the dense lateral shoots are directed downward. They are covered with soft elongated emerald needles sticking out in different directions. The flattened needles, 2 to 3 cm long, stay on the branches throughout the year. Green monochromatic leaves of a rounded shape with white strokes applied to the surface persist for about 6-8 years.
Fruiting begins at the age of 15-20 years. The formation of male cones occurs in the axillary part of one-year-old shoots. Small bumps are covered with reddish or orange pollen. Female cones adorn the tops of young branches. Their length does not exceed 7-10 cm. Fruits are ovoid or cylindrical. The outer layer of woody scales surrounds the fruit on all sides. Small winged seeds fill the fruit from the inside out. The cones decorated with wings look very decorative and expressive. When the fruits are fully ripe, the scales open and the seeds spill out onto the ground.
Types and varieties of pseudo-sugi with a photo
In the genus of pseudo-sugi, there are only 4 species forms.
Pseudotsuga menziesii
The most common type. The plant lives in rocky areas in North America. The height of the tree is about 100 m, the crown is formed unevenly. The bark is covered with cracks and bumps. Branches laid out in a horizontal direction contain green needles with a yellow tint. The length of the needles is approximately 2 to 3.5 cm. They can be straight or slightly curved. The size of the cylindrical cones ranges from 5 to 10 cm. The disclosure of yellow scales and the eruption of rounded achenes occurs almost simultaneously.The most famous among gardeners are such varieties as:
- Glauka is a frost-resistant and slow growing variety. The shoots of the plant are erect and protected by a thin layer of blue-gray bark;
- Blue Wonder grows up to 5 m and has a conical crown type;
- Holmstrup has a dense lush crown of a rich emerald tone with a conical structure;
- Mayerheim's trunk reaches ten meters in length and contains straight branches intertwining into a cylindrical coniferous crown.
Pseudotsuga glauca (Pseudotsuga glauca)
This species is characterized by a bluish crown and strong build. Mature trees reach a height of 55 m. The plant is resistant to cold and dry weather. The growth of culture is quite rapid. The ends of the side branches are directed towards the top.
Pseudotsuga large-bowed (Pseudotsuga macrocarpa)
The height of the tree in its natural environment varies from 15 to 30 m. Wild plantings of the species are concentrated in mountainous areas. The rock is protected by a thick brown-gray cork bark. The length of the gray needle-like leaves is about 3-5 cm. Their lifespan is about 5 years. The cones are large and oblong. The inside is filled with seeds, and the outside contains jagged scales. The habitat of the large-bowed pseudo-lump is a humid and warm climate.
Planting and caring for pseudo-life
It is considered successful to plant pseudotsuga seedlings in partial shade, where the sun's rays will touch the needles only in the morning and evening. A plant at the age of 5-8 years is more likely to take root in a new place. They begin to transplant in early spring, before the buds on the trees begin to awaken. The planting hole is dug to a depth of 80 cm. Loose neutral soil is used as the soil.
The first layer is a drainage layer: broken brick or sand. The basis of the soil mixture is leafy earth, humus and peat. The planting interval is selected within 1.5-4 m, which is determined by the varietal affiliation of the plant.
Pseudo-life is regularly moisturized. Drying of the top layer of the soil is a sign of a lack of moisture. Pour a bucket of water under one seedling. The coniferous crown responds well to spraying with warm water in the summer. Due to periodic loosening, the roots are actively saturated with oxygen.
Saplings are fed only during the first two years of life. Diluted organic solutions are used. We are talking about peat and dung fertilizing. In the future, the tree will provide its own food. Fallen needles contain all the necessary nutrients for the breed.
A cropped or uncropped crown looks equally attractive. Young trees recover easily after pruning.
Large specimens can withstand low temperatures in winter. Newly planted plants, however, need protective shelter. The soil is mulched with peat, quail foliage and spruce branches. The layer of mulch should be at least 20 cm. Fragile branches are tied up for the winter so that they do not break under the snow.
The pseudo-slug demonstrates resistance to a number of diseases. Occasionally plantings become infected with aphids. For pest control, spraying of needles with insecticidal preparations is used.
Reproduction of pseudo-slugs
Pseudo-slug propagates by seed and cuttings. If the conditions for storing seeds in a cool place are provided, seedlings can be obtained in 10 years. When warm, seeds lose their germinating properties. A tiny seed embryo is hidden under a layer of crust. To awaken it will require stratification. Winter sowing of pseudo-sows is carried out in pots or greenhouses. The material is lowered into a loose substrate to a depth of no more than 2 cm and covered with mulch. Crops covered with snow are much better preserved. With the arrival of the spring sun, they begin to pick and thin out the seedlings. The optimum temperature for growing young plants is + 18… + 23 ° C. The site should be well lit, but hidden from the scorching sun rays.With the arrival of cold weather, the seedlings are covered with plastic wrap. A transplant into open ground is allowed only next year.
Cutting is best done in the spring. Until the first buds have awakened, young twigs are harvested without cutting off the old base. The twigs are deepened at an angle into the drained soil. At the same time, the needles must maintain their orientation. Containers with cuttings are covered with a protective material so that moisture does not evaporate. Cuttings will begin to root faster if the temperature in the greenhouse is maintained at least + 15… + 18 ° C. Watering is organized very carefully, otherwise putrefactive processes in the root zone are activated. After opening the buds on the twigs, move the pots to a warmer room. Rooting can take about 1-1.5 months. In the first year of life, it is recommended to keep pseudo-sleep in greenhouses, but after a year, when the seedlings adapt, the need for shelter disappears.
Pseudo-slug in landscape design
The pseudo-slug will perfectly decorate and green any garden plot. All year round slender tall trees delight with their rich emerald needles. Short varieties are often planted as a hedge. Pruning is able to give the plant a different crown shape, so you can create unique green compositions and sculptures in the garden.
