How to plant and grow a cedar on your own

The first question that everyone who wants to grow a coniferous giant has to face is: how to properly plant a cedar on your site so that it does not interfere with the rest of the plantings and at the same time is visible and feels good? You also need to decide whether to buy a ready-made seedling or try to grow a tree from a seed, in this case a nut. A seedling, of course, will save you from the hassle of germinating pine nuts, a long wait for seedlings, which can take more than six months. But it will cost much more than one grown independently, especially since if you have good planting material, you can grow them as much as you like.

It should be noted that the tree, which is usually considered a cedar in our country, is not strictly speaking. This is the Siberian cedar pine, which, although it belongs to a different species, still belongs to the same family as the cedar. The cedar is directly subdivided into several types, for example, the Lebanese, Atlas, Himalayan cedar, etc., and differs not only in appearance, but also in some requirements for growing conditions. Siberian cedar pine, or, as it is also called, Siberian cedar, is more adapted to our climatic conditions, including it tolerates winter frosts well, while Lebanese cedar, for example, prefers areas where the temperature in winter does not drop below -25 degrees.

In order to grow a tree like cedar pine on your garden plot, you should know about the features of this species. First of all, it is necessary to take into account the size of an adult tree, which are very impressive and require space. In height, cedar pine can reach forty meters, while it is distinguished by its powerful, spreading crown and trunk up to three meters in diameter. Such a giant will need at least 7 m² area. It is quite natural that his root system is appropriate, therefore, it is also impossible to plant a cedar closer than three meters from the house - the root can damage the foundation of the structure. In addition, over time, the tree will begin to cast a shadow, which, in turn, will impose some restrictions on the use of the territories adjacent to this site. Therefore, if there is not enough space in the country, then it is better to plant decorative cedar species that are more modest in size.

Planting a seedling

As mentioned earlier, the simplest option in this case would be to purchase a grown seedling in a nursery. This, of course, is not cheap pleasure, but the hassle with it is much less. However, even in this case, no one will give an absolute guarantee that the tree will take root safely and will not die. You can still do something to reduce the risk. You should not take a seedling from the forest, since such specimens take root very poorly and most often die. You have to choose from those that were grown in the nursery.

Optimal seedlings should meet the following requirements:

• seedling - three-year-old (can be of different heights, depending on the variety);
• the rhizome is completely covered with earth (large lump or container);
• the needles are completely green, without dry ends.

Having chosen a good seedling, you should start planting in the ground. To do this, you must carefully dig up the area for planting. Despite the fact that the cedar is still quite small, the area of ​​this site should be very impressive - at least four square meters. Then, in the center, you need to make a hole, the depth of which will be one third more than the clod of earth where the root is contained. In this recess, you first need to lower a wooden stick or rail, which will serve as a support for the tree, keep it in an upright position.After that, place the earthen lump itself and dig in everything with soil.

Advice

Immediately before planting a seedling in the ground, it is useful to dip its root in a clay solution, which in consistency resembles a batter.

Tie the seedling to the protruding part of the rail. Drizzle over the cedar, but not too much. Care in the next couple of weeks will consist only in watering the tree, and even then if there is no rain during this period. If the weather is dry, then water the seedling every two days, again in moderation. If there are several seedlings, then they must be placed at a distance of about 5 m from each other and make sure that the specimen closest to the house maintains a three-meter distance from the structure. This completes the planting of a cedar in the form of a seedling.

Planting sprouted nuts

You can also get a tree from pine nuts. Although this process is rather complicated and time-consuming, it has its advantages. Firstly, you can grow any number of seedlings, and secondly, it does not require large financial costs. Of course, it will take a long time to wait for seedlings, and in the first year they will look like a small twig with small needles in the upper part, and in a couple of years they will reach only five centimeters. But even at this age, Siberian cedar pine winters well, care for it is very minimal.

First you need to choose the right nuts. It is advisable to give preference to the freshest seeds. Although the germination of pine nuts lasts for a long time (provided that they have been provided with proper care), it is better not to risk it. The nuts must be clean, free from damage and mold. It should be borne in mind that nuts, when husking from the cones, could be damaged not only mechanically. Often the buds are heated to separate the seeds more easily, while the latter lose their germination. Therefore, it is advisable to choose nuts in cones for planting. Gently taking out the nuts, you need to soak them in a pale pink solution of potassium permanganate for two hours, which will protect them from fungal damage.

Considering that there is enough planting material in this case, you can try to use it in two ways - to germinate part at home, and to plant part according to the principle of natural reproduction, that is, to sow directly into open ground, as would happen in natural conditions. For such a natural method, it is enough to plant nuts in well-loosened soil in the fall, deepening them by about 1 cm.They will overwinter in the ground and hatch in the spring if they are not damaged by rodents or birds.

Advice

Before planting or germination, you can lightly rub the peel of the nut with sandpaper without touching the core - the hard shell will thin out a little, and the sprout will hatch more easily.

The rest of the nuts must be soaked for three days in warm water, changing it daily. After that, it is necessary to plant the seeds in a container filled with wet sand at the same depth - 1 cm. Sprinkle with wet sawdust on top. The container must freely allow sufficient air to pass through, so you need to choose a perforated one over the entire surface or make holes yourself. Subsequent care of the seed is not required, the main thing is compliance with the temperature regime and periodic moistening of the substrate as needed.

The temperature regime in this case is from +3 to +5 degrees. This is due to the fact that the cedar pine grows in rather harsh conditions and its seeds winter under the snow at about this temperature. A couple of weeks before planting, the container with seeds must be transferred to a warmer place. The peaked nuts will release a small root out. At this time, it is time to plant them in a tray with soil. Make a small depression, lower the spine down, sprinkle with earth so that the upper part of the shell is slightly visible above the surface. Moderately moisten the soil, cover the tray with glass.

After some time, a small sprout will begin to rise from the ground, holding the remnants of the shell on its top. At this point, the glass can be removed. Care for young seedlings is simple - periodically moisten the soil as it dries. Keep in a well-lit place, but avoid direct sunlight. In the spring, it is better to dig in a tray with young shoots somewhere in the country, in a shaded place. Make sure that the soil does not dry out and that the future cedar pine is not damaged by the "black leg". After a year, it will be possible to plant a tree in the country or in a personal plot.

It is also worth checking whether the nuts sown according to the natural principle have not sprung up. If small shoots have appeared in the area where the seeds were sown in the fall, they must be freed from weeds and watered. As a result, Siberian cedar pine, planted in this way, will not differ in any way from their counterparts sprouted in a tray. The only difference is that nuts that hatch under wet sawdust in comfortable conditions, protected from birds and rodents, simply have more chances. Taking care of the young will also have to be the same, which, I must say, is not too troublesome. Cedar cultivation attracts not only with its simplicity, but also with the enormous benefits that can be obtained from an adult tree.

Siberian cedar (or cedar pine) gives a large number of advantages:

• tasty and healthy nuts;
• Cedar oil;
• needles (for infusions and decoctions);
• healing nut shell;
• resin (sap) is used in medicine;
• essential oils;
• phytoncides.

If you regularly spend time next to a cedar, relax in its shade, breathe this air, it will bring great health benefits. You can equip a special corner at the dacha where a gazebo or bench will be located, and Siberian cedar pine, or simply cedar, will grow next to it.