Few farmers decide to plant on their plot spiny spruce variety Fat Albert. If the decision was made, then the owners of personal plots try to follow all the necessary rules so that the tree grows full and beautiful. This article will discuss the main features of growing conifers, including planting and care.
History of appearance and name
The Fat Albert variety was bred in the United States. Breeding work was conducted at the Oregon Nursery. In 1978, as a result of natural hybridization, this species was created. The name of this variety has nothing to do with botany.
The name of the plant was given by one of the employees of the Iseli Nursery nursery in honor of the animated hero, who was brilliantly played by the Golden Globe Award winner, famous actor and musician B. Cosby. He starred in many shows that were broadcast from 1972 to 1985. Variety of spiny spruce Fat Albert is the most popular in the agricultural market.
Did you know? Spruce trees can affect the climate of the region. In winter, in the forests where they grow, it is much warmer than outside the forest, and in summer it is cooler.
Grade description
The Fat Albert tree belongs to large plants. Every year it grows 30 cm in height and 20 cm in trunk diameter. By the age of ten, the spruce reaches 10–15 m. The crown has a conical regular shape, and its diameter reaches 2 m.
Other biological features of this species include:
- color of needles - silver-blue;
- branches are rigid and grow at right angles to the trunk;
- needles length - 6 cm.
- young green cones. Over time, they turn light brown. Their length is about 7 cm.
The tree is very resistant to frost - it does not stop developing even at a temperature of -40 ° C. Therefore, it can be planted in all regions of the country. The branches are not damaged as a result of freezing of the snow cover that forms on the tree in winter.
Landing
It is recommended to start landing in mid-October, when the weather will not be too hot. The optimum temperature for planting is from + 10 ° C to + 15 ° C. The Fir Fat Albert variety needs slightly acidic, nutritious and drained soils.
The soil must first be moistened well so that the plant takes root well. Landing must be carried out in sunny areas or in partial shade. If you plant a seedling in the shade, then the development of the tree will be slowed down. Choose areas for planting where groundwater is at a depth of 3 m or more.A step-by-step landing procedure is as follows:
- Remove all weeds in the area.
- Dig holes 60 x 50 cm in size.
- Form a drainage layer at the bottom. You can use sand or broken brick. The drainage height should be about 15 cm.
- Prepare a nutritious soil mixture. To do this, mix turf and garden soil, peat and sand. The ratio of ingredients should be 2: 2: 1: 1, respectively.
- Place a seedling inside the well and sprinkle with prepared soil. Leave the root neck at the level of the soil surface so that oxygen and nutrients enter the roots (optionally) through it.
- Pour 40 l of warm water into each bush.
Care Features
During the cultivation of spruce varieties Fat Albert, it is necessary to carefully approach the process of caring for conifers. Watering and top dressing should be made at the indicated time so that the development of the tree does not stop and the appearance of diseases and pests is not provoked.
Important! Mulching the root zone during planting is not necessary. This can be done before the onset of stable frosts.
In order for the crown to remain symmetrical and beautiful, you need to trim in time. As a prophylaxis of diseases and parasites, prepare trees for the winter every year, despite their frost resistance.
Watering and feeding
Prickly spruce varieties Fat Albert does not tolerate prolonged drought. Therefore, it is necessary to water planted plants on time and rationally. Try not to exceed the specified norms so as not to lead to the development of root or gray rot.
Watering trees need 1 time per week. It is recommended to use no more than 12 liters of warm water per plant. After irrigation of the soil, literally after 2-3 days, loosen the top layer. This will provide a better flow of air and moisture to the roots and will not allow a dense crust to form on the soil surface.
Top dressing is applied only twice a season. In spring, in early April, it is recommended to use "Kornevin" (150 g per 10 liters of water). The drug will contribute to enhanced plant growth. The entire volume is poured under one tree.Did you know? The spruce was first decorated in 1510 in Riga. After that, people began to decorate this tree on the eve of the New Year holidays.
In the fall, a month before the expected cooling, use nitroammophoska (50 g per 10 liters of water). It will allow the tree to become even more resistant to frost. Pour 5 liters of the prepared solution under each plant.
Pruning
Prickly spruce varieties Fat Albert does not need pruning. If you grow it as a hedge, then cutting sick and dry branches is simply necessary. This will not only improve the appearance of the fence. Thanks to such actions, you will be prevented from diseases and pests. Cutting should be carried out at the end of May. During this period, the active sap flow inside the trunk tissue ceases.
Winter preparations
Despite resistance to frost, young conifers need to be sheltered for the winter. Most often, ordinary lapnik is used for these purposes. It can also be replaced with fallen leaves or straw.
Try to use breathable materials for shelter. If this is not done, then during periods of thaws condensate will accumulate, which negatively affects the development of the plant (signs of disease appear or the tree may begin to rot).Most gardeners prefer to use heavy kraft paper or non-woven agricultural canvas.
The insulation procedure consists in creating a cone-shaped frame around the tree, on top of which the selected insulation is mounted. The top layer must be fixed with brackets or ropes so that it is not blown away by gusts of wind. In mid-March, you can remove the shelter. Preparing for winter is relevant only for young plants. Therefore, 3-4 years after planting, you should stop covering them for the winter.
So, now you know how to plant and grow Fat Albert spruce in the garden. All planting and care activities are quite simple, so not only an experienced farmer, but also a beginner gardener can handle this. Try to follow the instructions above so that after a few years your tree has a beautiful and healthy appearance.Important! It is necessary to start the preparation for winter when the air temperature is in the range from -5 ° С to -7 ° С.