This article discusses the representative of prickly spruce - Picea pungens Iseli Fastigiate. This variety is a grafted form of the species. You will learn how to plant a tree that is very convenient for various uses, due to its compactness and beautiful slender decorative tree, based on the information described below. Separately, pay attention to the diseases and pests to which this variety can be affected. The article also describes the application in landscape design.

Botanical tree description

The description of the decorative variety Iseli Fistigiata is as follows:

• maximum tree height - 10–12 m;
• crown diameter - up to 4.5 m;
• annual growth of approximately 20 cm per year;
• needles are sharp and thick, blue-blue;
• straight trunk;
• branches directed upward at an acute angle, densely spaced, short;
• the shape of the crown is conical, at first uneven, corrected with age;
• cones - up to 4 cm, it is curious that they are able to stay on a tree for several years;
• photophilousness - high;
• undemanding to the soil;
• winter hardiness is good.

Origin of name

The variety originated in the Oregon Nursery in 1965. Jean Iselie is the founder of the mentioned nursery called Iseli Nursery. The variety was given the name of this person. The history of this spruce began thanks to a mutation. The most unusual was selected from several seedlings.

Did you know? In the Middle Ages, a Christmas tree was hung from the ceiling and hung sweets on it, which the children had to pick at some point.

The selection is interesting because the initial material, which is then honed due to the presence of special traits, is some randomly changed plant. This happened with Iseli Fastigiate.

Video: Fir Iseli Fastigiata

Landing

When planting this variety of blue spruce, the remoteness of groundwater and the lack of soil compaction must be taken into account. When planting a tree, you need to make a drainage layer up to 20 cm thick.

It is also important to consider the distance between plants during group planting - it should not be less than 2 m. The depth of the planting hole is on average from 50 to 70 cm. The root neck is left at the same level with the ground.

Soil can be prepared independently, for which take:

• leaf and turf soil (in two parts);
• peat and sand (in one piece).

Pour this mixture into the planting hole when planting spruce. Next, water the plant using up to 50 liters of water. You can make fertilizers, for example, 100-150 g nitroammofoski, 10 g "Kornevina" (per 10 liters of fluid).

Spruce care

Conifers are considered very unpretentious trees. But a little care for Iseli Fastigiata will be required. The variety does not like dry, hot weather and therefore needs moisture. Pruning can also be done, especially if plants are planted as hedges.

Important! When transplanting young spruce, it is important to leave an earthen lump on its roots.

And to protect this blue spruce from a winter frost at a young age will be very useful. The variety has a high requirement for the presence of sunny color. Shading she does not like.

Watering and feeding

In summer, such watering is carried out: once a week, up to 12 liters of water is brought under one tree. Feeding is carried out twice a season. They make special fertilizers for coniferous trees.

Spruce of this variety grows well on fertile land with a pH level from acidic to slightly acidic. By the way, you can help spruce cope with polluted air by pouring it - it costs up to three times a month.

Loosening and mulching

Loosening to a depth of 5 cm ensures that the soil breathes and does not dry out. Mulching helps to maintain the necessary moisture and maintain soil fertility. Used: grass, coniferous bark, humus.

Important! Shelter from winter sunburns should be done from spruce branches or craft (high-strength paper).

It is worth remembering that the root system of spruce is superficial and sensitive to compaction. Drained soil and loosening are optimally useful indicators for the Izely variety.

Pruning

You can not trim. It is important to understand what purpose the tree is planted for. If it is important to maintain its shape (in group plantings, including hedge details), pruning will only decorate the spruce. Of course, it is necessary to remove dried or diseased branches. Pruning is carried out after the completion of active sap flow - since the end of May.

In general, the tree does not need to be formed - over time, it aligns itself. First, the lower shoots grow faster than the upper ones, and with age, the growth of the crown is leveled, the shape stabilizes.

Possible diseases and pests

In order to avoid diseases and damage by pests, regular spraying of spruce with fungicides and insecticides should be carried out. Variety-specific diseases are few. Basically, the tree suffers from the parasitic activity of insects.

Among them, the most common are:

• caterpillars of butterfly butterflies, moths (against them shoots are treated with soap solution or branches are removed);
• sawflies;
• weevil beetles.

Such measures help to deal with pests: the use of systemic pesticides, digging the trunk circle. Also susceptible to fungal diseases.

It is useful to treat the roots themselves before planting with a fungicide and to spruce the spruce in early spring with copper-containing preparations. Affected branches need to be destroyed. Subject to agricultural technology, the variety grows well and is not exposed to disease.

Did you know? Spruce was a sacred tree of the ancient Celts. They decorated her with colorful patches, scaring away spirits.

The use of wood in landscape design

The attention of gardeners is drawn to the interesting size of the tree - with high growth, it has a compact crown. That is why it is possible to plant Iseli variety even in small areas. Of course, the spruce is very resistant to gas and smoke in the air. Therefore, the tree is ideally suited for the design of memorable places, alleys and parks. It looks very beautiful in the evening illumination.

The two main features that characterize the spruce, in addition to its shape, are the requirement for light and the color of the needles. Similar varieties are planted in areas exposed to the sun so as to distinguish, in combination with other plants, a delicate, delicate shade of the crown. Long-level plantings of rich green tones, alternation with bright flowering shrubs make it possible to stylishly and beautifully apply the Iseli Fastigiata spruce cultivar on the plot.

An elegant and rather unpretentious tree of the spruce spruce type of the described variety is an excellent option for use and cultivation both in private gardens and in the urban environment. Conifers are evergreens that delight people every day with their beautiful crown.

Growing spruce does not seem difficult, and caring for it does not require much work. Iseli Fastigiate will be an excellent decoration in the open sun, in addition, this variety can be planted close to buildings due to its compactness and crown shape.