Hoopsi spruce (Picea pungens Hoopsii) belongs to one of the most popular types of Christmas trees with blue needles. North America, or rather Canada (Rocky Mountains), is considered its homeland. But, despite the Canadian origin, this beauty has perfectly taken root in our climate and is used with great success in landscape design.
Blue Hoopsie Spruce
Description of the plant
The thorny spruce of Hoopsie is distinguished by an amazing color of needles - blue with a silvery tint. Every year it grows by 15-30 cm. By the age of thirty it reaches 10-11 m in height and 4-4.5 in width (such sizes are considered average). The crown of the tree is conical, wide.
Herringbone is beautifully pubescent from top to bottom. The branches are lush, strong, raised up. The needles are sharp and tough, 2.5-3 cm long. The needles remain on the branches for about 5 years, but a new growth appears every spring.
Buds have an interesting purple color at a young age and turn brown over time.
Landing
Spruce prickly Hoopsie prefers sunny habitats. It is planted in loose, sandy loam or loamy soil away from groundwater.
The tree is not too whimsical to soil fertility, but reacts well to fertilizers. The depth of the hole depends on the age of the seedling and the size of its root system.
The best time for planting is from the second half of April to the end of June (adult large spruces are transplanted before winter).
The soil mixture should include turf and forest land (from a spruce forest) in equal proportions, as well as peat and sand (1/3 of the total).
In addition, it is useful to add special complex fertilizers for conifers to the hole.
The root collar of the seedling is not deepened, leaving it at ground level. After planting, the plant is watered with 2 buckets of lukewarm, settled water (you can dissolve Kornevin in it according to the instructions). The soil in the near-trunk circle is loosened and mulched with peat.
Care
In general, caring for this species is not laborious. Taking care of the beautiful Hoopsie is no more difficult than any other spruce.
The only caveat concerns the formation of the crown of a young tree, since in the early years it does not have a main trunk.
Watering
The blue herringbone loves moisture, but it is important to avoid waterlogging. It is necessary to water it taking into account the weather, preventing the root layer from drying out.
In the hot dry period, watering is done every week, using 10-15 liters of water per tree. In the evening, after a sultry day, you can irrigate the crown.
Top dressing
It is better to use special fertilizers for conifers as top dressing (Green Needle, Needle, etc.).
In addition to traditional nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, the complex must contain magnesium, iron, sulfur and boron. For the first time, the tree is fed when planting, and then 2-3 times per season, distributing the granules on the wet surface of the soil in the crown projection.
Loosening and mulching
The trunk circle is loosened after watering to provide the root system with air flow. Mulch the ground with peat or compost.
For the winter, a thicker layer is poured (up to 6-7 cm), and in the spring it is dug shallowly.
Pruning
The tree needs annual pruning
Since the young Christmas tree does not have a main trunk, it is necessary to carry out formative pruning, removing and pruning the side shoots.
In this case, the main stem is tied to a high peg. Formation is done in the spring, until the buds begin to swell. Sanitary procedure - annually, cutting dry and damaged branches.
Reproduction
The herringbone reproduces by cuttings or seeds.
It is recommended to cut the plant in early June, using 10 centimeter lower branches. They are treated with a growth regulator and deepened into a moist rooting substrate.
Coniferous seeds are sown in spring or autumn, pre-treated with a stimulant and soaked for several days.
Diseases and pests
This species is often threatened by spruce sawflies, eating young shoots. Having noticed the caterpillars, it is necessary to treat the tree with special preparations (Fury, Actellik, etc.). Bark beetles can be a potential hazard.
For their prevention, pheromone traps or antiferomones are used, and insecticides are used to combat them.
Signs of mite damage are white dots and a cobweb on the needles. Often, pests appear in conditions of too dry air, therefore, in order to avoid invasion, it is recommended to irrigate the spruce crown. Insects that have already appeared are disposed of with the help of special preparations - acaricides.
Gardeners reviews
According to the Hoopsie owners, it grows into a real garden decoration. According to the description, a young herringbone does not look so impressive, but by the 6th year of life (after proper trimming and shaping procedures) it becomes very beautiful and elegant.
The price of spruce strongly depends on the age and height of the seedlings. Small plants (up to 60 cm) can be bought almost 10 times cheaper than older and already formed ones. However, it is important to understand that in the first case you will have to carry out the formation yourself.
Gardeners note that many seedlings are sold crooked, but with proper care, this does not spoil the overall picture. For alignment, the herringbone is tied to a support, the necessary slope is created and "guided" by trimming and shaping.
Colorado spruce "Hoopsie". Picea pungens "Hoopsii"
Varietal spruce prickly Hoopsie I Picea pungens Hoopsii
Spruce prickly Hoopsie. Picea pungens Hoopsii. Landing 2016
It is recommended to take a responsible attitude to the choice of a planting site in the garden. Suitable soil and good lighting affect not only the growth of the tree, but also its zest - the notorious blue color of the needles. The abundance of sun and good care will allow the beauty of this spruce to reveal itself to the fullest.