Cedar is planted on personal plots more and more often by both professionals and amateurs. A tree will not only give your garden landscape a more natural look, but will also bring tangible benefits.

Preparation for landing

Proper cultivation of conifers is not an easy task. It is necessary to choose a place, time, suitable planting material and prepare it.

Landing time

You can plant a tree at any time of the year, except winter. But seedlings that planted in the spring (April - May) or in the fall (October - November) are best taken root.

Preparing planting material

If you plan to plant cedar with seeds, then in the autumn you need to collect the cones and extract the kernels. Next, it is necessary to carry out stratification, which involves the following steps:

1. Pour seed water at room temperature for 6 days.
2. Every 48 hours, the fluid must be changed.
3. Prepare a mixture of seeds and peat. Leave it at a temperature not exceeding + 28 ° C for 2 months, stir occasionally and add water.
4. Then it is necessary to place the container with the mixture in the room (until sowing), where the air temperature is in the range from + 5 ° С to + 10 ° С.

Seedlings and cuttings do not need additional processing.

Selection and preparation of the landing site

For planting, it is recommended to choose a more spacious plot, since the branches of an adult cedar are scattered in a diameter of more than 2 m. It is also necessary to ensure that the foundations of buildings are no closer than four meters to the plant. The territory should be adequately lit or in partial shade.

Important! The water used in the stratification process must first be brought to a boil and cooled.

Influence on growing conditions by region

Cedars perfectly sprout or take root in the central strip of the Russian Federation. More and more coniferous plants are planted in the Moscow region, Yaroslavl, Vologda, Kostroma regions.

Due to the moisture content of the loamy and loamy soils that prevail there, the tree feels comfortable. The peculiarity of the cedar is that it can grow on almost any type of soil. An exception are the soils of boggy regions. Climatic conditions and rainfall can be compensated by irrigation or sprinkling.

Proper fit

There are three ways to plant cedar: using seeds, cuttings (twigs) and a seedling. Each method has its own rational fit instruction.

Did you know? Celtic druids called the ritual bowl with cedar resin "the cup of life."

Seed

To plant a tree using prepared seeds (as described above), you need to perform several steps:

1. Submerge the seed in the soil about 3-5 cm.
2. Cover on top with plastic wrap. This is done to protect the landing from attack by birds.
3. When the hard shell on the seedlings disappears, it is necessary to remove the polyethylene.

How fast the cedar rises

Sprouts will begin to emerge after a few weeks. But replanting young shoots to a permanent place is recommended not earlier than after 2-3 years. The tree grows in the first 5-6 years is not fast, but then the process will noticeably accelerate.

Did you know? Even in the days of the existence of ancient civilizations, cedar was considered the best material for construction. The sarcophagi of the pharaohs were made of cedar wood, temples and palaces were built.

Sapling

It is more reliable to plant a well-formed, strong seedling on your personal plot. To do this, adhere to the following algorithm of actions:

1. Dig a meter deepening in the soil, width - 2 m (the dimensions of the pit directly depend on the size of the root system of the tree).
2. Pour sand into the recess (provided that the soil is heavy).
3. Then add 80 - 100 liters of compost, dig.
4. Align the roots on the seedling, while holding an earthen lump with your hands.
5. In order for the root system to be sufficiently saturated with moisture, it is necessary to immerse it in a container with water for half an hour.
6. Next, you should build a hill at the bottom of the recess and spread the root processes along its surface.
7. Fill with soil and lightly tamp with your hands.
8. Water the trunk circle using about 50 liters of water.
9. When moisture is absorbed into the soil, it is necessary to mulch using compost.

The root neck should always be at ground level. This should be taken into account when deepening the plant, since the soil will eventually settle by 8-10 cm.

Twigs

In order to grow a plant that is distinguished by its attractiveness and accelerated growth, it is possible to plant a twig (cuttings) of the described tree on a pine. Let's consider the main stages.

1. The branches of cedar should be cut 20-30 cm long.
2. At the junction, remove the conifers.
3. Make an incision with a blade on the stock and scion about 3-5 mm.
4. Connect the branch with the "mother" plant in places of incisions.
5. Securely fasten with strips of polyethylene.
6. After 2 months, the retaining winding can be removed.

After a few seasons, the grafted stalk "will turn" into a full-fledged seedling, which can be transplanted to a permanent place in the summer cottage. And after 5-6 years, cones will form. The above method is very time consuming and it is used mainly by professionals.

Cedar Care

Any plant sprouted and planted at home needs care. In order for the tree to develop quickly and fully, to be healthy, it is necessary to follow several recommendations.

Watering

In summer, the cedar receives a sufficient amount of moisture, but during the heat season, watering is necessary. When the soil dries, you should moisten the tree with water until the liquid is completely absorbed in the trunk circle. In the autumn, watering can be reduced.

Top dressing

The tree needs to be fed twice a season. In March - April, organic fertilizers are applied to the soil. To do this, you can use the drug "Bioklad", dissolving 50 ml of fertilizer in 10 l of water.

And in September - October they are fed with products that contain phosphorus and potassium. For example, fertilizer for conifers "Bona Forte". For one tree, 80–100 g of the drug is used.

Tree pruning

In order for the shape of the crown to acquire a natural, natural look, you only need to create space for growth. Only branches with damaged, dried up or diseased diseases need to be trimmed.

Important! Sharpened garden shears or pruners should be used, having previously treated the blades with an alcohol solution.

It is not recommended to prune trees under the age of five. Spring is more appropriate. At the places of cuts, they are treated with garden var.

Winter preparations

When autumn top dressing and water-loading irrigation were completed, the last step remained in preparing the seedling for winter frosts. To do this, you need to cover the tree with a grid. This will help protect the branches from strong winds and snow buildup.

Did you know? Cedar is a symbol of the country of Lebanon. The tree is depicted on its flag. True, unfortunately, due to deforestation, trees in this country are almost gone.

Possible diseases and pests

Often, cedar is exposed only to fungus. This disease is incurable, but it can be prevented. To do this, recommend:

• planting material, before planting, treat with fungicides;
• treating young plants with preparations containing copper;
• remove weeds, fallen leaves and needles in the area of ​​the trunk circle.

How fast does a tree grow

The growth rate of cedar largely depends on its location. The maximum growth is 35-45 cm per year at the age of 50-120 years. By five years, it gives an increase of up to 15 cm per year, by 10 years - up to 36 cm, and by 20 years - up to 75 cm. Further, the growth rate of the tree is, on average, 20-30 cm per year. The maximum height of an adult plant is 44 m.

Planting and caring for a cedar in a pot

It is possible to germinate a seedling before transplanting into open ground in a pot. Medium-sized containers with drainage holes are best. Under the pot you need to place a stand in which water will collect.

Next, you must follow these steps:

• pour soil into the container (one third of the total volume of the container);
• place a seedling in the center;
• fill up with the remnants of the earth and tamp;
• to water.

When the plant begins to grow actively, it will require transplantation into a larger container. The soil must be fertile, with peat content. To it is recommended to add needles - to protect against insects.

How to distinguish cedar from pine

The main difference, of course, is the fact that pine is much more common than cedar. But you can distinguish trees by external signs:

• cedar blooms in late June, and pine in late May;
• pine bark is covered with a large number of cracks;
• needles are collected in cedar bundles of 5, and in pine - 2 pieces;
• pine cones are elongated, while pine cones are more rounded and hang.

Growing cedar is a very painstaking task, but the result is worth it. The tree will delight you, your children and even grandchildren with its appearance, fresh air and many useful tools that can be made from needles, tar and cones.