Ornamental plants are widely used by landscape designers and gardeners when ennobling the site and giving it a modern, beautiful look. Mountain Pine Winter Gold is an original shrub that, with its unusual color and dwarf structure, can transform the sad autumn or winter shades of the garden, turn it into a cozy and stylish place.
Mountain Pine Winter Gold
Juicy green, emerald needles in the summer turn lemon yellow in autumn, and in winter they acquire a delightful golden color (hence the name "Winter gold", which means "Winter gold" in English).
Brief information about the species
- Colour: from luscious green (emerald) in summer to golden in winter.
- Height: up to 1 m.
- Crown width: up to 1.5 m.
- In which regions is it growing: practically in all natural zones and climatic zones of European countries, especially in Southern and Central Europe.
- Landing features: Lighted areas are preferred. Crowding: the optimal distance between the planting pits is about 4 m.
- Immunity: resistance to most diseases and pests is observed.
Growing regions
Ornamental mountain pine Carstens Winter Gold was first obtained by the method of selection by Dutch breeders in 1969.
Initially, it only existed in the Netherlands. Nowadays, if the soil meets the recommended conditions, the variety is grown in almost all natural zones and climatic zones of European countries, especially in Southern and Central Europe.
Grows remarkably in sandy or sandy loam moist or moderately dry soil, even if it contains few nutrients. Prefers slightly acidic soil.
Plant characteristic
Winter Gold is a slow-growing dwarf plant: on average, it grows by 4 cm in 1 year.
By the age of 10 it reaches a maximum of 1 m in height and about 1.5 m in width.
It is a chameleon - the color of the needles changes depending on the season. The Karstens variety has the brightest hue in winter - during this period it resembles an orange-orange ball.
Mountain pine is unpretentious to irrigation and soil, drought-, wind- and frost-resistant.
The minimum temperature for growth is -35 ° C. It adapts well to various climatic conditions.
External description
Winter Gold is a beautiful, bright, unpretentious plant that requires minimal maintenance
- The crown is spherical, fluffy, thick. Pine needles are hard, short, sharp, collected in bunches of 2 needles.
- The branches are vertical. They are densely located in relation to each other. Almost close to the ground.
- The bark is initially smooth. Color from grayish brown to dark gray. It gradually cracks, small scales appear on it.
- Cones are round, small, from 2 to 4 cm in diameter. The color is dark brown.
- The root system is well developed. Branched roots, outstretched. Location from superficial to in-depth.
Landing
Trees need sunlight
For the planting of Winter Gold pine to be successful, all recommendations must be followed.
An area with rocky-sandy soil, well-lit by the sun's rays, is best suited.
Sapling selection
Planting is best done:
- in mid-spring (from late April to early May);
- in early autumn (from late August to mid-September).
If, for some reason, the procedure takes place in winter, with frozen soil, then this can be done only with large shrubs.
Seedlings are chosen at the age of 3 to 5 years. They take root best in a new location.
Site preparation
A planting pit is prepared for planting pines. It should be slightly larger than the root system.
A drainage layer with a height of about 20 cm is lined at the bottom. Gravel and broken brick are suitable as a material for it.
Drainage is especially important for heavy and wet soils. Pour some sand on top.
Tip: If the soil is mostly sand, thin it with clay.
Landing technology
In the process, you need to try to keep a clod of earth formed around the roots.
- A seedling is planted in a prepared hole, filled with a substrate from turfy soil and sand, taken in an approximate ratio of 2: 1 (the amount depends on the soil, the substrate should pass water and air well, be light);
- it is very important not to bury the root collar in the ground, it is advisable to raise it so that, when it shrinks, it finds itself at the level of the ground (this is especially true for large shrubs);
- the ball of the substrate poured into the near-trunk circle is carefully tamped and watered abundantly with water.
When planting several crops, take into account their further growth. Leave a distance between them: for large varieties about 4 m, for small ones - about 1.5 m.
Care
Winter gold does not require complex maintenance. However, some recommendations for watering, fertilizing, pruning, propagation, etc., are still necessary.
Watering
Do not water the shrub too often:
- immediately after planting, the near-trunk circle is abundantly irrigated;
- the first 30 days, the procedure is carried out once a week at the rate of up to 2 buckets per 1 bush;
- after the specified time, watering is needed only during periods of prolonged drought.
Like most conifers, the variety tolerates a lack of moisture well.
Top dressing
The pine does not need feeding
Mountain pine does not need frequent fertilization. It is enough for the first couple of years after planting to add a growth stimulant to the soil from time to time.
The optimal amount is from 30 to 40 g per 1 sq. m. soil. Adult shrubs are unpretentious, strong and hardy, so they do not need feeding at all.
Mulching and loosening the soil
In the wild, the culture prefers slightly acidic soil, it will be useful to create a natural habitat for it in the garden.
The easiest way to achieve this is by regular mulching and loosening of the soil.
The first mulching is carried out immediately after planting. The trunk circle is mulched and well watered.
As mulch, you can use:
- natural organic matter - leaves, grass, straw, humus;
- inorganic materials - stones, sand, gravel, crushed rubber, etc.
The mulch layer should be 5 to 7 cm.
Recommendation: do not remove the needles that have fallen from a mountain pine - they will also serve as a good mulch that can retain moisture in the soil and feed the plant with useful minerals.
Haircut and trim
Experienced gardeners recommend caring for the plant in the form of a haircut in the second year of the seedling's life. The growth of branches directly depends on this.
It is desirable to form a crown in late winter or early spring. You can pinch instead of trimming.
Information: a grafted pine tree on a trunk, the crown of which does not grow very large, can be trimmed, forming a very nice ball shape.
Preparing for winter
A young plant in winter can suffer from both severe frosts and sunburn. It is advisable to take measures to protect it.
- Shelter. Spruce, burlap, non-woven agrofibre are used as a covering material. They cover the seedlings until spring.
- Binding. The branches of especially large pines are tied together to avoid breaking them under the weight of the snow.
- Snow removal. Snow accumulates between the branches of the bush. It must be removed, since acting on the principle of an optical lens, it provokes burns at the base of the shoots.
- Powder. Ice build-up on the bark can harm the plant. To get rid of it, the twigs are sprinkled with earth, peat. This causes the ice to thaw without harming the shrubbery.
In order for the mountain pine to finally wake up in the spring, it is watered with warm water.
Reproduction
The flowering and fruiting period begins at the age of 6 years and lasts for 10 years. Reproduction is annual, from late May to early June.
Cuttings of various varieties of mountain pine have too narrow a layer of callus, so it is difficult for shoots to launch roots. Plant propagation by seeds is recommended.
The tree is recommended to propagate by seed.
The buds are harvested in late autumn and placed in a warm room to open. Seeds are placed in water and only those that fall to the bottom of the container are selected for sowing.
Then:
- soak them in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for half an hour;
- spread on a constantly moistened piece of cloth for 14 days;
- hatched specimens are treated with a fungicide for prophylaxis and placed in pots with sphagnum and pine bark to a depth of 5 mm;
- put in a warm, well-lit place;
- the substrate is periodically watered a little.
The sprouts appear in mid-spring. Over the summer, their root system gets stronger, and the next spring they are planted.
Diseases and pests
The variety has a stable immunity to most ailments.
The most dangerous for him is the fungal disease Schütte, the main signs of which are:
- blackening of twigs;
- drying and shedding of needles.
For treatment, timely treatment of the shrub with a fungicide is needed.
Of the pests, pine hermes can be distinguished - aphids that feed on coniferous sap.
Its presence on the plant is easily recognized by the white cannon on the needles and the poor growth of Winter Gold. Less commonly it is damaged by ticks, bark beetles.
In the fight against insects and as a prevention of their appearance, spraying with insecticides is used. The tick is destroyed with acaricides.
Use in landscape design
A low-growing shrub harmoniously fits into the landscape both in single and in group planting. They are decorated with:
- alpine slides and rockeries;
- balconies, loggias;
- terraces, places for rest;
- stone gardens;
- hedges;
- walls of buildings;
- sculptural compositions, fountains;
- stony soil of slopes;
- curbs, fences, lawns.
Mountain pine can be planted with other coniferous and deciduous trees, berry bushes, vertical flowers.
For low-growing plants, it serves as a beautiful evergreen background.
When planted in a group with tall crops, dwarf pine is planted in the foreground.
Mountain pine Winter Gold. Brief overview, description of features, where to buy pinus mugo Winter Gold
Mountain pine Winter Gold / Pine planting and care
Mountain pine Winter Gold. Short overview, description of features, where to buy pinus mugo Wintergold
Reviews of gardeners
Most gardeners appreciate the experience of growing Winter Gold pine. They are attracted to the plant:
- unpretentious care;
- resistance to drought, frost, disease, pests;
- beautiful appearance, especially in winter;
- the possibility of creating with its help a unique landscape design.
It is possible to grow a culture not only for professional gardeners, but also for novice amateurs.