Larch Diana is a magnificent and very unusual tree that will delight the beauty of its owner a couple of years after planting. This variety differs from the rest in that all its branches are curved, as well as small coniferous needles. In summer, Diana, despite the fact that it is a coniferous plant, is quite soft and fluffy. But in the fall, when the needles fall, it turns into a kind of work of art with expressive elements. By its nature, larch grows upward, tends to the sun. But often gardeners and landscape designers prefer to trim it, giving it a certain shape. This Japanese larch is also called Kempfer.

Description of Larch Diana

Larch Diana can be described as a small coniferous tree with rounded needles. Its height reaches about 20 m and a width of about 5 m. While the plant is young, it grows at a fast pace, but with age, growth becomes much slower.

Did you know? Kempfer's larch begins to bear fruit only at 15–20th year of life.

Decorators often use larch as a tapeworm in the garden, on the flowerbed or lawn, creating unusual fascinating compositions with their help. Spiral twisted branches with fluffy needles of bright green color will decorate any area. The cultivated plant blooms in small 5-centimeter bright pink cones.With the onset of autumn, the needles change color from green to yellow, and then fall like leaves. A refined tree loves moisture, the sun and nutrient-rich soil. It will not grow in stagnant, very humid places with groundwater. Or in this case, you need to make drainage from pieces of brick. Every spring, it is necessary to top-dress with organic and mineral substances. There are a large number of special mineral fertilizers for conifers.

Pros and cons of the variety

Despite the fact that the needles of Diana fall like larch leaves, it is quite persistent and has a huge number of advantages compared to deciduous trees.

• Even some conifers can not boast of such advantages of Diana, such as:
• high growth rate - for 1 year grows by 1 m;
• frost resistance and resistance to sharp climatic changes;
• easily tolerates drought and strong winds;
• rarely amenable to disease;
• not afraid of pests;
• young seedlings rarely die due to rodents, in comparison with other tree species.

• Minuses
• exactingness to substrates;
• It does not tolerate stagnation of water and places with groundwater, which are quite close to the surface of the earth.

Growing larch varieties Diana

This conifer tree got its name due to the fact that for the winter it drops needles, like deciduous trees. Wild larch can reach 50 m in height, but the bred new decorative forms are much lower and can even be dwarf. Diana does not take up much space in the garden, but it can become a central element in the decor. Often a weeping culture is grafted onto the stems, thus forming an unusual shape of any height.

To grow this plant is quite simple, because it grows quickly, is not afraid of frost, drought and winds. Its wood is quite strong and dense; cellulose, essential oil, and even elements for future medicines are extracted from it. It is worth noting that the standard larch is more moody and whimsical than other trees. For this tree shape, waterlogging and drying of the substrate can lead to inevitable death.

Selection and preparation of a landing site

Choose and prepare a place for planting, taking into account the basic preferences of perennial conifers. Since Diana is long-lived, the place must be universal. In the future, it is advisable to do without transfers. Derived decorative varieties are very sensitive to the composition of the earth. Fertile drained and, most importantly, slightly acidic soil is best suited for planting.Larch also grows well on clay soils, chernozems and mixed loams. It is worth noting that the crop will not grow on wetlands and will reduce growth rates on sand. The seat should be well lit, but a slight shadow at the roots is acceptable. The plant has deep and powerful roots, thanks to which it is completely indifferent to winds and drafts. Larch is such a persistent culture that even in a smoky urban environment it will feel at ease.

Larch planting

It is quite difficult to propagate and grow larch using cuttings. Often this method is ineffective, and it is also time-consuming, so gardeners prefer to grow this plant from seeds. However, seed propagation takes a lot of time. To grow seedlings, you need to spend at least 2 years. Not everyone is ready and has the opportunity to do this difficult task.

Video: how to plant larch

Seeds

The seeds necessary for planting are in the cones, which, after full ripening, will open only in autumn. After collecting the cones, they need to be placed in a warm place and wait until they begin to open to get seeds. In the case of the Diana variety, the cone does not open strong enough for the seeds to spill out themselves, so you have to get them yourself. When you get the necessary planting material, you need to be careful, because the seed can be easily damaged. Note that not all seeds germinate, and as a result, you can get only 10% of the planted material.

Important! When planting larch, you must be as careful as possible and not damage mycorrhiza (fungus root). Otherwise, damage to the root system will lead to the death of the plant.

Before planting the seeds, they must be soaked in water for a couple of days and put in a cool place. In December, the seeds are planted in containers and left for stratification. The soil in the container should always be moistened, but not flooded with water. After standing for 3 months in a cool place with temperatures up to + 5 ° C, the seeds are transplanted into a container with warmer soil to a depth of 5 mm.Throughout the entire growth period, seedlings must be provided with moisture, heat and light. It is advisable to keep the container with young seedlings until the end of autumn on the street. And for the winter again bring in a cool place, like a basement. So they are grown for 2 years and only after this period is transplanted to a constant place of growth.

Video: how to grow larch

Cuttings

Vegetative propagation of this variety is not as popular as seed. This is because the shoots take root very slowly, and the root system of cuttings, in most cases, does not develop at all. To make the cuttings as successful as possible, it must be carried out in a greenhouse with fog or in a cool greenhouse.

Did you know? Japanese larch often lives up to the age of 500 years.

Thanks to such conditions, cuttings take root already in the 3rd month, and high-quality roots with which you can transplant will appear only after 2 years. Designers and gardeners know that the propagation of Kempfer larch varieties is very problematic. Nevertheless, they use this method in the hope of obtaining a new unusual tree. It is worth noting that this method is completely unsuitable for plant propagation in open areas. It is better to do this in nurseries and greenhouses.

Care after planting larch

This larch variety is undemanding in care, and this is its great advantage. An adult plant does not need additional or excessive attention. Actively engaged in watering, loosening the soil, top dressing is necessary only during the formation and development of the tree. As soon as it grows and takes root, the need for additional care is significantly reduced.

Watering

Watering young seedlings is necessary 1-2 times a week. In the summer - at least 2 times. The amount of watering depends on the natural conditions of the area where larch grows. Watering can be affected by: climate, soil composition, placement of plants on the site.

One young larch usually takes from 1.5 to 2 buckets of water. adult trees need water only in the summer, hottest days. Coniferous crops are susceptible to sprinkling, so if you can collect rainwater, use it. So the larch will feel much better.

Fertilizer and fertilizer

Feeding and fertilizing plants should only be during the development period. Adults do not need this at all. Specialists recommend using special fertilizers for coniferous plants, which are a whole complex, for top dressing. Experienced gardeners use a balanced mineral fertilizer called Kemira. It must be diluted in water in an amount of 100 g of funds per 1 m² of land. It is very important to apply fertilizer at the beginning of spring, before the vegetation process begins.

Humidity and air temperature

Larch Diana, like many other plants, loves moisture. But its oversupply can be fatal for this plant. Moderate humidity and deep groundwater deposits will positively affect the growth and development of the tree. While the wetlands will rot the root system.

Important! Young seedlings must be protected from direct sunlight and sudden changes in temperature. To prevent the plants from dying, make a small shelter for them like a canopy.

Diana easily tolerates heat, so in the summer she does not experience any inconvenience. Strong winds and drafts are not terrible for her either. As for frost resistance, this variety is quite resistant to survive in the winter in a territory with a subtropical climate without shelter.

Pruning

Despite the fact that the conifer is not particularly picky in care, it still needs attention. Pruning is a must for plant care. It is worth noting that this variety is not the best for curly trimming. To form complex shapes from it is quite difficult and even almost impossible.To increase the bushiness, you need to remove the shoots as early as possible. You need to do this when they have stopped growing, but not yet numb. But in the spring, no matter how pathetic it is, it is necessary to cut the largest branches. Thanks to this pruning, you can get a beautiful fluffy tree and even give the crown a ball shape. In addition, in this way it is easy to control the height of the tree.

Video: larch crown formation

Lighting

Lighting is very important for any kind of larch. Some breeds can grow only in a well-lit area, while others can grow in partial shade. But, nevertheless, not a single plant from the larch family will grow in complete shade.

Variety Diana is a photophilous variety and needs a lot of sunlight. If planted in the shade, the tree will begin to lag behind in growth and development, after which it will cease to grow at all. Without the sun, the number of shoots will decrease. This, in turn, will make the tree almost bare even in summer.

Preparing the plant for winter

This plant is quite frost-resistant, so an adult representative does not need winter shelter. Even if spring frosts damaged the shoots, they will recover very quickly in the active period of growth.As for young seedlings, in winter, as well as in early spring and late autumn, they need to be covered with kraft paper or other durable material.

What are the mistakes when growing

Not knowing enough information about the cultivated plant, a huge number of mistakes can be made during its cultivation, which, in turn, will lead to its destruction. Often, inexperienced gardeners are mistaken in choosing a planting site. For this variety, the shady part of the garden with stagnant water will be detrimental. Banal non-compliance with the temperature regime will entail a malfunction in the development of the plant.

Did you know? Larch can not be planted near the elm or birch, because their root system suppresses the roots of larch, which leads to the death of the plant.

In addition, when growing a young tree, you need to ensure that spring frosts do not damage the shoots and young crown. To prevent this, you need to cover the plant with winter covering material in time. It is also important to monitor possible pests that destroy the needles. You can get rid of them with insecticides.

What it looks like in landscape design

Larch Diana surprises with its appearance. In late April, the yellow branches of the tree are covered with soft bright green needles. At the same time, golden pollen flies between pale yellow spikelets and red-pink cones.In summer, Diana acquires a bright green color, and from the outside it seems that she is soft and fluffy thanks to her twisted needles. The weeping form of larch is ideal for planting on a lawn or near a small pond or fountain.

Larch Growing Tips Diana

Growing larch from a small seed or cuttings is quite difficult, but you can still. Experienced specialists provide all the possible information on how to grow this decorative tree successfully.

To do this, you should follow some tips:

• during the active growing season, in no case should the plant be transplanted;
• transplantation is permissible only in the autumn or spring (until the awakening of the kidneys);
• Before transplanting the tree, it is necessary to trim the crown so that the root system does not have difficulty rooting;
• in order to overcome pests and preserve the plant, it is necessary to cut off the affected branches, spray the tree and sprinkle the trunk circle with disinfectants.

The long-standing weeping culture is popular among landscape designers due to its unusual appearance. Larch Diana is ideal for creating compositions in a garden, alley or square. The adult long-liver is undemanding in leaving, therefore many gardeners fell in love with this.