Spruce - description, properties, photos. What mysteries does the spruce forest hide? Where does spruce grow?

Canadian spruce "Konica" diseases

It is no secret that almost all plants are affected by diseases and pests, and blue spruce is no exception. If you notice that small yellow bubbles have appeared on the needles of your Christmas tree, then most likely the blue spruce has been affected by the fungal disease rust. To treat it, it is necessary to treat the tree once every 10 days with Vectra, Skor or Fundazol. Repeat the procedure three times.

And one more thing fungal disease on blue spruce "Konica" is a disease of Schutte needles.

There is such a thing large number, that it is difficult to count everything, but they are all divided into needle-eaters and bark beetles (xylophages).

The first type of pest, eating needles and young shoots, completely gnaws the blue spruce. For example, if a spruce bud is eaten away from the inside, then most likely the tree was attacked by a spruce sawfly or a spruce moth caterpillar. If the buds of the plants are eaten away from the outside, it can be assumed that a weevil has settled on the Canada spruce.

The listed pests are very dangerous for young seedlings because they prevent the plants from developing normally and growing their crown. At mass attack tree growth slows down or stops completely.

Pests of Canadian blue spruce that feed exclusively on needles include caterpillars of leafroller butterflies, sawflies, moths, waveweeds, weevils, yellowtails, monk butterflies and some leafrollers. These insects multiply quickly and can destroy more than one tree.

But not only the needles are attacked by pests, the bark is also susceptible to insect invasion.

This delicacy feeds on bark beetles, borers, borers, longhorned beetles and borers. They make real tunnels under the bark of the spruce, causing irreparable damage to the plant.

Most often, these insects settle on blue spruce trees growing in dry conditions. There is another pest that eats spruce bark - the large spruce beetle (dendrocton). Its presence on the tree is indicated by large (up to 3 cm) holes at the very bottom of the trunk near the root part. The holes are always generously filled with resin.

Almost any landscape design option involves the use coniferous trees. And forest areas with mature trees are considered best place for the construction of a country residence. But often the needles at the top of a spruce shoot acquire an unnatural red color, young shoots dry out and stop growing, disfiguring the tree? Why is this happening?

Conifers have their own pests, which, just like you, never cease to rejoice at their appearance on the site. Pests that affect the growth of young spruce shoots include sucking, pine-eating and stem pests. However, it should be remembered that pests rarely attack healthy, properly planted and well-groomed spruce trees. Timely application of fertilizers and proper care of trees contributes to proper development tree and protects it from diseases.

To avoid the appearance of pests, but you don’t know what to pay attention to, consult with specialists. Call at any time, we are always in touch!

Let's talk about the main pests of young spruce shoots.

Sucking pests

Sucking pests of conifers include coccids, aphids, spider mites and hermes. When attacking a tree, they suck out the juices from the needles, trunk, shoots, branches and even roots. Outwardly, they are practically invisible, but they can be detected by sticky secretions covering the needles and the formation of galls (small unnatural cones on spruce branches).

If there are yellowish spots on the old needles, then we can talk about damage to the tree spruce aphids. This small insect no more than 2 mm long, which can be detected if you place a sheet of paper under the branch being examined and knock on it. Aphids are bred by ants. If a large number of ants are found, you should carefully inspect the tree. Aphids also indirectly affect young shoots, slowing down their growth.

If, in addition to yellowing and curvature of the needles, fluffy white formations are visible, then it is possible that this is a lesion hermes green. It forms galls at the ends of young shoots, which enlarge, acquiring a crimson color. Pest larvae grow and develop inside such a cone - about 120 pieces. Next year, the branch on which you found the galls will dry out. Hermes larvae are brown or yellowish green. They feed on pine needles, causing them to dry out and fall off. When severely damaged by Hermes, young shoots of spruce may completely stop growing and the tree dies.

Sometimes you can see that some needles are entwined with a cobweb, but when there is a gust of wind, the needles fly off and the branch is exposed. That's how he works spruce leaf roller, whose caterpillars mine the needles at the base. It is difficult to diagnose if you do not touch the branch with the affected needles with your hand.

On young seedlings that do not receive proper care, it often appears spruce spider mite. The needles become covered with yellowish spots, then turn brown and crumble. The mite causes significant damage to conifers growing on dry soils during hot seasons. During their life span, ticks replace 4-6 generations, which threatens to cover a significant area of ​​damage by the end of summer.

Shiny marks, browning and further falling of needles, drying out of branches - this is a manifestation spruce false scale, the females and larvae of which feed on the juice of needles and shoots, secreting honeydew. They form colonies that can not only severely damage the tree and slow down its growth, but if urgent measures are not taken, completely destroy it.

Seedlings and saplings of conifers are very vulnerable to root aphids, which suck juices from thin roots, as a result of which the needles dry out and fall off.

The closest relatives of aphids are coniferous scale insects having white scutes on the back. In dry years they reproduce in large numbers, so much so that they cover entire branches. As a result of the infection, spruce needles turn yellow and curl. In addition to the main harm, mealybugs are also carriers of viruses.

Pine-eating pests

There are quite a lot of pine-eating pests that feed on the needles and buds of coniferous trees. They are grouped into three main groups - butterflies, sawflies and beetles.

If the needles on the lateral and apical shoots change color to red-brown, but do not fall off for a long time, if young spruce needles are actively drying, it means that it has been mined and is now being completely eaten by the pest of young spruce shoots - the spruce sawfly, or rather its larvae. Sawflies make their home in nests made from excrement and cobwebs. The fight against this group of pests comes down mainly to treatment against pine-eating caterpillars.

If the buds on a spruce tree are damaged from the inside, then the cause may be spruce bud sawfly or spruce moth larvae. If the kidney is eaten away from the outside, then this is weevil. Both the first and second, as well as damage to shoots, are extremely dangerous for young trees.

From May to July, moths can circle around coniferous trees. Don't admire prematurely. Following this, brown-gray caterpillars may appear on the branches. spotted bat, which from August to September eat needles from the tree. It could be moth dark gray or, for example, coniferous moth. In any case, it is dangerous to ignore the problem. Injections into a tree trunk give good results.

Stem pests

There are also stem pests that affect the growth of young shoots. For example, spruce larvae topographer bark beetle penetrate into the bark, releasing odorous substances, to which beetles from all over the area flock, flying up to 11 km in pursuit of the smell. It is difficult to save a tree that has been infested by topographers; the only method of combating the typograph bark beetle is to destroy it before the young generation of insects crawls out from under the bark. If the typograph bark beetle infestation occurs in the spring or early summer, then young spruce needles stop growing and the shoots actively dry out. After this, a massive fall of old needles occurs. As a rule, withered young shoots remain on the bare tree with red needles, without falling off. By the way, the topographical bark beetle purposefully destroys old coniferous trees in historical parks throughout the Moscow region.

Great spruce beetle, reaching 9mm in length, is aggressive and dangerous. It attacks old spruce trees, but does not disdain young ones. Affected trees must be removed immediately. There are more black spruce beetles, which make long moves in the wood, leaving characteristic notches on the surface. Eat spruce lumberjack, cutting wide passages. When affected by these pests, first of all, there is a change in the growth of young spruce shoots, which is clearly visible to a specialist.

Most stem pests settle on old or weakened trees. Therefore, monitor their condition. Call urgently ambulance, if you notice something is wrong and don’t know what to do. The health of your trees is in your hands!

Preface

Have your pine needles lost their shine, started to crumble and turn yellow? The cause may be fungal diseases and pests. They will help restore the health of your needles preventive measures and appropriate treatment.

This disease is typical only for representatives of coniferous species; it is provoked by fungal pathogens - ascomycetes. Depending on the nature of the manifestation, several forms of this disease are distinguished.

Schutte on spruce

Real Schutte– one of the main reasons for the premature loss of spruce needles. The risk zone mainly includes young and weakened conifers. Spruce needles infected with this fungus become brown, dry out and fall off. Such symptoms can be observed in spring and early summer. But in the fall, the disease manifests itself in the form of small yellow dots on spruce needles, which gradually darken. And on the branches where the needles have fallen off, black bodies form - these are fungal spores. In such a cocoon, the fungus survives winter frosts well, and in the spring it crawls out again.

Snow shutte– this type of fungus can be found on almost all types of conifers, including Norway spruce, blue spruce, Konica, lodgepole and common spruce. This disease poses a particular danger to snow-covered and northern regions, where it can even completely destroy the spruce. Infection with the fungus occurs already at a temperature of 0 degrees, and very rapidly. The causative agents of this disease of spruce trees cause the browning and death of conifer needles after the snow melts. During the summer season, the fungus progresses more and more, the spruce first becomes reddish-red, and then light gray, as in the photo. The needles begin to crumble and fall off. By autumn, fungal spores become more noticeable, dotting the branches with black dots. Favorable conditions For further spread of the fungus, snow falls and melts in the fall, drizzling rain, heavy snowfalls and a prolonged spring.

For preventive purposes, do not forget to cover the decorative spruce trees in your garden, especially the Konika spruce. Although it is considered frost-resistant, covering it for the winter will not harm it. Moreover, this will also protect Konica from sunburn, which she will help you get from the beginning of February. Use burlap, film, cardboard as a protective material, always leaving the bottom part open to avoid damage.

Brown Schutte or Snowy Brown Mold. It affects absolutely all types of spruce (including blue varieties). Manifests early spring when the snow starts to melt. Ideal temperature conditions For development, the mark is considered to be from 0 to +1 degrees. On dead brown conifer needles, a black-gray coating and dotted bodies of fungal spores are noticeable. With such a disease, the needles may not fall off for a long time, and thin branches die off gradually. The disease is provoked by dense plantings and high air humidity.

Snowy brown mold

Preventive measures include: selection of more resistant coniferous varieties (twisted and European spruce), regular thinning of dense plantings, timely destruction of diseased fallen needles and dried branches, as well as treatment with fungicides. When planting needles, pay attention to the intensity of contact with the area. sun rays. Remember, shaded areas are ideal conditions for the spread of Schutte, especially for small dwarf trees - Konika and prickly spruce. Treatment of fir trees is carried out with copper-containing and sulfur preparations - 1% Bordeaux mixture, Abiga Peak, Khom. As a preventive measure, use these fungicides for spraying in early spring and fall. At high risk infection, needles are also treated in the summer.

Do conifer needles acquire a reddish tint and fall off? It is worth taking a closer look at the root system. Typically, such signs signal a very unpleasant and dangerous soil-borne disease - tracheomecosis. Most often, this type of disease affects young coniferous plants with a superficial root system and a weak taproot. These breeds include: Unfortunately, this fungal disease cannot be treated, and the spruce dies. The plant must be removed along with the soil and burned, and the soil itself where Konica grew should be disinfected with a solution of copper sulfate.

Fungal rust pathogens attack pine needles and shoot bark. Their spores quickly spread to neighboring plants, causing significant deformation. Here are some of the most common types of softwood rust.

• Pine needle rust. The development of the fungus occurs in early spring. Chaotically located yellow bubble-like pustules form on the needles. If the disease is advanced, the spruce tree loses its decorative properties - their needles quickly begin to turn yellow and fall off prematurely.
• Pine spinner, blister or columnar rust. Infection begins with conifer needles and then spreads to the bark of the trunk and branches. In place of the areas affected by rust, resin is released, and yellow-orange bubbles protrude from the cracks in the bark - aeciopustules, they can be seen in the photograph. The mycelium forms thickenings, which over time provoke the formation of open wounds. Damaged shoots bend greatly and dry out.
• Rust of cones and spruce spinner. The inner side of spruce scales is affected by rounded dark brown aeciopustules. This leads to wide opening of cones and dissimilarity of seeds. If the fungus causes the shoots to bend, this form of spruce disease is called spruce spinner. The main carrier of spores of this fungus is bird cherry.

Spruce rust

For preventive purposes, try to plant coniferous trees away from plants that tend to become infected with rust; such garden crops include poplar, aspen, black currant, bird cherry and their hybrids. Perform constant pruning of affected shoots, trim dry branches and remove fallen needles in a timely manner. Treat fir trees for rust by spraying them with preparations. Fitosporin-M And Abiga Peak.

Let's start with, perhaps, the most important pest - the spider mite. They affect absolutely all types of cultivated plants. Their main activity occurs in spring and summer in hot, dry weather. Spider mites feed on cell sap. Their presence is evidenced by the presence of numerous small dots on the needles and an ordinary cobweb entangling the needles. If the spruce is severely affected by this pest, the needles turn completely white and become covered with numerous cobwebs. If you look closely, you can see the needles moving. As a preventive measure against these insects, try to spray the needles more often to maintain constant air humidity.

Spider mite on spruce

To combat, use special preparations against ticks - acaricides Apollo, Borneo, Envidor, Floromite, Flumite, as well as proven insecticides Akarin, Actellik, Fitoverm, Oberon, Agravertin, treating several times with one of the listed products.

The most frequently attacked by sawfly insects are Konika, Serbian, European, common spruce, and can also be found on blue needles. As a rule, spruce trees affected by these sucking insects recover the following year. But where sawflies really cause significant damage is pine trees. Sometimes they can form entire nests from their own excrement and the remains of damaged needles. The sawflies themselves also hide in nests, cutting through the tissue of trees using a special file, where they lay a clutch of eggs.

It will not be difficult to detect such a clutch; outwardly, sawfly larvae look like caterpillars. Sawflies are especially active from the beginning of May to the end of June. If you don't start fighting them in time, the branches will soon look scorched and eventually die. And getting rid of them is quite easy. Mechanically remove visible nests along with the larvae and spray coniferous plant one of the following insecticides - Fury, Aktellik, BI-58, Decis.

If you notice numerous passages on the bark of a coniferous tree, it means that your spruce has been colonized dangerous pests– bark beetles. Laying clutches of eggs in the uterine passages, they quickly pupate and, hatching from the pupae, gnaw holes in the bark through which they emerge. If bark beetles completely colonize the entire tree, it dies. Mostly weakened, diseased and drying trees are attacked by these pests. They pose a particular danger to small ornamental coniferous trees such as Konica (Canadian spruce). Good insecticides in the fight against these insect pests are BI-58, Bifenthrin, Clipper, Krona-Antip.

Early hermes - their activity can be observed at the end of June. Distinctive features– formation of small oval galls at the ends of branches. In August, you can see the activity of yellow sherry; the presence can be determined by fairly large green galls. But in late August and early September, late Hermes settle on the branches of coniferous trees, forming large spherical galls. The pests themselves feed on tree sap. The emerging larvae significantly deform the buds of pine and spruce. The outer shell of Hermes is covered with a durable downy growth, which makes them practically invulnerable. However, among insecticides it is still possible to distinguish worthy chemical preparations of high effectiveness - Commander And Aktar.

Early Hermes on a tree

Another common pest of conifers is the spruce aphid. These are small green insects only 1-2 mm long. When settling in colonies, they are able to suck large amounts of sap from the needles. They cause severe damage to trees such as Konica or Canadian spruce, as well as blue needles. You can notice the presence of aphids by the formation of numerous ant nests around the tree. The needles themselves become littered yellow spots and dry out. Insecticides help control these pests Aktara, Match, Dursban. If the damage is severe, the first spraying is recommended Aktara, and with alternating drugs every 2 weeks Match and Dursban. As a preventative measure, spray twice a day in May-June. Dursban, and also take care of the destruction of ant nests - the main companions of spruce aphids.

From childhood on Christmas and New Year people are used to smelling spruce branches. Mixing with the smell of tangerines, this fragrant pine aroma was a harbinger of a miracle, gifts, new experiences and the New Year.

For many centuries, Spruce has personified the symbol of a new cycle. In ancient times, remaining evergreen, Spruce was an allegory of eternal youth and immortality, longevity and fidelity.

For the same reasons, the Spruce “spruce branches” were and remain in many villages a sign of a bygone life. During the move funeral procession“spruce branches” made from spruce branches are thrown at the feet, saying goodbye to the departed. Their age has ended, but has passed into eternity.

In Scandinavia, spruce was used for ritual bonfires. The resinous firewood gave the fire unique strength.

names of Spruce

The word “Spruce” comes from the ancient Slavic word “jedlъ”, which means “prickly”.

The first mention of this tree in Russian writings appeared in the 11th century. Cognate words are found in all languages ​​of the Slavic group.

The Latin name for Spruce is Picea, which means “resinous”.

Where does Spruce grow?

Spruce forests are found throughout Russia. Basically these are dense, dense thickets with a small amount undergrowth.

Despite the fact that Spruce develops best in an open area, its shade-tolerant counterparts are found.

The most common type of tree is “Normal Spruce”. It is found in the European part of Russia, Finland and northern Europe. Spruce groves are found in both Siberia and the Urals.

Brothers of the Norway Spruce can be found in the Caucasus and Far East, on Kuril Islands and on Sakhalin. Even in North America and China, certain species of this thorny, fragrant tree grow.

What does El look like?

Spruce is a tall, stately tree with a straight, strong trunk and a dense crown. The branches are arranged in a pyramid and have spiny needles. The bark of Spruce is dense and covered with scales.

The height of Spruce can reach 30 meters, while the trunk volume of many species exceeds 1.5 meters

The average lifespan of a tree is 250 – 300 years. There are centenarians up to 600 years old.

After 10–15 years of life, the tree changes its root system, getting rid of the main root. That is why in the forest you can find these wind-fallen giants with their roots turned upside down.

When does Spruce bloom?

Female flowers form small cones, which, after pollination, turn into those same spruce decorations.

Male flowers form elongated catkins that scatter pollen in May.

In October, the seeds ripen in the cones and become prey for forest rodents. Fluffy squirrels They strive to prepare seeds for the winter.

Medicinal properties of Spruce

IN medicinal purposes They use spruce cones, pine needles and resin.

Daily consumption of 3–4 spruce needles for a month can restore immunity and increase resistance to a number of viral diseases.

Several spruce branches placed in a vase in a room can kill harmful bacteria indoors, leaving a pleasant aroma in the air.

Fir cones are rich in tannins and essential oils. They also contain copper, manganese, aluminum, and iron.

Essential oils are used in the fight against acute respiratory infections and diseases of the upper respiratory tract.

Syrup from the buds of Spruce is prescribed for microinfarctions.

A decoction of pine needles is used by inhalation to treat sore throat and sinusitis.

Spruce resin or resin has antiseptic properties and can be used in ointments to heal wounds and ulcers.

Applications of Spruce

Spruce wood– the most common material for construction and fuel. The wood is also used to make paper.

Spruce wood very soft and straight-layered. Despite its widespread use in construction, untreated wood is short-lived and quickly rots. That is why spruce wood is treated with antiseptics and mordants.

At the same time, Spruce wood is included in many modern materials, such as fiberboard, chipboard, laminated veneer lumber and others.

The musical properties of spruce wood have been noticed for a long time, so soundboards, bodies and other parts are made from this fragrant wood musical instruments.

Contraindications

Despite the huge number useful properties, preparations from Spruce have contraindications. Inhalations from spruce needles contraindicated in patients with asthma.

If you have an individual intolerance to substances contained in spruce cones and needles, you must be careful when using Spruce for medicinal purposes.

Too frequent consumption of decoctions and drinks from Spruce can be dangerous for the kidneys.

In ancient times on new year holidays The spruce was hung with its roots up, and not installed in a corner, as in modern times.

In Scandinavia, spruce branches are used to cover the paths along which the rulers' motorcades follow.

Blue Spruce has become widespread in cities not only because of the beauty of its needles, but also because of its resistance to polluted air.

Young shoots can grow from a dead Spruce root, which later become real trees. Thus, the tree clones itself.

A similar tree grows in Sweden, its age is close to 10 thousand years.

Spruce cones are often depicted on flags different countries. This fruit symbolizes a high goal and peak.