European Larch(Larix decidua) is a well-known and widespread tree found in gardens, forests and green areas. Very popular are the stemvarieties of European larch , in the form of small trees with hanging or attractively twisted shoots. We suggest what arelarch cultivation requirements , how to properly prune this plant, and how to combat diseases and pests that attack larch.
European moire - Larix decidua
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What does European larch look like?
European larchis a coniferous tree belonging to the pine family (Pinaceae), occurring in a natural state in the mountainous regions of Central Europe. In Poland, it is found in the upper parts of the Tatra Mountains.
In its pure form,European larch grows up to 40 m in heightIt has a straight trunk and a regular, conical crown, with side shoots and older branches hanging downwards. Larch shoots are overgrown with delicate, thin needles, which are gathered in bunches on short shoots, while single needles are arranged in a parallel way on long shoots.Larch is an exception among conifers as it sheds needles for the winterThe tree blooms in spring, with inconspicuous flowers transforming into small, egg-shaped cones.
European larch - varieties
European larch is available in several interesting varieties, perfect even for small gardens.Garden varieties of European larchare usually sold grafted on the trunk, as small trees with a spherical crown, shoots hanging down attractively or with irregularly twisted shoots.These plants are suitable for small gardens, for planting in rockeries and as solitaire in well-exposed places.
Spherical varieties of European larch:
European Larch 'Globus'- slowly growing shrub with a dense, spherical crown, without a guide. Usually it can be purchased as a grafted form, in the form of a small tree with a spherical crown. The maximum achievable crown diameter is up to 1 m. The needles of this larch variety are light green, turning yellow in autumn.
European Larch 'Kórnik'- an attractive variety with a spherical shape, usually offered in a stump form, as a small tree with a spherical crown. The crown in 10 years reaches 1 m in diameter. Short shoots with numerous buds covered with resin. Green needles.
Cultivars with hanging shoots:
European larch 'Pendula'- collective name for many types of hanging larch, usually sold as standard forms (grafted on a trunk) in the form of small weeping trees.The height of the trees depends on the amount of vaccination. European larches of Pula and Repens are very similar varieties.
European moire 'Pendula'
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Cultivars with irregular, twisted shoots:
European Larch 'Horstman Recurved'- a small tree with an irregular shape and spiral twisted shoots, which also look very attractive in winter, after the needles fall. Usually sold as a small tree. Green needles, yellow in autumn, fall in winter. Larch variety ideal for planting as a solitaire in exposed places.
European larch 'Krejci'- an attractive variety of larch with twisted, chaotically arranged shoots, thanks to which the plant resembles a bonsai tree and therefore recommended for exposed places and Japanese gardens. Dark green needles, arranged irregularly in dense clumps on the shoots.The plant is usually sold grafted on a trunk, in the form of a small tree.
European Larch 'Little Bogle'- a slowly growing shrub with an irregular pyramidal shape and slightly bent shoots, often with overhanging tips. Usually the branches are arranged in tiers. The needles are green in summer and yellow in autumn. In 10 years of cultivation, the plant reaches a height of about 1.5 m.
European larch - cultivation
European larch does not create problems in the garden, as long as we meet its habitat requirements. First of all,larch hates the shade . We absolutely need to provide it with plenty of sun for its proper development, otherwise it will lose its lower branches.
The soil for the cultivation of European larchmust be fertile, well-drained, humus-rich, moderately moist and acidic. The plant will also do well in a different position, let it not be too wet or too light. European larch cannot stand industrial air pollution, so it should not be grown in large urban centers.
European moire - Larix decidua
Fig. depositphotos.coms
Larch is sufficiently frost-resistant(plant hardiness zone 4) and well adapted to temperature fluctuations in our country. Only young trees, in the event of extremely unfavorable weather conditions, may freeze from time to time.
The recommendedplanting date for European larchis autumn, from late August to October. Then, adequately moist soil and moderate temperature favor rooting. Mulching the soil immediately after planting the plants will reduce water evaporation and will protect the root ball against frost. Fresh compost and pine bark can be used as mulch material.
European larch - pruning
Larch responds well to cutting , so we can form the desired shape without fear.This is especially important when you plan to create a larch hedge. In order to give the plants the right shape and stimulate them to thicken,pruning the larch is done in springDuring this period, you can also perform sanitary pruning, cutting out damaged and frozen twigs, and those that intersect with each other and excessively they thicken the crown of a shrub or tree. We remove all sick, broken and withered shoots.
European larch - diseases
Larch is a species resistant to diseasesand pest attacks. The most common diseases are larch fallout and larch cancer.
Larch fallowis a disease caused by the fungus Meria laricis. Young trees and 1-2-year-old seedlings are particularly vulnerable to this disease. The needles turn yellow, turn brown, and then prematurely, most often in summer, fall off the tree. High air humidity promotes the development of the disease, so in rainy weather, especially when the trees start to sprout needles, spray fungicides, e.g.Topsin M 500 SC or Scorpion 325 SC.
Larch canceris caused by the fungus Lachnellula willkommii. Young larches become weakened and whole plants die. When the fungus is infected with older specimens, numerous growths appear on the shoots, even covering the entire shoot. The shoots above the growths die off. To deal with this larch disease, cut out the affected parts, smear the wounds with Funaben Plus 03 PA paste, and additionally apply a fungicide spraying, e.g. Scorpion 325 SC.
The most common pests that attack larch are aphids and butterfly caterpillars.
Spruce-larch moth(Adelges laricis) is an aphid that feeds on spruce and larch. By feeding on larch, this pest damages the needles, which turn yellow and drop prematurely. The moth can be treated with Karate Gold, Mospilan 20 SP or Polysect 005 SL insecticides.If we prefer natural preparations, Emulpar 940 EC will be effective against gorse.
Larch Vaginismus(Coleophora laricella) is a butterfly that mines needles in the larval phase. At the turn of May and June, females lay their eggs on the underside of larch needles, from which caterpillars hatch and bite into the needles after about 2 weeks. At the end of summer, they make sheaths of eaten needles, in which they hibernate after attaching them to the buds of shoots or in cracks in the bark. Damaged needles turn yellow and twist. For protection, a pheromone dispenser can be used to lure the pest into a trap or spray it with an insecticide, e.g. Mospilan 20 SP.
Dandelion moth(Lymantria monacha) is a butterfly from the moth family whose larvae feed on tree leaves. Initially, they destroy the tips of one-year-old needles, and as they grow, they extend their feeding to two-year-old needles. Caterpillars also often damage the buds and even the tops of young shoots.
In spring (April at the latest), it is worth hanging sticky bands on tree trunks at risk of invasion. Adult females can also be caught in pheromone traps hung on trees.
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MSc Eng. Anna Błaszczak
