Conifers are very popular among gardeners due to their attractive appearance. From this article you will learn how to diversify your garden plot with their bright representative - Lavson cypress of Elwoodi variety. It also grows well in lawns and pots, which means you can decorate any room or porch of your house or cottage with this beautiful tree.

Plant characteristics

Loved by gardeners and landscape design professionals, Lavson's cypress was discovered in 1855 by a botanist, after whom he was named. First of all, do not confuse this decorative conifer with cypress, although they belong to the same family. The leaves of the first are lighter and smaller in size. The plant can reach a height of 70 m, it remains green all year round, constantly exuding a pleasant coniferous aroma.

The tree gains height slowly, like most conifers, but surely breaks records for longevity. Now in the world there are specimens over 600 years old. The fact that the species once widespread throughout Europe and America was almost destroyed for the sake of fragrant, not rotting and very light wood only adds value to the already famous tree.

The popular Lavson cypress variety, Elwoodi (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana Ellwoodiirin), was bred in 1920 in Svanmore Park (Great Britain) by the famous English gardener, who gave this variety his last name. Being decorative, this plant can grow up to a maximum of 1.5 meters in height. It is appreciated for its spectacular appearance, in the first place - for the rich velvet crown of a pyramidal shape. It is worth noting that, on its basis, the Elvudi Empire variety, which has a very beautiful green-blue needles, was later developed.

In spring, the cypress blooms and forms cones with a diameter of up to 1 cm. Later they acquire a beautiful soft woody color with a rare blue tan and complement the decorativeness of an evergreen plant.It is impossible to attribute Lavson of the Elwoodi variety to unpretentious gardeners, but it is so beautiful that summer residents decide on the difficult task of growing this cypress, considering it almost the most attractive of decorative conifers.

Is it possible to plant in open ground

Lavson is incredibly demanding on the acidity of the soil, which should not go beyond indicators from 4 to 5.5 pH. Well suitable, for example, sandy soils. Any limestone and clay in the composition will adversely affect the growth and appearance of the plant. The sun on the site is vital only for cypress with yellow foliage, otherwise they will lose their specific color and become untidy green.

And the rest, Lavson easily tolerates partial shade and short daylight hours. But frosts are not frightening to an exotic tree, an adult plant easily tolerates frosts up to -20 ° C, does not get sick and does not even slow down in a set of growth. Only young, immature seedlings are required to cover with lapnik or special non-woven materials. Moreover, it is important, as soon as the earth starts to warm up, remove the protection, otherwise the risk is high that the rotted earth will become a favorable environment for rot and fungal infections, and this young root system will not stand it.

Important! In regions with a warm climate, it is recommended to plant the plant in loamy soil, previously fertilized. In colder parts of the country, cypress should be planted in loose sandy soil, which will help keep the roots from freezing.

The difficulties that arise when growing cypress in open ground include the high need of the plant for regular and very voluminous watering. And in the days of drought, it is also important to sprinkle, that is, spray the crown. Mandatory when planting on the bed is mulching and loosening the trunk circle, as the evergreen crown evaporates moisture constantly.

A powerful root system quickly depletes nearby soil and needs a generous top dressing with organic and mineral fertilizers, at least once a month. Every spring you have to sanitary cutting with the removal of dry branches and wilted shoots. A classic garden var may be useful for treating fresh wounds. But if you are not afraid of the amount of upcoming trouble, you can safely plant Lavson's cypress and wait for the tree to grow rich in color and aroma.

When to plant

If you are confident in the quality of the purchased planting material and have chosen a place in full accordance with the requirements, then the main thing is to choose the right time for planting. The soil must be well warmed up, so it’s difficult to determine the exact date;. For the middle lane it is April and May - provided that there were no late frosts. Bird cherry cold (the time when the bird cherry blossoms) does not count.

Soil is considered warmed up, having a homogeneous, not ice-bound structure, at a depth a little greater than the bottom of the hole needed for planting. Also, the site should already be dry and free of runoff water. But keep in mind that the preparation of the land, nutrition, cultivation and disinfection, you need to do in the fall.

Moscow region

Among gardeners, fans of the cypress, an opinion has been rooted that it is impossible to grow Lavson in the suburbs. This version has at least two explanations. The first is the influx of fake planting material that flooded the markets about 10 years ago in the wake of a surge of interest in landscape art and in particular conifers.

Did you know? The genuine Miraculous Icon of the Mother of God is painted on a cypress board. Because of the properties of this tree, insects do not affect it, so it was used to paint portraits of saints and iconostases.

Indeed, in early adolescence it is almost impossible to distinguish varietal cypress from cheaper, and sometimes even stimulant-drained seedlings of other conifers. And the gullible Muscovites brought from the garden collapses either a simple cypress, or even a small thaw. Naturally, they did not wait for the handsome man promised with the catalog with exotic painted needles.

Today, as planting material, you can be sure if you contact the nurseries, and it’s easy to grow cypress from branches or seeds taken from the mother plant. The second reason for disappointment is more significant. Lavson really has a very specific mechanism for adapting to temperature extremes, which are famous for the Moscow Region. An adult healthy cypress easily tolerates cooling to -25 ° C, but not sharp, provided the crown is tightly protected.

Other regions

In warmer regions, Lavson feels at ease and is gaining height with pleasure.. For planting, it is only important to find loamy soil saturated with nutrients. This condition is mandatory, as a single, even regular feeding, an evergreen plant may not be enough. If you decide on a hedge or group formation, then the distance between the trees should be at least 1.5 m.

Proper fit

It is difficult to believe in such a feature, but Lavson, who is accustomed to the northern latitudes, has very tender seedlings. They can stop growing or even die from literally everything: cold watering, mechanical injury to the roots, distortion of the landing angle, too much sun or lack of light in sufficient quantity. Therefore, for proper care and quality growth, it is necessary to adhere to the rules of planting and choosing a place.

Did you know? The ancient Roman poet Ovid in his work "Metamorphoses" described the legend of a young man named Cypress. He asked the gods to become a tree forever, to always be sad about a deer friend whom he accidentally shot down on the hunt.

Site selection and preparation

A neat cypress Elwoodi will decorate any corner of your site, but in order for the plant to be comfortable, you need to take care of the right choice of place for planting. This coniferous plant does not tolerate the proximity of roads, any gas contamination and smog. The purged lowlands, dampness and coolness characteristic of the northern areas can weaken and even destroy it. But the southern direction, especially protected from gusts of wind by the house or porch, will allow you to gain a dense crown color and give strong, strictly oriented shoots.

Lavson loves open reservoirs, springs and lakes, but on condition that his root system does not face any flooding and stagnation of moisture. The cypress tree does not like transplantation and you need to choose a place with the expectation that he will settle here for his whole long life. It is useful to keep decorative cypress trees in the house. They perfectly purify the air, neutralize harmful substances, and also secrete phytoncides that kill microbes.

Preparing planting material

Elwoodi is an independent, non-hybrid variety, and therefore with equal success propagates both by cuttings and seeds. But, of course, dividing by shoots and layering significantly reduces the time to the formation of a new independent plant. In addition, the vegetative method allows you to immediately get a large number of tall young growth, which may be relevant, for example, for large design projects.

Video: Propagation of cypress cuttings

Material for cuttings is harvested in the spring, but not early, but when the plant entered active growth. Young branches of 30–40 cm are cut and placed in pots with fertile soil, which are tightly covered with polyethylene to create a greenhouse effect. Soil requires constant hydration, but it is important to prevent cooling, this will slow down or even stop rooting.

Today on the market there are many stimulants, but even without the use of them, the cuttings give the first roots very quickly. In order for the root system of young seedlings to form and be ready for transplantation into the open ground, provide them with warmth and uniform moisture.If you still decide to buy seedlings in a nursery, try to choose plants with a large earthen lump and pay attention to the appearance of a small cypress: slender, vertically directed trunk, smooth bark without flaws, juicy uniform color of needles.

Planting a seedling

It is most reliable to let the cuttings form in an impromptu greenhouse and transplant with the mandatory preservation of their own earthen coma.

To do this, follow these steps:

1. In a warm, well-loosened soil, holes should be arranged with a layer of drainage material at the bottom. Place the plant with the earthen lump in which it grew, put in the hole, maintaining the vertical orientation of the trunk.
2. Gently spread the roots to avoid roll. For stability at the bottom of the hole, you can form a small dense earthen mound. Position the seedling so that the root neck is flush with the surface of the earth, and in no case is it pressed into the hole when compaction of the soil. Having fallen asleep at the landing site with previously prepared soil, compact it tightly and pour it with water at room temperature.
3. After some time, when the water is absorbed, repeat the compaction of the soil and form an earthen rim along the diameter of the trunk circle. This will simplify watering and mulching.

Video: Cypress landing

Young cypress trees, already planted in open ground, it makes sense for some time to cover with polyethylene or transparent plastic cylinders. It is also important to block young seedlings from direct sunlight.

Care

If the seedling has taken root and formed, then caring for an adult plant will not be difficult. However, you still need to take care of him competently.As soon as you transplant the cypress to a permanent place, the first sanitary pruning is carried out in the same season. Remove branches that are damaged, weakened or protruding from the silhouette of the crown. Treat wounds and cuts with simple garden varieties or special pastes for disinfection.

Did you know? The oldest cypress in the world, which is more than 4000 years old, is located in the Yazd province in Iran.

Starting in spring, a tree needs regular top dressing with special mineral fertilizers intended for conifers. It is important to strictly follow the instructions and avoid overdose, otherwise a burn of the root system can provoke a disease or even lead to the death of the plant. A healthy cypress tree easily tolerates insect attacks and is resistant to disease.

But if the tree is weakened by an unsuccessful wintering, lack of nutrients, or the roots are soaked out, then any aggressive intervention of the parasites can lead to infection, disfigure the tree, stop growth and, in the end, destroy the cypress. The younger he is, the more carefully care should be taken: top dressing, pruning, protection from diseases and insects. As soon as the root system is fully formed, the cypress is able to take care of itself and you just have to water it, sometimes feed it with mineral fertilizers and carefully prepare for the winter.

Watering and feeding

In the spring and at the very beginning of summer, the main part of the fertilizer is introduced, but in other periods the plant is not worth pampering with nutrients, otherwise intensive growth will not allow it to prepare for winter. The first feeding of young animals is carried out no earlier than 2 months after landing in open ground at a permanent place.

Such a pause is needed to avoid root burns and premature stretching. But even after the indicated time, only low-concentrated solutions of mineral complexes are suitable for young plants. Adults who have formed the root system and gained green mass of Lavson are fertilized once every 2 weeks, usually combining the procedure with watering, mulching or loosening.

It is important to remember that the evergreen Lavson loves not only good watering, but also fresh humidified air. Therefore, in addition to regular, weekly, abundant (7–9 buckets) moistening of the soil in the near-stem region, on especially dry days it is necessary to carry out sprinkling, that is, dense spraying of the crown, at least 1-2 times a week. Young shoots will be enough 5 liters per unit and a one-time spraying per week, which should be carried out before sunrise or after sunset to avoid sunburn of needles.

Loosening and mulching

Loosening and mulching of the soil is necessary for all evergreens due to year-round evaporation of moisture in large quantities. In addition, breaking up the airtight earth crust formed after rain prevents fungal diseases and root rot.

The decorative effect of the decoration of the near-trunk territory is important. Shredded bark, needles or other special materials can emphasize strict silhouette lines and interesting colors of needles, cones and Lavson's bark. In addition, the timely and high-quality mulching will save the gardener from additional weeding.

Tree shearing

Opinions on the timing of the first formative pruning among gardeners differ. Some believe that you need to start right away, in the same year when the seedling is planted in open ground. Others are sure that it is necessary to let the plant express itself and only after seeing the natural data, the natural direction of branch growth, it is necessary to choose the silhouette of the crown. There are those who prefer to give the plant complete freedom and enjoy the natural shape of the crown, which is very beautiful without strict decorative haircuts.

Video: Mowing a cypress

But no one doubts that sanitation should be started as early as possible. It frees the crown from dry or withered branches, generally rejuvenates the bush, provides an incentive for the friendly emergence of new shoots.

Important! Remember that you can remove no more than 30% of the branches, otherwise the injury will inhibit the growth of cypress.

Sections are best treated immediately with a classic garden var or specially designed pastes. If you intend to obtain material for vegetative propagation, cuttings or processes, then make sure that the total mass of pruning and seized branches does not exceed 30%. And it is better to spread these operations in time for a month and a half.

Winter preparations

The cypress tree easily tolerates cold snap, but experienced gardeners recommend covering the crown, after sealing it with a special tape or net. For young plants, even special reusable covers can be found on sale. As a covering material, burlap, straw, specially designed films - everything except fabrics, will do. But it is important to remove these covers in time, as soon as frosts end, in order to avoid the greenhouse effect and not create conditions for the multiplication of putrefactive, fungal and other diseases.

The danger of freezing objectively exists in 3 and 4 Russian climatic zones, where the minimum temperature in winter is -34 ...- 40 ° С. Here, the bushes are not just covered, but also hidden in the snow. It can also protect Lavson from the winds, which he does not tolerate quite well.

Possible diseases and pests

Coniferous plants are notable for their unpretentiousness and resistance to various diseases and pests, since they grow in rather harsh conditions, but this does not make them invulnerable. Only by choosing the right care and place for planting cypress Lavson Elwoodi, you can get rid of many problems with his health.

The following are possible diseases and pests of cypress:

1. As soon as you notice the first signs spider mite, immediately process one of the products on the market, for example, Neoron or Nisoran, according to the instructions. Sanitary exposure should be repeated after 7‒9 days. It is also important to timely identify the scab, which is easily treated with Actar at an early stage. As a preventative measure, high humidity and low temperature should be observed.
2. The cypress garden can attack and fungus. This can be understood by the color of its shoots, where brown and yellow spots appear. In this case, the affected areas are removed. In a room with mediocre ventilation on weak conifers, a soot fungus can settle. Treat such instances with an insecticide.
3. Noticeable yellowing on the needles is an appearance aphids, which must be immediately removed by washing with water so as not to harm the cypress. Then there is spraying with a simple solution of water, soap and oil, which helps to eliminate insects.
4. Another danger is thuja mining moth. It is very difficult to see it, since it is small in size, but one of the signs of its appearance is a change in the color of the shoots to brown. They remove it with insecticides.

Cypress Elwoody in a pot at home

HIn order to grow a beautiful bush in the house, you need to purchase a healthy seedling in a specialized store. Take a close look at the color of the shoots and the condition of the trunk. The seedling should be well fixed in the container, the roots should not be moldy, dry and with damaged areas. Choose a suitable place for the bush, it is better to place it in partial shade.

It can be placed on the windowsill or on the balcony, which is located on the north side. Since the plant does not tolerate heat, take care of the air temperature. Also pay attention to humidity, in the heating season the plant may wither and hurt. In the spring, the pots are taken outside and put in the shade, and in late autumn they are placed in the apartment, away from the batteries.

Important! From September to May, spraying is stopped.

The area around it and the stem itself are regularly moistened with a spray gun. When transplanting, you need to prepare a soil mixture. It can include sand, turf and leafy soil. The plant will grow well in loose and drained soil. Do not flood it, just one watering in 5-6 days is enough. Carry out the procedure when the first layer has dried out, but you should not bring it to a state of peel. Also, the sprayings that are produced in the early morning are also favorable: for adult plants, this is done once every 7-8 days, and for young plants - every day.

So, Elvudi's Lavson cypress is quite unpretentious in care and can be easily grown at home. Following simple planting rules, you can get a bright decoration of your composition. It goes well with various plants and shrubs, and also creates comfortable conditions for their growth on your site.