A striking example of adaptation is the elm tree
For centuries, the elm tree has been shrouded in a mysterious halo. In many nationalities, birch bark branches (many call it that) served as a symbol of valor and loyalty, motherhood and good luck, as well as a sacred attribute of the church. Now it can be found on the territory of modern parks and deciduous forests. Some gardeners decided to decorate their homestead with this exhibit, since its leaves perfectly trap dust. Such a grove will serve as a kind of "human shield" for its own residence. It should be borne in mind that the elm tree from the elm family can adapt to any conditions. Therefore, it is important to know some of the intricacies of planting and caring for him.
Main characteristics
The name of this tree originates from the Celtic language, which contains a word like "Elm". The German and Latin names of the plant are also very similar - "Ulmus". The literal translation of all these words means "bending rod".
Outwardly, the elm is a mighty tree, the description and photo of which are presented below. The trunk of this representative of the elm at a young age is covered with a smooth light brown bark. As the plant grows, it becomes thick, and also quite rough and over time begins to flake off in thin plates. Deep cracks on its surface resemble battle scars. On some branches, outgrowths can form and develop.
The powerful root system of birch bark runs very deeply, so it can calmly reach the groundwater level. Due to this feature of the roots, the elm grows up to 25-30 m in height, with a trunk circumference of 1.5 m. However, some varieties take root not deep, but more into the upper layers of the earth, occupying a huge area. Many members of this family can be between 200 and 300 years old.
The long-lived record holder was able to survive the fire of 1812, which occurred in Moscow. However, the sultry summer of 2010, he still could not endure and completely dried out.
First date with an elm tree
Looking at the photos of the leaves and seeds of the elm tree, you can notice some unique features of their structure. With this research, the grower will not confuse it with other varieties. These slender giants have:
- Small nondescript flowers of a purple hue. The lush inflorescences are adorned with many purple stamens. In combination with soft green legs, they look special. The flowering period of the plant is 10 days. Basically, it will fall in March or April.
- Large leaves. They are located alternately on the stem. The length of each varies from 12 to 15 cm. The pointed conical shape of the leaves is in harmony with the ribbed surface. The pronounced side veins create a relief texture on the dark green canvas. The upper part of the leaves is smooth, but the lower one is covered with a fluffy layer of villi. It is on them that all the dust accumulates. In the autumn, they acquire an amazing color in a yellow-red color scheme.
- Young shoots. They grow in the lower part of the trunk, forming bulky tubers.The light brown young stems have a smooth texture.
- Fruit. Each of them resembles a thin plate - a lionfish - in the center of which a grain is hidden. There is a subtle notch at the top of the wing. They are planted on short cuttings and collected in dense bunches. However, the tree begins to bear fruit at the age of seven or eight. By late May or early June, the seeds are fully ripe.
Smooth elm is the most popular elm variety. It is found in many city parks. This species perfectly tolerates severe winters and can withstand temperatures down to -28 ° C. But still, the shoots of the plant may freeze a little. Of the 16 popular varieties, half can be found on the Scandinavian Peninsula, as well as in Europe. If you analyze where the elm tree grows in Russia, you will notice that these are mainly wet regions, such as:
- Western Siberia;
- Volga region;
- South Ural (Chelyabinsk and Sverdlovsk regions);
- Kazakhstan;
- Caucasus.
Ilm gets along well not only in a humid environment, but also in a dry climate, since it penetrates with its roots to underground springs. The banks of rivers and lakes, as well as deciduous forests, are their favorite habitats. Still, very compacted and saline soils negatively affect the life of the tree, although elm is unpretentious in the choice of soil.
Birch bark grows incredibly fast. The annual growth of both a young seedling and an adult tree is 0.5 meters in height and 0.3 m in width.
Features of breeding and care
Many people know about the medicinal properties of the bark, leaves and fruits of the elm, so they want to have this luxury in their garden. Due to the diuretic and astringent action of these natural components, it is used in the treatment of:
- gastrointestinal tract;
- skin diseases;
- swelling;
- rheumatism.
The extract obtained from the bark is used as an anti-inflammatory or antibacterial agent. Moreover, these trees create a cozy atmosphere in the backyard. They "love" a haircut, so it's easy to create a hedge out of them.
At the same time, it is important to adhere to the basic rules for planting elm seeds. As soon as they are ripe, they must be immediately planted in the ground. The first two weeks is the optimal period for this. If you wait a little, then they lose their properties. Although the seeds do not require preliminary preparation, they must be sown correctly. This requires:
- dig up the garden well;
- make mineral fertilizers;
- make the distance between the rows from one to two meters;
- sow grain in 30-50 cm increments;
- cover a small hole with a thin layer of soil;
- water abundantly.
You can also plant it in the shade. Nevertheless, on a lawn well warmed by the sun, it will grow several times faster. The crown of an elm tree expands very quickly, which can negatively affect neighboring light-loving plants. Among other things, since ancient times they have grapes mutual intolerance.
It should be noted that June can surprise with its hot weather. Therefore, the planted area must be covered with foil until shoots appear. For about a month, young sprouts should be watered abundantly.
A perennial problem in the elm tree is Dutch disease. If there are many dried / unblown branches on it, peeling bark and at the same time the crown has a poor appearance, it means that the birch bark is affected by this disease. The main reason for its occurrence is excessively moist soil. He can get sick in this way from several weeks to 5-7 years. Therefore, you need to monitor the moisture level of the soil so that lush thickets always decorate the garden.