Karagach photo of a tree and leaves. Elm tree

You will not surprise anyone with the abundance of trees on our planet: some of them grow only in certain climatic zones, others are able to adapt to a variety of conditions.

Among the variety of trees in Russia, elm is often found, although its homeland is England, Scandinavia, North America and the Caucasus.

Brief information

Elm is a genus of trees in the Elm family. He has other names: elm, birch bark, elmovik or elm. There are more than 40 species of elms, most of them are found in the subzone of deciduous forests, closer to the south they can grow in spruce and coniferous forests.

They rarely grow alone, they prefer the neighborhood of other trees, and exclusively elm forests are also rare. On average, they live for 80-120 years, occasionally live up to 300-400 years. In the first few years, they actively grow and develop, after 40-60 years, growth slows down and comes to naught.

Elms can reach 40 meters in height and 2 meters in diameter, some species can grow as a bush. The root system does not have a central root: individual roots penetrate deep into the soil, the rest are located closer to the surface. On podzolic soils, the roots are close to the surface.

It is important to know: many species of elm are on the verge of extinction due to diseases and pest attacks: leaf beetle, springtail, fungi.

The leaves are 20 cm in size, sharp, serrated edges in shape, symmetrical. All leaves differ in shape and size, even if they came from the same shoot - this is easy to see in the photo or pictures.

Together they form a very dense crown, through which the sun does not pass. Leaf growth begins only after the formation of fruits, while in autumn the elm is one of the first to lose foliage.

The flowers are quite small and inconspicuous, grow and develop until the leaves appear. Occasionally, flowering may begin in the fall. The fruits ripen already in April-June (the further south the region, the faster). They are nuts with wings that are blown around by the wind.

When placed in moist soil, they begin to grow after a few days. Southern species bear fruit from 5-10 years, northern - after 20 years. In addition to seeds, they can reproduce by roots and shoots that appear on stumps.

The economic value of the plant is quite high:

1. The wood of the tree is extremely durable, resistant to moisture and pricks poorly, while it easily tolerates processing and has high aesthetic qualities. It is often used in the furniture business, and was previously used to build ships, weapons and utensils.
2. Young shoots and seeds are fed to livestock.
3. Dyes are obtained from the bark.
4. In medicine, elm is used to combat diseases of the genitourinary system and digestion, the bark is used for skin diseases.
5. Elm is an excellent honey plant loved by bees.
6. Elm is often used for landscaping cities, since the crown does not require trimming and does an excellent job of purifying the air.

The plant easily tolerates many adverse conditions (drought, rains, severe frosts), which makes it an extremely popular and sought-after tree in difficult urban environments. In the wild, it chooses deciduous and coniferous forests, it is artificially grown within the city.

Kinds

There are several types of elms, descriptions of the most popular are given below. They differ from each other in external features and other characteristic features.

1. Smooth elm, the second name is ordinary: it easily tolerates shade and grows up to 25 meters in height, has a wide crown, which is formed by hanging branches. The leaves are standard, sharp, serrated along the edges, dark green. Distributed in Western Europe, the Far East and Russia, found in the Caucasus and Kazakhstan. It can live up to three centuries, but it grows and develops extremely slowly in the city, as it poorly tolerates dust and smog.
2. Dense elm: grows in the south of Russia, where it is actively used for landscaping, and in the countries of Central Asia. It grows up to 30 meters and has a low crown, which looks like a pyramid. Due to this feature, it is often used in park compositions and to create alleys. It tolerates the lack of moisture and is generally not capricious.
3. Squat small-leaved elm: distributed in the wild in Japan, Korea, northern Mongolia and the Far East. It prefers fertile soils, but is generally unpretentious, easily tolerates drought, loves light, average winter hardiness.

It is perfect for landscaping, as it keeps its shape well and for a long time, does not propagate with the help of roots, and feels great on city streets. It grows up to 15 meters, often looks like an ornamental shrub.

1. Elm Androsov: is an artificial hybrid of the two previous plants. It can reach 18-20 meters in height, the crown has the shape of a tent. Indifferent to drought and frost, it develops best on soils with medium humidity. It is often used for park landscaping, for example, to create hedges or labyrinths, as it does not require frequent cutting.
2. English elm: resistant to cold and frost, easily adapts to life in the cold countries of Europe. Favorable habitats are the banks of rivers. Able to grow up to 50 meters, but it does not bloom.
3. Lobe elm: it can be found in the Far East. It is resistant to severe frosts and an abundance of shade, it is often planted in parks and ornamental gardens.
4. Pinnately branched elm, the second name is elm: it can be found in the east of Siberia and the Far East, in Asian countries. Prefers bright places, tolerates saline soils well. It can grow up to 15 meters, has easily bending branches, lowered down, and smooth leaves: they grow in two rows, which makes the tree look especially lush. It is resistant to droughts, grows on any soil, and quite quickly, but it does not tolerate strong winters.

With plenty of water and a warm climate, it can grow to a considerable size. It is often grown in urban areas, as it easily tolerates dust and smog. With regular pruning, the crown becomes denser.

1. Rough elm (mountain elm): prefers highly moist and calcareous lands, grows in Scandinavia, Central Europe and the European half of Russia. Can grow in cold climates, moderately polluted cities and shade. It has large leaves, the size of which is about 17 cm, and reaches a height of more than 30 meters.
2. Hornbeam Elm: has a standard habitat, can grow up to 20 meters, crown diameter can reach 10 meters. It tolerates winter and salty soils well, grows well in nutrient soil, but is otherwise not fussy. Used to create hedges and decorative walls. It is especially beautiful in autumn due to bright yellow leaves. In spring it blooms with small scarlet flowers.
3. Native elm, also called Japanese birch bark: its homeland is East Asia, Japan, China and Mongolia, can be found in the Far East. Reaches a height of over 30 meters. The tree is quite beautiful: straight trunk, dense foliage, whitish bark. It thrives in almost any climate and is tolerant of frost, shade, and urban conditions. Often used in parks and gardens.
4. Ilmovik: dwarf bush variety. It adapts well to a variety of conditions, but fertile lands with high humidity are especially fond of.

Note: Elm is a large tree that is resistant to adverse conditions, which can often be found in city gardens and parks. These trees perfectly purify the air in cities, parks and alleys; it is pleasant to hide in its shade in rain or hot sun.

Due to its endurance, elm easily takes root even in not the most favorable conditions, while maintaining its beauty. Some species fit perfectly into the landscape as hedges and walls, while others look better alone.

For the history of the elm tree, see the following video:

Karagach - a tree 20-25 m high, looks impressive, has a lush, branched crown. It grows in broad-leaved forests, near water bodies and on cannons. Prefers well-lit places with moist, loose, fertile soil. Wood is used in carpentry, furniture industry, shipbuilding. Elm was valued and revered at all times, endowed with unusual power. It was a symbol of wisdom, longevity and strength.

plant description

Karagach, smooth elm (Common), elm, birch bark, (lat. Ulmus) belongs to the genus of elms. In nature, it is distributed in the Southern Urals, Kazakhstan, Siberia, the Far East, the Caucasus, Central Asia, and European countries. Life expectancy is on average 300-400 years.

Appearance

The encyclopedia of plants gives a detailed description of the species. The tree is tall, up to 20-25 meters. The trunk is straight, in diameter it can reach 1-1.5 meters. The root system is strong. Some of the roots go deep into the soil at 7-8 m, the rest are located on the surface.

The crown is lush, spreading, round in shape, gives a lot of shade. The leaves are dark green on the outside and light green (hairy) on the inside. Arranged in order. They have a rounded shape, pointed, carved along the edges. Their length is 8-12 cm.

Flowers small, bisexual. Pollination occurs with the help of wind. Flowering period - March-April, for 10 days, before the appearance of leaves.

The fruit is round lionfish, bunched on the branches. Inside is a seed-nutlet. Lionfish are carried by the wind. In moist soil germinates in a week. Over time, the seed loses its germination (they are stored for no more than two years). Fruiting begins annually at the age of 6-8 years.

The bark is gray, smooth in young plants, deep cracks appear in adults, and in old individuals it exfoliates in plates. Reproduction occurs with the help of seeds or shoots from an old stump.

growing conditions

The tree prefers acidic, fertile, loose, moist soil. Light-loving, but tolerates even slight shading. The plant is hardy, able to tolerate drought and excess moisture, frosts down to -30 ° C. Karagach grows rapidly, by about 40-50 cm per year. It is distributed in broad-leaved forests, along the banks of reservoirs, on well-lit edges, plains, in mountainous areas.

Diseases and pests

It is most commonly affected by Dutch elm disease. This is a fungus that clogs the vessels in the branches and trunk. The bark and leaves do not receive nutrition and gradually dry out. In summer, such trees have little or no foliage. Methods for the treatment of this type of fungus have not yet been found.

Shchitovka - a small insect that is fixed on the branches and sucks the juices out of them. When detected, it is necessary to treat with special chemicals. Elm bark and wood are also attacked by various bark beetles.

Use of elm

The tree has many advantages. It is used in:

• Production of medicines and traditional medicine.
• furniture industry.
• Production of building materials.
• Landscaping of urban areas and household plots.
• Landscape design (hedges, sculptures, alleys, plant compositions).
• Carpentry business.
• Shipbuilding.
• Space heating (firewood harvesting).

Medicine

Elm leaves, bark and roots are used in traditional and folk medicine. Medicines have an anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, healing effect, are a diuretic, normalize metabolism, the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and the cardiovascular system.

Before using decoctions and medicinal infusions, you should consult your doctor.

To preserve useful properties, it is important to properly prepare raw materials. Young bark is suitable, it is harvested in the spring. Then dry in the open air. The leaves are harvested in early summer, dried in the shade. Store blanks in paper or fabric bags, in a dry, dark place for no more than two years.

landscaping

Elm is planted for landscaping parks, squares, alleys. Its lush crown retains dust and harmful substances, purifies the air. The tree is popular in landscape design for creating various compositions.

The crown tolerates pruning well. It can be given any shape. The crown is pruned regularly, starting at a young age.

Furniture manufacturing

The wood is dark brown with a sheen and a beautiful texture in longitudinal and transverse sections. Annual rings are visible on the surface. It is hard, strong, resilient, viscous, heavy. When dried, it does not crack, it resists decay well. Furniture, veneer, construction and finishing materials (parquet, parquet board, wall panels, lining) are produced from it.

Joinery

In Rus', wood was used for the manufacture of furniture, household items (dishes, cutlery, caskets). It was divided into thin strips - bast and various products were knitted from it (baskets, bast shoes, boxes). Sledges and other products were woven from young branches. From the hairy part of wood (bast) - rope rugs, washcloths.

Now the tree is used for the production of various sports equipment (bows, arrows, tennis rackets, baseball bats, bars). Handles for tools (hammers, axes, knives, shovels) are made from it. The wood bends well. It is suitable for creating complex forms (panels, crafts, horse harness, carved elements, figurines for interior decoration).

3. For many peoples, elm is a symbol of the family hearth, motherhood.

4. Elm wood was used as supports in the construction of the first bridge in London.

5. In Venice, there are buildings standing on piles of elm.

6. Long-lived elm about 800 years old has been registered in Korea. Its height is 7 m, the diameter of the trunk is about 2 m.

7. Until 2010, an old elm grew in Moscow, which managed to survive the fire of 1812. Due to the abnormal heat, it dried up.

8. Wood exudes a pleasant aroma that soothes and relaxes.

9. In China, lionfish are added to various salads.

10. In the Middle Ages in Europe, plumbing was made from trunks.

Elm is a long-lived deciduous tree with a beautiful, spreading crown. The wood is valuable, with an unusual pattern, durable, used for various purposes. The bark, leaves and roots are used in traditional and folk medicine.

Spreading

It grows in mixed and broad-leaved forests, in floodplains, in the mountains and in the steppe regions of the European part of Russia, in the Crimea and the Caucasus. The northern border of the range of the leafy elm passes much south of the northern border of the common elm and elm. It is carried out through Kyiv - Chernigov - Kursk - Voronezh - south of Tambov and further east to Samara and Saratov. Other authors push it a little further north: Lutsk - Bobruisk - Bryansk - Oryol - Voronezh - Saratov.

Tree

A tree up to 30 m high and up to 1.5 m in diameter. The crown is tent-shaped or wide-cylindrical. On older trees, the bark is deeply fissured. Kidneys up to 5 mm long, glabrous or pubescent. The leaves are dense, obovate or almost rhomboid, glabrous above, stiffly hairy below, on a long, bare or softly pubescent petiole. Flowers on short stalks. Perianth rusty red with white cilia. Anthers are rusty. Lionfish obovate, 1-2 cm long, glabrous. The nut lies at the top of the lionfish. The mass of 1,000 seeds is 8–10 grams. Propagated by seeds, forms a shoot from a stump, gives abundant root offspring. Grows fast. More thermophilic and drought-resistant than elm and elm. At a young age, relatively shade-tolerant. The soil is demanding, but can grow on dry and saline soils. Root system of rod type.

Wood

Heartwood reddish-brown or light brown in color, sharply demarcated narrow light yellow sapwood. In the early zone, large vessels are located mainly in three or four rows. Vessels and woody parenchyma are clearly visible in the transverse section in the form of white dots, often merging into short tangential interrupted stripes. White sinuous stripes in the late zone are directed at an angle to the boundary of the annual layers. Numerous narrow core rays are hardly noticeable in a transverse section, but in a radial one they are clearly visible, as they are painted in a darker color than the surrounding wood. It has a beautiful texture on the radial and tangential sections. Density at 15% humidity 0.6-0.7 g / cm³, at 12% - 0.56-0.69 g / cm³.

Drying

Wood is difficult to dry. It dries for a long time and numerous and deep cracks appear. Dries out moderately.

Strength

The wood is hard, elastic, viscous, rather heavy.

Fortitude

Technological properties

It is processed with cutting tools and well finished with dyes.

Elm or Elm (Ulmus) in nature is a powerful tall tree or shrub. The genus of culture covers about 20 deciduous, rarely evergreen species growing in temperate climatic zones of North America, Europe and Asia.

In the garden landscape, only decorative elms are in demand, which in care are unpretentious and have a long lifespan.

Elm tree, description

The leaves are serrated from 2 to 16 cm, depending on the species. They have a characteristic asymmetrical base and taper towards the top. The leaves are arranged alternately on the shoots, forming a dense, dense crown.

Red-violet flowers, collected in inflorescences of several pieces, appear along the shoots in March or early April. After pollination, small winged fruits are tied in place of flowers, which are carried by the wind.

Elm seeds that have fallen into the ground germinate in just a few days, and the tree begins to bear fruit at the age of 6-7 years.

Garden varieties and types of elm with a photo

Mountain elm or rough 'Camperdownii' (Ulmus glabra Camperdownii). It is a picturesque low tree with a characteristic weeping crown in the form of an umbrella made of hard shoots.

The height of "Camperdownii" is usually 2 - 2.5 m. After a few years, the width of the crown can reach 6 - 18 m. The leaves are large, hard, numerous. In autumn they turn golden yellow.

Weeping Elm 'Pendula' with a compact crown. Another undersized variety of mountain elm with shoots forming a green tent.
Trees prefer sunny places and fertile soils.

The same kind of variety from Dutch producers - "Shiva"(formerly "Monstros"). A rare dwarf elm, one of its smallest forms. Grows in the form of a compact, round bush. In adulthood, its size is only 40 cm in height and 40 cm in width.

The leaves are large, about 4 cm, which is special for this small plant. The unique appearance and shape of the variety fit perfectly into compositions of low-growing shrubs, conifers and cereals.

Elm cork or elm (U. Minor).Synonyms: small, field or hornbeam elm. In nature, this is a powerful long-lived tree that grows throughout Europe. Three varieties have become widespread in horticulture.

"Argenteovariegata". The decorativeness of the elm lies in its variegated foliage with white and cream spots. Grows slowly. The height of an adult tree reaches 10 meters, and the width of the crown is 5 meters.

Typical requirements for this species are fertile, moderately moist soil, a sunny position that enhances the brightness of the foliage color.

In the garden, Argenteovariegata harmonizes beautifully with other variegated plants, although usually these original varieties are planted separately to create a strong accent in garden design.

webbiana- ornamental elm with a unique type of foliage. Throughout the season, the leaves of this tree are slightly curled. It seems that the tree dries up or gets sick.

Meanwhile, this is a feature of the varietal form. Produces a wide crown from several large strong branches. The maximum height is about 4-5 meters. It grows well in moist and fertile soil, but due to the structure of the foliage, which reduces the evaporation of water, the variety is resistant to prolonged drought.

The most popular and incredibly beautiful variety of this species - "Jacqueline Hillier". Compact, low and slow growing tree. Its decoration is small, densely spaced, slightly twisted, dark green leaves about 2-3 cm long.

Young leaves are pink. The varietal form is grown both on a trunk and in the form of a bush. Can grow in any light. The variety is resistant to diseases and low temperatures, can grow on fertile and poor soils. After 10 years, its height reaches 1.8 m.

White or American Elm (Ulmus americana). This tree is incredibly hardy, unlike many ornamental varieties and hybrids, it can withstand temperatures down to minus 42 ̊С! Unfortunately, this species is susceptible to Dutch disease.

Sort "Beebes-Weeping"

The tree has a high, slightly openwork crown. An interesting fact is that the American elm is not sensitive to photoperiod length - it will continue to grow all the way through the fall, despite the shortening days, until its growth is stopped by frost.

Elm (U. Pumila) or small-leaved (Ulmus parvifolia) native to East Asia. A small evergreen shrub or tree that is ideal for creating a bonsai style. The leaves are small, in some varieties small, shiny.

Highly decorative variety "Geisha". In spring, the leaves are white-lime and white-cream, but after a short time they become dark green with cream denticles along the edges. A tree with a picturesque crown, some of the branches grow vertically, and some hang slightly to the ground, often sold on a trunk.

The variety is completely frost-resistant, although it is not recommended to plant it in places open to strong winds. Requires fertile, moist soils and plenty of sun for vibrant foliage. The maximum height is about 3 meters. Looks great as a tapeworm near the house or on the lawn.

"Hokkaido"- dwarf Japanese variety. In eastern countries, it has gained great popularity as an excellent material for the formation of elm bonsai. It grows in the form of a bush with a dense, branched, oval crown. Height is about 50-70 cm.

Shoots are thin, bizarrely curved, densely leafy. Thanks to the shape of the growth of the shoots, this tree is decorative not only during the season, but also in winter! It has a very high soil tolerance, although it grows best in fertile and moderately moist soils in full sun.

The variety is completely frost-resistant, but it is better to grow it in places protected from the cold winter wind. In the garden, it looks great in rockeries, on, along the paths. This planting allows you to evaluate all the advantages of the varietal form.

A very famous hybrid in horticulture - Dutch Elm (Ulmus x hollandica) cultivar 'Wredei'. A low tree with a narrow conical or cylindrical crown.

Shoots are densely leafy. The leaves are wide, tight to the shoot. In spring they are light yellow, in summer they turn golden green. The leaf shape is slightly curled. The tree grows slowly and after 10 years reaches 4 m in height.

The plant has low soil requirements, resistant to frost. The recommended variety is excellent for color compositions, it looks especially beautiful next to varieties of trees and bushes with green and purple foliage (barberry, crimson).

The variety can grow in the sun and in partial shade, drought-resistant, but when planted in the sun requires regular watering.

General rules for caring for elm

Species belonging to the genus Ulmus tend to be more demanding when it comes to substrate and moisture levels. Their natural habitats are predominantly humid and fertile areas near rivers. However, the soil must be permeable, as the elm does not tolerate stagnant water.

Young elm seedlings after planting require regular watering, the soil should not dry out. Mature trees are watered in the absence of rain and after a snowless winter.

Poor soils are enriched with compost or humus. The ground around the plantations is thick with compost, bark or pebbles, which avoids evaporation of moisture.

Elm care includes sanitary pruning, which is carried out in early spring. Since the shoots grow very slowly, a strong shortening is not recommended.

Pests and diseases of elm

Elms once belonged to one of the most popular trees in the European landscape. Unfortunately, in the twentieth century, many of them were affected by Dutch Elm Disease (DED).

The first symptoms of the disease are already observed at the turn of May and June, when at high temperatures the leaves begin to curl, fall off, and the stems dry out. This disease is quite aggressive, therefore, preventive or curative (at the beginning of the disease) treatment with Topsin M 500 SC immediately after the temperature rises above 15 °C is necessary.

The treatment is repeated after 10-14 days, trying to spray the drug on all parts of the tree. The next treatment is repeated in the summer, and the last is carried out in the fall. The Dutch hybrid is most susceptible to the disease, other ornamental elms are more resistant.

Plantings can also be affected by viral and fungal diseases. For this reason, observation from the beginning of the growing season and preventive treatment are required.

Of the pests, the most famous is the elm leaf beetle, aphid. In autumn (October, November), preventive spraying can be carried out. For this purpose, insecticides Promanal or Treol based on paraffin oil are used. Leaves are burned in autumn to prevent the spread of disease and pests.

1. general description
2. Elm species
3. Ordinary
4. Squat
5. vane
6. Rough
7. Landing and care

The elm genus includes more than 40 species, and these trees received the Russian name "elm" for their flexibility: baskets, rims and sledges were knitted from their bast. Other names of the plant: elm, elm, birch bark. The geographical area of ​​distribution of elms is quite wide: its species grow in certain parts of North America, Europe, the Caucasus, Asia, in areas with a temperate and warm climate.

general description

Elms appeared on earth millions of years ago, they can be attributed to relict tree species. On the ground, they are more common in mixed and broad-leaved forests, they can grow singly. They love fertile and alkaline soils, tolerate a lack of sunlight well and are themselves able to create a dense shade due to their dense crown.

Young elms have a light brown smooth bark, which darkens with age and becomes covered with deep longitudinal furrows, becoming rough and thick. Mature trees of many varieties look powerful, grow up to 40 m in length, and the trunks of individual specimens reach a diameter of 2 m. There are also shrub species. The roots of trees germinate to a great depth, in podzolic soils they branch widely to the sides. Elm leaves are very beautiful: rough or smooth, ranging in size from 4 to 20 cm, saturated bright or dark green, triple-toothed, pointed to the edges or oval, lined with relief stripes from the center to the sides, arranged alternately, almost closely on short cuttings. On the branches, they form a kind of lace due to the relief pattern. The shade given by spreading wide elm crowns is almost not translucent by the sun. The leaves wither very early, becoming red-brown in color and falling off in early autumn.

The elm tree blooms and bears fruit in April, even before the foliage appears. Its flowers are dioecious, inconspicuous, collected in small yellowish bunches. The fruits are small nuts surrounded by lionfish. On trees, they ripen already with the first onset of heat - in May. Carried by the wind around the area, the fruits fall into the soil and sprout within a few days.

Due to their gnarled, furrowed bark, elms are very often targeted by insect pests or fungus.

Elm species

About 10 varieties of elm grow in Russia. Almost all of them are centenarians - able to reach an age of up to 250-300 years.

Ordinary

Ordinary, or smooth, elm is distributed throughout the European part, in Western Siberia, in the Caucasus. Depending on soil fertility, tree trunks rise from 10 to 25 m, their diameter is up to 1.5 m in old specimens. In urban areas and on soils poor in nutrition, such elms are much lower and thinner. The bark is dark brown in color, embossed, rough, can peel off in small scales. Shoots form a wide elliptical crown. Leaves - up to 15 cm long and 10 cm wide, elongated, framed with sickle-shaped teeth. The front side is dark green, the reverse side is lighter, matte, slightly pubescent. Brown-violet small flowers bloom in April, after 7–12 days, small fruits with membranous lionfish form in their place. Common elm grows quite quickly, tolerates pruning well, creates a dense shade. It can be used for landscaping parks, alleys, house adjoining territories.

Squat

The small-leaved, or squat, elm or simply elm lives up to its name. Compared with related giants, its maximum height is no more than 15 m, it often forms shrub forms. Distribution areas: Transbaikalia, Far East. The elmovik has thin branches, the leaves are rounded, serrated, unequal at the base, pointed at the ends. The size is about 4–7 cm. In the spring, the foliage of the squat elm is pale green, leathery. It gets dark in summer. Inflorescences are small, yellowish-brown. Ilmovik does not like heavily shaded areas, preferring bright places, but he himself creates a rather dense shadow. The composition of the soil is unpretentious, tolerates drought well.

vane

One of the most common Far Eastern species, for the original shape of large leaves resembling sharp blades, is often called split. Grows mainly in highlands. Tree trunks reach 25 m in height, the crown is cylindrical, very dense.

Rough

This species prefers fertile soils, does not tolerate highly saline soils, and is found in deciduous forests of Eastern and Western Europe. The trees are straight-stemmed, with a fairly smooth dark brown bark, up to 30–40 cm high. The leaves are very large - about 17–20 cm, ovate, light green, rough on top, with a hard fleecy surface on the reverse side. The life expectancy of the rough elm is up to 400 years.

Properties and uses of wood

In terms of density, dry elm wood is close to birch - it is 550–600 kg / m³. It has a beautiful noble texture with a pronounced natural pattern. The heartwood is light brown, the sapwood is pale yellow. Ilm materials are characterized by high hardness, resistance to decay and deformation, high resistance to impact loads and compression.

Due to its high density, elm is difficult to cut, split and other types of processing, but it bends quite well. The smooth surface of the material perfectly tolerates polishing. Fresh timber during drying practically does not crack and does not warp.

Since ancient times, elm has been used for the production of bows, wheel rims, rocker arms, and wooden parts of the harness. Dishes were hollowed out from the array. In London, Venice and other European cities, elm wood was used to carve bridge supports, use it in the construction of river dams, locks, the construction of mines, and cellars.

Nowadays, elm is more used in the form of veneer, which increases the artistic value and ennobles lesser quality woods, or as part of combined materials for interior decoration. Ilm materials are used for the production of parquet, wooden frames, panels and handles, baseball bats, furniture parts, blanks and products that require bends.

Landing and care

It is not difficult to breed an elm in a personal plot. Moreover, this can be done with seeds, since they sprout very rapidly - within a few days. The only drawback is that germination is quickly lost, so you should not miss the moment.

• Collected from the tree after flowering, the seeds are placed in a moist nutrient substrate for several days. You can just put them on wet cotton wool. The germs are immediately treated with a fungicide, otherwise the fungus that has appeared will be impossible to destroy.

• After 2-3 days, germinated seeds are planted in a container with soil. It is better to use black soil for these purposes so that the plant develops faster. In the absence of nutrient soil, a mixture of humus with leafy soil is suitable. The soil must be loose and well moistened.

• The seeds are deepened by 1–2 cm, making the distance between plantings about 25 cm. The soil layer is covered with moss, hay or cotton wool from above. The soil needs to be moistened daily. After 10 days, it will be possible to observe the young shoots and remove the covering material.

It is useful to expose seedlings to the sun more often. Since elm seeds ripen in April-May, their germination period falls on the end of spring - the beginning of the active vegetation of most plants. In clear and low-wind weather, it is better to leave the container with shoots in the open air: on the balcony, in the garden.

In the first year, elm shoots rise up to 20 cm, in the second year they can be planted in open ground. Similarly, ready-made cuttings or purchased seedlings are planted in spring or autumn.

Young elms are not capricious, undemanding to the composition of the soil, temperature conditions or moisture. However, in the first years they must be protected from strong winds and frosts, wrapping them with special agrofibre for the winter. It is worth remembering that the nutritional value of the soil directly affects the growth rate of trees, so it is advisable to periodically fertilize poor soils with organic matter. It is also necessary to ensure that the soil around the roots is always well loosened.

In hot weather, additional watering will have to be introduced; with regular rains, even young shoots in open ground do not need special moisture.

In a year, elms grow by 40–50 cm. Pruning of branches in the early years is usually not done, allowing the crown to grow properly. Remove only dead or diseased branches. As the trees mature, the greenery can begin to be "tamed", giving an aesthetic appearance.

Of the elm pests, the most common are the elm springtail, scale insects, and leaf beetles. In diseased plants, foliage and branches dry quickly, the bark becomes covered with painful growths. You can fight pests using traditional methods: spraying trees with a solution of copper sulfate and other insecticides and fungicides. Young trees can be easily rid of pests, adult specimens are much more difficult to cure. Trees are especially difficult to tolerate fungus damage, for this reason it is necessary to use fungicides as a preventive measure even at the planting stage.

Planting elms is a great way to plant gardens, squares, suburban and urban landscapes. These trees perfectly tolerate the effects of a gassed atmosphere, purify the air from dust particles, soot and smoke, and create a picturesque street landscape. They are usually planted along roads, near river banks, on the edge of ravines in order to strengthen the soil and prevent landslides.