Properly balanced nourishment of the Fir tree achieves the objective of healthy growth, and it also enhances the immunity of the tree. They are one of the hardiest trees on the planet, having adapted to cold boreal climates in their native range where it grows in mountains and valleys at 6200 – 7900 ft. They are resistant to temperatures down to – 58 F. They are unsuitable for climates with consistently warm (or hot) summers. Unlike the needles of a pine, these tend to grow from a single origin point and are attached to small, stalk-like woody projections. Leaves are arranged spirally but twisted to lie flat in horizontal rows. Sometimes they spread out radially, especially on cone-bearing branches. Its wood is very popular as lumber, and it has been widely planted outside its native range. It has been assessed as an invasive species in Europe and Patagonia.

Native Area: A narrow endemic species found naturally only in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Georgia in the USA. Crown thinning: Thinning crowns to let in more light by removing some, usually up to 30 percent, of the branches and concentrating on dead or congested shoots is another strategy.It is very easy to spoil the appearance of the tree so this is best attempted in stages evaluating the effect before removing more.Once the tree is well established, it is sufficient to water it only during very hot days of summer and in drought situations. Else the tree is capable of taking of itself. The Red Fir is a magnificent-looking tree that gets its name from its red bark. It is thin and gray when young, but as it matures becomes deeply furrowed with widely separated grooves and reddish plates.

In this article you can expect to see some pictures paired with descriptions and an organized approach examining the nuggets of information. A fir tree’s classic conical shape—think of all the triangular Christmas trees you drew in kindergarten—also makes a striking silhouette in a landscape in a cool, moist region. It’s difficult to identify these trees based on the characteristics of bark and growth habit alone, but these features can be beneficial in further identifying a tree. Which One Do I Want in My Landscape? It grows in full sun to partial shade in high-elevation cloud forests at 6900 – 13,500 ft in tropical Mexico and Guatemala, where they have cool, humid summers and dry winters. If the tree’s getting thirsty, it tends to shed more of its inner needles than usual as a defense mechanism against further water loss. Usually, the tree will look brown on the inside, and the outer needles will look somewhat brittle – but the outer needles typically will stay green unless the tree’s totally parched (usually a container-grown Douglas fir that’s not been watered).

Fir Tree: A Field Guide

Other Common Names: Giant Fir, Great Silver Fir, Western White Fir, Lowland White Fir, Yellow Fir, Vancouver Fir, Oregon Fir

There is no need to use wound paints, as they are unlikely to contribute to healing or prevent disease. The exception is plums and cherries, where wound paint may be used to exclude the spores of silver leafdisease. What should I do if sap flows from the cut? As you may be able to tell by its scientific name, the Douglas fir is not a true fir tree. This species of evergreen conifer is from the genus Pseudotsuga which means it actually belongs on the list of pine trees. This depends on the type of tree, but there are some general guidelines to follow. Diseased or damaged wood can be removed when first noticed, to prevent the problem spreading into healthy wood. But if you can see the top of the tree and see upright cones, you are most likely looking at a true fir tree.The darkish green needles on most Pseudotsuga species are 2-3cm long, flat and soft, and should be clear of spots or brown bands when inspected closely. The older needles on the inner parts of the branches, eventually discolor and drop, typically in autumn. This is normally much more evident on the lowest parts of the tree, particularly when shaded out by upper foliage– as they aren’t getting much light and therefore aren’t useful for photosynthesis, and are shed. The California red Fir tree has a large cone measuring about 21 cms. Initially, the cone is yellowish-green in color and then on maturity turns brown. It is one among the tallest varieties of the Fir tree. The needles of the Grand Fir has a distinct citrus aroma. The bark of the tree is usually grayish-brown and smooth in texture. But as the tree grows, the bark gets scaly. The easiest way to figure that out is to observe the needles; only pine tree needles grow in clusters. At the very least, you can deduce whether a tree is pine or… something else. Not a bad start! The Second Step: Cones and Branches Further the Study