Professor about the life of linden trees, the death of poplars and the dangers of light garlands

Poplar. This fast-growing tree has been living next to people for a long time. It is actively used for landscaping cities in a very wide climatic zone. Because it grows quickly and lives quite a long time - 60-80 years in urban environments and up to 300 years in the wild.

Compared to trees such as oak, beech, ash or even pine and spruce, this life expectancy is short. But poplar grows to a height of 15 meters much faster. By the age of 30-40, for example, a pine tree will catch up with a poplar in height. But pine is not well suited for urban landscaping, and poplar, especially its pyramidal varieties, is a salvation for many large settlements.

In cities

From the Arctic Circle to the tropics - this is the distribution area of ​​poplar in cities. Due to the fact that the tree grows quickly, draws water well from the soil, and purifies the air, landscapers love it. Of course, there is also plenty of trouble with him.

It is important to choose the right variety - so that it gives less fluff, so that it does not freeze in winter, so that it gets sick less.

How long do certain tree species live?

Let's first find out how long trees live in favorable conditions - when the tree grows in its own climatic zone and is not exposed to unfavorable conditions.

Maple

The lifespan of the common maple can reach 400-500 years. In Russia, such long-livers are rare. For example, the durability of maple imported from North America does not exceed 100 years. It is a spreading tree with conspicuous decorative leaves.

Maple is capable of scattering its seeds very far - the fruiting bodies, falling, begin to rotate, are picked up by the wind and fly away.

Maples reach a height of 15-20 m.

Beech

Beeches live 400-500 years. Widely distributed in European forests. Characteristics:

• Maximum height 30 m.
• The trunk is smooth, reaches a width of up to 2 m;

The tree grows slowly, but is long-lived. Beech trees have acorn-like fruits. They appear only on trees 40-50 years old. Beech nuts have a unique ability to regulate metabolic processes.

Poplar

Poplars have been growing in the wild for about 1000 years. This tree is actively planted in cities and along roads. If poplars have to grow in an unfavorable environment, they live less - 60-70 years.

Poplars can often be found in industrial areas - they are planted there because of their ability to absorb radiation and harmful substances.

Columnar poplar reaches a height of up to 35 meters. The leaves are round. Poplar is a dicotyledonous plant; there are male and female trees. Female trees are a source of burdock, which causes allergies in many urban residents.

Oak

Oak lives up to 1000 years. This is a well-known longhorn in our area. In Russia, the main species is oak (Quercusrobur). There are about 600 species of oak trees. Oak is easily recognized by its powerful trunk and spreading crown. Oak can also be unmistakably recognized by the following characteristics:

• the original acorn fruit, which is loved by wild boars and pigs.
• The graceful leaf has a unique, beautiful shape;

The tree is widespread throughout Europe. Oak wood is valued in furniture production.

Hornbeam

The hornbeam tree lives for about 300 years. It grows in Europe, but to a lesser extent in Transcaucasia and Asia Minor. Hornbeam is known for its wide crown. It loves to grow in shady deciduous forests. Its growth is very slow. This species belongs to the birch family. The leaves of this plant serve as excellent feed for livestock. Its fruits are used to obtain oil. The tree reaches a height of up to 30 m.

Linden

The average linden tree can live 300-400 years, or even 1000 years. In Russia there are many varieties of linden, such as Amur, Caucasian and large-leaved. The European linden tree reaches a height of up to 40 m. It is a beautiful linden tree and a source of abundant bird life. This beautiful tree is the source of linden flower, which is widely used in cosmetology and medicine. Wood is easy to work with - its soft fibers make it an ideal raw material for carving.

Birch

The lifespan of a birch is 100-150 years. Under favorable conditions, the tree can live up to 300 years. The distribution area of ​​birch extends from France to the Altai Mountains. The most common species is the papillon or weeping birch (Betula Verrucosa). Average birch sizes:

• trunk circumference - up to 1.5 m.
• Height - up to 45 meters;

The tree has several dwarf subspecies.

When young, the trunk is completely smooth and light brown in color. The birch tree acquires its famous white trunk color with black stripes when it reaches 8 years of age.

Birch leaves are small, round, triangular, with jagged edges.

Ash

The average lifespan of an ash tree is 500 years. It bears fruit in the form of wings that fall off in the winter. It has sparse foliage that allows sunlight to pass through well. Special abilities:

• Trunk width - up to 1 m;
• Tree height - up to 30 m;

Ash wood is particularly durable, which is why it is valued in construction. Ash bark, its fruits and tree sap are used in medicine.

Elm

The lifespan of an elm is up to 300 years. The tree can grow like a shrub. Young trees have smooth bark, which becomes rougher with age. The leaves are elongated and the seeds are winged fruits. The vines can reach heights of up to 40 m.

It grows on plains and hills, in shady places and in open, sunny marshes.

Chestnut

Chestnut trees live between 200 and 300 years. It features original flowers and leaves. The chestnut tree reaches a height of up to 35 m. The inflorescences are cone-shaped. The fruits ripen in autumn in a spiny case. The fruits are used in the production of painkillers.

Aspen

Aspen can live on average 80-90 years, in rare cases up to 150 years. Aspen has a columnar trunk. It reaches a height of up to 35 m. Diameter is up to 1 m. It burns poorly and is of no value as a fuel.

Alder

The lifespan of alder is about 100 years. This is a unique tree that can improve the soil by enriching it with nitrogen fertilizers. Raspberries and other shrubs grow well around alder. It can grow up to 20 m in height.

Pine

The average lifespan of a tree is up to 600 years. This is one of the most common trees in the forests of Europe and Russia. Widespread varieties of pine:

• European cedar - service life up to 1,200 years.
• Siberian pine - life expectancy up to 500 years;

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) occupies more than 20% of the territory of the former USSR. Its height varies from 20 to 40 m.

Spruce

It lives from 600 to 1200 years, depending on the species. It is growing all over the world. There are species that grow in a certain area. It reaches a height of up to 50 m. It has a conical crown. Seeds appear in the 20th year of life - they are contained in cones.

Fir

Can live up to 300-400 years. He can live up to 700 years. Coniferous plant with vertically growing cones. This is an evergreen tree. The needles do not fall off even after the branches wither. The height of the spruce depends on the species.

Yew

It lives from 1500 to 2000 years. Under favorable conditions, it can live 3000-4000 years. Yew grows very slowly. Height from 10 to 20, sometimes up to 28 m.

Thuja

Thuja Lives from 150 to 200 years. It is classified as a conifer but does not have needles. This evergreen tree is undemanding to soil, which is why it is one of the most popular ornamental plants. Its height reaches 2.5 m. Thuja deciduous or giant can reach a height of up to 6 m, and thuja occidentalis - up to 20 m.

Juniper

The average lifespan of juniper is 200-300 years. Some species of juniper live 500 years or more. Height and lifespan depend on the species. The maximum height is 8-12 meters.

Apple tree

Life expectancy is from 100 years, depending on the species. The tree can be:

• decorative;
• decorative;
• decorative; fruit tree; wild.

The maximum height is 15 m; among the apple trees there are also low-growing shrubs. Trees vary in frost resistance and moisture requirements.

Pear

The average lifespan of a pear tree is 70 years. Some varieties can live up to 150 years. Fruiting continues up to 50 years. There are about 60 different species. It reaches a height of up to 20 m. It does not like to grow in areas with high groundwater levels. In order for the tree to live longer, it should be planted on a hill.

Plum

Plum trees live no more than 20 years. The tree bears fruit in the third year. Prefers moist soil. Doesn't like drafts. Reaches 15 m in height.

Cherry

Cherry trees take 25 years to grow. Does not grow higher than 10 m. Compact and productive. One cherry tree produces up to 20 kg of fruit. Wild cherry trees live 5 years longer.

Cherries

This heat-loving tree lives 25-30 years. She is more capricious than cherry. Gives tasty and juicy fruits. Reaches from 8 to 12 m in height.

Apricot

Service life up to 100 years. Reaches 5-8 m in height. Cannot regulate fruiting, which leads to excess fruit. Drought resistant.

Rowan

Lives 50-80 years. Some specimens can live up to 200 years. About 190 species. Available in the form of trees and shrubs. Height: 8-12 m.

Application

Poplars are gas-resistant and can withstand polluted urban air, including near industrial areas. Wide leaves cleanse the surrounding atmosphere of harmful impurities and release more oxygen than conifers. Damaged specimens quickly recover, growing long young shoots throughout the year. Many species are decorative and are a source of inexpensive wood. Greens and tree buds contain pharmacologically active substances . These qualities determine the value of poplars for industry and landscaping.

Wood

Poplar is a soft species that is not very resistant to biological and mechanical influences. This is a core porous yellowish-cream or light brown material with a fine, discreet texture, viscous, prone to cracking and swelling. The density of the dry mass does not exceed 420 kg/cub.m. Its physical and mechanical properties are low. Wood is easily crushed, damaged by fungus and quickly destroyed . Used in the turning, pulp and furniture industries. Poplar produces:

• paper;
• matches;
• packaging containers;
• artificial fabrics;
• charcoal;
• inexpensive kitchen utensils: cutting boards, bowls;
• cuttings of shovels and other agricultural implements;
• glued construction and finishing materials.

Medicine

Some types of poplar, such as black and common poplar, are medicinal plants. Tree buds are valuable for medicine. They contain a number of biochemically active compounds:

• glycosides;
• organic acids;
• tannins;
• essential oil;
• gum;
• resin.

The buds are collected in April, before the active growing season begins . Salicylic acid and populin, used in the pharmaceutical industry, are isolated from the raw materials. Preparations based on them have antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial effects, reduce pain, stimulate the activity of the gastrointestinal tract and liver, and increase the separation of sputum from the lungs.

Traditional medicine recommends using decoctions of poplar buds to treat pneumonia, bronchitis, stomatitis, use them for intestinal diseases, cystitis, nephritis, rheumatic pain, hemorrhoids, and wash cuts, abrasions, and ulcers with them.

For smokers who want to quit their addiction, poplar water makes it easier to quit nicotine.

An extract from poplar buds is included in anti-dandruff shampoos and other hair care products.

Gardening and landscape design

The ability of poplars to purify the air from dust and gases is indispensable for city streets. Fast-growing straight-trunked trees are suitable for planting in parks, squares, and along roadways. Species with compact decorative crowns: sedge or pyramidal poplar, can be grown on the borders of plots. Breeding only male specimens allows you to get rid of the main annoyance of poplar plantations - the summer “snowfall” of clods of fluff.

A powerful root system strengthens sliding soil on rough terrain and along the edges of ravines.

Reproduction, planting and care

This tree propagates mainly in two ways: seeds and cuttings. Any of the above methods can be used for planting a tree, but, as a rule, cuttings give the best results for growing poplar seedlings. Rooting cuttings does not cause any special problems; they take root quickly and do not require special care.

Annual branches cut in early spring, before sap flow, are used as future seedlings. The branch is divided into several parts, approximately 18-20 cm. Particular attention should be paid to the planting material; the prepared branches should have at least 2-3 healthy buds.

The seedlings are planted at a distance of at least 20-30 cm from each other, this will facilitate subsequent care for them. When digging in a branch, you need to make sure that at least two healthy buds remain above the surface.

After planting, the soil around is watered abundantly. Having fulfilled these conditions, within a year you can obtain viable seedlings ready for transplanting to a permanent location.

When growing a seedling from seeds, it is necessary to take into account that poplar seeds remain viable for only a few days, and it is important not to miss this period.

The collected planting material is placed on a pre-selected planting site for the future tree. The soil with seeds is shed generously with water and covered with a thick film.

As a rule, the first shoots hatch within a few days. After they reach a height of several centimeters, the seedlings should be thinned out, selecting the strongest ones. After a few months, the seedlings can be planted in a permanent place, taking into account the size of the future tree.

Caring for young seedlings is not difficult. Systematic soil cultivation and regular watering will enable rapid growth of poplar. If overall development slows down, phosphate or organic fertilizers can be added to the soil.

Tree life tables

The average lifespan of some deciduous trees is given in Table 1.

Table 1

The lifespan of some popular coniferous species is presented in Table 2.

table 2

The lifespan of fruit trees is given in Table 3.

Table 3

Preparing for winter

Wintering linden, like other garden trees, also requires special preparation from the gardener. Its correct implementation involves performing the following actions:

1. Before the cold weather, the gardener needs to remove fallen leaves from the tree and burn them, and also inspect the linden branches for the appearance of frost holes. It is recommended to treat detected formations with any antiseptic.
2. During the same period, the surrounding circle is covered with insulation. It is best to use peat or manure. With them, the roots of the tree become thicker.
3. In the first years, it is advisable to wrap the tree crown with dense material. This will protect the branches from frost and snowstorms. When the tree gets older, this measure can be abandoned.
4. In addition, closer to winter it is necessary to fertilize the trees so that they can stock up on the necessary substances for the winter.

All necessary measures to prepare this variety for winter can be carried out in 1-2 days. Activities are recommended to be carried out in late October - early November before the first frost.

With age, the frost resistance of linden increases and it becomes easier to prepare for winter. However, when working with this tree, the gardener always needs to pay special attention to avoid damage to the branches due to frost or improper processing of the plant in the autumn. This way, if you are careless, you can lose a large part of the crown.

Clonal plants[edit | edit code]

Some clonal colonies may be linked into a single unit (through their root systems). The majority do not have such a connection between individual individuals, but are genetically identical organisms that populate any area through only vegetative reproduction.

The age of such colonies is established approximately, based on data on current growth rates, and is an estimate[9].

What affects lifespan?

The main factor influencing the lifespan of a tree is its species. Fruit trees, for example, have the shortest lifespan - their lifespan is measured in tens of years. But deciduous and coniferous trees can live for hundreds and even thousands of years - they form the basis of “evergreen” forests on our planet.

Coniferous trees

Coniferous trees have a longer lifespan than their deciduous counterparts. Reasons for longevity:

• Thanks to their branched root system, coniferous trees are hardy - they take water from the soil well.
• Undemanding to soil. Can grow on poor sandstone and clay soils.
• Coniferous trees are more tolerant of harsh climates.
• Needles, unlike leaves, have a small surface area and are covered with wax, which helps retain moisture.
• Thanks to the special shape of their crown, they receive the maximum amount of solar energy, even if they are very dense.

The longevity of coniferous trees can be influenced by factors such as:

• Relief - plain, slopes, mountains. It is affected by the strength and direction of the wind.
• Humidity and temperature have virtually no effect - conifers grow in their usual environment. Only global climate change can affect their life expectancy.
• Genetics. Each plant has a certain adaptability.
• Diseases and pests. Fungal and bacterial infections can significantly shorten the lifespan of any tree.
• Forest Density - Conifers are at minimal risk because their crowns are adapted to harsh conditions.
• Soil properties have a much smaller impact than on the growth of deciduous trees.

Deciduous trees

The lifespan of deciduous trees can vary greatly, even within the same species. Life expectancy can be influenced by factors such as:

• Environment - How close neighboring trees grow. If the growth density is high, then only the strongest individuals live long.
• Climatic conditions - humidity, average annual temperature, wind strength and direction and other factors.
• Soil characteristics - density, composition, content of nutrients and microelements.
• Location - natural environment or urban conditions. It is obvious that trees fare worse in urban areas where the air is polluted.
• Insects and other pests.

Fruit trees

The lifespan of fruit trees is affected by:

• Pruning, care, winterization and other care procedures.
• Soil quality and fertilization.
• Type of fruit tree.
• Destruction of pests, especially bark beetles, which can destroy a tree within several years.

Why do fruit trees have such a short lifespan despite intensive care? The fruit trees are expected to produce a large harvest. By artificially accelerating the growth of a tree, a person forces it to expend its resources - it uses up its reserves, weakens ahead of time and dies.

Diseases and pests

Poplar is quite resistant to various kinds of diseases. The most common scourge for wood is necrosis and some types of cancer. Since these diseases are extremely contagious and can be spread to other plantings, the tree must be destroyed at the first symptoms. It is advisable to carry out this procedure outside the site.

The appearance of growths of different colors and types on the poplar trunk indicates that the tree is infected with fungal diseases. This disease is completely curable with the help of various fungicidal drugs and pruning diseased shoots.

Pests that can cause significant damage to a tree include insects such as aphids, scale insects, leaf rollers, and sawflies. The first symptoms of the presence of these insects are various spots on the surface of the leaf.

The main way to avoid such a misfortune is prevention. Affected trees must be regularly treated with insecticidal preparations.

How to find out the age of a tree?

Receiving energy from the sun, trees grow at different rates depending on solar activity. There are two ways to determine age - accurate and inaccurate - let's look at both.

Accurate – based on tree rings

To determine the exact age of a tree, it must first be cut down. Let's explain why.

The trunk expands thanks to the cambium, a special tissue that produces cells in both directions: inward and outward. How the cambium develops depending on the season:

1. Spring. The cambium produces cells that are very wide and have narrow walls. Such cells deliver nutrients more efficiently. Fabrics formed in spring have a lighter shade.
2. Autumn. At this time of year, the cambium produces thick-walled cells that give the wood increased strength. The autumn layer differs from the spring layer in being darker in color.

By the number of stripes - light and dark - you can determine the age of the tree. To accurately determine the number of years a tree will live, experts use

• dyes.
• microscope;

If the dark stripe is wider than usual, it means the tree has had a cold fall and a long winter this year.

This can be determined by the number of dark and light rings

• in what climatic conditions did the tree grow?
• How old is the tree?

Inaccurate - based on indirect evidence

But how can you determine the age of a tree without cutting it down? In this case, a calculation based on the statistical average is used:

1. Determine the circumference of the trunk at a height of 1.5 m from the ground.
2. Divide this number by 3.14 "Pi". The result is the diameter of the barrel.
3. The diameter is divided by the average annual growth of the tree in the study area.

The result is not accurate, the error may be 20-30%.

Map research

Let's look at the forest near my dacha in the Moscow region. Judging by the thickness of the birch trees that predominate there, they are no more than 40 years old, although they definitely grow here much longer. On the site itself there is a birch tree that is 70 years old with a radius of 25 cm. That is, one ring of it has a width of 0.4 cm. Apparently, our conditions are not very favorable. Therefore, the birches in the forest are not 40 years old, but 80-100 years old.

Let's see what was here in the 1770s, that is, 250 years ago. Let's open a fragment of the survey map of the Zvenigorod district of the Moscow region. I marked the location of our dachas with a blue square:

The stripes are arable land. It is noteworthy that to the right of the dachas we see a forest, but below - arable land. Where the forest now grows, there was arable land, and the forest is indicated on the site of the current field, which is located on our right, on the side of Moscow. It is interesting that even the Pokrovka River, which now starts in a field and goes through the forest, on this map begins in the forest, and then goes among the arable lands.

Another survey map from the same period. If the dotted line marks the boundaries of the forest, then, surprisingly, the forest is present on it in almost the same configuration as it is now.

Maps at that time were compiled by eye, so such strong distortions were normal. Based on this, I can assume that the arable lands on the first map are not where our forest is now, but to the south, but due to strong distortions, it turned out that they stuck almost closely to our ravine. In addition, the forest on the first map to the right of the ravine is shown rather conditionally, so it is possible that the distance to it was greater, and the field could have been deployed incorrectly. In this sense, the second map seems more accurate to me. There, the boundaries of the forest are clearly marked, just like the Pokrovka River.

Thus, based on the second map, we can conclude that in the 1770s the forest grew in approximately the same place as now. That is, 250 years ago there was a forest here too. But where are the 250-year-old trees then? No.

Let's look at more recent maps. Maybe the forest was being cut down there, and this was somehow reflected in them?

Schubert's map, based on surveys that took place in 1838-1839. The most accurate and detailed map of this area of ​​all time, republished with infrastructural additions for almost the next century. The so-called “one-layout”, that is, there is 1 verst in 1 inch (1 cm = 420 m). Here I doubled the scale for convenience:

The map was compiled using scientific methods, so there are practically no distortions. We see the same picture that we saw on survey maps created 50-70 years earlier. That is, all this time the forest remained in its place.

Another map, based on surveys that took place a little later, in 1852-1853:

Although this is a more recent map, it is less detailed. But the relief is better designed. For 10 new years, nothing happened to the forest either.

Let's move on. Map built in Soviet times based on filming from 1922-1928:

Surprisingly, it shows a clearing that still exists today! That is, immediately after the revolution it already existed! The forest is still there and has not disappeared anywhere. It has been standing for 150 years!

Let's continue observing. During the Great Patriotic War, a German spy plane took aerial photographs of our area in 1942, on which we can see not only the presence of the forest, but also its condition:

What do we see? The Kiev highway appeared, but the forest almost exactly corresponds to what we saw on the maps earlier. However, we see a huge deforestation

on the right, which cuts like a triangle into the forest from the side of the Kiev Highway, as well as a
completely bald clearing
a little to the left. Our forest clearing is also visible, which connects the nose of the white field with the edge of the bald clearing near the highway. I note that if you didn’t know that there was a clearing in that place, it would be quite difficult to identify it on the spot today, although a subtle change in the character of the forest is still felt there.

Photo from an American spy satellite in 1966. 25 years have passed, and the deforestation is almost unnoticeable. But the open forest on the right at the end of the field has now been completely cut down and turned into a new field, and the edge of our forest on the side of the field has been slightly trimmed:

Next, a fragment of a map showing the area as of 1982:

The boundaries of the forest are the same as in the 1966 photo. The forest is already 200 years old, but there are still no old trees in it!

Now let's look at the Google satellite image from 2006:

Compared to 1966-1982, the forest has not changed much. And the last change in the forest occurred in 2013. Part of the forest has been cut down. The felling took place in winter with huge tracked vehicles, even their parallel tracks are visible:

Thus, despite such attractive theories about a cataclysm erasing it from our memory for some reason, I can assume that our forest was still periodically fragmented or completely cut down, and then grew back. The same can be assumed about the entire Moscow region.

Industrial use

Poplar is of interest to industry. 99% of matches in Russia and the CIS countries are made from aspen wood.

Boats were traditionally made from poplar both in Central Asia and the Far East. By the way, poplar comes from China.

As a fuel, poplar is considered low-grade. The calorific value of firewood or charcoal is one and a half times less than that of birch. And she is also not a record holder.

Poplar wood is easy to process and weighs little. It is used to make short-lived but convenient items. For example, cutting boards, chopping blocks. Poplar wood has long been used to make railway sleepers.

Poplar is an excellent raw material for paper, artificial silk, and plywood.

Poplar is also applicable in agriculture. He is a supplier of twig feed. And some varieties can serve as honey plants. Not the most productive, of course. But, in the absence of linden forests or industrial plantings of sweet clover in the area, poplar is also suitable for bees.

As Wikipedia notes, poplar is a valuable source of propolis.

When is it necessary to uproot old trees?

Trees are the lungs of our planet, which is why it is so important to preserve green spaces as much as possible. Unfortunately, sooner or later any tree ages and dries out irrevocably, and it has to be uprooted.

Of course, owners of private houses try to keep trees alive for as long as possible by carrying out anti-aging pruning and proper care. But, if these procedures do not help, it is better to cut down the old trunk and plant a new young tree instead.

Foresters do much the same thing: they cut down only completely dry trees, and annually replenish the green spaces with new specimens. This is the only way to preserve a green forest and get rid of possible problems in the form of diseases that old trees can cause.