Once the right location has been found for the Japanese cedar fir, the fast-growing coniferous tree can bring a lot of joy to gardeners.
Coniferous trees don't produce flowers and don't attract insects, but they are green all year round and provide a lot of shade. Mature conifers are also ideal as privacy screens, which is why many gardeners with large plots of land use them as a change from the usual hedge. The Japanese sickle fir delights many lovers of rather special pieces - and is often used for a bonsai. The Japanese sickle fir - also known as Cryptomeria japonica - which belongs to the swamp cypress family - comes from Japan and southern China, but also grows particularly beautifully artificially planted in Europe. We would like to explain below how to plant them correctly and what you need to know about them beforehand.
Japanese cedar - characteristics
Native to Japan and southern China, the Japanese cedar Cryptomeria Japonica is one of the most widespread forest dwellers in Japan and grows very quickly. The slender coniferous tree is mainly used in Japan to obtain wood and has a reddish bark that looks very fibrous. In Europe, a Japanese cedar can reach 20 meters in height. The crown, which becomes sprawling over time, is up to nine meters wide. It is practical that the Japanese cedar is almost resistant to most diseases or pests that forest trees can deal with - this saves a lot of effort and time in later care. Even in its first year of life, a Japanese cedar can bear cones from female flowers up to three centimeters long, which have the typical cone shape and appear in autumn.
Gardeners like to rely on the subspecies of Japanese cedar called Christata, also known as Cockscomb cedar. In this type of cedar, shoots that have grown together form wavy coniferous growths, which are more reminiscent of coral than of a conifer and therefore look a bit strange at first glance. Because exactly this property is so exciting for many lovers of the plant and the look of the cedar is something newlends, it is very popular - also because it only grows up to 12 meters high and is therefore a little easier to care for.Planting Japanese cedar - what you need to know about planting conifers
In order to be able to plant the Japanese cedar, you first need to know a few things about the location and soil that it needs and prefers for good growth. The Japanese sickle fir gets best from a humid climate and the mildest possible temperatures in winter. At the same time, a location that is as sheltered as possible is ideal for the Japanese cedar fir, but it can be sun-drenched.
❶ Soil condition
As for the soil, the Japanese cedar should be able to root in a moist soil that is low in lime. Humus-rich soil is ideal for this conifer. It should also be noted that the Japanese cedar does not take very deep and strong roots in very nutrient-rich soil - which means that it can easily be knocked over or damaged in a storm. A rather nutrient-poor soil causes the Japanese cedar to root more deeply in order to reach the nutrients - and thus also to get a more stable footing.
❷ Suitable location with best conditions
Once you have found a place in the garden or on the property that provides the properties that the Japanese conifer needs, the exact planting location must be determined and prepared. Above all, one should consider the space requirements of the needle fir, which can grow up to 20 meters high and nine meters wide, depending on the subspecies. It is therefore important that you keep a distance of at least ten meters from other trees and plants. Also consider sidewalks or patios that are nearby and also house walls. The roots could damage them if a distance of at least eight meters is not allowed for.
❸ Plant Japanese cedar
When preparing the soil for planting, it is important to dig a planting hole that is at least one meter wide and twice as long as the root ball of the young plant. The humus-rich but nutrient-poor soil in the garden or special soil can be used to fill up the planting hole after planting and to tamp down the tree. Fertilizing after planting or at all should be avoided, as this makes the roots more vulnerable and they do not grow as deep as is necessary for a stable stand in wind and weather.
The first years of the young Japanese cedar in the garden are the most important, as the young conifers are not yet completely frost-proof. One shouldso make sure to prepare them for the winter: for example with the help of leaves or fir branches on the root area and on the trunk, as well as fleece on the ground and around the crown. If there is little rainfall after planting and in winter, care should be taken to ensure plenty of water by watering, as the conifer likes it rather damp. Incidentally, the best time to plant the Japanese cedar is spring, so that it can still root deep enough to use the geothermal heat in winter and not freeze to death. If you want to keep the Japanese cedar as a bonsai, you should bring it to a cool but frost-free room for the winter and protect it with fleece.
| Advantages | Cons |
| does not require nutrient-rich soil | needs sufficient distance |
| does not have to be fertilized | must be kept very moist |
| Grows very quickly, can be used as a privacy screen or for providing shade | needs help with overwintering, as young plants are not very frost-resistant |
| No special soil necessary if the soil contains humus | can be knocked over quickly by wind and weather if the roots are not deep enough |
| No green fingers or expert knowledge required |
Summary
For safety and to make it easier to remember, here are all the characteristics that you should consider when planting the Japanese cedar:
- Sickle needs a lot of space
- a sunny but rainy place is preferred
- Soil poor in nutrients and lime is ideal for deep rooting of the conifer
- In the first winters, protect from the cold and winter sun with fleece, leaves and fir branches
- do not fertilize or add nutrient rich soil as this will reduce stability