A huge role in the art of landscape design is given to plants. Experienced designers know almost everything about every species, from the properties of lawn grass to the characteristics of large trees. A beginner gardener will have to understand all the intricacies of combining different flora, to study the characteristics of flowers, bushes. One of the elements used in the design of the adjoining space is the meadowsweet. It is on her that we focus attention, consider its varieties, methods of planting and caring for spirea.
Own land in the city, suburbs, with residential, suburban construction - a real salvation for urban residents. Some people, tired of the eternal bustle, noisy freeways, dirty air, acquire a house in the village. Along with growing crops, many ennoble the territory, use the services of specialists, and agriculture lovers do it themselves.
In old books and classifiers, this plant is found under the name of meadowsweet. Spirea is a genus of small flowering perennial shrubs from the Rosaceae family, includes about 70-80 species, as well as many garden varieties resulting from hybridization. Representatives of this species grow in the northern temperate zones of Eurasia and North America. However, the homeland of most types is Central and East Asia.
Deciduous shrubs have a shallow root system. The difference in height is significant - from 15 cm (dwarf) to 250 cm (giant). The color of the branches varies from light brown to dark brown. In form there are upright, spread out, lying variants of branches, so they can spread along the ground, grow in cascades. The bark exfoliates longitudinally. Many varieties have oval, lobed, lanceolate (oblong with a pointed apex) leaves from 2.5 to 10 cm long. Their edges are serrated, rarely come across smooth, are arranged in pairs.
Meadowsweet inflorescences consist of a large number of small flowers 0.5-1 cm in diameter, consisting of 15-60 stamens, 5 petals, 5 sepals. Flowers can form different inflorescences in the form of dense panicles, umbrella-shaped shields. The color, flowering and fruiting duration depends on the variety. Early flowering (in spring) are characterized by white color, summer flowering - white, pink-red tone, late flowering - in different shades of purple.They begin to bloom for 3-4 years of life, the seeds ripen within 1.5-2 months.
Spirea is used in ornamental horticulture, in medicine, since it contains salicylates, it is eaten. These are excellent honey carriers, they are very appreciated by beekeepers.
Species and varieties
Deciduous shrubs are found at different latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, grow in many countries, each of which conducts research in the field of botany, distinguishes its species. American, Canadian, Russian, Chinese, German scientists and specialists from other countries work in this direction. To date, about 80 varieties of this plant are known, many diverse hybrids are bred.
Some varieties are used in ornamental horticulture and forestry, others are not widespread, are found either in their natural habitat or in botanical gardens. Plants can be classified according to various parameters, however, the main time is their flowering, according to which there are two types:
Spring flowering. Characterized by early flowering, strong tillering. On the shoot, flowers begin to grow only in the second year of his life. The main feature is the shades of the petals only in white.
Summer blooming. Unlike the previous group, inflorescences appear only on young shoots, and the old ones gradually dry out and die off. The flowers have a white, pink, purple tone.
Blooming in spring
There are many early flowering species of this plant, each of them has its own distinctive characteristics. Consider some of the most popular varieties that gardeners use:
Spirea is gray. This is a hybrid obtained by crossing St. John's wort (hypericifolia) and whitish-gray (cana) spirea, so it does not reproduce using seeds. The height of the bush is 0.9-1.8 m. It is very compact, has a decorative look. It can be planted as an independent element, use whole groups.The branches of the bride’s spirea, under the weight of lanceolate leaves and a large number of white flowers, acquire a curved shape.
Spirea Wangutta. This variety is also bred artificially from the Cantonese (cantoniensis) and trilobate (trilobata) species. The bush is round in shape, its height reaches 2 m. As in the previous version, the branches bend down, covered with numerous hemispherical inflorescences located along the entire length of the shoot. The leaves are serrated, obovate. Reproduction occurs by cuttings, seed germination is minimal, does not exceed 5%.
Nippon Spiraea. The homeland of this variety is Japan, the Shikoku and Honshu islands. Deciduous shrub, the height of which reaches 1.5 - 2 m. Width reaches 2 m. Fruiting begins in 5-6 years. The branches are long, flowing. Obovate, elliptic leaflets 1.5-3 cm long. Flowers 0.9 cm wide, inflorescences - up to 3 cm, grow along the entire shoot.
Of the existing subspecies, the following are most common:
Snowound The bush grows to a height of 1.2 m, a width of 2.5 -3 m. It is a deciduous shrub with bunches of small cup-shaped flowers.
Halvard Silver. A dense low shrub, not exceeding 1 m in height, 1.2 m in diameter. The leaves are elliptical, up to 4.5 cm long. The flowers are small, growing rapidly.
Spirea argument. Thunberg hybrid (thunbeigii) and multiflowered cultivar. Large spreading plant, height - up to 2 m. Leaves are narrow and oblong, strongly serrated. Umbrella-like inflorescences include many small elements that completely cover the shoots. This is one of the most effective, occupying a leading position in the flowering shrubs, unpretentious, resistant to urban conditions.
Blooming in summer
These plants ripen later, but you can enjoy their beauty much longer. Young branches, on which inflorescences grow, grow every year, after drying, the old ones are pruned at least once every 4 years.Proper care and the presence of a developed root system provide shrub longevity. To familiarize yourself with this subspecies, we will dwell in more detail on several options:
Japanese Spirea. Homeland are China, Japan, Korea. Tall shrub 1.2-2 m, with the same width parameters. Oval leaves with serrated fields, alternate along the stem. The flowers are pink, located only at the ends of the branches. It has four natural varieties named after botanists from different countries.
Spirea Bumalda. Low plant up to 0.8 m. It grows slowly. The flowering period is up to 100 days. The leaves are egg-shaped dark green, lettuce, golden-orange. Depending on the variety, they can have light pink, dark lilac, dark lavender shades of inflorescences.
Spirea loosestrife. Frost-resistant upright shrub, not higher than 2 meters. Leaflets elongated-oblong, sharp at the edges. The color of the petals is pink, inflorescences of a narrow pyramidal shape, tending to cylindrical. It can be grown as an ornamental plant.
Spirea Douglas. Grows in western North America. It is a woolly shrub. The distance from the rhizome to the top reaches 2 m. At the beginning of summer, the flowers are pink in color and darken over time. Leaves to the tips become jagged. Habitat - swamp, mudbanks, riverbanks. Native Americans used them as a broom.
Spirea Billard. Artificial appearance obtained by crossing the Douglas variety and loosestrife. The bush is tall up to 2.5 m. The petals are dark pink, numerous inflorescences are conical. Shoots are upright, slightly deviate to the sides, but do not hang. Leaves are dull green, narrowed and long. It tolerates pruning.
Landing Features
With proper care, the spirea gives continuous abundant flowering. Some species have their own soil requirements. All spirea perfectly take root in fertile land with the addition of deciduous humus.The root neck is always left at the level of the soil so that it does not get wet or rot.
Site selection and soil preparation
To observe the beauty of flowering and enjoy the perfect shape of a yellow shrub in the fall, you need to choose the right place for it on the site. This should be an open area with the maximum amount of sunlight. In the shade of spirea, it will slow growth, will bloom less profusely. A bush is planted in early spring, after the appearance of the first buds or in autumn, when all the leaves fall.
Spirea grows well in loose soil from a mixture of turf with humus. A portion of the sand is added to the two parts of the fertile mixture. A healthy seedling has a well-developed root system, with moderately dried roots. If they are too large, they must be shortened to facilitate planting and survival. Too dry roots are placed in water, and the shoots are pruned.
When planting a spirea in a permanent place, one must take into account its rapid growth and the appearance of basal shoots. She needs a lot of free space. If space cannot be created, the extra branches must be separated from the roots.
When planting spirea for hedges, the distance between the bushes should be at least 0.7 m, while creating compositions with junipers - up to 1 meter in a circle.
Landing in spring
The choice of planting season for seedlings depends on the type of spirea. Summer-flowering varieties are planted in early spring, in order to have time to place the plant in open ground before the leaves appear. Prepare a landing pit. Its depth should be three times the length of the root system, at least 70 cm. A drainage layer (10-15 cm) is laid on the bottom and a part of the hole is filled with a mixture of soil, peat and sand.
At the bottom of the pit, a hill is formed and a plant with spread roots is planted on it. They fill the hole with clean soil, crush a little, and water abundantly. The root zone is carefully hidden under the mulch.
Planting in autumn
Early flowering varieties of spirea plant in the fall.It is important to have time to put the plant in the ground a couple of weeks before the first frost. During the habituation period, the plant should be completely at rest. Separate preferably young bushes, whose age does not exceed 4 years. The root system of older plants will be difficult to extract from the ground.
Dividing the bush is dug up and placed in a container with water so that the clumped earth will move away. A sharp secateurs cut the bush into parts so that each of them has a branched lobe of the roots and several summer shoots. Then the plant is sent to the soil according to the standard scheme with drainage, mulch and abundant watering.
How to care for shrubs
A beautiful, unpretentious plant is used in any kind of gardening of a summer residence. You can maximize the decorative possibilities of spirea if you provide it with proper care. To maintain an attractive appearance, the bushes are systematically pruned, form a crown, make it pyramidal, spherical, look after the leaves. Weak, old branches cut off at the base. Spirea can be attacked by pests and even snails. They must be fought in a timely manner.
Watering
Due to the nature of the root system, its surface location, the meadowsweet may lack moisture in arid weather. You can create comfortable conditions and prevent drying out if you annually update the layer of mulch at the roots of the bush. Spirea does not respond well to excessive moisture, so it should be watered regularly, but in moderation.
Each adult bush in one procedure should receive at least 15 liters of water. The frequency of watering depends on external factors, humidity level, season, weather. On average, moisten the soil twice a month. Late-flowering seedlings require more abundant watering than early varieties.
Weeding, cultivating and mulching
The foot of the bushes must be kept in a loose state. Seals that have appeared near the trunk circles must be kneaded, saturated with oxygen.You should act very carefully so as not to touch the creeping horse roots.
In order for the soil to be always soft and airy, it is necessary to free the area with spirea from weeds in time. The soil is mulched with peat, husk of sunflower seeds, sawdust. The layer of mulch should not exceed 10 cm, otherwise a greenhouse effect will be created and the roots may rot. Mulch is placed indented 15 cm from the basal zone to prevent damage to the stems by rodents.
Fertilizer and fertilizer
The plant does not require a lot of fertilizers, spirea of rather fertile land and infrequent watering. But moderate top dressing will be by the way in spring and autumn. In this period, use bulk generic drugs. It is necessary to carefully place them in the soil, adhering to the dosage recommended by the manufacturer. It is better to sprinkle them around the base of the bush. Strengthens the plant and stimulates its growth Kemira universal, azofoska.
In addition to feeding spirea, it needs fertilizers. For each growth period, certain formulations are developed. The following solutions are used:
Organic They saturate the earth after sanitary pruning and before flowering. The source of nutrients is manure, chicken droppings and superphosphates. For tall bushes harvest 1-2 buckets of infusion. Half-grown is enough for half the norm. As fertilizer, you can also use compost, ash, peat.
Mineral In the first half of summer, emphasis is placed on urea, nitrate (ammonia, potassium, calcium). Nitrogen mixtures are used together with phosphorus before flowering spirea. In the fall, these types of fertilizers can not be used, because they can cause the rapid growth of new shoots that do not have time to strengthen before the cold and die.
Shrub pruning
Pruning is carried out to plants that bloom in spring and summer. Withered panicle brushes are removed from any type of spirae. This is especially important for varieties whose foliage has a more picturesque appearance than inflorescences.In this way, emphasize its expressiveness in early autumn.
You can make a lush bush in spring-flowering varieties using special pruning after flowering. The longest shoots shorten by half or a third. Of these, several branches and many buds will go. In this way, stimulate lush flowering.
For summer-flowering spireas, several haircut methods can be applied. The choice of method will depend on the purpose of planting, the age of the shrub. Single bushes are trimmed three years after planting to form new shoots for flowering. The following types of spring processing are practiced:
Stimulating;
Formative;
Anti-aging;
Cosmetic, sanitary.
Breeding methods
Spirea is very popular among gardeners. It looks great in a hedge, in a flower bed with other plants or in a single planting. The plant is represented by many species, the breeding of which can be done without specially created conditions. Spiraea can be propagated in several ways, in spring or autumn. If there is a need to divide the plant in the summer, it is better to do it in cloudy weather.
Seeds
Not all varieties of spirea can be grown from seeds. Hybrid species will not germinate, but even if they germinate, they will modify their properties. In other cases, this method of reproduction is quite simple and rational. The advantages of growing from seeds include the following factors:
You can get many plants at once;
Well kept after collection;
Do not require additional preparation for landing;
Seed dispersion is carried out in groups in the prepared soil.
Sowing takes place in the spring. A mixture of peat with vermiculite is placed in a large box and seeds are distributed. Sprinkle with soft soil and cover with a film. When the plants sprout, the film is removed. After a couple of months, the shoots dive, pinch the roots and transfer to a spacious box. In such a capacity will be spirea all summer.In the fall, they plant it on a bed. Transferred to the main place next year.
Cuttings
You can save all the characteristics of the variety if you propagate the shrub vegetatively - by grafting. The method is equally good for both species crops and hybrids.
Woody cuttings root in September. The beginning of autumn is chosen to simplify the care of plants, since in winter they do not need watering. For cuttings, only annual shoots growing vertically are suitable. They are cut into several parts, leaves are left at the top, and the lower ones are removed. Place for 12 hours in a jar with a solution of water and 1 ml of Epin. Cuttings are planted in wet sand at an angle and sent to the shade. For the winter, they’ll drip and wrap spiraea. In spring, plants can be planted in the ground.
Layering
A convenient way if you need to get some plants. In early spring, at the moment of opening of the first leaves, several lower branches of the bush are bent and pinned to the ground. Then sprinkle with earth and water abundantly. The first inflorescences are removed to get new plants in a short time. In winter, the branches are placed in shelter.
Next spring, spirea can be planted, the root system of plants will be fully formed. Layers are carefully separated and transplanted to a permanent place using expert advice.
Flowering spirea
The flowering period of spirae is associated with the characteristics of the formation of inflorescences. In early flowering flowers, they are laid on last year's shoots and appear along with leaves. Summer-flowering varieties form small flowers in inflorescences at the ends of young shoots.
At the peak of flowering, panicles cover the shoot along its entire length or only its upper part. Such plants are often used in mixborders, since they successfully participate in compositions with floral and leafy outfits. In autumn, faded panicles are cut so that they do not spoil the appearance of the bush.
Preparing the plant for winter
Due to its good winter hardiness, most species of spirea do not require special preparation for wintering. The critical temperature for such a plant is - 50 ° C. In regions with snowless winter weather, some warming measures should be carried out at the end of autumn.
When the shrub fades, sanitary pruning is performed. Sick, weak, dead shoots are removed. The formation of a crown by pruning shears can weaken the plant, so it is better to postpone this procedure until spring.
After the end of leaf fall, thorough loosening should be carried out around the entire bush, water and cover the area near the roots with leaves, sawdust, peat. The height of the mulch layer should be at least 20 cm. Such insulation will preserve the root system, protect branches from freezing.
Pest and Disease Control
Having excellent immunity, spirea is rarely exposed to diseases and pest attacks. Even if the disease could not be avoided, it is unlikely to be seriously affected. Spirea can lose its decorative effect in the following cases:
Aphid attacks. Large colonies drain young branches, leaves. Against them, an ordinary garlic tincture with a few drops of manganese helps. Also use special tools - Kronefos, Actellik;
Rosaceae miner. Females of mining flies pierce the leaves and lay eggs in them, which leads to the death of the branch. Larvae are destroyed with paraffin-containing agents, pyrethrum-based insecticides;
Rose leaflet. Caterpillars appear with the first warming, pull leaves into a tube and gnaw out. The bush is treated with a solution of laundry soap and ash, preparations "Denis pro", "Fitoverm";
Spider mite. A large generation covers the stems in white plaque. Then they take a red tint, dry and fall off. To destroy pests, use an infusion of ash and laundry soap, preparations "Fozalon", "Metophos";
Blue meadowsweet sawfly.Even a pair of larvae can cause serious damage to the plant by eating its shoots and leaves. For control use spraying with insecticides.
Whitefly The plants feed on the juice and multiply rapidly. Frogs carry pathogenic viruses. Adults are caught in traps specially hung near the spirea, the larvae are removed with a soap solution, and the infusion of garlic.
Conclusion
You can grow a healthy lush bush without making special efforts. Spirea is great for beginner gardeners who have just decided to try their hand at land work and plant plants on the site. The abundance of species and forms allows you to create stunning compositions, combine with other beautiful perennials.
A huge role in the art of landscape design is given to plants. Experienced designers know almost everything about every species, from the properties of lawn grass to the characteristics of large trees. A beginner gardener will have to understand all the intricacies of combining different flora, to study the characteristics of flowers, bushes. One of the elements used in the design of the adjoining space is the meadowsweet. It is on her that we focus attention, consider its varieties, methods of planting and caring for spirea.
Own land in the city, suburbs, with residential, suburban construction - a real salvation for urban residents. Some people, tired of the eternal bustle, noisy freeways, dirty air, acquire a house in the village. Along with growing crops, many ennoble the territory, use the services of specialists, and agriculture lovers do it themselves.
Content
Spirea - plant description
In old books and classifiers, this plant is found under the name of meadowsweet. Spirea is a genus of small flowering perennial shrubs from the Rosaceae family, includes about 70-80 species, as well as many garden varieties resulting from hybridization. Representatives of this species grow in the northern temperate zones of Eurasia and North America. However, the homeland of most types is Central and East Asia.
Deciduous shrubs have a shallow root system. The difference in height is significant - from 15 cm (dwarf) to 250 cm (giant). The color of the branches varies from light brown to dark brown. In form there are upright, spread out, lying variants of branches, so they can spread along the ground, grow in cascades. The bark exfoliates longitudinally. Many varieties have oval, lobed, lanceolate (oblong with a pointed apex) leaves from 2.5 to 10 cm long. Their edges are serrated, rarely come across smooth, are arranged in pairs.
Meadowsweet inflorescences consist of a large number of small flowers 0.5-1 cm in diameter, consisting of 15-60 stamens, 5 petals, 5 sepals. Flowers can form different inflorescences in the form of dense panicles, umbrella-shaped shields. The color, flowering and fruiting duration depends on the variety. Early flowering (in spring) are characterized by white color, summer flowering - white, pink-red tone, late flowering - in different shades of purple.They begin to bloom for 3-4 years of life, the seeds ripen within 1.5-2 months.
Species and varieties
Deciduous shrubs are found at different latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, grow in many countries, each of which conducts research in the field of botany, distinguishes its species. American, Canadian, Russian, Chinese, German scientists and specialists from other countries work in this direction. To date, about 80 varieties of this plant are known, many diverse hybrids are bred.
Some varieties are used in ornamental horticulture and forestry, others are not widespread, are found either in their natural habitat or in botanical gardens. Plants can be classified according to various parameters, however, the main time is their flowering, according to which there are two types:
Blooming in spring
There are many early flowering species of this plant, each of them has its own distinctive characteristics. Consider some of the most popular varieties that gardeners use:
Of the existing subspecies, the following are most common:
Blooming in summer
These plants ripen later, but you can enjoy their beauty much longer. Young branches, on which inflorescences grow, grow every year, after drying, the old ones are pruned at least once every 4 years.Proper care and the presence of a developed root system provide shrub longevity. To familiarize yourself with this subspecies, we will dwell in more detail on several options:
Landing Features
With proper care, the spirea gives continuous abundant flowering. Some species have their own soil requirements. All spirea perfectly take root in fertile land with the addition of deciduous humus.The root neck is always left at the level of the soil so that it does not get wet or rot.
Site selection and soil preparation
To observe the beauty of flowering and enjoy the perfect shape of a yellow shrub in the fall, you need to choose the right place for it on the site. This should be an open area with the maximum amount of sunlight. In the shade of spirea, it will slow growth, will bloom less profusely. A bush is planted in early spring, after the appearance of the first buds or in autumn, when all the leaves fall.
Spirea grows well in loose soil from a mixture of turf with humus. A portion of the sand is added to the two parts of the fertile mixture. A healthy seedling has a well-developed root system, with moderately dried roots. If they are too large, they must be shortened to facilitate planting and survival. Too dry roots are placed in water, and the shoots are pruned.
When planting a spirea in a permanent place, one must take into account its rapid growth and the appearance of basal shoots. She needs a lot of free space. If space cannot be created, the extra branches must be separated from the roots.
Landing in spring
The choice of planting season for seedlings depends on the type of spirea. Summer-flowering varieties are planted in early spring, in order to have time to place the plant in open ground before the leaves appear. Prepare a landing pit. Its depth should be three times the length of the root system, at least 70 cm. A drainage layer (10-15 cm) is laid on the bottom and a part of the hole is filled with a mixture of soil, peat and sand.
At the bottom of the pit, a hill is formed and a plant with spread roots is planted on it. They fill the hole with clean soil, crush a little, and water abundantly. The root zone is carefully hidden under the mulch.
Planting in autumn
Early flowering varieties of spirea plant in the fall.It is important to have time to put the plant in the ground a couple of weeks before the first frost. During the habituation period, the plant should be completely at rest. Separate preferably young bushes, whose age does not exceed 4 years. The root system of older plants will be difficult to extract from the ground.
Dividing the bush is dug up and placed in a container with water so that the clumped earth will move away. A sharp secateurs cut the bush into parts so that each of them has a branched lobe of the roots and several summer shoots. Then the plant is sent to the soil according to the standard scheme with drainage, mulch and abundant watering.
How to care for shrubs
A beautiful, unpretentious plant is used in any kind of gardening of a summer residence. You can maximize the decorative possibilities of spirea if you provide it with proper care. To maintain an attractive appearance, the bushes are systematically pruned, form a crown, make it pyramidal, spherical, look after the leaves. Weak, old branches cut off at the base. Spirea can be attacked by pests and even snails. They must be fought in a timely manner.
Watering
Due to the nature of the root system, its surface location, the meadowsweet may lack moisture in arid weather. You can create comfortable conditions and prevent drying out if you annually update the layer of mulch at the roots of the bush. Spirea does not respond well to excessive moisture, so it should be watered regularly, but in moderation.
Each adult bush in one procedure should receive at least 15 liters of water. The frequency of watering depends on external factors, humidity level, season, weather. On average, moisten the soil twice a month. Late-flowering seedlings require more abundant watering than early varieties.
Weeding, cultivating and mulching
The foot of the bushes must be kept in a loose state. Seals that have appeared near the trunk circles must be kneaded, saturated with oxygen.You should act very carefully so as not to touch the creeping horse roots.
In order for the soil to be always soft and airy, it is necessary to free the area with spirea from weeds in time. The soil is mulched with peat, husk of sunflower seeds, sawdust. The layer of mulch should not exceed 10 cm, otherwise a greenhouse effect will be created and the roots may rot. Mulch is placed indented 15 cm from the basal zone to prevent damage to the stems by rodents.
Fertilizer and fertilizer
The plant does not require a lot of fertilizers, spirea of rather fertile land and infrequent watering. But moderate top dressing will be by the way in spring and autumn. In this period, use bulk generic drugs. It is necessary to carefully place them in the soil, adhering to the dosage recommended by the manufacturer. It is better to sprinkle them around the base of the bush. Strengthens the plant and stimulates its growth Kemira universal, azofoska.
In addition to feeding spirea, it needs fertilizers. For each growth period, certain formulations are developed. The following solutions are used:
Shrub pruning
Pruning is carried out to plants that bloom in spring and summer. Withered panicle brushes are removed from any type of spirae. This is especially important for varieties whose foliage has a more picturesque appearance than inflorescences.In this way, emphasize its expressiveness in early autumn.
You can make a lush bush in spring-flowering varieties using special pruning after flowering. The longest shoots shorten by half or a third. Of these, several branches and many buds will go. In this way, stimulate lush flowering.
For summer-flowering spireas, several haircut methods can be applied. The choice of method will depend on the purpose of planting, the age of the shrub. Single bushes are trimmed three years after planting to form new shoots for flowering. The following types of spring processing are practiced:
Breeding methods
Spirea is very popular among gardeners. It looks great in a hedge, in a flower bed with other plants or in a single planting. The plant is represented by many species, the breeding of which can be done without specially created conditions. Spiraea can be propagated in several ways, in spring or autumn. If there is a need to divide the plant in the summer, it is better to do it in cloudy weather.
Seeds
Not all varieties of spirea can be grown from seeds. Hybrid species will not germinate, but even if they germinate, they will modify their properties. In other cases, this method of reproduction is quite simple and rational. The advantages of growing from seeds include the following factors:
Sowing takes place in the spring. A mixture of peat with vermiculite is placed in a large box and seeds are distributed. Sprinkle with soft soil and cover with a film. When the plants sprout, the film is removed. After a couple of months, the shoots dive, pinch the roots and transfer to a spacious box. In such a capacity will be spirea all summer.In the fall, they plant it on a bed. Transferred to the main place next year.
Cuttings
You can save all the characteristics of the variety if you propagate the shrub vegetatively - by grafting. The method is equally good for both species crops and hybrids.
Woody cuttings root in September. The beginning of autumn is chosen to simplify the care of plants, since in winter they do not need watering. For cuttings, only annual shoots growing vertically are suitable. They are cut into several parts, leaves are left at the top, and the lower ones are removed. Place for 12 hours in a jar with a solution of water and 1 ml of Epin. Cuttings are planted in wet sand at an angle and sent to the shade. For the winter, they’ll drip and wrap spiraea. In spring, plants can be planted in the ground.
Layering
A convenient way if you need to get some plants. In early spring, at the moment of opening of the first leaves, several lower branches of the bush are bent and pinned to the ground. Then sprinkle with earth and water abundantly. The first inflorescences are removed to get new plants in a short time. In winter, the branches are placed in shelter.
Next spring, spirea can be planted, the root system of plants will be fully formed. Layers are carefully separated and transplanted to a permanent place using expert advice.
Flowering spirea
The flowering period of spirae is associated with the characteristics of the formation of inflorescences. In early flowering flowers, they are laid on last year's shoots and appear along with leaves. Summer-flowering varieties form small flowers in inflorescences at the ends of young shoots.
At the peak of flowering, panicles cover the shoot along its entire length or only its upper part. Such plants are often used in mixborders, since they successfully participate in compositions with floral and leafy outfits. In autumn, faded panicles are cut so that they do not spoil the appearance of the bush.
Preparing the plant for winter
Due to its good winter hardiness, most species of spirea do not require special preparation for wintering. The critical temperature for such a plant is - 50 ° C. In regions with snowless winter weather, some warming measures should be carried out at the end of autumn.
When the shrub fades, sanitary pruning is performed. Sick, weak, dead shoots are removed. The formation of a crown by pruning shears can weaken the plant, so it is better to postpone this procedure until spring.
After the end of leaf fall, thorough loosening should be carried out around the entire bush, water and cover the area near the roots with leaves, sawdust, peat. The height of the mulch layer should be at least 20 cm. Such insulation will preserve the root system, protect branches from freezing.
Pest and Disease Control
Having excellent immunity, spirea is rarely exposed to diseases and pest attacks. Even if the disease could not be avoided, it is unlikely to be seriously affected. Spirea can lose its decorative effect in the following cases:
Conclusion
You can grow a healthy lush bush without making special efforts. Spirea is great for beginner gardeners who have just decided to try their hand at land work and plant plants on the site. The abundance of species and forms allows you to create stunning compositions, combine with other beautiful perennials.