Forsythia mini gold planting and care in the open field

Forsythia is very popular in European countries, it can be found on the streets and gardens of Berlin, London, Paris. What explains the popularity of this shrub? For Europeans, forsythia is a symbol of the arrival of spring. When the white and gray tones of winter are already tired, when the heart wants sun and warmth, forsythia blooms. The yellow flame of its flowers attracts the eye, and in combination with the spherical or drooping crown shape, the plant looks just gorgeous. The main advantages of forsythia, in addition to early flowering, are simple planting and undemanding shrub to care.

Features of species and varieties

In some of the warmest countries, the spring gold shrub blooms as early as February or March. Gardeners who want to achieve the same result often order seedlings of European forsythia varieties. But this is not entirely correct. We will understand all the intricacies of choosing planting material, planting and growing this flowering shrub.

Not all plants of this species are yellow

In European countries, the following types of forsythia are used for landscaping and decorating gardens, squares, streets:

• European
• Giralda
• Snowy
• Dark green

Some types of forsythia have 2-5 varieties. The most popular varieties are Golden Times, Fiesta, Variegata, Spectabilis, Weekend, Beatrix Farrand.

However, most types of forsythia, in particular European and dark green, do not tolerate frost very well. Gardeners complain that only that part of the bush that was under the snow survives after frost. And in our garden centers it is these forsythia seedlings grown in foreign nurseries that are sold.

If the gardener lives in the southern lane, he can buy and plant any kind of shrub. But if it is planned to grow the above types and varieties of forsythia in the northern region, it will have to be well insulated for the winter.

Yellow forsythia

Less commonly, planting material of frost-resistant plant species can be found in garden stores. These are, in particular, drooping (drooping, drooping) and ovoid, as well as Zimbold's forsythia and intermediate. Well, if you find a zoned variety in some nursery, then it will definitely take root and winter well.

All types and varieties of forsythia are similar in appearance, but each plant has its own characteristics. - height (up to 3 meters), crown shape, flowering period and other varietal or species qualities. Therefore, before buying seedlings, you need to ask the seller in detail about all important aspects.

How to choose a good seedling

Excellent seedling option

Experts advise purchasing two-year-old forsythia seedlings, it is better not to take older ones, since the older the plant, the more difficult it is for it to adapt to new conditions. If the bush is less than two years old, it may not take root either.

It is better to opt for a plant that has:

1. There is a quality certificate... It is important to pay attention to the items "supplier country" and "climatic growth zone".
2. Shoots are well developed, they are flexible, without damage, breakage.
3. Closed root system - a seedling in a container.In this case, the roots should not rise above the soil or crawl out of the drainage holes. If small roots make their way from the holes at the bottom, this is normal, and even good.
4. If there is no ZKS, you can take a seedling with an open root, the main thing is so that the roots are firm, moist, well developed, with no signs of frostbite, illness or injury.

In general, you need to choose the plant whose appearance you like is not satisfactory. But it will not be superfluous to look at the neighboring seedlings, because if other bushes are sick with something, then, most likely, all planting material is infected.

Choosing a place in the garden for planting

This plant can become a real highlight of a garden or lawn, because forsythia first blooms, and after that it releases leaves and young shoots. It looks spectacular against the background of a green hedge, dark green conifers... In autumn, when flowering has long ended, forsythia leaves attract attention, depending on the variety, they turn bright yellow or purple-violet.

Bush hedge

Therefore, it is better to plant a shrub in a conspicuous place - where it will look good. In this case, one must take into account the size to which the forsythia will eventually grow. The plant needs a lot of space, it is desirable that there is 100-200 cm of free space around the seedling.

If a group planting of compact plants is planned, they will look great along paths, fences, building facades. In this case, the gaps between the bushes can be made small to create a sense of the continuity of the row.

If you plant a forsythia near a lilac, then this corner of the garden will be bright and blooming throughout the spring - from the beginning of March to the end of May.

Conditions for landing

Choosing a sunny and spacious place

What growing conditions are acceptable for forsythia:

• spacious, bright place, but partial shade is also suitable
• the landing site should be at least slightly protected from the winds

The soil should preferably be fertile, loose, moderately moist, well-drained (avoid acidic and heavy soils). In principle, any soil will do, since you can always water the plant (which, by the way, is drought-resistant) or fertilize. For example, if the land on the site has a high level of acidity, you can "dilute" the land with wood ash.

When is it better to plant a shrub

The best time to purchase a plant is early spring.

In general, this plant can be planted both in spring and autumn. Especially if the garden is located in the southern or middle zone of the country. And if you managed to buy a seedling with a closed root system, then it can be planted even in the middle of the season, that is, in the summer months.

Advantages and disadvantages of spring or autumn planting forsythia:

• If plant a bush in early spring, it will have a better chance of settling, acclimatizing and developing a powerful root system. This means that the chances are increased that the plant will overwinter well in a new place.
• If plant forsythia in autumn, especially a frost-resistant bush, she, too, will probably take root. The main thing is not to delay planting until November, so that the plant has enough time for rooting. The optimal time for autumn planting is September.

Nevertheless, experienced gardeners advise planting forsythia at the beginning of the season. If the opportunity to purchase a seedling appeared in the fall, and there is no opportunity or desire to plant, you just need to prepare the hole. And the seedling itself should be dug into a trench or placed in a cellar for the winter (plants with ZKS will overwinter perfectly in a container).

Pit preparation for landing

It is better to prepare the pit in advance. If planting a plant is planned in the spring, the hole is prepared in the fall or at least 1-2 weeks before the purchase of a seedling. If in the fall, a hole is dug in the spring or, again, a few weeks before planting.

It is better to prepare the landing pit in advance.

There are two options for preparing the hole (the second is preferable):

1. A pit is being dug 50x50x50.
2. A pit is being dug 50x50x50. A layer of drainage from scrap materials (broken brick, expanded clay, gravel, small pebbles, crushed stone) is laid on the bottom, a layer of sand is poured on top of it - 5 cm.A soil mixture is prepared - leaf earth, sand and peat or compost in a ratio of 2: 1: 1. Ash up to 200 g can be added to the soil mixture (to neutralize peat).

If there is limestone soil on the site, you can safely choose the first option for preparing the pit, since it is less troublesome and costly.

Landing

The root collar should be above the ground

A peg (or two on both sides of the center) is driven in a little to the side of the center of the hole - it will be a support for a young bush. The roots of the plant are moistened with water and straightened on a layer of sand or at the bottom of the pit. The roots are covered with earth or soil mixture in such a way that the root collar remains above the ground.

After the hole is filled up, the earth must be tamped from above, watered and mulched. And the last thing to do is tie the bush to the peg.

A good option for mulching the soil near forsythia is compost or burnt (but not diseased!) Foliage. It is not recommended to use peat as mulch, as it acidifies the soil.

Comprehensive care - what to do during the season

Comprehensive care is a stable flowering of the shrub

Forsythia is not a capricious or demanding plant. She needs a minimum of attention and can be cared for at the same time as other plants in the garden. The most important activity is pruning, but it should be done a maximum of 2 times a year.

All you need to do during the season:

1. Watering (very rare).
2. Weed cleaning and loosening - if mulch is available, this item can be eliminated. If forsythia grows on the lawn, then removing the weeds and loosening is also not necessary, but it is necessary to cut the grass.
3. Fertilization - up to 3 times a year.
4. Prevention and treatment in case of disease or pest infestation.
5. Pruning and shaping the crown.
6. Shelter plants for the winter.
7. Shrub propagation - optional, if the gardener wants to get forsythia seedlings for garden decoration or for sale.

That's all a forsythia needs to bloom the next year after planting. If the site is in favorable climatic conditions, then in the next March-April the gardener will be the proud owner of a magnificent golden exotic bush.

Learn more about watering and soil care

Getting rid of weeds is part of plant care

Since the homeland of the plant is Asia, forsythia survives drought well. But why create unfavorable conditions for your pet? After all, watering once or at most twice a month will not be difficult, especially if there are other plants in the garden and on the site that need moisture.

One bush will need 10-12 liters of water, that is, 1 bucket. It is advisable to pre-heat the water under the sun, so as not to arrange a "cold shower" for the plant. After watering, if there is no permanent mulch near the bush, you need to loosen the topsoil.

So that the water does not spread over the site, but feeds the roots of the watered plant, you can dig a small "ditch", a groove around the bush. Water is poured into the depression, and the earthen shaft from the soil dug from the groove will serve as a barrier to water.

If it rained once or twice for a month, there is no need to water forsythia, it does not really like waterlogging.

Caring for the soil around the forsythia - this is clearing weeds and loosening the surface of the earth - is carried out simultaneously with watering.

Top dressing

If the land is fertile, you do not need to do top dressing. But the plant responds well to soil fertilization, grows faster, blooms more colorful and abundantly. Therefore, many gardeners still prefer to periodically feed the shrub.

Forsythia responds well to fertilization

Immediately after planting and during the first year of the forsythia's life in the garden, the owner does not have to do anything. But from the second year, it is advisable to start applying fertilizers:

1. In the spring, as soon as the snow melts, you need to scatter compost, humus or any other organic fertilizers in the near-trunk zone. Then pour water on the bush and the ground around it. Organic matter quickly activates the vital functions of the plant, intensifies flowering and crown growth. It will also act as a mulch.
2. When forsythia forms buds and in the period of laying flower buds next year, a complete mineral complex is needed. It is enough to buy a universal mineral fertilizer, apply it according to the instructions or at the rate of 60-120g / 1 sq. M.
3. Beginning of autumn - the period for phosphorus-potassium feeding. Such fertilizers will help to increase the winter hardiness of forsythia.

When applying fertilizers, you need to make sure that they do not come into contact with the trunk and branches of the plant, since even organic matter can harm with direct contact.

Diseases and pests - infection prevention and treatment

A diseased leaf of a plant is easy to identify

To avoid fungal diseases, it is necessary to comply with agrotechnical requirements in terms of irrigation - do not overmoisten.

Also forsythia can suffer from other diseases and pests:

1 Withering - individual branches begin to wilt and die during flowering. Fungicides will help here.

2 Bacteriosis is an incurable disease that first affects the edges of the leaves, then penetrates into the stems (darkening of the vessels is noticeable on the cut). If an infection with this disease occurs, forsythia cannot be saved. Moreover, a diseased bush can become a source of infection for other plants in the garden. If bacteriosis is detected, the bush must be urgently uprooted and burned outside the garden plot. And pour the land where forsythia grew with a hot solution of potassium permanganate.

3 Nematodes - leaves of a plant are affected, they become translucent, covered with holes, curl up. Marigolds planted under the bush will help prevent worm infestation by nematodes. And if the infection has already occurred, it is necessary, if possible, to change the top layer of the soil and to process it with "Carbation".

4 Birds - They peck at the buds of the plant in winter. If forsythia is in hiding, this problem is not relevant. If there was no insulation, agrofibre thrown over the bush will protect from birds.

5 Aphids - can be seen on the back of the leaves of a bush. It is not difficult to remove the parasite - spraying with soapy water or decoction of bitter plants - dandelion, red pepper, marigolds will help.

Biological products that do not contain chemistry can be used not only for treatment, but also for the prevention of diseases / pests.

Sanitary and formative pruning

While the bush is still young, you only need sanitary pruning in spring and autumn. In this case, the damaged, sick, frostbitten, broken and other "illiquid" branches are cut off.

From the second year onwards, it is necessary to carry out not only sanitary, but also formative pruning. It will allow you to create the desired shape of the bush, will stimulate the growth of new shoots and abundant flowering.

Formative pruning will allow you to give the bush an optimal shape

In the spring, after flowering, you need to cut off young shoots to half, and shorten adults more, up to 5 cm above the ground. By cutting off the branches, you can simultaneously give the bush a shape - spherical or cupped (if it is not a "hanging" variety). If the bush is already middle-aged, you can "refresh" it by cutting off all the branches by 2/3.

Anti-aging pruning is carried out no more often than once every 4-5 years. Otherwise, forsythia will grow really large, but it will bloom badly, spending all its energy on building up green mass and branches.

Preparing for a comfortable winter

As already mentioned, forsythia, especially frost-hardy and zoned, can spend the winter without shelter. But the climate in our time is unpredictable, you never know what frosts can happen in winter, especially in the northern strip. Therefore, warming forsythia is not an obligatory, but highly desirable measure, and for young bushes it is simply vital.

Option for sheltering bushes

What activities need to be carried out before the onset of cold weather:

1. As soon as the plant has dropped the foliage, it (foliage) needs to be raked to the side, watered and loosened up the soil in the near-trunk circle. Further, mulch the plant high with its own foliage, spruce branches, peat, straw - what is available on the farm.
2. Twigs that bend freely are bent to the ground and fixed in this position. On top, you can additionally put a layer of shelter (spruce branches, burlap, straw) and cover it with lutrasil, or better with an air-permeable material.
3. As snow falls over the plant, you need to form a snowdrift, which will create additional protection from frost and wind.

The second variant of the shelter is the construction of a mini-greenhouse over a bush bent to the ground. A wooden box or frame made of hammered boards / branches covered with any material - lutrasil, agrofibre, burlap, etc. will do. The air space inside the greenhouse will allow the plant to fully “breathe” and protect it from the cold.

The shelter must be removed immediately as soon as the snow melts. Otherwise, the plant may simply rot, or the twigs bent to the ground will take root.

Reproduction

Beginners and experienced gardeners prefer to propagate this plant by a vegetative method. Seeds are also possible, but this method is for the most persistent and optimistic, because the seeds germinate poorly, and the plant will begin to bloom no earlier than in 4-6 years.

Forsythia cuttings

To quickly obtain planting material, two methods of forsythia propagation are used:

1 Cuttings... The material is prepared in spring or autumn with conventional formative pruning. Young shoots are taken, which have buds located at a short distance from each other. The cut should be about 1 cm below the node. The cut is processed by the rooting machine, then the cutting is planted in the sand to a depth of several cm with a distance of 5 cm. The box with seedlings is taken to the greenhouse, the cuttings must be constantly ventilated and moistened from the sprayer up to 5 times a day. The roots will appear in 1 month, cuttings can be planted in the ground after 1 year, and in a permanent place after 3-4 years. The plant will bloom in the 4th year.

2 Layers (applicable to a variety whose stems are creeping or hanging to the ground). In autumn, the bark is scratched on a branch and pressed to the ground with a damaged place, fixing it with a bracket. Sprinkle the layers with soil. In the spring, the sprouted layers can be divided and transplanted. Forsythia will bloom in 1 year.

Forcing - flowers for the New Year or by the 14th of February

This adorable shrub can delight with its golden or snow-white buds not only in early spring. There is a way to get blooming twigs even in winter, when you so want to remember the splendor of bright forsythia bells.

Forcing a plant is a great way to get flowers in winter.

How distillation is done:

1. In winter, when the plant has already gone into hibernation, but before the onset of frost, you need to cut off annual shoots to the desired length (about 50 cm).
2. Wrap the cut branches in plastic (plastic wrap, regular shopping bag) and place on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator.
3. On the eve of the holiday (10-12 days in advance) or just when the desire arises, you need to remove the branches from the refrigerator and place them in water (temperature 30-35 degrees) for 4-5 hours - this will allow the plant to wake up.
4. At the end, you need to take a vase or a beautiful bottle, fill it with lukewarm water with dissolved sugar (50g / 1l), and put the twigs in the container.

After a while, the forsythia branches will be covered with delicate spring flowers. And a lush golden bouquet will decorate any room or will be a wonderful gift for the holiday.

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Blooming forsythia, strewn with hundreds of bright yellow flowers, is impossible to miss! If the summer resident wants to be decorated with forsythia every spring, planting and care in the open field are key stages on the path to success.

Perennial shrubs, one of the first to break the monochrome of early spring, came to Europe from Asia and were named after the botanist who brought the first seedlings to the Old World. Today forsythia is the most popular type for landscaping and creating hedges.

How and when to organize planting and caring for forsythia in the open field at their summer cottage? What does a shrub need for friendly growth?

Conditions for planting forsythia in the open field

Forsythia is an amazing plant that changes its appearance every season. In the spring, these are branches devoid of leaves, but densely strewn with flowers. In summer, the bush is covered with greenery, which changes color to golden or purple in autumn. When looking for a place for forsythia, you should pay attention to areas where the shrub will be clearly visible and illuminated.

Although forsythia tolerate shade, in the sun the bush forms more dense and even. The plant is undemanding to soil fertility, but it develops better on soil with an alkaline reaction, good drainage. Culture:

• undemanding to care;
• has excellent frost resistance, simplifying the wintering of forsythia in the open field;
• tolerates drought well;
• responds well to haircuts and can be used for growing hedges.

There are two options for planting forsythia in the ground: in spring and in autumn. In the first case, young shrubs after acclimatization immediately begin to grow, giving new shoots. Bushes transferred to the garden in autumn only take root, and begin to grow after wintering.

Timing of planting forsythia in the ground

The time for transferring seedlings to the garden is chosen depending on the region and the quality of the planting material. Many nurseries today offer young plants with a closed root system. Seedlings grown in containers are transplanted together with an earthen clod, so the roots do not suffer, the bush easily and quickly adapts to a new place of residence. And the summer resident is guaranteed easy care for forsythia in the open field after planting, whenever it happens: in spring, summer or autumn.

For seedlings with an open root system, it is better to plant in the spring months, when the threat of sudden frosts goes away, or in the fall, about a month before the onset of seasonal cold weather. During this period of time, the shrub will acclimate and be able to prepare for winter.

Since the climatic conditions in the regions of the country are seriously different, there is a significant difference in the timing of planting and caring for forsythia in the open field, in the Moscow region and, for example, in central and northern Siberia, where the heat comes later, and the summer is much shorter:

1. If you delay planting plants in the garden, their adaptation and rooting will be delayed, and the shoots that have dedicated over the summer will not have time to get stronger before the onset of frost.
2. Early spring planting threatens with the danger of freezing of the buds, tops of the shoots, and with severe frosts on the soil, damage to the points of growth and roots.

In autumn, planting forsythia in the ground also depends on weather and climatic conditions and can vary even within the same region, for example, as large as the Urals. If in the south gardeners live according to a calendar similar to that used by summer residents of the middle lane, then in the north the weather is much more severe and changeable.

Planting forsythia in open ground

Forsythia prefer dry, drained soil and do not tolerate stagnant moisture in the soil. Therefore, at the bottom of the planting pits 60 cm deep and 50 cm wide, powerful drainage is made from broken brick, expanded clay or gravel. It is especially important not to neglect this measure in areas with dense soil that retains water and where the groundwater is too close. An example is planting and caring for forsythia in the Leningrad region.

A layer of sand and a previously prepared soil mixture are poured over the drainage on the basis of:

• 2 pieces of leafy land;
• 1 part peat;
• 1 part sand.

For each hole, 200 grams of sifted wood ash is mixed into the ground. The substrate is poured with a mound, on the sides of which the roots of the bush are spread. After filling the hole, the soil is compacted and watered abundantly at the rate of 10-15 liters per plant. In the fall, after planting forsythia, caring for the shrub consists in dense mulching of the trunk circle. This will help conserve water in the soil and protect the roots from hypothermia.

Mulch will help in spring, especially where summer comes quickly and the soil dries quickly, covered with a dense, impenetrable crust.

Care for forsythia after planting in the open field

An important advantage of forsythia is its simplicity and the absence of any special care. In the warm season, shrubs that grow rapidly with minimal care need:

• in irrigation, if there is no natural precipitation, and the soil under the plants is completely dry;
• in maintaining the cleanliness and looseness of the trunk circles;
• in a triple feeding;
• in a haircut that helps maintain the health and shape of the crown.

In hot dry times, the plants are watered abundantly once or twice a month, the field of which is loosened, weeded and mulched. Lowland peat mixed with humus and wood ash can be used as mulch. This composition protects the roots from overheating and is an excellent long-acting fertilizer. In addition, shrubs respond well to full fertilization before and after flowering.

In the second half of summer, you should not fertilize shrubs with nitrogen. It will cause active growth of young shoots, which, even with proper planting and caring for forsythia in the Urals, Siberia and in the middle lane, will not have time to ripen and will die with the onset of frost.

An important part of caring for forsythia is pruning the shrub. For sanitary purposes, the removal of dead, old or damaged branches is carried out in the spring, and a haircut to maintain shape - in early summer, when the mass flowering ends. Until recently, shoots yellow from flowers can be shortened by half the length, and old branches are cut above the ground so that several buds remain at the base.

Once every 3-4 years, forsythia is rejuvenated by evenly cutting all shoots by half or two-thirds of the length. Over the summer, the plant will restore the crown, which will be dense, uniform and young, so that next spring it will please with a friendly bright flowering.

In most regions, the plant winters excellently without shelter. If the winters have little snow, before wintering, forsythia in the open field is gently tilted to the ground, fixed and covered with spruce branches or dense non-woven material. At the first opportunity, the bushes are covered with snow.

Reproduction of forsythia in the open field

The remaining parts of the branches after pruning are an excellent material for obtaining cuttings that will serve for the propagation of forsythia.The green shoots are cut into pieces 10-15 cm long so that each one has several healthy buds. The lower leaves are cut off, and the resulting stalk, after treatment with a rooting stimulant, is planted in a greenhouse.

In the fall, another method for breeding forsythia in the open field is possible. Lignified cuttings are planted in a school organized in a quiet place protected from wind and flooding. For the time remaining before the cold weather, the seedling will give roots, and 2-3 buds left above the surface of the soil will wake up in the spring and form a young crown of a dwarf shrub. In the coming fall, such plants can be planted in a permanent place.

Planting forsythia in a permanent place - video

An ancient species of shrubs of the olive family, it blooms beautifully in early spring. Due to its decorativeness and unpretentiousness, it is widespread. Forsythia is not whimsical to care for, and planting it in open ground is very simple.

Description of forsythia

A brightly flowering shrub in early spring immediately attracts attention. Against the background of nature that has not yet awakened, the delicate golden bell-shaped flowers of forsythia remind of the arrival of spring.

The country of origin of the plant is China. Various species have a wide geography of distribution in the Balkan Peninsula, Japan and Korea. You can grow shrubs in the Leningrad region, Moscow and even Siberia. But in the latter case, they will need careful shelter for the winter.

Forsythia or European forsythia grows in height by 1-3m. In width, the shrub grows up to 2 m. After lush flowering, oval-shaped leaves bloom from 4 to 13 cm in length. Forsythia is cold-resistant, resistant to pest infestation and is easily cultivated in the middle lane.

Forsythia shrub flowers close up

Most popular varieties

Among the wide variety of varieties and types of shrubs, the following are most common:

• Greening. Distributed on mountain slopes in China. The plant is distinguished by its large size and erect branches. It has large dark green leaves. The size of yellow-green flowers is up to 3 cm.
• Hanging. The place of growth is the northern and central region of China. Cultivated in the Crimea, Moldova and the Caucasus. Hanging forsythia grows up to 3 m. The greenery of the foliage is colored yellow in summer, and in shades of purple in autumn. Flowers of golden color have orange corollas. It is considered the most beautiful species.
• Giralda. It is of North Chinese origin. Outwardly, the plant is similar to the European one. During the period of abundant flowering, the Giralda is covered with small yellow flowers that hide the shoots. The leaves are oval, dark green with a gloss above and pale below. It is winter hardy.
• Ovate. It grows in Korea, where the shrub grows 1.5 m. The flowers have elongated bright yellow petals. Leaves with a glossy dark green color have an oval shape and grow up to 7 cm. Cultivated in the Non-Black Earth Zone.
• Intermediate - it is a hybrid derived from a dangling and verdant species. The shrub has a decorative appearance due to slightly hanging branches. Blooms in early summer. During this period, the bush is completely covered with golden yellow flowers. After flowering, leaves bloom, retaining their green color until autumn. The hybrid has several forms. All are cold-resistant and suitable for growing in the Non-Black Earth Region.
• Goldsauber. Popular view. It is valued for its large yellow inflorescences. The flowering period is from the middle of April. Flowering lasts about 3 weeks.

Landing rules shrub in open ground

Forsythia has good survival rate and growth. The best time for planting is spring or autumn, while there is still no frost. When decorating a garden plot, the shrub is assigned a place in the garden, along the fence or path.

A place for planting shrubs is chosen sunny or with a slight partial shade. Lack of light and heat negatively affects the plant and may not bloom.Dry soil is suitable for planting, because the plant does not require moisture. Sufficient for the growth of rain and melt water.

Duration of flowering forsythia is from 20 to 25 days.

How to plant a shrub?

The bushes are planted in prepared pits 50x50 cm and a depth of 60 cm.The pits are filled with drainage from broken brick or crushed stone with a layer of 20 cm.Then a layer of sand 10 cm is poured and a nutrient mixture of sand, peat, leaf earth in a ratio of 1: 1: 2 with the addition of ash (200 g).

When planting, you need to deepen the root by 30-40 cm. Sprinkle the seedling, compact and water the soil.

When planting several bushes in a group, the pits are located at a distance of about 1.5 m from each other.

In the case of a spring planting of a bush, it does not require special care. For autumn planting, mulching with "breathing" material will be required so that the buds do not disappear during thaws.

Freshly planted forsythia cuttings

Care rules after landing

The shrub is unpretentious to care for and not picky about watering. Watering the plant is necessary only in drought 1-2 times a month, based on a bucket of water per 1 bush. Moistened soil should be loosened and weeds removed. To ensure the flow of air to the root system, loosening is carried out on the bayonet of the shovel. The adjacent area is mulched with compost.

The plant needs feeding three times a season. At the beginning of spring, along the contour of the near-trunk circle, rotted manure in a thick layer and watered with water. In April, the soil is fertilized with mineral fertilizers, applying 70 g per 1 m2.

At the end of flowering, the laying of flower buds begins. During this period, forsythia also needs feeding. Use the drug Kemira-universal at the rate of 100 g per 1 m2.

Young plants do not require pruning, only in the spring they remove the frozen areas.

An adult plant is pruned in the summer after flowering. Dry and old branches are cut at a height of 5 cm above the ground. Faded branches are cut in half. By pruning, they give the shrub a decorative shape. Once every 4 years, rejuvenation is carried out, cutting the bush by 2/3. Pruning stimulates flowering and prevents the shrub from stretching.

Unusually beautiful forsythia bush near the house

Propagation by cuttings

The most common way of reproduction is vegetative. Cuttings are done in June. Twigs of 15 cm are cut and the lower leaves are removed. Treat with a stimulant. For planting, perlite or sand is prepared and planted in a greenhouse. Sometimes cuttings harvested in October are rooted. They are planted in the garden, buried in the ground to the second or third bud. Buried twigs for the winter are covered with fallen leaves. With the arrival of spring, the cuttings will begin to grow, and in the fall there will be seedlings.

Forsythia takes root well by layering. In summer or early autumn, young branches bend to the ground.

At the base, the twig is pulled together with wire. An incision is made in the area of ​​the bark that touches the ground. The shoot is fixed to the ground and covered with soil. After a short time, rooting will occur. In the spring, they are cut off from the bush and planted. Flowering occurs in a year.

Green forsythia cuttings ready for transplant

Sowing seeds in autumn

The seeds are harvested in the fall after ripening. In the last decade of March, they are placed in containers with soil, watered and covered with foil. Seedlings will be after 4-5 weeks. When the seedlings grow 5 cm, they are planted in a greenhouse or in open ground.

Young forsythia bushes with flowers

When sown with seeds, flowering will be for 5 years.

Diseases and problems of growing

The plant is resistant to disease. However, wilting, moniliosis and bacteriosis are sometimes observed. For the treatment of wilting, spraying with 5% foundation is used. Unfortunately, bacteriosis cannot be cured. The bush will have to be destroyed.

Moniliosis disease manifests itself as brownish spots on the foliage. The fight is carried out by cutting out the lesions.

Forsythia is affected by a nematode. To eliminate the disease, the soil is treated with carbation.

Application in landscape gardening

Forsythia bushes are decorative and are planted in large alpine hills, hedges and individual plantings. When planted with muscari, it creates an attractive yellow-blue bloom. It goes well with conifers. Planting single shrubs against a background of blue and green spruce and juniper gives a beautiful composition.

With a slight investment of time, you can grow decorative forsythia on your site, which is within the power of novice growers.

Forsythia (Forsythia) or forsythia is a plant in the form of shrubs or small trees. It is a member of the Olive family. The main feature of forsythia is considered to be its early flowering, the bush is covered with bright yellow flowers in early spring, long before the appearance of its first leaves.

This genus is one of the most ancient on earth. First of all, this is proved by a very wide natural habitat. Six types of forsythia originate from East Asian countries such as Japan, China and the Republic of Korea. Only one species grows in Europe Forsythia europaea or translated from Latin European forsythia. Most often it can be found on the Balkan Peninsula and in Germany.

The plant got its name thanks to the Scottish botanist William Forsyth. He is one of the founders of the Royal Horticultural Society, and is also known for being the main gardener of Kensington Palace for a long time. It was William who introduced forsythia to Europe, borrowing it from the wild flora of China.

> Description

Forsythia grows in the form of small trees or bushes. She can reach from one to three meters in height... The trunk of this plant is covered with rough gray-brown bark. Most species have simple opposite leaves without stipules. They are oval in shape with jagged edges, can be from two to fifteen centimeters in length. On the shoots they are arranged crosswise - in pairs, two at each node. Some species boast trifoliate leaves, their plate is divided into three parts: two lateral and one central.

The forsythia bloom period begins in early spring and lasts on average up to three weeks, but sometimes it can last longer. The inflorescences are bright yellow in color, consist of flowers that resemble bells in their shape. In their place, the fruits of the plant are formed - capsules filled with winged seeds.

Forsythia begins to bloom long before the first foliage appears, then the flowers are replaced by green leaves, which acquire a purple hue closer to autumn.

Types and varieties

Forsythia - spring messenger, with its aroma and bright, sunny bloom, it decorates gray streets and reminds people of the imminent arrival of heat. To date, within the framework of botany, seven main species of this beautiful flowering plant have been recorded:

• Forsythia europaea or European forsythia.
• Forsythia ovata or ovoid forsythia.
• Forsythia x intermedia or intermediate forsythia.
• Forsythia hanging, drooping or drooping - Forsythia suspensa.
• Forsythia abeliophyllum - Snow or white forsythia.
• Forsythia viridissima or dark green forsythia.
• Forsythia giraldiana or forsythia giralda.

Let's take a closer look at the most popular ones.

> European forsythia

This species is considered the most common in Russia. Such popularity is due to the unpretentiousness of the plant and its frost resistance - it is able to develop well and bloom even in climatic conditions of middle latitude and Siberia.

Forsythia European looks like a short one upright shrub... She can only grow up to two meters in height. She has oblong, whole-edged (without denticles and grooves) leaves up to seven centimeters in length. The flowers grow singly, their shape is similar to bells and are colored yellow with a golden tint.

Forsythia ovoid

Ovate forsythia is a small shrub that grows from one and a half to two meters in height... They have spreading branches covered with gray bark with a yellowish tinge. The leaves can be up to seven centimeters long. In summer, they are painted in bright green, and closer to autumn they acquire a purple hue.

The bright yellow inflorescences consist of single, medium-sized flowers with a diameter of up to two centimeters. The flowering period of this species begins earlier than that of other forsythia.

Plants tolerate winter cold, dry periods well and grow quite quickly. The most popular varieties related to this species:

• Tetragold - shrub rarely exceeding one meter in height. The flowering period begins in mid-April. Inflorescences consist of single dark yellow flowers with a diameter of up to three centimeters.
• Goldsauber - is considered a very valuable variety. It is very popular among gardeners due to its large yellow flowers with a golden hue and frost resistance. The flowering period begins in April and lasts about three weeks.
• Spring Glory - shrub up to three meters in height. In summer, the crown has a rich green color. Closer to autumn, it acquires an additional shade from pale yellow to dark purple, which is why it becomes quite variegated. The bloom is very abundant, the flowers are large, painted in a bright yellow color.

> Intermediate forsythia

Intermediate forsythia is a hybrid created by crossing dark green and drooping forsythia. It grows up to three meters in height and begins to bloom only in the fourth year after planting.

She has oblong leaves, up to ten centimeters in length... They are most often toothed, but plants with trifoliate foliage can be found. The crown is painted in a dark green color, which does not change until late autumn. Bright yellow flowers form inflorescences of several pieces. The flowering period runs from April to May. The species is very winter-hardy, drought-resistant, grows quickly and well. Varieties:

• Spectabilis - is considered a very beautiful variety. The bushes are low, only a meter high. The main feature is the crown of this species. It is very thick and lush, can reach one hundred and twenty centimeters in diameter. In summer, the foliage is colored green, in autumn it turns purple or bright yellow.
• Denziflora —Small bush, can reach one and a half meters in height or less. The volume of the crown is usually equal to the height of the plant. The flowers are twisted, have a pale yellow color. It begins to bloom in March, the inflorescences last for about two to three weeks. This variety is afraid of frost.
• Beatrix Farrand - bushes up to four meters high. The flowers are bright yellow with dark yellow stripes at the base.

Planting forsythia

The early onset of the flowering period favorably distinguishes forsythia against the background of other shrubs. Unpretentiousness to the location and care only add to its popularity among flower growers. Noting some of the features that should be considered when growing this wonderful flowering bush:

• This plant is very light-requiring, but grows well even in the shade.
• Forsythia prefers calcareous soils.
• Closer to autumn, the green crown of the bush acquires a golden or purple-violet hue, which again attracts the attention of all passers-by.
• Experienced gardeners prefer to place forsythia against the background of dark green conifers, since in such a place it looks most impressive.

When to plant forsythia

Transplanting and planting forsythia should be done in spring or early autumn, before the onset of frost, so that it can take root even before winter. The most suitable place for this plant, with good lighting and partial shade, well protected from wind and drafts. Of course, forsythia feel good even in the shade, but nevertheless, it is better to choose bright places for heat-loving bushes.

The composition of the soil for the plant does not really matter, but it takes root and develops best in slightly alkaline dry soils. If your site has rather acidic soil, dig up the ground beforehand diluting it with wood ash.

How to plant forsythia correctly

Let's start planting forsythia:

1. After you have chosen a place for forsythia on your site, it is time to prepare the planting pits. The optimal size is 50 to 50 to 60, in such cases the earthen lump will be at a depth of thirty to forty centimeters, as required.
2. If you decide to plant several bushes in close proximity to each other, then the distance between the holes should be not less than thirty to forty centimeters.
3. Prepare nutrient soil. To do this, mix one kilogram of leafy soil, five hundred grams of sand, half a kilogram of peat and two hundred grams of wood ash.
4. Fill the planting hole with a good layer of drainage material. For these purposes, expanded clay, broken brick or crushed stone are most often used. The thickness of the drainage layer should be fifteen to twenty centimeters.
5. Fill the drain with sand. The sand layer should be ten centimeters thick.
6. Cover the sand with nutritious soil.
7. Place the seedlings in the planting holes, sprinkle with soil and compact wellto give the plant stability and avoid gaps between the roots.
8. Sprinkle the seedlings liberally after planting.

If you planted bushes in the spring, then they will need regular care. Forsythia, planted in autumn, requires more attention. Without fail, the root square will need to be mimicked, regardless of whether the plant belongs to a particular species. For the winter, the seedlings should be covered with a special material. It must be breathable so that the flower buds do not get blocked in the event of winter thaws.

> Care for forsythia

Caring for forsythia in the open field is not much different from caring for any garden shrub. If there is sufficient precipitation in the summer, the plant does not need additional watering. But if it turns out to be arid, you will have to spill forsythia about one or two times a month, ten to twelve liters for each bush.

After every rain and watering it is necessary to loosen the soil and remove weeds in an earthen square of forsythia. In order for the root system to be able to saturate with oxygen, loosening should be carried out to the depth of the shovel bayonet. After this procedure, mulch the soil, this can be done with compost or dry soil.

Plant feeding

Fertilize forsythia three times in one season, starting in early spring. To do this, in the near-trunk circle, not close to the bush, a thick layer of rotted manure is laid out, then it is plentifully spilled with water. With this method of feeding, manure is for forsythia and organic fertilizer and mulch.

In April, mineral fertilizers are applied at the rate of sixty to seventy grams per square meter. After the end of the flowering period, when the plant begins to lay fresh flower buds for the next year, it should be fertilized with kemira - wagon in the calculation of one hundred to one hundred twenty grams per square meter.

Pruning

Young plants only need sanitary pruning. To do this, cut off all dry, broken and frozen shoots. In adult bushes, with the arrival of spring, the frozen ends of the branches should be removed. The main pruning is done in the summer, after the end of the flowering period. During it, all faded shoots are shortened in half, and old and dry ones are cut, which will lead to the formation of fresh shoots.

With the help of pruning, you can adjust the density and height of the crown, as well as the shape of the shrub. It can be spherical or cupped. If you wish to rejuvenate an adult plant, then cut all branches by four to six centimeters. This procedure activates the growth of fresh young shoots.

Keep in mind - you should not abuse such haircuts, this can lead to the fact that forsythia begins to actively grow, but it will stop blooming altogether. Anti-aging pruning should be performed no more than once every three to four years, otherwise she can lose all her decorative qualities.

Pests and diseases

With good care, forsythia is resistant to various diseases and pests, but at times it can be affected by moniliosis, wilting and bacteriosis. Moniliosis can be recognized by the appearance of brown spots on the foliage. To save the plant you will need remove all affected tissue... Withering can be cured by spraying a solution of foundationol, but you cannot get rid of bacteriosis, so you have to dig out the bush along with the entire root system and burn it so that the disease does not spread to other plants.

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