Spirea willow planting and care in the open field

Among the ornamental shrubs, spirea occupies a special place. She is surprisingly unpretentious and easily forgives the gardener even the most unobtrusive care. A wide variety of shapes and types allows you to choose the plant to decorate the site that will best fit into the surrounding landscape. Planting and caring for a spirea is not difficult, even a novice gardener can handle it.

Spirea: types and varieties

The genus spirea belongs to the pink family and is quite numerous, it includes more than 70 species. The distribution area of ​​this deciduous shrub is wide. It can be found in the northern hemisphere in most climatic zones. Spirea rarely has single flowers, most often they are collected in a corymbose inflorescence, sometimes in a panicle. The color of flowers depends on the flowering time of the species.Plants blooming in spring have white flowers that bloom on last year's shoots, in species blooming in summer pink-crimson gamut prevails, flowers are located on annual growths.

The most common types.

• Medium spirea - an inhabitant of Siberian and Far Eastern forests, a tall shrub - above 2 m with white corymbose flowers that open in May and do not fall for 3 weeks, frost-resistant and drought-resistant, used in landscaping, suitable for northern regions.
• Spiraea birch-leaved - grows in Siberia, from 1 to 2 m in height, white flowers are collected in huge shields - up to 10 cm in diameter, blooms at the end of May and blooms throughout June.
• Spirea crenate - has been used in landscaping for 200 years, there are cultural hybrid varieties. In nature, it is a low, up to 1 m shrub that blooms at the end of May. Quite large flowers are collected in corymbose inflorescences, due to the large number of long yellow stamens, it seems that they have a golden hue. This type of spirea is drought-resistant and frost-hardy, can be used to strengthen floating soils.
• Spirea St. John's wort is a shrub up to 1 m high, flowering - May-June, white flowers, is used to obtain new forms of the plant.
• Gray spirea - the result of crossing the previous species and whitish-gray spirea, has highly decorative varieties that bloom in spring. The most beloved variety of this species by flower growers is the Grefsheim spirea. The shoots of the tall bush bend towards the ground under the weight of flowers that completely cover the bush. The flowering is so abundant that the leaves are almost invisible.
• Spiraea is oak-leaved - blooms with umbrella-shaped inflorescences of white flowers with a large number of protruding stamens for 25 days, flowering occurs in May-June. The species is used in culture, it tolerates a haircut well.
• Spirea Nipponskaya came to us from Japan - this highly ornamental shrub 1-2 m high is decorated with yellowish-white inflorescence shields that appear in June. It does not differ in frost resistance; in severe winters, the tops of the shoots freeze slightly, but quickly recover. The most famous variety is Snowmound. A huge number of flowers on a bush up to 1.5 m high makes it very decorative at the time of flowering. The width of the bush is 2 times the height.
• No less decorative and spirea Wangutta is a hybrid species that blooms very profusely in June-July with white flowers collected in shields. The bush has an average height and can freeze slightly in frosty winters.
• Japanese spirea is quite thermophilic, but due to the low height of the bush - up to 1 m it winters without loss, covered with snow. The most interesting varieties are Little Princesses and Shirobana. Little princesses - a bush up to 80 cm high and up to 1.2 m wide blooms very profusely in June-July with pink flowers collected in medium-sized shields, grows slowly. Shirobana is a bush up to 0.8 m high and up to 0.6 m wide, blooms in mid-summer. Flowers in corymbose inflorescences have three colors - white, pink and crimson, if you cut off faded inflorescences, new ones will decorate the bush for another month.
• The adorable spirea stands out among other species by double flowering: in June on last year's shoots and in July and August on newly regrown ones. Flowers are collected in complex shields, can be white or pale pink. The species does not differ in frost resistance - up to -18 degrees, so in the middle lane it hibernates under cover.
• Spirea Bumald is a decorative hybrid species, it also has a yellow-leaved form. The bush is low - up to 0.8 m in width and height. It blooms for more than 3 months with bright pink flowers in large shields. The most famous variety is Antoni Vaterer.
• Willow spirea grows wild in Siberia. The tall bush blooms in July and August with bright pink flowers collected in pyramidal panicles.
• Spirea Douglas grows above 2 m. In the second half of summer, it is decorated with pink flowers, collected in a paniculate inflorescence.
• When crossing the previous species and spirea willow leaf we got Billard's spirea. A tall, frost-resistant shrub blooms in the second half of summer and is decorated with large pink paniculate inflorescences until the very frosts.
• Also, the hybrid spirea is lilac-colored for a long time, only paniculate inflorescences, in accordance with the name, have a lilac-pink color. The bush can grow up to 2 m.

Spirea: features of cultivation

Spireas are unpretentious, but with proper careful care they give abundant flowering. Different flowering times dictate different pruning times. Some species and varieties have special soil and maintenance preferences. Most spirits prefer humus-rich, but not heavy soil without stagnant water, but they will feel good even on not very fertile soil. To keep the roots from getting wet, they need drainage. But before you plant a plant, you need to propagate it.

Shrub propagation

Spirea is very easy to propagate. Some species produce root shoots that can be transplanted. Parts of a divided bush take root well. Flexible shoots allow cuttings to be rooted. For propagation of all species, cuttings can be used, and for non-hybrid forms and varieties, seeds can also be sown.

Cuttings

When rooting the cuttings, you will get an exact copy of the parent plant. Green cuttings in early flowering varieties are cut at the beginning of June, and in late flowering varieties at the end of the month. For already lignified cuttings, the best rooting time is autumn, September or October.

• The annual green shoot is cut and cut into pieces with 5-6 leaves.
• Remove the bottom pair of leaves, cut the rest by half.
• The lower cut is placed in a vessel with an epin solution for 12 hours.
• It is treated with a powdery root stimulant.
• They are planted in a container with loose soil, sprinkled with a layer of sand at an angle of about 40 degrees to stimulate root formation.
• Cover with a film or glass jar and put in a lacy shade under the trees.
• They moisten the soil in the cuttings, preventing it from drying out, and the cuttings themselves are sprayed several times a day.
• In the fall, the container is dropped into the soil, mulched with fallen leaves and covered with a wooden box.
• In the spring, the shelter is removed. After the appearance of young shoots, the plants are planted in the garden in a permanent place.

Seed propagation

In non-hybrid varieties and species, seed germination reaches 80%. Collect them when the boxes turn brown, but have not yet opened. Dose in the room for 2 weeks. You can sow both before winter and in spring. Seeds do not require stratification. Seedlings dive when 2 true leaves are formed. Further care: watering as needed, 2 dressings with full mineral fertilizer. In the fall, seedlings are planted in a seedling bed, and next year in a permanent place. They begin to bloom for 3 years.

Landing in open ground

Proper planting is the key to abundant flowering and plant health. It is very important to maintain the optimal distance between the plants in order to provide them with the necessary nutritional area. When laying a hedge, it is enough to plant spireas 30 cm apart, for a normal planting the distance should be greater, since the bushes grow strongly in width: for tall varieties - about 1 m, for undersized varieties - 0.8 m.

The choice of planting material

Now on sale there are many varieties and hybrids of spirea. The choice of a plant depends, first of all, on what place the spirea will occupy in the landscape design of a particular site. A hedge will require many plants of the same species, it is better if they are tall. As a tapeworm, you can plant an openwork bush with long flowering. On an alpine slide, undersized compact varieties will be appropriate. But whichever variety you choose, the plant should have a developed and healthy root system, consisting of 3 taproots and a well-developed lobe covered with a clay mash.With spring planting, not swollen buds, and with autumn planting, already flown leaves. It is best to choose a container-grown seedling that can be planted throughout the growing season.

How and when to plant?

Spirea is planted in pre-dug holes. Their size should be slightly larger than the root system of the plant. Usually the depth is about 70 cm, 20 of which falls on the drainage of expanded clay or brick fragments. The diameter of the hole is determined by the size of the roots.

Landing Algorithm:

• a plant is placed on a mound of earth poured in a hole, spreading the roots;
• fill up the earth, taking into account that the root collar is strictly at the level of the soil;
• watered in the planting circle using 2 to 3 buckets of water;
• mulch the soil around the bush with a layer of peat 7 cm thick.

Planting time depends on the selected variety: late flowering plants are planted in spring, early flowering ones in autumn, but no later than 3-4 weeks before the onset of frost.

Soil preparation and site

The planting site should be well lit by the sun, a little shading is allowed during the day. It must be remembered that in the shade of the spirea it blooms badly.

This plant is undemanding to the soil. The preferred soil for spirea is light sod or leafy, with a neutral or slightly acidic soil reaction. Heavy clay soils are improved by adding sand and peat, a little clay should be added to light sandy soils. From fertilizers, you can add Art. tablespoons of long-acting ABA fertilizer for each bush. This amount will be enough for the plant for several years.

The nuances of planting in spring, autumn

If the variety blooms in summer, it is better to plant it in spring, early flowering varieties are planted in autumn, but so that the bushes take root before the onset of frost. In both cases, the plants must be dormant. In the spring, the buds should not swell yet, and in the fall the leaf fall should already end.

Outdoor care for spirea

An unpretentious plant does not require special care measures, but top dressing and watering made on time will provide it with maximum decorative effect.

How to water properly?

Spirea is a drought-resistant plant, but in extreme heat and in the absence of rain for a long time, it must be watered. This is especially true for recently planted bushes. For an adult plant, the watering rate is 1.5 buckets per bush. For undersized species and varieties, one bucket is enough. Watering is sufficient once every 2 weeks, well soaking the root layer.

Fertilization and feeding

In order for the spireas to grow and bloom well, they should be fed regularly.

You can choose the following power plan:

• in spring, nitrogen mineral or organic fertilizer; for early flowering varieties, additional feeding with complete mineral fertilizer with microelements is needed;
• in June, plants are fed with full mineral fertilizer;
• at the end of August, fertilizing with phosphorus and potassium salts is needed so that the spireas are better prepared for winter.

At the end of summer, spireas cannot be fed with any fertilizers containing nitrogen, this can provoke the growth of new shoots that do not have time to ripen and freeze in winter.

All dressings can be applied both dry and liquid, combining them with watering. The next day, the soil around the plant must be loosened.

Spirea pruning

It is held on several dates, depending on the destination.

• Spring pruning is sanitary. Only dry and frost-damaged shoots are removed.
• Formative. Spireas blooming in the summer on the shoots of the current year are pruned in the spring immediately after the snow melts, combining formative pruning with sanitary pruning. Thin branches thickening the bush are removed - they will not give a good flowering. Different types of spirea have their own subtleties in pruning. Pruning of Douglas and Boomald spirits begins only in the fourth year of life. Miniature varieties not exceeding 40 cm in height are cut into 2 buds. Cut out shoots with foliage that does not match the color of the variety.After flowering, the seed pods are removed, if there is no need for seeds - this contributes to the re-blooming of the inflorescences. It is enough to cut off a third of the shoot. The green hedge is trimmed to give the desired shape. Spring-flowering spireas form after flowering, cutting off shoots at the level of a strong young growth. The crown of the bush should be symmetrical.
• Anti-aging pruning. It is carried out in adult bushes, starting from the 7th year of life. All old shoots are removed, leaving no more than 5-7 young ones, while maintaining the symmetry of the bush. This pruning is best done in several stages, so as not to greatly weaken the bush.

Preparing for winter

The first wintering at a recently planted bush is a serious test. But adult plants, despite the frost resistance of most varieties, and species also need to be prepared for winter. For many of them, it is enough to feed the plants in August with potash and phosphorus fertilizers, to carry out moisture-charging irrigation after leaf fall and to mulch the trunk circle with humus.

For less frost-resistant varieties, you will have to build a shelter:

• tie the branches into a bunch;
• bend the beam to the ground, fixing with special fasteners;
• fall asleep with dry leaves;
• additionally throw in snow.

Plant diseases and pests

Spiraea rarely suffers from disease, but in a damp summer it can be damaged by powdery mildew and gray mold. To eliminate them, copper-containing fungicides, Fitosporin, colloidal sulfur are used.

Among the most common pests are aphids, blue meadow sawfly, whitefly and spider mites. Insecticides are effective against the first three: Fitoverm, Actellik. Insectoacaricides are suitable against the tick: Metaphos.

The nuances of growing in Siberia, in the Urals, in the Moscow region

Almost all varieties and types of spirea are suitable for growing in central Russia. Shrubs such as Japanese Spirea and Nippon Spirea need additional winter shelter.

In the Urals, the climate is more severe. In its southern part, almost all types of spirits will grow well. In the middle lane and, especially in the north, frost-resistant shrubs should be preferred. The same can be said about spirea in Siberia. Only undersized varieties are able to overwinter under the snow without much loss. If medium and tall plants are not covered, then constant frosting in winter is guaranteed to them, decorativeness and abundant flowering cannot be achieved in such conditions.

Correctly selected varieties of spirea are able to create a flowering conveyor throughout the growing season and will be a real decoration of any garden.

The shrub, surprising in its beauty, spiraea evokes admiration for its grace and variety of forms. You can endlessly look at the spirea photo, this activity will never drive you into boredom. The plant not only has a versatile look, perfect for any landscape composition. Spirea requires minimal care, since the shrub is unpretentious. A rich family of these plants can satisfy the most demanding tastes of the picky gardener.

Spirea: varieties

The richness of varieties of spiraea shrub varieties allow you to choose the desired shape for the garden and park complex. Since the original form of the wild progenitor of modern spirits belongs to the Rosaceae family, the plant is excellent for breeding. The resulting new forms are stable in their morphological manifestations.

Small spirea buds are collected in magnificent clusters that cover the entire vine.

The translation of the word "speira" means "bend" or "flexible". This property of the wild plant formed the basis for the characteristics of the plant. Beautiful flexible vines can be thrown over a specially prepared surface, creating arches. Or leave it as a groundcover.

Another advantage of this type of flowering shrub is the bright, delicate flower head. Small buds are collected in magnificent clusters that cover the entire vine.Together they create the sensation of a waterfall of incredibly beautiful flowers.

According to the flowering periods, the spirea is divided into:

• blooming in spring;
• blooming in summer.

Considering this factor, you can create interesting compositions that will delight the eye during the entire warm period.

According to the flowering periods, the spirea is divided into blooming in spring and blooming in summer.

Spireas blooming in spring include:

• Gray;
• Spirea Grefsheim;
• Wangutta.

The main types of summer flowering spirea are:

• Japanese;
• Willow;
• Boomald.

Some of these species have their own peculiarities when planting, nursing and breeding. But in general, the shrub brings a little hassle to gardeners. Like all Rosaceae, it can be cut very well, which makes it possible to propagate your favorite species at home.

Spirea Japanese

Spirea Japanese delicate beautiful plant, the vines of which reach 2 m in length. One of the few species native to the wild. His homeland is the island of Honshu. This part of Japan is distinguished by its harsh northern climate.

Japanese spirea blooms in mid-April and continues to delight the eye almost until the end of May.

The winters on the island are damp and cold. Spring has a short period. The earth warms up only by mid-May. However, honey plants pollinating the plant wake up quite early. All these conditions influenced the formation of flowering and growth cycles of the shrub.

Japanese spirea blooms in mid-April and continues to delight the eye almost until the end of May. It is resistant to cold and disease. Its main requirement is to add compost, peat to loamy soils.

Its decorative features are:

• a lush cap of large inflorescences;
• dense vines, allowing you to create hedges;
• long flowering period;
• resistance to freezing.

Spirea Japanese does not like high groundwater

Its main requirements are:

• after planting, two weeks of intensive watering;
• the presence of fertilizers;
• does not like high groundwater;
• lack of waterlogging.

By observing these requirements, you can create a beautiful corner of the garden. Spirea Japanese photos show how favorably the plant stands out from among other flowering shrubs.

In order to breed this type of spirea, you will need:

• wooden box;
• sand;
• a place protected from direct sunlight;
• agrofiber.

The base is lowered into densely compacted sand, the space around the handle is compacted

Cuttings are cut into 5 cm, the cut should be oblique. The base is lowered into densely compacted sand, the space around the handle is compacted. After the end of fixing the cuttings in the sand, the box is covered with agrofibre. To make the roots appear faster, you can add a teaspoon of Kornevin to the sprayed water.

Spirea Wangutta

Spirea Wangutta is a hybrid species that has no wild analogues. This variant of Spirea prefers to grow as a dense bush. The diameter of the cluster of shoots can take up to 2 m. The branches are long and elastic, covered with spherical caps of inflorescences.

One inflorescence can reach up to 0.8 cm in diameter. The leaves are elongated, lanceolate. The upper part of the leaf has a bright juicy green color, the back plane is more gray. A feature of Wangutta leaves was its property to become purple-red in the autumn.

Spirea Wangutta prefers to grow as a dense bush

Wangutta spirea flowers are always white. This is the only drawback of the variety. However, each flower of the inflorescence is large in size, which makes them noticeable. This feature more than covers the lack of a variety of additional colors.

The bush blooms in May, its re-flowering occurs in mid-August. Due to its large size, this variety is good for decorating central flower beds, creating the center of the landscape composition.

The peculiarities of the variety require a certain approach to breeding:

• the variety loves soils with drainage from sand and gravel;
• when planting, observe the distance between the bushes 50-60 cm;
• before planting, the seedlings must be kept for several hours, lowered into the aquatic environment;
• prefers fertilization with superphosphate.

Top dressing of the plant is required in the spring. Since this is a hybrid, the bushes should be treated with antiviral and anti-fungal drugs before flowering.

Spirea Gray

Spirea Gray has several sub-grades. Despite the fact that the gray spirea itself is a hybrid, the plant lends itself well to sectioning. The name "gray" is associated with the color of the leaf blade. The reverse side of each narrow leaf has a pronounced gray color, the upper part has a rather silvery tint.

The branches of the Gray Spirea descend to the ground in a domed manner

One of the tallest varieties, the bush can grow up to 180 cm in height. The branches descend to the ground in a domed manner. Thus, the entire bush is spherical. The spreading vines of the Gray Spirea cover large areas, so the bushes should not be planted too close.

The flowers of the inflorescence are arranged in a brush. They are medium in size, each brush reaching 0.4-0.5 cm. They are evenly spaced along the entire length of the branch, thus creating a beautiful garland effect.

This variety of spirea is universal for introduction into the general composition of the landscape of the territory. It can remarkably be the center of a flower bed, its branches can be laid in an arch. If you want to make a hedge, just install a strong picket fence and fix the branches on it.

Gray Spirea begins to bloom in mid-May, ends in the twenties of April. The rest of the year the bush is colorless. But its beautiful silvery-gray foliage can be the backdrop for delicate summer compositions.

Gray spirea begins to bloom in mid-May, ends on the twentieth of April

Features of the variety in breeding:

• prefers well-lit places;
• moderate watering;
• around the base of the bush, it is necessary to make a pillow of sand and a small amount of ash;
• prefers peat feeding;
• for the winter, the bush must be covered with agrofibre.

Spirea gray Grefsheim

Spirea gray Grefsheim is a sub-variety of gray spirea. Perfected, the appearance resembles the riotous spray of a fountain or caps of snowdrifts. The branches are quite rigid, diverging in different directions at an angle of 45 ° C.

Large flowers of gray Grefsheim spirea up to 1 cm in diameter tightly envelop the branch along the entire length

Grafsheim belongs to one of the most beautiful varieties of spirits. Large flowers up to 1 cm in diameter tightly envelop the branch along its entire length. This is what creates the effect of full coverage of the plant with color. The base color is white, but some breeders have achieved the addition of a shade of pale pink.

The bush is large, up to 1.5-2 m in diameter. Its direct application is intended for:

• to cover the corners of the site;
• decoration of the central alleys of the park massif;
• creating compositions along the fence.

The flowering shrub lasts 45 days. Flowering begins in May, in autumn the leaves turn reddish-brown. This makes it possible to change the entire appearance of the garden, this effect is especially great when it comes to creating the effect of a wild garden.

The bushes look good even outside the flowering period.

Spirea Grefsheim is demanding to care for, since it is a double hybrid. This also applies to growing conditions. In order for the bush to please with its appearance, it is necessary to consider:

• illumination - the shrub does not like shade;
• moisture control - watering should not be frequent;
• wintering - the plant does not tolerate cold well, therefore it should be covered with agrofibre before the onset of severe frosts;
• regular pruning - the crown quickly becomes unkempt, since it has a high growth rate.

Considering these features, a lasting visual effect can be achieved. The bushes look good even outside the flowering period. It should be remembered that the tight closing of the crowns leads to the development of fungal diseases.The splendor of the bush will create the effect of a solid wall. However, there should be a small space between the bushes to ensure good ventilation of the crown.

Spirea Ivolistnaya

Spirea Ivolistnaya pleases the eye with the summer flowering of the bush. The bush is two meters high, with upright branches. Unlike its relatives, the willow spirea prefers to grow upward. This should be taken into account when deciding on its location.

Willow spirea prefers to grow up

Large pyramidal inflorescences have two color tones:

• White;
• juicy pink.

The foliage of this shrub deserves special attention, since it is painted in a yellow-lemon shade. The inside of the leaf has a richer green color. Because of this, when the wind sways, the visual effect of overflows from yellow to green is created.

Spirea owes its name to the shape of the leaf, which is very reminiscent of the eponymous leaf of the willow tree. The edge has small teeth, which makes it very attractive. This shape makes it an excellent material for using in the creation of plant panels.

The foliage of this shrub deserves special attention, since it is painted in a yellow-lemon shade.

In addition to these characteristics, each branch has a corolla of 3-4 bright red leaves at its tip. This adds to the decorative appearance of the plant. Its breeding features can be considered:

• tolerant of the shadow;
• intensive watering before the onset of dry weather (makes it easier for the bush to endure this period);
• feeding with phosphates;
• requires the formation of a crown by pruning;
• top dressing before flowering.

In general, this is a wonderful park culture, which makes it possible to form classical compositions.

Spirea Bumald

Spirea Bumald has the smallest size. The shrub reaches a height of 0.8 cm. Short branches form a spherical crown. This hybrid was bred to create separate miniature compositions on alpine hills and to form the first row of plant panels along the alleys.

This variety fits perfectly into many types of garden landscape. It has a colorful appearance. Small pointed leaves are painted in bronze-orange colors. The older the bush, the more juicy shades it acquires. Older bushes almost lose this color in favor of a dark green color.

Spirea Bumald

The autumn period paints the crown of the bush in a copper-red color. This type of color change makes it possible to plan unexpected solutions for the appearance of a garden, park or alley. The bush practically does not require pruning, since it does not tend to grow.

The features of the plant can be considered:

• photophilousness;
• frost resistance;
• demanding attitude to the soil moisture regime;
• unpretentious in the choice of soil.

It blooms with rounded brushes, located selectively over the surface of the bush. The color range ranges from white to deep pink. It blooms in summer, you can achieve a longer flowering by feeding the soil with sod top dressing.

Planting and leaving spirea

Spirea shrub planting and care is easy to handle. The main requirements of the plant are moderate soil moisture. If the waters come too close to the surface, it is worth making special drainage trenches around the perimeter of the site. This will redirect excess moisture.

Before planting a plant, it is worth preparing the soil and the cutting itself.

Before planting a plant, it is worth preparing the soil and the cutting itself:

• the roots of the cutting should stand immersed in water for a couple of hours;
• before planting, the root system must be dipped in a mixture of clay, ash and sand (ratio 1: 1: 1);
• the pit for planting must be prepared by creating a drainage from rubble and sand at the bottom;
• it is necessary to create a soil mixture from podzolic soil, peat and sand (ratio 2: 1: 1);
• after disembarkation, water with a bucket of water twice a day;
• take into account the photophilousness of the plant.

Spirea (Spiraea), or meadowsweet is directly related to the genus of deciduous ornamental shrubs and to the pink family (Rosaceae). From ancient Greek "speira" is translated as "bend", this is due to the strong flexibility of its stems. This plant is considered unpretentious. This genus unites about 100 species, these plants prefer to grow in forest-steppe, steppes and semi-deserts. The first mention of this plant, which was then called meadowsweet, was noted in the epic "Sadko", written around 1478. And in the 19th century. V.I.Dal introduces information about this plant in his dictionary, where he says that thin and very strong stems of meadowsweet were used for whips and ramrods. Today, a large number of different species and varieties of meadowsweet are cultivated, which stand out for their high decorative qualities, as well as frost resistance and long flowering.

Features of the spirea bush

Spireas are found both quite tall (about 2.5 m) and miniature (about 15 centimeters). There is a fibrous, not very deep root system. Branches are both erect and creeping, lying or spread out. They can be dark to pale brown in color. The bark is capable of flaking longitudinally. Petiole alternately arranged leaf plates have from 3 to 5 lobes and are rounded or lanceolate. Spirea inflorescences consist of a large number of small flowers, and they can have a spike-like, corymbose, paniculate or pyramidal shape. Flowers can be painted in different color shades from crimson to snow-white. The location of the inflorescences directly depends on the species. So, there are species in which they are located throughout the stem, in others - only in the upper part, and in others - only at the ends of the branches. You can propagate meadowsweet by layering, seeds, dividing the bush or cuttings.

Such a plant is great for creating hedges, as well as for group plantings. At the same time, dwarf varieties are widely used for stony gardens, rockeries, as well as for living "carpets". Also, the meadowsweet bush looks very impressive as a single plant.

Types and varieties of spirea with a photo

Some species and varieties are more popular, others less. All spireas are divided into spring-flowering and summer-flowering by the time when they begin to bloom.

Spring blooming

These plants bloom very early. Another feature is their lovely flowers, which can be painted in a variety of shades of white. Inflorescences grow on last year's stems. Flowers begin to appear on the shoot only in the 2nd year of its life. These meadowsweet are distinguished by a fairly strong tillering. The following types are most popular among florists:

Spirea gray

Such a hybrid plant was born thanks to the crossing of whitish-gray spirea and St. The flowers are white, and the plant is called gray because of the color shade of its leaves. The height of the bush does not exceed 180 centimeters. On drooping branches, there are lanceolate greenish-gray leaf plates (their seamy side is gray). White flowers are part of corymbose inflorescences, which are located along the entire length of the branch. Flowering lasts from the second half of May to mid-June. The most popular variety is the gray spirea "Grefsheim". The height as well as the diameter of the bush varies from 150 to 200 centimeters. Brown-red drooping branches form a spreading crown. Terry snow-white small (up to 1 centimeter in diameter) flowers are part of the umbrella-shaped inflorescences. This meadowsweet is a melliferous plant, its flowering lasts 1.5 months and begins already from the second year of life.

Spirea Wangutta

This hybrid plant was obtained by crossing the three-lobed spirea and the Cantonese. The bush is quite large, so its height and diameter are about 200 centimeters.On drooping branches, there are three-lobed, bare, toothed leaf plates, the front side of which is dark green, and the back side is gray. In autumn, the leaves change their color to orange-red. A large number of hemispherical inflorescences are located along the entire length of the branches, which include white flowers with a diameter of 6 mm. Flowering in the second half of June, it happens that in August re-flowering is noted.

Spirea nippon

Homeland is the island of Honshu. The height of a bush with a dense spherical crown reaches 200 centimeters. On horizontally located branches there are leaf plates up to 4.5 centimeters long, they remain green until late autumn. Flowering begins in the first days of June and lasts about 3 weeks. Inflorescences of corymbose form consist of greenish-yellow flowers one centimeter in diameter. Interestingly, the buds are purple.

Spirea Argut

This meadowsweet blooms earlier than all spring flowers. In height, a spreading and very effective bush reaches 150-200 centimeters. During flowering, its drooping branches are completely covered with a huge number of snow-white fragrant flowers that seem to flow over them. Flowering begins in the last days of May and lasts about 3 weeks.

Summer blooming

Inflorescences of such plants grow on the tops of young shoots. Old shoots left over from that year dry out over time. Japanese spirea varieties represent most of the summer flowering. Most often, the flowers are pink, but they can be pinkish-red or red. The most popular types:

Japanese spirea

Young shoots with tomentose pubescence look very impressive, as they age they become naked. The bush can reach a height of 100-150 centimeters. The seamy side of the oblong ovoid leaves is colored gray, and the front side is green. In autumn, they turn red, yellow or purple. Flowering lasts about 1.5 months. Shield-paniculate inflorescences consist of pinkish-red flowers that grow at the ends of the stems.

The most popular varieties:

Spirea japanese little princesses

The rounded crown reaches 120 centimeters in diameter, and the height of the bush is 60 centimeters. The dark green leaf plates are oval in shape. Pinkish-red flowers with a diameter of 3-4 centimeters are collected in corymbose inflorescences. This slow-growing plant blooms in June-July.

Spirea Japanese Golden Princess

This is a variation of the previous variety. Its difference is in the meter height of the bush and yellow leaf plates.

Spirea Japanese Shirobana

The height of the bush is from 60 to 80 centimeters, and the diameter of its crown is 120 centimeters. Two-centimeter dark green leaves have a narrow-lanceolate shape. Flowering begins in July or August. The color of the flowers is pink or white.

Spirea Japanese Goldflame

The bush reaches a height of 80 centimeters. Its orange-yellow leaves gradually acquire a rich yellow color, then yellowish-green, and in autumn they become copper-orange. Small flowers are pinkish-red.

Spirea Japanese Crisp

The crown of the spherical shape is slightly more than 50 centimeters, and the height of the bush is 50 centimeters. There are a large number of erect stems. Flat umbellate inflorescences reach 5.5 centimeters in diameter, they consist of small light pink flowers, casting lilac. Flowering begins in July and lasts 6-8 weeks.

Spirea Bumald

This hybrid plant is obtained by crossing the white-flowered and Japanese spirea. A bush with erect stems reaches a height of 50–80 centimeters. Green leaves in autumn change their color to purple, red or yellow. Flowering lasts approximately 2 months and begins in July. Flowers can be colored in various shades from dark to light pink.The most popular is the Spirea variety Bumalda Goldflame. The height of the bush is 80 centimeters. Young leaf plates have an orange-bronze color, gradually they become golden yellow, and then greenish yellow. And in autumn they turn reddish-coppery. However, these changes are observed if the bush grows in a sunny area, and in a shady place its foliage has a green color.

Spirea willow

The height of the bush reaches 200 centimeters. The upright stems are yellow-brown-reddish in color. The length of the pointed leaf plates is about 10 centimeters. The length of the paniculate-pyramidal inflorescences is approximately 20 centimeters. They include pink or white flowers.

Spirea Douglas

The height of the bush is about 150 centimeters. On the surface of its straight brownish-red shoots there is pubescence. The length of the oblong-lanceolate leaf plates varies from 3 to 10 centimeters. Narrow apical pyramidal-paniculate inflorescences consist of dark pink flowers. Flowering begins in July and lasts 6 weeks.

Spirea Billard

This hybrid plant was obtained by crossing the spirea willow and Douglas. The bush reaches a height of 200 centimeters. The length of its broad-lanceolate leaf plates is 10 centimeters. Narrow paniculate-pyramidal inflorescences reach 20 centimeters in length and consist of rich pink flowers. Flowering begins in the second half of July.

Growing features

Any plant has any peculiarities in caring for it and spirea is no exception:

1. Best of all, such a plant develops and grows on sod or leafy ground. Recommended composition of the soil mixture: earth, sand and peat (2: 1: 1).
2. At the bottom of the hole, you need to make a drainage layer, for example, from broken brick.
3. The landing hole should be 1/3 of the size of the butt of the spirea.
4. You need to plant at a depth of at least 50 centimeters, while making sure that the root collar is flush with the soil surface.
5. It is recommended to plant this plant on a cloudy day, and best of all during rain. The optimal time for disembarkation is September.
6. Spruce, juniper and thuja feel great next to meadowsweet.

Planting spirea

Planting spirea in spring

In spring, only those spireas that bloom in summer can be planted. In this case, it is imperative to plant such shrubs before the buds begin to open. When buying seedlings, pay special attention to the root system. If it is overdried, then such a seedling should not be taken. You also need to inspect the shoots. They must be flexible and have good buds on them. After purchasing the seedling, you need to prepare it for planting. So, if its roots are too long, then they must be carefully trimmed so that they become shorter. In the event that the roots are overdried or damaged, it is necessary to prune all branches. If the seedling has been stored for a long time, and its roots have become too dry, then they must be moistened or immersed for a few minutes in a container with water, and only after that you can start planting.

Although such a plant is distinguished by its unpretentiousness, in order to admire the abundant flowering as long as possible, it is necessary to choose a well-lit area with nutritious soil. And do not forget when choosing a site that this shrub gives abundant root growth.

First you need to make a hole for the seedling. It should have sheer edges. Its volume should be at least 1/3 part larger than the spirea root system. Then leave the pit alone for 2-4 days. For planting, it is recommended to choose a cloudy, or better rainy day. Immediately before planting, it is necessary to lay a drainage layer of broken bricks on the bottom, which should have a thickness of 15 to 20 centimeters, especially if the soil is clayey. Then you need to prepare the soil mixture.for this, combining sod (leaf) land, sand and peat, taken in a ratio of 2: 1: 1. Pour the mixture into the hole and dip the roots of the seedling into it. Carefully straighten them and fill the hole with an earth mixture, tamping it slightly, so that the root collar is flush with the soil surface. After the bush is planted, it will need to be watered using 20 liters of water, and then cover the soil surface with mulch (peat).

Planting spirea in the fall

In the autumn, both spring and summer flowering spirits are planted. As a rule, during planting in the autumn, the bush is divided. At the same time, it is necessary to plant the shrub before the end of the leaf fall. Bushes that are 3-4 years old are perfect for dividing and transplanting. Of course, this procedure can be performed with more mature spireas, but it should be borne in mind that it will be quite difficult to do this, since such plants have a rather voluminous and heavy root system (taking into account the earthy coma).

Dig out a bush, while it is necessary to grab a little more than ½ part of the crown projection around the circumference. If you chop off some of the roots, then the shrub will not suffer from this. After that, the root system is thoroughly washed in running water. In the event that the bush is young and its root system is small, then it can be placed in a container (bucket) and filled with water. After some time, you need to rinse the roots under running water and straighten them at the same time. Using a pruning shear, divide the bush into 2-3 divisions. It should be borne in mind that each separated part must have a good root lobe and 2 or 3 strong stems. The cord-like roots must be trimmed.

Pour the soil mixture with a mound into the prepared hole. Then they put a cut in it and straighten the roots. The hole needs to be covered with soil and not tamped very hard. Water the planted plant in several doses.

Spirea care

How to care for spirea

As mentioned above, spiraea is a fairly light-loving plant, however, there are also species that feel great in a shaded place. Also, the plant needs a loose nutritious soil, a good drainage layer, and also a layer of mulch on the soil surface, the thickness of which should be about 7 centimeters.

Since the root system of the spirea is not located very deeply, it should be watered often enough and in moderation. So, in dry times, it is necessary to pour 1.5 buckets of water for each bush once every 2 weeks. You also need to regularly loosen the topsoil and pull out weeds. The first time you need to feed the plant after pruning, for this, a complex mineral fertilizer is used. In mid-July, it is recommended to feed the shrub with a mullein solution, to which superphosphate must be added (10 grams of substance per bucket of solution).

Most often, spider mites and aphids settle on this plant. You can get rid of aphids by means of pyrimor, and from spider mites - by karbofos. As a rule, spireas are highly resistant to diseases, and pests settle on them extremely rarely and do not cause them significant harm.

Spirea pruning

Bushes are able to grow in a relatively short time, in this regard, pruning must be carried out systematically. In spring-flowering plants, inflorescences are located along the entire length of the branches, and therefore, once a year, they only need to cut off the ends of the branches that are frozen during the winter cold. However, after 7-14 years, all old stems are cut off from the bushes, or rather, the spireas are cut almost to the stump. After the young growth appears, it is necessary to choose from them 5–6 of the strongest stems for the formation of a bush. In this case, the other stems will need to be cut off completely. After 1-2 years, all weakened or old stems should be cut off from the bush. The tips of the branches are cut off exclusively in spring until the buds are fully open. Old stems can be removed even in the spring, even in the summer.

Late flowering species and varieties should be cut off every year at the very beginning of the spring period. Stem pruning is carried out to the first bud, while weakened and small shoots must be cut out completely. It is necessary to cut off the old stems in a timely manner, as they gradually begin to dry themselves. After the spirea survives to the age of four, it is recommended to cut it off annually to a height of about 30 centimeters from the soil. If, after such a procedure, the growth is rather weak, it is best to replace the shrub. As a rule, summer-flowering species live for about 15-20 years.

Reproduction of spirea

You can propagate by seeds, dividing the bush, layering and cuttings. Seed propagation is not suitable for hybrid varieties, as such plants cannot retain varietal characteristics. The best method is cuttings, because about 70 percent of all cuttings give roots very quickly, even without the use of growth stimulants. Spring-flowering species should be propagated by cuttings in the first weeks of June, and summer-flowering species - from mid-June or in July. Rooting of woody cuttings should be done in September or October.

It is necessary to cut off the one-year straight stem and divide it into pieces. It must be remembered that on each cutting there should be 5 or 6 leaf plates. The leaves on the bottom should be cut off with petioles, and those on the top should be shortened by ½ part. After that, the stalk must be placed in an epin solution for 12 hours (for 3 liters of water, 1.5 ml of the substance). Then the knot located at the bottom must be dipped into the root, and then plant it in a container filled with moistened sand, and the stalk should be at an angle equal to 30 to 45 degrees. Cover with foil or glass. Remove them to a shaded place and moisten them 2 or 3 times a day with a spray bottle. After the frost begins, the cuttings need to be dug in the garden bed and covered with dried leaves on top. A box must be placed on top of them, having previously turned it over, and so they must stay until spring. After they have young shoots next year, they are planted in a permanent place.

In order to propagate by layering, you need to make a groove in the soil and put a stem in it, which is fixed and covered with soil. To get several young shoots at once, it is necessary to pinch the upper part of the layer. In this case, all lateral buds will be able to give the process. In the autumn, the cuttings must be obtained and divided into the resulting shoots. They need to be put in a permanent place.

Spirea after flowering

It is very simple to prepare such a shrub for wintering. Almost all types of spirea are distinguished by good winter hardiness. If you are worried that the winter will be too cold and with little snow, then cover the root system with dry foliage, while the layer thickness should be 10-15 centimeters.

Spirea, otherwise mistakenly called meadowsweet, is a perennial shrub. Currently, breeders have bred about a hundred species of spirea.

The plant is distinguished by its hardiness and the ability to adapt to any conditions in the open field. For Japanese spirea, it is enough to be in the open sun for only four hours to feel good in the ground. In appearance, it is a bush with a hemispherical crown. Some of its varieties have a lush crown, others - disheveled.

How and when does the spirea plant

Planting a bush in open ground is carried out either in early autumn, or at the very beginning of spring. Planting time usually depends on the selected bush variety. If the variety begins to bloom in the spring, then it is advisable to move it into open ground in the fall. If in the summer, then it is better if the spirea is planted in the spring. It is important to consider that flowering after planting in the soil occurs only after three years. Japanese spirea begins to bloom in July.

Usually, seedlings are purchased to decorate the site.Before planting in open ground, they must be carefully prepared.

First, you should check the root system of the future bush. Long roots are slightly pruned, damaged ones are removed. Secondly, you need to cut the stem by a third.

If you purchased a seedling for planting, the root system of which is closed, it is taken out of the container and watered well with water. If the clod of earth around the roots is very dense, then it is also soaked in water for about two hours. Only then can the seedling be moved into open ground.

Although spiraea is considered an unpretentious plant, you still need to choose the right place for planting.

Only then will she delight you with lush and bright flowering. The shrub loves the sun and loose fertile soil. With a clay composition of the soil, it is best to create a brick-sand drainage, the height of which will be 15 cm.

To create a beautiful landscape design, the spirea can be planted along the entire perimeter as a hedge. In this case, the distance from bush to bush must be at least 50 cm.

After you dug a hole, it needs to stand for a day before planting. Then a mixture of peat, turf and sand is introduced into it. The plant is planted in open ground, spreading the roots, and sprinkled with earth along the root collar. After that it is watered and mulched with peat.

Spirea care

When the planting of Japanese spirea in open ground is over, you just have to take care of the development of the bush in time. Care consists in watering.

This plant, being blooming in summer, needs more abundant watering than the spirea species that bloom early.

Care also includes fertilization. The shrub is fed no more than three times a season, although it is usually fertilized only twice. For feeding, it is best to use mineral complexes. You can also resort to the following fertilizer recipe: take 10 liters of liquid manure, 60 liters of water and just 10 grams of superphosphate.

Spirea care includes pruning. If the plant blooms in summer, then you need to cut it off in early spring.

If your shrub blooms in the spring, then prune it immediately after flowering.

Some gardeners say that Japanese spirea does not require pruning. On the one hand, this is true: even without cutting, it will bloom beautifully. On the other hand, the lack of such care can lead to her sloppy appearance.

To cut the plant correctly, you need to take into account the timing of the inception of its buds. There are two groups of shrubs. In the first, they are laid directly in the year of flowering, and in the second, in the previous year.

Japanese spirea varieties belong to the first group. It should be cut after a few years, thus rejuvenating the bush. Without this care, the old stems will tilt the entire bush down after a while, and the top of the Japanese spirea will dry out. It is a practice to completely cut off the top of the bush after four years of flowering.

If you nevertheless acquired the types of spiraea of ​​the second group, and these include wangutta spirea, long-bud and nippon, old shoots should be removed after seven years. Frozen branches are cut annually. Plants of this group have many shoots.

Japanese spirea tolerates frost well, so it does not need additional shelter for the winter in a temperate climate. And yet, in severe frosts, it can lose two-year-old shoots. Therefore, for the winter in northern latitudes, it is bent to the ground and covered with a layer of dry leaves. It is also better to protect species that were planted in the fall from winter cold. Some varieties can easily tolerate frosts of -50 degrees. But if your garden is located in an area where winters are very harsh, varieties such as jagged or white, it is better to still cover. They are less cold-resistant. There are types of spirea that can not only freeze branches, but also die in frosts of about -45 degrees. These include spiraea wangutta or Douglas.Therefore, it is better not to acquire these varieties at all for cultivation in northern latitudes.

Reproduction of the spirea bush

The plant can be propagated using seeds, cuttings or cuttings. The seed method is only suitable for non-hybrid varieties.

If you try to plant a seed of a hybrid in open ground, then the appearance of the plant will resemble the mother's very distantly.

Seeds are planted in the spring. It is important to prepare a place for the seed before planting. To do this, take a mixture of leafy earth and peat, moisten it, put a seed and mulch the soil. You will notice shoots within 10 days. So that they are not struck by the fungus, they use foundation treatment.

When propagated by seeds in the first year after germination, the plant will form only one shoot. Two months after planting, the spirea needs to be dived: removed from the soil, shortened the root system and planted again in open ground.

In one year, the shrub grows up to ten centimeters, but it will begin to bloom only after at least three years.

For propagation by cuttings, you need to take green cuttings or shoots in which lignification has occurred halfway. If you have chosen an early variety of spirea, it should be cut in early summer. Reproduction of Japanese spirea using cuttings is best done in July.

After you have received the cutting, you should plant it in a mixture of river sand and peat. Water it five times a day. And in the room in which the planting material is located, you need to create high humidity. The stalk dives in the spring.

Before flowering, the plant is propagated by layering. To do this, the branches, concentrated along the perimeter, are bent to the bottom and sprinkled with soil. With regular watering, more shrubs of the plant will appear in the fall. For a successful overwintering, the layers are sprinkled with leaves. And in the spring they can already be planted separately.

Varieties of spirea and their varieties

Despite the popularity of Japanese spirea, you can pay attention to its other types.

Early bushes include spiraea wangutta, gray, arguta, nipponskaya.

Gray spirea is actually white, but so named because of the grayish tint of the leaves. It is a hybrid of two varieties. The height of the bush usually reaches 180 cm. Flowering begins in mid-May and ends in mid-June. It is very popular among gardeners. Especially her variety "Grefsheim", the crown diameter of which reaches two meters. White flowers are collected in umbrellas and reach a centimeter in diameter.

Spirea wangutta grows up to two meters. This is also the diameter of the crown. The dark green leaves are bluish on the underside, and by autumn they acquire a beautiful orange tint. White flowers cover the entire branch. The variety begins to bloom in June, and may recur in August.

Spiraea wangutta of the Pink Ice variety looks great on the garden plot.

Usually this variety is used as a hedge.

Spirea nipponskaya is also considered a tall shrub, reaching a height of two meters.

It is noteworthy that even in autumn its leaves retain their green color.

Its flowers also differ in shade: they are not white, but yellow-green. They are purple inside the bud.

A variety of argut gained popularity due to its beautifully shaped two-meter bush. Its branches spread out so that from the side it looks like a waterfall. A lot of white flowers are formed on the branches, exuding a pleasant aroma.

Summer-flowering varieties include Japanese spiraea, Douglas, Bouvald, willow, Bullard. Usually the flowers of these shrubs have a pink tint. Among the summer-flowering varieties, it is the varieties of Japanese spirea that are especially popular.

Japanese spirea reaches one and a half meters in height, although it can grow up to a meter.

Its leaves are also gray-gray underneath. In autumn, they change color, becoming red-yellow. It is noteworthy that Japanese spirea blooms for about 45 days.

Among its varieties, five can be distinguished, which are especially loved by landscape designers and gardeners.

"Little princesses" is a Japanese spirea that grows a little more than half a meter. Small and diameter of its crown with reddish pink flowers. But their diameter is more than three centimeters. The variety grows slowly.

"Golden princesses" - a variety of Japanese spirea differs from the previous one only in the yellow color of the flowers and the height of the bush in a meter.

Among the low varieties of Japanese spirea, "Shirobana" is noted, which grows up to 60 cm. It has small pink flowers, the diameter of which is two centimeters.

"Goldflame" is a kind of Japanese spirea, the height of which is 80 cm. The flowers are red with a shade of pink. By autumn, the leaves change color to crimson.

"Crispa" is a Japanese spirea, reaching 50 cm. It has a spherical crown. Its inflorescences do not hang down, but are directed upwards. The diameter of pink flowers with a lilac shade is about six centimeters. This variety can bloom for two months.

Another type of shrub that blooms in summer is Boomald's spirea.

This hybrid is based on Japanese and white-flowered spirea. In height, it can be either 50 cm or 80 cm. The shade of flowers is light pink or dark red. By autumn, the leaves change color from green to picturesque orange, yellow and purple.

One of the most famous of its varieties is "Goldflame". It differs in that its leaves have an orange tint, which turns red in autumn. However, if the location of the bush is in the shade, then the leaves will be green.

The willow spirea is also distinguished by shoots that grow upward. Long inflorescences have a pink tint.

The Douglas variety has small green leaves and dark pink flowers. The inflorescences are shaped like a pyramid. The plant pleases with flowering for about one and a half months.

Spirea Billard is a hybrid of the latter two varieties. Grows up to two meters. The leaves are small, and the bright pink flowers gather in long pyramidal inflorescences.

Shrub in landscape design

The advantages of spirea are that different varieties of it bloom at different times. So, if you wish, you can ensure that its bushes will bloom from spring to autumn. Moreover, the shade of flowers will beautifully shimmer from white to pink.

Plant species have their own special functionality, well known to designers. For single landings, Wangutta, Douglas or sharp-toothed spirea is best suited. Their arched shoots are able to create a beautiful bush shape.

Its low types are suitable for registration of the edging planting. Such spireas will look great in green-leaved compositions, especially if their shoots have a reddish tint, and the flowers are red in color. They are also perfect for decorating rock gardens and rockeries. It is interesting to note that it is the undersized varieties that are the owners of a wide root system, which seems to be drawing on the ground. It is worth noting that in addition to its decorative properties, spirea can be called a healing plant: it cleans the air well.

Japanese spirea - a beautiful ornamental plant

Japanese spirea has all the qualities of an ideal garden plant.

It is not whimsical, it multiplies easily, and with its decorative foliage and luxurious flowering is able to decorate any landscape.

This explains the great love of gardeners and designers for Japanese spirea.

General characteristics of the plant

Spirea (or in Latin Spiraea) is a bright representative of the Rosaceae family. It is a flowering deciduous shrub that has easily adapted to our climate and is grown in many regions of Russia.

The Spirea genus includes at least 90 plant species. About half of the wild species have been introduced into horticultural culture. Thanks to the efforts of breeders, new varieties of spirea regularly appear.

The most popular was Japanese spirea (or in Latin Spiraea japonica), which came to us from Japan and China. It is not whimsical and is very loved by gardeners for its decorative foliage and luxurious, abundant and long flowering.

To learn how to properly plant and grow Chinese magnolia vine, read the article.

You can also find out a lot of useful information about the delphinium, its planting and care.

The elliptical or ovoid leaves of the plant have an interesting feature. In spring, starting to bloom, they are painted in red-brownish shades, in summer they turn green, and by autumn they again acquire a reddish color. Using this effect, breeders have created many varieties with unusual foliage that does not change throughout the season.

The pink-red flowers of the plant are collected in lush thyroid inflorescences with a diameter of 5 to 30 cm, depending on the variety. Among the representatives of a kind of spirea, Japanese is the record holder for the duration of flowering.

In mid or late June, it becomes covered with fragrant flower caps and continues to bloom until autumn. During the flowering of the Japanese spirea, it is a very spectacular sight.

According to the flowering period, all cultivated species of the Spirea genus are divided into spring-flowering (from the end of May) and summer-flowering (from the end of June). Japanese spirea belongs to summer flowering.

For more information on Japanese spirea, see the video:

Varieties of Japanese spirea

Through the efforts of breeders on the basis of Japanese spirea, more than 50 varieties have been bred, and each of them has its own special charm.

Little princesses - a small oval shrub up to 60 cm high. The leaves are dark green, and red-pink flowers up to 4 cm in diameter form corymbose inflorescences.

Golden princesses - shrub up to 1 m in height with red-pink inflorescences and yellow foliage.

Goldflame - an interesting variety with small red-pink flowers and changing foliage. At first, the leaves are yellow-orange, then they become bright yellow, then green-yellow, and in the fall - copper-orange.

Shirobana - low form up to 60 cm high and wide crown up to 1.2 m in diameter. It blooms in pink or white in late July.

Crisp - undersized shrub up to 50 cm tall. Small, pale pink flowers with a lilac shade are collected in umbellate inflorescences. Flowering begins in July and lasts for about two months.

Macrophylla - an interesting form with wrinkled leaves, in the color of which there are red and purple shades throughout the summer. It blooms with umbellate inflorescences of a delicate pink color.

Varieties of Japanese spirea are presented in the photo:

Landing

Japanese spirea is planted in the spring. The main thing is to have time to plant the plant before the leaves begin to bloom. Seedlings can be purchased at garden centers. They are sold with open roots or in containers filled with soil.

When buying a seedling, carefully inspect the roots, making sure that they are not overdried. Also check the condition of the young shoots.

In a healthy plant, the shoots should be flexible, with strong buds.

If you got spirea with overdried roots, pour them thoroughly with water or soak them in water for 15 minutes. Before planting, carefully trim off damaged and overgrown roots.

Spirea is known for its unpretentiousness, however, in order for it to reveal itself in all its glory, it is advisable to provide it with the best conditions. Choose a place for the plant that is sunny and with fertile soil.

When choosing a site, keep in mind that the shrub produces abundant root growth, which increases the area occupied by the plant.

We plant the Japanese spirea as follows:

1. We dig a planting hole with a size one third larger than the volume of the roots of the seedling. Let the pit stand for 2 to 4 days.
2. For planting, choose a cloudy or rainy day. At the bottom of the pit, we lay a drainage layer of small broken bricks about 20 cm thick.
3. We compose the soil for the seedling from 3 parts of sod land, 2 parts of humus soil, 1 part of peat and 1 part of sand.
4. We lower the roots of the seedling into the planting hole, straighten them, fill them with the prepared earthen mixture along the root collar and compact the earth.
5. Spill the plant with one or two buckets of water and mulch with peat.
6. After planting, we make several near-stem depressions to retain atmospheric moisture and water after watering.

You can learn more about the cultivation of actinidia and its popular varieties here.

Also read about the daylily, planting and caring for it.

Japanese spirea care

Spirea has minimal care requirements. Water it sparingly. In dry weather, provide the plant with 20 liters of water per bush twice a month.

Keep the foot of the spirea loose and free of weeds. Mulching with crushed bark, peat or compost helps a lot in this.

In order for the spirea to delight you with lush and long flowering, it is useful to pamper it with liquid dressings twice during the summer. Fertilize the plant for the first time after spring pruning with a solution of complex mineral fertilizer. The second time, feed the spirea in July with mullein infusion at the rate of 1 to 3 liters per bush. Superphosphate (10 g per 10 liters of infusion) can be added to the mullein solution.

Spirea is quite hardy and firmly endures winter cold. However, for fear of a snowless and too cold winter, take care and cover the roots of the plant with a layer of foliage 15-20 cm thick.

Pruning

Spirea grows rapidly and grows actively, therefore it needs an annual spring haircut. Shorten shoots to strong, large buds. Remove weak, broken and frost-damaged shoots.

Spirea at the age of 4 years can be shortened more boldly, leaving only 30 cm in height of the shoots. The more you prune the plant, the more powerful and luxuriant the bush will grow. Remember to remove old and dying branches.

Reproduction

Seeds

Seeds are sown in spring in a container with a peat-soil mixture. Grown up seedlings in June or July are planted in open ground, pinching the tip of the main root so that a more powerful root system develops.

Spirea grown from seed blooms in the 3rd or 4th year. At the same time, you should be aware that propagation by seeds does not preserve varietal characteristics.

Cuttings

Reproduction of Japanese spirea by cuttings

Annual shoots in July are cut into cuttings with 5 or 6 leaves. The lower leaves are removed, and the cuttings are kept in the Epin solution for 12 hours. Then they are treated with "Kornevin" and placed in a wet sandy substrate for rooting.

The cuttings are covered with foil or glass and sprayed with water three times a day. In the fall, with the appearance of roots, the cuttings are planted in a garden bed, covered with leaves, covered with a box and left until spring. In late spring, when the cuttings have new shoots, they are planted in a permanent place.

By dividing the bush

In the fall, without waiting for the end of the leaf fall, the spirea is dug out at the age of 3 or 4 years. In this case, you need to try to dig in a circle with a diameter of more than half the crown.

The roots are washed well and divided with pruning shears into two or three bushes so that all the cuttings have a good root lobe and two or three strong shoots.

They dig a hole, put a mound on its middle, set a plant on it and level the roots. Next, the hole with the seedling is sprinkled with earth, compacted and spilled with water.

Pests and diseases

Spirea is very rare, but it can be attacked by aphids and spider mites. Treatment of the plant with a solution of Dalmatian chamomile, karbofos, capsicum or tobacco leaves helps to get rid of aphids. Such drugs as "Aktara" and "Actellik" cope with spider mites.

Japanese spirea in landscape design

In the design of gardens and parks, spirea is simply irreplaceable.It is distinguished by a wide variety of varieties of different shapes and colors, does not oppress other plants and tolerates pruning well. The plant looks great both in a small garden and in a solid country estate.

Spirea perfectly complements the composition of low trees and ornamental green shrubs. A spirea bush strewn with flowers on a green lawn looks spectacular. She is also amazingly good in a rocky garden with thuja, juniper, cypress and low spruce trees.

Spirea japanese golden princesses in landscape design

Spirea is perfect for "padding" larger shrubs: lilac, viburnum, mock orange, rhododendron, barberry and buldenezh. Low-growing plant varieties can often be found in rockeries.

Designers actively use Japanese spirea as a hedge, since it is a cheap planting material and is easy to form. With frequent pruning, the spirea does not bloom, but the decorative multi-colored foliage of some of its varieties more than makes up for the missing flowering.

If your site does not yet have a beautiful Japanese spirea, be sure to get one. As you can see, it requires very little attention and care, but in gratitude it gives much more - a scattering of elegant inflorescences on a lush, spreading bush.

Jul 22, 2015Elena Tymoshchuk

Among the ornamental shrubs, spirea occupies a special place. She is surprisingly unpretentious and easily forgives the gardener even the most unobtrusive care. A wide variety of shapes and types allows you to choose the plant to decorate the site that will best fit into the surrounding landscape. Planting and caring for a spirea is not difficult, even a novice gardener can handle it.

Spirea: types and varieties

The genus spirea belongs to the pink family and is quite numerous, it includes more than 70 species. The distribution area of ​​this deciduous shrub is wide. It can be found in the northern hemisphere in most climatic zones. Spirea rarely has single flowers, most often they are collected in a corymbose inflorescence, sometimes in a panicle. The color of flowers depends on the flowering time of the species. Plants blooming in spring have white flowers that bloom on last year's shoots; in species blooming in summer, pink-crimson gamut prevails, flowers are located on annual growths.

The most common types.

• Medium spirea - an inhabitant of Siberian and Far Eastern forests, a tall shrub - above 2 m with white corymbose flowers that open in May and do not fall for 3 weeks, frost-resistant and drought-resistant, used in landscaping, suitable for northern regions.
• Spiraea birch-leaved - grows in Siberia, from 1 to 2 m in height, white flowers are collected in huge shields - up to 10 cm in diameter, blooms at the end of May and blooms throughout June.
• Spirea crenate - has been used in landscaping for 200 years, there are cultural hybrid varieties. In nature, it is a low shrub, only up to 1 m, blooming at the end of May. Quite large flowers are collected in corymbose inflorescences, due to the large number of long yellow stamens, they seem to have a golden hue. This type of spirea is drought-resistant and frost-hardy, can be used to strengthen floating soils.
• Spirea St. John's wort is a shrub up to 1 m high, flowering - May-June, white flowers, used to obtain new forms of the plant.
• Gray spirea - the result of crossing the previous species and whitish-gray spirea, has highly decorative varieties that bloom in spring. The most beloved variety of this species by flower growers is Spirea Grefsheim. The shoots of the tall bush bend towards the ground under the weight of flowers that completely cover the bush. The flowering is so abundant that the leaves are almost invisible.
• Spiraea is oak-leaved - blooms with umbrella-shaped inflorescences of white flowers with a large number of protruding stamens for 25 days, flowering occurs in May-June.The species is used in culture, it tolerates a haircut well.
• Spirea Nipponskaya came to us from Japan - this highly ornamental shrub 1-2 m high is decorated with yellowish-white inflorescence shields that appear in June. It does not differ in frost resistance; in severe winters, the tops of the shoots freeze slightly, but quickly recover. The most famous variety is Snowmound. A huge number of flowers on a bush up to 1.5 m high makes it very decorative at the time of flowering. The width of the bush is 2 times the height.
• No less decorative and spirea Wangutta is a hybrid species that blooms very profusely in June-July with white flowers collected in shields. The bush has an average height and can freeze slightly in frosty winters.
• Japanese spirea is quite thermophilic, but due to the low height of the bush - up to 1 m it winters without loss, covered with snow. The most interesting varieties are Little Princesses and Shirobana. Little princesses - a bush up to 80 cm high and up to 1.2 m wide blooms very profusely in June-July with pink flowers collected in medium-sized shields, grows slowly. Shirobana is a bush up to 0.8 m high and up to 0.6 m wide, blooms in mid-summer. Flowers in corymbose inflorescences have three colors - white, pink and crimson, if you cut off faded inflorescences, new ones will decorate the bush for another month.
• The adorable spirea stands out among other species by double flowering: in June on last year's shoots and in July and August on newly regrown ones. Flowers are collected in complex shields, can be white or pale pink. The species does not differ in frost resistance - up to -18 degrees, so in the middle lane it hibernates under cover.
• Spirea Bumald is a decorative hybrid species, it also has a yellow-leaved form. The bush is low - up to 0.8 m in width and height. It blooms for more than 3 months with bright pink flowers in large shields. The most famous variety is Antoni Vaterer.
• Willow spirea grows wild in Siberia. The tall bush blooms in July and August with bright pink flowers collected in pyramidal panicles.
• Spirea Douglas grows above 2 m. In the second half of summer, it is decorated with pink flowers, collected in a paniculate inflorescence.
• When crossing the previous species and spirea willow leaf we got Billard's spirea. A tall, frost-resistant shrub blooms in the second half of summer and is decorated with large pink paniculate inflorescences until the very frosts.
• The hybrid lilac spirea also blooms for a long time, only paniculate inflorescences, in accordance with the name, have a lilac-pink color. The bush can grow up to 2 m.

Spirea: features of cultivation

Spireas are unpretentious, but with proper careful care they give abundant flowering. Different flowering times dictate different pruning times. Some species and varieties have special soil and maintenance preferences. Most spirits prefer humus-rich, but not heavy soil without stagnant water, but they will feel good even on not very fertile soil. To keep the roots from getting wet, they need drainage. But before you plant a plant, you need to propagate it.

Shrub propagation

Spirea is very easy to propagate. Some species produce root shoots that can be transplanted. Parts of a divided bush take root well. Flexible shoots allow cuttings to be rooted. For propagation of all species, cuttings can be used, and for non-hybrid forms and varieties, seeds can also be sown.

Cuttings

When rooting the cuttings, you will get an exact copy of the parent plant. Green cuttings in early flowering varieties are cut in early June, and in late flowering varieties at the end of the month. For already lignified cuttings, the best rooting time is autumn, September or October.

• The annual green shoot is cut and cut into pieces with 5-6 leaves.
• Remove the bottom pair of leaves, cut the rest by half.
• The lower cut is placed in a vessel with an epin solution for 12 hours.
• It is treated with a powdery root stimulant.
• They are planted in a container with loose soil, sprinkled with a layer of sand at an angle of about 40 degrees to stimulate root formation.
• Cover with a film or glass jar and put in a lacy shade under the trees.
• They moisten the soil in the cuttings, preventing it from drying out, and the cuttings themselves are sprayed several times a day.
• In the fall, the container is dropped into the soil, mulched with fallen leaves and covered with a wooden box.
• In the spring, the shelter is removed. After the appearance of young shoots, the plants are planted in the garden in a permanent place.

Seed propagation

In non-hybrid varieties and species, seed germination reaches 80%. Collect them when the boxes turn brown, but have not yet opened. Dose in the room for 2 weeks. You can sow both before winter and in spring. Seeds do not require stratification. Seedlings dive when 2 true leaves are formed. Further care: watering as needed, 2 dressings with full mineral fertilizer. In the fall, seedlings are planted in a seedling bed, and next year in a permanent place. They begin to bloom for 3 years.

Landing in open ground

Proper planting is the key to abundant flowering and plant health. It is very important to maintain the optimal distance between the plants in order to provide them with the necessary nutritional area. When laying a hedge, it is enough to plant spireas 30 cm apart, for a normal planting the distance should be greater, since the bushes grow strongly in width: for tall varieties - about 1 m, for undersized varieties - 0.8 m.

The choice of planting material

Now on sale there are many varieties and hybrids of spirea. The choice of a plant depends, first of all, on what place the spirea will occupy in the landscape design of a particular site. A hedge will require many plants of the same species, it is better if they are tall. As a tapeworm, you can plant an openwork bush with long flowering. On an alpine slide, undersized compact varieties will be appropriate. But whichever variety you choose, the plant should have a developed and healthy root system, consisting of 3 taproots and a well-developed lobe covered with a clay mash. With spring planting, not swollen buds, and with autumn planting, already flown leaves. It is best to choose a container-grown seedling that can be planted throughout the growing season.

How and when to plant?

Spirea is planted in pre-dug holes. Their size should be slightly larger than the root system of the plant. Usually the depth is about 70 cm, 20 of which falls on the drainage of expanded clay or brick fragments. The diameter of the hole is determined by the size of the roots.

Landing Algorithm:

• a plant is placed on a mound of earth poured in a hole, spreading the roots;
• fill up the earth, taking into account that the root collar is strictly at the level of the soil;
• watered in the planting circle using 2 to 3 buckets of water;
• mulch the soil around the bush with a layer of peat 7 cm thick.

Planting time depends on the selected variety: late flowering plants are planted in spring, early flowering ones - in autumn, but no later than 3-4 weeks before the onset of frost.

Soil preparation and site

The planting site should be well lit by the sun, a little shading is allowed during the day. It must be remembered that in the shade of the spirea it blooms badly.

This plant is undemanding to the soil. The preferred soil for spirea is light sod or leafy, with a neutral or slightly acidic soil reaction. Heavy clay soils are improved by the addition of sand and peat; a little clay should be added to light sandy soils. From fertilizers, you can add Art. tablespoons of long-acting ABA fertilizer for each bush. This amount will be enough for the plant for several years.

The nuances of planting in spring, autumn

If the variety blooms in summer, it is better to plant it in spring, early flowering varieties are planted in autumn, but so that the bushes take root before the onset of frost. In both cases, the plants must be dormant.In the spring, the buds should not swell yet, and in the fall the leaf fall should already end.

Outdoor care for spirea

An unpretentious plant does not require special care measures, but top dressing and watering made on time will provide it with maximum decorative effect.

How to water properly?

Spirea is a drought-resistant plant, but in extreme heat and in the absence of rain for a long time, it must be watered. This is especially true for recently planted bushes. For an adult plant, the watering rate is 1.5 buckets per bush. For undersized species and varieties, one bucket is enough. Watering is sufficient once every 2 weeks, well soaking the root layer.

Fertilization and feeding

In order for the spireas to grow and bloom well, they should be fed regularly.

You can choose the following power plan:

• in spring, nitrogen mineral or organic fertilizer; for early flowering varieties, additional feeding with complete mineral fertilizer with microelements is needed;
• in June, plants are fed with full mineral fertilizer;
• at the end of August, fertilizing with phosphorus and potassium salts is needed so that the spireas are better prepared for winter.

At the end of summer, spireas cannot be fed with any fertilizers containing nitrogen, this can provoke the growth of new shoots that do not have time to ripen and freeze in winter.

All dressings can be applied both dry and liquid, combining them with watering. The next day, the soil around the plant must be loosened.

Spirea pruning

It is held on several dates, depending on the destination.

• Spring pruning is sanitary. Only dry and frost-damaged shoots are removed.
• Formative. Spireas blooming in the summer on the shoots of the current year are pruned in the spring immediately after the snow melts, combining formative pruning with sanitary pruning. Thin branches thickening the bush are removed - they will not give a good flowering. Different types of spirea have their own subtleties in pruning. Douglas and Boomald spire pruning begins only in the fourth year of life. Miniature varieties not exceeding 40 cm in height are cut into 2 buds. Cut out shoots with foliage that does not match the color of the variety. After flowering, the seed pods are removed, if there is no need for seeds - this contributes to the re-blooming of the inflorescences. It is enough to cut off a third of the shoot. The green hedge is trimmed to give the desired shape. Spring-flowering spireas form after flowering, cutting off shoots at the level of a strong young growth. The crown of the bush should be symmetrical.
• Anti-aging pruning. It is carried out in adult bushes, starting from the 7th year of life. All old shoots are removed, leaving no more than 5-7 young ones, while maintaining the symmetry of the bush. This pruning is best done in several stages, so as not to greatly weaken the bush.

Preparing for winter

The first wintering at a recently planted bush is a serious test. But adult plants, despite the frost resistance of most varieties, and species also need to be prepared for winter. For many of them, it is enough to feed the plants in August with potash and phosphorus fertilizers, to carry out moisture-charging irrigation after leaf fall and to mulch the trunk circle with humus.

For less frost-resistant varieties, you will have to build a shelter:

• tie the branches into a bunch;
• bend the beam to the ground, fixing it with special fasteners;
• fall asleep with dry leaves;
• additionally throw in snow.

Plant diseases and pests

Spiraea rarely suffers from disease, but in a damp summer it can be damaged by powdery mildew and gray mold. To eliminate them, copper-containing fungicides, Fitosporin, colloidal sulfur are used.

Among the most common pests are aphids, blue meadow sawfly, whitefly and spider mites. Insecticides are effective against the first three: Fitoverm, Actellik. Insectoacaricides are suitable against the tick: Metaphos.

The nuances of growing in Siberia, the Urals, in the Moscow region

Almost all varieties and types of spirea are suitable for growing in central Russia.Shrubs such as Japanese Spirea and Nippon Spirea need additional winter shelter.

In the Urals, the climate is more severe. In its southern part, almost all types of spirits will grow well. In the middle lane and, especially in the north, frost-resistant shrubs should be preferred. The same can be said for spirea in Siberia. Only undersized varieties are able to overwinter under the snow without much loss. If medium and tall plants are not covered, then constant frosting in winter is guaranteed to them, decorativeness and abundant flowering cannot be achieved in such conditions.

Correctly selected varieties of spirea are able to create a flowering conveyor throughout the growing season and will be a real decoration of any garden.

Japanese spirea is a unique plant that is useful on the site and as a hedge, and as a decorative ornament. Spirea can be grown in cool climates - it is quite unpretentious. We will learn the features of growing Japanese spirea in the open field, find out all the nuances of planting a plant and caring for it.

Description

Japanese spirea is one of the representatives of the Rosaceae family. The shrub is compact, deciduous, and can be grown in various regions of our country. Pay attention to the photospireas presented on our website.

An interesting feature of the color of the foliage of the spirea: only when they bloom in the spring, they are brown, then turn green by summer, and closer to autumn the foliage becomes red. Many landscape designers take advantage of this unique feature of the spirea, giving the site a great look.

Spirea flowers have a pinkish-red hue, small, but collected in rather lush and multiple inflorescences. The diameter of one inflorescence can be either 5 centimeters or 30, depending on the variety. In addition, this plant has very long flowering periods: from the end of June to the very fall.

All varieties of spirea are subdivided into:

• spring flowering;
• summer flowering.

The former begin to bloom from mid-late May, and the latter (there are more of them) from the end of June. Japanese spirea is a summer-flowering variety.

Varieties

Little princesses

A compact shrub that grows 50-60 cm in height. The pink color of the inflorescences-scutes contrasts perfectly with the dark green dense foliage (see photo).

Goldflame

A variety that is characterized by a particularly noticeable change in foliage color. The flowers are small, pink, and look very decorative against the background of beautiful leaves.

Crisp

Low shrub, does not grow more than half a meter. The flowers are very delicate, light pink, collected in graceful umbrella inflorescences. Spirea Crispus is prized for its long-lasting flowering - the decorative period lasts about two months.

Macrophile

It features extremely decorative foliage that changes its color. So, in the spring the leaves of Macrophila have a purple hue, in the summer they are green, and in the fall the foliage becomes golden and orange.

Golden princesses

This Spirea reaches a meter in height, is distinguished by reddish-pink flowers and yellow foliage.

A variety such as Shirobana is also often planted. The variety boasts a compact bush and simultaneous flowering of both pink and white flowers on the same plant.

In landscape design, Japanese spirea is valued for its exceptional decorativeness. Various varieties of it are used to create hedges, and to decorate flower arrangements, alpine hills.

Growing conditions

We will find out what the requirements for the conditions of its content and location are imposed by the Japanese spirea.

Seat selection

Although the plant is unpretentious, however, it will best show its decorative qualities when planted in a sunny, well-lit area. By the way, the spirea can feel quite well in the shady corners of the garden, however, it cannot please with special decorativeness in this case: both the inflorescences will be smaller, and the color of the foliage is not so bright.

It is also important to know that the space allotted for the spirea should be quite extensive, since the roots of the plant grow underground to an area larger than the area of ​​the shrub itself.

The soil

Japanese spirea will feel best in fertile, well-fertilized soil. Take care of this before planting by adding the necessary nutrients to the soil.

Planting time and seedling selection

Spirea should be planted in the open field in the spring. However, it is necessary to have time to carry out planting before the leaves bloom at the plant. Buy seedlings in proven nurseries, paying attention to the roots of the plant: it is important that they are not overdried. Otherwise, the spirea will not take root. When buying seedlings with open roots, choose specimens with live buds, but not yet started to grow. Bend the roots and shoots (without fanaticism) - they should be flexible and not brittle.

Preparing for landing

If the plant has damaged roots, remove them with a sharp, well-sanitized secateurs. If some of the healthy roots are too long, shorten them too.

Soak the roots of the plant in potassium permanganate water before planting. The procedure will simultaneously solve two problems at once: it will relieve the roots from drying out, and will provide disinfection.

Landing

How to plant Japanese spirea in open ground.

The first step is to prepare the pit. Its volume should exceed the approximate volume of spirea roots by one third. Before planting, the pit should be allowed to settle for two to four days.

Planting should be done in cloudy weather or rain. Lay the crushed brick drainage on the bottom of the dug hole in a layer of about 15-20 cm.The soil should be as follows:

• sod land - 30 parts;
• humus - 2 parts;
• peat land - 1 part;
• river sand - 1 part.

Mix all ingredients.

Dip the roots of the plant into the hole, straighten them carefully, cover them with carefully prepared soil mixture. The root collar should be above the ground and not buried. When filling the hole with earth, immediately compact the soil during the process.

After planting, water the shrub with 1-2 buckets of water. Mulch the root circle with dry peat. Also make several depressions in the diameter of the root circle to retain water: this way you will provide better moisture for the plant roots.

A couple of days after planting, water the plant with water with ammonia dissolved in it. This substance acts on spirea like an anti-stress drug: it nourishes the roots while they have not yet completely taken root. In addition, ammonia will help you gain green mass faster. Feeding with ammonia, by the way, can be carried out later, when the plant has already taken root and will actively grow.

Care

The following is a description of the main points for caring for Japanese spirea growing outdoors.

Top dressing

To ensure long-term and abundant flowering of the spirea, it should be pampered with additional nutrition. Proper care involves feeding twice a season: after spring pruning and in July. Add mineral complex solution in spring and mullein solution in summer. Under one bush, it is supposed to pour from 1 to three liters of top dressing.

Loosening, mulching

Japanese spirea grows best in loose, well-permeable soil. Therefore, after watering and rains, it is advisable to loosen the soil in the root circle, at the same time removing weeds. The mulching procedure will help to retain moisture and get rid of weeds. Use dry compost or peat as mulch.

Drafts

The Japanese spirea is not afraid of the wind, so it can feel good in open areas. However, too strong gusts can negatively affect flowering, therefore, during the period of bud formation, it is better to protect the spirea from drafts.

Watering

The plant needs moderate watering. If it is hot outside, then the moisturizing procedure is mandatory.On average, in cool weather, 10 liters of water (bucket) are consumed per bush with one watering, in hot weather - 20 liters. Watering frequency is twice a month.

Irrigation and spraying

As for spraying, the spirea does not need this procedure. Irrigation is beneficial for its root system; foliage does not need to be irrigated.

Pest control

In general, this plant is resistant to diseases and pests. Nevertheless, although it is rare, sometimes aphids and spider mites attack the spirea. To cope with these pests, gardeners recommend using spraying with a solution of hot pepper, karbofos, tobacco. Against the spider mite, such remedies as Aktellik and Aktara have proven themselves well.

But it is better not to allow pests to be damaged initially. Carry out preventive spraying in advance - and then the spirea will always be healthy and strong. By the way, watering with water with ammonia serves not only as a top dressing, but also prevents many plant diseases.

Pruning, transplanting

This shrub grows quickly, so regular shaping is essential. Every spring, before the onset of the growing season, shorten the regrown shoots up to the first strong and strong buds. In addition, after each winter, remove weed shoots: weak, sick, frozen.

When the shrub is four years old, you can prune it more, removing up to 30 cm of the length of the shoots. Keep in mind that the more you shorten the spirea shoots, the more lush and abundantly flowering the bush will be.

Reproduction

The plant can be propagated in four ways:

• seeds;
• dividing the bush;
• layering;
• cuttings.

In amateur gardening, the cuttings or layering method is usually used. Dividing a bush already requires a more professional approach, not to mention seed reproduction - long and painstaking. In addition, there is a risk of buying the wrong seeds that you need: for example, hybrid varieties of spirea, in principle, are not derived from seeds.

Care at different times of the year, wintering

In spring and autumn, the plant only needs pruning, while the spirea tolerates winter quite well. However, if you live in an area with snowless and frosty winters, it is better to cover the roots of the plant for the winter. And even if you live in an area with a temperate climate, it is advisable to cover for the winter the roots of those plants that have not yet turned four years old. Young spirea tolerates cold worse. As a shelter, you can use spruce branches or fallen leaves - a layer of 15-20 cm is quite enough.

Growing tips, nuances

Keep in mind that for the first time spirea blooms only in the third year after planting. You should be patient - the decorative spectacle of the flowering shrub is worth it.

It is also important to know that the root system of the plant is superficial, therefore, it cannot take moisture from deep layers of soil. Therefore, do not allow the roots to dry out, and be sure to water regularly with spirea, in the heat - twice as much.

The spirea bush lives for about 17 years, but if, upon reaching the age of four, it did not please with abundant flowering, it is better to replace it with a higher quality specimen.

Japanese spirea is a real decoration of the garden, striking with a unique combination of delicate flowers and bright color of leaves. In addition, the shrub is unpretentious, so novice gardeners can also grow it. And our advice will definitely help you with this.