Spirea planting and care in the open field in the Urals

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, 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, 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 practically 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 shields of inflorescences 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 losses, 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 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 foil or glass jar and put in 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 plants 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. 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 for spirea in Siberia. Only undersized varieties are able to overwinter under the snow without any special losses. 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.

Spirea, volzhanka or meadowsweet is a plant from the genus of the Rosaceae family. Such a variety as that of a spirea is very rare - there are dwarfs less than 20 cm in height and giants up to 2.5 meters in height. Branches can be upright, recumbent, or outstretched. They also differ in shape and color shades. Since spiria tolerates severe winters well, cultivation is practiced in Siberia and other northern regions.

Well on one site, several types of perennial crops are combined. Budleya and spirea will decorate your garden together.

Spirea varieties for Siberia with a description

Although many species tolerate frost well, they still prefer the most frost-resistant plants. Let's consider the most popular ones.

Gray spiria Greifsheim - densely branched, arched shrub more than one meter high. The lower leaves are light green, and the upper part of the foliage is gray-green. Flowers of a white shade are located throughout the shoot. The first leaves bloom in May, and already at the end of June the fruits ripen. Spiraea gray refers to hybrids - it was obtained by crossing whitish-gray and St. John's worm spirea. It is popular with gardeners in the northern regions, as the graveshame tolerates frosty winters well.

Spiria willow Is a cold-resistant plant that tolerates severe winters well. This species became widespread in Europe, Siberia, Japan, North America and China. In nature, it is found in shrub thickets near water bodies. A bush with reddish-brown shoots, reaches a height of two meters. The upper leaves are dark green in color, and the lower ones are slightly lighter. Short peduncles are collected in short panicles. The flowers are pink and white.

Spirea willow. Photo

Spirea Rosea (pink) - bush up to 1.5 meters high, with beautiful pink flowers. Small flowers, collected in paniculate inflorescences. The shape of the leaves is elongated, up to 10 cm long. The bush grows up to 1.5 meters in diameter. A distinctive feature of the species is its high resistance to severe winter frosts.

Spyria breeding methods

Four types of propagation of this culture are used - seeds, division of the bush, layering and cuttings. Let's take a quick look at each of them.

Layers - the branches easily bend to the ground, so this breeding method is very popular with gardeners. In the spring, the one-year-old shoot is bent to the ground in the prepared hole and covered with nutritious soil. Sprinkle abundantly with water. Maintain moderate soil moisture throughout the season.

In order for the roots to appear faster, it is recommended to cut the bark on the shoot where it touches the ground.

Dividing the bush - in the fall, carefully dig out a bush. Shake off the ground and divide into several bushes. When dividing, make sure that a sufficiently large root lobe and 2 strong shoots remain. The separated bushes are planted in a new place.

Cuttings - with the correct preparation of cuttings, 7 out of 10 take root and give roots. The time for harvesting cuttings depends on the variety - for summer-flowering spirits, cuttings are harvested in July, and for spring-flowering ones - at the beginning of June. Young shoots are cut off at the base, the bark is scratched in several places and buried in the ground to the leaves. Sprinkle abundantly with water. Before rooting, maintain a moderate soil moisture.

More information about this breeding method is described in the video:

Seeds - this method of reproduction is practiced by breeders to develop new varieties. In rare cases, it is used by gardeners.With this method, the varietal qualities of hybrid spirits are not inherited.

Planting spirea in the spring in open ground

In the spring, it is recommended to plant summer-flowering spirea species. Planting is carried out before the leaves bloom (approximately in May). Planting technology for seedlings:

1. Dig a hole of the right size. A distance of at least 70 cm is left between the holes. For tall varieties, even more - up to 1 meter.
2. The soil from the planting pit is mixed with organic fertilizers. If the soil on the site is clayey, then it is advisable to loosen it by adding a little sand and peat.
3. Expanded clay or broken brick is poured as drainage with a layer of at least 15 cm.The larger the layer, the better - it can be increased to 20 cm.
4. Shoots and long roots are shortened at the seedling. If necessary, pruning of dried roots is carried out.
5. A little fertile soil is poured into the planting hole. They make a small mound, pour water to moisten the lower soil layer.
6. They put the seedling in the hole and cover it with the rest of the earth. Around the bush, the earth is lightly tamped and an earthen rampart is formed.
7. Water the seedling with water and mulch with peat, old sawdust or straw to retain moisture in the soil.

Planting spirea in the fall

If purchased seedlings are planted in the spring, then in the fall they practice dividing the bush. It is important to finish planting before the end of the leaf fall.

Important. Propagated by the method of division, young bushes up to 4 years old. They have a small root system, so it is easy to divide and extract from the ground.

A spirea bush is dug out, cleaned of the ground and lowered into a large container of water. The roots are washed and removed from the water. Lightly dry and divide the bush with pruning shears, leaving two summer shoots and a lobe of roots. Divided bushes are planted on a plot according to a 70x70 cm scheme.

Watering and feeding spirea

The cultivated plant needs regular watering, especially on hot and sunny days. Abundant watering is carried out (1.5 buckets of water each) twice a month. If the soil around the plants is mulched, then the frequency of watering is slightly reduced.

Spirea grows well without feeding. But it will not be superfluous to apply fertilizers before flowering and after pruning. Apply nitrogenous fertilizers for each bush in the spring (for example, mullein). In the fall, they are fed only with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers.

Spirea pruning

Pruning summer blooming spirea

In the first years of growth, plants do not need pruning. Only remove dried, frozen and damaged shoots. After 7-14 years, old branches are cut out at ground level, and 5 young ones are left for future flowering. Then, a year later, old shoots more than 7 years old are cut off and young ones are left again, etc. Any pruning is carried out in the autumn or early spring.

The average life span of a spirea bush is 20 years. After this age, there is no need to wait for abundant flowering. New seedlings are planted on the site by grafting or dividing the bush.

Shelter spirea for the winter

Under a thick layer of snow, the cultivated plant tolerates frosty winters well. Therefore, it does not need additional shelter. But in order to protect the planted young plants, they tie the shoots into a bunch and bend them to the ground. Cover with a layer of dry leaves about 15 cm, then branches and cover with snow as soon as it falls. Such a shelter protects the spirea from freezing.

With proper care, you can enjoy the beautiful meadowsweet blooms from late spring to mid-summer.

Spirea (Spiraea) is a deciduous type of ornamental shrub belonging to the pink family (Rosaceae). This plant is represented by nine dozen species common in forest-steppe and semi-desert zones, as well as in the subalpine mountainous zone in the Northern Hemisphere.

Botanical features of spirea

The height of the aboveground part, depending on the species characteristics, can vary within 15-250 cm. The root system of the decorative perennial is of the fibrous type, not deeply located.Erect and spread, recumbent type, ascending or creeping branches, have a light brown or dark brown bark, which can flake off. Young branches are characterized by light green, yellowish-reddish or brownish coloration, as well as the presence or absence of pubescence.

Small buds. The foliage is alternate, petiolar, without stipules, narrow lanceolate-linear or rounded. The racemose inflorescences of early flowering species are sessile or practically sessile, umbellate or corymbose type, with a leaf rosette at the base. Flowers are bisexual, less often dioecious, white, pink-red or purple in color. The fruits are multi-seeded leaflets, with flat, lanceolate winged brown seeds.

How to grow spirea (video)

Variants of using spirea in landscape design

The variety of types of spirea makes it easy to choose a shrub that will be ideal for decorating a backyard area. Undersized and miniature species are widely used., which are optimal when creating rockeries.

Varieties with different flowering periods can be combined to zone the area. Spireas are widely used in the creation of mixborders, as well as green hedges. They harmonize very well with scumpia, dahlias, turf and actions, and also look attractive and original with conifers, including spruces, thuja, pines and junipers.

Description of shrub varieties

On the territory of our country, several varieties of a shrub plant are quite successfully grown. All of them differ not only in appearance, but also in terms of flowering. Paniculata spirea, as well as varieties Junia Bright and Little Princesses.

Spirea hybrid Billard Triumfans

Billard's spirea is a hybrid form obtained by crossing the willow and Douglas spirea. The two-meter shrub has spreading branches and foliage of a wide lanceolate shape with a grayish-tomentose lower part.

Variety "Triumfans" has purple-pink spike-shaped inflorescences a quarter meter high, as well as green or reddish-brown young shoots with pubescence and ribbed bare old shoots, which gradually dry out. By the sixth year of life, there is a loss of shape by a shrub, so it is necessary to properly prune.

Spirea willow

Under natural conditions, the species grows in Siberia and Europe, as well as in the northern part of America, in Japan and China, where it forms thickets near lakes, along river floodplains. This is an upright shrub plant no more than two meters high, with very characteristic red-yellowish shoots and pointed foliage of an elongated lanceolate shape.

The base of the leaves is sharp, serrate. The surface of the plate is dark green in color, and the bottom has a lighter color. Flowers are white or pink in color, located on short pubescent peduncles, which are collected in inflorescences of the pyramidal or cylindrical paniculate type. The variety is frost-resistant, blooms in the fourth or fifth year.

White-flowered spirea argut

One of the most spectacular spring blooming varieties. A tall culture with a two-meter aboveground part, a spreading crown, and also narrow lanceolate foliage with strong serrated.

Snow-white flowers gather in numerous, umbrella-shaped inflorescences that densely cover the shoots. Flowering is observed on the shoots of the last year. The species is slow growing and needs to be pruned after flowering. The branches are quite thin and spreading, with small and relatively narrow leaves of a characteristic green color.

Spirea gray

A large and fairly frost-resistant plant with a height of the aerial part of up to two meters and numerous shoots, which are covered with pointed leaves of a grayish-green color. Flowers are formed in May, white, collected in corymbose inflorescences. The most popular variety in home gardening is "Grefsheim" with very characteristic drooping arcuate branches.

Japanese spirea

One of the most famous and very widespread species in our country, represented by a variety of varieties, excellent for use in modern backyard landscape design. Under natural conditions, the Japanese variety grows in China and Japan, as well as in Korea.

In the conditions of home gardening, it is used in landscaping even in the northern regions. Winter-hardy and very hardy shrub plant with a height of the aboveground part from 30 cm to one and a half meters, it has a varied coloration of not only flowers, but also leaves, which can vary depending on varietal characteristics. Flowering is abundant and long-lasting.

Spirea nippon

A shrub plant no more than two meters high, with a very dense, spherical crown, as well as horizontally directed branches. It is characterized by a compact type of aerial part and a very abundant, rather long flowering.

The foliage is round, crenate or whole-edged in the upper part, green in color. The species is very light-loving, with high winter hardiness. Particularly popular are such decorative forms as Snowmound or Snowmound and Halvare Silver or Halward's Silver.

Features of planting and transplanting spirea in the open field

It is advisable to plant a shrub perennial in previously prepared areas in the spring, after the snow melts and the soil warms up. In order to properly plant an ornamental plant, it is necessary to select a sufficiently sunny and well-heated area, represented by sod land, peat and sand mixed in a ratio of 2: 1: 1 with soil acidity at 6-7 pH.

If the groundwater is too high it is important to provide high-quality drainage, consisting of gravel in a layer of 10-20 cm. The planting pit should have dimensions of 50 x 50 x 50 cm. The standard distance between the planting pits should not be less than half a meter. When planting a shrub as a hedge, it is possible to reduce the gap between the planted plants to 40 cm, with the distance between rows within 30-40 cm. After planting, it is recommended to mulch with peat, the layer of which is 70 mm.

Types and varieties of spirea (video)

Haircut and other types of spirea care

It is necessary to take care of the spireas not only in the spring-summer period, but also in the fall, at the stage of preparation for wintering. In early spring, 100-120 g of highly effective fertilizer "Kemira-universal" must be applied. Irrigation should be moderate, but in a too dry and hot season, as well as after pruning, the plant should be watered at the rate of one and a half buckets of water for each bush.

Young and newly planted plants need more frequent and abundant watering. After watering, it is required to perform surface active loosening of the soil, as well as organic mulching. The shrub plant tolerates a haircut well enough, therefore it is very actively used to create hedges or borders. After pruning, the perennial is able to quickly restore the crown, therefore it is recommended to cut off all faded shoots by about half of the length.

Reproduction of spirea by dividing the bush, cuttings, seeds and layering

Reproduction of a decorative perennial can be carried out in several ways:

• seed material;
• bush division;
• layering;
• cuttings.

Best of all, seeds reproduce varieties of Japanese spirea and oak-leaved, and the germination rate of seed of such varieties, as a rule, exceeds 80%. For sowing seeds, seedling containers with a height of 20-30 cm are used, which are filled with a mixture of leaf and sod land in a 1: 1 ratio with the addition of a small amount of humus and medium-grained sand to loosen the soil. When diving, the central root is pinched by about a third of the length, after which the seedlings are seated at a distance of 5-7 cm.

Vegetative propagation is very widely usedif there is a need to keep well all the characteristics of the parent plant. This method of reproduction allows you to get full-fledged adult plants much faster. By bush division, spireas are propagated at the age of three or four years, when the shrub is already fully formed, and the size of the root system allows division into separate divisions.

For execution reproduction by layering lower, only completely healthy shoots of an ornamental culture are used, which in the spring are dug into pre-prepared grooves of 8-10 cm.If there is a need to obtain the maximum number of plants with fully preserved varietal characteristics, then the most convenient and easy way is propagation by cuttings. Cutting is one of the main methods used by amateur gardeners.

How to plant a spirea (video)

Some features of planting and caring for spirea in the Urals

When grown in insufficiently favorable and comfortable conditions for the growth and development of culture, the plant's immunity weakens, so you need to regularly check the planting for the absence of damage by haplits, aphids and sawflies.

In a winter that is too harsh or with little snow, the ends of the shoots are sometimes frozen in varieties of the Nippon and sharp-toothed varieties, therefore in Siberia or the Urals it is recommended in the autumn to use dry leaves or peat crumbs to cover the root system with a layer of up to 10-12 cm.

When choosing a variety need to rememberthat spring-flowering species are distinguished by inflorescences of white or cream coloration, collected in inflorescences on the shoots of the previous year and blooming in May. Summer-flowering species are characterized by high decorativeness and bright inflorescences formed on the shoots of this year, therefore, they must be pruned only in early spring.

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Spirea, numbering more than 100 varieties, is known as a versatile shrub for landscape design. Among them there are giants over 2 meters high and dwarf species less than 20 cm high. It is successfully grown as a hedge in gardens and parks, serves as an element of rockeries and flower beds.

Lush color, a variety of colors, a long flowering period and unpretentious care are good reasons to settle this beauty in the garden.

You will learn how to grow spirea, how to create ideal conditions for it and all the nuances of care by reading this article.

Description of the plant and species

Spirea, or, as it is often called, meadowsweet, is an ornamental shrub of the Rosaceae family. The natural conditions for its growth are steppe, forest-steppe, semi-desert areas of most of the northern hemisphere.

Her flowers are small, but due to their large number and large inflorescences in which they are collected, the blooming spirea looks luxurious. Flowers of various colors can be collected in inflorescences in the form of a panicle, an ear. Leaves, depending on the variety, are of various shapes: round, lanceolate, colors vary from yellowish green to bright green, small-leaved and large-leaved varieties are found. Therefore, it is not surprising that different varieties of spirea differ significantly from each other.

The meadowsweet varieties are conventionally divided into two main groups: spring-flowering and summer-flowering.

Spring blooming

Plants of this group are characterized by flowering in late spring and early summer. At the same time, the buds are formed in the fall, so in the spring it is absolutely impossible to cut the bushes. From this group, the following varieties are especially attractive, shown in the photo:

Spirea is gray.A characteristic difference of this variety is gray foliage. Snow-white flowers form a shield-like inflorescence. A bush growing up to 2 meters in height with soft branches looks great both growing alone and in group plantings.

Thunberg.The height of the bush is up to 2 meters, in natural conditions it grows in the mountainous regions of China, Japan, Korea. Long bloom - from May to late June. White flowers on drooping branches are collected in umbellate inflorescences.

Arguta.This variety is so lush that the foliage is not visible due to the white lace of the flowers. Due to the spreading structure of the plant, shoots do not need pruning, they grow up to 2m in an arched shape. A short flowering period from the end of April, lasts about 20 days.

Summer blooming

Varieties of this group form buds in the spring only on young shoots, which is why the plant needs pruning of last year's already faded branches. Flowering begins later in the summer.

This group includes:

Japanese spirea.The height of the shrub is no more than 1.5 meters. The peculiarity of Japanese spirea is in oblong bright green leaves, on the underside of a bluish tint, which later become reddish. Long flowering period (all summer), pink flowers are collected in shield-like inflorescences.

White spirea. Sprawling shrub about 1.5 m high with long pointed leaves. Flowering begins in July.

Billard. With pink flowers and wide leaves, it blooms from mid-summer until frost. It grows up to 2 meters in height. Due to its cold resistance, it is successfully grown in the northern regions.

Planting spirea

The condition for obtaining a beautifully blooming spirea is compliance with the basic rules of cultivation, including planting.

The optimal planting time is September.

In spring, only summer-flowering species are planted, it is recommended to plant before bud break. Before buying a seedling, you need to make sure that the planting material is suitable: the root system should not be overdried, and the shoots should be flexible, have formed buds.

It is necessary to prepare the seedling. Overgrown roots should be shortened, and, conversely, with dried roots or if they have damage, the shoots are shortened. It is useful to soak overdried roots in water for a while before planting.

For spirea, leaf or sod soil is optimal. To prepare the soil, sand and peat are added to the sod land in a ratio of 2: 1: 1. The planting hole must be provided with good drainage, since the spirea does not tolerate stagnant water well.

It is advisable to plant in rainy or cloudy weather. Planting depth - 0.5 meters, not less. The planting hole is filled with soil, and the seedling is planted in such a way that its root collar is at surface level. After planting, water should be abundantly at the rate of 15-20 liters per bush.

Care rules

Like all other plants, the relatively unpretentious spirea needs certain growing conditions.

Watering

Watering required abundant and frequent, especially for young plantings and flowering in summer. Well protects against moisture evaporation and the formation of a crust on the surface of mulching. Watering rate: 25-30 liters of water per plant up to 3 times a month.

Top dressing

Top dressing with fertilizers stimulates the growth of spirea and the formation of new shoots. Mineral complexes are introduced into the root circle immediately after pruning. In the middle of summer, organic mullein feeding is beneficial.

To provide the root system with oxygen, it is important to loosen the soil.

Pest control

The most common pests are aphids and spider mites.The fight against them should be started immediately after detection, since due to the spreading of the spirea, delayed processing can be difficult. Treatment with complex insecticides is recommended.

Diseases

One of the advantages of spirea is resistance to many diseases. However, if the rules of care are violated, it can be struck by root rot, the main reasons for which are waterlogging of the soil, lack of drainage and the formation of stagnant moisture, heavy soil. For prevention, such phenomena should be avoided; in the event of a fungal infection, treatment with fungicides can save the plantings.

Pruning shoots

Pruning is done to prevent overgrowth and shape the plant.

Depending on the type of flowering, it is carried out in different ways.

In spring-flowering varieties of spirea, only the frozen tips are cut off. To update the spirea after 7-14 years, you can remove all old branches, leaving the stumps. A new bush is formed from the young growth. In the first year, 5-6 shoots are left on it, which grow rapidly. After a year, weak and old branches are cut again.

Summer flowering species need annual pruning in the spring. In this case, the branch is cut to large buds, and it is advisable to remove the weakened branches completely. After 4 years of growing season, it is recommended to prune the branches annually, leaving them up to 30 cm from the ground surface.

Reproduction

Layers

The most effective way is propagation by layering, which is also the simplest. During the blooming of the leaves, the shoot is bent to the ground and sprinkled. With regular watering in the fall, a young seedling with a sufficiently strong root system will form from it to separate from the main bush and plant in another place.

If you want to get more than one layer from one branch, you should pinch its top, bend the entire shoot to the ground and sprinkle it. With this method, by the spring of next year, several young plants suitable for transplantation will be formed from the grown lateral shoots.

Cuttings

Cutting is a rather laborious process. Cuttings are cut at the end of flowering and planted in a peat-sand mixture and placed in a greenhouse. For planting in open ground, the cuttings will be ready for the next one only in a year.

Seeds

Seed propagation is rarely used. Sowing is carried out in the spring under the film. After their germination, the film is removed, and then grown as a normal seedling until the end of summer. Then the seedlings are transplanted into open ground. In the winter cold, young seedlings must be covered with foliage, spruce branches.

Seed propagation is rarely used due to low seed germination and a long waiting period for flowers (after 3-4 years).