Spirea Japanese planting and care in the open field in the fall

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 spirea 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, layers 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. It should be watered 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 spirea, 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 have 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 genus Spirea 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.

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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 flowering, Japanese spirea 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 with pink or white flowers 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.

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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, 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 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 must 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

Spirea does not often suffer from diseases, 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 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.

Japanese spirea is a unique plant that is useful on the site and as a hedge, and as a decorative ornament. Spirea can also 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 photo spirales presented on our website.

An interesting feature of the color of the foliage of the spirea: only after blossoming 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-shaped 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.