Tamarix planting and care in the open field in the Urals

The photo of this plant conveys all the grace and grace of filigree leaves and delicate pinkish-lilac flowers that completely cover the comb bush. It is hard to believe that delicate tamarix is ​​completely undemanding to care for, tolerates planting in areas with a large temperature difference in winter and summer. The plant winters well at -30 degrees and tolerates prolonged heat and drought.

Graceful tamarix: varieties and varieties

Grebenshik (Tamarix) belongs to the tamarix family, which has only 2 representatives, very similar in size and dimension to the bush, leaves and flowers.

• Tamarix (Tamarix).

Tamarix

• Myricaria.

Myricaria

In nature, the comb grows in the Mediterranean, it is found in the regions of southern Europe. The natural habitats of the plant are found in the Astrakhan region and Kazakhstan, where the climatic conditions are very harsh: in winter, cold and snowless winters with strong winds, and in summer - scorching heat, sometimes without a single rain. The delicate, airy plant perfectly tolerates the harsh climate thanks to its reduced leaves, which are covered with a bluish bloom and resemble soft needle-like scales. In summer, such leaves evaporate the least amount of moisture, which the plant already lacks due to scarce rains.

Tamarix is ​​in the form of a bush, sometimes a small tree, which is most decorative during flowering. In total, there are about 70 species of plants, the flowering time of which falls on summer or spring. The exotic comb bush will be a real decoration for any garden composition.

Comber: we plant the plant correctly

The correct choice of a place for tamarix on a garden plot is due to the peculiarities of growing an ornamental culture. There are two main requirements, subject to which the comb bushes will delight with their excellent growth and abundant flowering:

Young plant

• the plant is categorically unsuitable for areas with a close occurrence of groundwater;
• tamarix does not develop well in areas with poor illumination - the plant requires direct sunlight for normal development.

Advice! When watering the plant, avoid overflow, the comb tends to accumulate water in the trunk, when the cold time comes, the plant will simply freeze.

Choosing the right place for planting tamarix is ​​a guarantee of the harmonious development of the plant, which can do without watering for a long time and does not require special care.

In nature, the plant often populates wastelands and waste lands, where the soil is not fertile. When grown in a garden, the plant thrives on humus-fertilized soils.

Advice! Do not overfeed the plant - excess fertilizer and very "greasy" soil will lead to a weakening of the immune system and difficult wintering.

The most suitable soils for planting a plant are light sandy soils.

Best Tamarisk Grooming - Lack of Diligent Grooming

Grebenshik is a persistent plant that does not require close attention when growing. The most important thing is to provide him with gentle watering and a sunny location. Plant care is reduced to loosening the soil, removing weeds and occasional watering. It is best to mulch the soil in early spring and reduce watering to a minimum.

It is very important not to overmoisten the tamarix

Waterlogged plants that have gone into winter can freeze over, lose part of the crown and skeletal branches. Damaged branches should be cut out as fungal infections quickly develop on them.

Advice! Do not water the tamarix before wintering, the plant has enough moisture that comes in during the rainfall.

Fertilizing and fertilizing a comb-operator

The plant is fed with organic fertilizers in early spring at the beginning of the growing season. During the summer season, you can fertilize with phosphorus and potash fertilizers. Mineral fertilizers are more easily absorbed by the plant when carrying out foliar dressing. When planting in a hole, you can add granular superphosphate to stimulate flowering and wood ash.

Tamarisk breeding methods

The photo of the faded plant shows that seed pods are formed at the ends of the flower brushes. The seeds of the plant are small and easily carried by the wind over long distances. This allows the culture to multiply by self-seeding, populating huge areas in nature. This feature is not always good for a well-equipped garden: comb shoots may appear in inappropriate places.

Tamarix seeds

Seed reproduction used in breeding work - many breeders are engaged in the development of new varieties of an elegant and unpretentious plant.

Vegetatively propagate tamarix is ​​not at all difficult with cuttings cut from the plant. Sections of young branches, up to 15 cm long, are planted in special greenhouses or directly in a prepared bed. Rooting is carried out from spring to autumn. Usually, strong young plants are formed during this period.

Tamarix stalk

Protection against diseases and pests

The Grebenshikov is not susceptible to diseases and pests. Improper care, especially overflow, can cause weeping brown spots on the plant, caused by the development of a fungus. The affected branches are cut out, they need to be burned. The crown of the plant is thinned out.

Fungal infections can develop on a flooded plant that has gone into the winter with improper preparation. Corrective measures are the same: thin out the crown and cut out the damaged parts of the crown.

The charming plant will perfectly complement the garden composition. The flowering of tamarix is ​​a holiday for the soul, the main thing is not to overdo it with leaving.

We plant tamarix: video

Types of tamarix: photo

The type genus Tamarix, also called comb, or tamarisk, belonging to the Tamarisk family, is represented by shrubs and small trees. This genus unites more than 75 species. Such a plant is also called bead, gidovilnik, jengil, divine tree, comb and Astrakhan lilac. The scientific name tamarix comes from the toponym of the Tama-riz river, which is located in the Pyrenees, at the moment it is called Timbra. In nature, tamarix can be found in Asia, Africa and in the southern part of Europe, while it prefers to grow in deserts and semi-deserts, in dune sands, and also on salt licks and salt marshes. For example, in the tugai forests of Central Asia there are 15 species of such a plant, in the mountains of Central Asia it is found at an altitude of about 2000 meters above sea level, while in the Caucasus, tamarix rises to a height of no more than 600 meters.

The tamarisk shrub is cultivated by gardeners as an ornamental and sand-fixing plant.

Features of the tamarix shrub

The graceful tamarisk shrub can be deciduous or evergreen. In addition to shrubs, trees are often found that grow bush-like, they have a height of 1.5-12 meters, and their trunk is not thicker than half a meter. The crown consists of rod-shaped stems, on which there is a huge number of alternately located small leaf plates similar to scales, their color can be emerald, greenish-blue or dark green. Large panicle or racemose inflorescences consist of small white or pink flowers. Before flowering, when the bush is strewn with many unopened buds, it may seem as if it was decorated with beads. This plant is an excellent honey plant, so during the flowering period it attracts bees to the garden. The fruit is a pentahedral-pyramidal box, which is polyspermous, inside it has small seeds.

Tamarisk is a very tenacious plant that is highly drought tolerant. This shrub can be grown even in a large city, because it is resistant to gas pollution. Growing such a plant is not troublesome and very pleasant.

Planting tamarix in open ground

What time to plant

It is recommended to plant tamarix seedlings in open soil in the autumn during the fall of leaves, but it is better to do this at the very beginning of spring. The soil for such a shrub needs a well-drained one, while its composition can be of any kind. It can be grown even in heavy clay soil, but only in this case humus and peat must be added to the soil during planting. You can grow tamarisk in the shade, but it is better to choose a well-lit area for planting it.

The choice of a site for planting such a shrub must be carried out very carefully, because because of the long thin roots that are easy to damage, it suffers a rather painful transplant.

How to plant correctly

The size of the landing pit should be 0.6x0.6x0.6 meters. At the bottom of the finished pit, you need to make a good drainage layer, the thickness of which should be about 20 centimeters, for this you can use broken brick, crushed stone, expanded clay or pebbles. A mixture of humus and wood ash must be laid on top of the drainage. Then the foundation pit should be filled with soil mixture by 2/3, which contains sand (1 part), fertile soil (2 parts) and peat (1 part).

Before planting, you should trim the stems of the seedling, while the remaining segments should not exceed 30-50 mm in length. Then the plant must be placed in a pit, which should be covered with soil mixture (the composition is described above), but only after the roots of the seedling are carefully straightened. Tamp the surface of the soil around the planted plant, and then water it well. When planting, it should be borne in mind that after the seedling is watered, its root collar should be at the level of the surface of the site.

Caring for tamarisk in the garden

A tamarix seedling planted in open soil needs protection from direct sunlight and systematic watering during the first 15–20 days. After the leaves appear on the plant, they stop protecting it from the sun's rays, and also reduce the number of watering. In order for the water from the soil not to evaporate so quickly, its surface must be covered with a layer of mulch, for this you can use any organic material. Adult shrubs need watering only during a long dry period, but if it rains regularly in the summer, then there is no need to water the tamarix at all. After the rain has passed or watering has been carried out, you should slightly loosen the surface of the trunk circle, while pulling out all the weeds.

Top dressing of the shrub is carried out in the spring, as soon as the growing season begins, for this they use organic fertilizer. In the summer, it should be sprayed over the foliage with a solution of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers.

Tamarix is ​​highly winter-hardy, so it can be cultivated in regions with not very warm climates. So, in the Urals and in the Moscow region, this plant is widespread today. This shrub, without shelter, is able to withstand temperatures as low as minus 28 degrees. If the winters are very cold, then such a shrub simply needs shelter. To do this, the root zone should be covered with a thick layer of sawdust or covered with spruce branches, the trunk should be wrapped with a dense cloth or polymer film.

Pruning tamarix

Tamarix needs shaping scraps, which he transfers easily enough. The best time to trim the crown is early spring, and you need to be in time before the buds swell. Old branches that have short growths need to be cut into a ring, after only 4 weeks they will give young shoots, and the shrub will again become lush and beautiful. Such a plant needs rejuvenating pruning. They are made on a strong branch, which is placed as close to the base of the bush as possible. Remember that the growth of the stems should not be weakened, as this will lead to a decrease in the number and length of the inflorescences. With the beginning of the growing season, branches and stems damaged by frost can be identified, which will need to be trimmed to healthy wood.

You can also prune the shrub at the end of flowering. In order for the crown to remain spectacular and well-groomed, it is necessary to cut off excessively elongated stems, as well as inflorescences that have begun to fade. When trimming the shrub, try to make it more stable, otherwise its branches will need to be tied to supports.

In tamarisk, the crown thickens very quickly, in this regard, its thinning should be carried out systematically, cutting out part of the branches for this.

Diseases and pests

This shrub is highly resistant to pests. They can settle on it only if any of the neighboring plants is infected. To get rid of pests, it will be enough to spray the plant with an insecticide solution only once.

During the rainy season, tamarix can easily contract a fungal disease. Infected stems and branches should be cut and destroyed, and the bush itself and the soil around it should be sprayed with a fungicide solution.

Reproduction of tamarix in the garden

It is quite possible to grow tamarix from seeds, however, experienced gardeners do not advise spending their time on this, since cuttings are a more reliable and faster way of propagating such a plant.

The shrub can be propagated by cuttings at the beginning of the spring. To do this, you need to prepare semi-lignified cuttings 10 millimeters thick and 7-10 centimeters long. The lower cut should be treated with a solution of an agent that stimulates the growth of roots, then they should be planted at an angle in a container filled with a light soil mixture consisting of sand and garden soil (1: 1). On top of the box, it is imperative to put on a dome, which must be transparent. Instead, you can cover each stalk with a glass jar on top. After the cuttings take root, young leaves will begin to grow. Such cuttings are planted in open soil in May, and do not forget that they need mandatory shelter for the winter. With the onset of the next spring period, the plants that have survived the winter can be transplanted to a permanent place.

You can resort to another method of rooting; for this, the cuttings are placed in a container filled with water. When roots appear on the cuttings, they will need to be planted in the garden and covered with glass jars.

When propagating tamarisk by the generative (seed) method, remember that its seeds retain good germination for a short time, and when growing a shrub in middle latitudes, they rarely ripen. There is no need to stratify the seeds before sowing. They are simply evenly distributed over the surface of the soil mixture, without deepening or sprinkling with earth. Then the container must be placed on a pallet that is filled with water. Strengthened and grown plants must be planted in school for growing. Seedlings need good shelter for the winter. After 1 or 2 years, the plant can be planted in a permanent place.

Types and varieties of tamarix with photos and names

In nature, there are more than 70 species of tamarix. However, most often cultivated are those that have high frost resistance.

Tamarix tetrandra

In nature, this species is found in Greece, Crimea, Asia Minor, as well as in the southeast of the European part of Russia. This shrub is relatively large and reaches a height of 5-10 meters. Arcuate curved branches are painted red-brown. Green-emerald leaf plates have an ovate-lanceolate or lanceolate shape, they taper towards the base, and at their top there is a beak-shaped sharpening. On the side shoots are racemose inflorescences, consisting of flowers, painted in various shades from pale pink to white. The plant blooms in April or May. This shrub is drought tolerant and durable (it can live for about 75 years).

Loose tamarix (Tamarix laxa)

Under natural conditions, such a plant is found in northwestern China, northern Iran, Mongolia, Afghanistan and in the lower reaches of the Volga. This species is represented by a large branched shrub or a medium-sized tree, its height is about 5 meters. The bare, spreading branches are colored gray or green. Directly spaced leaf plates of an oval-rhombic or ovoid shape taper towards the base and sharpen towards the apex. The apical panicles are formed by lush racemose inflorescences, consisting of pink flowers. This plant blooms for about 8 weeks. This species is distinguished by its drought and frost resistance, it is not picky about the soil and normally tolerates its salinity.

Tamarix graceful (Tamarix gracilis)

Under natural conditions, such a tamarisk is found in China, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Siberia, in the west of Mongolia and in the south of the European part of Russia. The height of the shrub does not exceed 4 meters. On the surface of thick branches, there are pale fawn specks of cork in the leaf axils and along the shoot. The color of the bark is greenish gray or chestnut brown. Pointed leaf plates on green shoots are tiled. On one-year-old branches, leaf plates of larger size grow, and they have a lanceolate shape and a fawn color. Simple spring racemose inflorescences are about 50 mm long and consist of deep pink flowers. Summer flower clusters are part of large paniculate inflorescences, and they reach 70 mm in length. This type is frost-resistant and beautifully flowering, it is often used by landscape designers.

Branched tamarix (Tamarix ramosissima), or five-lined tamarix (Tamarix pentandra)

In the wild, such a plant can be found in Iran, Mongolia, Moldova, China, Central Asia, Ukraine and the Balkans. It prefers to grow on river banks, pebble shoals and on the terraces of river valleys. The height of such an upright shrub is about 2 meters. Thin branches are light gray or pale green, and annual shoots are pale red. Narrow awl-shaped leaf plates have curved tips. Dense, compound racemose inflorescences reach 50 mm in length, they consist of pink flowers. Flowering is observed in June – September.Such a shrub is not picky about the composition of the soil, it quickly adapts to the conditions of the city, after freezing it is easily restored, but it must be covered for the winter. Popular varieties:

1. Pink Cascade... This variety blooms very luxuriantly.
2. Rubra... The color of the flowers is red-violet.
3. Summare Glow... The color of the flowers is rich crimson.

Tamarisk in landscape design

Tamarisk is used in landscaping for group compositions and trimmed hedges. This plant is also used as a tapeworm, for example, as a flowering "fountain" in the center of a green lawn. Not very tall trees and shrubs of this genus are recommended to be combined with conifers, namely: thuja, juniper and dwarf spruce. Also, this plant is in harmony with lilac, barberry and jasmine.

Certain evergreen tamarisk species are cultivated at home. Also, tamarix is ​​grown on saline soils, in forest plantations, in deserts and semi-deserts, and is also used to fix moving sands and sliding shores.

Tamarix is ​​a representative of the Tamarix family; it is an elegant, spreading shrub or a short tree. Its thin branches are covered with many multi-colored tiny flowers, which gives the crown lightness, airiness. Tamarix will be a real decoration for hot sunny gardens.

The comb is hardy in severe drought, and its lace shoots are pleasing to the eye and fills the air with a pleasant aroma. The plant is popularly called "Astrakhan lilac", "bead", "comb", "jengil". A drought-resistant tamarix native to the deserts and steppes of southern Europe, Asia Minor and Africa, it is not afraid of sandy and saline soils.

Botanical description of tamarix

Tamarix is ​​a deciduous or evergreen perennial plant. The roots are powerful: like thick vines, they spread in different directions underground in search of moisture and nutrients. On average, the plant reaches a height of 3-5 m, there are specimens up to 12 m high. The form of vegetation is shrub or tree-like. The trunk has a maximum diameter of 50 cm. Numerous thin processes extend from the main shoot and skeletal lateral branches.

Leaves 1-7 mm long resemble small scales, tightly attached to the stem, the leaves are covered with salt-secreting glands. The color of the foliage is dark green, bluish green, emerald.

When does tamarix bloom?

The flowering stage occurs at different times depending on the type of tamarix. For example, the four-stalked tamarix blooms in May, and the loose tamarix blooms throughout August and September. Flowers on short stalks are collected in racemose or paniculate inflorescences. Even before blossoming, the buds have a high decorative effect, they cover the branches like small beads of pastel, delicate tones.

Flowers are bisexual, 1.5-5 mm long, bracts with a blunt edge, ovoid or linear in shape. Under the bract there are 4-7 rounded petals of white, pink, purple, scarlet or purple. Stamens filiform, located in the center of 4-6 pcs., Thickened at the base, heart-shaped anthers, oblong ovary with a trihedral column. Only the dioecious tamarix Tamarix dioica has heterosexual flowers.

After pollination, small fruits are formed in the form of multifaceted pyramidal capsules filled with many seeds. Each seed has a tuft. Ripe bolls open and paniculate seeds are carried by the wind over long distances.

Growing tamarix from seeds at home

Tamarix seeds photo

Seeds remain viable for only 4 months after ripening, plant them fresh.

• Prepare a container with fertile, loose soil mixed with a fair amount of sand. there must be drain holes in the bottom of the container.
• Plant the seeds shallowly, up to 1 cm. Sow as little as possible, so as not to break later: the distance between the plants should be at least 3-4 cm.

Tamarix from seeds photo shoots

• When the seedlings grow up to 5-6 cm in height, plant them in separate cups.
• Grow your seedlings at room temperature and keep them moderately humid. This should be done for two years.
• In the spring-summer period, take the pots with the plant outside, and in the winter, be sure to return it to the warmth.
• Tamarix is ​​planted in open ground along with a lump of earth in the third year of life in the spring.

Vegetative propagation of tamarix is ​​the most popular: cuttings take root easily, giving 100% survival rate.

Reproduction of tamarix by cuttings

Tamarix cuttings with roots photo

• It is better to carry out the cuttings procedure in the fall, but before the first frost begins.
• Preferably from young, but lignified branches, cut the cuttings 10-15 cm long, place them in a container with warm water and wait for the rudiments of the first roots to appear.
• To accelerate root formation for the first few days, you can keep the cuttings in a solution of heteroauxin or root.
• Then plant in a sand-peat mixture, cover with a cap, keep in a warm place with good lighting.
• It can be planted in the soil in May-June.
• It is imperative that after disembarkation, before the first wintering, the soil around the tamarix is ​​carefully mulched with fallen leaves or peat.

Reproduction of tamarix by layering

To do this, select a lignified, strengthened branch, dig it into the ground to a depth of about 20 cm, and fix it carefully. Better do it in the spring and by the end of summer you will have good, strong roots. Separate the shoot and transplant to a permanent location.

Planting and caring for tamarix outdoors

Tamarix is ​​a tenacious, undemanding culture. The plant is very light-loving, choose open, well-lit areas for it. In the shade or even slight partial shade, growth will slow down significantly, and the death of the plant may occur.

Landing

Plant in the spring. Beads do not tolerate wet, heavy soils. Sand and peat are added to very dense soils; lime is recommended to be added to acidic soil. Make a planting hole deep enough, be sure to place a gravel or pebble drainage pad on the bottom. In order for the plant to take root better, immediately after planting it is necessary to fertilize with a solution of humus and ash.

Watering

Water abundantly in the early days, then reduce watering. The grown tamarix does not require constant watering, it can even harm it. You can leave the plant unattended and water it only with prolonged sweltering heat, especially at the flowering stage. The rest of the time the plant is content with natural precipitation.

High humidity is contraindicated. It will increase the likelihood of being affected by rot and other fungal diseases.

Air temperature

The plant is also undemanding to the temperature regime. It will not burn in direct sunlight, and will also withstand a fairly severe frost down to -28 ° C. For the winter, it is enough to cover the base of the trunk and the soil with fallen leaves and spruce branches. Even if the ends of the shoots freeze, new shoots will quickly appear in their place.

Top dressing

If the tamarix is ​​planted in fertile soil, it is sufficient to feed it once in mid-spring. Use a mixture of ash and chicken droppings or mullein as fertilizer.

Pruning

Prune the plant regularly for extra attractiveness. Pruning is carried out in early spring, before active sap flow begins. Cut off dried or frozen old branches in a ring - in a month they will be covered with new young shoots, and the flowering forms a lush spherical cap. In shrubs, the middle branches must also be partially removed so that the bush is not too thick.

Pests and diseases

Tamarix pests practically do not bother. They can move to the bead branches only from a nearby heavily infested plant. In dampness, from regular flooding, fungal diseases can appear. Better not to let this happen. Affected vegetation should be trimmed and burned.Treat with a fungicide, you can periodically process it for prevention.

Preparing tamarix for winter in the Moscow region and northern regions

Frost-resistant species of tamarix can withstand prolonged temperature drops down to -40 ° C. But it is better to protect young bushes: carefully cover the near-trunk zone with a layer of leaves, and tie the branches, gently bend them to the ground and pin them with metal pins, cover with lutrasil. In winter, scoop up more snow from above so that the branches are under it.

Types of tamarix with photos and descriptions

The Tamarix genus consists of more than 60 plant species. The most popular are described below.

Branched tamarix Tamarix ramosissima

Tamarix branching Tamarix ramosissima ‘Pink Cascade’ photo

It is a shrub no more than 2 m tall with a slender, vertical crown. The branches end with thin green shoots covered with narrow subulate leaves only 1.5 mm long. Pink flowers, collected in racemose inflorescences, delight with their appearance in June-September.

Varieties:

• Rubra - flowers are painted in a bright purple-red color;
• Pink Cascade - light pink flowers densely cover the branches;
• Summer Glow - dense, raspberry-colored inflorescences.

Tamarix graceful or slender Tamarix gracilis

Tamarix graceful Tamarix gracilis Willd photo

Sprawling large shrub, reaches a height of about 4 m, branches are thick, drooping. Smooth bark of a brown-chestnut color with light brown spots covers the branches. The leaves are subulate or lanceolate, adjoining tightly to the branches. Flowers are bright pink in color. The racemose inflorescences, 5-7 cm long, bloom in May and bloom all summer.

Tamarix four-stalked or small-flowered Tamarix parviflora

Small-flowered tamarix Tamarix parviflora photo

A large shrub, similar to a tree with several trunks, reaches a height of 5-10 m. Brown-red bark covers the shoots. The light pink flowers are composed of long, club-shaped stamens, framed by round petals. Bulky loose brushes bloom in April-May. The leaves are thin, long, bright green.

Tamarix Meyer Tamarix meyeri

Tamarix Meyer Tamarix meyeri photo

Suitable for growing only in the southern regions, since it absolutely does not tolerate frost. This is a sprawling shrub 3-4 m high, the branches are covered with reddish bark. Leaves are bluish-green, scaly, adjacent to the branches. Small lush pink flowers gather in dense inflorescences up to 10 cm long. Flowering begins in May.

Tamarix dioecious Tamarix dioica

Tamarix dioecious Tamarix dioica photo

A very beautiful shrub, especially in bloom, this species has male and female plants and it will take both to get seeds for pollination to take place.

Tamarix loose Tamarix laxa Willd

Tamarix loose Tamarix laxa Willd photo

Reaches a height of 5 m and is found in the wild in Central Asia, China, Mongolia, Afghanistan, grows in the lower reaches of the Volga. Absolutely not picky about the soil, resistant to diseases and pests, requiring absolutely no care. It propagates well by cuttings and seeds.

Tamarix in landscape design

Tamarix in landscape design photo

Tamarix with its fabulous lace thickets is perfect for landscaping a garden. Plant solo near recreation areas or in loose groups. You can create a bright, lush fountain of flowering branches in the center of the composition or a hedge.

Tamarix in urban landscape photo

Trees and bushes with weightless branches will go well with junipers and any other conifers. You can plant tamarix near lilac, jasmine or barberry. The plant's strong roots hold the soil together so it can be planted on slopes to prevent landslides. Also, the plant is an excellent honey plant.

Tamarix in the landscape design of the city photo

Useful properties of tamarix

The medicinal properties of tamarix are also known.

• The bark and leaves contain polyphenols, tannins, coloring pigments, tannins.
• Young twigs, leaves and inflorescences are harvested in summer.
• They are used to prepare decoctions, alcoholic tinctures, which are taken as a diuretic, diaphoretic, analgesic, astringent and hemostatic agent.
• They help relieve an attack of rheumatism, diarrhea, and symptoms of stomach inflammation.

Tamarix or comb is a shrub or small tree of amazing beauty and grace. It usually reaches a height of 3-4 meters, but some plants reach 5 m. Thin branches-twigs are covered with small bluish-green leaves resembling scales. It looks especially unusual during the flowering period from early summer to October, its multiple pink or white flowers are collected in tassel-like inflorescences, and their unopened buds resemble small beads, therefore, tamarix is ​​also popularly called beads. This perennial plant has more than 75 varieties, widespread from Europe to India itself. It is especially common in the East of Russia and Siberia.

Tamarix is ​​recommended for growing both in groups and singles, well suited for creating hedges. Looks good in combination with other graceful shrubs - spirea, raktinik. You can plant nearby plants that bloom at the same time as the comb, or those that "replace" it at the end of the flowering period. The effectively grown bushes will also look against the background of a variety of ground cover plants.

Tamarix - planting and care

Grebenshik is one of the unpretentious plants. It is salt tolerant, and the glands on its leaves secrete salt on their own. Tolerates well the conditions of the city. The ideal place to plant it is well lit or slightly shaded. It is undemanding to soils, the only condition is that the soil must be well drained - the shrub categorically does not tolerate stagnant water. It grows well on dense and even clayey soils, but in this case, humus and peat should be added to the hole when planting.

Saplings are planted in early spring. It is better to take young seedlings, adult plants take root much worse. For this, good drainage is laid at the bottom of the planting pit, wood ash and organic fertilizers are added. Immediately after planting, the plant needs abundant watering.

Water the plant sparingly and then only during the dry season. Under normal conditions, it may well do without watering. It tolerates tamarix and pruning, which is done in a garden in order to give the shrub the necessary shape. In conditions of high humidity and lack of wind, dark spots sometimes appear on young shoots of a shrub - this is mold, which has a detrimental effect on the condition of the plant. Affected shoots should also be trimmed and burned.

In general, the beads are frost-resistant, withstand temperatures down to -28⁰С, therefore, as a rule, they do not need a winter shelter. But some of its types tolerate the cold worse, so they should be prepared for the onset of cold weather by wrapping them in cloth or polyethylene. If the branches are still frozen, they should be pruned in the spring. In their place, new ones will grow very soon - the plant quickly recovers. Tamarix is ​​transplanted only if necessary - in one place it can grow for decades without losing its decorative properties.

Tamarix - propagation by cuttings

Reproduction of the comb is carried out with the help of offspring, seeds, but most often through cuttings. Cutting tamarix is ​​best done in the fall. To do this, cut the woody cuttings and place them in a container with water or immediately plant them on open ground to a depth of 20 cm, after which the seedling should be watered. Before planting, the soil should be prepared - loosened and apply organic fertilizers. When rooting cuttings in water, it should be periodically added, and they can be planted immediately after the roots appear.For wintering, planted cuttings must be mulched with sawdust or peat, and in the spring they can already be transplanted to a permanent place.