Heather planting and care outdoors in siberia

According to an old Scottish legend, only heather, at the request of God, dared to grow on the windswept bare hillsides. For such determination, he was rewarded with increased endurance, natural charm and unpretentiousness, and in addition to the dizzying aroma and qualities of a honey plant.

Common heather - short description

Common heather is a shrub from the heather family. This plant has narrow tetrahedral leaves, and the flower can grow in height from 30 cm to 1 m. At the end of each shoot there are many small glass-shaped flowers, which are collected in bright inflorescences. Heather blooms with purple, cherry, crimson and white flowers.

Heather can be a real decoration of the site

Throughout the year, this bush looks ugly, but in the middle of summer the heather becomes a real handsome man, significantly changing the look of the area where it sprouts. Despite the fact that the flowers fade quickly enough, until late autumn they stay on the branches, creating a feeling of constant flowering.

Where is the best place to plant heather?

Heather grows almost throughout Europe - this plant can be found in the Far North, and in Morocco, and even in Siberia. According to one theory, the seeds of this plant were spread during shipwrecks, since mattresses were stuffed with heather in Europe. This explains such a long spread of this shrub.

And although wild heather and domestic heather are completely different plants, the process of planting and further caring for them is very similar.

To make the shrub feel comfortable, it is worth choosing half-shaded places for it, which dry out quickly after watering, since heather does not like waterlogging of the soil.

Tips for choosing seedlings for planting

A healthy seedling is a guarantee that after planting you will get a large and healthy shrub. Therefore, when choosing a planting material, you should pay attention to its appearance. The heather should have green live shoots and unblown buds. And the bark on the branches should be smooth and glossy.Having found dying scabs on the plant, it is better to refuse such a purchase, since there is a high risk that such a seedling has already been reanimated.

The soil in a pot of seedlings should be wet or slightly moistened. And between the walls of the container and the ground there should be no gaps. The speed of germination and rooting of seedlings in a new place largely depends on its age. The younger and fresher he will believe, the faster the processes of his living will pass.

If you have a choice, to buy an open-rooted shrub or in a container, pay attention to the second option. Buying such a seedling has advantages, because thanks to the presence of a container, the rhizomes will not experience stress during planting, and the mycelium in the soil, which developed during the cultivation of the seedling, will increase the survival rate of the heather. Also remember that the purchased heather seedling has slightly twisted and crushed roots, which must be straightened before planting.

Common heather - planting rules

Planting and caring for heather will not be a burden for you. Let's take a closer look at each stage.

Choosing the time for landing

The best time to plant a shrub is late April, early May or mid September. In this case, it is best to dwell on spring plantings, since in this case the planted seedling will be able to better take root in a new place. At the end of summer, the air temperature drops slowly and this is a clear advantage as the heather can better prepare for winter. This is especially important for foreign varieties of this plant, which are not used to the sharp temperature fluctuations typical of our region.

Soil preparation

This plant is unpretentious, since it grows equally well on well-fertilized soil and on poor soils. But if you want the bush to bloom magnificently in summer, when planting in the hole you need to add peat, compost and sand, and coniferous soil will also be a pleasant bonus for the plant. If you have clay soil in your area, it should be drained: put broken brick or sand on the bottom.

Planting scheme

There is nothing difficult about planting heather. The procedure will be as follows:

• A landing pit is being prepared. Prepare a planting hole, taking into account the fact that there should be a space of about 40 cm between the bushes.
• Lower the plants 20-25 cm into the planting hole. At the same time, make sure that the root collar is not buried in the ground.
• Gently sprinkle the root system with soil and compact well.
• Shake the plants when planting to prevent air congestion between the roots.
• Once planting is complete, water the plants well.

Tips for caring for common heather

Let's take a closer look at the issue of caring for this rather unpretentious plant.

Watering and feeding

Heather does not need to be fed too often and abundantly, but the plant is always happy with such additives. The shrub responds well to complex mineral fertilizers. For example, in the spring, after finishing loosening the soil under the plant, pour it with fertilizer, which contains nitrogen and phosphorus.

When applying fertilizers, they must be evenly distributed around the bush, being careful not to get on the foliage and flowers, as this can lead to burns.

But watering plays a key role in the life of this plant. In order for the heather to fully develop, the soil under it must always be slightly damp. Due to too short roots of plants, they do not receive the required amount of water from the soil and groundwater.

In this regard, during the dry season, it must be thoroughly watered at least twice a week. True, the older the flower, the less water it requires. In too hot time, it is worth not only watering, but also sprinkling the crown of the bush, preferably carrying out work in the early morning or late evening.

Pruning

From time to time, the shrub needs to be pruned., Although by nature this plant has a rather dense crown, which looks attractive without pruning.Most often, work is carried out before the appearance of shoots and leaves. In this case, it is best to form the crown of adult plants, and when carrying out work, leave at least 50% of the branch. Such events lead to stimulation of the growth of young shoots, due to which the verisc will become even more magnificent.

Transfer

If you decide to transplant the plants, then you need to dig out the bush along with the green clod. True, this plant does not really like transplants, so try to plant young seedlings once.

How do plants propagate correctly?

As you can see, caring for this plant is quite simple. The same applies to breeding heather, because it can be propagated independently. Let's find out about breeding methods.

Seeds

Heather seeds are small enough to grow at home. Use a container with edges for planting. We lay the prepared soil on the bottom, pour it over with water, carefully lay out the grains and, pressing them down a little, sprinkle them with soil. To prevent the soil from drying out, cover the container with foil or glass.

After 3-4 weeks, the heather seeds will begin to sprout. At this time, the seedlings are taken out into the fresh air, where they are hardened and begin to grow abundantly. The shrub can be transplanted into open ground only after one and a half to two years.

Layers

If you don't want to wait very long when growing heather with seed, simply root the cutting. Cuttings are harvested from the upper parts of the shrubs at the very beginning of autumn. The main thing is not to carry out work when the plant is blooming. The resulting cuttings are grown in a separate container consisting of a peat-sand mixture. Cuttings germinate much faster and bloom earlier.

In our article we will analyze how to grow a dicenter in a summer cottage according to all the rules.

Here you will learn how to plant and care for hedges in your summer cottage.

What are the rules for growing dahlias? Read more here.

Diseases and pests - what to fear?

Heather is a plant that does not require anxious care. Nature has awarded him not only excellent vitality, but also strong immunity to various diseases and pests. But even heather sometimes suffers from them.

For example, heather is usually affected by fungal diseases, the absence of treatment will lead to the death of plants. So, too wet soil can cause the appearance of gray rot. Having found the symptoms of this disease, which is manifested by the appearance of a light bloom on the branches, the shrubs should be immediately treated with a solution of copper sulfate; Fundazol is also suitable. Sometimes flowers and branches begin to deform sharply. The reason for this change is viral diseases. Unfortunately, it is impossible to cure them, so it will simply remain to remove the affected bush so that the disease does not spread to other crops.

Summer is over. Many plants stop blooming. To the delight of gardeners, there are plants that bloom in autumn. Such a representative of the plant world is common heather. There are many varieties, with inflorescences, varied in color. The flowers are pleasing to the eye and have an enchanting honey scent. Growing heathers like fall flowers is easy.

It seems to be an evergreen shrub, rather unpretentious and always looks elegant. Where does it grow? Originally from Southeast Asia, then began to spread throughout the entire Asian territory, reached Europe and spread in the temperate zone. In a wild-growing natural form, bushes can be found in America and in the northern regions of Africa. Where does heather grow in Russia: mainly in European territory and in the southern regions of Siberia. Shrub grows in marshy areas and forests (mixed, coniferous, deciduous). In Russian gardens, it is rarely found, not all gardeners know it. However, when planting on Erica's site, the gardener does not lose. The shrub will truly become a worthy decoration. With its help, you can transform the territory of the site, creating delightful landscape design compositions.

What is heather

In Norway, it is the national flower. There is a legend that tells that on the hills, where very cold winds constantly blow, only the heather agreed to grow when God asked about it. As a reward for this, the bush was endowed with the ability to exude an amazing pleasant aroma and beautiful color of flowers. Awarded - excellent melliferous abilities. Also, God gave him high endurance and the ability to grow in difficult conditions on different soils. According to these characteristics, it can be compared with the rare flower of mountain edelweiss, which grows in areas that are difficult for humans to access.

The shrub has excellent melliferous properties. Flowering bushes are pollinated by various insects: wasps, flies, bees, butterflies, bumblebees. Heather (photo) is planted in gardens and in personal plots, it can also be grown in portable flowerpots or boxes.

Can be grown as a houseplant. The most suitable varieties for this turned out to be wintering heather (Erica huemalis) and slender erica (Erica gracillis).

What does heather photo look like?

The Erica bush has many shoots that branch strongly. It has small triangular leaves painted in green in various tones (bright, light, dark). Some varieties have been bred, with yellow, reddish, gray-silver, copper leaf color.

The color of flowers is even more varied. They are pink, yellow, purple, white, purple. From 6 to 30 flowers bloom on inflorescences. Reproduction of wild plants is carried out by seeds. The extreme branches bent to the ground take root, due to this, the bush grows strongly in breadth. Its diameter can be three meters or more. When does heather bloom? Flowering occurs at five, well, at least seven years of age. The period depends on the specific species.

The life span of a plant is from 30 to 50 years. Agree that these are extremely good indicators for a blooming long-liver?

Views

According to biologists, there are hundreds of different varieties of heather plants. In the Russian territory, varieties with frost-resistant properties are popular.

Representatives of different varieties differ in color of flowers and leaves, flowering time.

Calluna vulgaris

common heather in bloom

Common heather. A perennial and evergreen plant that looks like a shrub. Its width is 45 cm, and its height is 20 - 70.

Pollinated by various insects. Leaves are green (dark), triangular, scaly, slightly overlapping each other, like a tile. Leaves are from 2 to 2.5 cm long, sessile.

The corolla resembles a bell in shape, having an irregular shape. The petals are fused. The color is pink with a lilac tint, sometimes white. The inflorescences are lush, racemose.

Bushes bloom from July to August. After flowering, the perianths remain on the plant, the appearance of the plant remains attractive.

You can often find common heather in the Urals. Where it is perfectly adapted to grow.

Calluna salisb

A decorative type of late blooming. Evergreen shrub, small in size, has a maximum height of 50 centimeters. The leaves are small, needle-shaped. Small mauve flowers (sometimes purple and white) look like bells. Grown indoors. It blooms when the air temperature does not even exceed +12 degrees. Flowering begins in autumn and lasts until half of winter.

Erika arborea

Erica is tree-like. An evergreen super early flowering shrub that can grow up to five meters in height. It has acicular, pubescent or bare leaves 1 centimeter long, Small flowers, in the form of wide white bells, the corolla length is three centimeters. A complex pyramidal inflorescence has a length of 20 - 40 centimeters. The flowers smell very nice. Abundant flowering occurs from March to April.

Calluna rose

Early pink heather. The bush can reach a height of 90 cm, and the possible diameter of the bush is 50. The plant has a thin and straight stem, the branches are tough. The leaves are a narrowed oval of green color, do not have cuttings, as if they sit on the stem, have a length of one and a half centimeters. The flowers are drooping, have a cylindrical shape, they are red-scarlet, snow-white and pink. Corolla - 2 cm. Inflorescence - thin and even-standing raceme (10 -15 cm in height). It begins to bloom in April and ends in mid-summer. Shows excellent melliferous properties.

Heather varieties video:

Erica gracilis

Elegant. The bush is permanently green. Its height can be up to 50 centimeters. It has small and short side shoots, leaves are light green, five millimeters long. Goblet red flowers, have the shape of an elongated oval, in the inflorescence 4 flowers. Bloom from October to February.

Calluna vulgaris hill

Scottish heather. It is a perennial, evergreen and very branched shrub. Height 30 cm - 1 m. Brown-red bark on the stems. Thin twigs are capable of rooting. Small green leaves are shaped like short needles. The inflorescence is presented in the form of a one-sided brush. The flowers are white or white, with a lilac tint.

Garden heather

heather is a miracle

This variety is represented by a group of varieties that have increased resistance to frost.

Plants from this group are divided according to their height and are:

1. stunted
2. medium-sized
3. tall

Dwarf varieties are no more than 10 centimeters high. They spread over the surface of the soil, creating the effect of bright living rugs, which makes any landscape cheerful and somewhat original.

Looks very good when decorating rocky hills.

Recognized and available dwarf species:

Common varieties of medium height:

In tall varieties of heather, the bushes grow in height from 50 to 60 centimeters. Those who create multi-colored flower beds should pay attention to varieties from this group.

Common heather planting and care in the open field

The bush grows well in the open, he likes where there is good lighting. In a shady place, it will grow, but flowering will end faster and the flowers will be paler. To plant heather, you must choose either a completely open place, or slightly shaded, near trees (not too tall, not too dense), bushes. It resembles a forest edge.

What kind of soil is needed

Erica is one of the few plants that enjoys growing in acidic soils.

In order for the bushes to grow well and bloom for a long time, it is recommended to prepare a certain (correct) soil mixture, which consists of:

1. from two shares of coniferous land
2. from three lobes of peat (horse red)
3. and one share of sand

Coniferous land can be collected under spruce and pine trees (top layer).

How to choose seedlings?

Since these subspecies are in close useful cooperation with their myceliums, which are in the soil. You need to pay attention to their condition. When digging up a seedling, the condition of the mycelium is disturbed. As a result, disappointing results: poorly accepted during transplantation. It is good to buy seedlings from nurseries, which are sold in containers in which both the roots and myceliums are preserved.

It's important to know! Even when the bush dies, it looks alive and healthy for a long time.

In order not to be mistaken when choosing seedlings, you need to pay attention to some of the nuances right away:

• It is necessary that the lump of soil with the root system does not move away from the edges of the dishes in which it is located. Otherwise, the roots dry out, the plant may die.
• It is required that the soil in the pot with the seedling is slightly moist.
• Waterlogged soil contributes to decay of the roots, the death of the plant is possible.
• You should carefully consider the bush. The seedling should contain different shoots, both old and new. Young shoots are lighter in color than old ones. It is necessary that the stems have a large number of leaves.It is necessary to pay attention to the presence of vegetative buds.

Important! Plants in landscape compositions will look beautiful if the bushes are of the same height, but different in color.

How to care for heather

• The planting and care necessary and correct for heather is carried out in the spring, so that over the summer the bush can take root and grow stronger for wintering.
• At the bottom of the hole, it is necessary to pour pebbles as drainage. Planting seedlings should be carried out at a distance of about 40 centimeters from each other. Planting depth 30 centimeters.
• In the pits, you can add nitroamophoska t (30 grams), horny flour (50 grams).
• After planting, you need to pour five to six liters of water under the bush.

It is necessary to ensure that the top layer of the soil is always kept moist and does not dry out. Especially if the summer is dry and hot. Dry air adversely affects development. In the heat, you need to spray it with water from a sprayer, preferably in the evening. Water temperature - room temperature.

Loosening and weeding is carried out throughout the season. Top dressing is done. Fertilizer "Kemira Lux" is recommended. Before feeding, it is diluted in water. Dosage according to instructions.

After planting, it is good to mulch with sawdust, coniferous soil, peat. This action prevents the soil from drying out.

Until the buds appear, it is recommended to cut the branches at the top. This must be done in March, at the end of the month. Then the bush will be thicker. Pruning is done by 5-6 centimeters, no more.

In old bushes, the part of the branch located slightly below the inflorescence should be removed. Too much pruning is not worth it, it should be done in moderation. Otherwise, the bushes will not look aesthetically pleasing.

Wintering

Russian winters, especially in Siberia, and sometimes in central Russia, are very cold, which are difficult for a plant to endure. Therefore, high-quality drainage is necessary so that the water does not stagnate near the roots and does not freeze. For the winter, the bushes are covered with sawdust, spruce or pine branches.

How is heather propagated?

There are three methods:

• Division of the bush.
• Seed reproduction.
• Cuttings.

Most often, the separation of the new bush from the main one is used. For this purpose, the bush must be dug out, the roots must be shaken off a little, divided and planted.

The grafting method is used. The apical branches are cut and rooted. The length of the handle is 4 centimeters. The twigs are planted in a greenhouse for rooting, and planted in the ground in the spring.

Seed propagation is used mainly by breeders to create new varieties and hybrids. Species specimens have very small seeds; they should not be covered with earth. They are evenly distributed over the moist soil surface. Crops are protected from the effects of cold and sun.

What medicinal properties does Erica have?

Heather has rich medicinal properties and is used to treat all kinds of inflammatory processes in various organs (kidneys, respiratory tract). The plant promotes the healing of various wounds. It is a good antiseptic. Erica is used for bronchitis, tonsillitis and other conditions caused by infection and inflammation. The plant component relieves pressure. It is very useful for heart problems.

Application of heather:

• Honey collected by bees from heather flowers has many valuable properties.
• Add to animal feed.
• Fragrant pillows are made from dried plants.
• Used to decorate the landscape.
• Flowers make a very aromatic tea
• Used as a seasoning.

Veresk is not only beautiful, fragrant, but also useful for medicinal, food and household purposes. It is very often grown in industrial agrofirms, for the same animals or for the manufacture of medicines, and, of course, for obtaining heather honey.

Heather in landscape design photo

Exclusively because of their decorative qualities, lush and long enough flowering period, these delicate bushes are appreciated by many gardeners.It is quite frost-resistant and can withstand drought and shade, these properties make it possible to plant such an adaptable plant in absolutely any place.

If you follow the planting and maintenance guidelines, you can get a solid floral carpet. Which will look great both against the background of an emerald lawn, and in the form of curbs, near paths.

DIY heather garden video review:

Heather is a graceful and unpretentious evergreen shrub. This perennial plant is represented by the species Calluna vulgaris (common heather) of the heather family. Southeast Asia is considered its homeland, from where heather spread over the temperate zone throughout Asia and Europe. This shrub grows in European Russia, America, northern Africa and southern Siberia. Heather can be found in pine and mixed forests, peat bogs and forest burns.

The heather bush consists of many branching shoots covered with small triangular leaves that can be colored dark green, bright green, light green. The leaves of some breeding varieties are colored reddish, copper, yellow and silvery gray.

Shrub flowers can be lilac, pink, purple, white or yellow. They are collected in inflorescences of 6-30 flowers. In the wild, the plant propagates by seed. Due to rooting by branches, the bush can grow up to three or more meters in diameter. Heather blooms at the age of 5-7 years and lives up to 30-50 years.

The shrub is a honey plant. Flowers are pollinated by bees, wasps, bumblebees, flies and butterflies. Heather is planted in household and garden plots in the open field and in decorative boxes and flowerpots.

Heather can also be grown at home as a houseplant. For this purpose, the varieties Erica gracillis and Erica huemalis are more suitable - "slender heather" and "wintering heather". They are the closest relatives of outdoor heather.

Common heather varieties and shrub photos

Biologists have counted hundreds of varieties of heather. In Russia, frost-resistant varieties of this plant are most popular. Let's take a look at some of them.

Alba Plena.Heather of the Alba Plena cultivar reaches a height of 20-50 cm with an annual growth of shoots up to 10 cm. This shrub grows slowly and lives up to 30 years. Alba Plena has a compact, spherical, branched crown. The crown diameter reaches half a meter. On the shoots of Alba Plena, small, scaly leaves grow, which are bright green in spring and then darken. The flowers of this shrub are white, they have a double appearance and are collected in inflorescences up to 20 cm long. Fruits in the flowers of this variety are not formed.

The Alba Plena heather looks very picturesque. This shrub blooms for only a month, in August and September. Adult shrubs tolerate frosts down to minus 28 ° C, young ones - up to 26 ° C. Alba Plena grows best in sunny areas, but can also tolerate partial shade. The plant tolerates annual pruning well.

Photo. Heather Gold Haze

Gold Haze.Gold Haze heather looks beautiful and unusual thanks to the densely growing foliage of light green and lemon yellow. White flowers are collected in inflorescences up to 20 cm long. The height of the Gold Haze bushes reaches 50-60 cm. The crown of this plant is dense and wide. The shrub grows slowly, in a year the shoots of Gold Haze heather grow up to 2 cm. The shrub blooms from August to October. Young bushes can tolerate temperatures as low as minus 26 ° C, mature bushes with stiff shoots up to minus 28 ° C. This variety tolerates pruning well, but needs good watering in hot summers.

Alexandra.The height of Alexandra heather does not exceed 30 cm. The leaves of the plant are dark green, they have a scaly or needle-like shape, and their length is 3 mm. Alexandra blooms profusely in August and September. The inflorescences, collected from dark pink flowers, are directed vertically upward. This variety loves bright sunlight, but feels good in partial shade. Alexandra grows slowly over the years, forming a solid carpet. The shrub does not freeze if the temperature in winter does not drop below 20-23 ° C.

Where and when to plant heather

Heather is mainly planted in personal plots.

Heather is grown in gardens, home gardens and city parks.The plant has a property called "physiological dryness", that is, it extracts from the soil exactly as much water as is needed for life.

Soil composition requirement

Heather grows well on acidic buds (pH 5.5-6). The acidity of the soil is checked with a special device or other methods. Acidity can be reduced by introducing peat, sulfur into the soil, watering the soil with water with citric, malic, acetic or oxalic acid. Soil deoxidation can be avoided by building tall flower beds with good drainage. On alkaline and abundantly fertilized soils with organic matter, heather grows poorly and may die.

The ideal soil for planting heather will be a mixture of peat, sand, soil taken under spruce or pine trees from a depth of 5 cm, and sawdust in a ratio of 3: 1: 1: 1. You can add 70-80 grams of sulfur to the prepared mixture.

Site preparation

Having chosen a place for planting (sunny, flat or slightly hilly area), they begin to prepare it. For this, 20-30 cm of soil is removed from the site. The cleaned area is compacted and poured with water acidified with apple cider vinegar (100 grams of 6% vinegar per 10 liters of water). Then the prepared artificial soil is applied.

On well-groomed household plots, heather can grow poorly due to the absence of the simplest fungi in the soil, which live in symbiosis with this plant. The filamentous fungal mycelium helps heather roots extract nutrients from poor soils.

Planting heather in open ground

Heather seedlings take a long time to take root, so transplanting this shrub is undesirable. The layout of the site should not change for a long enough time.

• Landing by branches.
• Planting seedlings.
• Planting with apical cuttings.
• Planting by dividing rhizomes.

Landing by branches

Heather can multiply by layering itself

Next to the heather bush, they dig a hole 5-7 cm deep. Having chosen an inclined branch, cut off all the leaves on it, except for those at the top. The branch is bent down, fixing the cleaned part with a hairpin (a piece of curved wire) in the pit. The end of the branch, which remained above the ground, is bent up and tied to an upright stick. Water is poured into the pit and covered with soil. A rooted branch will take root in a few weeks. After that, the branch is separated (cut off) from the mother bush. The branch is dug out after a year and transplanted to another site.

Heather can multiply by branches on its own. Branches that have fallen to the ground give roots. These bends can be sprinkled with a layer of peat in order to dig up and transplant a full bend next year.

Planting with apical cuttings

Heather is successfully propagated by apical cuttings. To do this, at the end of August, woody branches (cuttings) are cut off, on which there are no flowering shoots. The cuttings are planted in containers filled with a mixture of peat (3 parts) and sand (1 part), and watered moderately. Once every two to three weeks, cuttings are fed with water with urea and trace elements. In the spring, rooted twigs are planted in open ground. The storage temperature of cuttings should not exceed 18 ° C.

Planting seedlings

Seedlings can be planted in spring and autumn

Heather seedlings can be planted outdoors in spring and fall, but spring is preferred. It is better to buy seedlings in specialized nurseries. They are sold in containers. The roots of the plant grow horizontally in the soil, but in a nursery-grown seedling, they are collected in a lump. When planting, the roots must be straightened by hand. If this is not done, the plant may die.

Heather is planted in a shallow wide hole, carefully laying the roots in different directions. Water is poured into the hole and the seedling is buried to the root collar.

After planting, the soil is lightly compacted by hand and the seedling is watered. Sprinkle the soil around the trunk with coniferous wood chips, sawdust or peat.

So that heather does not suffer from excess moisture on clay soils, pebbles, crushed brick or crushed stone with a layer of 2-3 cm are poured onto the bottom of the planting hole to ensure drainage.

Planting by dividing rhizomes

In late August, the heather bush is carefully dug out of the ground. Having previously cut off the old stems, the root, without clearing it from the soil, is divided into the required number of parts. Each part should have young shoots. The resulting roots with shoots are planted in separate holes and watered. The soil around the planted root is sprinkled with sawdust, pine chips or peat.

Heather can be grown from seed. But this is a difficult and time-consuming process, so most gardeners prefer to buy seedlings.

Outdoor heather care

The area where heather grows must be removed from weeds

Plants are moderately fed once a year with a complex mineral fertilizer. This should be done if the shrub grows poorly or is sick.

The site must be regularly cleared of weeds. This will not only keep the garden looking good, but it will also prevent extraneous plants from depleting the soil.

The shrub will be denser if at the end of March, even before the buds appear, the upper branches are trimmed. This can also be done in late autumn. Do not cut branches more than 5-6 cm.

Shrub pruning should be moderate to keep the plant “wild”. Overly neat bushes do not look very nice. If dry and hot weather persists for two or more weeks in summer, the heather should be watered.

Northern European Russia and Siberia experience severe winters that heather cannot survive. To prevent the plant from freezing, it must grow on drained soils, in which there will be no stagnant frozen water in winter. For safe wintering, the site is covered with fallen leaves, sawdust and covered with branches of coniferous trees.

Diseases, pests and control methods

The main pest of the heather is the scale insect

With increased soil and air humidity, heather can be affected by late blight. This is a fungal disease. A gray bloom appears on the trunks and young shoots, shoots, especially young ones, bend down and die off, and the foliage falls off. For treatment, the affected branches are cut off, and the bush is treated with a solution of copper sulfate (1%), Topaz or Fundazol preparations. Antifungal agents are diluted according to the instructions. Processing is carried out three times with an interval of 7-10 days. The same treatment can be done prophylactically in early spring or late autumn.

Powdery mildew is a rare but dangerous fungal disease of heather plants, in which shoots and leaves become covered with light gray spots and bloom and dry out. This disease is treated by spraying with antifungal drugs containing sulfur or copper (Bayleton, Topaz, Topsin, Fundazol and others).

Viruses rarely infect heather bushes. But if the shoots and flowers change color, deform, then, most likely, the plant is affected by a viral infection. Such a bush is dug up and burned to avoid the spread of the disease.

With waterlogged soils and an excess of mineral fertilizers and organic matter, with stagnant water in the ground, young heather shoots will wither, and the leaves will turn brownish. In this case, you need to look for another section of the garden for heather.

The main pest that settles on heather is the scale insect, which feeds on plant juices. To combat this insect, you can use a soap solution and broad-spectrum insecticides.

Heather in garden design

Heather bushes are used in multifaceted landscape compositions, they are combined with tall and dwarf conifers (pine, spruce, juniper). This shrub looks good next to low deciduous trees, ferns and berry crops. The bushes of this plant look great on stone slides, along garden alleys and borders. Especially beautiful are the multi-colored glades of different varieties of heather (heather gardens).

To create landscape design, you must use perennial plants. Evergreen and flowering ornamental plantings especially good in a variety of compositions. A bright and unpretentious representative of such plants is common heather.

His shrubs are able to revive any flower bed and make it truly beautiful and original. When heather blooms, what kind of care is it for at home and outdoors?

Heather plants: where they grow

Heather is a perennial plant... These are unpretentious, graceful and evergreen shrubs. Common heather belongs to the Heather genus of the Heather family. In total, there are now more than 500 varieties. Most of them are of high decorative qualities. Southeast Asia is considered the birthplace of the plant. It was from there that it spread further across Asia and ended up in Europe. It can be found in southern Siberia and America. Most often, heather flowers are found in their natural environment in mixed and pine forests, on forest burns and peat bogs.

For garden cultivation, about 20 plant varieties are used. This is a low, creeping shrub, 30-70 cm high. Small leaves are almost collected in a tube and until the period comes, the flowering bush resembles a juniper. The plant has small and fragrant flowers that look like bells. Heather flowers there are yellow, purple, lilac, white, pink and lilac color.

The flowering period begins in late summer. The plant belongs to the melliferous species. After the first frost, the bush becomes yellow-crimson, so its color is immediately striking. The flowers then continue to remain for some time on the heather bush.

Same

The many creeping shoots make the small heather shrub very picturesque. Its beautiful small leaves can be painted in different colors. Most often, different shades of green prevail. There are also breeding varieties with leaves of other colors:

• copper;
• yellow;
• silver gray;
• reddish.

The plant is often grown in private plots, in parks, and there are also indoor varieties for the home. Bright bushes are popular with most gardeners because they have good decorative properties.

Where and when to plant?

The climate of central Russia is ideal for growing common heather. For development in open ground, it needs a mixed sandy or peaty soil. In such conditions, it blooms for a long time and feels most comfortable. To create good conditions for growing outdoors, he needs to do mixture of several components:

• 1 part sand;
• 3 parts of peat;
• 1 part sawdust and 1 part spruce or pine soil.

It is recommended to plant the plant in spring or early autumn.... It is advisable to transplant in the spring so that the seedling has time to take root. The plant prefers acidic soils. If it is acidic, then it can be lowered using simple methods. For example, you can add sulfur or phosphorus to the soil, pour water with malic or citric acid on the soil. You can also build tall flower beds with a good drainage system.

For planting, you should choose a sunny plot of land, having previously prepared the soil. It is necessary to remove the top layer of earth 20-30 cm and then compact the soil by watering abundantly. After that, you can add the prepared potting mix. If the soil contains the simplest fungi, then this soil is ideal for growing common heather. The filamentous fungal mycelium has a positive effect on the heather root system.

Gallery: common heather (25 photos)

Transplant and reproduction

Many experienced gardeners know that heather shrubs take root very slowly... It is undesirable to replant the shrub after planting. It is recommended to leave them in one place for a longer time. You can plant decorative heather in open ground in several ways:

• seedlings;
• layering;
• dividing the root;
• apical cuttings.

For planting, layering make a depression in the soil by 5-7 cm. After that, choose an inclined branch and remove all the leaves on it, leaving only the uppermost ones. It is tilted and buried in the ground, leaving only the part with leaves on the surface. It needs to be straightened and tied to a peg. The soil is covered and watered well with water. The scions should appear in a few weeks. After about a year, a separately growing shoot can be transplanted to another place.

Apical cuttings are planted at the end of August.... They are cut when there are no flowering shoots, planted in containers with peat and sand, watered regularly, but moderately. It is recommended to feed once every 2 weeks. Rooted seedlings can be planted outdoors in spring.

Saplings are preferable to plant in spring. and buy them from nurseries or specialty stores. They are usually sold in containers. The roots of the plant are collected in an earthen lump, so they must be straightened during planting. The hole should be shallow but wide. After that, the soil is manually compacted and watered. Coniferous chips, sawdust, peat are used as mulch.

At the end of summer, you can transplant the bush by dividing the rhizome. It is necessary to carefully remove it from the ground, cut off the old stems, and leave the root in the ground. The root is divided into the required number of parts, but they must necessarily have young shoots. Divided roots are planted in separate holes and well filled with water... It is advisable to mulch the soil around the young seedling.

Heather care when it blooms

Heather is necessary feed moderately once a year complex mineral fertilizers. The plant develops very slowly and in a year the shoots grow in growth by only 2 cm.Despite such a slow growth, after 3 years the shrubs must be regularly cut off. Pruning every year will give new shoots growth.

Watering the shrubs is desirable in moderation.so that moisture does not stagnate under the seedling. The plant does not like weeds, so you need to remove them regularly, loosen the soil and timely mulch.

Before the onset of winter, it is better to cover the bushes, and in the month of April, remove the shelter. To get a beautiful flowering bush, you need to shorten the old shoots. This will give the opportunity to appear young. It is recommended to cut no more than 5-6 cm so that the bush does not lose its attractiveness. With proper care, the plant can live up to 50 years.

The flowering period begins in late summer and lasts until frost. Even after that, the shrub remains beautiful, covered with small flowers.

Indoor heather

Lovers of this type of ornamental shrubs very often grow it as a houseplant. For such conditions, it is better to use varieties of hibernating and slender. Slender heather grows up to 40 cm in height. Its small flowers are distinguished by bright pink-scarlet shades.

The size of the flowers is from 5 to 10 mm. The leaves of this variety are also small, thick and short, reminiscent of needles.

The wintering variety reaches large sizes and grows up to 50 cm. The flowers are white and elongated.

The care and maintenance of indoor varieties differs from those grown on the street. The indoor plant heather needs feeding twice a year. It is produced in spring and autumn, before the beginning of the growing season and after the end.

From the end of spring to the onset of autumn, the bush must be sprayed. This helps to get rid of pests.

Water sparingly to prevent the soil from drying out and cracking in the pot. Due to the overgrowth of the root system, it is recommended to replant indoor varieties annually. When transferring a bush to a new container, you cannot remove a clod of earth from the roots.

Potted heather needs fresh air, but does not tolerate drafts. After flowering, it is necessary to remove the shoots that die off.

Beneficial features

In addition to decorative properties, heather has beneficial properties for health.

For medicinal purposes, decoctions and infusions from heather, as well as powder from its leaves, are used. The plant has a calming and disinfecting effect.

Honey extracted from the nectar of the plant is very useful. It has a deep reddish hue and, unlike other types of honey, does not become sugar-coated.

For tuberculosis, it is recommended to take alcoholic heather tincture.

Also, this shrub is a good food for pets, as it contains many vitamins and nutrients.

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