Weigela planting and care in the open field in the suburbs

Weigela is a heat-loving shrub, the bright flowering of which can decorate the southern garden with many colors. However, there are gardeners who are able to grow an exotic representative in more severe climatic conditions, mainly using frost-resistant forms of culture. At the same time, planting and caring for a weigela in the open ground in the territories of Central Russia also requires more careful attention.

Suitable shrub varieties

When cultivating a plant in areas of risky farming, to which the Moscow region belongs, preference is given to frost-resistant forms of shrubs bred by breeders.

Weigela hybrid

The name combines a number of varieties obtained as a result of hybridization, which have a variety of colors of flowers and leaf plates. When growing weigels in the garden and in flower beds, hybrid varieties are more often used than wild ones. The most common varieties in latitudes with a temperate continental climate are Rosea, Lucifer, Candida, Eva Ratke.

Weigela early

In the wild, the species is found on rocky slopes and forest edges of China, Korea, and the southern regions of the Ussuri region. A shrub up to 2 m in height, blooming in bright pink color, has a spherical crown. Flowering, in which single flowers or flowers collected in inflorescences bloom on new lateral shoots, occurs in late spring and lasts from 10 to 30 days. The shrub is planted singly on lawns or in groups, perfectly forming a free-growing hedge.

Weigela blooming

A species that reaches a height of 3 m and has a crown diameter of 3.5 m. After the arrival of autumn, bright green foliage remains on the branches for a long period. Large tubular flowers with a pallid pharynx and bright pink edges, forming inflorescences on lateral shoots, acquire a more intense shade when wilted. The flowering phase occurs in late spring and early summer. Among the varieties that can withstand the cold, such as "Purpurea", "Alba" stand out, which need additional shelter during wintering in the conditions of the Middle Lane.

Weigela garden

A native of the Land of the Rising Sun, not exceeding 1 m in height, it stands out for the exuberant flowering of tubular or bell-shaped pinkish-carmine flowers, which are collected in inflorescences of three copies. Flowers are formed at the ends of young shoots in the axils of elliptical leaf plates.The period of lush flowering occurs in the month of June. Despite the frost resistance of the plant, which increases even more over the years, in the conditions of the Moscow region the species needs winter shelter.

Weigel Middendorf

A low shrub up to 1.5 m tall, which is found in the wild on the edges of pine forests in Northern China, Japan and the Far East. The species has grown in popularity among gardeners due to the extraordinary creamy yellow color of the flowers.

Weigela: landing in the Moscow region

So that a native of the East pleases the gardener with exuberant color every year, it is necessary to competently approach the planting of shrubs in open ground.

Preparing the site and soil for planting

The shrub develops well and blooms profusely in elevations protected from drafts. Constant shade, wind knocking down flowers, and high soil moisture negatively affect flowering.

Before planting seedlings, the selected area is cleared of weeds and stones, and a soil mixture is prepared from humus, sand and sod soil in equal parts. The crop requires light soils with a loose structure.

Important! Well-lit places are chosen for light-loving varieties with edged leaves. The rest of the culture can be cultivated in areas with partial shade.

How and when to plant correctly?

Planting seedlings of two to three years of age is best done in the spring, adhering to the following recommendations:

1. A planting hole should be prepared 50x50 cm in size and 45 cm deep - the size of the hole may be larger, depending on the size of the selected variety.
2. At the bottom of the pit, broken brick, gravel or expanded clay must be placed as a drainage layer 15 cm thick to prevent water stagnation, which has a detrimental effect on the root system of the plant.
3. After planting, it is worth mulching the soil with sawdust, peat or mowed grass.

Care in the suburbs

The natural habitat for the growth of shrubs is a warmer and more humid climate, in connection with which it is necessary to organize competent care for the weigela in the fall and throughout the growing season in order to get beautifully flowering bushes, caressing the eye.

Watering

In the hot summer season with prolonged periods of drought, it is required to organize regular and abundant watering of the bush. To avoid rapid evaporation of moisture from the soil, the trunk circle is mulched.

Fertilization

Weigela responds well to complementary food. The culture is fed with complex mineral fertilizers twice during the growing season.

1. Top dressing is carried out after the awakening of the plant in the phase of swelling of leaf buds using 40 g of nitroammofoska for each plant.
2. Before the flowering phase in late spring, 30 g of potassium sulfate and superphosphate are applied. Nitrogen is excluded to prevent the development of green mass to the detriment of budding.

Weigela pruning rules

To get a bush with a lush crown, the weigela of the second year of planting is cut to the first pair of lower buds - 10 cm from the soil level. This procedure stimulates the development of new shoots from the basal buds. A similar pruning is repeated if the seedling shows poor branching in the next year.

Features of care in the fall, preparation for winter

The eastern representative is rather capricious in relation to the winter cold, although there are a number of cold-resistant varieties. Young shrubs up to three years old are susceptible to freezing in the conditions of harsh Russian winters. To exclude the negative effects of frost, in late autumn, young bushes are covered with agrofibre, dry spruce branches or leaves.

Plant protection from diseases and pests

Species and varieties grown in culture show good resistance to pests and diseases.Among the most common pests noted on the shrub, aphids and mealybugs stand out, from which treatment with an insecticidal preparation will protect against according to the manufacturer's instructions. In case of appearance on the leaves of spots caused by fungi, treatment is carried out with preparations of fungicidal action. Also, sometimes the root neck of the weigela is affected by bacterial cancer. Such specimens are incurable and must be destroyed in order to localize the spread of infection.

Shrub propagation

Without much difficulty, the plant can be propagated in two ways: by cuttings and by seeds.

Seed method

When using the generative technique, the following algorithm is adhered to:

1. The seeds are harvested in October after the final ripening.
2. With the arrival of spring, the seeds are sown in a prepared nutrient substrate.
3. After the formation of the first pair of true leaves, the seedlings dive into an area with partial shade, where they are systematically moistened.
4. For the winter, plantings are covered with agrofibre or foliage.
5. After 3-4 years, the first flowering is observed.

Attention! Seed germination is maintained only for one year.

Cuttings

This procedure is very productive and is carried out throughout the summer season as follows:

• Young shoots beginning to lignify are cut from the bush, which are divided into cuttings of 20 cm each with one pair of leaves.
• Prepared cuttings are placed in a substrate of peat and sand, after which they are covered with a film.
• After six weeks, during which the moisture content of the soil is constantly monitored, the cuttings take root.
• The next spring, the seedlings are transplanted to a shaded area.
• A young specimen obtained by cuttings produces flowers for 2-3 years.

So, the weigela shrub is an exotic plant that becomes the centerpiece of landscape design during the flowering period. Therefore, despite the difficulties of its cultivation due to severe cold weather in the Moscow region, gardeners are striving to acquire a flowering culture in order to decorate the design of the garden.

Blooming weigela has long won its honorable first place in many gardens. Its easy reproduction, high decorativeness and relatively simple care are increasingly attracting the attention of flower growers. This article will talk about weigel, her planting and care in the suburbs.

Common types and varieties of weigela

Weigela is a flowering genus of deciduous, spreading shrubs belonging to the honeysuckle family. The height of the crown of some species of weigel (and there are about 15 of them) can reach a height of 5 m. In natural conditions, weigela grows in East and Southeast Asia. In Europe, these flowering shrubs appeared in 1845. At the same time, weigela began to be cultivated in private and botanical gardens. As a result of selection, frost-resistant varieties were obtained that grow well even in the Moscow region.

Modern varieties of thermophilic weigela can be easily grown in the suburbs

Not all types of weigel are suitable for growing in the Moscow region. There are also heat-loving plants among them, which does not make sense to cultivate in the middle lane. Of the most winter-hardy, the following should be noted:

1. Weigela hybrid - this plant is obtained by crossing several natural forms. In horticulture, this species is especially popular, as it has many different varieties and is prone to re-flowering. The varieties Bristol Ruby, Stiriaka, Candida, Lucifer, Nana Variegata, Gustav Malle are suitable for cultivation in the Moscow region.

   Weigela hybrid

2. Weigela blooming. The homeland of this species is Japan and North China. This species forms a small shrub, blooms profusely, drought-resistant, but average frost resistance. Growing up in the suburbs, it requires shelter for the winter. The following varieties can be distinguished: "Alexandra", "Pink Princess", "Elvera".

   Weigela blooming

3. Weigela garden. Fast growing compact shrub. It grows especially in sunny areas, blooms poorly in partial shade. The species is drought-resistant and winter-hardy. It multiplies easily.

   Weigela garden

4. Weigela early. This species is distinguished by an almost spherical crown. Growing fast. Blooms profusely in light areas. The plant is drought and winter hardy. In hot summers, additional watering is required.

   Weigela early

Landing weigela

As a native of the East, weigela prefers purely sunny areas, protected from the cold wind. It can grow in partial shade, but the flowering as a result will not be so abundant and bright. In addition, shrubs growing in shade form a more sprawling bush, shoots do not lignify for a long time, seeds do not ripen. Forms with decorative leaves especially suffer from lack of sun: purple-colored and variegated varieties turn green.

Any garden soil is suitable for weigel, as long as it is well-drained, fertile and moderately moist.

For planting weigels, choose a place protected from strong gusts of wind

Planting weigela is best done in the spring. The planting pit should be 50 x 50 x 50 in size. Depending on the size of the selected variety, the size of the pit can be increased. A prerequisite is drainage at the bottom of the pit about 10-15 cm from gravel or sand of a coarse fraction, since the weigels that feed thin roots do not tolerate stagnant water.

Attention! When planting weigels, make sure that the root collar of the base of the trunk remains at the soil level.

Weigela care in the Moscow region

Weigela is a slightly capricious plant, but even without shelter it is quite winter-hardy. Of course, in especially harsh winters, young shrubs may freeze slightly, but in spring the shoots quickly recover and flowering occurs in the same year. For safety net, it is advisable to cover young (up to 3 years old) plants for the winter with agrofibre, dry spruce branches or leaves.

Top dressing. Weigela is very responsive to feeding. The bushes are fed twice a season with complex mineral fertilizers. The first feeding should be in early spring before the leaves open. Apply 30-40 g of mineral fertilizers for the flower garden under each bush. The second time is fertilized in May, when the weigela is preparing to bloom.

Be sure to cover the plant for the winter.

Watering. In a dry, overly hot summer, weigela needs regular and abundant watering. The soil around the trunk should be covered with peat or dry cut grass to reduce evaporation of water from the ground.

Pruning. To form a beautiful well-branched shape, the crowns of the weigela of the second year of planting should be cut to the first pair of lower buds, leaving only 10 cm from the ground. In this way, you will stimulate the formation of new shoots from the root buds. In the case when the seedling develops poorly in the next year, the procedure is repeated.

Important! Formative pruning is done only in early spring before bud dissolution.

Reproduction of weigela

Weigels reproduce easily and quickly by cuttings and seeds. The seeds of this plant are rather small, ripen in September-October. Planting is carried out next spring, in a prepared nutritious loose soil. Seeds remain viable for only one year. No stratification is needed before landing. After the appearance of the first two true leaves, the seedlings dive into a shaded place and are watered regularly throughout the summer. In winter, plantings are covered with dry leaves or agrofibre. Flowering occurs in 3-4 years.

Weigela seeds

Summer semi-lignified weigel cuttings take root almost always. Cuttings are carried out from June to August. To do this, young shoots are cut from the bush, which are just beginning to lignify. Cuttings of 15-20 cm are cut from them with one pair of leaves and planted in a homogeneous mixture of peat and sand. Cover the top with a foil. During the next month, make sure that the soil does not dry out. After 1.5 months, the stalk takes root.It is planted next spring in a semi-shaded place and grown throughout the summer. Young weigela, grown from a cuttings, blooms for 2-3 years.

Diseases and pests of weigels

Modern weigela cultivars are quite resistant to pests and diseases. Frequent pests of weigel include aphids and worms. They can be dealt with relatively easily by treating the crown twice with any systemic insecticide.

It is more difficult to cope with diseases. On garden forums, questions often arise related to the treatment of bacterial root cancer, when the area of ​​the root collar and roots is covered with globular swellings that lignify over time. Such specimens cannot be treated, they are immediately removed so that the infection does not spread to other shrubs.

Weigela roots bacterial cancer

Some diseases can cause spotting on weigela leaves. In this case, treatment with fungicidal preparations will help.

Application in landscape design

In horticulture, weigela is mainly used as a tapeworm - in single or group plantings (several copies of the same species or variety). Several shrubs that grow freely in a row make an excellent hedge. Interesting weigels growing in the form of a trunk or in tubs on terraces. Dwarf decorative leafy or variegated forms look great in rocky gardens and rock gardens.

Types of weigela: video

Varieties and varieties of weigela: photo

One of the representatives of the honeysuckle family is a beautiful deciduous shrub called weigela. In the Moscow region, planting and caring for it requires certain knowledge, since in these climatic conditions it is more difficult for such heat-loving plants to survive.

general characteristics

In nature, this shrub is found mainly in the eastern and southeastern territories of Asia, as well as in the Far East. In total, there are 15 species of weigela, of which 7 are common as a culture. Their height is different, depending on the variety, but on average it is about two meters. The shrub is erect, with velvety leaves with serrated edges, located opposite on the branches, of a dark green color.

With its flowering, weigela can delight twice a season - at the beginning and at the end of summer. During this period, the bush is covered with large funnel-shaped flowers, similar to bells. They are located singly or in groups of several, forming a loose inflorescence. The color of flowers is different - red, pink, yellow, cream or white. Interestingly, it is not always the same. Only the opened corollas are pale, but gradually acquire a bright and rich color.

This shrub can look spectacular anywhere in the garden. Thanks to varieties that are resistant to cold, weigela in the Moscow region serves as an adornment of many areas. Planting and care, types and features of growing - we will discuss all this in this article.

Suitable conditions

First of all, you need to choose the right place for landing. It is important to observe the following conditions here:

• The soil must be neutral or limestone, necessarily permeable.
• The site needs to be selected well-lit by the sun, only a slight partial shade is permissible.

Stagnant water, lack of light can oppress the plant.

Weigela in the suburbs

Planting and caring for this plant will give excellent results if you do not make the mistake of choosing a variety that is most adapted to climatic conditions. In this case, the shrub will retain its shape for many years. The following varieties are suitable for growing in the Moscow region:

• Weigela Middendorf is a stunted shrub, the height of which barely reaches one and a half meters. It has the longest flowering period (almost a month) and prefers moist peaty soils. Leaves retain their color almost until October. Bell-shaped flowers are yellow or cream in color.

• Weigela early is one of the most beautiful species.The height of the plant is from 150 to 250 cm. The bush is very lush, during the two-week flowering period it is first covered with purple buds, which gradually turn into bright pink or purple funnel-shaped flowers. The leaves are bright green in summer, and towards autumn they acquire a brownish tint. Due to its unpretentiousness, it is the most common weigela in the Moscow region. Planting and caring for it does not require much effort.
• Weigela garden native to the deciduous forests of Japan. The height of this shrub is about a meter. Weigela is distinguished by an unusual garden color of flowers (pinkish-carmine), which cover the bush very abundantly.

Landing rules

Plants planted in the fall may die without having time to take root. Therefore, the most suitable time for planting is spring. It is best to purchase three-year-old seedlings, they adapt faster. The place for the weigela is chosen well-lit by the sun and protected from the wind. This shrub prefers fertile soil, which must be thoroughly loosened after each watering, avoiding compaction. After a place has been chosen, it is required that planting and care are correctly performed for a plant with the name of weigela. In the Moscow region, the competent implementation of these measures is of particular importance due to lower winter temperatures.

A planting pit with a depth of about 50 cm is prepared in advance. A layer of sand or gravel is poured at the bottom of it, which will perform a drainage function in order to protect the root system from decay. It is important that the distance between the bushes is maintained at least two meters.

Before planting, it is recommended to treat the roots with a stimulant, then carefully place the seedling in the hole and sprinkle with the prepared soil mixture. It is made up of sand, turf and humus (in a ratio of 2: 2: 1). As a fertilizer, you can add potassium salt and superphostphat (40 and 60 grams, respectively, each for one well). It is imperative to mulch the soil half a meter around the seedling, pouring a 10 cm layer of sawdust, tree bark or peat for this.

Care

Although some varieties of shrubs are distinguished by their unpretentiousness, nevertheless, weigela sometimes behaves quite capriciously in the Moscow region. Planting and care, the rules for growing a plant - this knowledge will help to avoid many problems associated with such a heat-loving culture.

After each watering (and it must be carried out regularly, especially during dry periods), the soil must be loosened. It should always be moist, mulching will help protect it from drying out.

Top dressing is applied several times during the season. In the spring, to restore the plant after frost, the bush needs complex mineral fertilizer. Before flowering, it must be fed with double phosphate with potassium sulfate (30 g each for a bucket of water). In the fall, potassium-phosphorus fertilization is applied to prepare the plant for winter.

Reproduction

When a planted bush turns into a beautiful blooming ball by summer, there is a desire to place several more such plants on the site. It is not difficult to do this, since there are several ways of breeding weigela.

With the help of cuttings - the most common way that weigela can reproduce in the Moscow region. Planting and caring for seedlings in this case is not very difficult. In April, green shoots (5 mm thick and 20 cm long) are cut at right angles, treated with a growth stimulant and placed in a warm and dark room for 12 hours. Then they are planted in the soil mixture to a depth of 10 cm under plastic wrap. Watering is done daily. Roots appear after 25-40 days. The plant can be transplanted to a permanent place next year.

To plant seeds, they must be collected and sown in a prepared box with soil, sprinkled with a layer of sand and covered with glass, maintaining a certain humidity. Seedlings appear in about 3 weeks.

Growers often choose reproduction using layering. The lower branch of the bush is tilted to the ground, treated with a stimulant and added dropwise. After a while, the cuttings take root, after a year it can be transplanted to a new place.

Preparing for winter

It is not entirely correct to believe that the most important thing necessary for a weigela to take root in the Moscow region is landing and leaving. The survival process of this plant in winter largely depends on the quality of its preparation for frost. This is especially important for young bushes. They can be covered with spruce branches or special material. A tall bush needs to be tied up and spread out near the trunk with a thick layer of straw or spruce branches.

Diseases and pests

Of the insect pests, caterpillars, aphids, and spider mites pose a danger to the ground part of the weigel. To combat them, they are sprayed with insecticidal preparations. The roots can damage the larvae of the May beetle, as well as the bear in the landing pit. Therefore, at the first signs of wilting of the seedling, the soil around it must be shed with a solution of karbofos.

If you follow all the rules for growing such an ornamental shrub as weigela in the Moscow region (planting and care, photos of the plant and how to reproduce it - all this is presented in the article), you can create beautiful compositions even in a small garden area.

Weigela, planting and care in the open field, which is easy even for a novice gardener, belongs to ornamental plants. It is a perennial shrub with unusual leaves and bright large inflorescences of different shades. The weigela variety has a huge number of varieties, among which it is worth choosing the most suitable for growing conditions. In order for the bushes to grow large and spreading, it is necessary to take responsibility for caring for the plant, starting with the choice of a planting site and ending with the formation of the crown.

Characteristics and features of the plant

Weigela is a wide variety of species, but they all share several characteristics. In favorable conditions, the bush can reach 3 m in height, forming a rare spreading crown. The leaves are feathery, can have different colors from light to dark green. The flowers are white, beige, red or yellow, depending on the variety.

Before planting a weigela in open ground and caring for it, you need to know about some of its features:

• it is a heat-loving plant, in natural conditions it grows in the eastern regions;
• the bush does not feel well in a strong wind, shoots and flowers may wither;
• weigela actively grows when exposed to sunlight;
• it is a remontant variety - it blooms twice a season;
• the plant is capable of propagating by seeds, but to preserve all the qualities of the parent bush, it is better to use cuttings.

With proper planting of weigela in open ground and caring for it, the shrub can bloom twice a year. The second flowering is less intense, but it occurs in the autumn period, when the steel plants are already starting to wilt by winter.

What species are suitable for outdoor cultivation?

There are 15 main varieties of weigela, and about 10 more decorative hybrids were bred through selection. They differ not only in appearance, but also in the degree of resistance to environmental factors. For example, planting and caring for a weigela in the Moscow region is a difficult task due to the sharp temperature drop in winter, but the plant grows well in warmer regions.

For growing in open ground, you can consider one of the most popular and strong varieties of this shrub:

Despite the fact that this variety is thermophilic, there is a photo of planting weigela in Siberia and caring for it. The main thing is to choose a suitable variety and reliably cover it from frost. Of course, not all plants will be able to survive in cold climates, but it is possible to grow a full-fledged bush.

Reproduction and planting in open ground

There are several ways to breed weigela. Under natural conditions, it forms capsules with seeds, but they have a low percentage of germination and do not take root in any climate. For planting in open ground, it is better to use purchased seedlings that have reached 3–3.5 years of age. They already have their own root system and are able to survive the temperature swings in winter.

The choice of a place for planting is a prerequisite for the rapid growth of a shrub. The plant feels best in lighted areas, preferably on the south side of the house. The building will additionally protect the weigela from cold northerly winds.

Planting seedlings is carried out in early spring, so that the plant has time to take root well by the winter period:

• dig a hole about 40 cm deep, pour drainage to the bottom;
• the plant must be fertilized immediately with humus, humus, add sand, lime or dolomite flour;
• the seedling is placed in such a way that the root collar is flush with the ground;
• cover a layer of soil to protect the rhizome from chemical burns with fertilizers;
• water the plant abundantly.

With proper planting and care, the weigela looks bright and impressive in the photo. In order for the crown to be lush and spreading, it is necessary to maintain a distance of about 1-2 m between neighboring bushes.

Plant care rules

Shrub care includes timely watering, fertilization, as well as crown pruning and preparation and wintering. Whether it is necessary to cover the weigela for the winter depends on the region and climatic conditions. If the temperature drops below zero degrees, the plant must be covered using a special technology. Some shrubs may not withstand severe frosts even under cover, especially seedlings in the first winter.

In the warm season, caring for a weigela is not difficult:

• it is necessary to water the plant during the drought period, at least 10-15 liters of water is applied under each bush;
• periodically fertilize the soil with mineral and organic fertilizers (nitrogen, potash and phosphate fertilizers in different periods of the growing season);
• shoots are also treated against parasites, infections and pathogens of fungal diseases.

Shrubs prefer to grow in conditions of a large amount of oxygen, so the soil must be loosened. The procedure is carried out while watering the plant or applying fertilizers. It is important to ensure that the rhizome is not damaged.

Wintering plants

It is especially important to care for the weigela in the fall and prepare for the winter. Even the most resistant varieties must be sheltered from frost, otherwise they will not be able to restore vital processes after a sharp temperature drop. If they spend this period under cover, the plants will not be affected by frost.

There are two main ways to cover the weigela for the winter:

• in late autumn, pour sawdust or soil under the bush, tilt the branches and wrap them with a special material (Spunbond), tying the branches with a rope;
• build a shelter of metal or wood frame and insulating material on the walls and roof.

The first option is used to shelter varieties with an average degree of winter hardiness, as well as in temperate climates, where there are no severe frosts. Cold air will still penetrate, but non-woven materials retain heat well and protect the plant. Building a greenhouse from improvised means is a more reliable method; it is recommended when caring for varieties of weigela that are more sensitive to the cold.

Shelter of weigela for the winter in the Moscow region and other regions with a cold climate is a prerequisite. However, even if some of the shoots are frozen, the plant has a high regenerative capacity. When the temperature rises in spring and the vegetation processes are activated, it is worthwhile to establish abundant watering of the bush and apply fertilizers to the soil so that it regains its strength after winter.

Crown pruning

When growing weigela, it is recommended to prune the crown annually.This allows you to rid the shrub of damaged shoots, create a beautiful shape and give new branches the opportunity to grow and develop. Depending on the purpose of pruning, there are two types of it:

• sanitary - carried out in the spring to get rid of those branches that have deteriorated under the influence of cold;
• formative - pruning weigela in the fall in order to give the crown the correct shape.

Both types of trimming are recommended. In spring, damaged and old shoots are removed so that new branches can accelerate in growth. However, autumn pruning is more important for the plant - after it the bush has time to recover well and tolerates cold better. There are several rules on how to prune a weigela in the fall:

• the procedure is carried out immediately after the end of the autumn flowering of the shrub;
• cut off all damaged shoots 5 mm above the extremely healthy bud;
• for rejuvenation, it is recommended to cut off at least a third of secondary shoots;
• remove branches that grow inside the shrub.

Weigela is a bright ornamental shrub. It looks spectacular when decorating a garden, house plots, parks and recreation areas. However, not all varieties are equally resistant to frost and winter well. In conditions of significant temperature differences, even artificially bred frost-resistant varieties need protection from the cold. Preparing a weigela for winter is her shelter under a canopy or with the help of improvised materials. The rest of the year, the plant is unpretentious in care and pleases with flowering twice a season.

Recommendations for pruning weigela - video