Weigela planting and care in the open field in siberia

Growing on plots of flowering shrubs in recent years turns into a separate direction of floriculture. The modern assortment of ornamental crops includes plants that could only be found in botanical gardens two or three decades ago. Weigela takes not the last place among them, due to its unpretentiousness and simplicity of reproduction. In the article, we will talk about growing weigela in the open field, determine when to plant and describe popular varieties.

Origin and botanical description of weigela

Weigela is a separate genus within the Honeysuckle botanical family. In the wild, weigela shrubs grow in the Far East and Southeast Asia. They came to Europe in the middle of the 19th century and got their name in honor of the German scientist Christian Ehrenfried Weigel, the former director of the Greifswald botanical garden. Plants of the genus Weigela are characterized by the following characteristics:

Peculiarity	Description
Form	Deciduous, spreading shrub with erect shoots, up to 2 m high. Leaves are petiolate, opposite, finely serrate. The leaf plates are elliptical or oval, bright green.
Flowering time	The main thing - from mid-May, for 3-4 weeks. Repeated - from the end of August. The first flowering is abundant, lush.
Flowers	Large, bell-shaped or funnel-shaped. They can be single or collected in inflorescences. The color is varied - red, pink, cream, yellow, etc. The shade of the corolla during flowering changes from pale to rich.
Fetus	Bivalve cylindrical or ovoid capsule.
Growing conditions	Sunny place, alkaline loose fertile soil.
Frost resistant	High.

Weigela lends itself well to forming and can be grown in urban conditions.

Weigela is pollinated by insects, but the aroma of the flowers is weak, delicate. The big advantage of this shrub is the ability to bloom in all weather conditions.

Types and varieties of weigela for different regions of Russia

Of the fifteen species of this genus, eight are used in floriculture. They differ somewhat in the requirements for growing conditions, therefore, they are suitable for different regions of Russia:

Species name	general description	Cultivation region
Weigela is nice	Shrub 1.3 m high. The flowers are funnel-shaped, the outside is purple-pink, inside is pale pink.	Far East
Weigela early	Shrub 2 m high, densely leafy, spreading. Flowers are collected in 1-3 on drooping peduncles. The color is bright pink.	Primorye, Ussuriysk Territory, Far East, Central Russia, including the Moscow Region.
Weigela garden	Shrub up to 1 m high with carmine-pink flowers, collected in inflorescences of 3 pieces. May be white-flowered.	Moscow region, Volga region, southern regions of Russia.
Weigela blooming	Shrub up to 3 m high. Flowers are bright pink, large, collected in 3-4 pieces.	Far East, south of Siberia.
Weigel Middendorf	Shrub 1.5 m high. Flowers bell-funnel-shaped, large, collected in 2-6 pieces in inflorescences, yellow in color. There are orange dots in the throat.	Central Russia, the Urals, the Volga region, Siberia, Altai, the Far East.
Weigel Maksimovich	Shrub 1.5 m high. Flowers bell-funnel-shaped, light yellow, single or collected in 2 pieces.	Central Russia, the Urals, the Volga region, the Far East.
Weigela Korean	Shrub from 1.5 m in height, grows wild up to 5 m. Flowers are large, change color from pale pink to carmine.	Southern regions of Russia.
Weigela hybrid	Shrub 1.5 m high. The species combines several forms that differ in the color of the corolla.	All regions of Russia.

The most popular varieties of weigela hybrid:

• Debussy;
• Newport Red;
• Pierre Duchartre;
• Bristol Ruby;
• Gustav Mallet;
• Candida;
• Eva Rathke.
• In some collections there are weigela varieties with decorative leaves. For example, in the Purpurea variety, the color of the leaf plates is red-brown, and in the Weigela Alba, it is speckled.

Weigela of the Carnival variety blooms at the same time with white and bright pink flowers.

Growing weigels from seeds

Weigela seeds have good germination, but they do not last long. Therefore, for seed reproduction, most often they simply leave seeds under the bush that have spilled out of the capsules. In the spring, the strongest seedlings are selected, allowed to grow for a year, and then planted in a permanent place.

If this is not possible, you will have to sow weigela for seedlings. They do it as follows:

1. At the beginning of March, the seedling container is filled with soil consisting of a mixture of steamed garden soil, peat and sand in a 1: 1: 1 ratio.
2. The seeds are placed in the Epin-Extra stimulator solution for 2 hours, sown on the surface and covered with glass. It is not necessary to deepen, only slightly sprinkle with soil.
3. Within 3 weeks, the moisture is monitored and the crops are aired. Watered carefully.
4. After the emergence of seedlings, they are thinned out as necessary.
5. In the phase of 2 true leaves, the seedlings dive into separate pots.

Weigelu grows in pots throughout the year. In the first summer, it is better to take the containers out into the garden under a thin shade so that the seedlings receive enough solar radiation. The next spring, they are planted in a permanent place. By this time, their growth reaches 7 cm, and the diameter of the root system is about 5 cm. Weigela, grown from seeds, blooms in the fourth year of life.

Tip # 1. Weigel hybrid should not try to propagate with self-collected seeds. Seedlings will exhibit splitting traits. They will not inherit the qualities of the mother plant.

Reproduction of weigela with winter and summer cuttings

Weigela is rarely grown from seeds. Basically, vegetative propagation methods are used, of which grafting takes the main place. Weigela can be cut in spring and summer. In spring, woody ("winter") last year's shoots are taken as material. They are cut before bud break.

The length of the cuttings is left about 15 cm, the lower cut is treated with "Heteroauxin" and planted in separate pots in a greenhouse. After a month, the seedlings are fed with a weak infusion of mullein, and in the fall they are transferred to a permanent place. In summer, cuttings are taken in mid-June from green young shoots. Correctly cut summer cuttings have one internode and a pair of leaves at the bottom and top. The lower ones are removed completely, and the upper leaf plates are cut in half to reduce moisture evaporation.

The cut of the cuttings is also treated with a root formation stimulator, after which the planting material is buried in the soil by a third of the length and covered with a cut plastic bottle. Within a month, you will need to monitor the humidity and air the seedlings. If the development of a young plant is too intense, and it picks up buds, it is better to cut them off. Practice shows that summer cuttings give a greater survival rate than spring ones.

Weigela is easily propagated by air layers.

Weigela shrub growing rules

If the weigela seedling is not grown independently, but is purchased, you should ask the seller about the age of the plant. Plants take root better at the age of 3-4 years. The seedling should have a strong fibrous root system and several powerful shoots with intact bark. Read also the article: → "Rules for feeding garden shrubs in the spring."

Planting in early spring

Weigela seedlings are planted in the spring. Autumn plantings do not have time to take root before winter and, as a rule, perish. The Weigel site should be highlighted sunny, elevated, protected from drafts and the north wind. The landing technology is as follows:

1. Dig a planting hole 40 cm deep. If the soil is infertile, make the depth deeper and fill the hole with a nutrient mixture - good soil, 100 g of nitrophoska and half a bucket of compost.
2. A bucket of water is poured into the planting pit and wait until it is completely absorbed.
3. Place the weigela seedling so that the root collar is above the soil level.
4. The roots are gently straightened and sprinkled with fertile soil.
5. The position of the root collar is checked, the soil is tamped, the seedling is watered and the trunk circle is mulched.

When planting several plants, an interval is left between them, focusing on the dimensions of an adult bush. Between low-growing varieties, weigels leave 0.8-1 m, between tall ones - 1.5-2 m.

Tip # 2. To emphasize the decorativeness of the plantings, you can use colored chips as mulch.

Weigela in landscape design

Top dressing in spring and summer

Weigela begins to feed in the 3rd year after planting. The feeding scheme is standard for all ornamental plants. In early spring, complete fertilization is applied with an emphasis on nitrogen, in summer during flowering - phosphorus and potassium, in late summer - potassium to accelerate the ripening of wood. Read also the article: → "Rules for feeding garden shrubs in the spring." For feeding weigela, modern prolonged complexes can also be used:

A drug	Description
APION	Top dressing in dosing balls. Nutrients are released in portions and only when the plant roots require it.
"AVA Universal 2-3 years"	Increases the survival rate of seedlings by 15%, stimulates branching and flowering. 1 tablespoon is embedded under a bush once every 3 years.
"Bona Forte Universal"	Complete complex fertilizer with a porous mineral - zeolite. This component keeps the nutrient solution in the root zone, preventing it from going deeper with water.
"Osmocote"	A complex designed for six months. Stimulates flowering, increases the decorative effect of weigela.
Plantacote	Balanced mineral composition in the form of large granules with a semi-permeable polymer shell acting as a dispenser. It is applied under the bush once a year.

Sustained-release fertilizers are not only more convenient to use and take some of the worries off the grower's shoulders, but also do not grease the soil. It is impossible to arrange an overdose of a plant when using them.

Pruning to form a bush

Once every three years, weigela do a rejuvenating pruning. This is done after the first flowering. At the same time, all old, poorly flowering and bare branches are removed. Formative pruning can be performed at the same time. It is almost impossible to spoil the weigela. Even with unsuccessful or too strong pruning, it will easily recover the next year.Read also the article: → "Ornamental shrubs for hedges."

Closely planted and uncut weigel bushes form a flowering hedge.

Watering and preparing for winter

Weigela's root system is shallow, so it needs frequent but moderate watering. This shrub does not like waterlogging and stagnant water. In most regions of Russia, weigel does not require winter shelter. It is enough to spud the plant to a height of 15-20 cm after the fall of leaves. If you are not sure that the shrub will not freeze, you can tie it with burlap or thick agrospan for the winter.

The main mistakes when growing weigela

If weigela refuses to bloom, the reason may be some mistakes, sometimes made by flower growers:

1. Incorrect planting site. Weigel needs a lot of light and some cover from the north side. Soaking the roots also inhibits the plant.
2. Mulching of the trunk circle is not done. If the soil dries up and “baked”, the superficial root system of the weigela suffers. As a result, the bush does not bloom and does not tolerate winter well. Read also the article: → "Pine bark mulch: methods of preparation and use in the garden."
3. Pest prevention is not carried out. Flower buds, young shoots and leaves of weigela can attack aphids, spider mites, thrips, caterpillars. The shrub requires regular spraying with Fitoverm.

A change in the state of weigela leaves is a sign of fungal infection. Immediate fungicide treatment is required.

Questions from gardeners about growing weigela

Question number 1. Can weigela be planted in partial shade?

In the shade, this shrub stops blooming and eventually dies. For normal development, weigela requires sun for at least half a day. The only shade-tolerant species is Weigela Middendorf.

Question number 2. How quickly does weigela bloom after planting?

If the bush is old enough and has lignified shoots, it can bloom in the same spring. Very young plants with green shoots will show their first color the next year after planting.

Question number 3. How to make the weigela bush more compact?

To do this, at the end of July or in August, juvenile shoots are pinched, pinching the growth points.

Question number 4. Is it possible to save a weigela seedling acquired in late autumn until spring?

Such a seedling can be stored in a hole. The plant is laid almost horizontally in a trench. The root system is buried in, and the crown is covered with mulching material.

The use of weigela in landscape design

Weigela can be combined with both conifers and other flowering shrubs - cotoneaster, spirea, quince, barberry. This plant looks great as a tapeworm on an open lawn, it is used to decorate front entrances. Any use of weigela on the site will give it a decorative effect, and the owner will give a sea of ​​aesthetic pleasure from the exquisite oriental beauty of this shrub.

Rate the quality of the article. We want to be better for you:

Increasingly, gardeners, equipping their plots, use not only fruit-bearing trees and shrubs, but also ornamental plants. Weigela is a charming, flowering bush that will help to decorate the garden, hide an unsightly corner or create a unique composition.Undemanding conditions of keeping, ease of planting in open ground and caring for weigela, the ability to modify with the help of a haircut make this plant indispensable in landscape design.

The role of weigela in landscape design

Weigela is one of the flowering ornamental shrubs, without which it is difficult to imagine a modern garden. Depending on the variety, this plant can be of various heights from 50 cm to 2 meters. Weigela blooms twice a year. In spring and autumn, shrubs are covered with incredibly beautiful numerous flowers of white, pink, yellow, lilac or crimson. The color of the plant depends on the variety, but they all have an amazing feature - at the beginning of the formation of the bud, the inflorescences are very light, almost colorless, and the more the petals open, the richer the tones become.

A flowering bush at the entrance to the house creates a festive mood

Weigel, hardy and undemanding to the conditions of keeping, is often used in landscape compositions. It can grow both in the sun and in partial shade, besides, it tolerates formative pruning, with which the plant can be given any shape. These qualities of a flowering shrub are just a godsend when arranging a garden. If there is a pond on the site, then the weigela blooming on the bank will revive the pacifying landscape with its colors.

Weigela by the pond - the beauty and naturalness of suburban life

Weigela of any variety can be irresistible as a single plant planted on a green lawn or become a decoration of a composition. She is good in the company of conifers, arranged according to the principle of differences in shapes and colors, and as a transitional link in an ensemble of deciduous trees and ground cover flowering plants. From low-growing varieties of weigela, cute mixborders are obtained, decorating a garden path or bordering a certain landscape form. A hedge is formed from tall varieties of shrubs to create a natural zoning of the garden. Weigela also looks good among stones, so it is often planted at the foot of a rock garden.

Variants of use on a personal plot: photo

What climate does the shrub prefer

Weigela is a deciduous shrub of the honeysuckle family. In nature, the plant is found in the Far East and East Asia. The cultivated varieties are successfully grown in many regions of our country. In areas with cold winters, weigela needs to be sheltered, especially young shrubs, since the winter hardiness of the plant increases with age. In arid areas, regular watering is required for good growth and abundant flowering.

The Weigela genus has 15 species and more than one hundred hybrid forms. The progenitors of today's numerous varieties are flowering and hybrid weigela. By crossing the mother plants with the Korean Weigela, plants of various shapes and heights with a variety of color options for leaves and flowers were obtained. All these shrubs are distinguished by their hardiness and relative winter hardiness.

Weigelu Korean was used by breeders to obtain new plant varieties

Recommended varieties for growing in the Moscow region, the Leningrad region, the Urals and Siberia

All varieties described are capable of withstanding frosty winters under cover. If the shoots freeze, then in the spring they are cut off, and the shrub, without any problems, is restored.

It is more difficult for the weigela in the southern regions, since the plant does not tolerate extreme heat. In the south, it is advisable to plant this shrub so that at lunchtime it is in the shade and the sun does not burn the shoots. Under these conditions, the described varieties are successfully grown in hot climates. Here they also have time to ripen their seeds, which does not always happen in central Russia, in the Urals and in Siberia.

Read more about the experience of growing in the Moscow region in the article.

Popular varieties of weigela in the photo

Reproduction methods

Weigela reproduces well by sowing seeds, rooting cuttings and layering. It is worth noting that in order to get a varietal beauty, you need to propagate it only by cuttings or layering. The resulting seedling will retain all the characteristics of the mother plant, and the first flowering will occur in 2-3 years. Sowing seeds is used in cases where you need to immediately get a large amount of planting material, but such seedlings will bloom only after 5-6 years and, possibly, will differ from the parent in appearance.

Sowing seeds

Sowing seeds is best done in a specially designated school, where the plants can stay for three years, since only a three-year-old seedling can be planted in a permanent place. It is advisable to fence off a small bed (school) with bumpers, install arcs and cover with agrofibre. Such a greenhouse will protect seedlings from wind, sun and moisture loss.

Weigela seeds germinate well if sown in the harvest year. Sowing can be carried out in the spring, after the soil has completely warmed up - usually this is the second half of May. Podwinter sowing also gives good results. It is more often carried out in November, after the first frost.

Weigela seeds in the year of harvest have almost one hundred percent germination, but over time it decreases

Spring sowing of seeds:

1. The day before sowing, spill the bed abundantly with a solution of phytosporin.
2. Spread weigela seeds on a leveled surface.
3. Sprinkle on top with a small layer of moist coconut substrate, peat or sand and compact.
4. Close the greenhouse tightly with agrofibre.

It will be necessary to moisten the crops for the first time every day. It is most convenient to use a spray bottle so as not to wash off the seeds. Seedlings will appear in 3-4 weeks.

Sowing seeds before winter:

1. After the first frost on the prepared bed, spread the seeds.
2. Sprinkle with a light layer of peat or coconut substrate.
3. Cover the planting from above with sawdust, straw or agrofibre.
4. In the spring, remove insulation from the garden and make a greenhouse with arches.

The sprouted seedlings are carefully thinned out. No need to pull out extra shoots - it is better to cut them off with scissors.

Weigela can be sown in containers and grown at home. In the summer, the seedlings are transferred to the garden, choosing a quiet, shady place for them.

By cuttings

Good terms for cuttings are March and May-June. In the first case, cuttings are cut from lignified last year's shoots, in the second from semi-lignified young growths.

For summer rooting, cuttings are harvested from the bottom of the young shoot. The green tops of the growths are not used for rooting.

Rooting step-by-step process:

1. Cuttings about 10 cm long are cut from the cut shoots. In summer cuttings, two upper leaves are left, shortening them by half, the rest are removed.
2. The box is filled with a 1: 1 mixture of peat and sand.
3. Sections of cuttings are dusted with root powder.
4. Depressions are made in the soil with a stick at a distance of 10-15 cm from each other.
5. The stalk is 2/3 immersed in the holes and pressed against the ground.

The lower leaves of the weigela cuttings are removed, and the upper leaves are shortened to reduce moisture loss.

If grafting occurs in the summer, the container is taken out into the garden and placed in a greenhouse under agrofibre or film, but with mandatory ventilation. When rooting in spring, the cuttings are placed in a bright, warm, but non-sunny place in the room.

When the seedlings start growing, we can assume that rooting was successful. They are seated in separate pots and young shoots are pinched. Emerging buds must be removed so that the strength of the plant goes to the formation of roots.

Further care of the cuttings does not cause any difficulties. The main requirements are a shady, windless place, timely watering and feeding. Any mineral and organic fertilizers are suitable for flowers that are applied in turn.

When preparing a solution for root dressing, it is important to observe the proportions indicated in the instructions.It is always better to underfeed the plant than to overfeed, therefore, if in doubt, it is better to dilute the drug with a little more water.

Rooting cuttings

The easiest and most reliable way to propagate weigela is by rooting layers.

In early spring, before bud break, a shoot is chosen that is a short distance from the ground. Loose fertile soil is poured under it with a mound.

Rooting order layering:

1. In the place where the branch will touch the ground, the bark is slightly scratched to speed up the formation of roots.
2. The shoot is bent down, secured with a hairpin and covered with soil.
3. Slightly moisten and cover with a film - the soil in this place should always be moist.

A weigela branch bent to the ground will take root and sprout during the summer

Over the summer, the cuttings will take root and already next spring it can be separated and planted in the school.

Video: Weigela - planting, care and description of the plant

Features of planting weigels in open ground

In order for the weigela bush to take root and delight the owners for many years, it is very important to choose a suitable place in the garden. This plant feels good both in partial shade and in the sun, however, for the southern regions, preference should be given to shady places. In areas with an unpredictable climate, it is better to plant a weigela on the south side of the building, which will protect it from cold northerly winds. It is important that the area with the planted plant is not flooded with melt water and does not sink during the rains.

A pit is prepared for planting, the size of which depends on the fertility of the soil. On good, fertilized soil, it is enough to dig a hole 30x30 cm, on poor 50x50 cm.

Step-by-step planting process:

1. Drainage (gravel, crushed stone or expanded clay) is laid at the bottom of the prepared pit.
2. A small amount of soil mixed with fertilizers is poured (Kemira Lux, Kemira flower, or any universal for spring planting).
3. Half-fill the pit with a prepared mixture of garden soil, turf, compost, peat and sand taken in equal amounts.
4. A seedling is placed in the center of the hole so that after planting the neck of the plant is level with the ground, the roots are straightened and sprinkled with prepared soil.
5. The soil around the plant is compacted and watered.
6. After watering, the earth is poured, a near-trunk circle is formed and the surface is mulched.

Seedlings with a closed root system are planted without disturbing the earthy coma

Subtleties of care

Weigela, planted according to all the rules, will not cause much trouble in care. A young plant will need slightly more frequent watering during survival. Watering is best in the morning or evening with water at room temperature. Mulch with a layer of 8–10 cm will significantly reduce labor costs, since moisture remains under it longer, which means you can water less often. Weeding and loosening on a mulched surface is also practically not needed.

Top dressing

If the planting pit was filled with fertile soil with fertilizers, then the first two years of feeding the plant are not needed.

Further fertilization:

• in early spring, a mineral complex fertilizer containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium is applied;
• with the beginning of the formation of buds, the bush is fed with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers, which will provide a long bright flowering and prepare the shoots for winter;
• the third time fertilizers are applied in the fall, for digging, scattering 150 g of ash and 250 g of dolomite flour or autumn mineral fertilizers in the amount recommended by the manufacturer around the perimeter of the trunk circle.

In spring and summer, it is better to apply top dressing in liquid form, diluting the fertilizer in water - this way the plant will receive the necessary nutrients faster. It is better to do this after watering or rain to avoid scalding the roots.

For thermophilic plants, it is very important not to violate the principle of feeding, as this can adversely affect the wintering of the shrub. Nitrogen stimulates the growth of shoots, so it can only be applied in the first half of summer.Further, the shoots need to mature so as not to freeze in winter, and phosphorus and potassium will help in this.

Pruning features

Like many ornamental shrubs, weigela needs pruning. Broken and frozen shoots are removed from young plants in early spring. Adult bushes require pruning after flowering - all faded shoots are shortened, and if this is done on time, then the young growths will have time to bloom at the end of summer. Re-flowering will not be as lush as the first, but it will also decorate the bush and delight the owners.

Aging weigela bushes will need rejuvenating pruning, in which young shoots are shortened by about 1/3, and branches older than 3-4 years are completely removed. Sometimes gardeners cut off all shoots, and the shrub easily tolerates such an operation.

Removing old, thickening branches rejuvenates the shrub and promotes flowering

Preparing for winter

In most of our country, weigela needs to be sheltered for the winter. Without shelter, the shrub will survive the winter only in the southern regions, where the thermometer rarely drops below 0 ° C. Here it is enough to put a mound of earth 20–30 cm high around the plant and mulch it.

Weigela's frost resistance increases with maturation, so young shrubs are especially carefully covered. Before the onset of frost, prepare the trunk circle - weed, loosen and cover with dry earth, with a layer of at least 20 cm.Mulch with straw or sawdust on top.

Plants begin to shelter directly after the first frost. This should be done in dry weather, as humidity can lead to rotting shoots and the appearance of mold.

For shelter over a bush, weigels construct a frame or crate and wrap it with agrofibre or burlap in 2-3 layers. From above, the structure is covered with a film and securely fixed. This must be done so that, during possible thaws and rains, water does not penetrate inside, but at the same time there remains air access. It is good to use hydro or vapor barrier for these purposes, which are sold in all hardware stores. This material allows air to pass through and at the same time repels water.

If the weigela shrub is short, you can try to bend the branches. To do this, the plant is wrapped in burlap or agrofibre and tilted to the ground. Straw, spruce branches, dry leaves are placed under the branches and fixed with arcs. From above, the structure is also insulated with any of the available materials and covered with a film.

Weigela mixborders hideout resembles tunnels

Possible growing problems

Weigela is an unpretentious plant and does not cause much trouble when growing. Sometimes it happens that a planted plant develops normally, but does not bloom in due time. It is difficult to say what is the reason, but often, after transplanting, the shrub comes to life and pleases the owners with bright flowering. Perhaps the location was poorly chosen, or the composition of the soil did not suit the plant.

Of the pests, aphids, spider mites or caterpillars can attack the weigela. At the first signs of insects, it is necessary to treat the shrub with an insecticide. Today on sale you can find a huge amount of pesticides for all occasions. However, it is worth giving preference to biological drugs such as Fitoverm, Akarin, Iskra-Bio - they bring no less benefits than their poisonous counterparts, however, they do not harm the environment. It is only important not to spray the plants with these preparations during flowering, so that the bees do not suffer.

Gardeners reviews

By following simple agronomic techniques for planting and caring for a weigela, you can get a beautiful flowering shrub. The variety of species and forms of this plant with bright, or, conversely, delicate flowers, may cause someone to want to grow their own collection of varietal weigels.

Weigela is one of the plants of the honeysuckle family, distinguished by pink, white, yellow or cream inflorescences.Proper planting and caring for a weigela in the open field begins with the selection of a place - it is desirable that it be on the sunny side, protected from strong winds.

If you plant a weigela between buildings, where there are strong drafts, unopened buds can crumble.

For weigela, sandy loam or loamy neutral soil is suitable. The only species of this shrub that takes root well on slightly acidic peaty soil is Weigela Middendorf.

Planting weigels in open ground in the Leningrad region is carried out in a previously prepared hole about 40 cm deep.If fertilizers are planned to be placed on the bottom, you can increase the depth to half a meter or even a little more. It is advisable to mix fertilizers with compost, and lay broken bricks at the very bottom of the pit to prevent the water from quickly going into the lower layers of the soil. In addition, after planting and abundant watering, the soil is mulched.

Autumn planting of weigela in open ground is undesirable, since even young plants planted in spring can hardly tolerate frosty and snowy winters.

Care for young and adult weigela

As with any shrub, the main care for a weigela outdoors is pruning. It is best carried out from the beginning of spring to June - by freeing the branches from diseased or dry shoots, you will let the young growth leap up with a vengeance. Even if the branches are not diseased, to give the bush a more well-groomed look, you can trim branches that are knocked out of the general shape. If everything is done correctly, the bushes will quickly recover and in the summer they will delight you with green leaves, and later with flowers.

If pruning was not carried out in the spring, you can arrange the shrub in early to mid-autumn, but then it is recommended to prune only dry branches.

Planting and caring for a weigela in the open field is a simple task, but the cultivation of a shrub does not end there. While weigela is just taking root on your site, you should give it a little more care: so that the plant does not freeze, wrap the bushes in spunbond (sold in hardware and flower shops) or plain craft paper. For the same purpose, it is worth sprinkling the ground around the trunk with fallen leaves or spruce branches.

If these tricks did not help and the weigela did not endure the winter well, you need to provide her with constant abundant watering (up to 10 liters of water per one bush). Hot weather can also harm the plant, so water it as often as possible. So that the liquid does not go away quickly and keeps the root system fresh, you need to mulch the soil by adding wood chips or humus.

An adult weigela is much more unpretentious, but even several years after planting, care for a weigela in the open field should be as follows:

1. For the winter, install a fence around the bush, which should protect it from breakage under the weight of the snow. If the winter is not very snowy, just periodically shake off the snow from the branches.
2. In early spring and summer (just at the time when weigela can be transplanted), feed. Urea or double superphosphate is suitable for this. You can also check with your flower shop assistant which of your existing fertilizers can be used for the weigela.
3. If weigela is infected with bacteria, the so-called Bordeaux liquid can save it. It is mixed in equal proportions copper sulfate and milk of lime, which are sprayed on the affected areas.

Why did weigela stop blooming?

Even if the planting of weigela and caring for it in the open field in the Moscow region (in temperate latitudes) were carried out correctly, this does not guarantee that after a while the shrub will not stop blooming. However, the first thing worth paying attention to is just the poorly chosen landing site. Weigela does not like shade and simply cannot bloom in the absence of the sun. In addition, the shady side can cause the seeds of the shrub to ripen for a long time.Young shoots can also suffer from a lack of sunshine: they will quickly grow stiff, which will affect the overall development of the bush.

Two more reasons why weigela can stop blooming are the defeat of the root system by beetles and insufficient watering. Timely fertilization of the soil and frequent watering is practically a panacea for all weigela diseases, so you should not neglect the minimal care of the shrub.

Reproduction of weigela in various ways

Weigela bushes love warm and sunny latitudes, but proper planting and caring for a weigela in the open field in the Urals (in a harsh continental climate) can also give excellent results. It is important to remember that this shrub can be propagated in two ways.

Vegetative (separation of cuttings or cuttings)

This is the most acceptable way of reproduction for weigela, allowing you to get several healthy young plants at once. As already mentioned, pruning and planting weigela outdoors in the spring is the best option. It is more likely that by winter the shrub will take root and will be ready to meet frosts and snowfalls.

Cutting of suitable shoots is carried out in the fall, and their planting - in early spring, in boxes with pre-fertilized soil. For greater safety, it is required to put boxes in greenhouses or hotbeds under plastic wrap.

Using seeds

Seeds appear only 3-4 years after planting. Unlike propagation by cuttings, it is better to plant seeds in the fall - as soon as they are ripe, they can be used for planting. If there is a need to preserve the seeds until spring, you need to pack them in paper or cloth bags, and in the spring they should not be sown immediately in open ground, but in boxes or pots.

Interesting about Weigel - video

Many gardeners in Russia prefer to plant deciduous ornamental shrubs in their summer cottages, bringing a zest to the entire appearance - this is weigela... Planting and caring for the presented shrub does not require special physical costs and time.

However, like any plant, this decorative beauty should also be looked after according to the rules, which should be carefully considered and determined for yourself, and whether you can cope with the task at hand.

Weigela shrub: species and varieties

The genus weigela has about 15 species, but only varieties that perfectly take root in the dacha plots of Russian citizens are subject to consideration. These include:

Weigela early - by the name of this variety, it can already be assumed that the flowering of the bush begins in early spring. Indeed, the beauty of flowers can be admired already at the beginning of May. However, there is a small drawback in the presented variety -

flowering period takes no more than 25 days

... The bush itself reaches almost 2 meters in height and has a large number of leaves, and then flowers of a pale pink color. A distinctive feature of this variety is its gray bark. In most cases, it is used as a hedge.

Weigel Middendorf - is used by gardeners much more often, since this shrub reaches a height of only 1.5 m, and

its flowering occurs 2 times per season, lasting at least 30 days at a time.

It has flowers of light shades - from creamy white to yellow with small orange veins on the petals.

Weigela blooming - this variety is distinguished by its maximum height. With free growth, flowering weigela can reach 3 meters in height. The flowering shrub begins in May-June and takes

not less than 30 days

... The flowers have an attractive pink shade with a white center.

Weigela Nana Variegata - can reach a height of 1.5 meters. Shrub pleases with variegation

in June-July

... The flowers are collected in inflorescences and have pale pink to deep pink shades. The peculiarity of the presented variety is the variegated color of the leaves, which adds great attractiveness to the variety.

Weigela Nana Purpurea - a miniature shrub, reaching a length of only 1 m.Pink and white-pink flowers appear in late May or early June and can be preserved with proper care

more than two months

... The presented variety of weigela is frost-resistant and quite tolerates even the harsh winters of Russia, but in the presence of insulation material.

Weigela Korean - reaches a height of no more than 1.5 meters and has inflorescences of buds in the form of bells. Their shade changes its color as it grows. At first, the petals are white, but after a few days they acquire a rich pink color. The presented variety of weigela is more used as a hedge, which does not require special and careful care. The Korean variety is not used to decorate the suburban area, since

its flowering time does not exceed 15 days

.

Weigela profusely - the shrub grows quickly and reaches a height of more than 3 meters. Flowering for these representatives begins in May, but

does not last more than 1 month

... A feature of the variety is the loss of bright color. If the rest of the varieties at the beginning of flowering have pale shades, and only later become more saturated, then the abundantly flowering weigela first has a bright red tint in the flowers, which are replaced by a pale pink color.

When self-planting the described plant, it is recommended to fully study all features of care and further conditions of stay during the wintering period.

Not all varieties can survive until spring in the severe frosts of Russia. Sometimes even thorough insulation does not give positive results.

Flowering and types of weigela, video:

Weigela photos:

weigela in landscape design

photo weigels florida

planting and caring for the weigela

photo of blooming weigela

Weigela: planting and care in the open field

Self-cultivation of weigela requires compliance with the basic rules that can help to achieve the maximum beauty of the shrub in the shortest possible time. All plant care is concluded in three stages: planting, growing, shelter for the winter to preserve.

Each of the stages contains its own characteristics, in which novice gardeners make mistakes. Of course, they do not lead to sad consequences, but the very fact of the absence of flowering, which follows most often in such situations, is significantly depressing and saddening.

General information on bush care

Before delving into the details of caring for a plant, you should consider its main parameters. TO basic rules for caring for a weigela of any kind include:

• shrubs require good lighting, only some varieties are ready to grow in partial shade;

• an excess of moisture is dangerous for a plant;

• the soil must have medium acidity for further productive flowering;

• weigela should be regularly fed in compliance with the characteristics and parameters depending on the variety.

Even a novice gardener can observe the listed aspects. Making mistakes from the listed aspects can lead to the death of the plant, if resuscitation measures are not taken.

About caring for weigela, video:

Correct fit of weigela

Start off care for weigela follows already at the stage of its disembarkation. This process must be carried out in the spring in April, when the soil has already thawed. In some regions, planting is carried out in May, since there are protracted winters and the soil is frozen for a long time.

Novice gardeners often make the mistake of planting a seedling in the fall. Despite the large size of the seedlings, they often cannot stand the winter. And even no precautions and insulation helps in this case.

As for the soil, it should be:

• loose and permeable;
• stagnation of water should not form in it;
• the soil must be pH neutral.

Take special care when choosing a place.It is necessary to plant shrubs in places protected from the wind, with a small hill and good lighting. Without lighting, the flowering of the weigela will not begin, and a strong wind will lead to the fact that the flowering buds will fall off prematurely.

Land in the following sequence:

1. Prepare the soil if it does not meet the basic requirements for shrub growth. At a high level of acidity of the soil, a liming procedure should be carried out - scatter slaked lime and dig up the area.
2. Now you should choose the right seedling at the time of purchase. To do this, make sure that the young shrub is healthy, without visible damage to the bark of the trunk and branches, as well as with no decayed roots. It is better to purchase three-year-old seedlings.
3. Before planting, drainage should be laid in the prepared holes. Dig holes 50x50 cm in size, about 40 cm deep. Place broken brick or gravel in the hole with a layer of at least 15 cm.
4. Mix the soil with which you will subsequently bury the roots of the seedling with potassium salt and superphosphate in the amount of 40 g and 60 g, respectively. This is necessary so that the roots do not burn on contact with the fertilizer.
5. Before planting the weigela, it is necessary to treat the roots with a solution designed for the rapid rooting of the seedling in the hole. Often they can be purchased at the nursery where the seedling itself was selected.
6. The roots of the seedling are well straightened, laid on the created drainage, sprinkled with pre-prepared earth and compacted well. Then the seedling must be watered well.
7. The final stage of planting weigela requires mulching the soil - laying out a layer of suitable free-flowing material of natural origin. Chopped bark or sawdust work well here. The radius of the filled soil should be at least 50 cm, the layer itself should be at least 10 cm.

If you are planting several seedlings, which is done much more often, then observe the distance between plantings. Low-growing varieties are planted at a distance of 1 m, and tall varieties of shrubs - at least 2 m. Immediately after planting, the conditions and rules for caring for the plant must be observed.

Proper care for weigela

Immediately after disembarking, the weigela requires careful maintenance., which consists in regular watering as the soil becomes dry and loosening to the depth of the bayonet of a standard shovel. Every time before loosening, the material used for mulching is removed and then a new one is laid.

In the first 4-5 years of shrub growth after planting, such care must be carried out twice per season. In the future, such procedures will be reduced to a minimum.

Proper care of the presented ornamental shrubs implies regular feeding. In the first two years after planting, there is no need to carry out such procedures. There is enough of the complementary food that was carried out even before disembarkation.

In subsequent years, the bush is fed in accordance with the following scheme:

• In early spring, it is necessary to equip the soil with nitrogen-containing fertilizers.
• During the period of bud formation, potassium sulfate is used, which promotes lush flowering.
• The last feeding is carried out after flowering or before wintering in September-October. Any potash fertilizers are also used here.

Sometimes weigela needs to be transplanted. This may be required during the period of abundant growth of shoots or in order to change the place of cultivation. It is better to replant the shrub in the spring, since the roots of this plant are especially vulnerable and any change in dislocation can harm the plant.

Weigela transplant in autumn may end sadly. The roots will not only not take root over the winter, but will also die.

Correct pruning of weigela

Weigela should be pruned in the spring. During this time, damaged, dead or frozen branches can be removed in order to root the growth of young shoots. To do this, remove old shoots and cut off new ones, leaving the two lower ones.

Pruning the weigela in the fall is not recommended., since in most cases new shoots remain to grow, which may not survive the cold winter.

If you leave the shrub in its original form for the whole winter, then the strengthened branches will perfectly protect new shoots, which will lead to their further fastening in spring and summer.

If pruning was required in the fall, then the basic rules should be followed. It should also be noted that the purpose of the presented process is to prepare the shrub for winter. A certain insulation technique may require the correct shape of the bush, which is what gardeners do by removing branches and shoots.
How to prune a weigela in the fall:

Pay attention to this material - Ornamental shrubs for cottages and gardens.

Prune the shrub to form a crown by trimming it to the required length using a slanting pruner. Make sure buds remain on the shoot.

1. Before wintering, you can remove very old and dry branches. This is done practically at the roots themselves, leaving no more than 10-15 cm of the shoot.
2. Keep an eye on your shrub and do not allow free growth, as this can provoke any problems in the normal growth of the weigela.

Shrub pruning, video:

The correct shelter for the winter weigels

Many gardeners make a characteristic mistake, because they do not know exactly how to cover weigela for the winter.

You will be interested in this article - Hydrangea: planting and care in the open field.

• Firstly, back in the month of October, when there is fallen leaves, the shrub must be covered with it to a height of about 20 cm.

• Secondly, it is necessary to make sure that the snow that has fallen subsequently becomes an excellent protector of the plant. To do this, the branches are connected together and tied with twine. When tying, it is necessary to tilt the bush down. You can also build a special wooden frame structure so that the snow cannot bend new branches.

• Thirdly, if there are little snowy winters in the region, the entire bush should be covered with any insulation material that is purchased in specialized stores.

You should not be afraid if the bush is frozen over the winter. Even if the buds did not appear during the period set for flowering, then at the end of summer, most likely, the variegation of colors will envelop the weigela.

Reproduction of weigela

It is better to propagate the presented ornamental shrub using green cuttings. It is necessary to separate them even at the stage of "defrosting" of the weigela, until new buds appear - the period from April to May, depending on the variety. Separate the cuttings with a pruner, creating a straight cut and separating about 10-15 cm with two leaves.

After separation, the cuttings are treated with a special solution to stimulate root growth according to the instructions given.

Further, the cuttings are kept in a dark room at a temperature of 20 degrees Celsius for 12 hours. At the end of the time, they must be planted to a depth of half a centimeter in a sand-peat mixture, sprinkle the planting site with sand and cover with polyethylene. Roots appear only after a month, but transplant weigela to a new place is possible only after a year and a half.

Weigela is practically not exposed to pests or diseases. An exception may be infection from other plants growing in the summer cottage.

Observing all the above features of self-cultivation of this ornamental shrub, you will never wonder, why does not weigela bloom... Indeed, it is often the failure to comply with the basic norms and principles of plant care that leads to such dismal results.

Serious mistakes often lead to the death of the entire bush, so if you notice any unpleasant and negative changes in the growth of the weigela, take appropriate measures.

Like the article ? Show it to your friends: