Spirea: description of growing in the garden, types and varieties

How to plant?

Competent selection of a place for a plant and planting taking into account all requirements is the key to obtaining a beautiful and healthy plant

Despite the unpretentiousness of this flower, experienced summer residents recommend paying special attention to planting it. The most favorable time for this event is the beginning of spring or mid-autumn, but if the acquired planting material has a closed root system, then it can be planted during the entire growing season

The plant feels most comfortable in well-lit areas, which are protected from strong currents of cold air. Experts allow planting in areas with little shade, but constant presence in the shade can negatively affect the brightness of the inflorescences and the density of the crown. An unpretentious flower feels good on all types of soil, but it is still better if the acidity of the soil is close to neutral. The plant does not feel well in swampy areas, which have a close location of groundwater to the surface.

Before you start planting seedlings, you need to choose them correctly. Experienced gardeners recommend purchasing planting material in specialized nurseries that sell only high-quality goods. Most seedlings are sold in small containers. Some growers sell flowers, the root system of which is covered with a thick layer of clay, which does not allow it to dry out. Experts recommend abandoning the purchase of plants with open roots, which may become unusable and dry out during transportation.

Before planting, the selected area must be carefully dug up and cleaned of foreign debris. The planting holes must necessarily be slightly larger than the root system of the seedlings. To prevent decay of horses, experts recommend putting expanded clay, small pebbles or broken brick at the bottom of the planting pit. Before removing the seedlings from the container, the soil in it must be spilled with water. When removing a flower from a container, you must try to preserve the earthen lump as much as possible. All voids in the hole during planting must be filled with nutritious soil with its simultaneous compaction. It is strictly forbidden to deeply deepen the root collar, its optimal location is at ground level. After planting, all surface greens must be cut off, and the hole must be poured abundantly with clean, settled water.

Japanese spirea - planting and care

Starting to study the technology of planting Japanese spirea, growing conditions, you need to pay attention to the rules for choosing seedlings of this culture when buying in a nursery. If you neglect this moment and completely trust the sellers, you can buy a weak or sick bush with damaged roots, which will lag behind for a long time in development or even die in the first year after planting in the garden

How to choose and prepare a Japanese spirea seedling for planting:

1. Examine the condition of the root system, avoid buying spirea with overdried roots.
2. Healthy plants have flexible shoots and live buds.
3. If the seedling arrived by mail with dried roots, then it should be soaked in water for a while before disembarking.
4. Overgrown roots should be pruned.
5. In overdried spirea, it is advisable to shorten the shoots.

What kind of soil does Japanese spirea like?

A soil suitable for spirea is moderately loose, breathable, slightly acidic or with a pH that is close to neutral indicators. It is better to pre-enrich poor soil with humus. On rich land, the bushes grow normally for years without transplanting. We choose a spacious and sunny place for disembarkation.When planning, one should take into account the formation of root shoots, which over time increases the space occupied by the spirea on the site. We leave a gap of 1.5 m between the holes.

How to plant Japanese spirea?

The work of preparing the pit and the seedling does not take much time. The planting rules for this ornamental culture are simple, but it is advisable to observe them exactly so that the mistakes made in this process do not negatively affect the development of the ornamental shrub. After choosing the optimal place in the garden, we proceed to prepare the pit using the following technology:

1. Japanese spirea is planted in a hole with smooth inner walls, slightly larger than the diameter of the root system.
2. It is advisable to let the soil stand for a couple of days.
3. The drainage layer is made of broken brick chips with a layer of 20 cm.
4. We pour the prepared soil of the following composition on the bottom - sheet earth (2 parts), peat (1 part) and sand (1 part).
5. The Japanese spirea is planted - we put the roots on the bottom, straighten them.
6. Deepening of the root collar is not more than 1-2 cm.
7. Sprinkle the bush.
8. We compact the soil.
9. Pour spiraea (up to 20 liters of water).
10. We mulch the ground with prepared peat.

What to plant next to Japanese spirea?

We select the neighbors for the Japanese spirea so that they look interesting in the overall composition. For this reason, even before the planting stage, we are considering successful options, taking into account the height of the future shrub, the shape of the crown, and the color of the foliage. Taking into account all the above nuances, let us name which spirea's best neighbors are considered for the garden:

• decorative cherries;
• plums;
• lilac;
• viburnum;
• juniper;
• conifers;
• rhododendrons;
• thuja;
• barberries;
• forsythia;
• bladderworm;
• action.

Japanese spirea - care

In care, this culture will not bring a lot of trouble to the gardener; watering, pruning, loosening the soil, weeding are considered the main agricultural techniques. Mulching the trunk circle helps to reduce moisture evaporation. It is necessary to remember about the superficial occurrence of the roots, therefore we do not deeply loosen the soil with a hoe. The most important operation is pruning spirea in Japanese spring and in the autumn, which we produce according to the following rules:

1. Weak growth and diseased growth are removed.
2. We are trying to reduce the thickening of the crown.
3. We take into account the height of the crown of the spirea and the characteristics of the variety, for example, gardeners cut dwarf forms into short knots up to 10-15 cm.
4. It is advisable to give vigorous bushes in the process of pruning to the required shape.
5. After the first wave of flowering, dry stalks must be removed.
6. On some golden-leaved varieties in summer, atypical branches with green foliage sometimes appear, for decorative reasons they are allowed to be removed.

Fertilizers for Japanese spirea

Japanese garden spirea develops better and blooms luxuriantly if the owners of the dacha do not forget to apply root fertilizers. It is advisable to do the first procedure in the spring using nitrogen-containing preparations. Before flowering, it is recommended to give mineral products, and after pruning, organic matter. Spirea is fertilized with mineral fertilizers at the rate of 70 g / m2. As an organic matter, an infusion based on manure or poultry droppings under a bush in a safe ratio of 1:10 is suitable. It is advisable to loosen the soil and water it on the eve of the planned fertilizing.

Planting rules and care

If you purchase ready-made plant shoots from special nurseries, it is recommended to opt for shrubs in containers. In this case, there is a greater chance that the flower will take root in a new area.

Examine the seedling carefully. If there are buds on it, it is better to remove them so that the shrub retains its strength and spent them on adaptation.

Let's take a closer look at the landing and leaving procedure.

Site preparation and seedlings

According to experts, Japanese spiraea is unpretentious and grows remarkably in almost any conditions (lack of sunlight, low soil fertility, etc.).Even if the direct sun hits the shrub for about 4 hours a day, the plant will retain its attractiveness and delight with its lush color. Despite this, it is recommended to choose a lighted area where the shrub will be as comfortable as possible.

Be sure to arrange a drainage layer at the bottom of the planting pit. Use pieces of brick or rubble as material. Some growers place shrubs on embankments and artificial hills.

The depth of the pit should be 40 centimeters. It is recommended to prepare it at least 7-8 days in advance. A few hours before planting, the seedlings are kept in a solution that stimulates root growth. Shrubs with a closed root system are abundantly watered with the same composition, and then planted in open ground.

Landing

The drainage layer must be at least 10 centimeters thick. After that, the pit is filled with soil mixture. The prepared soil consists of half of earth, as well as peat and sand (in equal parts). It is very easy to prepare such a composition at home.

It is also necessary to thoroughly moisten the soil. When planting, the shrub must be deepened into the ground so that the root collar of the plant is several centimeters above the top layer of the earth. At the end of the work, the soil near the bushes is carefully tamped and watered from a watering can.

Fertilization and watering

It is recommended to use mineral formulations as a top dressing. At the start of the growing season, experienced gardeners use nitrogen fertilizers. They give excellent results and work safely on the plant. When buds are laid, phosphorus-potassium dressings are applied.

At the end of summer or in the first months of autumn, spraying is carried out if necessary. The leaves are treated with a solution of potassium monophosphate. It will help the flower survive the winter.

Spirea "Frobeli" does not need to be thoroughly moistened, however, in the first year after disembarkation, it requires more careful attention. Watering frequency should be adjusted according to weather conditions.

You should also arrange a layer of mulch around the plant.

Pruning

This representative of the flora needs such a procedure as annual pruning. This will help maintain the high decorative qualities of the plant. Sanitary pruning is performed even before the foliage bloom, at the time when the shrub begins to wake up after wintering. During the work, gardeners remove loose and thin branches.

Last year's growth is cut to the level of developed buds. Work on adult plants is carried out more radically: the branches are removed 40 centimeters from the surface of the soil. Forming at 4-5 years of age actively affects the process of plant growth, and also has a beneficial effect on the formation of the peduncle.

Withered flowers should be removed regularly so that the plant does not waste energy on them. This is necessary for the full preparation of the shrub in the winter.

Wintering

Spirea has excellent frost resistance. Due to this feature, the shrub can be grown within the boundaries of the fourth USDA zone. Froebelii can withstand up to 35 degrees Celsius below zero.

To protect the root system, the plants are filled with a new layer of mulch from dry compost and then covered with geotextiles. The work is carried out at the end of October or at the beginning of the next month.

It is advisable to feed the shrubs. The nutrients will give the flower the strength it needs to survive the cold. If strong winds are raging on the territory of the region, it is necessary to build a special support for young shrubs.

Varieties and types of Spirea

Spirea willow (Spiraea salicifolia). Blooms from mid June to September. Flowers from pink to white, collected in pyramidal paniculate inflorescences. Height 0.2 m.

Spirea sharp-toothed or arguta (Spiraea x.arguta). One of the earliest (May-June) and blooming profusely. And when it fades, it will decorate the garden with delicate openwork foliage. Height - 1.5-2.0 m.

Spirea Japanese ‘Golden Princess’ (Spiraea japonica ‘Golden Princess’). Very beautiful long-flowering spirea with bright foliage.Requires a sunny place, as in the shade the yellow color of its leaves changes to green. Height - 0.5-0.6 m.

Spiraea oak-leaved (Spiraea chamaediyfolia). It has been cultivated since the 18th century. Even when planting material was rare in our country, it could be found everywhere: from planting in parks and squares to private front gardens. Unpretentious and frost-resistant. Height - up to 2 m.

Japanese spirea, grade 'Little Princess'

Spirea vangutta (Spiraea x. Vanhouttei). One of the most beautiful and abundantly flowering spirits. Her foliage color is also original - gray-green. And yet - it is the only spire that transfers calcareous soils. The height reaches 2-2.5 m.

Japanese spirea ‘Albiflora’ (Spiraea japonica ‘Albiflora’). This variety differs in that it blooms from July to September with white flowers, although almost all summer-flowering spirits have flowers of red and pink shades. Low, only 0.5-0.8 m.

Spirea bumalda ‘Crispa’ (Spiraea x bumalda ‘Crispa’). It differs from others in its unusual foliage, slightly twisted and dissected along the edge, dark green, and burgundy when unfolding. The flowers are also dark purple, collected in corymbose inflorescences. Height - up to 0.5 m.

How to care

After planting, the young bush needs care and attention.

Complete care necessarily includes:

• regular watering of the soil, which the roots and branches need;
• timely application of fertilizers necessary for nutrition and development;
• pruning overgrown branches to distribute nutrients evenly;
• preparation of spirea for the winter period.

Compliance with these simple conditions will provide the shrub with good health and harmonious development.

Did you know? In ancient times, the Japanese made whip handles from spirea branches.

Watering

During the first year of life, the formation and development of roots occurs, so watering must be careful and regular. Every two months, you need to add 10 liters of water to one bush.

A young plant requires special attention in the hot months when there is not enough natural moisture. During this period, the amount of water must be increased to 15 liters.

A mature plant requires moderate watering.

Twice a month it is watered only in a hot period with the introduction of 10 liters of water per shrub. After moistening, the soil must be loosened and weeds removed.

Then the ground around the spirea should be covered with a layer of peat mulch, sawdust and seed husks in equal parts. Mulching will help the soil retain moisture and prevent the crust from appearing from the drying top layer of the earth.

Fertilizers

For continuous growth and abundant, long-term flowering, the spirea must be fed once every season.

The composition of fertilizers depends on the season:

1. Summer top dressing - consists of organic fertilizers like mullein solution.
2. Autumn and winter - include only complex mineral fertilizers.
3. Early spring - should be fertilized with a mixture of phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium. For example, all the necessary components are contained in ready-made fertilizers "Kemira Lux" and "Kemira Universal".

To achieve the best result, fertilizers can be enriched with superphosphate at the rate of 20 g per 20 l of the mixture.

Pruning and preparing for winter

Overgrown branches spoil the aesthetic appearance of the shrub and require a large amount of nutrients, which adversely affects the development of the plant as a whole.

To avoid this, excessively long branches should be pruned. However, it should be borne in mind that the buds are located along the entire length of the shoots and only their tips need to be cut off, or to the middle of the entire length

The trimming process is carried out according to the following scheme:

1. In the first year immediately after spring planting. Shoots are cut to the first well-developed outer bud. Weak shoots are removed.
2. In the summer, during the flowering period, prune inflorescences that have already faded. This stimulates the growth of side shoots and continuous flowering.
3. Second year. In the spring (in March-April), the branches are cut to half, and in the summer - only wilted inflorescences.
4. Third and subsequent years.Old shoots (up to three years old) are cut to the ground. In the spring, repeat the spring and summer pruning of the previous year.

Frozen and damaged branches should be removed from an adult plant at the beginning of each spring. In the fall, you need to cut off dry, non-viable and overly long shoots. Branches, buds on which bloom weakly and rarely, are removed once every two years. Every 10 years, the spirea needs to be rejuvenated: completely cut off the shoots that are 7 years old.

You need to take care of the bush on the eve of cold weather. For the winter period, its trunk must be wrapped in a 20-centimeter layer of dry leaves and peat. This method of preparing for winter is especially useful for a young plant. It is recommended to attach the branches of shrubs up to two years old to the ground, sprinkle with foliage and cover with a strong film. This measure will help protect immature shoots from frostbite.

Did you know? Spirea shoots contain glycoside-salicin, from which acetylsalicylic acid is obtained as a result of chemical treatment. This discovery was made in 1839, and since then, on the basis of this acid, a well-known drug that helps with headaches, aspirin, has been created.