types and varieties of spirea

Grooming and pruning - bringing beauty

In order for the spirea to always delight us with its beauty, it is necessary to properly care for it. All care consists in correct and timely pruning. The main thing is to remember two rules: we cut off the spring spirea before flowering, and the summer after. It is almost impossible to spoil the plant by excessive pruning. To keep the shrubs always lush and green, you need to cut out old shoots every spring. Right at the root. And form the rest as you like. The main thing is not to do this during flowering.

After the buds have faded, they can be removed immediately. This is done so that the plant does not waste energy and its juices to form the seed fund. Subsequently, the spirea bush will bloom again in early autumn. On each branch, you can cut off the top. This can control growth and stimulate the development of secondary shoots. Interestingly, each cut off bush or twig can be used as planting material.

It must also be remembered that, like any plant, spirea needs minerals and fertilizer. But you don't need to do this too often. An adult plant can even survive a slight drought. Top dressing can be carried out two or three times per season, and the first time in early spring. During the dry summer months, it won't hurt to water it with water, but not too often. A good and developed root system is able to provide its own food.

After a few years, the spirea may fade a little. To make it come to life again, it is enough to thin it out. Choose an autumn, cloudy day for this so that the roots do not dry out in the sun during transplantation. Water the soil abundantly and dig up the required bushes the next day. Free as many roots as possible from the ground, it is better to carry this soil to the other end of the garden. Remove any damaged roots and leave strong ones with lateral branches. When laying in a new place, add compost or peat to the hole. Fully mulch the landing site. Remember to water every day until the leaves on the bushes rise.

Thinning flowering shrubs

Do not forget that some unwanted insects, such as aphids, can take a liking to spirea. And where aphids are, there are ants. You can get rid of these insects in the same way as you get rid of raspberries from aphids. For example, a regular soapy water solution: 2 teaspoons of liquid soap to 2 cups of water. You can also add some vegetable oil. Spray aphid clusters with this solution and literally the next day you will see the result. The viscous solution envelops the parasites, and the aphids breathe through the skin, and a whole generation of pests will disappear from your garden.

The leafworm is a moth-like butterfly. Its caterpillar rolls several leaves into a tube and gnaws out all the contents. In case of danger, the caterpillar crawls out of the leaf and hangs on the cobweb. Usually this insect infects fruit plants, and if the spirea grows nearby, it can become infected from them with these parasites. Avant, Agravertine, Lepidocide will help to cope with it. Summer residents also pick off the affected leaves, collect and burn (it is best to crush the caterpillar inside).

One from dangerous pests of spirea is considered a spider mite. Its females weave webs on the inner sides of the leaves and lay eggs there. Infected leaves have white spots on the upper side. The leaves soon turn yellow, dry out and fall off. You can cope with the misfortune with the help of Agravertin, Actellik, Vertimek, as well as other tick remedies.

If you see blackened ends on the branches, these are signs of a fire blight. It is necessary to completely cut out this shoot and burn it.

Care

Despite the fact that the oak-leaved spirea is an unpretentious representative of the flora, it still needs to follow certain rules of care.

Watering and fertilizing

During rainy weather, the plant does not need additional irrigation. In the dry summer season, the shrub should be watered twice every 30 days. One irrigation procedure usually takes about 12 liters of liquid. At the end of irrigation, the soil near the shrub should be loosened and mulched. Do not allow water stagnation near the roots.

During loosening, you need to be quite careful, since the root system is located close to the earth's surface and can be easily damaged. Spiraea chamaedryfolia is fertilized during spring and summer.

Pruning

To preserve the decorative form of the oak-leaved spirea, as well as to prevent the occurrence of diseases, it is worthwhile to carry out regular sanitary pruning on it. The procedure is carried out in the summer after flowering. Do not forget that this representative of the flora needs pruning every year.

Sanitary pruning involves removing dried, broken and deformed twigs. It is also worth shortening very long and outdated shoots. At the end of the procedure, the branches should be no more than 25 centimeters in length.

Preparing for the winter period

Spiraea oak-leaved belongs to frost-resistant plants. However, the plant should be prepared in advance for cold weather and severe frosts. In this case, it is worth insulating the rhizome of the culture by laying spruce, bark or fallen leaves around the trunk of the shrub.

Pest and disease control

The most common parasites that attack the culture are aphids, leaf rollers, and spider mites. They are especially active in damaging shrubs from June to August. If twisted foliage and cobwebs are found on the branches, we can talk about an attack by a spider mite on a spirea. As a preventive measure, it is recommended to carry out sanitary pruning of oak-leaved spirea. The affected branches should be carried away from the garden area, and then burned.

In order to prevent the spread of a fungal infection in the root system of a culture, it is worth constantly loosening its near-stem circle. Such an event prevents fluid stagnation and the appearance of fungus. To treat the plant, it is worth using specially designed chemicals.

Spiraea chamaedryfolia is recognized as a beautiful ornamental representative of the flora, therefore it is often used when decorating territories. This plant is often used by landscape designers. The shrub looks great next to coniferous and deciduous trees. Spirea is a worthy option for a flowering hedge.

Spirea oak-leaved is able to decorate any private area, as well as a park area. Every novice gardener can grow an unpretentious plant.

How to properly plant a spirea, see the next video.

Spirea care

How to care for spirea

As mentioned above, spirea is a fairly light-loving plant, however, there are also species that feel great in a shaded place. Also, the plant needs a loose nutritious soil, a good drainage layer, and also a layer of mulch on the soil surface, the thickness of which should be about 7 centimeters.

Since the root system of the spirea is not located very deeply, it should be watered often enough and in moderation. So, in dry times, it is necessary to pour 1.5 buckets of water for each bush once every 2 weeks. You also need to regularly loosen the topsoil and pull out weeds. The first time you need to feed the plant after pruning, for this, a complex mineral fertilizer is used. In mid-July, it is recommended to feed the shrub with a mullein solution, to which superphosphate must be added (10 grams of substance per bucket of solution).

Most often, spider mites and aphids settle on this plant.You can get rid of aphids by means of pyrimor, and from spider mites - by karbofos. As a rule, spireas are highly resistant to diseases, and pests settle on them extremely rarely and do not cause significant harm to them.

Spirea pruning

How to properly prune a summer flowering spirea

Bushes are able to grow in a relatively short time, in this regard, pruning must be carried out systematically. In spring-flowering plants, inflorescences are located along the entire length of the branches, and therefore, once a year, they only need to cut off the ends of the branches that are frozen during the winter cold. However, after 7-14 years, all old stems are cut off from the bushes, or rather, the spireas are cut off almost to the stump. After the young growth appears, it is necessary to choose from them 5–6 of the strongest stems for the formation of a bush. In this case, the other stems will need to be cut off completely. After 1-2 years, all weakened or old stems should be cut off from the bush. The tips of the branches are cut off exclusively in spring until the buds are fully open. Old stems can be removed even in the spring, even in the summer.

Late-flowering species and varieties should be pruned every year at the very beginning of the spring period. Stem pruning is carried out to the first bud, while weakened and small shoots must be cut out completely. It is necessary to cut off the old stems in a timely manner, as they gradually begin to dry themselves. After the spirea survives to the age of four, it is recommended to cut it off annually to a height of about 30 centimeters from the soil. If, after such a procedure, the growth is rather weak, it is best to replace the shrub. As a rule, summer-flowering species live for about 15-20 years.

Reproduction of spirea

You can propagate by seeds, dividing the bush, layering and cuttings. Seed propagation is not suitable for hybrid varieties, as such plants cannot retain varietal characteristics. The best method is cuttings, because about 70 percent of all cuttings give roots very quickly, even without the use of growth stimulants. Spring-flowering species should be cuttings in the first weeks of June, and summer-flowering species - from mid-June or in July. Rooting of woody cuttings should be done in September or October.

It is necessary to cut off the one-year straight stem and divide it into pieces. It must be remembered that on each cutting there should be 5 or 6 leaf plates. The leaves on the bottom should be cut off with petioles, and those on the top should be shortened by ½ part. After that, the stalk must be placed in an epin solution for 12 hours (1.5 ml of substance for 3 liters of water). Then the knot located at the bottom must be dipped into the root, and then plant it in a container filled with moistened sand, and the stalk should be at an angle equal to 30 to 45 degrees. Cover with foil or glass. Remove them to a shaded place and moisten them 2 or 3 times a day with a spray bottle. After the frosts begin, the cuttings need to be dug in the garden bed and covered with dried leaves on top. A box must be placed on top of them, having previously turned it over, and so they must stay until spring. After they have young shoots next year, they are planted in a permanent place.

In order to propagate by layering, you need to make a groove in the soil and put a stem in it, which is fixed and covered with soil. To get several young shoots at once, it is necessary to pinch the upper part of the layer. In this case, all lateral buds will be able to give the process. In the autumn, the cuttings must be obtained and divided into the resulting shoots. They need to be put in a permanent place.

When to cut spirea

In almost all varieties of meadowsweet branches are short-lived. In the third year of life, they already begin to dry out. During this time, they become a haven for pests, as well as a breeding ground for fungal diseases.In regions with frosty winters, annual shoots often freeze slightly. If you want to grow this ornamental shrub on the site for many years, you should know the basic rules of how to properly cut the spirea.

Note! The main pruning is performed in spring and autumn, but during the summer, if necessary, branches that are broken, diseased, dried out should be cut

Spring care for spirea - pruning, shaping

The varieties blooming in spring are pruned, removing too old shoots, dry twigs, and this can be done almost immediately after flowering. Varieties blooming in summer from the 4th year of life are pruned in the spring, and they are removed a lot at a time. In these varieties, old branches tend to lean towards the ground itself, thereby spoiling the appearance of the meadowsweet.

Note! By limiting pruning only to the crown shoots, you can get a completely undesirable result: smaller inflorescences and thinning of the crown. If you prune in the summer by a third of the length of the shoots, this will cause the remaining crown to branch

Thinning every 2-3 years will allow sunlight to penetrate deep into the bush, which will definitely have a positive effect on its health

Pruning a third of the length of the shoots in the summer will cause the remaining crown to branch out. Thinning every 2-3 years will allow sunlight to penetrate deep into the bush, which will definitely have a positive effect on its health.

Rejuvenating pruning is performed every 7-10 years, removing almost the entire crown and leaving only a few of the strongest and youngest branches.

Correct pruning stimulates abundant flowering

How to care for spirea in preparation for winter

In the first 1-2 years after planting, the bushes are almost not cut off, as the crown is forming. But adult specimens need systematic pruning. In autumn, the unripe part of the shoots is trimmed to the first bud above the lignified part. Anything that creates excessive thickening is removed inside the crown, since in the absence of good ventilation, fungal diseases will inevitably appear.

Stimulating pruning is performed after leaf fall, but before the first frost.

Important! The maximum length of the cut off part of the branches is 30 cm.Only in this case, there will be enough flower buds on the bushes so that next spring the flowering remains lush and abundant

The deepest autumn pruning is carried out on bushes over 15-20 years old. The same is done with specimens severely affected by pests or diseases. The shrub is shortened almost to the very ground, leaving several shoots no more than 10 cm high.

An autumn haircut is also needed for hedges. This increases the chances of a successful wintering, and also saves time in the spring, when there is already a lot of work in the garden. The deadline for an autumn haircut is the first half of October. If we are talking about bushes with long drooping shoots in the northern regions, then after shortening them, they are bent to the ground and covered with an agropanel or spruce branches.

Plant care

Since the plant is quite unpretentious, it does not require complex and frequent care: it is enough only to provide it with moisture in time, carefully monitor the condition of the soil (loosen it in time and remove all weeds).

If the plant was recently planted, it is necessary to mulch it using a peat layer about 7 cm thick.In the future, mulching should be carried out every autumn (near the stem) to protect the plant in the cold season, because its roots are located close enough to the surface of the earth. You can use peat, compost, even walnut hulls.

Advice. After heavy torrential rains, you should especially carefully monitor the condition of the soil, since quite often it is covered with a dense crust, which will have to be removed.

The first work should begin with the arrival of spring. First, you need to properly nourish the soil.For these purposes, a universal kemira is usually used (about 120 g per 1 sq. M of land).

Pruning young spirea is not required

As for pruning, in no case should it be carried out until the plant is 4 years old. During this period of time, Spirea will only gain strength and grow in all its power. In the spring, it is necessary to remove all shoots from the age of 4 years, leaving only those that are located at a distance of about 30 cm from the surface of the earth.

Diseases and pests rarely disturb the plant, and if properly cared for, they are unlikely to visit your garden at all. Nevertheless, sometimes Spirea suffers from an invasion of pests.

1. Spider mite. As soon as you find at least a couple of individuals of this pest on the leaves of a plant, you must immediately begin to fight it. For these purposes, karbofos, akrex, etc. are most often used.
2. Aphid. Most often appears at the beginning of the growing season. Granular pyrimor or kronefos will help fight aphids. By the way, leaf rollers can also be destroyed using these tools.

In general, as you could see, Billard's Spirea is a rather unpretentious plant, and with proper care it will become a real decoration of your garden. Good luck!

Description of the Japanese spirea "Crisp"

This plant has another name - Tavolga. Spirea belongs to the Pink family. A very popular plant among gardeners, since the main advantage is not only beautiful carved foliage, but also lush inflorescences of a bright pink hue.

Origin story

1. The name of spirea is translated from ancient Greek as "speira", that is, "bend". Indeed, the shoots of the shrub are very flexible, and the leaves seem to be carved by hand by a master.
2. Under natural conditions, spirea can be found in the steppe, forest-steppe zone, as well as in semi-deserts. In total, there are at least 100 species.
3. Tavolga has been mentioned since the 15th century, and in the 19th it was entered into the dictionary of V.I.Dal. Many varieties are grown today. The unpretentiousness and undemandingness of the plant allows you to plant bushes in different regions.

Botanical description

• Spirea is a bush-shaped deciduous plant. The plant is graceful, used as a ground cover. Its height is no more than 50 - 60 cm, diameter is about 1 m. The bush grows by 10 - 15 cm per year.
• The crown is dense, globular, with lush foliage and bright flowering. There are straight branches, but there are also slightly curved branches, growing from the middle of the shrub. At first, a reddish hue, over time they become gray. The shape of the bush is compact, which is convenient if the area of ​​the plot or flower beds is small.
• The structure of the root system is shallow, fibrous. The soil should be carefully loosened and weeded so as not to damage the roots.
• During active flowering, the bush is covered with very beautiful inflorescences with a circumference of 5 - 6 cm, which consist of bright pink flowers 5.5 cm in a circle. The structure of the flowers is not terry.
• The flowering period begins in mid-summer (second decade of July), buds appear only on last year's stems. Flowering is long enough, lasts about 1.5 - 2 months.
• A special charm and zest of spirea is its leaves. Absolutely fantastic shape: openwork, cut, wavy, the surface is very fragile and delicate. On the branches are arranged alternately, elongated, up to 8 cm long. The upper part of the leaf is pointed.
• The color scheme is also very impressive - at first the foliage is reddish, then it turns into a rich bright green. In autumn, the leaf plates acquire an orange - scarlet, crimson hue.

The shrub is not prone to disease, which compares favorably with many garden plants. However, pests sometimes pester the plant. Among them are spider mites, aphids, pink-colored minelayers and rose leafworms.

The most often planted spirea of ​​this species as a tapeworm, along the borders, as an accent plant in the composition.Looks very elegant in mixborders, rock gardens, rabatkas.

Description of gray spirea Grafsheim

It is a dense shrub with wide branches, characterized by a long flowering. Having a spherical crown, gray spirea reaches 2 meters in height. The leaves are long, sharp and smooth, and the shoots have a characteristic tomentose-pubescent appearance. The shrub owes its name to the gray color of the leaves, which changes to yellowish with the arrival of autumn.

Flowering occurs from May to June. The flowers have a bright yellow center and grow up to 1 centimeter in size. Inflorescences have an umbrella-like appearance with densely growing shoots, which, after flowering, are converted into fruits. After flowering, pruning is required, which will be discussed in our article.

Characteristic features of gray Grefsheim spirea:

• frost resistance;
• fast growth;
• good adaptability;
• excellent honey plant.

Spirea gray in landscape design

Since the size of the spirea allows you to enter any landscape solution, there are usually no difficulties in the design arrangement. The shrub can serve as a good dense hedge or zoning.

There should be a distance of 0.5-0.6 m between the rows of bushes. The plant is a good disguise for outbuildings on the site, be it a shed or a well. The pleasant appearance of the spirea allows you to embody design ideas and at the same time has a high practicality.

One of the most popular design solutions is considered to be a single shrub planting. This creates an emphasis on the overall plan. A good example would be planting a plant on an alpine slide or near decorative ponds.

Spiraea gray Grefsheim looks equally good both with undersized shrubs and with various types of garden flowers. Spirea harmonizes well with viburnum and euonymus bushes. And also with bright tulips and primrose.

Varieties of gray spirea

A wide range of varieties of gray spirea gives great variability in species solutions. There are over 100 types of spirea. The variety of colors, sizes and flowering times of the plant is highly valued by landscape designers.

There are many varieties of spirea. The most recognizable are the ashen Grefsheim, the gray Arguta, the spirea Bride and Graciosa. The crown is broad and spreading.

Spirea ashy Grefsheim. The snow-white crown of the plant stretches up to 1.6 meters. It is considered the most compact variety. The color of the inflorescences is from various shades of red to white. The foliage is gray-green or yellowish.

Spirea Gray Arguta. The variety is one of the earliest in flowering - the second half of April. White flowers, which make up the crown, reach a diameter of up to 1 centimeter. Relative to the soil - unpretentious, but prefers sunny places. An excellent design solution would be to plant gray arguta in a composition with coniferous crops.

Spirea gray Graciosa. The branches of this variety have a characteristic sweeping arched shape. Graciosa can be up to 2 meters high. The flowers bloom into dense inflorescences and are snow-white in color. The species tolerates frost well and a long absence of moisture.

Growing rules

Willow spirea is undemanding to the conditions of detention, but nevertheless, for normal growth, as well as lush and long flowering, it is worth paying a little attention to it. In order for the plant to grow well and quickly, some nuances must be taken into account when planting a shrub.

• The timing for planting a shrub should be selected in the spring, before the formation of buds on the shoots, or in the fall, after the plant has shed its foliage. The optimal time is a cloudy morning or evening, as well as a rainy day.
• The choice of location mainly depends on the type of plant, but in general, willow spirea prefers well-lit areas.
• Soil preparation consists of mixing two parts of soil, one part of sand and the same amount of peat. This mixture works well for rooting shrubs. It is also necessary to provide the plant with drainage.
• The landing pattern depends on its type: single or group, but the work algorithm is the same. The holes make a little more than the root system of the seedling by about a third. The roots should be placed spaciously in the groove, and the root collar should be on the same surface with the ground. The soil around the seedling is crushed and watered, it is also worth applying a layer of mulch. For group plantings or in the form of a hedge, it is necessary to take into account the size of the growing bushes and leave a distance of 0.5-1 m between them.

SPIRIA JAPANESE "MACROPHILLA"

Japanese spirea "Macrophylla" Spiraea japonica Macrophylla

The most powerful and fastest growing variety of Japanese spirea. One of the best decorative deciduous spirits. Reaches up to 1.5 m in height and 1.5 m in diameter.Differs in large, up to 20 cm long and 10 cm wide, swollen wrinkled leaves, which, when blooming, are purple-red, later green, and in autumn acquire golden yellow tones ... If in May, when budding, this shrub is cut to 6-10 cm from the soil level, then the young growing shoots all summer in the upper part will have a constantly bright color, resembling flowers from a distance. Pink flowers in small inflorescences are lost among the variegated foliage. Blooms from late July to mid-August. It belongs to the group of summer flowering spirits. The flowers are pale pink. Flowering begins in July and lasts until cold weather. Starting from the fourth year, it is recommended that every spring cut the entire upper part of the bush at a height of 30 cm from the ground. Growing fast. Requires a formative and rejuvenating pruning every few years.

It develops better in full sun or in partial shade. It blooms weakly in the shade, and the shoots lignify more slowly. It tolerates all garden soils, but prefers fertile moderately moist, drained soils of slightly acidic and neutral reaction more. Landing in places protected from the wind. Planted plants require shading from the bright sun. Annual spring pruning is recommended to keep the bushes more compact and to form stronger shoots.

In the first years of life, and especially in the year of planting, it is advisable to cover all spireas, regardless of the species. With age, the plants become more hardy, their winter hardiness increases, and, if the climate permits, shelter can be abandoned. In case of frost damage, spiraea quickly recovers due to its high shoot-forming ability. But flowering in such a year will be weak. In our climatic zone, the best natural insulation is snow. But due to the fact that winters in recent years have become more and more unpredictable, it is necessary to protect the plant from the influence of snowless frosts. Before the onset of frost, it is advisable to loosen the soil around the bush, and then sprinkle it, pouring a mound about 20 cm high into the center.For this purpose, it is better to bring the earth from the garden, and additionally mulch the trunks with peat or well-decomposed compost. Tie the branches so that they do not break under the weight of the snow, and bend them to the ground, having previously laid burlap, leaves or other insulating material under them. In this position, the shoots are fixed with metal brackets, and then the entire structure is covered with a layer of insulation. Only with the onset of stable cold weather, when the plant finishes its growing season, can we begin to shelter it. If all the steps to prepare for winter are performed correctly, wintering will go well, and in spring there will be abundant and lush flowering.

It is used for single and group plantings, borders, creating edges and tree-shrub groups, tamping taller bushes. It makes a spectacular impression in the ridges, as a hedge. A curtain of spirits of different species and varieties will allow to extend flowering from May to September, and the use of varieties with decorative leaves will make such a composition elegant throughout the season, including late autumn.Large group plantings of spirea, lilacs and mock-mushrooms with tamping bulbs, lilies of the valley, primroses, astilbe, and curb summers are spectacular. Such a group of plants will be blooming and very decorative from early spring to late autumn. In the near-trunk circles of the spirea, carpets of ground cover perennials will be appropriate: a brilliant dark green periwinkle, a yellow-motley saxifrage of a shady, painted ash-tree. Looks good with conifers, other spireas, barberries, cinquefoil, lavender, St. John's wort, etc. Excellent border plant. It is used to create low hedges, complex flower gardens, alpine slides.

Growing conditions and basic care measures

Open, sunny areas with soddy soils are best for placing the Douglas spirea. This culture also feels good in light partial shade. The more fertile the land, the more luxuriant and better this shrub develops. At the same time, the level of soil acidity should be in the range from 6.1 to 7.8 units.

Landing

Planting meadowsweet in a permanent place is best done in early spring before the start of intensive growth or in September. At the same time, planting work is best planned for rainy, cloudy weather.

If the plant is planned to be used to create hedges, then the distance between the bushes should be about 40-50 cm in rows and 30-40 cm between rows. When creating separately growing groups, the bushes are placed at a distance of 70-100 cm from each other.

The average planting hole should be about a third larger than the root system. Its depth should be from 40 to 50 cm. When placing a seedling in a hole, its root collar should be at the level of the soil surface. At the bottom, it is also advisable to equip a drainage layer of broken bricks, sand or similar materials.

The main care of meadowsweet consists in periodic feeding and watering during a drought. The first time the bushes are fed in early spring. For this, you can use any complex mineral fertilizer. It should be diluted according to the attached instructions.

Spirea also responds quite well to the introduction of organic matter and potassium monophosphate. Favorable for meadowsweet and mulching the soil surface with rotted sawdust or sheet compost.

Spirea should be watered in moderation. You should not allow any gulf or overdrying of the soil. After irrigation, the soil surface is loosened, and at the same time weeds are removed. When caring for a spirea, it is advisable to prune. It is carried out in the following terms:

1. In the spring before bud break. During it, old shoots are removed and younger ones are shortened.
2. After the end of the flowering period. At this moment, the tops with faded inflorescences are removed.
3. In the autumn. Perform if necessary to rejuvenate the bush. In this case, the old shoots are simply cut on a stump.

Winter shelter

Spirea Douglas is a fairly winter-hardy plant. It can withstand frosts down to -28 ° C without any problems. Therefore, in most cases, she does not need to build an additional winter shelter.

But in some especially frosty and snowless winters, slight freezing of the bushes can still be observed. To help recover such damaged plants, in the spring they are fed with nitrogen-containing fertilizers.