Description of three-lobed almond varieties, planting and care technology

In landscaping the garden and local area, the three-lobed almond occupies one of the first places among ornamental shrubs. The variety of its varieties allows you to create a hedge and build an ensemble of group plantings. The plant will not only play the role of a beautiful decorator, capable of creating unforgettable landscapes, but also perform a number of functional tasks: visually expand the territory, hide individual flaws in the relief, hide from prying eyes.

Description and characteristics of three-lobed almonds

Three-lobed almonds are also called Louiseana, aflatunia, and double plum. The plant forms a small beautiful tree, capable of reaching 3 m in height, covered with brown-brown bark. Annual shoots are slightly pubescent. The shrubs are decorated with light green foliage of a rounded-oblong shape with finely serrated edges.

The crop is valued for its double flowers, 3-5 cm in diameter, densely distributed along the entire length of the shoots. At the time of flowering, the plant resembles Japanese sakura. It pleases the eye with its dark pink color, which becomes lighter when the flowers are fully opened. The fruit is round in shape with a dry, velvety pericarp no more than 1 cm in diameter. The stone with a weak textured surface is difficult to separate.

The light-loving, heat-loving, frost-resistant plant blooms in May for about 2-2.5 weeks, then the petals fall off and the leaves bloom.

Types and varieties of Louiseania

In various nurseries and botanical gardens, as well as for landscaping garden plots, the following varieties of three-lobed almonds are used:

• Captivity. The plant is in the form of a deciduous bush no more than 2 m in height with a dense spherical crown, decorated with large double flowers 4 cm in diameter.
• Louiseania of Kyiv. Tall bush 3-3.5 m in height. The flowers are dark pink in color and 3.5 cm in diameter. The pleasant aroma of almonds leaves no one indifferent. Abundant flowering is observed for about a week.
• Terry Stonefly. A tree up to 3 m in height with large pink flowers that exude an excellent aroma. Flowering duration is up to 3 weeks.
• Almond Rosemund.The compact bush has large double flowers, painted in a rich pink color. The plant pleases the eye with its flowering for more than 3 weeks.
• Louiseania Crimson. The short, spreading bush is covered with crimson flowers at the time of flowering.
• Chinese. The variety is valued for its early, abundant flowering with simple light pink flowers.
• Tanyusha. The variety blooms early and has a special decorative effect. The flower is in the form of a double corolla containing 30-40 slightly curled petals.

The choice of three-lobed almond variety depends on the preferences of gardeners and the purpose of the ornamental crop.

Choosing a location and lighting

When choosing a place for planting, you need to focus on the landscapes and designed compositions in the gardens. Please note that for the full growth and development of three-lobed almonds, you need a sunny area, protected from strong winds. In shaded areas, the crop feels uncomfortable and may no longer please with its flowering next season.

You should not plant three-lobed almonds in an area where groundwater is close to the surface of the earth.

Soil for growing

The culture prefers loamy soils that have a slightly alkaline or neutral reaction. Places with clay, salty and chlorine-containing soils should be avoided.

Before planting, which is recommended in autumn or early spring, the selected area should be dug up, freed from weeds and the soil loosened.

Planting process

Cultivation of three-lobed almonds involves competent planting, including the following actions:

1. Make holes 30-40 cm deep, slightly wider than an earthen ball on the roots of the seedlings. In this case, it is necessary to maintain a distance between planting units of at least 3 m.
2. To eliminate stagnation of moisture, place a drainage layer of gravel and broken bricks at the bottom of each hole. Sprinkle fine sand on top and place a peg for reliable support.
3. Carefully place the seedlings at the bottom of the hole and cover them with a soil mixture consisting of components such as leaf soil, sand, humus, and topsoil. The root collar should be level with the ground.
4. Water well and mulch the tree trunk circles using peat or humus.
5. Secure the seedlings to a stake to protect them from the wind.

How to care for a plant

In order for the three-lobed almond to grow healthy and delight with its lush flowering, it is necessary to provide it with proper care, which includes a set of measures aimed at ensuring the survival of the tree after planting and creating favorable conditions for growth.

Watering

Three-lobed almonds require moderate watering. Excess moisture can cause root rot, and with a lack of water, the tree does not grow and bear fruit well. Water when the soil dries to a depth of 2 cm. Pour water strictly at the root, since moisture on the crown can cause diseases.

Watering rate is from 7 to 10 liters of water per bush.

Top dressing

Louiseania is responsive to systematic additions of nutrients. In spring, the plant needs to be fed with a mixture diluted in 10 liters of water containing 10 g of urea, 1 kg of mullein, 20 g of ammonium nitrate. With the onset of autumn, add minerals: potassium sulfate and double superphosphate, 20 g per 1 m² soil.

Shelter for the winter

Three-lobed almonds can withstand 25-27 degrees of frost. In severe winters, the tips of the shoots may freeze. Therefore, collect the crown branches into a bundle and tie them, then wrap them with material to protect the flower buds from the cold.Young specimens will be helped to survive the winter by mulching the tree trunk circles with a 15 cm layer of soil. In this case, the root collar should not be closed.

Trimming Features

Three-lobed almonds need to be trimmed regularly, as they grow rapidly and without proper trimming will take on an unkempt appearance. You can give the plant a beautiful crown by removing dry, yellowed, twisted branches that grow inward. Also, upon completion of flowering, the branches should be shortened by 2/3 of their length. This operation encourages the growth of new strong shoots.

Possible diseases and pests

During the growing process, gardeners are faced with a problem such as moniliosis. This is a fungal disease that penetrates plant tissue through flowers, where it germinates and affects the wood. As a result, the branches dry out and take on a burnt appearance. Control measures: spray plants using Bordeaux mixture every 20 days.

The crop is also prone to gray rot, which can only be cured by cutting off infected branches in winter or spring immediately after the three-lobed almonds have flowered.

The crop can be attacked by pests such as leaf rollers and aphids. In the fight against leaf rollers, you can use a chlorophos solution by spraying the caterpillars with it. A solution of laundry soap, which should be used to treat leaves affected by insects, will help against aphids.

Almond breeding

You can propagate three-lobed almonds using the following methods:

1. Root shoots. The bushes of the plant produce a lot of growth after pruning. A strong seedling is formed in the second year. It needs to be grown in the same place for another year, making an incision at the base of the shoot and covering it with soil. This will help speed up the development of the seedling's roots.Three-lobed almonds will bloom in the third year.
2. By layering. Press the shoots to the ground and hill up. Once the root system is formed, transplant the seedling to a permanent location.
3. Green cuttings. Cut the planting material in July. Root using containers designed for this purpose. The cutting must have three nodes. When planting, two of them need to be buried in a soil mixture containing peat and sand. After it takes root, transplant the material into a school for a year for growing. In winter, it needs to be covered using straw and leaves.
4. Vaccination. The operation should be carried out in spring or summer. Graft onto plum, cherry plum, sloe, bird cherry and other almonds.

The nuances of growing in different regions of Russia

Despite the fact that three-lobed almonds belong to heat-loving crops, they are winter-hardy. He is afraid of sudden changes in temperature. Therefore, it must be covered during frosts. If you follow the recommendations, you can plant three-lobed almonds and admire their beauty in the Moscow region.

Many species of this plant do not require special climatic conditions, but not all are suitable for cultivation in Siberia and the Urals.

There is one type of crop that grows without problems in northern latitudes, this is steppe almond.

The use of three-lobed almonds in landscape design

When creating a landscape design, you need to take into account that the three-lobed almond blooms in May for 2-2.5 weeks, and in the summer its decorative value decreases. Therefore, a beautiful shrub growing on a lawn should be replanted with Japanese spirea, flowering perennials with broad-leaved leaves. Compositions with coniferous crops look very beautiful.Also, low bushes and standard forms of almonds combine in an original way with stones and are appropriate in a Japanese garden.

By planting three-lobed almonds in the right place, you can transform your local area into a life-giving, flowering corner that delights its creator. You can't help but fall in love with this graceful plant. A few weeks of magical pink blooms completely pay off the gardener’s troubles and worries.