Planting and caring for spirea at home, propagation, pruning and replanting

Spiraea (in a number of sources referred to as meadowsweet) is an ornamental plant distinguished by small flowers that form large bouquets. Shrubs are classified into two large groups, depending on the season of flowering (spring and autumn). Despite belonging to ornamental crops, propagation of spirea, planting and caring for the plant does not cause difficulties.

General description of spirea

Spirea has the following features:

• bush height - up to 2.5 meters (tall plant varieties) or 15 centimeters (dwarf);
• the root system is fibrous, lying shallow;
• the color of the branches varies from dark to gray shades;
• the color of the flowers varies from crimson to white shades;
• does not like winter (with the exception of dwarf species);
• one inflorescence forms several small flowers;
• the arrangement of inflorescences depends on the variety of shrub.

The variety of spirea largely determines the appearance of the plant. In particular, there are varieties in which the branches either stand or creep along the ground. This crop is planted to form hedges, decorate gardens and rock gardens. Therefore, before purchasing a shrub, it is recommended to decide in advance on the purposes of planting spirea.

Varieties and types of plants

Spiraea are classified into two groups, depending on the flowering period: spring and autumn. In central Russia and Siberia, gardeners prefer to grow the following varieties of shrubs:

1. Average. It is distinguished by its large (up to two meters) size and increased resistance to drought and frost. White flowers open in May and last for three weeks.
2. Birch leaf. 1-2 meter shrub, capable of growing in Siberia. Birch-leaved flowers, appearing in May, are collected in white buds up to 10 centimeters in diameter.
3. Gorodchataya. A small (up to a meter) variety of spirea with large inflorescences of a golden hue. The culture is distinguished by its resistance to drought and frost, as well as a good root system that strengthens the draining soil.
4. Gray.Spiraea bushes of this variety produce many large flowers, causing the branches to bend to the ground.
5. oak leaf. The buds produced by the white flowers resemble umbrellas in appearance and are retained on the plant for 25 days, from May to June. The Oak Leaf Spiraea variety allows you to form curly bushes.

There are other types of garden crops. Breeders have developed varieties that begin to bloom in mid-summer. And a number of dwarf varieties are distinguished by a wide crown.

Subtleties of growing crops

Spiraea is an undemanding plant. Some varieties can withstand prolonged drought and low temperatures. The shrub grows well in urban environments with polluted air. The first flowers (with the exception of annual varieties) appear on the branches in the third year after planting in open ground.

Selection of planting material

When choosing what to plant on a private plot, it is recommended to take into account the purpose of growing the plant. When forming a hedge, preference should be given to tall varieties of shrubs. If you plan to create a tapeworm, then you need to purchase spirea with a long flowering period that tolerates cutting well. And dwarf types of crops are suitable for alpine hills.

Soil and site preparation

It is recommended to plant spirea in well-lit places. In this case, the bush will bloom annually. The culture grows in various soils. However, light turf or leaf soil with a slightly acidic or neutral reaction is considered optimal for cultivation.

If you plan to plant in clay soils, then during preparation you need to add a mixture of sand and peat. The quality of sandy soils is improved with a small amount of clay.In addition, before planting, gardeners recommend feeding the bushes AVA fertilizer (a tablespoon is enough for each bush).

How and when to plant?

The optimal time for planting spirea is autumn. Varieties that bloom in summer can be transferred to open ground with the onset of spring, provided that the soil has had time to warm up and the buds have not swollen. Early shrubs, whose buds appear on the branches in May, are recommended to be planted in the fall. During this time, the plant has time to take root sufficiently to survive the frost. It is necessary to replant the bushes following the given deadlines.

Before transferring the cuttings to open ground, you will need to prepare the place. To do this, in a pre-selected area you need to dig a hole, the size of which is slightly larger than the root system. The depth of the hole should be 70 centimeters, since the drainage layer will take 20 centimeters. After this you need to do the following:

1. Pour a mound of earth into the hole.
2. Place the bush in the center of the hill, straightening the roots.
3. Cover the cutting with soil so that the root collar remains level with the ground.
4. Fill the ground around the seedling with 2-3 buckets of water.

Upon completion of the described actions, you will need to mulch the soil near the bush, filling it with a layer of peat 7 centimeters thick. When developing a planting scheme (if the gardener plans to grow several spirea bushes), you should take into account the size of the future plant and dig holes at a distance of 1-2.5 meters. Due to the close location, the crop will not develop, which is why shrubs will have to be planted in the future.

Further care of the plant

Caring for spirea is quite simple. The plant is unpretentious and requires periodic (but not frequent) soil moistening and fertilizing.

Power scheme

Gardeners use various fertilizing schemes. Traditionally, the plant is fertilized three times per season:

1. In the spring. Mineral or organic fertilizers are applied. Early flowering varieties also require complex fertilizers containing micronutrients.
2. At the end of July. Complex mineral fertilizers are applied under the bush.
3. At the end of summer. The bush is fed with fertilizers containing phosphorus and potassium. These microelements will prepare the plant for a long winter.

At the end of summer or beginning of autumn, it is forbidden to fertilize bushes with fertilizers that contain nitrogen. This element stimulates the growth of new shoots, on the development of which the plant spends a lot of energy, as a result of which it does not have time to prepare for winter in 2 months.

It is recommended to apply fertilizing along with watering. After fertilizing, the soil around the bush must be loosened, thereby ensuring a flow of oxygen to the roots.

Irrigation mode

The frequency of watering depends on the climatic conditions in which the shrub grows. Spiraea tolerates drought well. But in hot summers it requires periodic watering. A young plant has to be moistened more often. Over time, the frequency of watering can be reduced. The volume of water used to moisten the soil is determined depending on the plant variety. No more than 1.5 buckets should be poured under a tall bush, and up to 10 liters under dwarf spirea.

Weeding and loosening

It is necessary to weed the soil around young bushes. Large spireas prevent the growth of weeds due to their dense crown. The soil should be loosened after each watering.

Mulching

As mulch for spirea, peat, sawdust or husks from seeds or chili are used. These components must be poured into a circle under the crown of the bush with a layer of 6-8 centimeters. Mulch prevents the rapid evaporation of moisture from the soil.

Bush pruning

It is necessary to prune spirea several times a season. Moreover, in each case different goals are pursued. Gardeners do not prune spirea in the fall, except in situations where it is necessary to remove affected shoots. A similar procedure is carried out with the onset of heat. At this time of year, frost-damaged shoots need to be removed.

Formative pruning is carried out with the onset of spring or after flowering. The timing of this procedure depends on the variety of planted bush. More often, to give the spirea a certain shape, the branches are pruned after flowering.

In dwarf shrubs, for this it is necessary to shorten the branches by 2 buds, in tall ones - by a third of the original size.

After 7 years, to prevent premature death, spirea needs to be rejuvenated. To do this, you will need to cut off the old shoots, leaving 5-7 new branches.

Shelter for the winter

Most varieties of shrubs require the application of potassium-phosphorus fertilizers in August, and after the leaves fall, water-recharging irrigation and mulching the soil with humus. Non-frost-resistant varieties need to be covered before the onset of cold weather. To do this, you need to tie the branches together, bend the resulting bundle to the ground and cover it with fallen leaves.

Plant diseases and pests

Spiraea gets sick mainly due to high humidity. In such cases, the plant is affected by gray mold or powdery mildew. To prevent infection, it is recommended to use fungicides with copper, colloidal sulfur solution or Fitosporin.

The most common pests on shrubs are aphids, whiteflies, spider mites or blue meadowsaw sawflies. Fitoverm, Metaphos and Actellik help eliminate these insects.

Reproduction methods

Spiraea can be propagated by seeds, layering or cuttings. The first option is the most labor-intensive and less likely to produce results. To propagate the plant, you need to sow the seeds in containers filled with a mixture of leaf soil and peat. After this, the soil should be treated with Fitosporin or a solution of potassium permanganate. 60-90 days after the first shoots appear, the plant is transplanted to the site.

Reproduction by layering is carried out in the spring. At this time, you need to press one of the lower branches to the ground, removing it and covering the end with earth. In autumn, the shoot should be covered with leaves. Next spring, when the branch has taken root, you can start replanting the bush to a new location.

Dividing the bush is the most effective propagation method. To get a new plant, you need to cut it in summer or autumn (depending on the variety) and place the cutting in a mixture of sand and peat. Next spring, a new bush is planted on the site.

The nuances of growing in Siberia, the Urals, and the Moscow region

In the Moscow region and the southern part of the Urals, most varieties of spirea can be grown. In the northern regions of the country, it is recommended to plant dwarf shrubs, not forgetting to create shelter.

Application in landscape design

Due to the variety of varieties, spirea is often chosen for landscape design. The shrub is planted both as a single plant and in the vicinity of other crops. Dwarf varieties of spirea planted along paths or on alpine hills. Tall bushes are used to create hedges.