Spiraea Nipponensis Snowmund is a shrub-like plant whose height is 1.5-2.5 meters by 10-20 years. Her homeland is Japan, the island of Shikoku. The width of the plant is equal to its height.
Description of Spiraea Snowmund nipponensis
The bush is 1.5-2.5 meters high, it gains this height by 10-20 years, the width of the plant corresponds to the height. The branches of the bush are elongated, in a horizontal position they have an arched shape. The leaves are oval, 1-4 centimeters long. They have a dark green tint, the edges may have a bluish-green color.During late autumn the leaves turn red. Its lifespan is from 30 to 50 years.
The plant increases every year by 15-30 centimeters in height and width. Spiraea flowers are white. The bush is completely covered with flowers. They are small in size, up to 0.8 centimeters, and the inflorescences are spherical in shape and reach 7-8 centimeters.
It begins to bloom in June. At this time, the bush looks beautiful both up close and at a distance. Spirea blooms for 15-25 days. The plant is light-loving. Loves richly fertilized soil, but does not tolerate drought. Tolerates pruning well.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Spiraea Snowmound Nippon is good for creating a beautiful and durable hedge due to the following advantages:
- grows quickly;
- adapts to any soil;
- It does not require special care;
- looks attractive in appearance;
- blooms for a long time.
There are varieties in which the crown has a flowing shape; such bushes do not require pruning, making care much easier. The disadvantages of such a plant are that many varieties do not tolerate severe frosts and prolonged drought.
How and when is spirea planted?
The plant can be planted in September or early spring. This happens before the buds begin to bloom. The weather for landing should be cloudy. Regardless of the fact that the plant is unpretentious, plant it in well-fertilized soil. The planting location depends on what variety is being planted. The place is either sunny or shaded.
How does landing take place:
- Markings are being made for planting. Pegs are placed and ropes are tightened.
- Next, recesses are made from 40 to 50 centimeters deep, and a distance of 0.5-0.6 meters between them.
- Mineral fertilizers are placed in the depressions at the bottom.
- After preparation for planting is completed, the planting itself begins. The bush is placed in a recess, the root system is straightened and covered with earth.
- After planting, the soil is compacted and watered to the very roots.
This is how spirea is planted.
The plant can get along well with juniper, thuja, and spruce.
Further care
In order for the spirea to continue to grow safely in the future, it requires care. The main care options are: watering, fertilizing and pruning.
Since the root system is fibrous and located close to the surface of the earth, it needs to be watered regularly. If the weather is very dry and hot, then you need to irrigate 2-3 times a month. Each bush needs up to 15 liters of warm water. After the plant is watered, loosening and mulching are carried out. To prevent an earthen crust from appearing and to retain moisture longer, peat, sawdust, leaves or seed husks are suitable for mulching.
Feed the bush 3 times. In the spring, they are fed with substances containing nitrogen. In the summer - organic. In the autumn - phosphorus-potassium fertilizer or wood ash.
To enhance flowering, the bush is often pruned. Trimming scheme:
- Since spirea flowers are located along the entire length of the shoots, you need to cut off the faded branches to ½ the length of the shoot.
- In spring, frozen branches are cut off, and in autumn they are cleared of old, weak shoots and excess growth.
- Once every 24 months, weak shoots are removed, and once every 10 years, the bush is cleared of old ones.
This is how the spirea is cared for after it is planted in the ground.
Preparing for winter
Despite the fact that spirea is resistant to frost, it needs to be prepared for the cold.To do this you need: abundant watering, fertilizing, fertilizer with phosphorus, potassium and wrapping. Non-woven material, dry straw or foliage are suitable for wrapping. The layer must be at least 25 centimeters.
Diseases and pests
Despite the fact that spirea is highly resistant to diseases and pests, it may be susceptible to attack by some insects or some infections. Here are the insects that harm the plant:
- Spider mite. This insect appears on the plant during hot periods. Signs of this pest: the appearance of white spots on the leaves. To eliminate it, drugs such as Fozalon, Phosfamide, Metaphos, Keltan and Acrex are suitable.
- Aphid. This pest attacks throughout the summer. It affects leaves, young shoots and flowers. If the aphids have not seriously damaged the plant, you can use solutions from folk remedies (pepper tincture, tobacco tincture, onion and garlic). If the plant is severely damaged, then Actellik, Fozalon, and Pirimor will help.
- Blue meadowsaw sawfly (caterpillar). It destroys leaves, buds and shoots. Decis is suitable for eliminating it.
Even though the plant may be sick, it still looks beautiful and attractive.
Reproduction methods
Reproduction occurs using 3 methods: cuttings, layering, division.
Cuttings are the most common method of propagation. Harvesting of cuttings occurs in early June. First of all, a one-year-old shoot is selected from the bush and cut off at the very base. This branch is divided into parts so that each has 5 leaves.
The prepared material is immersed in the Epin solution for 10-12 hours. Next, the cuttings are planted in a container containing wet sand.They are deepened at an angle of 45 degrees. When cold weather sets in, the pieces are buried in open ground and covered with dry leaves. An inverted box is placed on top. When spring comes, the seedlings are opened and planted in a permanent place.
Reproduction by layering occurs as follows: in the spring, one of the branches is pressed to the ground. The end of the branch is deepened and secured with weights. Water the cuttings in the same way as the entire bush. In autumn, the branch is removed and planted in another place.
Division occurs in both spring and autumn. But the best time for this is the end of summer - the beginning of autumn. The bush is dug up, the soil on the root system is softened, then the roots are washed and straightened. Using a knife or pruning shears, cut the roots into 2-3 parts. This procedure is completed by planting the resulting parts in the ground and watering them abundantly.
Landscape design
If you look at the plant from the perspective of landscape design, then it is well suited for landscaping different areas, planted with conifers, and will also look good near a pond. Areas for landscaping can be as follows:
- front garden or flower bed;
- sites;
- garden;
- a park;
- lawns.
When the bush blooms, it looks beautiful and is noticed from afar. Spiraea looks good with tree and shrub compositions. Suitable for creating a rock garden, it also complements garden paths and fences well. It goes well with lilac. At a time when the bush is not blooming, its branches add grace to the entire composition. Due to the fact that the plant is unpretentious and frost-resistant, does not require special care, it is widely used in landscape design. These bushes are honey-bearing. Therefore, they can also be planted next to an apiary or single hives.
Conclusion
Spiraea Snowound is a popular member of the Rose family. This plant gained popularity due to the fact that it is not whimsical and frost-resistant. It also has high decorative qualities. This plant can be grown either alone or as part of a flower group. Any gardener who plants spirea on his plot will give it beauty, originality and create a small fairy-tale place out of the plot.
