Weigela - bush oriental origin well developed, but only by botanical gardens. But after all it's a miracle color, aroma, expression! Abundant flowering at the beginning of summer, when the queen of flowers, the rose, has not yet bloomed, our eyes are attracted by the bright colors of the most graceful bell flowers, nodding to us, inviting us to feel the beauty of the coming summer.
With all this splendor, planting and caring for the weigela does not present any difficulty, the cultivation of this shrub is available even to the busiest summer residents.
This is what weigela looks like.
Weigela is a spreading shrub up to 2 m high from the honeysuckle family.
It is considered a highly decorative plant, since it has a proportionally developed crown, long, like weeping, shoots and abundant luxurious flowering.
Flowers - tubular, original bell-shaped, depending on the species, they can be red, pink, yellow-white, milky white. They are in umbrella-shaped inflorescences. Weigela blooms magnificently and for a long time - from May to the end of June. Her homeland is the Far East. In the wild, it is found in China, Japan, the Kuril Islands.
Landing weigela
All types of weigela love the fertile land on which they bloom magnificently. The land should be not only fertile, but also structural and moisture-consuming. Weigel planting sites require open, sunny.
You should not plant it in lowlands where water can stagnate, as well as on acidic, heavy soils and in drafts.
Seedlings planted in the fall often die, so the best time to plant weigela is early spring... Planting holes are prepared with a size of 50 × 50 cm.Add 50 grams to the ground with which you will fill the seedlings. superphosphate and potassium salt. If the land is poor, sandy, then add 1 - 2 buckets of humus to it. Do not deepen the root collar; it should be at the level of the soil.
When planting several weigela bushes, keep a distance of 1 m between low-growing plants and 2 - 3 m. Between tall plants. Mulch the trunks of the seedlings with cut grass or sawdust.
Weigels are not demanding plants and care for them is needed until they grow up and get stronger. However, they love feeding, especially organic ones - fermented bird droppings, mullein, diluted 20 times.
Nitrogen fertilizing should be started in the spring during the period of active development of shoots, giving them with irrigation water after 2 weeks. During the budding period, superphosphate should be added to them at the rate of 1 tbsp. spoon into a bucket of organic solution. After watering and dressing, loosening is carried out. Of course, weeds are unacceptable as they compete for moisture.
In summer, with a shortage of watering, weigela suffers, and in rainy weather it is blissful.
The care of the weigela includes a systematic annual pruning, since it blooms on the shoots of the current year. In young weigela bushes, pruning should be limited to cutting off the shoots after flowering. At the age of five or more years, the bushes can be rejuvenated in the fall by cutting them "on a stump". The plants will grow back next year and bloom again.
Young bushes should be covered for the winter. Spunbond or any other covering material can be used for this purpose. Cover the root zone with straw, castings too. Shelter is required only for young plants, when the bushes grow up to one and a half meters and more, they will winter without shelter.
Reproduction of weigela
Weigela reproduces:
- Seeds
- Lignified cuttings
- Green cuttings
- Root offspring
Propagation of weigela seeds
Plants obtained from seeds are the most frost-resistant, resistant to unfavorable conditions. And besides, this is the most productive way of breeding weigela. The seeds ripen in September. They are very small, but their germination rate is one hundred percent. Sowing can be done both in autumn and spring. In the south, spring sowing is preferable. There is no need to stratify the seeds.
Seeds are sown without embedding. It is enough to sprinkle on top with peat or humus by 0.5-1 cm and slightly compact. Abundant watering through a fine strainer is required.
Seedlings should grow without transplanting in one place for 3-5 years. And only upon reaching a height of 80-100 cm they are planted in a permanent place. The landing site is sunny, but protected from the winds. Neither young seedlings, nor leaves, nor weigela flowers like the wind.
After transplanting and starting to grow, organic feeding should be given. After watering, it is good to mulch the land with high-moor peat, humus or leafy soil.
Propagation of weigela by lignified cuttings
Cuttings cut from annual shoots, take root at any time of the year, but better - in the spring, before bud break. Propagation by lignified cuttings is the most popular method, but green cuttings are also possible a week after flowering.
Wood cuttings are harvested in late autumn or early winter, but before the onset severe frosts... Cut cuttings are stored in the cellar until spring. It is completely wrong to cut cuttings from overwintered shoots in early spring. You can save the shoots cut in autumn not only in a wet cellar, but also in grooves under the snow, having previously buried them in the sand. The shelter must ensure the complete safety of the shoots from drying out, freezing, and diseases.
In the spring, the shoots are cut into cuttings. The lower cut is located under the kidney itself, and the upper cut is 1-2 cm above the upper kidney.
If the cuttings are planted directly into the ground, then their length should be 25-30 cm. Upper part the shoot, like the lower one, is not cut into cuttings. The stalk is planted obliquely, immersing it completely in the soil, leaving 2-3 pairs of buds. Care - watering, loosening, weed control. Rooting occurs on the 15-20th day and is usually one hundred percent.
How to propagate weigela with green cuttings
Weigela can be propagated by green cuttings. Shoots are cut off when they have not yet had time to woody, but this process has already begun. They do not break, but only bend elastically. The bark of the shoots is green.
In terms of time, this is the beginning to mid-June. Shoots are cut early in the morning, since at this time they are as hydrated as possible. To reduce evaporation, the leaf blade is cut in half.
They must be immersed in water immediately after cutting, but not kept in it for a long time in order to prevent leaching of organic substances. The cuttings are planted in a box filled with loose earth. River sand is poured on top with a layer of 1-2 cm. The planting depth is 0.5 cm. The box is covered with a film until the cuttings take root, systematically ventilated.
Cuttings root successfully at 90-100% relative humidity in two weeks. Well-rooted cuttings can be immediately planted in the ground. Good bush from the cutting is obtained in the 3rd year.
In addition to the usual care of rooted cuttings, it is necessary to provide for their shelter for the winter. Young weigela plants do not tolerate temperature extremes in winter, lack of snow and frost. It is necessary to cover it not with earth, but with peat, humus, fallen leaves or spruce branches. V southern region hibernates without shelter.
Weigela can be propagated by root suckers
And there is still one way of reproduction - by root suckers. With their formation, depending on the species, the rooting of a new plant is successful and flowering begins already in the 2nd year.
Weigela is the best decoration small amateur garden. Its flowering shoots are good in bouquets. In the cut, the branches stand for two, or even three weeks.
Varieties and types of weigela
There are few known species of weigela found among amateur flower growers.
Weigela early is a sprawling shrub with branches that bend almost to the ground. It blooms earlier than other species, abundantly and effectively. The flowers are purple-pink. Bush up to 2 m in height.
Weigela is nice- as if justifying its name, this view amazes with its modest grace. The bush is low - up to 0.5-1.5 m. Abundant flowering. The flowers are large, lilac-pink.
Weigela blooming- the most abundant blooming view... The flowers are bright pink, relatively small. The bush is low and not hardy. It requires shelter for the winter, since it hardly grows back when it freezes.
Weigel Middendorf- low, curb shrub up to 1 m in height with a very dense crown. The flowers are large, light yellow, with red dots in the fauces. Loves moisture, therefore it is effective in wet summer.
Weigela in garden design photo
(Weigela hybrida Bristol Ruby)
Weigela hybrid Bristol Ruby - flowering deciduous shrub with a spreading dense crown. The growth rate is fast. Prefers fertile soil. Shade-tolerant, but more decorative in illuminated places. Does not tolerate overflowing water. In severe winters with little snow, it can freeze slightly, but the shoots quickly recover. Requires shelter for the winter. Looks great in single and group plantings, in tree and shrub compositions.
(Weigela hybrida Eva Rathke)
Weigela hybrid Eva Rathke is unusually effective during flowering with carmine-red flowers, which have a pleasant delicate aroma. Grows moderately fast. Photophilous, tolerates shading, but does not bloom very abundantly in the shade. Does not tolerate overflowing water. In severe winters with little snow, it can freeze slightly, but the shoots quickly recover. Requires shelter for the winter. It is used in single and group plantings, landscape compositions, hedges. It is used in the design of park and garden plots, suitable for container growing.
(Weigela hybrida Candida)
Weigela hybrid Candida differs in white flowers. Grows moderately fast. Does not tolerate waterlogging of the soil. Photophilous, achieves better development in open, well-lit places. Used in single and group landings.
(Weigela hybrida Splendid)
Weigela hybrid Splendid - short graceful shrub blooming with large pale pink flowers. Grows well in moist, well-drained soils. Sun-loving. Shelter is recommended for the winter. It is used in single and group plantings, shrub compositions.
(Weigela hybrida Styriaca)
Weigela hybrid Styriaka is a shrub with light green foliage and pink-red flowers. Grows moderately fast. Does not tolerate waterlogging of the soil. Sun-loving. Average frost resistance, in snowless winters it can freeze slightly, but it quickly recovers. It is used in single and group plantings, shrub compositions.
(Weigela variegata)
Weigela variegated - deciduous shrub with white-green leaves. Grows well on loose soils. Photophilous. Requires wind protection. Does not tolerate stagnant water. Quite unpretentious. In severe snowless winters, young shoots can freeze slightly. Weigela will serve as a worthy garden decoration in japanese style.
(Weigela florida Aurea)
Weigela blooming Aurea has a green-golden foliage. In spring it is abundantly covered with bright pink flowers. Blooms for about 20 days. The growth rate is fast. Grows well on moderately moist, loose soils. Does not tolerate waterlogging of the soil. Photophilous. Part of the shoots of the plant freezes in winter, but quickly recovers. It is used in single and group plantings, in tree and shrub compositions.
(Weigela florida Nana Variegata)
Weigela blooming Nana Variegata - dwarf variety weigels with variegated leaves... The flowers are white-pink or crimson. It grows slowly. Does not tolerate waterlogging of the soil. Photophilous. In the conditions of the middle zone, it hibernates with shelter. Disease resistant. Used to create small landscape groups. Recommended for rocky gardens, for creating picturesque curbs and low-growing hedges. Goes well with flowering perennials as part of mixborders and discounts.
Early Bouquet Rose
Weigela, thanks to its decorative qualities, will become an absolute decoration of any garden. Unfortunately, it is rarely found in suburban areas, but gradually it conquers everything. great love gardeners.
It is a hardy deciduous shrub belonging to the honeysuckle family. In nature, there are 15 different species of this plant. Three of them have taken root in Russia: early, Middendorf and flowering.
Flowering months of the plant- from May to June and from August to September. The shrub at this time is covered with numerous lush inflorescences of pale pink, cream, boiling white, pleasant yellow and other pastel colors. By the middle of flowering, the color becomes more saturated and vibrant.
Types and varieties of weigela in Russia
Middendorf - Weigela early grows in the Far East, preferring stony or forest soil. The shrub rises from 1.5 to 2 meters in height, has a spherical crown, bright pink inflorescences with a yellow tinge in the pharynx, consisting of 2-4 flowers, collected on one peduncle.
- Middendorf reaches a height of 1-1.5 meters and has ascending shoots with bright green leaves. Inflorescences, collected from 3-6 flowers on a common peduncle, have a yellowish color with orange dots.
- Blooming Is a tall shrub that grows up to 3 meters, and its crown diameter is 3.5 meters. Large tubular flowers, pale pink to whiteness, collected in inflorescences. This type includes the following varieties:
- "Purpurea" has brown-red leaves and dark pink flowers with a yellowish center. The shrub is 1-1.5 m high, the crown reaches 2 meters in diameter. On winter time this variety requires shelter.
- "Alba"- 3 meters high shrub with white-pink inflorescences.
- "Variegata" – frost-resistant variety with small leaves, 2-2.5 m high. The flowers of the shrub are large, 3.5 cm in diameter, they are collected in juicy pink clusters.
- "Nana variegata" Is a dwarf variety with white-pink or juicy pink flowers, well suited for alpine slides as it prefers stony soil.
- "Costeriana variegata"- low shrub with yellowish fringed leaves.
- "Siebold argenteo-marginata"- medium height variety with dark green leaves bordered with white color, blooms with pink flowers. When grown in middle lane, the shrub requires winter shelter, since it is not winter-hardy.
Variegata Weigela hybrid varieties also grow in Russia, which have a height of 1 to 3.5 meters and a varied color of inflorescences. These include: "Bristol Ruby", "Gustav Mallet", "Debuss", "Eva Rathke", "Fiery Lemoine", "Rosea" and others.
- Best months to plant weigels, of course, are spring ones, as there is an active sap flow, which gives the plant strength for good rooting. It is possible to plant a shrub in the fall, in this case even winter hardy varieties require insulation during cold weather.
- Beneficial features weigels are in its decorative qualities. Its varieties are used in different ways - it can be single and group plantings, curbs and hedges. Throughout the summer, the shrub will be a true decoration of the garden, and during flowering it will become just its pearl.
Reproduction of weigela
Propagated by seeds and cuttings.
Seeds
Alba It must be remembered that seeds can only be stored for one year in a cool place, for example, in a refrigerator. In subsequent years, they lose their germination and become unsuitable for reproduction.
- In the spring, seeds are sown in flowerpots or boxes in a nutrient soil consisting of garden soil, sand and peat. In order for the seeds to sprout friendly shoots, greenhouse conditions are created for them, covering the flowerpots with glass or film.
- When the second pair of leaves appears on the seedlings, they are seated in a separate bowl.
- An annual seedling has one stem with 3-4 pairs of leaves; it grows up to 6-9 cm in height.
- Next spring, flowerpots with seedlings must be taken out into the open air and put in partial shade for hardening. In the second year, weigela grows up to 45-60 cm, and it can be planted in open ground.
- A shrub grown from seed will only bloom in the fourth year after sowing.
This breeding method is good for breeders when breeding new varieties. Under normal circumstances, it is better to use other methods.
Cuttings
Shrub planting
If you want to grow a healthy, beautiful bush, many factors are taken into account for its comfort. You need to choose a favorable planting site, provide suitable soil and care.
Seat selection
For a weigela, a place in partial shade or in the sun is well suited. It is better to choose a calm area of the territory so that the wind cannot damage the inflorescences.
You need to plant seedlings at a distance of 1.5-2 meters from each other, taking into account the further growth of the shrub, for this you need to provide enough large plot land.
Soil preparation
Loose, fertile soil is suitable for weigela. Therefore, it is best to prepare it yourself from leafy and sod land and humus, in proportions of 2: 1: 2.
The hole is dug in advance, it should be 50 x 50 x 40 cm in size.It is supplied with drainage from broken brick, graphy or expanded clay, its layer is at least 10-15 cm. Further, nutritious soil is laid in it and a depression is made in the middle, which is filled with water.
Planting and transplanting
- Now weigela seedlings can be planted in the prepared hole or transplanted adult plant... In any case, the root is set in such a way that the root collar remains at ground level.
- When transplanting a shrub, you need to dig it out extremely carefully so as not to damage the roots. Then they are cleaned and examined, they should not have any pathological changes and deposits. If they are available, it makes no sense to transplant, in this case it is worth growing a seedling from a cutting.
- After planting, the plant is watered and mulched with peat or sawdust.
Care
In order for the cultivation of a shrub to be successful, it needs to be looked after. Only when crafting for a plant comfortable conditions you can grow a gorgeous bush that will delight the owners and guests of the site throughout the summer.
Watering
Weigela needs to be watered in early spring... At least 8-10 liters of water are poured under each bush. It is especially important to do this if the winter was little snow.
If the summer is hot and dry, the shrub must be watered every other day, especially if it is planted in a sunny, open area.
Mulching
Mulching is carried out immediately after planting; it is carried out with sawdust, peat or dry leaves. This layer will help retain moisture and facilitate oxygen access to the plant's roots. During summer period this process is carried out 2-3 times.
Post-flowering care
When the bush has faded, it is necessary to remove all the inflorescences from it, so that the next year, it will again please with exuberant flowering. This period is best time trimming the entire bush. For greater bushiness, all young shoots of the plant must be shortened by half.
Bloom
If weigela does not bloom on time, it means that everything is not created for her the necessary conditions... This may be due to insufficient nutrient soil or the wrong planting site.
You can try to remedy the situation by applying special fertilizing, which are presented in a large assortment in flower shops, and also choose another place in the garden for the shrub.
Disease treatment and pest control
So that not a single row of leaves on the plant turns yellow, and aphids do not appear, which is the main pest for weigela, it is necessary to periodically carry out disease prevention. It consists in treating the shrub with the following solutions:
- solution laundry soap+ 0.4% nicotine sulfate;
- anabazine sulfate 0.2% solution;
- trichlormegaphos 0.2% solution;
- chlorophos 0.3%;
- infusions of bitter pepper, makhorka, garlic or onions.
And they are used for urban decoration.
Description of the genus
Did you know? The genus is named after the famous German botanist Christian Ehrenfried von Weigel.
Popular species and varieties
The genus has from twelve to fifteen varieties. In the nature of our latitudes, there are three wild species, on the basis of which nine have been derived. In this article, we will look at the most popular types.
Hybrid
Blooming profusely hybrid weigela reaches one and a half meters in height. To decorate their gardeners, they most often use hybrid varieties. The color of the inflorescences depends on the hybrid variety:
- this variety has deep red flowers. The bush is quite compact, therefore it is well suited for planting in groups on small ones;
- - a selection variety bred by crossing the Korean and profusely flowering weigela. The bushes are small, grow up to a meter. glossy, dark red;
- has pale pink flowers and a relatively miniature bush size;
- - the earliest flowering variety of hybrid species of weigela. Has a small red color;
- Crossing the flowering and Korean weigela made it possible to obtain a variety with dark pink flowers with a white frill;
- This variety is a hybrid of the same species, differing only in color: large flowers are light, pink tint;
- "- with white flowers. The color persists even when the wilting period begins;
- - blooming with purple flowers has unusually bright green leaves;
- "Pierre Duchartre". The buds are black in color. When the flower opens, the hue changes to dark brown.
Important! June is the time for rejuvenating shrub pruning.
Blooming
Weigela blooming ("Florida") is found in North China and Primorye regions. It blooms profusely, the flowers form four inflorescences of a bright pink color. Has the following subspecies:
Weigela early - an inhabitant of the stony slopes of China and North Korea... Has a neat spherical crown. - bright pink with a yellow core. 
Weigela garden is originally from Japan. Differs in miniature: the height of the bush is no more than one meter. Blooms profusely. Pink-carmine bloom lasts about three weeks on the bush. 
Weigela... This spectacular shrub, which is part of the Honeysuckle family, is unfortunately rarely found in gardens and summer cottages... In total, about 15 species of weigela are known, in natural conditions in all their diversity, they can be found in East Asia... In Russia, in the south of the Far East, only 3 species grow (Middendorf c., Early c., Pleasant c.).
Weigela has been cultivated since the middle of the nineteenth century, when different kinds this plant was introduced to Europe. Despite the fact that the homeland of this culture is Japan and China, it grows well in the south and in central Russia. Modern assortment Weigela has one and a half hundred varieties and hybrids.
Description
Weigela is an ornamental flowering shrub, some of its types when favorable conditions bloom twice a season. Flowering time different types and the varieties are slightly different, but in general, its beginning is the end of May - the beginning of June (therefore, weigelu is called the "messenger of heat"), and the duration is 3-4 weeks. The second bloom is possible in late summer - early autumn. This time it will be less lush and longer.
Weigela beautiful flowers up to 5 cm long, in shape they resemble a small funnel or bell. The color palette is unusually varied and includes numerous shades of red, pink, cream and white flowers... Flowers are either collected in inflorescences or are arranged singly.
Types and varieties of weigela
Of particular interest to plant lovers are several species and varieties of weigela, which can be successfully grown both in the south and in the middle zone of our country. Here they are.
Weigela middendorffiana
In natural conditions, it grows in Sakhalin and the Far East, as well as in the northeastern part of China. It is a shrub that sheds foliage every year. It grows in height from one to one and a half meters. The oval-elongated leaves have a pointed end. Yellowish or grayish-yellow tubular flowers with bright orange dots, reach a length of 3-4 cm. It blooms twice per season. Once in spring (early May), and the second time in August-September. Quite small seeds with wings ripen in an elongated capsule.
Weigela nice (Weigela suavis)
Pleasant Weigela is extremely rare to be found among amateur gardeners, although its spectacular and delicate bush is very decorative. This culture is a shrub that reaches a height of 1.3 meters. Oval-lanceolate leaves of a bright green hue in mid-September change their color. The shrub sheds its leaves in October. Particularly attractive are the pinkish-lilac flowers with a pale pink inner surface, resembling a funnel in shape. It usually blooms from May 10 to the end of June. The second time this species can bloom in late August - early September.
Weigela early (Weigela praecox)
It is a tall (up to 2 m in height) shrub with a dense crown. Flowering begins in May and lasts 2-3 weeks. The flowers are pink, pubescent, collected in several pieces on drooping peduncles.
Weigela hybrid is called the combination of several hybrids, which are obtained as a result of crossing the weigela of abundant flowering, Korean and flowering. When registering landscape compositions most commonly used different varieties these hybrids.
Eva Rathke
Among the old varieties that are still in demand, it is worth highlighting the Eva Ratke variety. This hybrid was obtained in Poland and can be bought today on the website of the Union of Polish Nurseries. The bushes, about one meter high and 2 to 3 meters wide, have a compact crown shape.
A large number of green leaves with a sharp end, 6 to 10 cm long, cover the branches along the entire length. Shiny flowers of a reddish-pink hue with a lighter inner surface are tubular. Flowering occurs from June to August.
Rosea
Rosea hybrid attracts attention with pink big flowers with white dots. The crown of a bush one and a half meters high is formed by gently curving branches. It has good winter hardiness, for the winter this hybrid only needs a little shelter.
Bristol Ruby
Also a fairly well-known hybrid is the Bristol Ruby, which is fast growing. It is liked for rather large bushes with a height of 2.5 to 3 meters and a width of up to 3.5 meters. Flowers with reddish-ruby edges and a reddish-orange inner surface are especially attractive. Bloom lasts from June to July.
Styriaca
The Stiriaka variety was obtained by breeding the abundant flowering weigela and the Korean weigela. Beautiful pinkish flowers, resembling strawberries in color, reach a length of 2.5-3 cm. abundant flowering which occurs in May - June, the bushes are covered with a "pinkish" foam. By the end of flowering, the color of the flowers changes from pink to reddish brown.
Planting weigela, choosing a place and soil
Although weigela is a rather unpretentious crop, some of its biological characteristics must be taken into account when choosing a site where it will constantly grow.
Landing dates
Weigelu is planted in spring (March-April) and autumn (before frost), and in southern and subtropical regions throughout the year, excluding a short frosty period.
Pick-up location
The place is best chosen in well-lit areas, protected from powerful winds and air currents, especially northern ones. You can also plant weigela under the openwork crowns of trees, but it must be borne in mind that this culture shows all its beauty only with maximum illumination.
It is undesirable to place the plant in lowlands, where the weigel will most likely freeze out.
Soil and planting holes
The soil at the planting site should be nutritious, light, water-permeable and, at the same time, capable of retaining moisture. Natural species weigels prefer to grow on soils with a slightly acidic reaction (pH 5.5-6.5). And various varieties develop better on lands with a neutral reaction (pH 6.5-7.0).
Planting holes are dug 50x50x50 cm in size, the distance between the bushes is maintained from 2 to 3 meters. For undersized varieties - 1-1.5 m.
If the land at the planting site is not suitable for any of its properties, it is replaced with a mixture of sod land and leaf humus. In this case, the width and length of the pit are increased to one meter, and the depth is left the same - half a meter. The bottom must be loosened a few centimeters. It is imperative to improve the moisture capacity of the soil in places where it happens strong flaw moisture in the soil, for example, by adding high-moor peat.
Landing technology
For planting this shrub, three-year-old seedlings are usually used.
During planting, the roots are carefully distributed over the entire volume of the pit and fall asleep, leaving no voids.
At the end, the soil must be watered big amount water.
More earth is added after the soil subsides.
Mulch the area around the bush with peat chips or wood chips.
The shoots of the seedling are cut in half. If a flowering specimen is used for planting, the shoots do not need to be cut.
How to keep a weigela seedling until spring
If you purchased a seedling in the fall too late and it is no longer possible to plant it, save planting material until spring in one of two ways.
The first is to dig a seedling in the garden at an angle, and cover the branches with earth. In the spring, dig out after the snow melts and plant in due time.
The second way is to keep it indoors by planting it in a pot. With moderate watering, you need to wait for the leaves on the weigel to fall off. Further, you need to keep the plant in cool conditions, at a temperature of 1-6 degrees, even short-term small negative temperatures are allowed. You need to water very sparsely, not allowing the land to dry out completely.
At the end of winter, when the buds swell and growth begins, the bush must be transferred to a bright place. Increase watering, but in moderation, in April you can begin to apply fertilizers and, if necessary, form a crown.
In May, when return frosts take place, weigela can be planted in a place prepared in the garden. Protect from bright sun for the first two weeks after planting.
Reproduction methods
This culture reproduces well both with the help seed and cuttings... Moreover, various types of weigela can be propagated by seed, and new plants from varietal bushes are obtained only with the help of cuttings.
Cuttings
Shoots for cuttings are harvested twice a season.
For the first time this is done in March, when the kidneys have not yet opened.
Cuttings from 8 to 10 cm long are cut from lignified vegetative shoots (not flowering).
To accelerate rooting, stimulants are used for the formation of roots (the cutting is kept in a solution of the drug for 4-5 hours).
The harvested parts of the shoots are almost completely buried in a mixture consisting of coarse sand and crushed high-moor peat. Each component is taken in one part.
Cuttings are planted at a distance of 25 cm from each other in partial shade.
As soon as shoots begin to grow on the cuttings, it means that they have taken root. Now it's time to plant them in several pieces in containers filled with a mixture of peat, river sand, clay and garden soil.
Caring for such young seedlings consists in regular watering, fertilizing with mineral fertilizers with the addition of trace elements and pinching the shoots when they reach a height of 5 cm.
At good care by the beginning of autumn, the bushes grow to 20-25 cm. The next spring, before the weigela starts to grow, the plants are cut off and transplanted into pots with a volume of 3 liters. Further, the same care is carried out as in the last season, only pinching is excluded.
By autumn, young plants will already have from 3 to 6 mature shoots 70-80 cm high. Such seedlings are already ready for planting in a permanent place.
Second period of cuttings falls in late May - early June.
They choose young shoots of the current year, which are half lignified.
Cuttings from 8 to 10 cm long, cut from the bottom of the growth.
The leaves on them are removed all except the top two, which are cut by half.
Further rooting technology is the same as for cuttings harvested in March.
Cuttings planted in early summer reach 10-15 cm by autumn. To get ready-to-plant bushes, they need to be grown for two years.
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Plants grown from cuttings bloom for 2-3 years. |
Weigela from seed
Seed propagation of weigela is not difficult, but it requires a longer waiting time. flowering plants than grafting. In addition, this method is not suitable for hybrid propagation of weigela, since the new plants will not retain the characteristics of the mother. It is used if you need to get a large number of species of plants.
Fresh seeds of weigela have almost one hundred percent germination rate, which lasts for a year. They can be sown before winter or spring.
- The sowing site is allocated in the shade of trees.
- Seeds are scattered over the surface of the ground.
- Cover from above with a layer of peat or sand 0.5-1 cm.
- Slightly compacted.
- Moisten well from a spray bottle.
- At winter sowing they are covered with leaves, straw or covering material and await seedlings in the spring.
- During spring sowing, the bed is covered with a film, periodically it is removed for watering (from a spray bottle) and airing. Seedlings should appear in about 3 weeks.
- Some time after the seeds have sprouted, the seedlings are thinned out, looked after and a year later transplanted into the school. For the winter, planting requires light shelter.
- After 3-4 years, the plants can be moved to a permanent place. Weigela, grown by seed, will begin to bloom in 4-6 years.
The seeds can be sown and grown before planting in a permanent place and at home. At the same time, for the summer, pots with plants should be placed in the open air, covering from the sun.
Weigela care
Caring for adult weigels consists of dressing, pruning, watering and loosening.
Top dressing
This shrub is fed 3 times per season.
The very first feeding is carried out even in the snow, before the beginning of the growing season. Mineral fertilizers are scattered around the bush within the radius of the trunk circle. Superphosphate and urea are best suited for this.
The second time weigels are fed during the formation of buds. Used for this potash fertilizers chlorine free or complex mineral fertilizers with approximately equal amounts of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus.
The last time, under the bushes, top dressing is applied at the end of summer. The composition of fertilizers used during this period should be dominated by potassium. This will help ripen the shoots and prepare the plants for winter.
Watering
In nature, weigela grows in the monsoon regions of East Asia, where the soil contains a lot of moisture. The soil should not be allowed to dry out too much, this leads to a sharp deterioration in flowering and prevents good development plants. The shrub is watered regularly and must cover the ground around the bush with a thick layer of mulching material (sawdust, husk, peat).
Loosening
Loosening is carried out as the soil compresses around the shrub during the season. It should be borne in mind that the roots of the weigela in the near-trunk circle lie at a depth of 8-10 cm, and it is undesirable and even dangerous to disturb them. Therefore, loosening should not be carried out deeper than 8 cm.
Pruning
Pruning of this crop is carried out in early spring and in July. In April, cut dry, frozen, broken off and deformed branches, and in July - faded and old branches. In addition, excess root growth is removed in June.
If, after winter, it is found that one of the main shoots is frozen, it is cut off, leaving 10 cm above the ground. A living bud at the root will give a new shoot.
Preparing for winter
When growing weigels on the territory of our country, with the exception of the southern and subtropical regions, they need shelter for the winter.
The shrub is wrapped in spunbond, and trunk circle cover with leaf litter or spruce branches. In the middle lane, the shelter is removed in early April.
Weigela in landscape design
Various varieties, hybrids and types of this culture in ornamental gardening and gardening are usually used as single plants (tapeworms) in the foreground or middle ground of landscape compositions. Weigela is also great for mixed and pure groups of shrubs.
Usually, barberries, Japanese spireas, mock-orange, rosewood, cotoneaster, Japanese quince, forsythia, felt cherry and kolkvitia are planted next to it. Weigel group looks especially beautiful different varieties and hybrids on the lawn.
High varieties and hybrids ("Gustav Mallet", "Bristol Ruby", "Mark Tellier") look good in compositions with decorative and evergreen trees. But the weigels low height("Variogata Nana" and "Purpurea") will decorate mixed flower beds, borders, flower beds and rocky gardens.
Also from tall weigels you can create hedge free-form, which does not need to be cut.