Weigela belongs to the deciduous shrubs of the Honeysuckle family. The homeland of the plant is China and Japan. Experts count about 15 types of weigel. The plant received its name in honor of the German scientist Weigel. The deciduous shrub was discovered in the 19th century.
Weigela is an amazing shrub that blooms from May to June, and then from August to September.
If you look at the photo of weigela, you can see a gorgeous spreading rose bush.
Weigela will look great on summer cottage or in a park area. The inflorescences first have a pale color, then darken.
Planting and care in the open field
Weigela loves sunlight and tolerates light partial shade, you need to take this into account when planting.
The plant is protected from wind gusts from all directions. It is best to use a three year old weigela for planting. The bushes are planted at a distance of 1.5 meters from each other.
Weigela is planted at a depth of 0.5 meters.
Deigela is a very capricious shrub that may not take root in the fall. The shrub loves well-drained fertile soils, does not tolerate stagnant moisture.
Weigela care
When watering, the weigela bush is loosened, sprinkled with sawdust or peat. Complex mineral fertilizer is applied in spring and before flowering. To accelerate growth, nitrogen fertilizers are used, the splendor of the flowering is phosphorus-potassium. Fertilizer should dissolve with good watering.
The plant needs anti-aging pruning every few years. Young shoots are cut in half in spring.
Reproduction
Seeds
When weigela is propagated by seeds, their germination lasts about a year. Lovers breed weigela at home in flower pots under glass or film. A one-year-old weigela seedling is 6 cm long, a two-year-old 0.5 m. After the appearance of true leaves, the seedlings dive. Weigela needs to be grown in the summer at their summer cottage.
The plant has a fibrous root system and spreads rapidly underground. Varieties are best propagated vegetatively. Cuttings are carried out in the first half of summer before flowering.
Cuttings
Weigela, propagated by cuttings in summer, blooms after 2 years of age. How is cuttings carried out?
For cuttings, slightly lignified young shoots are used. They should consist of one internode and several leaves.
Summer cuttings
- Step 1: Weigela leaves are removed in half or completely.
- Step 2. The cuttings are placed in water for several hours, dipped in the root, and kept for half a day in a dark room.
- Step 3. Planting of plant cuttings is carried out in the second half of June. The soil should include sand and peat. The weigela stalk should be in the ground at a depth of about 1 cm. The young stalk is covered and watered several times a day.
Winter cuttings
Cuttings, 20 cm long, are also cut in April before the leaves open.
- Step 1. Peat and sand are poured into the pots in a 1: 1 ratio. Planting material processed with root.
- Step 2. After a month, pinching is done, and top dressing is applied.
Winter cuttings are not as effective as summer cuttings.
Weigela and landscaping
Weigela bushes are used both in specimen plantings and in groups. Weigela will look great with gray spirea, Japanese, Van Gutta, willow.
The spreading crown of the shrub will perfectly combine with the forms of intermediate forsythia, Japanese chaenomeles.
Weigela species
Weigela Japanese. A beautifully flowering shrub, about a meter high. The leaf plate is pointed at the apex, pubescent. Inflorescences are scarlet, three-flowered, similar to bells. The fruit is dry.
Weigela is nice. The inflorescences are collected in pink-purple funnels. The size of the weigela shrub is 1.5 mx 1 m. Flowering lasts from mid-May to early July, re-blooms in late summer, early autumn.
Weigela early. The homeland of the plant is China. The shrubs are 2 m high and have a beautiful ball shape. The flowers are either single or collected in 2-3 pieces. The inflorescences are bright pink, and inside are carmine-red. It blooms in late spring and early summer.
Weigela blooming. Shrub with a diameter of 3.5 m, a height of about 3 m. Inflorescences are pale pink inside, crimson outside.
"Purpurea". Shrub 1.5 m tall, leaves are red with brown tint. Blooms in summer. It is necessary to cover for the winter.
Alba. Shrub 3 m high, spreading with white inflorescences. Requires shelter for the winter.
"Variegata". Plant height 2.5 m, graceful bright pink flowers collected in inflorescences
Weigela hybrids
Weigela hybrid is a few crossed varieties that are distinguished by colors and the shape of the leaves. IN landscape design use hybrids, as they are the most decorative.
Weigel varieties
Bristol Ruby. Sufficiently tall bushes about 3 m. Dark pink inflorescences, dark green leaves, collected in bunches.
"Eva Rathke". A hybrid originally from Poland. The bush is 2 × 3 m. The inflorescences are red.
Weigela Rosea. Shrubs with large pink flowers, 1.5 m high. Such weigela is decorative in autumn - the leaves turn scarlet.
Weigela photos
The Weigela plant (lat.Weigela) was named in honor of Christian Ehrenfried von Weigel, a German botanist, chemist, pharmacologist. In the natural environment, the plant can be found in the southeast, east of Asia, in the Far East, the island of Java.
Weigela is a deciduous shrub with upright stems belonging to the Honeysuckle family. The genus consists of 15 species, 7 of which, together with 10 varieties, are cultivated. Petiolate oval-shaped leaves have serrated edges, are located opposite, are colored green, and may have a beige border.
Bell-shaped or funnel-shaped flowers reach a length of 5 cm, are arranged singly or gather in loose inflorescences. The color of the corolla as it blooms from a dull shade turns into a more saturated one, it can be yellow, cream, pink, burgundy-red and other colors. Flowering occurs twice a year: mid-May-mid-June, late August-late September, the second bloom is less lush.
Weigela loves moisture, shade-tolerant, easy to care for and reproduce.
When and how to plant weigela
Note that the article discusses the conditions middle band, including the Moscow region. In order for the plant to take root well, it is best to plant in the spring, when the soil has not yet warmed up very much, and the buds have not begun to swell. Planting in the fall most often leads to death - the plant does not have time to get stronger before the onset of cold weather.
The south side on a small elevation would be ideal, since warmth and bright lighting contribute to the abundance of flowering. When planting in another place, protection from strong gusts of wind and drafts, due to which the buds can fall off, is necessary.
The soil is needed loose, fertile: loamy, sandy loam with a neutral or slightly alkaline reaction. Weigela middendorffiana also grows well on peat soils of slightly acidic reaction.
You should dig a planting hole about 30-40 cm deep.If the soil is poor, deepen it by another 10 cm to lay a fertile layer (1.5 buckets of compost) with fertilizers (100 g of nitrophoska). At the bottom, lay a drainage layer about 15 cm thick, consisting of coarse sand, then, if necessary, add a nutrient layer (compost with fertilizer).
For the best, treat the roots of the seedlings with a growth accelerator. For tall species (up to 2.5 m in height), it is necessary to maintain a distance between plantings of 1.5-2 m, place undersized species (up to 1 m in height) at a distance of 80 cm from each other. Spread out the roots, place the seedling in the planting hole, add the earth gradually, tamp each layer. Water liberally after planting. The root collar should be flush with the ground surface or a maximum of a couple of centimeters deeper. Mulch the trunk circle.
How to care for a weigela in the garden
Watering and loosening
Moderate is needed. Mulch around the trunk will help keep the soil moist. Water more abundantly in dry weather. In the spring, if the shoots are severely frozen, it is necessary to add 8-10 liters of water under each bush.
In order not to damage the root system of the plant, gently loosen the soil, deepening 5-8 cm, and remove the weeds.
Top dressing
If during planting you introduced nitrophosphate and compost, the next top dressing should be carried out in the 3rd year of life. To stimulate growth in early spring, apply a complex of mineral fertilizers containing nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus. When the weigela begins to form buds (late May-early June), add superphosphate and potassium sulfate - the flowering will be more lush, the stems will strengthen. Under autumn digging add wood ash (for each square meter 200 g of ash) or Kemir autumn fertilizer.
Young bushes need sanitary pruning: in early spring, remove frozen, broken, weak branches, thin out the bush a little.
Pruning
Carry out shaping for adult plants: after flowering, shorten the young shoots by half the length.
Rejuvenate the weigela every 3-4 years: remove all branches that are more than 3 years old, shorten the rest by 1/3. You can cut off all the shoots completely - the plant will recover perfectly.
Pests and diseases
Caterpillars, aphids, thrips, spider mites - possible pests plants. First of all, carry out the treatment with natural products, gentle on the environment. Sprinkle with infusion of hot pepper, wormwood or garlic. In extreme cases, use insecticides purchased from a flower shop.
After planting, seedlings may wither and turn yellow. Most likely, the roots are eaten by bears or beetle larvae. The soil must be spilled with a solution of actara or karbofos.
Weigelu can be affected by diseases such as gray rot, rust, spotting. Treat the plant with Bordeaux liquid. For prevention, with the beginning of the appearance of leaves, treat with Topsin's solution at a concentration of 3%.
Growing weigels from seeds
The plant is propagated by seeds and vegetatively.
Weigels retain good germination for about 1 year. Stronger, more viable plants grow from seeds, but varietal characteristics are lost, therefore seed reproduction suitable for receiving a large number species seedlings. There is no need to grow seedlings. Sowing can be carried out before winter (November) or spring (end of April).
Sow winged seeds superficially, sprinkle with sand. For the winter, it is necessary to prepare a shelter, which should be removed in the spring. Seedlings appear in 3 weeks.
Propagation of weigela by cuttings and layering
In early spring root cuttings from last year's woody shoots. In the period from late May to early June, rooting cuttings from slightly lignified young shoots of the current year.
The length should be 10-15 cm. Remove the lower leaves, shorten the upper ones by 1/2 the length, treat the lower cut with a growth stimulator. Plant the cuttings in a wet sand-peat mixture, deepening by 1 cm, cover on top glass jar or a plastic cap. Ventilate daily, spray regularly. To stimulate bushiness, young shoots must be pinched.
In autumn, it can be propagated by layering. The lowest shoot must be bent to the ground, at the place of contact with the soil, make an incision in the bark, sprinkle with earth. In spring, separate the seedling from the mother plant and replant.
How to collect seeds
The seed pods open on their own, so it is advisable to wrap several pieces of gauze so that their contents do not spill out onto the ground. Do this from mid-October, and in November, cut off the boxes along with gauze, gently shake the seeds onto a newspaper and dry them in a warm room with good ventilation. Place the seeds in paper bagand store in a dry, warm place.
Shelter weigela for the winter
Many do not know how weigela for the winter. Meanwhile, a good shelter allows you to save bushes not only in the Moscow region, but also in the Leningrad region.
- After the leaves fall off, sprinkle the trunk circle with soil, forming a mound 15-20 cm high.
- Bend the branches to the ground, fix with staples, cover with roofing material.
- You can also pull off the branches with twine or rope, mulch the trunk circle with dry leaves, build a frame, wrap the structure with non-woven material.
Popular types and varieties of weigela
Weigela early or weigela pleasant Weigela praecox
The bush is spherical, reaching a height of 2 m. The leaves are pubescent. Flowers of a bright pink color with a yellowish-white throat are collected on lateral shoots 2-3 pcs. A variegated variety is weigela variegated - yellow spots, which become creamy in summer, cover green leaf plates.
Weigela florida Weigela florida or weigela blooming
The pubescent shoots reach a length of 3 m. The leaves are serrate, petiolate, there is pubescence along the central vein on the surface of the leaf plate, the veins are completely pubescent on the lower side. The inflorescences are colored bright pink.
Popular forms:
- Weigela purpurea (Weigela Purpurea) or weigela red - is limited to a height of 1.5 m. Leaves are red-brown. The corolla is pink with a yellow throat.
- Alba is a dwarf bush with white flowers.
- Weigela variegata (Weigela florida Variegata) - has small leaves and bright pink flowers. The most frost-resistant form.
- Weigela pink (Weigela florida Bunge) - the outer part of the corolla is painted in a pink-burgundy shade, inside it is pale pink, almost white.
- Weigela Victoria (Weigela florida Victoria) is a 1 m high bush, red-brown leaves, crimson corollas.
Weigela hybrid Weigela hybrida
Sprawling bush 1.5 m high. Flowers are arranged singly or are collected in loose inflorescences of 2-3 pcs. The color can be pink, white, purple, lilac, purple-red.
- Bristol Ruby (Bristol Ruby) - a bush 2.5-3 m high. The leaf plates are bright green. The pink flowers have a ruby \u200b\u200bred pharynx.
- Red Prince (Red Prince) - a sprawling bush with drooping shoots, height is 1.5 m.The flowers are red.
- Eva Rathke is a compact bush that reaches a height of 1.5 m. Reddish-pink corollas have a lighter inner surface.
- Rosea (Rosea) - shoots bend, reach a height of 1.5 m. Flowers are large, painted pink with white specks.
- Styriaca - profuse flowering. Corollas 2.5-3 cm long have a pinkish color, by the end of flowering they turn red-brown
Weigela middendorffiana
A bush with ascending shoots 1-1.5 m high. Corollas 3-4 cm in diameter are yellowish, the throat is covered with orange specks.
Weigela Korean Weigela coraeensis
The bush reaches a height of 1.5 m. Shoots are bare. The leaves are 12 cm long, broadly elliptical, glossy above, covered with sparse down below. As the flowering progresses, corollas from pale pink turn into beard ones.
Weigela maximowiczii
The height of the bush is 1.5 m. The leaves are obovate. Large flowers of a pale yellow color are located in 1-2 pieces.
Weigela abundantly flowering Weigela floribunda
Reaches a height of 3 m. Petiole leaves 10 cm long are rarely pubescent on the surface, pubescence runs along the veins below the leaf plate. At the first flowering, the flowers are dark red, and later - pinkish.
Weigela Japanese Weigela japonica
Grows up to 1 m in height. Elliptical leaves are slightly pubescent. Flowers of a dark pink shade are collected in 3 pieces.
Weigela garden Weigela hortensis
Height is 1 m. Abundant flowering. Pinkish-burgundy flowers are collected in dense inflorescences.
Weigela - shrub plant, with a fibrous root system, highly branching. Its stems are quite fragile due to weak woodiness, so you need to handle the weigela carefully. Weigela stems are usually densely leafy, leaves are petiolate, oblong, slightly pointed at the end, with smooth edges. The color of the leaves is green, but there are varieties with a two-color, green-white, as in the photo, and even with an unusual, purple, color. The latter also look very impressive - pay attention to the photo.
Weigela hybrid - Weigela hybrida
Family: Honeysuckle.
Stem: straight.
Leaves: petiolate, simple.
Flower: bell-shaped, tubular.
Fruit: capsule.
Homeland: East Asia.
Location: bright place, protected from northern winds; light fertile soil.
Varieties: about 180 varieties are known.
Meet the eastern visitor - Weigela's shrub plant (pictured). It came to us from East Asia and won the hearts of amateur gardeners with its wealth of foliage and color, bright colors. Weigela hybrid is the general name of several hybrid forms obtained by crossing flowering weigela, abundant flowering weigela, Korean weigela and garden weigela. This includes about 180 varieties, which also differ in size - from dwarf forms with a height of 20 to 60 cm, to huge bush plants up to 3 m in height with a crown diameter of up to 3.5 m.Weigela received its name thanks to the researcher - Baron von Weigel who first described this plant. It differs not only in the density of foliage, but also in abundant flowering.
- Flowers are single or collected in loose inflorescences, are formed in the axils of the leaves.
- The flowers can be bell-shaped or tubular in shape.
- The color of the flowers is pink, pink-purple, white, yellow, there are also two-color varieties or with a border along the edge of the petal.
Weigela hybrid blooms twice.
- The first time - at the end of May – June. After that, the plant is pruned, the dried flowers are plucked.
- The second time weigela blooms in August-September, although now the flowering will not be so abundant, and the flowers themselves are slightly smaller in size.
Weigela varieties hybrid
Weigela hybrid has many varieties that differ both in the size of the bush and in the color of the leaves and flowers.
Let's take a look at some of them.
- Bristol Ruby -
one of the most popular varieties in our country, which is primarily caused by its quality such as good frost resistance (pictured).
- Among other advantages - the ability to bloom not only in the sun, this variety will feel good in light partial shade.
- The flowers are ruby \u200b\u200bred, which is why, in fact, the variety got its name, the buds are slightly lighter than the opened flowers.
This variety will work well for you to create a low hedge in the area. You can admire the variety in the photo above.
- "Eva Rathke" -
is also a fairly popular variety.
- The shrub is compact, up to 1 m high. The crown grows with age.
- Created as a hybrid of abundant flowering weigela and Korean weigela.
- The flowers are carmine red, shiny, have a light pleasant aroma.
- This variety is characterized by average winter hardiness, needs light shelter for the winter to avoid freezing of the bush.
- As for the location, it would be better to plant it in a sunny place where there is no stagnation of cold air masses.
With good care, the lifespan can be up to 50 years. A variety that is sufficiently resistant to damage by diseases and pests. You can see the variety in the photo.
- "Rosea" -
a hybrid of flowering weigela and Korean weigela.
- The shrub is quite large - it reaches up to 2 m in height, the crown in diameter is up to 2.5 m.
- As you might guess from the name, the flowers are pink, they can be pink-white, large.
- This variety has medium frost resistance and needs light cover.
- When choosing a location for planting, pay attention to fertile soils with an acidity of 6-6.5 pH; a bright place will be preferable, although light partial shade is also possible.
You can see what this variety looks like in the photo below.
Weigela hybrid "Eva Ratke"
- "Red Prince" -
bright spectacular shrub, as you can see by looking at the photo.
- This cultivar received an award from the Royal Horticultural Society of Great Britain in 2002.
- Its distinctive feature is color saturation, increased density of flowers and the density of bush branches.
- It is a slow-growing shrub that blooms twice a year.
- The flowers are bright red.
- Loves bright, sunny places; hygrophilous, but make sure that there is no stagnation of water.
- The variety is characterized by good frost resistance.
Suitable for the formation of low hedges, border decoration. May be affected by aphids.
- "Candida" -
rather large shrub, up to 2.5 m high and a wide spreading crown.
- It differs in snow-white flowers (pictured), which, unlike many other varieties of hybrid weigela, do not change their shade during the flowering period.
- This variety is quite hygrophilous, but does not tolerate stagnant water; it will respond favorably to planting in a sunny place on fertile soil.
- Medium frost resistance, shelter required.
It is used in the design of gardens and parks as a single plant, and as a hedge.
Care and reproduction
Weigela hybrid is a light and heat-loving plant, it will be grateful and will delight with its flowering if you find a place for it in the garden, which will be protected from cold northern winds and drafts.
This shrub loves light, fertile soil.
Watering. As for watering, weigela equally dislikes both lack and excess of moisture. Therefore, keep the ground around the bush moist, but the water should not stagnate.
Abundant watering is needed in two cases.
- The first is the period of the spring awakening of the plant, especially when the winter was with little snow. Then it is advisable to pour 6-10 liters of water under each bush.
- The second - in the case of dry summers, when the weather is hot and dry.
Fertilizing with mineral fertilizers is best done in early spring.
Pruning. One of the mandatory rules for caring for a hybrid weigela is pruning.
- It is carried out immediately after the first flowering, cutting off branches with withered flowers, as well as all old branches.
Also, pruning is necessary for both young and 3-5 year old plants for crown formation.
Winter hardiness. Weigela hybrid has poor winter hardiness, and therefore needs preparation.
For the winter, the land around the bushes is covered with spruce branches. You can also cover bushes.
But at the same time, it should be remembered that the weigela branches are very delicate, and so that they do not break under the weight of the spruce branches covering it, and in addition, the snow that has fallen, they are tied and propped up with a support, or with a frame.
In the spring, the bush is carefully examined and the damaged branches are cut off. Don't worry if the bush is slightly frozen. If you do sanitary pruning, then everything will be fine with him, he will bloom on time, if not so abundantly.
Reproduction
Weigela hybrid is propagated either by seeds or by cuttings. It is also possible to simply divide the bush. Let's consider each of these methods.
- Seed propagation
The seeds are used immediately after harvesting, as they lose their germination the next year.
- Sowing is carried out in spring, the dishes (pots, boxes) are covered with foil.
- When the second pair of leaves appears, the plants need to dive.
- In summer, boxes with young plants are taken out into the garden under a tree with a not particularly dense crown.
Such a weigela blooms only for 4 years of life.
Keep in mind that seed propagation will not always result in the same variety.
And if you do breeding work, and you are interested in the purity of the variety, then use the following method for reproduction.
- Propagation by cuttings
There are two types of weigela cuttings for propagation - green and winter. What does it mean?
Green, not yet woody, cuttings are cut sharp knife straight (NOT at an angle, as usual) - based on the characteristics of the sheet system.
- For the cutting, branches with two lower leaves are chosen, which are then cut off either completely or in half, with one internode.
- Cuttings are planted in June, covered with a film or plastic bottle, and often watered. With this method, the survival rate of cuttings is 80-100%.
The survival rate of winter cuttings is much lower. However, if you feel like experimenting, you can try growing weigela this way.
- For winter cutting taken from part of the branch, cutting it under the bud before it blooms.
- The cuttings are placed in a pot with a mixture of sand and sod soil, after rooting, they are fed with mineral fertilizer.
Also, you can simply purchase hybrid weigela seedlings at the flower market. In this case, follow the simple rules for planting this plant.
Landing. At the place chosen for planting, prepare a hole with dimensions of 50x50 cm, place drainage on the bottom of it, since weigela does not like an excess of moisture.
- It is necessary to plant this shrub so that the root collar is covered with earth.
- From above, the near-bust circle is mulched with sawdust or peat.
- If you plant several weigela bushes, remember that this plant has a spreading crown, so it is advisable to plant individual bushes at a certain distance, 3-3.5 m will be optimal.
Plant weigela better in spring, the survival rate of autumn seedlings is very low. But if you bought a seedling in the fall, then plant it in an inclined position, so as to cover most of the crown with earth.
The use of weigela hybrid in landscape design: practical recommendations
Growing weigela hybrid can decorate your garden, because this is a very attractive shrub - like your own bright colors, and the density of leaves on the branches.
First, think about the purpose for which you will grow weigela. With a decorative leafy purpose (look at the photo, how effective weigela looks even without flowers - in the period between two flowering periods), varieties that bloom less abundantly are suitable for you.
- We also advise you to pay attention to varieties with low frost resistance. If the plant freezes in winter, then after sanitary pruning in spring the bush will feel great, but the flowering will be less abundant, and the flowers themselves will be smaller in size and paler in color.
- Also, use another "tricky" technique: weigels love sunny places, but a lot of varieties tolerate light partial shade. If you shade the plant a little more, then it simply will not bloom so abundantly and brightly, which is what we need.
If you want to use weigela for flowering purposes, then pay special attention to creating optimal conditions for this plant.
Choose winter-hardy plants, carefully cover the bushes for the winter, and carry out anti-aging pruning between flowering periods.
Since the homeland of weigels is considered to be East Asia - Japan, Korea, China, then it would be quite appropriate to use this plant in gardens in Japanese or any oriental style.
- Weigels also take root well on rocky soil, so small bushes are used to decorate rocky gardens, or rock gardens.
- If you want to design a mixborder, then in this case, you can also safely use weigela, only more decorative leafy varieties will look more impressive.
- With low-growing shrubs, you can arrange paths and borders in gardens, and from large tall shrubs you can safely form a hedge - it will turn out very beautifully and effectively - as in this photo.
You can also use weigela to create various garden compositions, combining bushes with a variety garden furniture (benches, lanterns) or elements of garden decor.
The combination of a tall tree with a wide spreading crown and a weigela shrub and its base looks quite impressive.
Please note that the crown should be exactly spreading and let in a sufficient amount of light, otherwise the weigela simply will not take root in such a neighborhood or it will not look the way you would like it.
Weigela is a deciduous shrub of the honeysuckle family. Wild varieties live in the eastern and south-East Asia, in the Far East and the island of Java. Decorative weigela is very popular in Europe, where it often decorates backyards, parks and gardens. In our climatic conditions gardeners can rightfully be proud of the presence of weigela on their site, as they grow and preserve flowering plant not everyone succeeds.
Features of growing weigela
To grow this shrub, it is not enough to choose the right variety, it is important to take into account the peculiarities of the microclimate and provide the weigel with proper care. Decorative weigela is moisture-loving and loves well-lit spaces, although it takes root well in the shade from the thin crowns of trees. True, flowering in the shade will be weak, and the seeds will ripen with a delay. The flower does not tolerate the wind, especially the northern one, for cultivation you need to choose protected places.
IN garden design weigels are planted in hedges, in curtains or singly, undersized species look great on alpine coaster... Weigels can be combined into groups, mixed with other shrubs (barberry, spirea, buldenezh) or with junipers.
When proper care weigela bloom can occur twice a year - in May-June and August-September. The second flowering is not very lush, but at the end of May the branches are completely covered with white, yellow, pink or red bell flowers. The color of the petals of this flower changes: young inflorescences gradually acquire a rich color.
Landing
Weigela is planted in the ground in the spring. The earth should warm up, but the kidneys do not swell at this time. After planting in autumn, shrubs often die in the very first winter. Find an elevated, well-lit area on the south side of the house. Note that in a draft, the shrub is unlikely to bloom or crumble even at the bud stage.
Weigels love loose and rich soil with humus - loamy or sandy loam with a neutral or slightly alkaline reaction. Of all the types of shrubs, only weigela Middendorf grows on peaty soil. Suitable for planting seedlings older than three years.
Weigela planting methods
Weigela needs a loose and permeable soil. Excessive moisture is contraindicated for a shrub, do not plant bushes in areas where water stagnates for a long time after floods or groundwater fit too high. Lime the sour soil before planting the bush (in the fall).
Council. Many seedlings at autumn planting do not take root, so postpone the procedure until early springby digging in the seedlings at an angle and covering most of the crown with soil.
When preparing a pit for planting, take into account the quality of the soil. In rich soil, a depression of 30-40 cm is sufficient, if the soil is poor, the depth should be increased. Create improved conditions for the plant by placing on the bottom:
- drainage (15 cm broken brick, sand or gravel),
- a layer of fertile soil fertilized with nitrophos (100 g per 1.5 buckets of compost).
The bush will take root more easily if the roots are treated with a rooting stimulator.
For large varieties Weigels need free space so that they can develop normally. When planting several bushes, place them at a distance of at least one and a half meters. For medium-sized varieties, a gap of 70-80 centimeters will be quite sufficient.
Gently spread the roots of the seedling and make sure that no voids form when you fill in the soil.
Attention! Do not deepen the root collar more than 2 centimeters so that after the soil subsides, it will be flush with the surface.
When the seedlings are placed in the ground, water and mulch abundantly. Seedlings should be watered abundantly for another 3-4 days. If the summer is dry, water the young bushes regularly; next year, watering may be more moderate.
It is not difficult to take care of the weigela: moderate watering, weed removal, loosening the soil, feeding and pruning. This plant doesn't need attention any more than many other flowering shrubs.
Frequent watering is not required on a mulched area. After a winter with little snow, especially with frozen shoots, in the spring the bushes are watered abundantly - 10 liters of water for each plant. The same irrigation regime is observed in a dry hot summer - a bucket of water every week. To provide air access to the root system and to remove weeds, gently loosen the soil around the bush without damaging the roots.
Important! If the bush is on a dry area, aphids can settle on it, affecting leaves and young branches. Keep an eye on the plant and wash it regularly with a strong jet of water.
Top dressing and fertilization
If, when planting bushes, you introduced nitrophoska and compost into the soil, fertilization can be omitted for the next two years. In the third year, stimulate the growth of leaves and shoots. To do this, in the spring, when the snow has not yet completely melted, it is advisable to apply fertilizer under the bushes:
- urea - 20 g / m2;
- superphosphate - 10 g / m2;
- potash salt - 10 g / m2
Can be fertilized with Ammophos, Diammofos, Kemiroi-Lux or other fertilizing with phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen.
The second top dressing will be useful when decorating the buds in late spring. Superphosphate (30 g per bush) is suitable. After that, the weigela will bloom luxuriantly, and the branches will strengthen for the winter.
Before digging in autumn, apply a third top dressing with wood ash (200 g per square meter). "Kemira - autumn" works well, the dosage is indicated in the instructions.
Attention! After each dressing, water the bush abundantly and spray with soapy water and alcohol.
Pruning weigela
Weigela, like all shrubs, needs to be trimmed regularly. Sanitary pruning is carried out on young bushes. In early spring, cut off frozen, broken, and excess branches.
For mature plants, pruning is required to form a bush. When the first flowering is over, carefully trim the plant. This should be done before new shoots appear, on which flowers will bloom at the end of summer. If you could not cut the bush in time, skip the summer haircut, otherwise there will be no second flowering.
The third pruning is done once every three or four years to rejuvenate the bush. Remove all old branches (3 years or more), and shorten by a third. Stimulating haircut promotes the appearance of young shoots and becomes the prevention of diseases that could have settled in the bark of old branches. You can make a radical shake of the weigela by cutting off all the shoots - after that the bush will quickly recover.
Council. Between spring and autumn blooms, lighten mature bushes by cutting off old shoots at the base.
Weigela transplant
Do not take literally the recommendation to replant plants, especially garden ones, in the spring. We are talking about a transplant only when absolutely necessary: \u200b\u200bwith an unsuccessfully chosen place, inappropriate soil, shade, etc. If a transplant is needed, it should be done in the spring, but do not transplant the plants every year.
Dig up the weigela very carefully, try to preserve the roots as much as possible. Clean and inspect the root system, check for signs of disease, decay, plaque and other pathological changes. If you see that the roots are very damaged, there is no point in replanting the bush, it is better to grow a new plant from a cutting.
Council. If you dug up a plant and find that its roots are entwined into a ball, try to untangle them without damaging.
Do not replant the bush in the fall, as the probability of survival in this case is too small - the roots will not be able to take root and will die.
The shrub can be propagated by seeds, cuttings and layering.
Seed propagation
The seeds ripen in September, by November the capsules crack and you can start collecting seed material... Tie a few seed pods with gauze and cut off when the seeds are fully ripe. Shake the contents onto paper and dry. Put dried seeds in a paper bag and set aside until spring in a dark, dry place. Seeds remain viable for 1-2 years, but weigels grown from seeds almost never retain the varietal characteristics of their parent.
At home, you can plant seeds in a pot and create a greenhouse environment for them. In the spring, the shoots will break through, leave the strongest ones until next year. Then the seedlings can be transplanted into a school or planted for two years under an adult bush. The process, as you can see, is complex and long, and the result is unpredictable. We recommend propagating weigela vegetatively.
Vegetative propagation
It is much easier to propagate weigela with young green shoots, semi-lignified cuttings, stump growth and layering.
Green cuttings
Cut off the young shoots of the current year, cut off the leaves completely, or leave half the leaf plate. Treat one edge of the cutting with a rooting stimulant.
Planted green stalk at the end of June. Prepare the soil from peat with sand, the top layer is sand (3 cm). It is enough to deepen the cutting by 1 cm and cover with a cut plastic bottle or film. Let the cuttings breathe every day, lifting the cover for a few hours. The probability of rooting a green cutting is very high, there are almost no failures.
Weigela grown in this way begins to bloom after two years. In order for the plant to develop more actively, it is recommended to cut the buds.
Last year's cuttings
Cut the semi-lignified stalk in early spring. This must be done before the leaves begin to bloom. Treat the end with a root stimulant. You can plant a stalk in a pot or in open ground... In the second case, choose a slightly shaded place. Cover the stalk with a jar and air it daily. It is somewhat more difficult to grow a weigela from a semi-lignified cutting than from a green shoot. If a new shoot appears after a month, then rooting has occurred and the cutting can be pinched.
Young growth from the stump
With this method of reproduction, rooting occurs in the same way as in the cases described above.
Layers
This shrub, like many others, often grows branches inclined to the ground. Bend the shoot down and scratch the bark where it touches the soil. Lubricate with a root stimulator, pin and sprinkle with earth. Next year you will receive a full-fledged seedling. Detach the cuttings from the bush and place in the designated place.
Dividing the bush
Herbaceous plants are usually propagated in this way, but shrubs can also be divided if they are too overgrown, or when transplanting.
Dig the bush during the dormant period and wash it off the ground. Divide the plant into parts, young roots at the edges of the bush are suitable for reproduction. Prune all branches before planting so that the root system can develop without unnecessary stress. Plants after division are immediately planted in the ground.
Flowering weigela
Many varieties of this shrub are good not only for their bright tubular bell flowers, but also for their leaves. Weigela foliage is velvety, green or purple, with a white border. But the main advantage of this species is still abundant two-time flowering. The first time weigels bloom on last year's shoots, and the second bloom takes place on young twigs. Autumn bloom is not as active as spring bloom, but still the bush covered with fluffy flowers looks extremely impressive. Flowers in leaf pockets are collected in inflorescences at the tops of the shoots. Each flower can be up to five centimeters in size.
Problems, diseases, pests
Weigela rarely gets sick and is resistant to pests, but urgent measures must be taken in case of signs of damage. Active fall of foliage, the appearance of white bloom, spots of yellow or purple.
Common shrub pests are aphids and worms. A timely detected problem is easily eliminated after two treatments of the crown with any insecticide. Infusions of bitter pepper, garlic or potato tops are also effective. Leaf spot is treated with fungicides, a mixture of milk of lime and copper sulfate or Topsin.
If the seedlings turn yellow and wither, it is possible that their roots are damaged by the larvae of the bear or the May beetle brought in with compost. Pour karbofos or actara on the soil.
It is much more difficult to overcome bacterial root cancer, which causes rounded bumps on the roots that harden over time. Unfortunately, we have not yet learned how to fight this disease and it is better to remove the bush before the neighboring plants become infected.
Popular types
The shrub reaches one and a half meters. This species has burgundy leaves and red-pink flowers. This species feels good in the middle lane. Shoots quickly recover after freezing.
Dwarf shrub with variegated leaves and clusters of white-pink or crimson flowers. Slow growth, suitable for rocky gardens.
The leaves of this weigela species are distinguished by a white border at the edges of the leaves. Reaches one and a half meters in height.
A purple variety with a dense crown. The reddish-brown leaves and deep-colored flowers with a yellow throat make this species especially popular.
Or weigela Middendorf - the most winter-hardy species, suitable for growing in open spaces and under trees.
Weigel group obtained by hybridization. Most adapted to the climate of the southern territories. The color of leaves and inflorescences is varied. Weigela's flowers wildlife are odorless, but hybridization allowed the inflorescences to be endowed with a delicate aroma.
- In winter, weigela bushes freeze slightly above the level of snow cover, so choose a place on the site where the snowdrifts are high.
- After snowfalls and in spring when the snow gets heavy, shake off the weigela branches so they don't break off.
It is useful to process the shrub with infusions:
- onion husks (200 g insist 5 days in 10 liters of water);
- garlic (300 g of chopped unpeeled garlic soak for a day in 10 liters of water);
- potato tops (1 kg pour 10 l hot water and leave for 2 hours).
Spraying of plants is carried out in the evening.
Answers on questions
How long does a shrub live?
If you managed to create favorable conditions and organize good care, the shrub can live up to 50 years.
Why does not weigela bloom?
The plant may not bloom in the shade, due to a lack of illumination, the shoots lumber, and flowering becomes very scarce or completely absent. Another reason is insufficient watering and lack of feeding. If these obstacles are excluded, pay attention to the root system, it may be damaged by pests.
What should be the care of the bush in winter?
After leaf fall, in October-November, the near-trunk area must be sprinkled with soil to a height of 20 cm. Bend the branches to the ground and press down, being careful not to damage. Cover the bush with roofing material (spunbond) and reinforce the "roof" so that the wind does not rip it off in winter. You can not bend the branches, but pull them with twine, fence the bush with a net. Pour dry leaves and spruce branches inside this structure. Insulate the structure well. If weigela is left unprotected, the shoots will die in frost and flowering will not occur.
Weigela, it is impossible to forget this beauty. Unusual inflorescences resembling bells, only huge, its compactness makes it exquisite and in demand.
Description and features of weigela
Weigela shrub very popular among gardeners because of the decorative crown. If you choose the right place, then the plant will delight with flowering long time... Moreover, such a miracle in some varieties can be seen twice per season.
In the photo weigela is red
The first bloom can be seen in the spring, the second in the fall. Height perennial bush can vary from 0.6 to 3 meters. It all depends on varieties weigers and kind.
The buds are tubular-bell-shaped in various colors. It can be pink, scarlet, lilac, yellow shades. The leaves are emerald in color, oval in shape and elongated sharp tips. Slightly curved to the outside.
Planting and breeding weigela
Weigela will bestow lush bloom if you choose a consecrated site, but without getting hit by the northern winds. The soil is preferable fertile, loose.
Blooming delicate pink weigela
When planting weigels, choose a step up to 2 meters, and leave the root collar on the top of the ground. Grow weigela outdoors can be vegetatively and by seeds.
Propagation of weigela by cuttings:
1. Cuttings can be used green and lignified. But with the second option, flowering should be expected up to 5 years.
2. Preparation of planting material is underway in spring, weigela at this point the kidneys should not be blocked.
3. Green shoots are cut from the crown with a straight cut, 15 cm long.
4. Remove all but two leaves from the cutting.
5. Treat the cut with a growth stimulator and leave the branch for 12 hours in a darkened and warm (20 degrees C) place.
6. Mix peat and sand in equal parts.
7. Dip the cuttings half a centimeter into the substrate and cover the containers with a jar. To create a favorable microclimate.
8. Periodically ventilate and water the cuttings.
9. After a month and a half, rooting will come.
10. It should be grown for 1.5 years. Only then land in open ground.
11. The emergence of new shoots will be a signal to pinch them. The procedure stimulates tillering.
Weigela white
Layers:
1. Lateral shoot, which is located close to the ground, to lay in a previously prepared groove.
2. Pin the branch and cover it with earth.
3. Top part escapes must remain outdoors.
4. Rooting will come next spring.
5. To make rooting more successful, you should break the bark of the branch, which will be in the ground.
6. Grow the cuttings up to 3 years, only then send them to a permanent place.
Reproduction of weigela seeds:
1. Planting material remains viable for up to 2 years.
2. Sow the prepared seeds in open ground in autumn.
3. Seedlings will appear in the spring.
4. Pull through the seedlings, leaving the strongest and strongest specimens.
5. Grow up at school to 2 years.
6. At the end of the time, plant the bushes in a permanent place.
In the photo weigela blooming
Weigela care
To have bushes with lush crown some requirements should be met:
Water regularly. Pay special attention to irrigation in spring if the winter was snowless and many shoots are frozen.
Loosen the soil after irrigation. Sawdust mulching can be a good alternative. The soil retains moisture well and does not allow weeds to break through.
In early spring, when there is still snow on the ground, the first top dressing is carried out mineral fertilizers... Before the buds are tied, repeat the feeding. Last time fertilizers should be applied in the fall. This time, the composition should contain phosphorus and potassium.
Formative pruning weigela carried out after the summer flowering ends, once every 2 years. It is on the growing shoots that new buds of autumn bloom will appear. In the spring, it is imperative to carry out sanitary pruning. During the procedures, frozen, dry shoots are removed. It is worth recalling that the branches are pruned to healthy tissue. After 3-4 years, the crown should be rejuvenated. This removes the branches for 3 parts of the entire bush.
The bushes are perennial and do not need replanting. In one place they grow up to 10 years.
IN caring for weigela young specimens for wintering should be covered with spruce branches. In adult bushes, shoots can be tied and bent to the ground. They have an amazing ability. They recover well after winter, even if the shoots are frozen.
Weigela early
Types and varieties of weigela
The Honeysuckle family, to which weigela belongs, is numbered in 15 species. Of these, three varieties can be found in the vastness, to be more precise, in the south of the Far East. In the wild, weigela lives in the South and East of Asia, China.
The most popular types and varieties of weigela
In the photo weigelavariegated. It cannot be confused with other varieties. Since a feature is considered to be light green oval leaves, framed by a border around the edge of the leaf with a sharp tip.
If you look at the bush from afar, it seems to be full of multi-colored shades. The shape of the inflorescences, as in most varieties, in the form of huge ones with various shades, sit on short peduncles.
In the photo weigela hybrid
Weigela blooming... Among his fellows, he can be called a giant. Since its maximum growth is up to 3 meters. If grown in the sun, the leaves are variegated.
Penumbra turns them into green tint... Weigela blooming can be used as hedge... When planting for it, it is worth considering the step between the seedlings - 1.5 m.If the bush is grown as an ornamental plant, the step is 2.5 m.
In nature, weigela can be found in Japan, North China. Flowering begins in May and lasts 2 months. Grows well in partial shade on slightly acidic soil with moderate moisture. Does not tolerate stagnant water. In order for the bushes to bloom magnificently, one should not allow strong thickening.
Weigela Nana... medium-sized, stretches up to 90 cm in length. The variety is frost-resistant, therefore it has taken root well in the Western European climate.Inflorescences-bells up to 4 cm in diameter have a pale pink tint with white tints.
Weigela Nana
The bush loves warmth and cannot withstand northern winds. Only a quiet, sunny, slightly shaded place without winds will give an opportunity to unfold in full glory. It grows favorably in slightly alkaline and acidic soil.
To carry out sanitary pruning in the spring, then the shoots will not keep you waiting and will grow with maximum strength.Landscape designers do not miss the opportunity to use in hedges and in single plantings.
Weigela Bristol, Ruby (Bristol Ruby). the giant stretches up to 3 meters and spreads up to 2 meters in girth. It opens well if the soil is nutritious with moderate moisture.
In the photo weigela bristol
The culture is grown even in the cold regions of Russia, as it is considered a frost-resistant variety. Even a slight freezing of shoots in snowless winters ends in a quick recovery of the plant. Only after winter, all frozen branches should be cut to living tissue. Covering branches will help prevent freezing of branches.
Weigela Rubywith large carmine-red bells. The inflorescences are collected in umbrellas. Buds only grow on last year's shoots. Flowering is repeated twice per season.
Weigela Ruby
The first time in the spring, and the second time in the fall. The last bloom, of course, is not as abundant as the first time. It can be stimulated by timely pruning after the first flowering.
Weigela variegata (Variegata). Inflorescences of small diameter (3 cm) are collected in panicles and set off the bush with a lilac shade with a white overflow.
Weigela variegata
Plant leaves up to 5 cm in length green color... On the outer edge, a white edging is barely visible.The medium-sized bush is popular among gardeners, as it is unpretentious to care for, frost-resistant, tolerates dry weather well.
Weigela is red.Bright and rich colors of the shrub made it especially popular among landscape designers.
Weigela hybrid... in the form of a compact bush 1.5 meters in length and a gorgeous crown will become the pride of any garden.
Bell buds can be lilac, white, pink, purple, red. The inflorescences gather in a loose rosette and emit a unique aroma. It differs from its counterparts that the flowers release young shoots.
Several representatives are a derivative of the appearance of the variety: profusely flowering, Korean, flowering, garden weigela.The improved characteristics of the shrub, in contrast to their parents, made it especially popular and most in demand among gardeners.
Weigela purpurea sapling
Weigela purpurea. The deciduous shrub is only 1 meter long. Therefore, its compact forms are widely used in landscape design.The crown is densely covered with bell buds, which makes it look elegant, festive.
Oval-shaped leaves are slightly narrowed at the end, changing their color during growth. When born, they brown color with red notes. Then, they take on the usual green hue.
Weigela Alexandra
The bush opens up in all its glory in well-drained and fertile soil. In hot weather, it requires abundant watering in the evening.Flowering takes place in one approach, from June until frost.
Weigela edprince. bred by American breeders. The size of the shrub is 1.5x1.2 meters, where 1.5 is height, 1.2 is width. It is wildly successful for its decorative, fast growth, unpretentiousness.
Weigela prince
The leaves are oval with a sharp tip. Inflorescences of a blood-red hue give the bush a special charm, sophistication and contrast favorably with the background of the leaves.
Weigela prince offers to admire exquisite flowers twice a season. The first time in late spring, the second - in the fall (September). Inflorescences grow on last year's shoots. Therefore, after the summer flowering, it is necessary to carry out pruning. Lush bloom can only be expected in sunny areas.
The prince does not like waterlogged soils, but he feels good on loose, well-drained soil. For single landings, you should maintain a step of up to 2 meters. Do not forget about the root collar when planting, it should not go deep under the ground.
Weigel Middendorf
Weigel Middendorf.The shrub is suitable for stony soils. Since natural specimens grow along stony placers, along streams and rivers.
Large bell-shaped shrub. The inner part of the flower is yellow and shimmers with white on the outside.
Flowering and seed formation takes place twice a season. Its compact height of 1.5 meters allows it to be used in landscape design for single and group plantings.
Diseases and pests of weigels
Weigelasusceptible to the following pests:
Aphid. Insects in the form of small midges attack the plant. At the same time, they not only drink the life-giving juice of the leaves, they are also carriers of fungal diseases.
Symptoms: the leaves are covered, like a sweet syrup, curl, fall off. The sticky surface subsequently attracts the ants. There is one regularity, if ants appear, then aphids should be expected and vice versa.
Fighting: At an early stage, insects can be sampled mechanically. To do this, turn on the water and buy under the shower. Use the help of ladybugs.
Sparrows also actively fight pests. To attract them, you need to put feeders, drinkers in the garden. If the infestation is strong, treat the bushes with insecticides.
Defeat weigela aphids
May beetle and bear larvae are often brought in directly with compost or humus. It is necessary to carefully inspect the fertilizer before laying it in the planting pit. Also, soil treatment with insecticides before planting will help prevent their reproduction.
Spider mites, thrips. more often affected by pests in hot weather. In order to prevent infection, it is good to treat with insecticidal tinctures on wormwood, garlic, and hot pepper.
Among the diseases of weigela, fusarium, powdery mildew can be noted. To prevent their disease, it is worth remembering about agricultural technology. It is good to carry out preventive treatments in the spring. And also to prevent thickening of the landings. To do this, remove in time the shoots growing inward, do sanitary pruning, rejuvenation.