Types and varieties of garden yucca, planting and care in the open field, how to cover for the winter
Many growers are engaged in the cultivation of garden yucca. This culture is very popular today. It is considered an unpretentious and fairly hardy plant that easily tolerates heat and drought. The disadvantage of the flower is its increased susceptibility to excess liquid in the soil. This can cause rot on the root system and cause various diseases. Sometimes the plant dies altogether.
Popular varieties of street yucca: description and characteristics
Before planting this flower on the street, you need to choose the right variety. There are several types of yucca that have certain characteristics.
Filamentous
This culture is native to North America. It is a stemless bush whose long leaves grow directly from the roots. During the summer, offspring appear on the roots, which are used for reproduction. The plant is resistant to frost, but it is recommended to cover it for the winter.
Sizaya
This plant is native to the western regions of America. This type of yucca has a short stem. Sleeping buds are located on it. Their growth begins when the leaves collected in a bunch die. The inflorescences of the culture reach 1 meter in height. They are covered with a lot of white bells.
How to plant a yucca in the garden
To get a strong and viable plant, you should pay attention to the timing and technique of planting it.
Optimal timing
The best time to plant yucca is in May. The soil should be warm enough. It is this method that gives the plant enough time to prepare for winter.
Depending on the variety
Regardless of the variety, yucca is planted in the spring and summer. The temperature should reach 20-22 degrees. This allows the culture to form strong roots.
From the region of growth
Planting yucca in autumn is permissible only in the south. But, in any case, planting work should be carried out as early as possible - in late August or early September. The plant takes a long time to root. In the Moscow region and other regions, the culture is planted only in the spring.
Planting methods and technology
In order for the culture to take root, the following recommendations must be followed when planting:
- do not deepen the root collar too much;
- the hole should be twice the size of the roots;
- on dense soil it is recommended to put a drainage layer - its thickness should be at least 10 centimeters.
A plant is placed in the central part of the prepared recess and the root system is carefully straightened. From above it must be covered with earth and soil mixture, squeezed and watered.
You should also check the location of the roots and mulch the bed with dry peat.
It is forbidden to use any powders for decorating the ground under the yucca. They help to compact the soil and reduce the flow of oxygen to the roots.
How to care: growing conditions
The plant must be properly looked after. After planting, the yucca should be watered moderately. It is also worth doing sanitary work and pruning. Timely fertilization is of no small importance.
Temperature and lighting in the garden
The shrub requires good lighting and warmth. Therefore, it is planted in open beds, which receive a lot of sun. Partial shade is also a good option. A lack of light will provoke a decrease in the volume of green mass. The plant is not afraid of drought. It can multiply at temperatures around 20 degrees.
Humidity and watering
The soil should not be too wet. The plant does not need abundant watering. It will be possible to determine the need for water by the appearance of the culture. If the leaves are straightened, and the threads are slightly curled, you do not need to water the yucca. If the foliage curls and the threads sag, moisture is required.
In winter, the plant also needs to be watered. However, it is recommended to reduce the amount of water. It is recommended to water the plant directly under the root. It is strictly forbidden to use too much moisture. This will cause root rot.
Outdoor transplant
If the culture grows for a long time in one area, this provokes its excessive growth. Therefore, the plant should be transplanted. In a new place, yucca begins to grow better.
The procedure is recommended in spring or late summer. It is worth considering the following features:
- when digging up a bush, it is important to avoid damage to the roots - they can deepen by 70 centimeters;
- shoots in the area of the bush must be dug up and planted as separate plants;
- culture should provide the same features of the environment as in the old site;
- the transplanted plant requires fertilization;
- after the procedure, the bush will be able to bloom only after 1 year.
When is it better to transplant yucca
It is worth replanting the culture in late summer or spring. This can be done from August to early September.
Top dressing
Flowers do not like mullein, bird droppings, green dressings. In general, fertilizing the crop is very careful. With an excessive amount of fertilizer, the leaves become large, and the flowers are absent. The parameters of frost resistance also decrease.
A young culture must certainly be fed after planting. However, this is done at the moment new leaves appear. It is best to use products that are designed for indoor succulents. A complex preparation with a low nitrogen content is also suitable. It is diluted by half. 1-5 liters of fertilizer are applied under the bush - it all depends on its size.
Yucca pruning for beauty and rejuvenation
Pruning is performed to form new shoots and rejuvenate the culture. To awaken the lateral buds, you need to cut off the main stem. This activates the development of lateral buds from which rosettes will emerge. If there is no need for shoots, it is enough to get rid of the spoiled leaves.
Yucca looks great when it grows in one stem. With adequate care, the height of the peduncle is more than 1.5 meters. In this case, the number of flowers can be 250.Therefore, before you start pruning, you need to analyze its feasibility.
Most often, the crop is cut in the fall, after flowering ends. In this case, you need to get rid of bad leaves and stems. To improve the appearance of the culture, the leaves do not need to be cut off completely, but 3-5 centimeters away from the trunk. Thanks to this, the trunk will be, as it were, covered with scales.
Plant care in winter
In order for the culture to endure well the winter season, it needs to be provided with full and high-quality care.
Do I need to dig a yucca for the winter?
The feasibility of digging a crop depends on its variety. Gray and filamentous yucca are characterized by frost resistance. Plants easily perceive a short drop in temperature. If a cold winter is expected in the region, the bush requires shelter. In the first 2 years of life, young cultures need to be sheltered.
Wintering options for yucca in the open field
You can cover the plant in various ways. Preparation for winter is carried out as follows:
- In dry weather, the bush must be collected in a bunch and tied with a rope. To prevent the soil from freezing, the lower leaves should be placed on the ground. The area around the plant is covered with dry leaves. Planks and sticks are stacked on them. The plant must be covered with foil, and the base of the trunk must be covered with earth.
- The plant can be covered with a free wooden box. Also, it should be covered with polystyrene, roofing material. Sprinkle with dry foliage and cover with straw or spruce branches. Wrap the bush with foil on top.
It is recommended to carry out insulation works in late October or early November. It is worth removing protective devices only after the threat of frost has been eliminated.
The most common diseases and pests
Yucca can deal with various diseases. Also, the plant is attacked by pests. To cope with the problem, you need to take action in time.
How to treat diseases
The plant often encounters fungal pathologies, which are accompanied by the appearance of spots on the leaves. Excess watering becomes the provoking factors of problems.
Decay of foliage is also a common disease of yucca. This violation is also fungal in nature.
White rot is considered a common violation. It is caused by sharp fluctuations in temperature indicators in combination with high humidity. White bloom can lead to damage to the leaves and stem. To cope with fungi, the yucca is sprayed with fungicides and the affected foliage is torn off.
How to deal with parasites
The plant is susceptible to attacks by such pests:
- Slugs - Lead to yellow spots after winter. Insecticides help control pests.
- Scabbard - provokes the appearance of brown plaques on the plant. Wiping the foliage with a damp cotton swab will help to cope with the problem. You can also use chemicals such as Actor.
- Spider mites - Iskra BIO will help to cope with pests.
Reproduction
The propagation of garden yucca is carried out in different ways. To achieve good results, you need to strictly follow the technology.
How to propagate yucca tops
This is the most popular method. To implement it, you need to take a rosette of leaves at the top. A broken branch will also work. The stalk needs to be dried for 2 hours and get rid of the lower leaves. Then it is planted in a nutritious soil and covered with a jar. The ground should be slightly damp.
Cuttings
Yucca propagates by cuttings in the first half of spring or late winter. Usually, the procedure is carried out for an adult plant, during crown formation, when excess shoots are removed. The cuttings should be dried for 1 hour and transplanted into a mini-greenhouse. After 1.5 months, roots will appear. At this point, the plant can be adapted to normal conditions.
We seat the lateral processes
To plant a growing yucca, you need to make an incision in the root.It is performed below the lower leaves by about 40 centimeters. In this area, you need to remove 1.5 centimeters of bark. A layer of wet moss is applied to the damaged area and wrapped in foil. This helps prevent moisture evaporation.
After some time, dormant roots wake up in this area. As they grow up, they form a cut-off. When the roots grow enough, the cut is cut off. The cut must be processed with crushed activated carbon and placed in a substrate.
Shoots
In such a situation, it is necessary to separate the excess shoots that lead to excessive plant density. In this case, the sections should be sprinkled with charcoal to prevent rotting. Then it is recommended to move the sprouts into coarse sand and put them in a greenhouse for rooting.
It is recommended to water the seedlings in moderation, and periodically ventilate to remove condensation. With adequate care, the first roots are formed in 1.5 months. Then it is permissible to move the plant to the pot.
Barrel cuttings
This method is suitable for qualified florists. After cutting off the tops, the trunks remain without leaves on the plant. The stem length of the flower must be at least 25 centimeters. All sections should be lubricated with garden var. You can also use activated carbon. Then a root formation stimulant is applied. After the necessary manipulations, the trunk should be planted in nutrient soil.
Air layering
This method is to plant the yucca during rehabilitation after an illness. To do this, it is worth taking exceptionally hard areas. Remove the bark from the bottom cut and cover with moss. It needs to be moistened periodically. After 1 month, small roots are formed. They should be grown to 5 centimeters. The yucca is then planted in suitable soil.
Garden yucca is a popular ornamental plant, which is easy to care for. To get a strong and powerful crop, it is worth monitoring watering. It is also recommended to prune the bush and apply fertilizer.
