Planting, growing and caring for viburnum in the open field
The heroine of songs and legends - viburnum - has a wide range of useful properties, helps in the treatment of various diseases. Therefore, many gardeners are trying to plant a bush with bright healing berries in their own summer cottage. You can learn more about the features of various types of plants, the secrets of growing and caring for viburnum, from the presented material.
General characteristics and description of viburnum
A resident of the forest-steppe and steppe zones - viburnum - prefers moist soils, grows along river banks, survives frosty winters well, the bush can reach 3 meters in height. Viburnum is a perennial shrub from the genus Adoksovyh, grows in Europe, Asia and some African countries.
The flexible branches of the viburnum have long been used for weaving baskets; the first mention of the medicinal properties of the plant dates back to the 16th century. There are about 200 species of viburnum, a plant with large-toothed bright green or reddish leaves and large clusters of bright red (sometimes black or yellow berries), is used as an ornamental shrub, thanks to a branched root system, it is planted to strengthen the soil on slopes, is used as a living hedges.
White or slightly pinkish inflorescences resemble balls with a diameter of more than 12 centimeters, flowering occurs in May.
Berries are very rich in vitamins (there is more vitamin C in viburnum than in lemon), they are used to lower blood pressure, improve digestion, eliminate edema, and are used as a tonic and medicine. Each berry contains a large flat seed, colored in the color of the fruit pulp. The bark and berries of the plant are used for medicinal purposes.
Types and varieties of viburnum
It can be deciduous or evergreen, any of the species has excellent decorative characteristics. The most popular varieties:
- Viburnum ordinary. A tall, deciduous shrub with very beautiful white buds and bright scarlet clusters of berries.
- Kalina Bulldonezh. An ornamental shrub that does not produce berries. Snow-white balls of inflorescences decorate the site, often used in landscape design.
- Kalina Wright. The species is listed in the Russian "Red Book". The fruits are well stored and transported, the bush can reach a height of 2-3 meters, tolerates frost well, and is able to grow in shaded areas.
- Kalina Canadian. The berries of this plant are black.A bush with large, wide green leaves that turn reddish in autumn. Excellent for growing in the city, easily tolerates heavy city air, saturated with harmful substances.
- Viburnum Folded. An ornamental shrub with inedible berries. The lamellar spreading crown, in which, during the flowering period, the dark green leaves are shaded with snow-white flowers, looks very impressive, in the fall the foliage acquires a spectrum of shades (yellow, reddish), the berries change richly crimson to black.
- Kalina Gordovina. A decorative type of viburnum, growing slowly, often used for landscape design. Ripe black berries are edible, but not ripen at the same time; planting is actively used to strengthen the soil.
- Viburnum ordinary Xanthocarpum is a yellow-fruited variety, the berries do not differ in taste from red viburnum. The foliage remains green almost until the leaves fall. Together with red viburnum, it makes a gorgeous decorative composition.
There are several sweet-fruited varieties of viburnum, in which there is much less bitterness. For example, Ulgen or Taiga rubies. These berries can be eaten directly from the bush, without waiting for them to be "caught" by the frost.
Important: one should not expect that there is no bitterness in such varieties at all, it is simply much less in comparison with other types.
Viburnum is distinguished by unpretentiousness, high decorativeness of the bushes, medicinal value of berries.
The nuances of planting a bush in open ground
In order for the viburnum bush to grow well, it is necessary to plant the plant correctly.
When to plant viburnum
The bush should be planted in the ground in autumn or spring, after leaf fall or before the leaves open.
In the spring
For spring planting, a pit of 50x50 centimeters is prepared in advance, the distance between seedlings is 2.5-3.5 meters. A three year old seedling is used. The soil is combined with fertilizers (1 bucket of humus or peat, Nitrofoska - 2 glasses), no organic matter is added to the fertile soil.
In autumn
Viburnum is planted in the 2-3 decade of September, weeding the site, destroying weeds and grass. Autumn planting technology is the same as in spring, the main thing is that the seedlings have time to get stronger before frost.
Choosing a landing site
Viburnum grows well in sunny or slightly shaded areas, the plant loves moisture, for it you should choose a site with a close location of groundwater.
Soil preparation
Viburnum prefers neutral or slightly acidic soil. Grows poorly only on too heavy soil.
Viburnum planting technology
The prepared hole is filled with soil more than half, 2-4 buckets of water are poured in and left for a week to shrink the soil. Then, a mound is formed from the remains of the soil in the pit, in the center of which a seedling is installed. The roots should be straightened, after which the pit is filled up and compacted. The plant is well watered, the soil around is mulched.
How to properly care for viburnum
It is not difficult to take care of the plant, any types of viburnum grow well even among novice gardeners.
Watering
The plant loves moisture very much, it is necessary to water the plantings weekly, 10-20 liters of water are spent on a young bush, about 40 liters on an adult, fruiting one.
Important: if the summer is rainy, watering should be reduced; during the dry period, the plant needs more moisture.
The soil should be mulched after watering.
Top dressing
They are fed with dry fertilizers, which are scattered over the area of the trunk circle. Then the plant is watered. The first feeding is carried out before bud break or during their opening. Fertilized with urea, since nitrogen is very important for plant growth and development. Enough 2 tablespoons for each bush. The second feeding is done with potash fertilizers during the flowering period. The third feeding is required after flowering. A complex fertilizer containing phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium is used.The last top dressing is done in autumn if the soil on the site is poor and does not contain organic fertilizers. Fertile soil is not fertilized.
Pruning rules
In order for the plant to bear fruit well, it should be cut regularly. Sanitary pruning is done in late fall or early spring. Formative pruning is carried out in the spring.
Formation
Viburnum can be grown in the form of a bush or a small tree, it all depends on the type of pruning. It will take 3-4 years to get a tree. The lower part of the shoot is freed from buds and branches, the trunk is formed. Side branches and root growth are removed.
If the viburnum grows as a bush, it is necessary to thin out the branches in order to maintain the yield of the planting. For rejuvenation, a third of the old branches are removed annually.
Disease and pest control
The plant suffers from aphids, you can fight it by spraying the planting with an infusion of wormwood, celandine, tobacco dust. For radical destruction, insecticides of complex action are used. In addition to aphids, viburnum is attacked by:
- viburnum leaf beetle. Beetles and larvae cause harm, destroying the foliage and berries of the plant. For protection, FAS, Intavir, Karbofos are used, in strict accordance with the instructions;
- viburnum leafworm - caterpillars that not only intensively eat the leaves, but also entangle them with cobwebs, preventing the growth of the plant. The caterpillars are collected and burned together with the nests; with a strong spread, the bush is treated with Karbofos or Intavir;
- honeysuckle sawer - the insect feeds on young leaves of honeysuckle and viburnum; it is also destroyed with the help of insecticides;
- viburnum and honeysuckle gall midge, for protection, the plant is sprayed with a solution of Karbofos;
- black aphid - Karbofos, Commander, spraying with an infusion of pharmacy chamomile or wormwood will help from this pest.
Spraying is carried out using a mask, protective gloves, in full accordance with the instructions.
Important: during the formation of the ovary and ripening of the fruits, the plants are not sprayed.
The diseases that affect the viburnum include gray rot, powdery mildew, leaf spot. In this case, you should adjust the watering and, if necessary, treat the plant with fungicides.
Reproduction and rooting
Viburnum can be propagated in various ways, some, such as seed propagation and cuttings, are quite laborious and are rarely used in home garden plots. Cultivation of viburnum takes a long time; three-year-old seedlings are used for planting.
Seeds
It is difficult to grow viburnum from seeds at home, since seed germination does not exceed 20%. Viburnum seeds are washed and dried. Then they are kept for 2 months in nylon stockings stuffed with wet sawdust. Sprouted seeds are hardened for a month in the refrigerator at a temperature of 0 to +5 ° C. Then they are planted in boxes with soil. After warming up the soil, it is placed in open ground. The seedlings are placed in a permanent place after 2 years.
Vertical layering
After leaf fall on an adult plant, the lower branches should be pruned, leaving 3-4 buds. Then the bush is spud and left until spring. In the spring, the regrown shoots are once again spud. When the layers grow to 20-25 centimeters, they are pulled at the bottom with wire and cut by 1/3. After 2 weeks, they spud again. In autumn, the rooted shoot is separated and transferred to a permanent place.
Cuttings
Viburnum propagation by cuttings in the fall is carried out after the snow falls. This is done at the end of November or after the onset of winter. 20-centimeter shoots are cut from the bush. They are kept in water for 3 hours, placed in a plastic bag and left in a cool room until spring. After warming up the soil, the cuttings are planted in the ground, periodically weeded and watered, in the fall they are transferred to a permanent place.
Horizontal layering
In spring, strong shoots are bent to the ground and buried in.The shoots are "fastened" with wire and covered with earth again. After the shoots grow up, the hilling is repeated 3-4 times. The shaft height should be 25-35 centimeters. By the fall, the shoots take root, they are dug out, separated, planted in the desired area.
Root shoots
In late spring or early summer, strong shoots are selected that have grown by 20-25 centimeters. They are pulled with wire at the base and spud. Hilling is carried out 2-3 more times over the summer. The scion is then left alone until next spring. With the onset of warmth, the rooted seedlings are transferred to a new place. It is most simple to propagate plantings of viburnum by root shoots, this is one of the most popular ways.
Collection and storage
Viburnum berries are traditionally harvested after the first frost. Frost removes excess bitterness from the fruit. Berries can be stored by hanging them in a cool, well-ventilated area. They can be placed in the refrigerator, in a plastic bag or container. In addition, berries are frozen, ground with sugar, or dried.
Viburnum is well stored, does not lose useful properties for a long time. In addition to berries, infusions from the bark of this wonderful shrub have useful properties.
It is not difficult to grow viburnum in the country, while the bush will be not only a decoration for the garden, but also an additional source of nutrients, an excellent assistant for colds, insomnia, hypertension, and other health problems.
