Weigela is a thermophilic shrub, the bright flowering of which can decorate the southern garden with many colors. However, there are gardeners who can grow an exotic representative in more severe climatic conditions, mainly using frost-resistant forms of culture. At the same time, planting and caring for Weigel in open ground in the territories of Central Russia also require a more careful attitude.
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Suitable shrubs
When cultivating plants in risky farming zones, which include the Moscow region, preference is given to frost-resistant forms of shrubs that were bred by breeders.
Weigela hybrid
Under the name, a number of varieties obtained as a result of hybridization are combined, which have a variety of colors of flowers and leaf plates. When growing weigels in the garden and flower beds, hybrid varieties are more often used than wild ones. The most common varieties in latitudes with a temperate continental climate are “Rosea”, “Lucifer”, “Candida”, “Eva Ratke”.
Weigela early
In the wild, the species is found on the stony slopes and forest edges of China, Korea, and the southern regions of the Ussuri Territory. Shrub up to 2 m in height, blooming in bright pink, is the owner of a spherical crown.Flowering, in which single or flowers collected in inflorescences bloom on new lateral shoots, occurs in late spring and lasts from 10 to 30 days. A bush is planted singly on lawns or in groups, perfectly forming a freely growing hedge.
Flowering weigela
A species reaching a height of 3 m and having a crown diameter of 3.5 m. After the arrival of autumn, the foliage of bright green color for a long period remains on the branches. Large tubular flowers with a pale pharynx and bright pink edges, forming inflorescences on the side shoots, when wilted, acquire a more saturated shade. The flowering phase is observed in late spring and early summer. Among the varieties that can withstand cold, stand out such as "Purpurea", "Alba", which, when wintering in the conditions of the Middle Band, need additional shelter.
Weigela garden
The native of the Land of the Rising Sun, not exceeding 1 m in height, is distinguished by the lush flowering of tubular or bell-shaped pinkish-carmine flowers, which are collected in inflorescences in triplicate. Flowers are formed at the ends of young shoots in the axils of elliptical leaf plates. The period of magnificent flowering occurs in the month of June. Despite the frost resistance of the plant, which has increased even more over the years, in the conditions of the Moscow Region the species needs winter shelter.
Weigel Middendorff
A low shrub up to 1.5 m tall, which in the wild is found on the fringes of pine forests in northern China, Japan and the Far East. The species has grown in popularity among gardeners due to the extraordinary cream-yellow color of the flowers.
Weigela: landing in the Moscow region
So that a native of the East would please a gardener with violent colors every year, it is necessary to correctly approach the planting of shrubs in open ground.
Preparing the place and soil for planting
The shrub grows well and blooms profusely on hills protected from drafts. Constant shade, wind knocking down flowers, and high soil moisture negatively affect flowering.
Before planting seedlings, the selected area is cleaned of weeds and stones, and the soil mixture is prepared from humus, sand and soddy soil in equal parts. Culture requires light soils with a loose structure.
Important! Well-lit places are chosen for photophilous varieties with edged leaves. Other representatives of the culture can be cultivated in areas with partial shading.
How and when to plant?
Planting seedlings of two to three years of age is best done in the spring, adhering to the following recommendations:
- It is necessary to prepare a landing pit with a size of 50x50 cm and a depth of 45 cm - the size of the hole may be larger depending on the size of the selected variety.
- Broken bricks, gravel or expanded clay should be placed at the bottom of the pit as a drainage layer 15 cm thick to prevent stagnation of water, which has a detrimental effect on the root system of the plant.
- After planting, it is worth mulching the soil with sawdust, peat or mowed grass.
Care in the suburbs
The natural environment for growing shrubs is a warmer and wetter climate, in connection with which it is necessary to organize competent care for Weigel in the fall and throughout the growing season to get flowering bushes, caressing the gaze.
Watering
In the hot summer season with long periods of drought, regular and plentiful watering of the bush is required. In order to avoid the rapid evaporation of moisture from the soil, the trunk circle is mulched.
Fertilizer application
Weigela responds well to additional nutrition. The culture is fed with complex mineral fertilizers twice during the growing season.
- Top dressing is carried out after the plant is awakened in the phase of leaf leaf swelling with the help of 40 g nitroammophoski for each plant.
- Before the flowering phase, in late spring, 30 g of potassium sulfate and superphosphate are added. Nitrogen is excluded to prevent the development of green mass to the detriment of budding.
Weigel Trimming Rules
In order to get a bush with a lush crown, the second-year weigel is cut to the first pair of lower buds - 10 cm from the soil level. This procedure allows you to stimulate the development of new shoots from basal buds. A similar pruning is repeated if the seedling shows poor branching in the next year.
Features of care in the fall, preparation for winter
The eastern representative is quite moody in relation to winter colds, although there are a number of cold-resistant varieties. Young shrubs up to three years old are subject to freezing in the conditions of severe Russian winters. To eliminate the negative effects of frost, in late autumn young bushes are covered with agrofiber, dry spruce branches or leaves.
Plant protection against diseases and pests
Species and varieties grown in culture show good resistance to pests and diseases. Among the most common pests observed on the shrub, aphids and mealybugs stand out, from which treatment with an insecticidal preparation will protect against according to the manufacturer's instructions. In case of spotting caused by fungi on the leaves, the treatment is carried out with fungicidal preparations. Also, sometimes the root neck of the Weigel is affected by bacterial cancer. Such specimens are incurable and must be destroyed in order to localize the spread of infection.
Bush propagation
Without much work, a plant can be propagated in two ways: by cuttings and seeds.
Seed method
When using generative reception, the following algorithm is adhered to:
- Seeds are harvested in October after final ripening.
- With the advent of spring, seeds are sown in a prepared nutrient substrate.
- After the formation of the first pair of true leaves, the seedlings dive into the area with a partial shadow, where they are systematically moistened.
- In winter, plantings are covered with agrofibre or foliage.
- After 3-4 years, the first flowering is noted.
Attention! Seed germination lasts only for one year.
Cuttings
This procedure is very productive and is carried out throughout the summer season as follows:
- Young shoots starting to lignify are cut from the bush, which are divided into cuttings of 20 cm with one pair of leaves.
- Prepared cuttings are placed in a substrate of peat and sand, and then covered with a film.
- After six weeks, during which the soil moisture is constantly monitored, the cuttings take root.
- The following spring, seedlings are transplanted into a shaded area.
- A young specimen obtained using cuttings gives flowers for 2-3 years.
So, the weigel shrub is an exotic plant that becomes the central element of landscape design during the flowering period. Therefore, despite the difficulties of cultivating it due to severe cold in the Moscow region, gardeners strive to acquire a flowering culture to decorate the design of the garden.
