Content
Spirea can be propagated even by a novice gardener. The shrub takes root well in a new place, does not need special care.
Features of the reproduction of the spirea shrub
It is most effective to propagate spirea in early spring or autumn, when there is enough natural moisture in the soil for the shrub to take root. However, experienced gardeners successfully breed it in the summer.
Spring breeding is planned until the buds are swollen. This is usually mid-March, but times may vary from region to region. If time is lost, then you will have to wait until the active growth of leaves stops. This usually occurs in late spring, when the spirea is preparing to bloom.
Shrub propagation in summer is possible, but only if the weather is cloudy. It is very important that the young plant does not lose moisture. Intense heat and lack of water adversely affect the survival rate of spirea. Work is planned for early or mid-June. If the spirea is still blooming at this time, then reproduction will have to be postponed for several weeks.
Autumn reproduction of spirea must be completed several weeks before the first frost. Work is planned for mid-September, but planting can be extended until the first days of October. Autumn breeding has the most advantages. Gardeners are pleased with the fact that young plants do not need constant care, it is enough to insulate them for the winter. In summer and spring, spirea needs constant spraying and watering, without which the survival rate of planting material is low.
How spirea multiplies
The most common way to propagate spirea is to root cuttings. Young plants retain all varietal characteristics and take root well. Absolutely all shrub hydrides are easy to graft.
There are also proven ways to reproduce spirea, which, with the right approach, give good results:
- dividing the bush;
- withdrawal method;
- seeds.
The latter method is suitable only for varietal plants; it makes no sense to propagate hybrid spireas using this method.
Reproduction of spirea by cuttings
Reproduction of spirea can be carried out with lignified or green cuttings. It all depends on what time of year the rooting takes place. Cutting annual or last year's shoots. It is easy to distinguish them - the bark is still light on the new growth.
When to cut spirea
Spirea cuttings are possible in early spring and summer, as well as in autumn. You need to harvest shoots in cloudy weather. The planting material is cut from a healthy bush. If the spirea has signs of damage by pests or diseases, then first you need to process the mother plant. Spraying is repeated if necessary. Cuttings for further propagation can be harvested no earlier than after 3 days.
How to propagate spirea by cuttings in spring
In the spring, reproduction of spirea is carried out by lignified cuttings. Use last year's matured branches, the thickness of which is no more than 0.5 cm. Cuttings are cut from the middle of the shoot. The lower cut is made oblique, and the upper cut is straight. Each prepared cutting should have 5-6 buds. Small cuts are made above the bottom two to stimulate root formation.
In spring, cuttings can be rooted directly in the ground or in a container, followed by transplantation to a permanent place.
Algorithm of actions:
- For rooting in a container, you will need a loose substrate, sand, drainage.
- Expanded clay is poured at the bottom of the container, then a layer of fertile soil, sand.
- The cuttings are pre-soaked in a solution of "Kornevin" or another growth stimulator.
- The lower cut is buried by 2-3 buds so that it does not touch the soil, but is in a layer of sand. This will prevent rotting and increase the survival rate of the planting material.
After planting, the container is placed in a greenhouse. It takes up to 1 month for root formation. All this time you need to ventilate and, if necessary, water the plantings.
In the open field, cuttings are rooted in the same way, with the only difference that they are planted immediately in a permanent place or in a school. To make the formation of roots faster, plantings are regularly sprayed from a spray bottle.
How to propagate spirea by cuttings in summer
In summer, spireas choose green cuttings for reproduction. The tops of young shoots are cut off, as they can rot or break off during the rooting process. All the lower leaves are cut off from the prepared cutting, only the upper 4 pieces are left, while the leaf plate is shortened by a third.
The lower cut is processed in a solution of potassium permanganate, after which the cuttings are planted in a nutrient substrate. The shoots are deepened by 1.5-2 cm.The distance between them is kept about 3 cm.
A rooting place is chosen shaded from the scorching sun, but well ventilated. The plantings are covered with glass or a bag to form a greenhouse effect. Periodically, the cuttings are ventilated. They are transferred to a permanent place when the shoots grow.
How to propagate spirea by dividing a bush
Reproduction of spirea, which has reached the age of 3-4 years, can be carried out by dividing the bush. It is difficult to divide older plants in this way without damaging the root system.
You can propagate a perennial by division at any time of the year, but it is better to do this in the fall. Gardeners recommend planning work in early September. At this time, the shrub requires a minimum of maintenance. In summer, it is more difficult to divide it, it is better to do it in cloudy weather or when it is raining.
The spirea is dug up, placed in a bucket of water for several hours, after which it is divided into 2-3 divisions. A sharp pruner is used, which is pre-disinfected. Before planting, the roots of plants are cut and transferred to prepared holes.
Spirea propagation by seeds
One of the ways to reproduce spirea is to grow seedlings from seeds. This method allows you to get a lot of planting material. Seeds do not require special preparation and stratification. They are harvested in the summer, and in the fall or spring they are planted.
For this:
- Seed pods are harvested in late July - early August.
- Dose them for 3 weeks at home.
- For planting, use loose soil, which is filled with containers.
- Seeds are evenly distributed over the soil surface, lightly sprinkled.
- The plantings are well sprayed with a spray bottle and covered with a bag for a greenhouse effect. When shoots appear, the package is removed.
Seedlings dive in a few months, by that time they will reach a height of 2 cm.
Instructions:
- Plants are planted in a box, a distance of 7 cm is left between them.
- After that, the container with seedlings is removed to the garden for the summer so that direct sunlight does not fall on it.
- Young seedlings are watered abundantly, the soil should not dry out, since weak roots will quickly die.
In the fall, the sprouts are transplanted into open ground, where they hibernate. In the spring, plants are assigned a permanent place. The flowering of young bushes will begin after 3 years of cultivation.
How to propagate a spirea bush by layering
If you need to get only a few shoots from the bush, it is most convenient to reproduce the spirea by the diversion method. Work is planned for early spring. They choose the lower shoots, break them slightly, pin them to the ground and cover them with soil.
All inflorescences are cut off from the mother bush so that the forces are spent on the formation of roots in young shoots. The soil under the perennial is kept moist. By the end of the season, the cuttings will have formed a good root system, but it is too early to replant them. For the winter, the plants are spud, covered with dry leaves. They are transplanted to a permanent place in the spring.
Experienced gardening tips
In order for the spirea to develop well after rooting and delight with flowering, you need to follow simple rules:
- For planting in a permanent place, a deep hole is prepared, which is 3 times the size of the root system. The bottom is well drained with broken bricks, pebbles and sand.
- The well is filled with a nutrient substrate from garden soil, peat and sand. The components are mixed in a 2: 1: 1 ratio
- The seedling is lowered into the hole so that the root collar remains level with the soil.
- Spirea after planting is mulched with humus and watered abundantly.
If there are several plants on the site, then a distance of up to 1 m must be maintained between them.To create a hedge from a spirea, the plants are planted more densely, it is enough to leave 40-50 cm between them.
The first years after rooting, perennials need careful care. At this moment, shrubs are acclimatizing. Water them regularly, the root system should not dry out. In rainy weather, you do not need to additionally moisten the soil.
During the growing season, perennials must be fed with liquid mineral mixtures and organic matter. For the winter, the soil under the plant is mulched with dry leaves, the shoots are tied up and covered with spruce branches. The first time the spirea is trimmed after wintering.
Conclusion
Spirea can be propagated in different ways. It is important to correctly determine the method and time of the procedure. Beginners should dwell on shrub cuttings, gradually learning more complex methods.
