Content
Lilac Katherine Havemeyer is a fragrant ornamental plant, bred in 1922 by a French breeder for landscaping squares and parks. The plant is unpretentious, is not afraid of polluted air and grows on any soil. Subject to agrotechnical rules, a flowering shrub will become the pride of a summer cottage for a long time.
Description of lilac Katerina Havemeyer
Common lilac Katerina Havemeyer is a tall shrub, an adult specimen reaches up to 5 m. The shrub is unpretentious, frost-hardy, can grow in both southern and northern regions. Varietal characteristics of lilac Katerina Havemeyer:
- voluminous and spreading bush;
- erect shoots are covered with heart-shaped, dark olive leaves;
- pyramidal inflorescences, bright purple in color, reach 24 cm in height and 16 cm in diameter;
- double flowers of the lilac variety Katerina Havemeyer, up to 3 cm in diameter, are collected in panicle inflorescences;
- flowering is abundant and long, the first flowers appear in mid-May and until early July cover the crown with a fragrant, flowering cap.
Reproduction methods
Lilacs of the Katerina Havemeyer variety can be propagated by seed, cuttings and branches. Seed propagation is a long and difficult way, so it is not suitable for beginner growers.
Seeds
For reproduction, seeds are harvested in the fall, after full ripening. The collected inoculum is dried until the valves are fully open and stratified. To do this, lilac seeds are placed in moistened sand and removed in a cool room for 2 months.
In early April, the prepared seed is sown in a nutrient soil, covered with glass and moved to the brightest place. After seed germination, the plant is dived into separate containers. When warm days come, the rooted seedling is transplanted to the chosen place.
Cuttings
Cuttings are cut during flowering from a healthy, sturdy twig. Method for grafting lilac varieties Katerina Havemeyer:
- Cuttings are cut from annual shoots 15 cm long.
- The lower foliage is removed, the upper one is shortened by ½ the length.
- The lower cut is made at an angle, the upper one is left even.
- The cuttings are dipped into a rooting stimulator and incubated for about 18 hours.
- Planting material can be planted directly on a prepared area or in a flower pot.
- A hole is made in the nutrient soil and cuttings are set at an acute angle at a distance of 5 cm.
- The planting is spilled and covered with polyethylene.
- For 1.5 months, the planting is moistened as the soil dries and aired.
- After the appearance of new leaves, the shelter is removed.
- In the spring, the mature plant is moved to a permanent place.
Root shoots
An easy and effective way to propagate lilacs of the Katerina Havemeyer variety. In the fall, the seedling is separated from the mother bush and planted in a prepared place. The planted lilacs are spilled abundantly and tied to a support.
Taps
A simple breeding method, even an inexperienced florist can handle it. Reproduction technology by branches of lilac varieties Katerina Havemeyer:
- In the spring, before bud break, trenches 10 cm deep are made around the 4-year-old bush.
- The lower, one-year-old shoot is placed in the groove, leaving the top above the ground.
- The trench is covered with nutritious soil, plentifully spilled and mulched.
- After the emergence of young shoots, hilling is carried out for ½ the length.
- After 2 years, the rooted branch is dug up and moved to a prepared place.
Planting and leaving
The flowering of lilacs directly depends on a high-quality seedling. Planting material must be purchased at garden fairs or from trusted suppliers.
The seedling should have foliage and well-developed roots. For better survival, you need to purchase 2-3 year old planting material, up to half a meter high. Such plants take root faster, and the root system is less injured.
When to plant
Lilac Katerina Havemeyer can be planted in spring and autumn. Spring planting is performed after warming up the soil, before the start of sap flow. In autumn, lilacs are planted a month before the onset of cold weather. During this period, the plant will have time to take root and safely endure winter frosts.
Site selection and soil preparation
A beautiful and long-lasting flowering can be achieved only if certain rules are followed:
- sunny place or partial shade;
- nutritious, drained soil with neutral acidity;
- area with deep groundwater.
How to plant
Before planting the lilac variety Katerina Havemeyer, it is necessary to prepare a seat. To do this, dig a hole 30x30 cm, cover the bottom with 15 cm drainage (crushed stone, broken brick or pebbles). The dug soil is mixed with sand, humus or rotted compost. Wood ash and superphosphate can be added to the soil. When planting 2 or more bushes, the distance between the holes should be 1.5-2 m, when creating a green fence, the distance between plantings is about 1 m.
If the purchased seedling has an open root system, it is soaked in warm water for an hour, after which the root system is gently straightened and placed on a prepared mound. The plant is covered with nutritious soil, tamping each layer so that an air cushion does not form.
After planting, the plant is watered abundantly, and the soil is covered with straw, dry foliage, peat or rotted humus. Mulch will retain moisture, stop weeds and provide additional nutrition.
Care rules
To achieve a beautiful and long-lasting flowering, you must follow 5 rules of care. The rules that must be followed in order to grow an ornamental, flowering shrub.
Watering
Lilac Katerina Havemeyer is a drought-resistant variety, but with a lack of moisture, the plant will stop developing, flowering will not be lush and not long. Therefore, lilacs are abundantly irrigated during the period of active growth and at the time of flowering. In the summer, during the ripening of seeds, watering is carried out only when the soil dries out to a depth of 25-30 cm.
Top dressing
Top dressing is applied for 3 years after planting the lilac variety Katerina Havemeyer. An exception is poor soil, and if the seedling is lagging behind in development. Fertilizers are applied 2 times a season. In the spring, 50-60 g of urea or ammonium nitrate is introduced under each plant. In summer, during flowering, lilacs are fertilized with organic matter. Autumn top dressing is applied every 2-3 years, for this, wood ash or a mineral fertilizer complex with a minimum nitrogen content is used.
Pruning
Formative pruning is carried out 2 years after planting the seedling. For lilacs of the Katerina Havemeyer variety, 3 types of pruning are used:
- The main - stimulates flowering.So that next year the bush is covered with a flower cap, all faded shoots are shortened, and dried peduncles are promptly removed.
- Rejuvenating - such pruning is necessary for old lilac bushes. To do this, thickening and old shoots are shortened under a stump for the appearance of young root shoots. Such rejuvenation is carried out in early spring before sap flow.
- Formative pruning - remove root shoots, dry and damaged shoots. Also, thanks to formative pruning, you can give the lilac the appearance of a miniature tree. For this, the main trunk is left, the side branches are removed, and the crown is formed in the form of a cloud.
Loosening
In order for the lilac Katerina Havemeyer to bloom beautifully and for a long time, it is necessary to regularly loosen the soil. Without loosening, an earth crust will form, and the root system will not receive enough oxygen. Loosening is carried out several times per season, combined with weeding and watering. Since the root system of the lilac is located superficially, loosening is carried out to a depth of 4-7 cm.
Mulching
For better water retention, protection of roots from overheating and preservation of soil quality, the trunk circle is mulched. Peat, straw, dry leaves or rotted compost are suitable as mulch. The mulch layer should be about 7 cm in order to maintain the desired height, mulch must be reported several times per season.
Diseases and pests
Lilac Katerina Havemeyer has strong immunity to many diseases. But if agrotechnical rules are not followed, diseases and pests often appear on lilacs, such as:
- Mottling - the disease appears in the spring and can be recognized by the foliage. The leaf plate turns pale, becomes covered with necrotic, ring-shaped spots. Without treatment, foliage dries up and falls off.
- Powdery mildew - the disease affects both young and old plants. The foliage is covered with a white bloom, which can be easily removed with a finger.
To get rid of viral and fungal diseases, fungicides of a wide spectrum of action are used. In order not to lose the Katerina Havemeyer lilac variety, preventive measures must be observed:
- acquire a healthy seedling;
- carry out timely weeding and loosening of the soil;
- remove dry, damaged branches;
- remove damaged foliage from the bush and burn.
To increase the resistance of the bush to diseases, it is necessary to carry out phosphorus-potassium dressing in summer and autumn. It is also important to carry out foliar feeding with Bordeaux liquid or copper sulfate.
Application in landscape design
Lilac Katerina Havemeyer has found wide application for landscaping the garden area. The variety is appreciated for its beautiful double flowers, abundant and long flowering, unpretentiousness and pleasant aroma. Due to its resistance to polluted air, the variety is planted in parks and squares. On a personal plot, hedges are made from lilacs, used in single and group plantings. Lilac Katerina Havemeyer goes well with conifers and ornamental shrubs, next to perennial and annual tall flowers.
Conclusion
Lilac Katerina Havemeyer is an ideal solution for decorating a summer cottage. It is unpretentious, blooms profusely and for a long time, ideal for single and group plantings. Purple, double flowers exude a strong scent that spreads throughout the area. Subject to agrotechnical rules, lilac will delight the eye for a long time.
