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Flowering shrubs are used to decorate the garden plot. Spirea Arguta (meadowsweet) is one of these plants. She has exquisite beauty when given proper care. The rules for growing a shrub, which is widely used by landscape designers, will be discussed below.
Description of spirea Argut
Spirea Arguta (spiraea arguta) is an ornamental shrub from the Pink family. To create this hybrid, 2 types were used: Thunberg's spirea and multi-flowered.
Shoots of an adult plant grow up to 2 m, branches in diameter can spread up to 3 m. The leaf blades are narrow, lanceolate. Sharp notches are clearly visible on dark green leaves. The branches of the Argut spirea are thin, bent in the form of an arc. At the end of May and almost until the end of June, meadowsweet bushes are covered with white flowers. Long umbrella-type inflorescences are formed on the shoots for 2 years.
Diameter of buds - 8 mm, petals - 5 pcs. Inside each flower there are a large number of stamens, due to which it becomes fluffy. When flowering begins, the leaves are almost invisible, and the branches droop under the weight of the inflorescences. And the whole space is filled with honey aroma.
The development of the Argut spirea bush is slow, in a year the shoots grow by 10-20 cm, but regardless of this, the plant must be cut off.
Spirea Arguta is widely used by landscape designers for single plantings and creating hedges. The shrub can be found not only in garden plots, but also in large parks. Plants look favorably against the background of conifers.
Planting and caring for the Argut spirea
You can plant spirea seedlings in the spring or in the autumn, until the frost begins. In order for the plant to take root well, choose a cool, better cloudy day.
Spirea grows on any soil, but a shrub develops better if, when planting, add leafy or sod soil, peat, sand to the hole.
Meadowsweet is an unpretentious shrub that does not require special care. But when choosing a place, preference is given to an openwork shadow. Frost-resistant spirea can withstand temperatures up to -40 degrees.
Preparation of planting material
The survival rate and development of the shrub depend on the quality of the planting material. Seedlings with open and closed root systems can be used. If young bushes were grown in containers, then they are well watered before planting in order to pull out the seedling along with a lump of earth.
Plants with an open root system are specially prepared:
- For a day, they are soaked in a solution of potassium permanganate or any composition that stimulates the development of roots.
- If this part of the plant is too long, it is shortened with a sharp tool to 20-25 cm. It is important that the cut is even.
- Shoots also need to be shortened in all Argut spirea seedlings, leaving no more than 4-5 living buds for rooting to be successful.
Argut spirea seedlings (as in the photo below) can be grown independently, since the shrub reproduces well, or purchased in nurseries.
Landing rules
After choosing a site for planting single spirea bushes, in combination with other trees or hedges, you need to start preparing. The earth is carefully dug up, removed weeds and roots.
After that, they dig a hole 2 times the size of the root system. With single plantings between the bushes, spireas are left 1-2 m.To create a hedge, seedlings are planted at a distance of 70-80 cm.
Planting stages:
- The bottom of the dug hole is filled with drainage by 10-15 cm (large pebbles, broken brick).
- The rest of the seat is filled with fertile loose soil.
- The earth is watered, letting it go to the depths.
- In the center of the pit, a small mound is made, on which an Argut spirea sapling is arranged.
- The roots are carefully spread and covered with soil so as not to deepen the root collar.
- The plant is watered, then slightly tugged at the seedling if it was pulled down during planting.
- The root zone is sprinkled with mulch (peat or humus) to retain moisture.
Watering and feeding
Further care for the spirea is no different from the activities that are necessary for deciduous shrubs.
After planting, the plants need systematic watering, but there is no need to bring the soil to the state of a swamp. Emerging weeds are removed as they can cause disease and pests. For immature plants, such a neighborhood is dangerous.
Adult shrubs, if there is no rain, are watered once a week. Each bush will require 1.5 buckets of water. After watering, the soil in the root zone is shallowly loosened to provide oxygen to the roots, and mulch is added.
Pruning spirea Argut
A sharp-toothed spirea or Arguta must be cut off in order to properly form the crown of the bush. Such a procedure will benefit the meadowsweet, since the plants then throw out new powerful shoots, on which, next year, a large number of snow-white inflorescences will form.
In addition, a haircut will add decorativeness to Arguta, since you can create any forms of deciduous shrubs. It is also necessary to cut out part of the young shoots, of which a lot grows over the summer. If you leave them, the bush will look sloppy, and heavily thickened plantings suffer from diseases and pests.
Spirea pruning is carried out for different purposes, it can be:
- sanitary;
- stimulating;
- formative;
- anti-aging.
Sanitary pruning
Drying of meadowsweet shoots begins at 2 years. They should not be left on the bush, as spores of diseases and pests can overwinter on them. Branches that have not survived the frosty winter are also subject to pruning. The sanitary procedure is carried out in early spring, until the buds have blossomed.
Damaged shoots are also trimmed during the growing season.
Stimulating haircut
Such pruning of the shrub is carried out in early spring, when the spirea is 3-4 years old. When cutting, weak shoots and branches are removed, the spirea begins to branch better, which contributes to abundant flowering. The bush itself will become healthier and more attractive.
Formative pruning
You can form the crown of a shrub in spring or autumn. With the help of such pruning, you can get bushes with the desired crown shape.
A shaping haircut, depending on the age and condition of the bush, can be performed in different ways: moderately or strongly.
Rejuvenation of the bushes
Old bushes that have been growing on the site for more than 15 years need rejuvenation. So that the spirea does not lose its attractiveness and continues to delight with snow-white clusters of fluffy flowers, it must be cut off. The haircut is performed 14-21 days before frost, so that the wounds have time to heal and do not freeze in winter.
Preparing for winter
Adult plants do not need special shelter, since, according to the description, the shoots of Arguta are able to withstand frosts down to -40 degrees. But the roots are located close to the surface and need protection. In autumn, compost or humus is applied under the bushes with a layer of at least 30 cm.
Young meadowsweet bushes up to 4 years of age need to be specially prepared for wintering. Sprinkle the root zone with mulch. The branches, while there is no frost, are squeezed and tied with twine. Burlap or any non-woven material is pulled on top.
Protection against diseases and pests
Spirea Arguta is a strong and sturdy plant that practically does not get sick. But he can be annoyed by aphids and spider mites, caterpillars. The meadowsweet must be protected from these pests. For spraying, you need to use special chemicals.
Reproduction
The Argut shrub is aging over time, seedlings will be required for new plantings. Gardeners should be aware of the breeding characteristics of meadowsweet. You can get new plants by cuttings and layering.
Cuttings
Cuttings are cut in the summer. Leaves are cut off at the bottom, and the stem is lightly scratched with pruners to stimulate root formation. Then they are buried at an angle to a depth of 2 cm. Sprinkle with earth on top, and watered well and covered with a plastic bottle. In the future, you need to water. The seedlings are transplanted for the next year.
Layers
In spring, young shoots of spirea are bent and pinned to the ground. Top covered with soil. Regular watering is required during the summer. The following spring, the rooted cut is separated from the mother bush and transplanted to a permanent place.
Reviews about spirea Argut
Conclusion
With proper care, the Argut spirea will become an original decoration of the summer cottage. In one place it can grow up to 25 years. The meadowsweet does not require special care, which is very popular with gardeners who do not have time for a daily trip to the country.
