Content
The barberry shrub, regardless of the variety, looks decorative at any time of the year. That is why it is prized by landscape designers. But even novice gardeners will cope with the task, since planting and caring for a barberry shrub is not difficult. The main thing is to choose a variety in accordance with the climatic conditions of the region.
How quickly barberry grows
Barberry grown for landscaping grows slowly during the first 2 years after planting. Adult shrubs annually grow, depending on the variety, by 30-60 cm. Therefore, one of the measures when caring for plantings is regular pruning.
What soil does barberry like?
Barberry is a plant that needs soil with neutral acidity. If this indicator does not correspond, lime, dolomite flour or wood ash is added to the soil.
Groundwater should be no higher than 1.5 m, since the shrub does not tolerate stagnation. For the same reason, it is not recommended to plant plants in lowlands.
Landing dates
Planting dates depend on the state of the root system:
- If the seedlings were grown in a container, then they can be placed in the garden at any time: in spring, summer, autumn. You just need to shed the plants in order to take out the seedling without damaging the clod of earth. A cool day is chosen for planting a seedling. In the early days, the shrub is shaded from the sun.
- If the root system of the seedling is open, then the planting of barberry in the ground can be planned for the spring, until the buds have blossomed. At this time, the earth already has time to warm up. In autumn, the bushes are planted after the leaves fall.
Recommended landing dates:
- spring - from March 20 to April 15;
- autumn - from September 15 to October 15.
When choosing the timing of planting, you need to focus on the climatic features of the region.
How to plant barberry
Planting shrubs, for example, yellow barberry, in the country and further care are simple processes, since barberry is unpretentious. You just need to find the right place, prepare the soil, buy or grow healthy seedlings on your own.
To make the plants look decorative, you need to leave at least 1.5 m between them.If you create a hedge, then the seedlings are placed at a distance of 40-50 cm.
Where to plant barberry in the country
A sunny place is chosen for the shrub so that the barberry is illuminated almost all day. The fact is that a plant planted in the shade loses its decorative effect, bright foliage fades, becomes unattractive. In addition, growth and development slow down, flowering will be poor and unstable.
Landing site preparation
A permanent place is prepared 2-3 weeks before planting the bushes. They dig up the soil, choose weeds and roots. If the land is depleted, add humus, compost, wood ash. You can mix the soil with complex mineral fertilizers.
Seedling preparation
Seedlings can be grown independently, as barberry propagates by seeds, layering, cuttings and root shoots.If you have to buy, then it is better to use the services of trusted sellers or contact a nursery, where the varietal variety will allow you to choose the right plant.
The branches of the seedling must be intact, free of signs of the presence of insects and diseases. The nutritional system of a high-quality seedling is distinguished by the presence of a large number of adventitious roots. The cut on the stem should be greenish or whitish.
The day before planting, seedlings with an open root system are soaked in water. You can add potassium permanganate or any rooting preparation. If the seedling is in a container, then take it out and make several vertical cuts in the clod of earth to stimulate the formation of lateral roots.
Barberry planting rules
And now about how the barberry planting and further care in the open field are carried out.
Stages of work:
- Dig a hole 40x40x40 cm. If the soil is poor, then the seat is made a little larger so that humus and compost can be added.
- Fill the bottom of the pit with a drainage layer of pebbles, expanded clay or broken brick, then pour a layer of sand.
- Mix the soil removed from the pit with humus or compost, fill the pit almost to the top.
- Pour water so that the soil is well wet. This work is performed at least 7-10 days before planting.
- A deepening is made in the soil and a seedling is placed in it, after having straightened the roots.
- Sprinkle the root system of the shrub at the level of the root collar with soil, slightly compact it.
- Water and mulch the trunk circle liberally with peat or compost. This will greatly facilitate further care.
- Cut off some of the shoots, leaving only 4-5 buds at the bottom.
How to plant barberry
Since barberry is an ornamental shrub that delights the eye at any time of the year, even in winter, I want a lot of plants in the garden. If different varieties of barberry grow on the site or with friends, then you can propagate it:
- seeds;
- cuttings;
- layering;
- dividing the bush;
- root shoots.
Breeding work is not difficult at all, available for novice gardeners. You just need to take into account that each of the methods may have disadvantages:
- Cuttings take root for a long time.
- Barberry seeds are difficult to germinate, even from fresh planting material, 20-40% of seedlings are obtained. In this case, the future shrub may lose varietal qualities.
- When you receive the cut, you can harm the root system.
- Not all varieties of barberries give growth.
If you wish, you can experiment to choose the method that works for the variety. For example, for planting a red-leaved barberry hedge and further care for it.
How to care for barberry
Caring for barberry in the garden does not take much time, it all comes down to traditional activities:
- watering and feeding;
- loosening the soil and mulching;
- pruning;
- protection from diseases and pests;
- preparing the shrub for winter.
Carrying out the necessary agrotechnical measures, you can get a beautiful, unpretentious shrub that will decorate the garden.
Watering mode
According to the description, mature shrubs do not require constant watering, since they do not tolerate waterlogging of the soil. If it rains during the growing season, additional irrigation is not required. As for the young shrub, it needs to be watered regularly until it takes root.
Loosening and mulching
When growing barberry and caring for it, it should be remembered that water must penetrate to a depth of 40 cm.To moisture does not quickly evaporate, the root zone of the bush is sprinkled with mulch:
- peat;
- humus;
- compost;
- sawdust.
The layer must be at least 8 cm.
Before mulching, the soil is loosened well so that oxygen can flow to the roots. The operation is repeated after watering. Weeds must be removed as they not only draw out nutrients, but can also cause disease and pest infestations.
How to feed barberry
If during the planting of barberry, for example, Thunberg, a sufficient amount of nutrients was introduced, then in summer and autumn the shrub does not need to be fed for 2 years.
In the future, the plant needs nutrition, as it grows strongly. Both mineral and organic fertilizers are used as top dressing.
As a rule, food is introduced into the root zone of the shrub in the spring, before flowering begins. If the plant is grown as a hedge, then fertilizer under the barberry is applied 2 times a year.
Pruning
The shrub is good for pruning. Thanks to this procedure, the crown of the plant is formed, any shape can be created. The haircut scheme is shown in the photo.
In the first 3 years in early spring, while the buds have not started to grow, you need to cut all the shoots onto a stump to get a lush bush. This haircut is especially necessary for hedges.
In addition to formative pruning, plants need a sanitary shearing when damaged, dry branches are removed, as well as shoots that are knocked out of the general picture. This haircut can be done at any time.
Rejuvenating pruning is performed on old bushes that are beginning to degenerate. In the spring, you need to cut off the stems without leaving hemp. Young shoots will appear by autumn.
Preparing for winter
When choosing seedlings for planting in the garden, you need to take into account the climatic features of the region. Some varieties do not have sufficient frost resistance. Such bushes will require additional care in the fall associated with the shelter of the barberry for the winter.
Protection from disease and pests
Shrubs rarely get sick and are affected by insects. But it is not always possible to secure planting from powdery mildew, aphids and flower moths. Preventive measures will be required.
Diseases and pests | Signs of appearance |
Aphid | The appearance of aphids can be identified by shriveled and shriveled leaves. |
Moth | The insect settles on fruiting bushes and damages the berries |
Powdery mildew | A whitish bloom appears on the leaves and shoots. |
To combat diseases and pests, you need to use special products that are sold in stores, for example:
- Aktara;
- "Karate";
- "Karbofos".
The work must be carried out immediately, without waiting for the spread of the disease and the mass reproduction of pests. Otherwise, you can lose the barberry bushes growing nearby.
Features of planting and caring for barberry in the Urals
The Ural is a region with harsh climatic conditions. In winter, there are frosts below -25 degrees, and many varieties of barberry freeze out at such temperatures. Plants require good shelter from spruce branches, sawdust or humus.
It is necessary to cover the shrub with non-woven material for the winter when the frosts become resistant. It is not recommended to use polyethylene film to protect barberry from frost, as condensation accumulates under it in winter. And it can lead to damping and freezing of plants.
You should not plan to plant barberry in the Urals in the fall, since a fragile shrub with a weak root system is not able to survive in such conditions and no care will save it.
Features of planting and caring for barberry in Siberia
Siberian gardeners who decide to decorate their dacha with ornamental shrubs should know that they need to choose varieties that can survive low temperatures, that is, frost-resistant.
For this region, the following varieties of barberries are recommended:
- Canadian,
- Amur,
- ordinary,
- warty.
Shrubs require shelter for the winter within 3 years after planting. In the future, it will be enough to mulch the root system well. If a Thunberg barberry was planted on the site, then the plant must be protected from frost and wind throughout its life. Experienced gardeners recommend choosing dwarf barberry varieties, as they are easy to cover.
Novice gardeners are interested in when it is possible to plant barberry bushes on the site for residents of Siberia. Planting seedlings, as in the Urals, should be planned for the spring. During the summer, the plants will root well and will be able to survive the harsh winter.
What to plant next to barberry
The decorativeness of the barberry can hardly be overestimated.You can't walk past the bushes at any time of the year. In the spring, multi-colored leaves appear on the plants, then the bushes are covered with clusters of yellow or pink flowers. In autumn, the color of the leaves becomes even brighter, and in winter you can admire the red berries that stand out against the background of the snow.
You can plant seedlings alone or next to different flowers, trees and shrubs. Plants with colorful leaves look great against the background of evergreen conifers.
Bushes are planted along fences, on lawns or multi-level flower beds. Dwarf varieties of culture are indispensable for creating alpine slides and rocky Japanese gardens.
Although there are fruit plants, next to which it is not advisable to place plantings of decorative barberry. These are pears, apple trees and plums. What is the reason:
- At first, the root system of these trees is powerful and takes up a lot of space. This means that the shrubs will not get the required amount of nutrients.
- Secondly, the crown of apple trees, pears and plums is wide, it will cover the sun over the barberry. And the description says that the decorativeness of the shrub is lost in the shade.
Conclusion
Planting and caring for a barberry shrub will not cause much trouble even for novice gardeners. You need to work a little, but the result will delight for many years. An unpretentious and bright shrub will become a real decoration of the site on the lawns, along the fences, in compositions with different trees and shrubs.
