Planting and caring for the irga

Planting and caring for irga in the open field will not be difficult even for novice gardeners. Despite this, it is quite rare to meet her in garden plots. And this is a big mistake. It is unlikely that another fruit tree or shrub can compare with it in terms of ease of cultivation. Irga is resistant to cold weather and easily endures the most severe winters. It grows on all types of soil and requires very little maintenance. She is not touched by pests, and she practically does not get sick. Irga bears fruit abundantly and annually, and its berries are not only tasty, but also very useful.

Principles of growing and caring for irga

Irga is a perennial deciduous shrub, some species can have one trunk and are formed as a short tree. It belongs to the Rosaceae family, the apple subfamily. That is why its fruits are sometimes called not berries, but apples. The homeland of this plant is North America. In the wild, irga is found in the United States and Canada; in addition, it can be found in the Caucasus, Crimea, Central Russia, the Urals, Southern Siberia, and even Japan.

Irga is undemanding to the landing site. In places of natural growth, it is found even on rocky soils, penetrating into cracks between stones with its powerful, well-developed roots. Irga will grow well on loamy and sandy loam soils with an acidity close to neutral. Irga does not like only close proximity to water. Wetlands should be avoided when planting it.

Irga is a frost-resistant and drought-resistant plant, it easily withstands frosts of -40 degrees and does not need regular watering. The only exceptions are fruit varieties, which need to be watered periodically during the ripening period of the berries. In addition to watering, to obtain a good harvest, bushes require fertilizing, regular pruning, weeding with the removal of root growth and loosening of the trunks.

Planting irgi in open ground

Irga is planted in a permanent place with seedlings at the age of 2-3 years. Before planting, you need to take into account some of the features of the irgi associated with its cultivation in the open field.

1. The life span of a bush can reach 60–70 years. Transplanting an adult bush is very laborious, so you need to determine the landing site in advance.
2. The height of an adult bush can reach 8 m, the width of the crown is 6 m, so the shadow from it will be significant.
3. Most species of irgi give abundant root growth. It must be constantly removed, otherwise the shrub will eventually turn into dense thickets.
4. The roots of this plant are powerful and numerous, the pivotal one can go 2 or more meters deep, and the lateral ones grow by 2-3 meters. If you need to remove an adult bush, this will cause a lot of trouble, and it is unlikely that you will be able to completely remove the roots.
5. Irgi berries are a delicacy not only for people, but also for birds.To protect the crop, you will need to put a special protective mesh on the tree.
6. Harvesting from tall bushes will be very difficult. Therefore, it is better to give preference to undersized varieties if the shrub is planted as a berry. In the future, it is imperative to form the crown and thin out the bush.

If the choice is made and all the nuances are taken into account, you can begin to prepare for planting.

When is it better to plant irgu: in spring or autumn

Professional gardeners recommend planting irga in the fall, after the leaves fall. At this time, the seedlings are full of energy and are completely ready for winter. In addition, during this period, as a rule, there are no problems with planting material. Nevertheless, planting irgi in the spring can also be done, this must be done before the buds begin to swell on it. This shrub has excellent survival rate, so there will be no problems with the rooting of the seedling.

Where to plant irgu

Irga can be planted anywhere in the garden. Shady places are no exception, however, the shoots on them will be thinner, and the harvest will be poorer. It is optimal to plant shrubs along the northern border of the site. Irga is not afraid of the cold, and a hedge of bushes will reliably protect the more delicate bushes and trees from the north wind.

The place for planting irgi should not be near a fence or against a wall, powerful roots can damage the structure. It is undemanding to the type of soil, it is only important that the groundwater is far from the surface.

Before planting, the soil must be dug up in advance, while applying organic fertilizers. It is also better to dig the planting hole itself in advance so that the soil has time to get saturated with air. For spring planting, the pit is prepared in autumn, for autumn planting - in 1.5–2 months.

Selection and preparation of seedlings

Usually, seedlings of 2-3 years old are planted in a permanent place. By this time, its length should be at least 30–35 cm. It is advisable to choose seedlings with a clod of earth on the roots. Open roots should be examined, rotten areas should be cut off.

How to plant irgu in spring: step by step instructions

The planting pit should be at least half a meter deep. Its size depends on the size of the roots of the seedling, it is necessary that they fit in it freely and do not curl. Here is a step-by-step instruction for planting irgi in the spring in open ground:

1. Prepare several buckets of humus and earth, mixing them in a 1: 1 ratio.
2. Add 2 tbsp to the mixture. tablespoons of superphosphate and 1 tbsp. a spoonful of potassium sulfate, stir.
3. Pour the mixture onto the bottom of the pit so that the root collar of the seedling is 5–6 cm below ground level.
4. Place the seedling vertically, spread the roots and gradually cover them with earth, avoiding the formation of voids.
5. Tamp down the trunk circle, pour plenty of water (at least 30 liters) and mulch with straw or sawdust.

Planting irgi in spring with seedlings can be done in a checkerboard pattern, in a row or pointwise. Neighboring bushes should be located at a distance of at least 2.5 m from each other, when planting in a row to create hedges - 1-1.5 m.

What can be planted next to irga

It is not recommended to plant trees with powerful roots next to irga: birch, maple. Also, it will not get along with all types of walnut, barberry, lilac and viburnum. Subject to the necessary distances, the neighbors of the irgi can be any stone fruit: apricot, plum, quince.

Irga care after planting

To obtain good yields and a beautiful appearance, the irgi bush needs periodic pruning. In addition, it is necessary to keep the trunk circle clean, cleaning it from weeds and periodically loosening. Periodic feeding and watering will also be useful.

Proper watering rules

With a sufficient amount of precipitation, irrigation is not required at all. Only recently planted seedlings need watering; before a young growth appears, they need to be watered regularly.

Adult bushes in dry times are watered at the rate of a bucket of water per day.

Loosening, weeding, mulching

Keeping the trunk circle clean is important not only from an aesthetic point of view. Regular weeding and loosening increases air access to the roots, which has a beneficial effect on the growth of the bush. It is also an opportunity to remove numerous root shoots. After cleaning the trunk circle, it is watered and mulched, this helps to slow down the growth of weeds and retains moisture in the soil.

Top dressing of irgi in spring, summer and autumn

Irga does not require mandatory feeding, especially if planted in fertile soil. On poor sandy and clay soils, it is recommended to periodically feed the shrub with both organic and mineral fertilizers:

1. In the spring, before the kidneys swell - nitroammophos 50 g per sq. m.
2. In summer, during the ripening of berries - infusion of manure or bird droppings, diluted 0.5 liters per bucket of water, or urea in a proportion of 40 g per bucket.
3. In the fall, along with digging up the trunk circles - potassium sulfate and superphosphate, 1 and 2 tbsp. spoons, respectively, per sq. m.

Once every three years, you can make autumn feeding of adult bushes with humus at the rate of 3 buckets per 1 bush. This will prevent depletion of the soil.

When and how to prune irgu

Pruning and shaping irgi helps to properly grow the bush, increase its yield, rejuvenate plantings and get rid of old and dry branches. Pruning is done in several steps:

• Sanitary pruning - in spring, before the start of sap flow and in autumn, after leaf fall. Broken, withered branches are cut.
• Formative pruning is done for tree-like forms, while the vertical shoots are shortened by ¼, the lateral ones are completely cut off. At the same time, the crown begins to grow in breadth and takes the shape of a hat.
• Thinning pruning it is used for bush forms of irgi. In this case, all the basal shoots are removed, leaving only 2-3 shoots annually. Gradually, the bush will be formed from 10-15 different-aged trunks. In the future, all thickening (growing inside the bush) branches are removed.
• Anti-aging pruning provides for the complete removal of trunks older than 7-8 years. It can be both partial and complete, during which the entire bush is cut out "under the stump".

Pruning irgi bushes is best done in the spring, before the buds swell. All places of cuts must be covered with garden varnish or painted over with oil paint.

Preparing culture for winter

The winter hardiness of the irgi is sufficient for wintering without shelter. No measures, with the exception of sanitary, are required. If the autumn was dry, after the end of the leaf fall, it is possible to carry out the so-called water-charging irrigation. After that, the trunk circle is mulched with peat or humus.

Planting and caring for irga in the Moscow region

The climate of the Moscow region is quite suitable for growing this shrub. With regard to planting and caring for an irga, all the recommendations given above will be valid. When planting, it should be borne in mind that the soils in the Moscow region have increased acidity. Therefore, it is more advisable to add dolomite flour or lime to the composition of the nutrient soil.

Planting and caring for irga in the Moscow region, photo and video

Of the species, it is worth recommending the alder-leaved irga or the canadian irga. These plants can be formed as compact shrubs, making picking much easier and reducing bird losses. In addition, these species are the largest and most productive.

When and how to transplant an adult irgi bush

It is undesirable to transplant an adult (over 6 years old) bush to a new place. If such a need arose, you must adhere to the following recommendations.

1. An adult plant is transplanted in the fall, one and a half to two months before frost.
2. The bush is transplanted only with a clod of earth.
3. The length of the taproot must be kept at least 0.8 m, the lateral ones - at least 1 m.
4. The planting hole for the transplanted bush must be of the appropriate size.
5. Bare roots during transportation of the bush must be wrapped in wet rags.
6. After planting, the soil must be tamped well and spilled abundantly with water.

How Irga reproduces

Irga can be propagated quite simply. This can be done in any way typical for shrubs:

• seeds;
• cuttings;
• layering;
• root shoots;
• dividing the bush.

In addition, irgu can be grafted on a common or black chokeberry, as well as on a hawthorn.

Reproduction of irgi by cuttings

The best time for breeding irgi with green cuttings is early summer. By this time, the shoots already have a length of about 15 cm. Later lignified cuttings take root much worse, while more than half of the green ones take root. The top two leaves are left on the handle, cutting off half of them to reduce moisture evaporation. All lower leaves are removed.

For planting, use pots with nutrient soil. Sections of cuttings are treated with a special solution of a rooting stimulator, then the cuttings are planted in the ground, deepening it by 2-3 buds.

The planted cuttings are placed under a film. It is important to regularly moisten the soil during this time. In a month, the cuttings will have the first roots, and by the end of the next season they will be ready for planting in a permanent place.

Seed method

Seeds for planting irgi must be selected from large ripe berries. Before spring planting, they must be stratified by keeping them in the freezer for three months. Stratification can also occur naturally; for this, the seeds must be planted in open ground in the fall. A year later, annual seedlings dive.

Dividing the bush

By dividing the bush, irgu can be propagated no older than 7 years. This method is the most difficult, but it allows you to immediately get an adult fruiting bush. To do this, in the fall, the irgu is completely dug out, a part of the rhizome, together with the shoots, is separated with an ax and planted in a new place. The roots of the mother and daughter bushes are again covered with earth and watered abundantly.

How to propagate irgu by layering

For reproduction by layering, one or more lateral shoots of the irgi bush are bent to the ground, securely fixed with metal brackets and covered with earth. This place is constantly moisturized, which leads to the formation of roots and the appearance of new growth.

After the shoots reach a length of 30-35 cm, they are cut off from the parent bush and, together with a lump of earth, are transplanted to a permanent place.

Diseases and pests

Irga is ill quite rarely. Fungal diseases can be found on neglected bushes, as well as growing in conditions of excessive moisture. The most common irgi diseases are shown in the table.

Pest insects on this shrub are rare. But they are. Some of them are listed in the table.

Conclusion

Planting and caring for irga in the open field is within the power of any gardener. In addition to being easy to grow, this shrub also has good yields. Its berries contain many vitamins and minerals, they are tasty and healthy. It is good to cook compote and jam from them. It is possible to make homemade fruit wine from irgi, it is not for nothing that in Russia it is also called "wine" berry.

Blooming irga is not only very beautiful, it is also a wonderful honey plant. No wonder its Latin name is Amelanchier, which means "bringing honey".

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