Planting sakura and caring for shrubs in the open field
Today, planting sakura and caring for shrubs is of interest to many summer residents who love exotic cultures. Unfortunately, such a beauty does not grow in natural conditions in Europe. However, this does not prevent you from growing sakura on your site and admiring its amazing flowering. Let's take a closer look at a unique guest from the Land of the Rising Sun.
A cultural perspective
Horizontal cracks are clearly visible on it, painted in the following shades:
- grey;
- green;
- red.
Under the bark lies flexible wood with a high resin content. Shiny leaf plates have an exquisite decorative effect. They are spear-shaped or oval in shape. The edges of the foliage have a serrated border. During flowering, sakura is covered with many inflorescences. Each of them consists of several double buds, painted in white or pink.
Japanese breeders have developed varieties with raspberry, yellow and red flowers.
As a rule, the shrub blooms before the leaves open. A huge number of bouquets tightly cling to bare branches, turning the plant into a delicate and lush "cloud". When the buds begin to wither, greenery appears. Sakura looks even more attractive in this outfit. Flowering lasts about 2 weeks, depending on the weather and variety.
After pollination, fruits are formed on the tree. They are small berries that resemble cherries. In fact, it is a bone, tightly covered with a dense skin. The fruits taste very sour, so they are used for cooking jam or wine. The bush leaves are pickled or salted and then added to dishes as a seasoning. When finished, they acquire a sweet and sour taste.
Popular varieties
To date, breeders have bred about 400 species of decorative culture. Therefore, before you start growing sakura in the middle lane, it is worth getting to know the suitable varieties. Let's consider the most popular options.
Fine-serrated
Wonderfully takes root in the Stavropol Territory, the Crimea and the Krasnodar Territory. It took root in Moldova and Ukraine. Has a funnel-shaped crown. It blooms in white and pink double buds.
Sharp-serrated
On its basis, hybrid varieties “Kwanzan”, “Shirofugen” and “Amonogava” were developed. The non-double-bud variants tolerate cold Russian winters.
Glandular
It grows up to 1.6 m. Pink buds remain on culture for about 2 weeks. Decorative sakura forms - Rosea Plena and Alba Plena. In its natural environment, the shrub lives up to a century of age. The variety has adapted wonderfully in many regions of Russia.
Short bristled
It has a weeping crown. Its diameter is about 5 m. The buds bloom until foliage appears. The inflorescence petals are simple and pink in color. Short-bristled, frost-resistant sakura can withstand temperatures down to -29 ° C. Used to form alleys and single garden decoration.
Sakhalin
Japanese cherries wonderfully take root in the European part of the country, Khabarovsk Territory and Siberia.
Popular forms of culture:
- Rosanna (distinguished by pink-red buds, oval crown);
- Cypress (narrow-pyramidal variant of the shrub, bright pink inflorescences).
Sakhalin sakura blooms in mid-spring, along with apricot. The diameter of the flowers is about 4 cm. Having glued tightly to the branches, they turn the culture into a lush ball. From the outside, it seems that a pink cloud has descended into the garden. In this form, the shrub remains for 10-15 days.
Competent planting of sakura and caring for shrubs strictly according to the scheme
Almost every gardener dreams of growing a fabulous oriental beauty on the territory of a summer cottage. Of course, cold-resistant varieties are selected for the middle lane. Most often these are low shrubs that grow up to 3 m in height and bloom at the end of May. We will figure out how to grow sakura in the Moscow region and in the Urals, taking into account the climatic conditions.
Planting time and seedling selection
In the middle lane, Japanese shrubs are planted in spring or early June. Thanks to this, the culture will have time to adapt to the new environment. In addition, the sakura root system will get stronger before winter, and it will boldly meet Russian frosts.
As you know, the shrub prefers mild climatic conditions. Therefore, for growing sakura in the Urals and in the Moscow region, frost-resistant varieties are selected. Annual seedlings with a well-developed root system and branches without damage are suitable. Plant height approximately 75 cm.
It is best to purchase sakura at the end of November when it sheds its leaves. Until spring, the culture is planted in a voluminous container or bucket. In extreme cases, the tree is stored in the cellar, sprinkling the roots with earth.
Ideal location and soil
To successfully grow sakura in the suburbs or in the Urals, you need to place it in the most comfortable part of the garden. Otherwise, the shrub will hurt and may even dry out. Experienced gardeners advise to plant the crop on the slope of a gentle hill on the southwest side. Sunlight should freely fall on the tree and not be obscured by outbuildings. If this condition is violated, the shrub will stretch towards the light and its crown will lose its shape. If the country house is located on a plain, Japanese cherry trees are planted in an area where there is an abundance of light and no drafts.
The sakura planted on the south side will suffer from frequent temperature changes, which will lead to its death.
The Japanese beauty loves fertile soil with neutral acidity. Although the root system of the plant goes shallow into the ground, it does not like stagnant moisture. Good drainage, which is created artificially, will solve the problem. Loamy soil is considered ideal.
Funnel construction
The successful planting of sakura in open ground and caring for the shrub directly depends on a well-dug hole. It is made according to agronomic dimensions: 60x60x60. Broken brick or coarse gravel is poured into the bottom. The layer should be about 15 cm.
Fill the funnel with the prepared substrate. It consists of components:
- pit soil;
- river sand;
- leafy land;
- rotted mullein;
- superphosphate;
- wood ash;
- potassium sulfate.
The components are thoroughly mixed. A small mound is poured into the center of the pit, where a sakura seedling is placed, evenly spreading the root system. The resulting voids are filled layer by layer with a fertile substrate. Each level is poured with water and carefully compacted. The near-trunk area is covered with mulch.
It is desirable to tie a young tree to a support.
Attentive care and reproduction
The systematic planting of sakura and caring for the shrub includes a number of important procedures. Watering is carried out as the soil dries up in the root area. Particular attention is paid to the plant during the formation of inflorescences.Lack of moisture inhibits abundant flowering, so the shrub looks very poor.
Sakura is fed twice a year. In spring, the plant needs nitrogen and phosphorus. Substances contribute to the development and growth of culture. In the fall, the shrub prepares for winter, and an additional dose of phosphorus and potassium will help survive the cold. For this purpose, gardeners use complex fertilizers for stone fruit crops.
Since sakura develops very slowly, crown pruning is carried out in the eighth or tenth year after planting. Dry and damaged branches are removed in early spring while the plant is in winter dormancy.
In the middle lane, where the winters are harsh, it is advisable for shrubs to build an additional shelter.
The main breeding method for sakura is considered to be cuttings. In the southern regions, shoots are rooted in the traditional way. On the territory of the Moscow region and the Urals, cuttings are used as a scion. They are often sold by fans of exotic plants. The procedure begins in the last decade of February or early March. On adult shrubs, high-quality branches are sought without mechanical damage. The length of the cuttings is about 15 cm. The planting material is wrapped in polyethylene and placed in the lower part of the refrigerator. Used as a scion.
Semi-lignified shoots, 1 year old, are suitable for rooting. They are cut after the sakura blossom. The lower edge is treated with a rooting stimulator and placed in a container with water. When the roots appear, they are planted in the ground at an angle and watered regularly. In 1.5 months, the culture fully adapts to new living conditions.
So, planting sakura and caring for shrubs is performed strictly according to the scheme established by gardeners. First, they select a crop variety and buy a quality seedling. They dig a hole, put a tree in the center, sprinkle it with earth. Water as the top layer of the soil dries up. They are fed twice a year. If necessary, do sanitary pruning. Sakura is propagated by cuttings. What an interesting lesson it is to grow Japanese cherries in the country.