Planting weigela and caring for it in the open field
Weigela is one of the plants of the honeysuckle family, distinguished by pink, white, yellow or cream inflorescences. Correct planting and caring for a weigela in the open field begins with the selection of a place - it is desirable that it be on the sunny side, protected from strong winds.
If you plant a weigela between buildings, where there are strong drafts, unopened buds can crumble.
For weigela, sandy loam or loamy neutral soil is suitable. The only species of this shrub that takes root well on slightly acidic peaty soil is the Weigela Middendorf.
Autumn planting of weigela in open ground is undesirable, since even young plants planted in spring can hardly tolerate frosty and snowy winters.
Care for young and adult weigela
As with any shrub, the main care for a weigela outdoors is pruning. It is best carried out from the beginning of spring to June - by freeing the branches from diseased or dry shoots, you will let the young growth leap up with a vengeance. Even if the branches are not diseased, to give the bush a more well-groomed look, you can trim branches that are knocked out of the general shape. If everything is done correctly, the bushes will quickly recover and in the summer they will delight you with green leaves, and later with flowers.
If pruning was not carried out in the spring, you can arrange the shrub in early to mid-autumn, but then it is recommended to prune only dry branches.
Planting and caring for a weigela in the open field is a simple task, but the cultivation of a shrub does not end there. While weigela is just taking root on your site, it is worth giving it a little more care: so that the plant does not freeze, wrap the bushes with spunbond (sold in hardware and flower shops) or simple craft paper. For the same purpose, it is worth sprinkling the ground around the trunk with fallen leaves or spruce branches.
If these tricks did not help and the weigela did not endure the winter well, you need to provide her with constant abundant watering (up to 10 liters of water per bush). Hot weather can also harm the plant, so water it as often as possible. To prevent the liquid from quickly leaving and keeping the root system fresh, you need to mulch the soil by adding wood chips or humus.
An adult weigela is much more unpretentious, but even several years after planting, care for a weigela in the open field should be as follows:
- For the winter, install a fence around the bush, which should protect it from breakage under the weight of the snow. If the winter is not very snowy, just periodically shake off the snow from the branches.
- In early spring and summer (just at the time when the weigela can be transplanted), feed. Suitable for this urea or double superphosphate.You can also check with your flower shop assistant which of the fertilizers you already have you can use for the weigela.
- If weigela is infected with bacteria, the so-called Bordeaux liquid can save it. It is mixed in equal proportions copper sulfate and milk of lime, which are sprayed on the affected areas.
Why did weigela stop blooming?
Even if the planting of the weigela and caring for it in the open ground in the Moscow region (in temperate latitudes) were carried out correctly, this does not guarantee that after a while the shrub will not stop blooming. However, the first thing worth paying attention to is just the poorly chosen landing site. Weigela does not like shade and simply cannot bloom in the absence of the sun. In addition, the shady side can cause shrub seeds to ripen for a long time. Young shoots can also suffer from a lack of sunshine: they will quickly grow stiff, which will affect the overall development of the bush.
Two more reasons why weigela can stop blooming - damage to the root system by beetles and insufficient watering. Timely soil fertilization and frequent watering are almost a panacea for all weigela diseases, so you should not neglect the minimal care of the shrub.
Reproduction of weigela in various ways
Weigela bushes they love warm and sunny latitudes, but proper planting and caring for a weigela in the open field in the Urals (in a harsh continental climate) can also give excellent results. It is important to remember that this shrub can be propagated in two ways.
Vegetative (separation of cuttings or cuttings)
This is the most acceptable way of reproduction for weigela, allowing you to get several healthy young plants at once. As mentioned, pruning and planting weigela outdoors in spring is the best option. It is more likely that by winter the shrub will take root and will be ready to meet frost and snowfall.
Cutting of suitable shoots is carried out in the fall, and their planting - in early spring, in boxes with pre-fertilized soil. For greater safety, it is required to put boxes in greenhouses or hotbeds under plastic wrap.
Using seeds
Seeds appear only 3-4 years after planting. Unlike propagation by cuttings, it is better to plant seeds in the fall - as soon as they are ripe, they can be used for planting. If there is a need to preserve the seeds until spring, you need to pack them in paper or cloth bags, and in the spring they should not be sown immediately in open ground, but in boxes or pots.