Growing a secret holly shrub in the garden
Holly is considered the most popular plant in the whole world. On the territory of the American continent, houses are decorated with its branches during the winter holidays. Europeans use culture in garden landscapes either as hedge... Especially impressive is the beauty of the foliage and the bright color of the holly fruit. They remain on the bush all winter, attracting the attention of birds and flora fans. Let's take a closer look at the stately plant. We will find out how experienced gardeners grow it at their summer cottage.
External features of the bush
Numerous branches are covered with leaf blades with jagged edges and thorns. They are characterized by a leathery and dense structure and are arranged alternately. The front side of the foliage is colored deep green, and the back looks a little lighter. Thanks to this, the plant retains its decorative effect throughout the season.
During the flowering period, the poddubnik shrub puts on a "wedding dress" of small snow-white buds. They look gorgeous against the background of rich greenery. They appear in late May or early June. After a few weeks, fruits are formed on the branches.
Depending on the type, they come in these colors.:
- red;
- white;
- black;
- yellow.
Usually, the berries remain on the crop until mid-winter, or even until early spring. Such beauty leaves no one indifferent, so the plant is gaining more and more popularity. In addition, there are many varieties of holly that adorn the gardens of our compatriots. Let's consider the most popular options.
So that the flowers on the bush are successfully dusty and berries appear, the male and female types of plants are planted in the same area.
Common holly
The plant has a domed crown. The lower twisted shoots hang gracefully to the ground. The upper branches are widely spread, directed towards the sky almost vertically and covered with dark green foliage. A strong root system is constantly evolving, therefore it needs sufficient territory. Inedible, even poisonous, fruits are colored red. They resemble large peas in size, but look perfect on lush bush all season.
Common holly is desirable to grow in the southern regions, because it does not like low temperatures.
Mezerva (Blue Princess)
The variety appeared thanks to the painstaking work of breeders. It is an evergreen shrub covered with shiny oval foliage. In winter, it takes on a black or green-crimson hue. At the end of spring, she puts on an outfit of snow-white fragrant buds. Then they turn into scarlet berries. A truly gorgeous plant!
Gardeners grow this variety of holly in the Moscow region, as it successfully tolerates severe winters.
Wrinkly
An evergreen plant that only grows up to 40 cm in height. Most often it winds along the ground, creating a lush but prickly carpet.For decorative purposes, it is actively used in the Far East.
Colchis
The culture resembles a small tree, up to 1.5 m high with a drooping crown shape. The branches are strewn with leathery prickly foliage, painted in two tones. The outer part is dark green and the back has a light shade. With the arrival of the winter cold, the shoots of the Colchis holly froze slightly. However, in the spring they come alive again, putting on their green outfit.
Crenate
The evergreen plant has an asymmetrical crown shape. From the side it resembles a spreading shrub. The leaf plates are oblong. The buds are white and the berries are black. It is used to form landscape plantings on the territory of country houses and city parks.
How to grow holly holly yourself
In order for a gorgeous evergreen plant to appear in the country, it will take a little effort. First of all, they acquire planting material in specialized nurseries. They provide seedlings with a closed (in a container) or open root system.
In the second case, pay attention to the quality of the roots:
- minimum quantity 4 pieces;
- durable elements;
- no visible damage.
In addition, there should be living buds on the elastic branches of the seedlings. If all requirements are met, seedlings can be safely bought.
Holly is best rooted in late February or early March.
Choosing the perfect location
The plant grows wonderfully in the shaded area of the garden. Therefore, it is placed next to tall trees. Despite its frost resistance, holly does not like drafts. A stone wall or a high fence can provide reliable shrub protection.
If the culture is still planted in the sun, it is advisable to cover it during hot periods.
Soil and planting technology
Holly holly loves well-drained nutrient soil. It must ideally pass moisture in order for the root system to develop successfully.
If loam predominates on the site, add:
- sand;
- humus;
- wood ash.
The procedure is done in late autumn directly on the site where the holly plant is planned. Thanks to this, high-quality soil is obtained by the spring.
A spacious hole is dug in the prepared area. If necessary, a mixture of fertile soil with coarse sand is poured onto the bottom. A seedling is placed in the center, carefully spreading its root system. Sprinkle with earth and watered abundantly.
Effective reproduction
Gardeners grow holly vegetatively and using seeds. However, the second option lasts approximately 1.5 years. This is exactly how much time is required for high-quality seed stratification. It is much more effective to organize the propagation of holly holly with the help of cuttings. Thanks to this procedure, the decorativeness of the culture is preserved.
The material for planting is cut at an angle of 45 ° C from one-year-old shoots that begin to lignify. The maximum length of the cuttings is about 5 cm. They must have at least 2 internodes.
The blanks are planted in small containers filled with a nutrient substrate. It consists of a layer of humus (10 cm) and coarse sand (3 cm). Then funnels are made about 2 cm deep and cuttings are placed in them. The containers are taken to a bright room, but away from direct sunlight. The seedlings are sprayed daily with water. Within 3-4 weeks at the most, they will develop a root system. Fortified specimens are planted in a suitable place in the garden.
Systematic care for culture
When holly holly successfully takes root on the site, they begin caring care. It includes a number of activities:
- loosening the soil;
- watering;
- top dressing;
- pruning;
- mulching the root area.
Loosening is carried out as the topsoil hardens after watering. It will also be required if weeds flourish nearby.Young seedlings are moistened 2 times a week, in the absence of regular rainfall.
As you know, evergreen holly is growing rather slowly. Thanks to this, it is convenient to shape its crown. Pruning is carried out in early spring, removing frozen and damaged shoots. To create a beautiful landscape, designers organize a curly haircut of the plant.
Holly is fed in early spring. For this, the compost is mixed with mineral fertilizers. And then they are laid out around the trunk of the bush. Spring rains will do their job and nutrients will gradually penetrate the soil.
In late autumn, the holly needs additional shelter. It is built from fallen leaves or spruce branches. The near-trunk area is insulated with a layer of peat or sawdust.
Sometimes the plant infects late blight, which gradually kills the crop. To protect the garden, diseased shrubs are removed from the area.
We got acquainted with an amazingly beautiful evergreen plant. Its rich green foliage is harmoniously combined with snow-white flowers in spring and bright berries in summer. We analyzed how the competent planting of holly is carried out and how it is taken care of in different climatic zones. The plant develops wonderfully both in the southern and northern regions (only frost-resistant varieties). It is also grown in the suburbs. Let the mysterious plant decorate another part of our beautiful planet.