We grow wolfberry on the site

Wanting to give a unique view to the summer cottage, many gardeners pay a lot of attention to its design (in particular, the fence).

Strong and unpretentious shrubs are best suited for such purposes.

In this regard, you can hear such a name as Daphne, and what kind of plant - read the review.

Plant description

Other names - wolf's bast and wolves. The plant received such harsh names for good reason. So in everyday life all its species are called (there are 95 in total in the biological genus, about 50 in our area). This rather tall shrub (up to 1.5 m) with a strong trunk is common in Europe and the Transcaucasus. The branches in the lower part are without leaves; it is not easy to break them, and it is not worth it (more on that a bit lower), although the bark is easily removed. The roots lie shallow.

On the upper edges of the shoots are narrow leaves of dark green color. From above, they shine as if, on the lower part of the plate are bluish.The length reaches 8 cm with a maximum width of 2 cm.

Inflorescences - in the form of tassels. In April and early May flowering occurs: they are densely covered with pink (less often white) flowers with a diameter of about 1.5 cm. Common walnut blooms really ahead of all shrubs growing in a temperate climate. After flowering, new leaves actively appear. Due to good pollinability it bears fruits well (in August). And here you need to be on your guard.

The fact is that small (5-6 mm) oval drupes of red color very poisonous. We add that these are different and the leaves with flowers. The bark and stems are considered moderately poisonous, but the gardeners are no better.

There will be nothing from one berry accidentally caught in the mouth (of course, if you spit it out right away), but 3-5 things can lead to complete poisoning - there is weakness and nausea, and even vomiting with background cramps.

If children are often on the site, then it is better to refuse planting such a plant. And for people suffering from allergies, it can make life difficult. There are also non-poisonous garden species, but it is quite problematic to get them in our area.

Where grows wolfberry

Making sure that this characteristic does not scare, you can begin to select a place for landing.

Place to grow

Trying to pick up a fairly shaded area: a few hours of direct sunlight will be enough. Best fit east or west side plot.

If there was no such town in place - that's okay. Often planted on a fully open ground, well lit, and everything grows well.

As "neighbors", any early-flowering species and varieties are suitable - Magonia, barberry, any rhododendrons and similar plants.

Soil requirements

The optimal type of soil will be wet soil with a developed drainage, saturated with humus.

Although such a plant as wolf's bark, "capriciousness" is not different - the bushes are accepted on loams, slightly acidic or alkaline soils.

Feeding in the fall or fertilizing the land during the spring digging is optional, although it will be a clear advantage.

The rules of landing wolf bast

Daphne propagated by standard methods for all shrubs. We will consider them.

Seeds

The easiest approach. Such crops are produced in the fall, immediately after collecting the seed. It looks like this:

• a few seedlings are slightly deepened into a moist soil (about 2.5–3 cm); to do this, simply press them into the ground;
• you can not press in, and sprinkle with a layer of soil of the same thickness;
• at the same time maintain an interval of not less than 30 cm.

In most cases, seedlings easily tolerate winter, blooming for 3-4 years after planting. Before that, their rhizomes remain weak.

Many are interested in the issue of sheltering such seedlings. Some do not cover them at all, others try to warm the landing site with a film or mulch. This has its reason, if the site is frequented, and winters in a particular region are long and frosty. Otherwise, the seeds risk to suffocate under the film or die from pests that overwinter in the layer of straw.

Root offspring

This method is suitable for bushes with already formed healthy roots (that is, at least 4 years old). A similar division of the mother bush is made only in the spring.

Here, too, is not a trick, except need accuracy:

• the instrument is pre-disinfected with a strong solution of potassium permanganate;
• scions are cut from the kidneys, just below the position of the root collar;
• the place of the cut is treated with charcoal, although garden var is suitable;
• they can be planted both in open ground and in pots. The substrate is mixed with sand mixed into the container and provides good drainage - moisture should not stagnate.

Such "children" grow rather slowly, often their development is stimulated by radical methods such as removing a part of the top.

Cuttings

This method is applied in the first half of summer. It is more complicated and requires some preparation.

• First, take low (7-10 cm) cups or cassettes with a hole on the bottom.
• At the bottom lay sphagnum. Then they pour in a mixture of sand, peat and perlite mixed in equal proportions. Gravel is responsible for the drainage of 1 cm fraction.
• Cuttings pruned on a warm but not hot day. Cloudy weather is generally excellent. Take only one-year increments (most often it is the lateral branches). For better growth, 5-7 leaves are left on the top of the head, the remaining processes are removed.
• In the middle of the filled pot make a hole 1-1,5 cm in diameter. Calculate the depth so that only part of the cutting with leaves is visible above the level of the substrate.
• Carefully lower the stalk into this well, filling it with sand. Fill the place between the soil and the leaves with crushed to 3-5 mm gravel.
• It remains to pour water.

Such plantations can be covered with a film of thickness 25-30 microns. You can take the same "non-woven." But it will have to be placed no higher than 7 mm above the gravel bed to prevent the cutting from flooding in the rain.

Planting cuttings in the ground in the same fall is undesirable - they are not taken too actively, it is better to wait until spring. If everything went well, then in the second year you can see the bloom. Although some garden species may start up color in the spring, it all depends on the line itself.

Features of plant care

Care is reduced to the usual procedures for all cultivated plants. Daphne is unpretentious, although she needs regular watering. In the dry season, the bushes have to be wetted three times a week, whereas in moderate weather two weekly approaches will suffice.This is due to shallow roots, which are very sensitive to heat and require moisture support.

Weeding - like the rest: it is desirable to remove the weeds immediately after their appearance, not forgetting to clean them of the "plantation" with other crops growing nearby.

Concerning looseningit is recommended after each watering. But there is one thing - because of the same superficial rhizomes, this procedure will have to be done carefully and without going deep. This is especially true for young plants with not yet developed roots.

WITH mulching everything is simple: use any "organic": freshly cut grass, straw, chopped bark. The main thing - do not overdo it with the thickness of the layer. The coating must retain moisture, and at the same time give the roots a “breathe” through the tree trunk.

By part fertilizer 3-4 standard feedings per season are enough. Used as organic and complex mineral compounds in calculated doses.This applies to both cases - the gulf of solution "from the heart," you risk burning the roots. Wolfhead, as the description tells us, is an ornamental shrub. To give it a chic "woody" look, its cut off. By its nature, it is not much bush, so the formation in the early years is given special attention.

Remove only the extra shoots. For 2-3 years, pluck the tips of the shoots, thereby guaranteeing a violent color in the future. As they mature, sanitary pruning is added to these operations, removing the branches sticking out of place.

Daphne resistant to diseasesbut their immunity is not absolute. Most often, gray or root rot, which pretend to be wilted leaves or withering shoots, appears. This disease can be defeated "factory" fungicides - "Fitosporin" or "Fundazol." Mandatory re-treatment after 5-7 days. Diseases suffer mostly old bushes, they rarely occur in young.

Pests try to bypass the poisonous side of the bushes, although not all. On the general background stands aphid. Drugs are selected based on the degree of damage. If there are already many malicious "little things", Bankol, Fufanon, Aktellik or Akarin will be of help.

With a smaller "population" helps garlic solution - for 10 liters of water, take 150 g of chopped garlic and 40 g of soap. Insist day. To heighten the effect of spraying do three times with an interval of 10 days.

Now you know what is attractive about this species and what is its cunning. Hopefully, after planting such bushes will only please the eye, without causing any problems. More bright colors on the site!