Scumpia: how to care in the Moscow region

If among the plants they held a competition for uniqueness and originality, then skumapia would rightfully take the first place. This miracle tree is associated with a giant rainbow dandelion and surprises with a variety of forms throughout almost the whole year. Culture has a high aestheticism, decorative properties and occupies one of the leading positions among the objects of gardening. Attractiveness is not its main trump card: skumpiya is easy to maintain and grow. Consider how to properly organize the process of care for this beauty in different regions, in particular, in the suburbs.

Biological description and features

Sump grows in the form of a shrub or deciduous tree and is a member of the Sumakhov family. Her homeland is Eurasia and North America. In nature, there are only two types of culture, but the processes of selection and hybridization have helped nature to increase the number of this exclusive.

The height of the shrub reaches 3 m, and the height of the tree can even be 6 m with a crown diameter of 3-4 m. The crown of the tree impresses with its umbrella-shaped form, while the bush grows in a circle. Stems and shoots are decorated with ovate or obovate leaves.

In late spring - early summer, exotic plants are delighted by gardeners with their amazing flowering. Small white flowers of yellowish or greenish shade gather in fluffy paniculate inflorescences. It seems that a clouded cloud caught on a bush or tree.

The original appearance of the plant led to many of its names: tannery or smoky tree, zheltinnik, wig bush After withering, the period of fruiting begins: on a long stem, covered with a reddish nap, the fruit is fastened. At first, it has the appearance of a small, green drupe, but blackens during ripening.During the formation of the fruit the tree is as if enveloped in a red fleecy mist.

In the fall, the leaves are striking in their variegation of colors: orange, red, yellow, purple, and scarlet shades are reunited in a harmonious textural ensemble.

Winter-hardy species and varieties

Mature plants skumpii not afraid of the winter cold. But the young should take care and prepare them for the winter. As a precautionary measure, experienced gardeners advise to study in detail the description of varieties and types of skumpiya for successful cultivation in various regions, for example, in the Moscow region.

So, winter hardy types of culture:

1. American Sumac characterized by large green leaves, about 12 cm in length. In the autumn the bush turns into a red flame due to the bright color of the foliage. The inflorescences of this variety are much smaller than those of leather, about 15 cm in diameter. The plant is quite cold-resistant and is afraid only of very strong frosts.
   Shrubs such as barberry, holly and acacia, as well as American skumpia, are cold-resistant and can safely and without any problems endure the harsh winter.
   
2. Leather Sump, or ordinary It can grow in the form of a round-shaped shrub, as well as a tree with an umbrella-shaped crown. Its foliage can be both green and purple, up to 7 cm in length. But it should be remembered that plants with purple leaves painfully endure the winter cold. During flowering, this species is decorated with small yellow or green flowers, gathered in panicles up to 30 cm long. This species is quite sun-diving and drought-resistant, does not require special care, the main thing is to avoid over-wetting.

The tan look is different many breeding varieties, among which qualitatively stand out:

• "Lady Young" - skumpiya-chameleon. The flowers of her fluffy inflorescences change color: at the beginning of flowering they are green, then cream, at the end - pink;
• Golden Spirit. The variety is unique yellow color foliage. Each leaf is as if trimmed with an orange rim. In the fall, the foliage fascinates with all the colors of the rainbow, among which the sumptuous purple hue stands out most brightly. Feels good in the climatic conditions of the Moscow region, despite its fragility;
• Grace. It takes the form of a giant bush up to 5 m tall. Attracts attention with huge purple-pink inflorescences;
• "Royal Perple", unlike its predecessor, growing only up to 1.5 m, is a dwarf. Differs in a red-brown color of leaves and red inflorescences as if covered with silver.

Application in garden design

The unique appearance of the plant is accompanied by its high popularity among gardeners. Sumpia is widely used in the most fabulous landscape designs. It looks spectacular in single plantings, as well as in combinations with other floral or woody plants.

If you choose neighbors among the flowers, then landscape compositions with irises, roses, dog roses, anemones, and dahlias will look great.

Culture can serve as a fabulous backdrop for tall woody plants.

Choosing a landing site

Choosing a seat for skumpii is not a delicate matter. Just keep to the simple rules.

Lighting

For the rapid and qualitative growth of skumpii it is necessary to ensure plenty of sunshine. Therefore, the place for planting culture should be well lit, partial shade is allowed.

You should protect your pupil from winds and drafts.

The soil

Culture prefers a light, permeable soil with a neutral level of acidity, although it can also grow on acidic rocky soils. It is quite drought-resistant, but does not tolerate excessive moisture of the earth. The seat should be provided with a well-established drainage system and deep groundwater.

Neighbors

Sumpia well gets on with any plants. But it is worth remembering that it is impossible to plant it near the poplar, mountain ash, thorns, maple, as it releases substances that can adversely affect these plants.

The process of planting seedlings on the site

It is recommended to plant skumpiya with an open root system in early spring or at the end of autumn, but so that it can take root before the onset of winter. Planting plants with a closed root system can be carried out from spring to autumn. The day before planting, the seedlings should be placed in a bowl of water so that the roots are moistened, after which the seedling is removed from the water and carefully inspected the root system. If it has dried or diseased roots, they should be removed. Slices need to be treated with a fungicide.

In parallel with the preparation of seedlings need to do and bringing to normal the seat. There is no need to take care of the preparation of the substrate for the culture, as it takes root in any soil, and poor soils will even benefit her (something like hardening). It is enough to dig a hole, the size of which should slightly exceed the volume of the root system of the seedling. Moisten the pit with enough water (several buckets), then place the seedling in it. It is very important when planting carefully straighten the roots of the culture. Then you need to tightly fill the roots with the earth, leaving “free” only the root neck (2-3 cm above the ground).Over time, under the influence of irrigation, it will be equal to the soil.

Care Tips

Planting and caring for skumpii in the open field is not difficult. You just have to stock up on knowledge of the features of culture.

Watering

Immediately after planting, the shrub needs abundant and frequent watering, as its rhizome must adapt to the new place of residence. Adult smoky tree needs watering only during long absence of rain: it should not be allowed to dry out or suffer from excess moisture.

Top dressing

Wigs can tell you about their need for fertilizing with a depressed appearance. But do not wait for this state. Experienced gardeners are advised to feed skumpy nitrogen fertilizers in the spring, at the beginning of the growing season, and in the summer they recommend to give her a portion of potash-phosphorus, mineral or organic dressings.

Trimming and Haircut

Trimming is practically the only requirement for caring for skumapia. It should be carried out every 2-3 years. Frozen winter branches also advise pruning. The plant recovers pretty quickly after pruning, even on a stump.

Shelter for the winter

Gardeners with experience are advised to cover for the winter only plants, after planting which have not yet passed 2-3 years. It is also necessary to insulate their rhizome with humus. Adult shrubs and trees do not need shelter.

Diseases and pests

Since skumpiya migrated to us from other countries, it is not afraid of the local pests and practically does not get sick. Its only enemies are the mackerel leaflet, the small pistachio bark beetle and the oak fawn leaf beetle. Insecticides such as Karbofos or Decis will help to eliminate such uninvited guests.

Vegetative breeding methods

Sumper is propagated by seed, generative and vegetative ways. But in our area it is advisable to propagate the culture vegetatively.

Layering

Reproduction by layering - pretty simple process. To implement it, a longitudinal incision is made from the outside on a low-growing branch of a bush. Then the incised segment is chained with special clips to the ground and watered abundantly throughout the entire growing season.After the appearance of the roots, the finished seedling is cut off from the maternal branch.

Cuttings

Propagation by cuttings carried out in June. Cut the green cuttings and place them in the heteroauxin solution for one night. In parallel, you need to prepare containers with a special substrate (peat, sand and sod land in equal proportions). In the morning, the cuttings are placed in containers and covered with a film to create a greenhouse effect. Regular watering and airing - the main rules of care for cuttings. For three weeks they must take root.

Many people think that the more exotic and unusual the plant looks, the harder it is to care for it. But, as you can see, it is not. And skumpiya - a vivid example. It would seem that such a unique culture with rich decorative inclinations was created only for exotic places. But, as experience shows, she feels great in almost every corner. Therefore, you should not hesitate whether it is possible to plant skumpiyu in the suburbs. Moreover, growing and caring for it is a fairly simple and painstaking business, even amateur gardeners can.