Aquilegia: preparation for winter and rules, time of procedures and advice on whether to prune in autumn
One hundred species and varieties of plants of the Ranunculaceae family are grown in the gardens. They are a wonderful decoration for any landscape. Most should be given a good winter. Aquilegia does not require special preparation for winter, but the roots need protection from frost. To get a beautiful flowering next season, you need to carry out the necessary activities.
How to care for a perennial aster with the advent of cold weather
The plant does not need special care. In the warm period, it pleases with flowers of various colors. And in the fall, you should worry about how the flowers will overwinter.
Various shelters, pruning for the winter, mulching the soil will help provide protection from frost.
Do I need to prune aquilegia for the winter?
The aerial part of the perennial dies off with the onset of cold weather, and the rhizome with growth buds remains in the ground. Therefore, in the fall, the main task is to prepare the root system for wintering. To do this, remove the stems and leaves.
Autumn pruning is necessary in order to:
- prevent root rot;
- destroy pest larvae;
- warm root.
Important: the aerial part is cut off with the onset of frost.
The cut parts of the flower are used for compost. But if they are infected with diseases, it is recommended to burn them.
When and how best to prune?
For pruning flowers, the time without precipitation is considered a favorable period. It is recommended that the process be carried out from late October to mid-November, when the air temperature dropped to 5 degrees Celsius. The soil of the garden should still be loose, but it is already starting to freeze at night.
Stems up to 5 centimeters high are left above the soil surface. They should be sprinkled with loose earth or sawdust.
Preparation of covering materials
Adult plants are quite cold-resistant, so they do not need additional warming. Young varieties are weaker, so they need shelter.
For flowers of the Ranunculaceae family, it is recommended to prepare spruce branches or non-woven fabric.
Nonwoven has the following advantages:
- when touching the plant does not injure it;
- transmits light, air, water;
- protects from frost;
- protects from UV rays;
- does not break.
If there is no non-woven material, you can use the branches of coniferous trees. From above it is recommended to close the film and cut shoots. This will provide the plants with a dry cover.
How to cover flowers for the winter?
After the onset of persistent frosts, it is recommended to carry out annual mulching for flowers before shelter. Mulch should be up to 4 centimeters. It is recommended to cover the root system:
- garden soil mix;
- compost;
- humus;
- peat.
This mixture will not only protect the plant from freezing, but also provide additional nutrition.
Mulch topped with non-woven fabric.
What should I pay attention to?
Pay attention to varieties that are more than 5 years old. In such plants, roots protrude, which harms young leaves and shoots. Therefore, it is recommended to sprinkle the rhizome with peat-dung compost.
Some flower diseases are associated with low temperatures. If the plant is not already covered, it is treated with insecticides and then covered with non-woven fabric.
After flowering in autumn, the stem is cut off at the root. This gives a neat appearance to the flower garden, and also prevents clogging by hybrid self-seeding, since most varieties are easily crossed with each other. New bushes will grow around the old flower, and the flower bed will lose its decorative effect.
Before winter, plant seeds are often sown. The process is carried out independently or by self-seeding.
To get early flowering, flower forcing is carried out. To do this, in the fall, the plant is transplanted into a flower pot and taken to the basement or cold greenhouse. In January-February, the flower is transferred to a bright room, where the temperature is maintained at 14-17 degrees. If all conditions are met, the flower will bloom in April.
Possible problems
The plant does not like constant dampness. It will die from too much moisture. The flower grows poorly in dark places. This provokes the appearance of diseases such as powdery mildew. Pathology is determined by a white coating on the leaves. It is recommended to get rid of powdery mildew with a sulfuric solution.
If darkened watery spots are visible on the foliage, this indicates the presence of gray rot. To cure the plant, it is necessary to spray it with a strong manganese solution or fungicides.
The plant is represented by different hybrid varieties and variety mixtures. Flowering can be admired until autumn. Despite frost resistance, flowers require shelter by the winter period.
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