Shelter of rhododendrons for the winter in the suburbs: how to carry out, rules of care

In the suburbs, the shelter of rhododendrons for the winter is carried out in several ways. You can, for example, sprinkle the plant with peat so that it does not freeze. Beautiful flowers are not too favorable to winter cold, but a lot depends on the type of shrub, as well as on the climate. Both in Siberia, in the Urals, and in the Central strip, rhododendrons need a warm shelter.

Why hide

Preparing plantings for cold weather is part of caring for plants that remain on the site. It is carried out in several ways, which allows you to see the flowering of the shrub in early summer.

Rhododendrons do not belong to heat-loving crops, so you should not immediately "hide" them under the film or create another shelter. When the temperature drops below 10 degrees with a minus sign, it is worth starting work.

Why flowers can't winter in the usual conditions:

1. In autumn, buds ripen on the shoots, which then turn into ovaries.
2. If an ornamental plant is exposed to high (low) temperatures, the buds will dry out and fall off.

Important! To see flowers on the site and enjoy their beauty, you will definitely have to prepare rhododendrons for wintering.

When creating a shelter for bushes, think that it should not be too "warm", suitable:

• powdering with peat, foliage and spruce branches;
• synthetic materials and frame structures are used less often.

Constructed shelter is reliable, but at the same time light. This will allow rhododendrons that are not too frost-resistant to survive the winter.

Steps of carrying out procedures aimed at preparing for wintering:

1. Mulching the soil is a good place to start.
2. Cover the base of the bush with coarse sand so that the bark does not rot in the spring.
3. Tie the bush to a support and sprinkle it.

All the above manipulations are carried out in the middle or end of November, when the temperature “outside the window” stabilizes.

Varieties for the Moscow Region

Each region has its own climate characteristics, which allows you to breed varieties that will successfully endure the "whims of the weather" and at the same time delight summer residents with a harvest or beauty, as is the case with rhododendrons.

If we are talking about the Moscow region, then preference is given to species that are resistant to frost.

Japanese salmon

With large, red flowers collected in inflorescences of 6-12 pieces. The variety is resistant to frost, reaches a height of 2 meters.

Costerianum

The flowers of this variety have a different shade - from pale yellow to bright red. It was first bred in the 19th century and quickly gained popularity. It is considered a hybrid of Japanese. Shrub height - from 80 centimeters to 2 meters.

Lights Series

Such a plant will decorate any area, as it is decorative and exotic. Red-orange flowers "crown" bushes 2-2.5 meters high.

The Hague

Hybrid, bred in Finland, highly resistant to temperature fluctuations, suitable for growing in humid climates. It winters well in St. Petersburg. The bush reaches a height of 1.5 meters, its crown is decorated with large inflorescences of pink flowers.

Helsinki

The variety was bred in Finland, the event is dedicated to the 350th anniversary of the University of Helsinki. Will please the summer resident with flowering, which will begin in early June. The shrub will be adorned with rose-red flowers with wavy edges.

Katevbinsky Grandiflorum

Derived at the beginning of the 19th century, the most popular variety. The bush reaches a height of 3 meters, the crown is 3.5 meters in diameter. It is decorated with flowers of a lilac-pink hue. The plant prefers well-drained, acidic soils and abundant watering.

Purpurkissen

The height of the bush reaches 90 centimeters, the growing season begins in early June. The plant looks good above the surface of the pond and in tandem with coniferous trees.

Canadian

The variety is unpretentious in care, and due to the blue-blue color of the foliage it is considered decorative. Blooms 2 weeks in May. Suitable for planting in shady places in the garden.

Ledebourg

Large pink-violet flowers "crown" a shrub 3.5 meters high. The plant begins to bloom at the end of April, this period lasts for several weeks.

Yellow

The variety is not picky about the soil. Differs in height of 1.5 meters and spreading branches. Yellow flowers adorn the shrub, they exude a pleasant aroma.

Pink

Resistant to frost, which is undoubtedly considered as an advantage of the variety, but among the disadvantages is the small size of the flowers. Pink inflorescences will complement the site and will delight the summer resident for several weeks, emitting a wonderful smell. Pink rhododendrons are ideal for growing in mid-latitudes.

Vaseya

The variety is unique in that the flowers on a shrub 2 meters high appear earlier than the leaves. They are somewhat similar to butterfly wings, they have no smell. The leaves of rhododendrons are purple.

It is better to plant the plant in a sunny place; it is a pity that it will not bloom for long - only 2 weeks.

Daurian

Has a superficial root system. The variety was bred in China or India, in the 19th century, the peculiarity of the plant is large flowers of a purple hue, 4 centimeters in diameter.

Smirnova

"Product of domestic production", the variety was bred and named after the doctor and lover of botany - M. Smirnov. The height of the bushes reaches one and a half meters, the flowers are combined into large inflorescences of a purple hue.

Kashkara

Golden yellow rhododendron, with a bush height of 60 centimeters. The leaves are long, slightly curved on the sides.

Schlippenbach

Rhododendron 2 meters high with flowers resembling bells. Lilac shade, with purple patches in the middle. At home, the shrub grows up to 4 meters.

Short-fruited

The plant comes from Korea, reaches a height of 80 centimeters, will delight summer residents with white flowers with golden splashes.

Features of cultivation

Rhododendrons are very whimsical and will please the gardener with flowering only if they are provided with the necessary conditions.

Common gardening mistakes:

• when transplanting, make the hole too deep, big;
• fertilize after planting with manure;
• Give flowers abundant watering, forgetting about drainage.

Choosing a seat

To plant rhododendrons, choose a place where they will have enough sun and warmth, but do not forget that flowers love moisture. Wetlands are suitable provided that they are equipped with a drainage system.

Soil quality

Acidic, crumbly soil with good moisture removal will do. But at the same time, you should not allow the soil to dry out.

Prepare the soil for planting, mix:

1. Sour peat.
2. Pine needles.
3. Loam.

The components are collected and mixed in the following proportions: 2:1:3

Correct fit

If you plan to plant or transplant a plant, then follow the rules:

• dig a small hole; since the root system of rhododendrons is compact, serious "excavations" will not have to be carried out;
• fill the hole with the previously prepared mixture (the recipe for a suitable soil is described above);
• tamp it with your hands and leave a small depression for planting shrubs;
• before planting, dip the flower roots in water and keep them there until little bubbles stop appearing.

Care

Planting a plant is not enough - you need to take care of it, because otherwise it will quickly die. What to do:

1. After planting, follow the watering, loosen the soil.
2. Do not loosen near the roots - this can cause serious damage to them.
3. Don't forget to feed and remove weeds in a timely manner.

Attention! Weeds are pulled out, but at the same time they do not dig - this way you can damage the root system of the rhododendron, as a result of which the flower will die.

Feeding

Procedures are carried out in June and July, but in August you should not touch the rhododendrons. For these plants, do not use top dressing with a prolonged action, as this may lead to the fact that in late August, early September, the shrub will again begin to prepare for flowering.

First

Carried out after planting in the ground, mineral fertilizers can be used.

Second

We repeat the procedures after 2 weeks: we give preference to mineral fertilizers or specialized products in granules.

Third

After another 14 days, repeat all the manipulations; it is better to give preference to granular mixtures. The granules are scattered directly around the root system of the shrub.

Irrigation

Rhododendrons love water, they respond well to abundant watering. But moisture stagnation can cause them serious damage. To prevent this from happening, think about drainage. It is better to water the flowers with soft, river or rain water. In August, watering is reduced - this will prevent the appearance of new branches on the bush.

Protection from diseases and pests

When planting a crop on the site, do not forget that it is susceptible to fungal diseases. As part of the prevention of such infections, treat rhododendrons with copper sulfate and special solutions.

What pests affect plantings:

• snails;
• spider mites;
• shields;
• weevils;
• bugs;
• flies.

The use of specialized selective preparations that can be purchased at gardening stores will help rid the plant of insects.

How to prepare for winter

In order for flowering bushes to successfully survive the winter, you will have to prepare for it. The procedures take place in several stages, they have their own characteristics.

Feeding

Wintering takes place without the use of fertilizers. The last time the plant is fed at the end of July. In August and September, they refrain from such manipulations so that young shoots do not appear on the bushes, which are unlikely to survive the winter.

Irrigation

The number of irrigation procedures is reduced in August, it is not worth watering rhododendrons in winter.

Mulching

The procedure is considered mandatory; it is held 2 times: in autumn and spring.

Groove for melt water runoff

Because the culture is not too supportive of stagnant water, it is better to build ditches that will drain excess moisture and sewage.

Ditches are built between plantings, it is not recommended to make them next to the plant - there is a risk of damaging the roots.

Shelter

Cover rhododendron bushes with non-woven fiber, you can use foliage, branches of coniferous plants. It is allowed to sprinkle plants with peat, build houses, frame structures.

Timing

The bush "overwinters" from mid-November to the end of March, beginning of April.

But the fertilizing and watering procedures are stopped at the beginning of August. And they resume in mid-April, early May (watering), fertilizers are used in June-July.

How to cover

Alternatively, you can build arcs that are located above the plant. The arcs are covered with a non-woven fabric. In cold weather, they sprinkle the edges of the shelter with earth to avoid cold air.

deciduous

Because this variety of crop tolerates frost well and is frost-resistant, it is not necessary to build shelters. It is enough to sprinkle the root system of the plant with peat, leaves or branches of coniferous trees.

Evergreen and semi-evergreen

Such rhododendrons tolerate frost worse, so they build houses or frame shelters using insulation (styrofoam is ideal).

They cover not only the bush, but also its root system - if the roots freeze, the plant will die. The shelter must be equipped with a frame, otherwise it will collapse under the weight of snow and break the bush.The shelter is removed gradually: in early March, after the snow melts, the rhododendrons are removed from most of it, in mid-April or early May they are completely removed. This will allow the plant to adapt.

When and how to transplant

All manipulations are carried out when the weather is warm outside. They are transplanted into a specially prepared hole measuring 40 centimeters (depth) by 60 (diameter). The landing is planned for mid-May.

Reviews

Gardeners of the Moscow region shared their opinion and advice on the care and wintering of rhododendrons:

1. Victoria Sokolova: “I grow several varieties of rhododendrons on the site, I prefer evergreen ones. I cover them with a special bag, but at the same time I choose a place in the open sun. Not a single plant has frozen yet.”
2. Igor Parnasov: “I prefer frame shelters, I insulate them with spruce branches, it turns out something like a hut. And my neighbor covers plantings with boxes.”
3. Irina Aksenova: “I live in the Leningrad region and I grow specific rhododendrons, I don’t cover them in any way. Due to the high humidity of the air, they tolerate cold very well.”

When deciding to plant rhododendrons on the site, do not forget that the plant needs care. Plantings need to be watered, loosen the soil, build shelters. Otherwise, despite the resistance to frost and unpretentiousness, the shrub may die.

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