Weigela: planting and care in the open field, growing and preparing for winter

When considering plants to decorate a private area, it is recommended to pay attention to weigela, as even novice gardeners can handle planting and care in the open field. The culture is characterized by long and abundant flowering. There are 10 varieties of weigela suitable for growing on private plots. And each variety of plant can grow in different climates.

Description and characteristics

This ornamental shrub from the Honeysuckle family, with white, red, pink and other flowers, was originally cultivated for cultivation in the Far East. But at the same time, it is able to grow in regions with other climatic conditions.

Culture has the following characteristics:

• maximum height - up to 4 meters;
• flower size - up to 5 centimeters;
• flower shape - funnels, bell;
• good frost resistance (depending on variety).

Weigela does not tolerate dry periods and strong winds. Therefore, the plant is planted in areas protected from drafts and watered abundantly.

Subject to the rules of care, the shrub blooms twice a season. Moreover, the buds, as they open, gradually change color.

Types and varieties

Breeders managed to breed quite a lot of weigela species, each of which has its own characteristics.

Flowering

The shrub reaches a height of three meters. The first flowers with a rich pink tint appear in early June and subside until July. Weigela Blossoming does not tolerate frost, so the plant must be closed for the winter.

Variegata, or Nana Variegata

Dwarf variety of weigela, characterized by slow development of shoots and flowers, which are collected in inflorescences of 3-4 pieces, with pale pink or crimson petals. Variegata requires landing on the sunny side.

Hybrid

1.5-meter bush with a spreading crown. The color of the funnel-shaped flowers varies depending on the variety of hybrid weigela.

Bristol Ruby

Shrub with a spreading crown, grows up to four meters in height. Because of this feature, as well as the long flowering period from June to July, the Bristol ruby variety attracts the attention of gardeners.

Alexandra

Differs in slow growth (up to 10 centimeters per year). The leaves of Alexandra have a dark green or almost black tint, and the flowers are deep pink. Despite frost resistance, this variety requires shelter for the winter.

Nana purpleea

Purple variety of weigela, reaching a height of one meter. The culture blooms profusely from May to June. The leaves of Nana purpurea are dark green in color.

Variegated

This variety of weigela stands out due to its variegated leaves. On the shrub in early summer, tubular flowers are formed, the color of which varies from pale pink to dark.

Middendorf

1.5-meter shrub produces large (up to 5 centimeters) yellow flowers with bright orange spots. The deep green leaves are oval in shape and fall off after the growing season.

Early

Variety Early grows up to two meters and has a spreading crown with pink inflorescences that fall down with stamens. This feature is natural for weigela. The first flowers appear in May.

Garden

Garden variety reaches no more than a meter in height. Pink-carmine inflorescences are formed on the shrub, which take the form of a bell. The first flowers appear in mid-May and fall with the onset of summer.

Korean

On a 1.5-meter shrub, large leaves and pale pink inflorescences are formed, the diameter of which reaches 3.5 centimeters. The plant requires shelter for the winter. If this is not done, flowering will begin closer to autumn.

Red Prince

A dwarf variety of culture, reaching a height of 50 cm. The crown of the Red Prince is sprawling, with bright red inflorescences.

Coins

Another dwarf variety of weigela, with pink bell flowers and foliage with a pale border, which becomes burgundy closer to spring. Shrub blooms from June to July.

Minor Black

Minor Black has a compact, but dense and lush crown. The height of the shrub does not exceed one meter. The main feature of this variety is pointed leaves, the color of which varies from red to dark purple. Minor Black blooms twice a season, forming compact bright pink bell flowers.

Magical Rainbow

Magical Rainbow is distinguished by pointed leaves, the border of which changes color during the season - from yellow-green to red. Flowering begins in June, subject to growth in the sunny side.

Eva Rathke

Eva Rathke is a Polish variety of weigela, reaching a height of three meters. The culture is distinguished by a compact crown and tubular, red-pink buds. Flowering begins in June and ends with the onset of August.

Victoria

Victoria bushes, which reach a height of one meter, form purple-red buds and green leaves with a brown tint.

Carnival

The shrub of the Carnival variety reaches a height of three meters, and the crown grows by 3.5 meters. The buds are distinguished by a variety of colors: both red and pink appear on the same plant. Culture blooms twice a season.

Rosea

Rosea is a hybrid variety, with lilac-pink flowers and gently curving branches. The maximum height of the shrub does not exceed 1.5 meters. It is recommended to cover the plant for the period of cold weather, although Rosea tolerates sub-zero temperatures well.

Brigella

Brigella is a medium-sized variety of weigela with ruby bell flowers. The maximum height of the shrub does not exceed 2.5 meters, and the crown width is 2 meters. The leaves are distinguished by the presence of a yellow border around the edges.

Candida

A hybrid variety of weigela, characterized by 2.5-meter bushes and a 3-meter crown. The flowers of Candida are white, bell-shaped, up to four centimeters in size.

Naomi Campbell

Naomi Campbell's variety is characterized by a slow development of a shrub, the height of which reaches 80 centimeters, the crown is 1.2 meters. The castings of this variety are the darkest among all weigels. Naomi Campbell's flowers are purple-red.

Lucifer

This 1.5-meter shrub blooms in early June, bright red bells of large size. Re-buds bloom with the onset of autumn.

Sunny princesses

1.5-meter variety of weigela blooms twice - at the end of spring and summer. Large pale pink buds appear on the branches of the plant.

All sum red

Compact variety of culture with a bush, the height of which does not exceed 1.5 meters, the crown is 1.8 meters. The main feature of All Summer Red is continuous flowering from May to September.

Red leaf

Krasnolistnaya stands out due to the original color of the leaves. The height of the shrub does not exceed 1.5 meters.

Landing

Despite the unpretentiousness of the plant, when planting weigela, it is necessary to follow a number of rules that will ensure the annual flowering of the shrub.

Choosing a seat

For planting weigels recommend choosing well-lit areas, protected from strong winds. Gardeners do not recommend growing a plant on the north side. In this case, the flowers will fall off early.

How to prepare the ground?

It is recommended to plant bushes in neutral or slightly alkaline soil rich in humus. If the soil does not meet the specified condition, then it is recommended to fertilize the soil:

• peat and sand (for clay soil);
• clay and sand (for peat);
• peat and clay (for sandy loam);
• lime (for highly acidic soil).

The prepared components must be scattered over the site, and then dig up the ground.

How to plant?

Weigela is planted according to the following algorithm:

1. A hole 40 centimeters deep is dug in the prepared area.
2. A 15-cm drainage layer is laid at the bottom of the pit, consisting of sand or fragments of brick (gravel).
3. Together with drainage, a mixture of 100 grams of nitrophoska and 1.5 buckets of compost is laid on the bottom.
4. The seedling is covered with soil, the place is rammed and watered. The root collar is allowed to be deepened by 20 millimeters.

Before planting, it is recommended to treat the root system with a growth stimulator. The minimum distance between holes is determined depending on the selected variety. Dwarf shrubs are recommended to be planted at a distance of 0.8 meters, crops with a large crown - 2 meters.

Timing

It is recommended to plant weigela in spring, in warm soil, but before the buds swell. During the summer period, the plant has enough time to take root and gain the nutrients necessary for wintering. When planted in autumn, the plant dies after the onset of cold weather.

Reproduction

Reproduction of weigela is possible in three ways: seeds, cuttings and layering. The first option is the most time-consuming, and is not suitable for all varieties of shrubs. Regardless of the selected propagation option, the material must be transplanted into open ground after the onset of spring.

Shanks

Propagation by cuttings is the best way to breed a crop. To get a new shrub, you will need to do the following:

1. In May, cut last year's branch 10-15 centimeters long and remove the lower leaves.
2. Soak the cutting for 5 minutes in Kornevin's solution, and then plant it in a container with a mixture of sand and peat, deepening by 2 centimeters.
3. Cover the stalk with a jar or bottle.

After the plant gives roots, weigela needs to be transplanted to a permanent place.

Seeds

Seeds must be collected with the onset of October-November, when the walls begin to crack. Then the planting material is placed in a dark room until spring. You need to plant seeds after warming up the soil.

This breeding method has two important drawbacks: planting material rarely sprouts, and the future shrub does not always inherit the properties of the "parent".

Layers

To propagate by layering, it is enough to press the lower shoot to the ground, slightly incising the bark, and wait until the branch takes root. After that, the plant can be cut off from the parent bush and transplanted to a new location.

Rules of care

It is necessary to take care of the weigela during the growing season, paying special attention to the shrub in the first year after planting.

Irrigation

The frequency and amount of watering depends on the weather. In the dry period, it is recommended to pour up to 10-15 liters of water under the plant. After the procedure, it is necessary to loosen the soil in order to prevent the formation of large lumps of soil that interfere with the flow of oxygen to the root system. You should also periodically spray the leaves, thereby removing dust and other traces of dirt.

Feeding

In the first two years after planting, weigela is not fertilized. In subsequent seasons, it is recommended to apply:

• potash, phosphate and nitrogen fertilizers (spring);
• phosphorus-potassium fertilizers (during bud formation);
• wood ash, Fertik or Kemir (early autumn).

In addition to regular top dressing, small weeds around the shrub should be removed.

Preparing for winter

Weigela tolerates cold well. If the shrub is planted in the southern regions of Russia, then before the onset of winter it is enough to mulch the soil around the plant. When grown in northern latitudes, the lower branches must be bent to the ground. If there is little snow in winter, then the crop needs to be provided with additional shelter.

Cutting

Weigela pruning is carried out at different periods. To prevent diseases, it is necessary at the beginning of the period of swelling of the kidneys and a month before the onset of cold weather, remove damaged branches, as well as shoots that bend down to the ground or grow inside the bush.

The formation of the crown should be started in the second or third year after planting. In this case, you can cut any parts of the plant, depending on what kind of shrub the gardener intends to give. To rejuvenate weigela, you need to remove branches older than three years.

Mulching

Mulching is carried out twice in autumn and spring and once in summer. To do this, use peat or sawdust. With sufficient mulch, there is no need for weeding and winterizing.

Transfer to another location

Replanting the plant to a new location is not recommended. But if this cannot be avoided, then the procedure should be carried out in the spring, before the start of the growing season. To transplant a bush, it is necessary to dig the plant, focusing on the length of the crown, and move it to a new place together with the ground. Then you will need to add 30 grams of complex fertilizer to the prepared pit and deepen the shrub.At the end of the procedure, the root system must be sprinkled with soil, watered and mulched.

Diseases and pests

More common on weigel:

• caterpillars;
• aphid;
• thrips;
• spider mites.

The last two types of insects settle on the bushes after the onset of the summer period. To destroy pests, gardeners use pesticides or insecticidal solutions obtained by infusing garlic, wormwood or hot pepper in water. If the leaves turn yellow prematurely, this indicates that the root system is damaged by a bear or cockchafer. Solutions of Karbofos or Aktara, which must be applied under the root, help to destroy pests.

Of the weigela diseases, it is more often affected by spotting, rust and gray rot. Bordeaux liquid helps to restore the plant, which must be treated with a bush until the signs of infection disappear completely.

Common mistakes

More often gardeners, when growing ornamental shrubs, make the following mistakes:

1. Planted in shady areas. Due to lack of sunlight, the flowers fall early.
2. Planted in waterlogged soils. The abundance of moisture contributes to the decay of the roots.
3. Refuse mulching. Without this procedure, moisture evaporates faster, and the plant dies after the onset of cold weather.
4. Refuse preventive treatment from pests. Insects can destroy a crop, so it is recommended to regularly spray the shrub with insecticides.

It is necessary to cover the shrub for the winter, provided that there is not enough snow during the cold season. When planting seedlings in containers, it is recommended to choose deep containers, as some weigela varieties are characterized by active development.You also need to properly and timely fertilize and cut the bush.

Landscape use

Due to the large size and bright, rich flowers that shower branches, weigela is able to become a central shrub or divide a garden plot into several zones. This culture is often used to link between tall and short plants. Weigela can be grown as a separate element of landscape design, or as a background frame for other plantings.

Hedges

This variant of planting a bush is considered the most popular. Weigela protects neighboring crops from strong winds, and thanks to its dense crown, it prevents dogs, cats and other animals from entering the site. A tall shrub can be cut, thereby forming original figures or a border that can replace a full-fledged fence.By means of a hedge, gardeners zone the plot or draw up the entrance to the house.

Solitaire

The plant is unpretentious. Therefore, weigela is often grown separately from other plantings, against the backdrop of a green lawn. The shrub lends itself to modeling, due to which it is possible to give the culture an original shape and focus on a certain area of \u200b\u200bthe adjacent area. The bush looks especially bright during the flowering period. Because of this, gardeners often plant weigela alleys.

Alpine slides

For the formation of an alpine crust, it is recommended to plant low-growing varieties (up to one meter in height). Such bushes fit well into the created ensemble of garden plantings. Usually grown dwarf shrubs at the foot of the alpine slide. The bright flowers that characterize this culture go well with large gray stones.

On the background of coniferous trees

Weigela, planted against the backdrop of coniferous trees, will be in harmony with perennials. This shrub will act as a kind of bright touch that will fill the voids created by monotonous green spaces.

Mixborders

Mixborder is a kind of border (or line), which is formed from green spaces. Through such a planting, you can divide the site into several zones, select individual plants or alleys from certain crops. And this role can be played by the perennial weigela, which will harmoniously decorate the landscape design, giving a touch of solemnity.

Reviews

Anatoly, Moscow Region

“The shrub has been growing in a dacha in the suburbs for more than 10 years. In the early years, flowers rarely appeared on the branches, and quickly fell off, because of which the plant had to be transplanted several times until the optimal place was found.Weigela is a culture that is demanding on the place of growth. A bush grown in Central Russia must be constantly fed, watered and mulched. Without these procedures, branches bend down in spring, and spots appear on the leaves. At the same time, after warming up the soil, it is necessary to remove damaged shoots and apply organic fertilizers. ”

Elena, Tula

“We planted a weigela in the spring. Already in the summer it became noticeable that the stalk took root well in a new place. The following year, the shrub did not bloom, but at the same time formed a lush and green crown. After a consultation in the store where the seedling was purchased, it became clear that without fertilizers, the plant spends all its energy on the formation of leaves. And now the bush blooms every year.”

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