Kalina: cultivation and care, reproduction and planting in the open field with a photo

The heroine of songs and legends - viburnum - has an extensive range of useful properties, helps in the treatment of various diseases. Therefore, many gardeners are trying to plant a bush with bright healing berries in their own summer cottage. You can learn more about the features of various types of plants, the secrets of growing and caring for viburnum, from the material presented.

General characteristics and description of viburnum

A resident of the forest-steppe and steppe zones - viburnum - prefers moist soils, grows along river banks, survives frosty winters well, the bush can reach 3 meters in height.Viburnum is a perennial shrub from the genus Adox, grows in Europe, Asia and some African countries.

Flexible branches of viburnum have long been used for weaving baskets, the first mention of the medicinal properties of the plant dates back to the 16th century. There are about 200 species of viburnum, a plant with large-toothed bright green or reddish leaves and large tassels of bright red (sometimes black or yellow berries), is used as an ornamental shrub, thanks to a branched root system, is planted to strengthen the soil on the slopes, is used as a living hedges.

White or slightly pinkish inflorescences resemble balls with a diameter of more than 12 centimeters, flowering occurs in May.

Berries are very rich in vitamins (there is more vitamin C in viburnum than in lemon), they are used to lower blood pressure, improve digestion, eliminate edema, and are used as a tonic and medicine.Each berry contains a large flat seed, colored in the color of the fruit pulp. For medicinal purposes, the bark and berries of the plant are used.

Types and varieties of viburnum

It can be deciduous or evergreen, any of the species has excellent decorative characteristics. Most popular varieties:

1. Viburnum ordinary. Deciduous tall shrub with very beautiful snow-white inflorescences and bright scarlet tassels of berries.
2. Kalina Buldonezh. An ornamental shrub that does not produce berries. Snow-white balls of inflorescences decorate the site, often used in landscape design.
3. Kalina Wright. The species is listed in the Russian Red Book. The fruits are perfectly stored and transported, the bush can reach a height of 2-3 meters, tolerates frost well, and can grow in shaded areas.
4. Kalina Canadian. The berries of this plant are black. A shrub with large broad green leaves that turn reddish in autumn. Excellent for growing in the city, calmly tolerates heavy city air saturated with harmful substances.
5. Folded viburnum. Ornamental shrub with inedible berries. The lamellar spreading crown, in which dark green leaves are tinted with snow-white flowers during the flowering period, looks very impressive, in autumn the foliage acquires a spectrum of shades (yellow, reddish), the berries change from rich crimson to black.
6. Kalina Gordovina. Decorative type of viburnum, grows slowly, often used for landscape design. Ripe black berries are edible, but do not ripen at the same time; plantings are actively used to strengthen the soil.
7. Common viburnum Xanthocarpum is a yellow-fruited variety, the berries do not differ in taste from red viburnum. Foliage remains green almost until leaf fall. Together with red viburnum, it makes a chic decorative composition.

There are several sweet-fruited varieties of viburnum, in which there is much less bitterness. For example, Ulgen or Taiga rubies. These berries can be eaten directly from the bush, without waiting until they are "grabbed" by frost.

Important: you should not expect that there is no bitterness in such varieties at all, it is simply significantly less than in comparison with other types.

Kalina is notable for its unpretentiousness, high decorative bushes, medicinal value of berries.

The nuances of planting a bush in open ground

In order for the viburnum bush to grow well, it is necessary to plant the plant correctly.

When to plant viburnum

Plant a bush in the ground should be in autumn or spring, after leaf fall or before the leaves open.

Spring

During spring planting, a pit of 50x50 centimeters is prepared in advance, the distance between seedlings is 2.5-3.5 meters. A three year old seedling is used. The soil is combined with fertilizers (1 bucket of humus or peat, Nitrophoska - 2 cups), organic matter is not added to the fertile soil.

Autumn

The viburnum is planted in the 2-3rd decade of September, weeding the area, destroying weeds and grass. Autumn planting technology is the same as in spring, the main thing is that the seedlings have time to get stronger before frost.

Choosing a landing site

Kalina grows well in sunny or slightly shaded areas, the plant loves moisture, for it you should choose a site with a close location of groundwater.

Soil preparation

Kalina prefers neutral or slightly acidic soil. It grows poorly only on too heavy soil.

Viburnum planting technology

The prepared hole is filled with soil more than half, 2-4 buckets of water are poured in and left for a week to shrink the soil. Then, from the remnants of the soil, a mound is formed in the pit, in the center of which a seedling is installed. The roots should be straightened, after which the pit is filled and compacted. The plant is well watered, the soil around is mulched.

How to properly care for viburnum

Caring for the plant is easy, any type of viburnum grows well even in novice gardeners.

Irrigation

The plant loves moisture very much, plantings need to be watered weekly, 10-20 liters of water are spent on a young bush, about 40 liters on an adult, fruit-bearing one.

Important: if the summer is rainy, watering should be reduced, during the dry period the plant needs more moisture.

The soil should be mulched after watering.

Feeding

Fed with dry fertilizers, which are scattered over the area of the near-trunk circle. The plant is then watered. The first top dressing is carried out before bud break or during their opening. Fertilize with urea, since nitrogen is very important for the growth and development of plants. Enough 2 tablespoons for each bush. The second top dressing is made with potash fertilizers during the flowering period. The third top dressing is necessary after flowering. Use a complex fertilizer containing phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium. The last top dressing is done in the fall, if the soil on the site is poor and does not contain organic fertilizers.Fertile soil is not fertilized.

Cutting rules

In order for the plant to bear fruit well, it should be pruned regularly. Sanitary pruning is done in late autumn or early spring. Formative pruning is carried out in the spring.

Formation

Viburnum can be grown as a bush or a small tree, it all depends on the type of pruning. It will take 3-4 years to get a tree. The lower part of the shoot is freed from buds and branches, a trunk is formed. Side branches and root shoots are removed.

If the viburnum grows as a bush, it is necessary to thin out the branches in order to maintain the planting yield. For rejuvenation, a third of the old branches are annually removed.

Disease and pest control

The plant suffers from aphids, you can fight it by spraying the planting with an infusion of wormwood, celandine, tobacco dust. For radical destruction, insecticides of complex action are used. In addition to aphids, viburnum is attacked:

• viburnum leaf beetle. Harm is caused by beetles and larvae, destroying the foliage and berries of the plant. For protection, use FAS, Intavir, Karbofos, in strict accordance with the instructions;
• viburnum leafworm - caterpillars that not only intensively eat leaves, but also entangle them with cobwebs, preventing plant growth. Caterpillars are collected and burned along with nests, with a strong spread, the bush is treated with Karbofos or Intavir;
• honeysuckle sawfly - the insect feeds on young leaves of honeysuckle and viburnum; also destroyed with insecticides;
• Viburnum and honeysuckle gall midge, to protect the plant is sprayed with a solution of Karbofos;
• black aphid - Karbofos, Commander, spraying with infusion of pharmacy chamomile or wormwood will help from this pest.

Spraying is done using a mask, protective gloves, in full accordance with the instructions.

Important: during the formation of the ovary and the ripening of the fruits, the plants are not sprayed.

Diseases that affect viburnum include gray rot, powdery mildew, leaf spot. In this case, watering should be adjusted and, if necessary, the plant should be treated with fungicides.

Reproduction and rooting

Kalina can be propagated in a variety of ways, some, such as propagation by seeds and cuttings, are quite laborious and are rarely used in home garden plots. Breeding viburnum takes a lot of time, three-year-old seedlings are used for planting.

Seeds

Growing viburnum from seeds at home is difficult, since seed germination does not exceed 20%. Viburnum seeds are washed and dried. Then they are kept for 2 months in nylon stockings stuffed with wet sawdust. Sprouted seeds are hardened for a month in the refrigerator at a temperature of 0 to +5 ° C.Then they are planted in boxes with soil. After warming up the soil is placed in open ground. Seedlings are placed in a permanent place after 2 years.

Vertical layers

After leaf fall on an adult plant, cut the lower branches, leaving 3-4 buds. Then the bush is spudded and left until spring. In the spring, regrown shoots are spudded again. When the layers grow up to 20-25 centimeters, they are pulled at the bottom with wire and cut by 1/3. After 2 weeks, spud again. In autumn, the rooted shoot is separated and transferred to a permanent place.

Shanks

Propagation of viburnum by cuttings in autumn is carried out after snowfall. Do this at the end of November or after the onset of winter. 20 cm shoots are cut from the bush. They are kept in water for 3 hours, placed in a plastic bag and left in a cool room until spring. After warming up the soil, the cuttings are planted in the ground, periodically weeded and watered, in the fall they are transferred to a permanent place.

Horizontal layering

In the spring, strong shoots bend down to the ground and dig in. The shoots are “screwed” with wire, and again sprinkled with earth. After the shoots grow up, hilling is repeated 3-4 times. The height of the shaft should be 25-35 centimeters. By autumn, the shoots take root, they are dug up, divided, planted in the desired area.

Basic shoots

In late spring or early summer, strong shoots are selected that have grown by 20-25 centimeters. They are pulled with wire at the base and spud. Hilling is carried out 2-3 more times during the summer. Then the process is left alone until the next spring. With the onset of heat, rooted seedlings are transferred to a new place. Propagating viburnum plantings with root shoots is the easiest, this is one of the most popular ways.

Collection and storage

Viburnum berries are traditionally harvested after the first frost. Frost removes excess bitterness from fruits. Berries can be stored with brushes, hanging them in a cool, well-ventilated area. They can be placed in the refrigerator, in a plastic bag or container. In addition, the berries are frozen, ground with sugar or dried.

Kalina is well stored, does not lose its useful properties for a long time. In addition to berries, infusions from the bark of this wonderful shrub have beneficial properties.

Growing viburnum in the country is not difficult, while the bush will not only decorate the garden, but also an additional source of nutrients, an excellent helper for colds, insomnia, hypertension, and other he alth problems.

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