Barberry Ottawa Superba: planting and care, reproduction, diseases and pests

Growing ornamental shrubs is a simple and rather exciting procedure, because when forming a bush, you can realize your most cherished desires. The cultivation of the Ottawa Superb barberry does not cause difficulties, planting and care does not require much effort, and the result is a beautiful shrub.

General characteristics of barberry Ottawa

All varieties of barberry are grown most often for the purpose of decoration. The main ornamental shrub reaches the 6-8th year of cultivation. The beginning of flowering of the plant occurs in mid-May, lasts about 3 weeks.The barberry shrub has small, yellow flowers with a reddish tint. For fruiting, the barberry needs insects for pollination.

Fructification at the bush occurs in the 6th year of life, depending on the variety, it lasts from August to September. The yield of an adult shrub is 11-13 kg. The fruits may sag until the onset of winter. The life expectancy of a barberry is up to 50 years. With proper care, the bush bears fruit for about 40 years.

Pros and cons of the variety

The advantages of this type of barberry shrub include:

• increased growth rate, annual growths grow up to 35cm long;
• unpretentiousness, the plant perfectly adapts to different types of soil;
• drought resistant, low light;
• rarely attacked by harmful insects;
• quick plant recovery after mechanical damage;
• grows in northern regions with proper care and shelter.

There is one minus in this variety: it is characterized by an average winter hardiness. Accordingly, there is a possibility of partial freezing of young shoots in a shrub.

Ottawa Shrub Varieties

Derived in Canada by crossing Thunberg barberries and the Ordinary variety. The natural habitat of the bush is along rivers, ravines, forests.

Aurikoma

In the process of vegetation, a neat compact plant is formed, reaching a height of 1.7 to 2.4 m.

Superba

Superba in height can reach from 2.4 to 2.9 m. Leaf plates have a dark red or purple color with a bluish overflow.

Silver Miles

Sprawling shrub, reaching a height of 2.1 to 2.7 m. The leaves of the barberry are purple with a silvery sheen.

Landing

The ideal option for cultivating barberry is to purchase a 2-3-year-old seedling. It is advisable to do this in a specialized store The main characteristic of the quality of the seedling is that the root system must be at least 25 cm long, without signs of rot and mechanical injuries.

30 days before planting a barberry bush, it is important to dig up the site, clear it of weeds. Particular attention is paid to soil nutrition, it is necessary to add: potassium s alt, superphosphate, compost or manure, lime (if the soil is characterized by excessive acidity).

The distance between plants is selected based on the purpose of planting. If it is necessary to form a dense hedge from a living shrub, 4 seedlings are planted per meter distance, for a more sparse planting - two seedlings.

For disembarkation you need:

• form a hole 40 by 40 cm;
• pour a layer of fertile soil on the bottom;
• apply fertilizer (slurry, potash s alt, ash), mix with the ground;
• water;
• in the middle of the pit, install a barberry seedling so that the root collar does not deepen, taking into account subsequent shrinkage, it is located 3-4 cm above the ground plane;
• fill with fertile soil, compact, mulch with a layer of peat, chopped straw, humus.

Planting a bush is allowed in the spring before the buds swell, when the soil is thoroughly warmed up.Vegetation begins early in the barberry, respectively, when planted in the spring, it is more difficult to take root. More favorable autumn planting, 25-30 days before the onset of frost. During this period, the root system of the plant will undergo adaptation and hardening, which will significantly increase winter hardiness.

Further plant care

Compliance with the requirements for caring for a barberry bush is the key to the successful development of a plant.

Ground

This variety is unpretentious to the composition of the soil, but sensitive to excess moisture. Accordingly, the presence of groundwater is taken into account, they should pass no closer than 2 m. Otherwise, it is recommended to lay out a high-quality drainage layer.

Location

The shrub loves areas with sufficient lighting, protected from through winds. It grows well in shaded areas, but the color saturation of the leaves decreases.

Irrigation

Watering the plant is carried out after each fertilization and one time for 7 days in dry weather. One bush needs, depending on age, from 6 to 9 liters. After the watering procedure, it is important to tidy up the mulch. The last watering of the barberry is carried out in the autumn, 14-16 days before the onset of frost.

Feeding

Nutrition after planting should be done in the spring of the next season. To stimulate vegetation, it is recommended to add urea at the rate of 35 g per 10 liters of liquid. Further nitrogen is fed every fourth year.

For abundant flowering and good maturation of new branches, it is necessary to feed with organic matter: pour 1 kg of rotted manure into 3 liters of liquid and hold for three days. Then dilute in proportion: 1 (infusion) to 3 (water). To strengthen before winter, it is necessary to add 13 g of superphosphate and 10 g of potassium sulfate.

Cutting

Since the barberry shrub is an ornamental plant, pruning is necessary to maintain a decent appearance, and annual pruning. It has two goals:

1. Stimulation of the growth of new shoots, in which the leaf plates are better decorative.
2. Sanitation: necessary to eliminate excessive load from the plant, prevent the spread of diseases, damage by harmful insects.

Autumn pruning is sanitary. It is produced at the moment of transition of the shrub to the dormant stage, as a rule, this is 15 days before the onset of the first frost. Given the region of growth, these dates range from late September to late November.

To be deleted:

• old withered branches;
• damaged by pests or diseases;
• ugly woven branches;
• shoots that directed their growth to the center of the crown.

It is important to coat large sections with garden pitch. Dispose of all cut pieces. If the barberry bush grows singly, then the formation of a beautiful crown is carried out naturally, as new branches grow upwards. Accordingly, such shrubs need only sanitary pruning.

When the barberry forms a hedge, systematic pruning is necessary. To do this, in the second year after planting, new branches need to be shortened by half, which will stimulate the thickening of the barberry. The barberry bush blooms on the growths of the previous season. Accordingly, in order for branches with flower buds to grow, it is better to prune immediately after the flowering process of the barberry.

A similar shearing procedure is carried out in the following seasons, growths are shortened from above and from the side.

The plant is quite malleable to a haircut, which allows you to realize various creative ideas: give the appearance of a ball, triangle, create a figure in several tiers. But it is worth remembering that in the process of crown formation with regular pruning about flowering shrubs can be forgotten.

Wintering

In the first winter season after planting, the barberry needs a solid shelter. It is necessary to increase the thickness of the mulch to 10 cm. Pull the branches of the plant with a wide rope, cover with burlap or other material. In addition, it is recommended to overlay with spruce branches, rake up the snow.

Protection against diseases

The weak side of the barberry bush is fungal infections. These include powdery mildew, rust. Often, leaf plates are affected, less often branches and the fruit part. To eliminate the disease, the following are used: "Vectra", "Topaz", "Fundazol", copper sulfate, colloidal sulfur, Bordeaux mixture.Given the degree of infection, 4-6 sprays are carried out. For preventive purposes, it is recommended to treat the plant with fungicides every season.

Pest control

Damage by pests of shrubs is observed in case of mass infection of the site or non-compliance with the rules of agricultural technology (excessive moisture, dense crown). Often the barberry is affected by aphids. This pest feeds on the underside of the leaf. With severe damage, the leaf plates dry out. For destruction use: "Karbofos", "Aktellik", "Confidor", "Bancol".

Reproduction

Reproduction of Ottawa barberry occurs in the following ways, each of which is characterized by its pros and cons:

1. Layers: not all varieties of barberry produce layering.
2. Dividing the bush: increased risk of injury to the root system.
3. Cuttings: adaptation and rooting is relatively slow.
4. Seeds: the germination of seed material of a barberry bush ranges from 20% to 40%, it is worth noting that the varietal indicators of a new shrub will not always be preserved.

Each gardener can choose the method of reproduction at his discretion.

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