Potentilla shrub: care and cultivation, how and when to cut, reproduction with photo

Kuril tea, dasiphora, cinquefoil - all these are the names of one shrub, in most regions known as shrub cinquefoil. This is a truly unique plant that combines a beautiful appearance, many he alth benefits and unpretentiousness in breeding. Let's get to know her in more detail, having analyzed the basic principles of breeding and care.

Planting shrub cinquefoil seeds in open ground

Shrub cinquefoil is a perennial crop that is convenient to grow with seeds planted in open ground. With this breeding method, novice gardeners should pay attention to the following points:

• convenient time for sowing;
• do the preparations to help prepare the soil for planting.

If they are observed, the process of adaptation and growth of Potentilla will pass without excesses, and beautiful bushes will appear on the site that harmoniously fit into almost any landscape.

When to sow seeds

Planting cinquefoil seeds in open ground is typical for grass varieties, but shrub varieties are also amenable to this method of cultivation, and problems should not arise. Planting time depends on the choice of soil:

• in autumn the seeds are sown in open ground;
• spring - for seedlings.

Each method has its own nuances that should be considered separately.

Planting shrub cinquefoil in spring

Herbaceous culture is planted in spring, under seedlings, starting from March. To do this, the seeds are grown in specially prepared, fertile soil, which is covered with polyethylene. When choosing this breeding method, do not forget to regularly irrigate the seeds and maintain the ambient temperature in the region of 15-20 ^o

As soon as the seeds have germinated and a couple of young leaves have appeared on the stems, they are packed in separate pots and grown in them until the end of summer.

In the autumn they land in the open ground. Closer to winter, seedlings are covered with a special material that prevents freezing. The first year after planting Potentilla will not bloom, and you will have to be patient until the start of the next season.

Pay attention! Spunbond can be used as a covering material.

The nuances of planting cinquefoil in autumn

Planting seeds in autumn is carried out without stratification, which saves time and effort of the gardener. Seeds planted in this way will give powerful shoots in the spring, after which it remains to plant them separately from each other, enjoying the beauty and comfort of the site.

Seedlings obtained in this way require minimal care and have strong immunity.

Preparatory work on the ground

An important set of measures, the implementation of which will ensure stable growth and flowering of the bush. Preparatory work consists of:

• choosing a landing site;
• ground preparation;
• digging a planting hole;
• choosing the distance between seedlings;
• sowing.

Choosing a landing site

You need to plant Potentilla in a specially prepared place that best meets all the requirements.Any shrub-type plants prefer sunny places, with light, fertile soil. Keep in mind that in hot climates, prolonged exposure to sunlight will cause the petals to fade. This applies to varieties whose buds are red.

Shadow for this plant is not critical, but in this case its decorative characteristics noticeably drop. In addition, different varieties of cinquefoil have their own preferences regarding the level of illumination, which must also be taken into account.

Preparing the soil for planting

Shrubs prefer to grow in soil that meets the following requirements:

• the soil is loose;
• with low acidity;
• has good drainage properties;
• the composition of the soil should contain a small amount of lime.

These requirements are not hard to meet and shouldn't be a problem.

Landing Pit Characteristics

A planting hole dug for seedlings has the following characteristics:

1. The width of the pit is 2 times the width of the earthen clod covering the roots of the bush.
2. The depth is also 2 times the size of the earth coma.
3. The bottom of the pit is covered with gravel or other material with similar properties to increase drainage properties.
4. Half the volume of the planting pit is filled with sand, humus and earth obtained after rotted leaves, in the following proportions: one share of sand, 2 shares of humus, 2 shares of earth.
5. The seedling is placed in a hole, after the emptiness is filled with the same earthen mixture.
6. The root collar should protrude slightly above the ground.

Sowing seeds

Seeds are planted in special beds, which are not difficult to form. This method is not recommended for beginner gardeners, and for the first time it is advisable to grow seeds for seedlings indoors, and then place them in open ground. The composition of the soil in the garden bed should correspond to the composition of the soil in the planting pit.

Group landing distance

It is important to maintain the correct distance between Potentilla seeds so that each bush receives the right amount of nutrients and sunlight, without interfering with the development of others. Experienced gardeners advise not to sow the seeds or seedlings of this plant closer than 40 centimeters from each other. Stick to the indicated scheme, and there will be no problems with the development of the bush.

Potentilla care

Potentilla is an unpretentious plant, but it also requires minimal care for harmonious growth. Proper care includes:

• timely watering;
• loosening the soil around the bush;
• mulching;
• feeding;
• haircut and trim.

Each item is important to follow and has its own nuances, which we will discuss below.

Irrigation

Young bushes of yellow cinquefoil, in contrast to adult, mature plants, are more demanding to care, which is expressed in the need for abundant watering. Stick to the following volumes:

• during the dry months, the bush is irrigated at least once every two weeks;
• during rainy periods, the plant does not need to be watered, the water that got into the soil with precipitation is enough for it;
• if the drought continues for an extra time, growers advise occasional evening spraying.

Pay attention! Adult specimens during the dry period consume about one bucket of water per month. Young specimens consume twice the amount of liquid.

Loosening

Loosening the soil is a mandatory process. It helps water and nutrients to better penetrate into the ground. Deep loosening of the soil is not required. In the process of loosening, remove weeds and other foreign plants that interfere with the growth of the crop, taking away moisture from it. Proper care will allow plants to develop calmly and evenly.

Mulching

Mulching is necessary to protect the top fertile soil layer and saturate it with useful elements. Act as mulch:

• hay;
• leaves;
• sawdust;
• peat;
• geotextile.

Mulching allows:

• reduce weed growth at crop site;
• protect from weathering and freezing.

During the growing season, the mulch layer is periodically updated.

Feeding

Feeding is carried out three times during the growing season. As a top dressing use:

• mineral based fertilizer - in bud formation;
• during flowering, fertilizers with a high content of phosphorus are used as top dressing;
• The last top dressing is carried out in early autumn, and it includes potash and phosphorus-containing fertilizers.

This fertilizer system allows you to get the necessary set of useful trace elements throughout the season, smoothly preparing the bush for wintering.

Cutting and trimming

Pruning bushes allows you to stimulate their growth, giving planting a pleasant, aesthetic appearance. Trim done:

1. In the first months of spring. It is of a general nature. The branches are cut to a third of the total length, and the bush takes the shape of a ball.
2. Pruning in the fall is done to strengthen immunity. Old shoots damaged or dying after summer are removed and burned.
3. A cardinal haircut is made every 5 years. After its implementation, the height of the bushes should not exceed 20 centimeters. Don't worry - the branches will grow back quickly and the plants will return to their original shape.

Potentilla breeding methods

Potentilla reproduces with:

• seeds;
• layering;
• dividing bush;
• cuttings.

The choice of method depends on the preferences and capabilities of each gardener.

Seeds

Potentilla seed is easy to propagate, and this method is suitable for both beginner gardeners and experienced growers. The method is considered the longest, but, with due observance of all stages, it is in no way inferior in efficiency to the other options.

Layers

Applied in summer when young, flexible shoots are formed on the bush. The process of propagation by layering is as follows:

• the lower part of the shoots, in places of contact with the ground, is cut off;
• shoots prepared in this way are sprinkled with a layer of fertile soil and fixed with a stone or a metal bracket;
• after a year, the cuttings are separated from the main bush and planted as an independent plant.

Dividing the bush

Reproduction by dividing the bush is done either in autumn or in spring. In autumn, it is allowed to propagate Potentilla in a similar way only in regions with a warm climate. To divide the bush you need:

• dig the bush on one side;
• extract part of the roots with shoots, carefully separating them with an ax or a shovel;
• the main bush is covered with earth, and the extracted shoots are cut to a height of up to 30 centimeters, after which they are transplanted into a pre-prepared place.

Many varieties of cinquefoil, including pink, lend themselves well to this method.

Shanks

Any shoots are suitable as cuttings for breeding - both young and mature ones that have become stiff. The cuttings are separated from a he althy, disease-free bush. Cuttings are carried out together with the leaves, since it is in them that all the vital processes for this method take place.

Pay attention! Cuttings are not cut from flowering bushes. Such specimens will be sickly and difficult to grow.

When it is necessary to transplant cinquefoil

Two periods are suitable for transplanting cinquefoil:

• autumn;
• spring.

It is better to transplant those bushes that have reached the age of at least three years. Preparing a site for transplantation is carried out in a manner similar to preparing for planting a young bush.

Autumn transplant

Autumn transplantation is carried out in late August, early September. This time is the most optimal, and the plant will have time to take root in a new place before the onset of cold weather. It is not recommended to make an autumn transplant in regions with poor climatic conditions.

Spring transplant

In the spring it is allowed to transplant Potentilla in any growing regions. The best time is considered to be the period when the snow has completely melted and the soil has thawed after winter frosts. Transplantation is carried out in the usual way and does not have any features or nuances.

How to prepare Potentilla for winter?

Despite the fact that cinquefoil bushes are considered frost-resistant, there are a number of regions in which winters are too harsh even for such a plant.In addition, not all varieties have the same high resistance to negative temperatures, and need additional protection.

Young shoots growing on the site for the first year also have a weakened immunity to cold. Begin preparations for wintering in the fall.

Potentilla care after flowering

Depending on the type of cinquefoil, the gardener needs to do the following:

• annual varieties are completely removed from the site, the soil at the planting site is dug up and fertilized;
• shrubs are cut to a third of the length of the shoots;
• as a prophylaxis against the occurrence of diseases and pests, plants are treated with a solution of Bordeaux mixture.

Pruning for the winter

In addition to the mandatory pruning, before the winter season, all damaged and dried shoots that weaken the plant are removed from the bush. This will allow Potentilla to save more energy for wintering, without spending them on futile attempts to restore damaged areas.

Shelter and insulation

If Potentilla varieties grown on the site do not have proper frost resistance, they must be covered with special materials. The earth around the bush is mulched with a layer of humus or peat. As a material for shelter, spruce branches, covered with burlap on top, are suitable. Fabric for reliability is fixed with stones or bricks. During the thaw, do not forget to remove the insulation layer so that the plant has access to oxygen.

Diseases and pests of cinquefoil

The only disease that the immune system of Potentilla white cannot cope with is rust. It manifests itself in the form of a brown-yellow coating on the leaves of the shrub. If the disease is not localized in time, the leaves will dry out. The most common source of this infection are conifers growing nearby. Try not to plant cinquefoil nearby, and you don't have to worry about its safety.

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