Ornamental and medicinal plants on the site. Cotoneaster: planting, growing and care
In this article we will talk about a shrub, which, due to its unpretentiousness and ease of cultivation, has become popular in the territory of the post-Soviet space, and in modern landscape design is used as the main element of landscaping. An attractive plant, striking the eye with a combination of strong branching, original foliage and a variety of growth forms, is called cotoneaster, which you will learn about growing features by reading the materials in this article.
Content
- Cotoneaster in applied and decorative gardening. Varieties and properties video
- Cotoneaster cultivation in the middle lane
- Care Features
- Cotoneaster reproduction
- Cotoneaster in landscape design
Cotoneaster in applied and decorative gardening. Varieties and properties
Cotoneaster belongs to the genus of deciduous or, in other words, evergreen, bushless shrubs, whose name comes from the Latin cotoneaster, which means similar to quince.
In decorative and applied gardening, the widespread use of cotoneaster began relatively recently, tentatively from the beginning of the 19th century, when data on its beneficial healing properties first appeared. The therapeutic effect on patients suffering from chronic gastritis, edema, jaundice and neurasthenic disorders makes cotoneaster an even more valuable medicinal plant, and helps to expand its use not only in gardening, but also in landscape design.
The trendy direction in landscape design is the arrangement of eco-friendly decorative gardens that do not require special multi-stage care, which contributes to the fact that previously unknown conifers and deciduous crops are included in the everyday life of gardeners. Cotoneaster was no exception.
Today it is known that the genus Cotoneaster has more than a hundred species of shrubs, the main of which are the common cotoneaster, the range of which includes mountainous areas from the Baltic to the North Caucasus, the cotoneaster and the cotoneaster are brilliant, listed in the Red Book and distributed mainly in Eastern Siberia. The cotoneaster brilliant is a deciduous shrub reaching two meters in height, with a low-spreading crown and dense foliage. The flowers are small, mostly white, sometimes pink, often collected in small inflorescences or solitary.
Cotoneaster cultivation in the middle lane
Given the natural growing conditions, the cultivation of the cotoneaster brilliant in the middle band will not cause any special difficulties, since it, despite isolated cases of freezing, is quite frost-resistant. In this regard, the cultivation of cotoneaster brilliant is quite successful throughout the European part of the country, although in the more northern corners cultivation of cotoneaster is sometimes more successful, since the plant often suffers from thaws, and not from lowering temperatures.
The cotoneaster brilliant is recommended to be planted in an area rich in sunlight, but the cotoneaster can also tolerate the penumbral sides. If possible, the site should be protected from cold winds. The presence of deep groundwater is appreciated, since the cotoneaster has a powerful pivotal root. For the same reason, a plant can be transplanted to a permanent place after one two years. The qualitative composition of the soil is also of great importance in the successful cultivation of shrubs.
The optimal ratio of components is 2: 1: 2, where two parts of sand, one part of peat compost and two parts of turf land are provided. When planting cotoneaster, it is necessary to thoroughly moisten the earthen coma, and also take care of high-quality drainage of the soil with a 10-centimeter layer of gravel or broken brick. Further care for the newly planted cotoneaster provides for abundant watering only during periods of prolonged drought.
Care Features
The application of mineral fertilizers in the case of cotoneaster is a very grateful business, since it actively responds to feeding with abundant growth. Therefore, with the onset of spring, the introduction of 20-30 grams of urea diluted in a bucket of water into the soil is required, and immediately before flowering, 10-15 grams of potassium sulfate per square meter of cotoneaster are usually added to the soil. Shrub care involves weeding, loosening the soil at the foot of the bushes, and, as mentioned above, timely fertilizer.
It should be emphasized that watering requires mandatory coordination with the amount of natural rainfall, and, in accordance with this requirement, weekly watering is sufficient in drought, even less often in rainy weather. Periodic mulching of soil with peat compost will have a beneficial effect on cotoneaster growth and development, which will help smooth out moisture fluctuations and attract beneficial soil microflora to the upper soil layer. As for pruning, in the first year it is not required, and in subsequent years, pruning is performed in the autumn period at a height convenient for maintenance. More often, this indicator varies at the level of 90 cm. The most common form of pruning is cotoneaster, due to which the formation of hedges is possible. On this, the requirements for landing and care successfully end.
Cotoneaster reproduction
Cotoneaster reproduction is done by seeds and in a vegetative way, which involves reproduction by layering, cuttings. Reproduction by seeds is a rather laborious job, since seeds require a long stratification, which can take a year. When treating seeds with sulfuric acid, the stratification time is shortened by several months. That is why the cotoneaster is most often propagated vegetatively.
Cutting cotoneaster can be done at different times, but experts say that the best time for this procedure is mid-summer. For rooting, green cuttings are perfect, the planting of which is carried out in a mixture of peat and sand, followed by covering with a film. Layers are the most simplified method of reproduction. To do this, dig the soil in the place where it is planned to dig the shoot. It should be dug to a depth of up to 50 centimeters, peat and sand should be added, which will help ensure air access to young roots. In the future, it is necessary to place the shoot to a depth of 10 centimeters from the soil surface, attach it with a bracket and sprinkle with soil mixture of the above composition. In the autumn period, the cuttings of the mother plant are cut off and left in the same place, and next year, with the beginning of the vegetative period, it is transplanted to a permanent place.
Cotoneaster in landscape design
Cotoneaster brilliant, ordinary and aronia are usually used to create low hedges or molded borders.
For this purpose, it is planted in a row in a checkerboard pattern or with an interval of 20-30 centimeters. For two years, they provide the plant with the opportunity for free growth, and after this period, pinch the growth point at the level of 60 centimeters. This will be the trigger for abundant tillering, as it will contribute to the activation of underlying growth points. In the future, they also produce lateral growth restriction, first pinching and then cutting the ends of the branches that go beyond the framework of the intended shape.
Cotoneaster brilliant is the best choice when creating trimmed hedges, the height of which ranges from low to medium. When planting a hedge, the distance between the cotoneaster seedlings should be at least 30 centimeters, and in the case of a two- or three-row planting, the distance must be increased to 40 centimeters. It should be borne in mind that the denser the landing, the lower the fence will be in the end.
