Weigela: planting and care

Weigela is a shrub plant belonging to the Honeysuckle family. There are many varieties of weigel that grow throughout our country. This flowering shrub is easy to grow on your own in your garden.

Weigel varieties

Diverse varieties weigel were obtained by the efforts of breeders who have been experimenting with crossing different species of this shrub for many years. In the process of their labor, hybrid varieties appear, characterized by increased decorative qualities. The most popular weigel varieties among gardeners:

• Veigela Early is distinguished by a high density of a two-meter high crown of a bush. The flowers cover the plant so tightly that the bark is almost invisible behind the light petals in violet-red tones. The flowering period of this variety lasts up to two weeks.

• The Red Prince variety was developed in America. The bushes of this weigela are spherical, reaching 1.5 m in diameter. In the first decade of June, as well as at the beginning of autumn, the shrub is covered with flowers of a bright red hue up to 5 cm long.

• Eva Ratke, a variety of Polish origin, appeared more than 100 years ago. It is small in stature, but has a huge crown, up to 3 meters in diameter. Its distinctive feature is its long flowering time. In June, the plant is covered with red-carmine buds, which finally fall off only in August.

• Weigela Carnival is distinguished by a variety of colors of the buds of one plant. White, red and pink flowers bloom 4 cm long, which was the reason to give this variety just such a name. This variety quickly grows up to 1.5 meters.

• Weigela Rosea is a very common variety among gardeners. The bushes grow up to 1.5 meters and have a spreading crown. A distinctive feature of this variety is the large flowers of a pale pink hue. This weigela tolerates frosty winters well.

Landing weigela

This plant is taken plant in the spring, at a time when the soil has already warmed up, but the kidneys are still sleeping. The best place for the weigela should be on a hill and protected from the curtain - on the south side of the building. Weigels need bright sun. The land in this place should be loamy or sandy loam with a neutral reaction.

To plant a shrub, it is required to dig a hole to a depth of 40 cm, at the bottom of which a 15 cm drainage layer of crushed stone or crushed brick is laid. If necessary, a fertilized layer of earth is laid on top with the addition of nitrophoska or compost. It is necessary to place seedlings at a distance of 80 cm for medium-sized varieties up to two meters for plants with an extensive crown. For better survival, the root system of seedlings can be treated with a special compound.

When planting bushes, it is necessary to spread the root system well and carefully compact the earth around the bush. Embed the root collar by 2 cm, no more. After compaction of the earth, it will be on a par with the ground. Having planted a plant, it must be watered abundantly and the trunk circle must be mulched.

Weigela care

These plants are unpretentious and do not need special care. Careful supervision and care of planting is necessary only in the period after planting, until the plant grows stronger.

But at the same time, the weigels love fertilizers... The plant feels especially good after organic feeding with mullein or bird droppings, diluted 20 times. It is necessary to start feeding in the spring, when the shoots are actively growing. During this period, nitrogen fertilizers are applied during watering twice a month. During the formation of buds, superphosphate is additionally introduced. Watering and after feeding the shrub, it is imperative to loosen the soil and remove all weeds.

The complex of care measures includes the obligatory pruning of last year's shoots. They are already useless, since flowers do not form on them. Young bushes are pruned immediately after the end of the flowering period. If the bush is more than 5 years old, then all branches should be cut off, leaving a small stump. The next year, the plant will release new branches and bloom.

In autumn, young weigels should be covered with spunbond or other shelter material for the winter. If the plant has reached a height of one and a half meters or more, then it does not need winter shelter.

Weigela: photo