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Buddleia is an ornamental, beautifully flowering shrub that delights with its beauty and delicate aroma for many years. Despite the fact that the plant is native to the tropics, there are species that can withstand low winter temperatures. Planting and caring for buddleia in Siberia is not particularly difficult, so the shrub can decorate a summer cottage with its blooms in the dull autumn time.
Planting buddleia in Siberia
To grow buddleya in Siberia, you need to choose the right variety that can withstand changing climatic conditions. For Siberia, the most suitable would be David's budleya, which has many features:
- When growing buddleia in Siberia, young shoots may freeze, but will quickly recover in early summer.
- The variety is fast-growing; in a few months it can form a crown with a diameter of up to 70 cm.
- From the end of July until October, the plant begins to bloom abundantly.
- The spreading crown of buddleia is covered with dark green foliage and lilac fragrant flowers.
- The standard color of David's buddleia is lilac-lilac, but, thanks to the work of breeders, varieties with white, pink, violet-red, and lavender inflorescences have been developed.
To grow beautifully flowering buddleia in Siberia, you need to choose a suitable place, prepare the site, know the timing and planting algorithm. Planting buddleia does not require additional effort and time, so even a novice Siberian summer resident can cope with this task.
When to plant
Buddleia is planted in Siberia immediately after the soil has warmed to + 10 °C. Since even minor spring frosts can destroy a young plant. In Siberia, buddleias are planted at the end of May and mid-June.
Site selection and soil preparation
Budleya is a light-loving, tropical plant that will show its beautiful flowering in Siberia only in a well-lit area protected from drafts. Since budleya forms a powerful and spreading shrub, for full development it is necessary to provide it with sufficient space.
Budleya is an unpretentious plant that can grow in any soil. But, according to gardeners, the best growth, development and beautiful flowering of the plant occurs on light, nutritious, well-drained soil with neutral acidity.
Landing algorithm
Buddleia can be grown in Siberia by seeds or rooted cuttings. Since the plant is powerful and spreading, the distance between planting holes should be at least 1.5-2 m. Rules for planting buddleia:
- Dig a planting hole measuring 50x50 cm. The depth should be 20 cm greater than the size of the root system.
- The bottom is covered with a 15 cm layer of drainage (broken brick, gravel or small pebbles).
- A layer of garden soil mixed with compost, rotted manure or complex mineral fertilizers is placed on the drainage.
- The roots of the plant are straightened and carefully distributed on the prepared mound.
- Buddleya is covered with nutritious soil, compacting each layer to prevent the appearance of an air cushion.
- Next, the soil is generously shed and mulched.
Features of growing buddleia in Siberia
Budleya, like any plant, requires proper care. By following simple rules, the shrub will delight you with abundant flowering with an unforgettable aroma.
Budleya loves frequent watering, without stagnant moisture. In dry summers, irrigation is carried out once a week, up to 10 liters of water are used for each adult plant. The shrub can be watered at the root and by sprinkling. It is better to alternate irrigation methods, since after sprinkling, buddleia in Siberia will feel like in its native, humid tropical climate. To prevent the leaves from burning, spraying is carried out early in the morning or after sunset.
After watering, the soil around the plant is mulched. Peat, rotted humus, straw or dry leaves are used as mulch. Mulch will retain moisture, prevent the appearance of weeds and provide additional organic fertilizer.
For abundant flowering, buddleia needs to be fed several times a season:
- at the moment of bud appearance - nitrogenous fertilizing;
- in mid-summer and at the beginning of flowering - phosphorus-potassium fertilizers.
If the plant is not fed, it will not stop growing and developing, but will look sickly, weakened and with poor flowering.
Pruning is one of the components in caring for Buddleia in Siberia. Since without it, the shrub loses its decorative appearance, does not tolerate cold, harsh winters and often suffers from various diseases. The most beautiful flowering occurs only in buddleia with annual heavy pruning.
Removing faded inflorescences stimulates the appearance of new buds and improves the abundance of self-seeding. Buddleia pruning is carried out in the spring, before the buds open, and in the fall - a month before the onset of cold weather. Autumn pruning is necessary to remove old, diseased shoots that can weaken the plant before the upcoming cold weather. In the spring, frozen branches are removed from buddleia and the crown is given a decorative appearance. Annual growths are shortened by 1/3 of the length.
- In the first spring, all shoots are shortened by almost half. Thanks to this, young shoots are formed, which makes the bush powerful and spreading.
- In the second year and subsequent years, the young shoots are shortened by 2 buds. Last year's growths of buddleia are pruned to the level of young growths. All thin branches, as well as some of the powerful shoots, are cut out so that they do not take a lot of strength from the skeletal branches. Thin branches can be easily shortened with pruning shears; to get rid of thick ones, use a lopper.
Preparing buddleia for winter in Siberia
Budleya is a heat-loving plant, so when grown in Siberia, it needs to be covered for the winter. A signal to prepare for winter is the darkening of the foliage. Before the onset of cold weather, buddleia is shed generously (at least 1 bucket) and fed with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers. The tree trunk circle is covered with dry soil and sprinkled with dry leaves or straw. Sawdust is not used as mulch, as the root system may begin to rot in winter. Next, the buddleia is trimmed, leaving stubs of 20 cm.After the preparatory work, they begin to cover.
How to cover buddleia for the winter in Siberia
For a successful winter in Siberia, the buddleia needs to be properly covered. To do this, you can use one of the following methods:
- After pruning, arcs no more than 20 cm high are installed over the buddleia and covered with material that does not allow moisture to pass through. The structure is covered with leaves or snow on top. To prevent the plant's root system from drying out during the winter, it is necessary to ensure the flow of air under the shelter.
- The prepared buddleya is covered with spruce branches, and a large wooden box is placed on top. Ruberoid or slate is laid on top and fixed with bricks so that the wind cannot destroy the shelter made. Polyethylene cannot be used as insulation, since under it the buddleia roots will not receive fresh air and will begin to rot.
The shelter from the plant in Siberia is removed only after the air warms up to + 10 °C and the threat of spring frosts has passed.
Conclusion
Due to the fact that planting and caring for buddleia in Siberia is simple, it has begun to be widely used in landscape design. The plant shows its beautiful flowering in early autumn, when most shrubs lose their decorative appearance.
