Content
- 1 Description of forsythia
- 2 How to plant forsythia in the Moscow region
- 3 How to care for forsythia in the Moscow region
- 4 Pruning and shaping forsythia
- 5 Features of planting and caring for forsythia in Siberia
- 6 Features of planting and caring for forsythia in the Urals
- 7 Forsythia blooming
- 8 Propagation of forsythia shrubs
- 9 Diseases and pests of forsythia
- 10 Conclusion
Planting in open ground and caring for forsythia is carried out in accordance with all recommendations; this is the only way after a long winter you can enjoy the bright flowers of the shrub. Forsythia begins to bloom in April. Thanks to its decorative features, designers have fallen in love with the shrub, using this plant to decorate landscapes.
Description of forsythia
All existing species belong to the Olive family, with similar characteristics. Externally, the plant resembles a shrub with yellow flowers.It reaches a height of 1-3 m. The leaves are oval in shape, 15 cm long; during flowering, small bell-shaped flowers appear. Inflorescences are few-flowered. The color can be very diverse: from light yellow tones to dark orange.
Flowering continues until the leaves begin to bloom, and lasts 20-40 days. The fruits resemble an elongated capsule with winged seeds. The shrub loves light and is quite unpretentious. Today, there are several dozen varieties that differ in characteristics, size and color.
How to plant forsythia in the Moscow region
Planting and caring for forsythia shrubs in the Moscow region is no different from planting plants in other regions. The first step is to prepare a planting hole, the depth of which is 60 cm and width 50 cm; broken brick, drainage and sand are poured into the bottom of the hole, for a total layer height of 10 cm.
When planting in groups, maintain a distance of 1.5-2 m between bushes. When planting in open ground in the fall, mulch the soil, which will protect young forsythia from weed, overdrying and low temperature conditions.
Soil and planting site preparation
Growing forsythia is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. The main thing is to know the characteristics of the shrub, prepare planting material and soil for planting in advance. As you know, the plant is unpretentious and can grow in any soil, but acidic soil is extremely undesirable.
If the soil is acidic, then it is necessary to add about 500 g of stove ash to each hole prepared for planting, after mixing it with fertile soil. Clay soils will require drainage. As a rule, they begin to plant in spring or autumn, until the cold weather sets in.
Seedling preparation
If the seedlings were obtained from cuttings, then they are planted the next year after they have been cut and formed a root system. If you plan to purchase seedlings, then you should pay special attention to this point. The purchased plants must not be damaged; the root system must be developed. Particular attention is paid to age; the older the forsythia, the worse it will adapt to new conditions after planting in open ground. To make the plant take root faster, you can treat the roots with a rooting agent.
Planting rules
To plant a bush, you will need to dig a hole, the size of which is 50*50*60 cm, the root system will be at a depth of 40 cm. If group planting is planned, then the distance between the bushes should be 1.5-2 m.
As a rule, a layer of drainage is laid at the bottom of the pit, which takes up 10 cm. Expanded clay and broken brick are excellent for these purposes, and sand is poured on top. Only after the hole has been prepared can the bush be planted, the soil compacted and watered abundantly.
If the plants are planted in the spring, then they do not need special care, but autumn plantings will have to be mulched. The material used for this must be breathable to prevent the kidneys from rotting.
How to care for forsythia in the Moscow region
The care process involves timely measures:
- watering;
- pruning;
- fertilization;
- weeding;
- loosening the soil;
- mulching.
Every time after watering, you need to care for the soil in which forsythia grows. To do this, the soil is loosened and weeds are removed. To prevent the growth of weeds, the soil around the bush is mulched.
Both adult and young bushes undergo sanitary pruning. During the pruning process, old, damaged and excess branches that tend to the ground are removed, naturally, if you do not plan to propagate forsythia by layering.
Watering and fertilizing
If there is balanced precipitation, then there is no need to water the forsythia. During prolonged hot weather, it is necessary to water the plants every month, using about 14 liters of water for each bush.
During the season, fertilizing is applied 3 times:
- 1st - in the spring, after the snow has melted. Rotted manure or mineral fertilizers must be placed under the bush;
- 2nd - after flowering is completed for each square. m add 110 g of the drug “Kemira Universal”;
- 3rd – the last time fertilizer is applied 1 month before sending the shrub for the winter.
If you follow these recommendations, then forsythia will delight you with its appearance for a long time.
When to replant forsythia in the fall in the Moscow region
As a rule, the time for transplantation depends entirely on the specific region and weather conditions.Increasingly, you can find forsythia on sale with a closed root system, but if it is open, then replanting is best done in the spring, when there is no threat of frost, or in the fall, before the onset of cold weather.
It is important to understand that the periods for planting forsythia in the Moscow region and Siberia will differ significantly. In the Moscow region, plants are planted earlier, as the heat comes faster.
To understand the beauty of the shrub, you can see what forsythia looks like in the fall in the photo.
How to cover forsythia for the winter in the Moscow region
Forsythia is covered for the winter to prevent the bush from freezing. To prevent the plant from freezing and dying in winter, the roots must first be protected. To do this, the tree trunk circle must be covered with dry leaves, the layer thickness must be at least 10 cm, young bushes must be completely covered, using spruce branches for this.
To preserve the buds, the bushes are bent to the ground. This work is done before the onset of cold weather, while the bushes still have flexibility. The bent bush is pinned and covered; spruce branches are excellent for this. In this form, the plant is not afraid of any frost. In early spring, spruce branches and dry leaves are removed.
Pruning and shaping forsythia
Nature colors forsythia in different shades: in spring – bright yellow, in summer – green, in autumn – golden purple. In order for a shrub to please with its appearance, it must be cared for in a timely manner. The main part of care is pruning forsythia in the fall.
Many gardeners know that forsythia is a fast-growing plant; it is for this reason that it is necessary to remove all excess in a timely manner.Otherwise, the plant will begin to overgrow at a rapid pace and lose its attractiveness. A neat, formed forsythia bush looks much better on the plots.
When to prune forsythia - in spring or autumn
They begin pruning only after the plant has fully grown and grown, that is, after 4 years of growth. Often the bush is formed into a regular ball by cutting out branches that make the center dense.
The optimal time to remove excess and damaged branches is autumn. The main thing is not to overdo it during pruning, otherwise the plant will lose strength and will not be able to survive the winter. Experienced gardeners carry out work in early September.
In the spring, forsythia is inspected for branches damaged by frost. If there are any, then they should be removed. Particular attention must be paid to the ends; if there is damage, they are cut off.
How to prune forsythia in the fall
Young and branched shoots, as a rule, are only half removed. Old shoots begin to be removed in the spring, as bud formation begins in the fall. It is worth inspecting the forsythia bush for the presence of branches lowered to the ground; if there are any, they are removed. Otherwise, the rooting process will begin, and the plant will look untidy and spoil the entire appearance of the site.
It is recommended to rejuvenate forsythia every 4 years. In this case, all the shoots are removed, leaving only a small number of young shoots. This approach will allow the bush to grow much faster and bloom more abundantly.
Features of planting and caring for forsythia in Siberia
If you plan to plant forsythia in Siberia, then it is necessary to provide the shrub with proper care, this is the only way the plant will delight with its appearance. In Siberia, forsythia is planted in places with little shade. It is also necessary to ensure that the site chosen for planting is protected from the wind. Often shrubs are planted near buildings or trees.
Soil enriched with microelements is ideal; humus is usually used for these purposes. Stagnation of moisture is not allowed, so the soil must be loose and well-permeable to air. If the soil is acidic or heavy, then it should be prepared in advance for planting forsythia.
Features of planting and caring for forsythia in the Urals
For each region, there are certain conditions for growing shrubs, so it is necessary not only to familiarize yourself with the photo of forsythia, but also with the rules of planting and care in the Urals. In the Urals, shrubs are planted in light soil, which is rich in humus and leaf soil. To lighten the soil, you can use expanded clay or river sand. It is important to understand that forsythia does not tolerate acidic soils.
The planting depth is about 70 cm, drainage up to 20 cm high is laid at the bottom of the hole, for this they use:
- broken building bricks;
- middle fraction expanded clay;
- sand.
To make the shrub grow faster, use top dressing and fertilizers, which are applied in the spring. Forsythia loves dry soils, so it is not recommended to overwater it.
Forsythia blooming
During the flowering process, forsythia will not leave anyone indifferent. During this period, due to the abundant flowering, the shrub is completely covered with flowers of golden-yellow shades, which are shaped like bells. The appearance is simply mesmerizing. After the flowering period ends, the shrub does not lose its attractiveness. Bright flowers are replaced by bright foliage, which has a rich green color.
How forsythia blooms
Forsythia is an early flowering shrub, reaching a height of up to 2 m. The leaves are quite large, they can be simple or trifoliate, opposite, in some cases they can be serrated at the edges, and have a rich green color.
During the flowering process, rich golden colored bells appear. The flowers are of the same size, the branches are densely strewn. As a rule, the shrub begins to bloom in early spring and continues until the leaves appear. In regions with low temperature conditions, there is a possibility that some of the buds will die, and flowering will not be as abundant or will not occur at all. Therefore, it is recommended to cover the plant for the winter.
What does forsythia look like after flowering?
After flowering, forsythia turns into a bush with leaves of different shades and remains in this form until autumn, after which the next phase begins, during which the bush begins to fade. At the moment when forsythia begins to prepare for winter, it sheds all its leaves, changing its color. Despite the fact that after flowering forsythia loses its attractive appearance, in the fall the leaves acquire bright and varied shades. In autumn, foliage can be not only yellow, but also purple and burgundy.
Reasons why forsythia does not bloom
There are several reasons why forsythia does not bloom:
- the soil is quite heavy and saline (in such conditions the shoots are poorly developed and the growth of the shrub is slow);
- there is stagnation of water in the hole;
- the process of pruning and shaping the bush was carried out incorrectly;
- there is a deficiency of nutrients in the soil;
- the kidneys froze in winter;
- pests appeared.
If these problems are eliminated, flowering occurs in 85% of cases. If, after taking all the measures to eliminate the problems, forsythia also grows slowly, then it is necessary to apply potassium fertilizer.
Propagation of forsythia shrubs
Forsythia can be propagated not only vegetatively, but also using seeds. As a rule, seeds ripen at the end of October. Origin and ripening occur in boxes that appear after flowering. There are several methods of vegetative propagation:
- cuttings;
- layering;
- dividing an adult bush into parts.
Thanks to this variety, every gardener can choose the option that suits him. The easiest way to propagate is by dividing the root system.
How to propagate forsythia from cuttings
This type of propagation involves the use of several types of cuttings:
- green;
- summer woody;
- autumn lignified.
Green cuttings are harvested in June. The length of the cutting is up to 1 to 2 internodes. An oblique cut is made from above, and a straight cut from below. The resulting cuttings are placed in water with the addition of a rooting agent for 3.5 hours. After this, take boxes filled with sand and plant cuttings up to 5 cm deep, while the soil should always be moist. A month later, the root system is formed.
Reproduction using lignified cuttings differs only in the time of procurement of planting material. Gardeners in the Southern regions use a similar method. Harvesting is carried out in the second half of summer or autumn. Further actions in both cases are similar.
How to propagate by seeds
Most often, seed propagation is used when it is necessary to obtain a large number of forsythia bushes. The seeds are collected in October, after which they are kept for 2 months at a temperature of +2°C to +5°C, this is required to undergo stratification.
At the end of March, the seeds are sown in a greenhouse or small containers filled with nutrient soil. To maintain the required temperature conditions, containers with seedlings are covered with cling film.
After 20-40 days, the first shoots begin to appear. As a rule, the germination level is low and amounts to a maximum of 40%. Growth is quite slow, after a year the height can vary from 2 to 8 cm. Planting is carried out in the 3rd year, when forsythia reaches a height of 80 cm. Flowering occurs after 6 years.
How to propagate by layering
Reproduction by layering is the simplest and easiest way. Forsythia has one peculiarity - the branches in contact with the ground begin to take root. Since this method spoils the attractiveness of the bushes, such propagation is carried out forcibly.
In spring, young shoots are bent to the ground, small grooves are made and the branches are fixed. The depth is 10 cm; leaves are removed along the entire length of the branch, leaving them only at the top. The rooted shoot will be fully formed in the spring.Flowering using this propagation method occurs after 1 year.
How to propagate by dividing a bush
Reproduction by dividing the mother bush into parts is the most common method of propagating forsythia. As a rule, an adult bush is completely dug out of the ground. The work must be done carefully so as not to damage the root system. The roots of the bush are divided into several parts, after which each part is treated with garden varnish and planted. At first, care should be constant; after 3 weeks, they begin to care for the bushes in the same way as adult plants.
Diseases and pests of forsythia
Despite the fact that forsythia is resistant to pests and diseases, there is a possibility of fungus. When a fungal disease occurs, small growths appear on the bush that resemble warts. Since this disease is practically incurable, the bush must be completely removed and another one planted.
If small spots appear on the leaves, then it is necessary to treat the forsythia with a solution of copper sulfate. During the wilting of the bush, captan or foundation is used. You can also degrease the soil using a carbocation.
Often lethargy appears due to rotting of the root system. To prevent this disease, it is recommended to establish an irrigation system. It is recommended to water the plant once every 3 times.
Conclusion
Planting in open ground and caring for forsythia must be done efficiently and in a timely manner, this is the only way the shrub will delight with its appearance.Forsythia is a perennial and unpretentious shrub that requires minimal attention and care. All you need to do is purchase a cutting, plant it correctly and take care of it in the future. The plant grows quite quickly and is easy to trim to any shape.
