Content
Broom Boskop Ruby is a densely flowering shrub that belongs to the early broom species of the Legume family. The spherical decorative broom Boskop Ruby is one of the most enchanting and vibrant red-flowering shrubs.
Description of broom Boskop Ruby
Broom Boskop Ruby forms a dense bush with many thin twig-like shoots. The stems grow from the center in different directions, forming a rounded shrub shape. The annual growth of shoots is 20-40 cm. Without pruning, the bush can reach 2 m in height and width.
The stems are green, lightly branched, smooth, depending on the length, they can be directed upward or bent towards the ground. For greater decorativeness and lush flowering, the shrub must be shaped. The leaves of the plant are small, up to 2 cm long, three-fingered, alternate, green. A mature bush has few leaves. The fruit is a multi-seeded flat bean that ripens in autumn.
From the photo of the Boskop Ruby broom, it is noticeable that the shrub blooms with numerous flowers, which are densely located along the stem. The flowers have a rich ruby hue. In the middle, it turns purple. The shape resembles pea flowers. The flower size is about 2.5 cm long. Very fragrant. The structure of the flower is ideal for collecting nectar and pollen by pollinating insects, so Boskop Ruby is considered a good honey plant.
Flowering, depending on the growing region, begins in April-May (before leaves appear on the bush) and lasts about a month. When grown in diffused light, flowering lasts longer than in bright sun.
Broom Boskop Ruby is a drought-resistant plant that is not demanding on soil. Conditionally frost-resistant, belongs to the 5th climate zone. Requires shelter for the winter if temperatures in the growing region drop to -23°C or lower in winter. Boskop Ruby broom is suitable for growing as a balcony crop.
Boskoop Ruby broom in landscape design
In landscape design, the bright broom Boskop Ruby is used in rocky gardens and flower beds, in single and mixed plantings with other ornamental perennials. The plant is especially suitable for heather corners; the soil composition is combined with rhododendrons, azaleas and dwarf junipers.
Boskop Ruby broom works well as a tapeworm on a clean lawn. Spectacular hedges are built from brooms with different flower colors. Boskop Ruby is suitable for growing in tubs and creating bright accents on steps near houses or verandas.
Boskop Ruby broom is a poisonous shrub, so it is placed on the site out of reach of children and animals. For the same reason, ornamental plants are not planted near bodies of water filled with fish or other living organisms.
Conditions for growing early broom Boskop Ruby
Boskop Ruby broom is planted in a warm, windless place, preferably with diffused light. The shrub is unpretentious to soil fertility and grows well in poor soils. The plant independently accumulates nitrogen in the soil, thus creating its own fertilizer.
The shrub does not like stagnant moisture at the roots and calcareous soils. Therefore, well-drained sandy and sandy loam soils are suitable for cultivation.
Planting and caring for broom Boskop Ruby
Caring for the Boskop Ruby broom involves weeding and loosening the soil, and infrequent watering.
An important rule for growing Boskop Ruby broom is its timely pruning. Immediately after flowering, long stems are cut by one third. This ensures additional tillering and more abundant flowering next year. Without pruning, the bush grows shapeless, the stems unsightly fall apart.
A special feature of the shrub is that only green stems can be pruned. Old broom wood cannot be cut, as this may cause the plant to die. Rejuvenating a bush by cutting out old woody branches is impossible.If pruning has not been carried out for a long time, and the stems have stretched out and become bare, then such a bush is replaced with a new one to increase its decorativeness.
Preparation of planting material
Broom Boskop Ruby does not tolerate root damage. Therefore, only seedlings with a closed root system are suitable for transplantation. Broom is replanted before the age of three. The seedling is transferred to the soil with complete preservation of the earthen coma.
Preparing the landing site
The place where broom is grown must have well-permeable, light soil. In areas with heavy soil, larger planting holes are made to change the soil composition to a suitable one. If you make a small hole for planting in clay soil, in the future it will become a well for draining water from the site, and excessive waterlogging is detrimental to the root system of the shrub.
Landing rules
In order for the seedling to take root reliably, it is best to plant it in a permanent place in early spring. In group plantings, the distance between plants is kept about 80 cm. The soil for planting is prepared from a mixture of two parts sand and part turf soil and humus. The seedling is lowered vertically into the planting hole, leaving the root collar at soil level. The soil around the seedling is lightly pressed and watered abundantly.
The soil at the growing site must be breathable and free from weeds. Mulching helps with this. After planting, a layer of mulch in the form of small stones or tree bark is laid out on the soil around the bush. In addition to its benefits, such mulch creates additional decorative properties.
Watering and fertilizing
Boskop Ruby broom can withstand short droughts.Additionally, the plant is watered only when the top soil layer dries out, using a large amount of water per watering. The rest of the time, the bush has enough moisture from precipitation.
When watering broom, do not use water containing lime. Mineral fertilizers are used to fertilize ornamental shrubs. In spring, nitrogen-containing compounds are added. From the second half of summer, only phosphorus-potassium fertilizers are used. Depending on the age and condition of the bush, fertilizing is repeated every 2 weeks.
Preparing for winter
Boskop Ruby broom needs to be covered for the winter. Preparations begin in the autumn, when a steady cold snap sets in. The soil at the base of the bush is mulched with sand or peat and lightly hilled. To preserve the stems, they must be tied loosely with a cord and pressed horizontally to the soil, secured with hairpins.
Broom stems are flexible, making them easy to arrange. The stems are covered with fallen dry leaves or spruce branches on top. Broom overwinters best under a snow cap, so in winter the covered bush is additionally covered with snow.
Reproduction
Hybrid brooms, which include Boskop Ruby, are propagated only vegetatively. Using the cutting method, planting material is cut after the bush has finished flowering. Green cuttings are rooted in planting containers in a sand-peat mixture. Rooting time – 1.5 months.
We also use the layering method for propagating shrubs. To do this, the lower shoot of an adult bush is pressed and pinned to the ground, sprinkled with soil. At the growing site, the soil is kept moderately moist.With this method of propagation, the shoot is left in the soil until the next season. In spring, young shoots are separated from the mother bush and replanted.
Diseases and pests
Boskop Ruby broom is resistant to diseases and pests. But under unsuitable growing conditions, the shrub can be affected by moths or moths. Among fungal diseases, the bush can be damaged by powdery mildew or black spot. To prevent the occurrence of pathogenic microflora, the bush is periodically inspected and sprayed with fungicide solutions. Systemic insecticides are used for pests.
Conclusion
Broom Boskop Ruby is a highly effective flowering shrub that will decorate areas even with poor soils. Suitable for decorating empty lawns and green coniferous corners. The shrub is unpretentious to growing conditions, but for a well-groomed appearance it requires shaping - pruning of numerous faded stems.
