Content
Lilac The sky of Moscow pleases not only Muscovites with blue and purple flowers every spring. The name of the variety is due to the fact that at the stage of active flowering, lilacs seem to merge with the color of the Moscow sky on a clear day, which is why.
Description of lilac Sky of Moscow
Common lilac variety Sky of Moscow is one of the most popular species artificially created by the Soviet selector L. I. Kolesnikov in the 40s - 70s. He also owns other Moscow varieties of lilac - Beauty Moscow and Kremlin Chimes.
This species is a low (2 - 3 meters), compact bush that has an average flowering period of about 14 days, depending on weather conditions. The flowering is quite abundant.
The corollas consist of 3 or more petals, the diameter of which is 2 - 3 cm. The buds are formed into large inflorescences.
How the Moscow sky lilac inflorescences merge with the Moscow sky can be seen in the photo:
How lilac blooms Moscow sky
If you turn to botanical reference books, you will notice that the Moscow Sky is classified into three color groups.This is due to its unusual flowering, expressed in three shades at different stages of flowering, which is why it is also called chameleon lilac.
When the Moscow Sky lilac just begins to bloom, it has lilac, almost purple tones. Having fully blossomed, it changes color to bluish-lilac, and when the buds fade, to white-blue.
Features of reproduction
Even an inexperienced gardener can propagate an ornamental bush. For successful propagation, only good lighting, protection from wind and drainage against stagnant moisture are required. Therefore, lilac cultivation is mainly carried out in greenhouses. But its successful reproduction in the garden is not excluded.
The culture can be propagated in the following ways:
- Cuttings. A cutting is cut from the bush and immersed in the ground. In this case, the lower cut is made obliquely, and the upper cut is made straight. The lower leaves are removed, the upper leaves are cut in half. After soaking in a solution of a growth stimulator, drainage is placed in the bed and the cutting is planted;
- Growing from seeds. Seeds are collected in late autumn and undergo stratification for 2 months. Next, they are planted in disinfected soil. For successful germination, it is advisable to create a microclimate for the seedlings using ordinary cling film;
- Root growth. Carefully cut off the root of the mother tree and plant it in moist soil. It is advisable to carry out the procedure before mid-October. For the winter, you need to provide the plant with shelter;
- Root layering. The lower branch of a young tree must be bent so that its middle part can be buried in the ground. Once the branch has taken root, it can be cut from the mother tree. The method is relevant for planting rows of lilacs.
In addition, lilacs can be grafted, but this method requires special knowledge and experience.
Planting and caring for lilacs Sky of Moscow
Although the culture is unpretentious and lasts until late frosts, in order to get a strong tree that will not be susceptible to diseases, it is better to follow some recommendations when planting.
Recommended timing
You can plant lilacs at any time except winter. The best time for planting is August and September. At this time, the earth is sufficiently warmed up, and the plant is already beginning to prepare for the coming winter.
You can plant the crop at other times of the year, but then you will have to take additional measures to ensure its life support, since there is a high chance that the lilac will not take root.
Site selection and soil preparation
It is better to choose a place for planting lilacs based on the characteristics of the site. The Sky of Moscow variety can be planted singly, in rows or as a hedge (at a distance of at least 1 m from each other). It is advisable to choose a sunny place. If you plant a very small seedling or seeds, you need to provide protection from the wind. For example, choose a place near the fence, but so that the seedling receives enough sun.
For planting, you should not choose a low-lying area, since the roots of the plant do not like stagnant moisture. If the entire area is in a lowland, and moisture accumulation is inevitable, it is necessary to make an embankment for the lilacs, like an alpine hill.
How to plant correctly
When planting seedlings, you need to dig a hole, the size of which will correspond to the volume of the roots. The neck of the roots should be recessed 3 - 4 cm deep. If the seedling is grafted, its neck should protrude 2 - 3 cm.
If the soil is not fertile, it is better to add fertilizer in the form of compost, humus or tree resin.You should not add fertilizer from the store or manure, as lilacs have rather sensitive roots and fertilizers can burn them.
Growing lilac Moscow sky
Growing the Sky of Moscow variety does not take much time and includes procedures standard for most plants.
Watering
Sky of Moscow is a heat-resistant crop. If there is enough rainfall in the region, then there is no need to water the plant at all. If the seedling is planted in the spring, then it needs regular watering until the end of summer.
When there is no rain in the summer, lilacs should be watered once every 1 to 2 weeks. In this case, it is advisable to irrigate not only directly into the ground, but also to irrigate the crown itself. Lilacs especially need water during the flowering period.
Top dressing
Lilac feeding is introduced in the 2nd – 3rd year of life. It is advisable to fertilize the soil with compost even before planting. An adult plant is fertilized in early spring with 65 g of ammonium nitrate and 50 g of urea. Starting from the 4th year of life, lilacs need to be periodically fed with organic fertilizers; this is also especially important during the flowering period.
Once every 3 years, the bush can be fertilized with phosphate fertilizers in accordance with the dosage indicated on the package. In the fall, when digging up tree trunk soil, phosphates are introduced.
Mulching
For young seedlings it is very important to create a mulch layer, especially when planting in autumn. Peat, compost, leaves and humus are suitable for this. In this case, it is desirable that the layer be no less than 10 cm; for an adult lilac, 5 cm is enough. The mulch layer should be renewed twice a year - in spring and autumn.
Trimming
The Moscow Sky lilac bush is pruned after flowering. The following are subject to pruning:
- all the withered buds;
- high branches - they are shortened by a third so that the bush does not extend beyond 2 m;
- all root shoots.
Dry branches should also be removed. In addition, if the bush has become too wide, you can select weak branches and trim them.
Preparing for winter
There is no need to prepare adult bushes for winter. Lilac Nebo Moscow feels great in Moscow climatic conditions.
Only small seedlings protect from frost. To do this, it is enough to make a mound of mulch with a layer of 15 - 20 cm.
Diseases and pests
The Sky of Moscow variety is characterized by the same diseases that affect other types of lilac. Diseases are divided:
- to bacterial ones, in which the leaves quickly wither and small spots appear on the rhizome;
- fungal, when moldy white spots appear on the leaves;
- infectious: when they are infected, the leaves become white, the leaves and flowers appear mosaic in color, ring-shaped, and the foliage bends upward.
The problem with growing lilacs is that the crop is difficult to treat and in most cases dies when damaged. Therefore, it is important to take preventive measures and buy plant seeds and seedlings in stores with the appropriate documents.
Among the pests that attack lilacs are the acacia moth, apple moth, lilac moth, leafhopper, weevil and leaf mite.
Treatment of the plant involves the purchase of special insecticides that can be used as a spray or during watering. Preventive measures include timely pruning and burning of affected areas.
Conclusion
Lilac Sky of Moscow is distinguished by its three-color coloring during flowering, which lasts for 14 days at the end of spring. The plant is unpretentious in cultivation, has great heat and frost resistance, as well as high decorative properties.
