Content
The barberry bush, regardless of the variety, looks decorative at any time of the year. That is why it is valued by landscape designers. But even novice gardeners can cope with the task, since planting and caring for barberry bushes is not difficult. The main thing is to choose a variety in accordance with the climatic conditions of the region.
How fast does barberry grow?
Barberry grown for landscaping grows slowly during the first 2 years after planting. Mature shrubs annually grow by 30-60 cm, depending on the variety. Therefore, one of the measures when caring for plantings is regular pruning.
What kind of soil does barberry like?
Barberry is a plant that needs soil with neutral acidity. If this indicator does not correspond, lime, dolomite flour or wood ash are added to the soil.
Groundwater should not be higher than 1.5 m, since the bush does not tolerate stagnation. For the same reason, it is not recommended to plant plants in lowlands.
Landing dates
The timing of planting depends on the condition of the root system:
- If the seedlings were grown in a container, then they can be placed in the garden at any time: spring, summer, autumn. You only need to water the plants to remove the seedling without damaging the lump of earth. A cool day is chosen for planting seedlings. In the first days, the bush is shaded from the sun.
- If the root system of the seedling is open, then planting barberry in the ground can be planned for the spring, before the buds open. At this time, the earth already has time to warm up. In autumn, bushes are planted after the leaves have fallen.
Recommended planting times:
- spring – from March 20 to April 15;
- autumn – from September 15 to October 15.
When choosing planting dates, you need to focus on the climatic features of the region.
How to plant barberry
Planting a shrub, for example, yellow barberry, in a country house and further care are simple processes, since barberry is unpretentious. You just need to choose the right place, prepare the soil, buy or grow healthy seedlings yourself.
To make the plants look decorative, you need to leave at least 1.5 m between them. If you create a hedge, the seedlings are placed at a distance of 40-50 cm.
Where to plant barberry in the country
For the shrub, choose a sunny place so that the barberry is illuminated almost all day. The fact is that a plant planted in the shade loses its decorative effect, the bright foliage fades and becomes unattractive.In addition, growth and development slow down, flowering will be sparse and inconsistent.
Preparing the landing site
A permanent place is prepared 2-3 weeks before planting the bushes. They dig up the soil and select weeds and roots. If the soil is depleted, add humus, compost, and wood ash. You can mix the soil with complex mineral fertilizers.
Seedling preparation
You can grow seedlings yourself, since barberry reproduces by seeds, layering, cuttings and root shoots. If you have to buy, it is better to use the services of trusted sellers or contact a nursery, where the variety of varieties will allow you to choose the right plant.
The branches of the seedling must be without damage, without signs of the presence of insects and diseases. The nutritional system of a high-quality seedling is characterized by the presence of a large number of adventitious roots. The cut on the stem should be greenish or whitish.
A day before planting, seedlings with an open root system are soaked in water. You can add potassium permanganate or any rooting preparation. If the seedling is in a container, then you need to take it out and make several vertical cuts on a lump of earth to stimulate the formation of lateral roots.
Rules for planting barberry
And now about how barberry is planted and further cared for in the open ground.
Stages of work:
- Dig a hole 40x40x40 cm. If the soil is poor, then make the planting area a little larger so that humus and compost can be added.
- Fill the bottom of the hole with a drainage layer of pebbles, expanded clay or broken brick, then add a layer of sand.
- Mix the soil removed from the hole with humus or compost and fill the hole almost to the top.
- Pour in water until the soil is well soaked. This work is carried out at least 7-10 days before planting.
- A depression is made in the soil and the seedling is placed in it, after straightening the roots.
- Sprinkle the root system of the shrub at the level of the root collar with soil and lightly compact it.
- Water thoroughly and mulch the tree trunk circle with peat or compost. This will make further care much easier.
- Cut off some of the shoots, leaving only 4-5 buds at the bottom.
How to plant barberry
Since barberry is an ornamental shrub that pleases the eye at any time of the year, even in winter, I want there to be a lot of plants in the garden. If different varieties of barberry grow on your property or among friends, you can propagate it:
- seeds;
- cuttings;
- layering;
- dividing the bush;
- root shoots.
Propagation work is quite simple, accessible to novice gardeners. You just need to take into account that each of the methods may have disadvantages:
- Cuttings take a long time to take root.
- Barberry seeds are difficult to germinate; even from fresh planting material, 20-40% of seedlings are obtained. In this case, the future shrub may lose its varietal qualities.
- When receiving cuttings, you can harm the root system.
- Not all barberry varieties produce shoots.
If you wish, you can experiment to choose the method that is suitable for the variety. For example, for planting a hedge of red-leaved barberry and further caring for it.
How to care for barberry
Caring for barberry in the garden will not take much time; it all comes down to traditional activities:
- watering and fertilizing;
- loosening the soil and mulching;
- pruning;
- protection from diseases and pests;
- preparing the bush for winter.
By carrying out the necessary agrotechnical measures, you can get a beautiful, low-maintenance shrub that will decorate your garden.
Watering mode
According to the description, adult bushes do not require constant watering because they do not tolerate waterlogging. If it rains during the growing season, no additional irrigation will be required. As for the young bush, it needs to be watered regularly until it takes root.
Loosening and mulching
When growing barberry and caring for it, you should remember that water must penetrate to a depth of 40 cm. To prevent moisture from quickly evaporating, the root zone of the bush is sprinkled with mulch:
- peat;
- humus;
- compost;
- sawdust.
The layer must be at least 8 cm.
Before mulching, the soil is loosened well so that oxygen reaches the roots. The operation is repeated after watering. It is necessary to remove weeds, as they not only suck up nutrients, but can also cause disease and pest infestations.
How to feed barberry
If a sufficient amount of nutrients was added during planting of barberry, for example, Thunberg, then in summer and autumn the shrub does not need to be fed for 2 years.
In the future, the plant needs nutrition, as it grows greatly. Both mineral and organic fertilizers are used as fertilizing.
As a rule, nutrition is applied to the root zone of the bush in the spring, before flowering begins. If the plant is grown as a hedge, then fertilizer for barberry is applied 2 times a year.
Trimming
The shrub responds well to pruning. Thanks to this procedure, the crown of the plant is formed; any shape can be created. The haircut pattern is shown in the photo.
In the first 3 years, in early spring, before the buds begin to grow, you need to cut out all the shoots onto the stump to get a lush bush. This type of haircut is especially necessary for hedges.
In addition to formative pruning, plants need sanitary pruning, when damaged, dry branches are removed, as well as shoots that stand out from the overall picture. This haircut can be done at any time.
Anti-aging pruning is performed on old bushes that are beginning to degenerate. In spring you need to cut the stems without leaving stumps. By autumn, young shoots will appear.
Preparing for winter
When choosing seedlings for planting in the garden, you need to take into account the climatic characteristics of the region. Some varieties do not have sufficient frost resistance. Such bushes will require additional care in the fall related to covering the barberry for the winter.
Protection from disease and pests
Shrubs rarely get sick and are affected by insects. But it is not always possible to protect plantings from powdery mildew, aphids and moths. Preventive measures will be required.
Diseases and pests | Signs of appearance |
Aphid | The appearance of aphids can be identified by wrinkled and drying leaves. |
Moth | The insect settles on fruit-bearing bushes and damages the berries |
Powdery mildew | A whitish coating appears on the leaves and shoots |
To combat diseases and pests, you need to use special products that are sold in stores, for example:
- "Aktara";
- "Karate";
- "Karbofos".
Work must be carried out immediately, without waiting for the spread of the disease and mass reproduction of pests. Otherwise, you may lose the barberry bushes growing nearby.
Features of planting and caring for barberry in the Urals
The Urals is a region with harsh climatic conditions. In winter, frosts there are below -25 degrees, and many varieties of barberry freeze out at such temperatures. Plants require good shelter from spruce branches, sawdust or humus.
It is necessary to cover the shrub with non-woven material for the winter when the frosts become stable. It is not recommended to use plastic film to protect barberry from frost, since condensation accumulates under it in winter. And it can lead to damping off and freezing of plants.
You should not plan to plant barberry in the Urals in the fall, since a fragile shrub with a weak root system is not able to survive in such conditions and no amount of care will save it.
Features of planting and caring for barberry in Siberia
Siberian gardeners who decide to decorate their dacha with ornamental shrubs should know that they need to choose varieties that can withstand low temperatures, that is, frost-resistant.
The following barberry varieties are recommended for this region:
- Canadian,
- Amur,
- ordinary,
- warty.
Shrubs require winter shelter for 3 years after planting. In the future, it will be enough to mulch the root system well. If Thunberg barberry was planted on the site, then the plant must be protected from frost and wind throughout its life. Experienced gardeners recommend choosing dwarf barberry varieties, as they are easy to cover.
Novice gardeners are interested in when it is possible to plant barberry bushes on a plot for residents of Siberia. Planting seedlings, as in the Urals, should be planned for spring.Over the summer, the plants will take root well and will be able to survive the harsh winter.
What to plant next to barberry
The decorative value of barberry is difficult to overestimate. You cannot pass by the bushes at any time of the year. In spring, colorful leaves appear on the plants, then the bushes are covered with clusters of yellow or pink flowers. In autumn, the color of the leaves becomes even brighter, and in winter you can admire the red berries that stand out against the background of snow.
Seedlings can be planted individually or next to different flowers, trees and shrubs. Plants with colorful leaves look great against the backdrop of evergreen conifers.
Bushes are planted along fences, on lawns or multi-level flower beds. To create alpine hills and rocky Japanese gardens, dwarf varieties are indispensable.
Although there are fruit plants, it is not advisable to plant ornamental barberries next to them. These are pears, apples and plums. What is the reason:
- Firstly, The root system of these trees is powerful and occupies a large space. This means that the bushes will not receive the required amount of nutrients.
- Secondly, The crown of apple, pear and plum trees is wide, it will cover the sun over the barberry. And the description says that the decorative effect of the bush is lost in the shade.
Conclusion
Planting and caring for barberry shrubs will not cause much trouble even for novice gardeners. It takes a little work, but the result will delight you for many years. An unpretentious and bright shrub will become a real decoration of the site on lawns, along fences, in compositions with different trees and shrubs.
