Content
Irga spicata, a description and photo of which are presented in this article, is a perennial shrub of the Rosaceae family. Currently, it can rarely be found in garden plots, but this is absolutely undeserved.
In addition to its excellent appearance, this plant also bears fruit well, giving gardeners a generous harvest of tasty and healing berries.
General description of serviceberry
Irga spicata is a perennial shrub with a life cycle of about 30 years. It is widespread not only in North America, where it originates, but also in Europe. It also grows in most of Russia. A description of the spiked serviceberry and its main characteristics are given in the table.
Parameter | Meaning |
Type of crop | Perennial deciduous shrub or tree |
Root system | Well developed, superficial |
Escapes | Smooth, straight, up to 5 m high |
Bark | Rough, red-brown in young shoots, greenish-gray in old shoots |
Kidneys | Oval, pubescent |
Leaves | Green, matte, ovoid, with a serrated edge. Leaf length up to 10 cm, width up to 5 cm. There is felt pubescence on the back side of the leaf plate |
Flowers | White, numerous, small, collected in large inflorescences of 5–10 pieces. |
Pollination | Self-pollinating |
Fruit | Berries 5–8 grams, changing color as they ripen from pale green to crimson and then to dark blue or black with a bluish tinge |
Irga spicata has quite a few advantages compared to other garden shrubs. These include:
- high frost resistance;
- undemanding to the place of growth;
- good yield;
- excellent taste of fruits;
- versatility of using berries;
- The shrub can be used both as an ornamental and as a berry plant.
Serviceberry berries are consumed both fresh and processed. They can be used to make compotes and jams; in North America they are used as raw materials for the production of fruit wines. Due to the content of vitamins B, C, PP and other microelements, the fruits can also be used for medicinal purposes.
Reproduction of spiked irgi
Because the irga spicata is a shrub; it can be propagated in all ways characteristic of this type of plant. These include the following reproduction options:
- seeds;
- cuttings;
- layering;
- planting root shoots;
- dividing the bush.
During the growth process, the shrub produces numerous root shoots, so propagation by planting root shoots is the least labor-intensive method.
For propagation by seeds, you need to select large ripe berries. The seeds are planted in nutrient soil under a film. The growth of seedlings in the first year can be up to 15 cm. When propagating by cuttings, young healthy shoots 30–35 cm long are used.They are kept in a root growth stimulator, and then also planted in the soil under a film.
For propagation by layering, the outer shoots are bent to the ground, fixed with staples and covered with soil. This place is intensively watered for one and a half to two months, which leads to the formation of new shoots. After this, they are cut off from the mother bush and transplanted to a permanent place.
Dividing the bush is the most labor-intensive method. It is done when transplanting an entire plant no older than 7 years. In this case, the bush is completely dug out of the ground, part of its roots along with the shoots are cut off and transplanted to a new place.
Planting serviceberry
Planting shadberry can be done both for decorative purposes and to obtain a harvest of berries. Often, plants are planted in a row to create a so-called “hedge” to protect the area from cold winds.
Photo of serviceberry during flowering.
Site selection and preparation
Irga spicata is extremely undemanding to the type and composition of the soil. You should only avoid very wetlands with a groundwater level above 2 m. Strong shade will not lead to the death of the plant, but the shoots will become very thin, and the harvest will not grow very abundantly. A good option would be to plant spiked irgi along the border of the site on the north side.
When is it better to plant spiked shadberry: in spring or autumn?
Since shadberry has excellent rooting ability and excellent winter hardiness, the time of year is not decisive. Autumn is considered a more favorable time.
How to choose seedlings
You can plant seedlings of the first or second year of life in a permanent place.It is better to choose seedlings with closed roots. If the roots are open, there should be no rot on them.
How to plant shadberry
You can plant shadberry in a row, in a staggered or dotted manner. To plant, you need to dig a hole at least half a meter deep and with a diameter greater than the size of the roots. For good rooting, pour a mixture of turf soil and humus onto the bottom, adding 50 grams to it. superphosphate and 20 gr. potassium sulfate. The root collar is buried 4-5 cm.
The hole with the seedling is filled with turf soil, spilled with several buckets of water and mulched with peat.
Video about planting serviceberry and more.
The distance between neighboring bushes is at least 2.5 meters. When planting in a row, it can be reduced to 1.5 meters.
Caring for spiked irga
Irga spicata does not require special care. If the shrub is planted for decorative purposes, it is necessary to take measures to form the crown - pruning and trimming. To increase productivity, you need to do not only pruning, but also fertilizing.
Watering
Irga spicata is a drought-resistant shrub and does not require watering. It is advisable to produce it only during dry periods and during the setting and ripening of fruits.
Weeding and loosening the soil
Weeding of shadberry is usually done regularly along with the removal of root shoots. At the same time, soil loosening is also done. Complete digging of the tree trunk circle is carried out in the fall, combining this with the application of fertilizers.
Feeding serviceberry during the season
Irga spica does not need feeding if it is planted in good soil. If the soil is poor, you can feed the bushes several times a season:
- In the spring, before the leaves begin to bloom, use any nitrogen fertilizer, for example, nitrophoska, 30 g per 1 sq. m. m;
- In the summer, during the period of fruit set - infusion of mullein or bird droppings 0.5 l, or urea 30-40 g per bucket of water;
- Autumn, after leaf fall - wood ash 300 g, superphosphate 200 g, potassium sulfate 20 g per 1 sq. m are introduced into the tree trunk circle during the digging process.
Trimming
Pruning of shadberry spicata should be done regularly. It has several goals:
- crown formation;
- thinning;
- removal of diseased, broken, dry branches;
- bush rejuvenation.
Forming the crown allows you to compact the bush and make it more compact. Used when planting serviceberry in a hedge. Thinning is done annually after the third year of life. To do this, leave 3 strong annual shoots, cut out the rest. In total, the bush is formed from 15 branches of different ages.
Sanitary pruning should be done in the spring before the leaves begin to bloom and in the fall after they fall. Anti-aging pruning consists of completely removing shoots older than 6 years. They will quickly be replaced by young ones.
Preparing the spiked irgi for winter
Irga spica has excellent winter hardiness and can easily withstand cold temperatures of -40 degrees and below. Therefore, no special measures are taken to prepare the bush for winter. You can limit yourself only to sanitary measures, pruning and cleaning of fallen leaves.
What diseases and pests may threaten
Irga spica is rarely attacked by pests and is extremely resistant to diseases. The only exceptions can be old and very neglected trees. The table shows the most common diseases of serviceberry, as well as its pests.
| Disease/Pest | What amazes | Treatment and prevention |
| Phallisticosis | Leaves become covered with brown spots and die | Infected foliage should be torn off and burned, the plant should be treated before and after flowering with copper sulfate or Bordeaux mixture |
| Septoria (gray rot) | Leaves and fruits become covered with gray fuzzy spots and rot | Reduce watering or transplant to a drier place; treatment with Oxyx, Topaz or Bordeaux mixture |
| Tubercularosis (drying of branches) | The leaf blade and ends of the shoots turn brown and dry out | Cut off the shoots and burn them. In the spring, before the leaves bloom, treat the bushes with copper sulfate or Bordeaux mixture |
| Shrimp moth | Leaves from moth secretions begin to crumble and dry out | Spraying with Fufanon, Karbofos |
| Serviceberry seed eater | Fruit, the larva eats the seeds and pupates in the berry |
Conclusion
Irga spica, the description and photo of which were presented in this article, is an excellent bush plant, suitable for growing in a wide variety of climatic conditions. It does not require special care, is unpretentious and can please you not only with its beautiful appearance during the flowering period, but also with an abundant harvest of tasty and healthy berries. Even the most inexperienced gardener can plant and care for spiked irga.
