Content
Planting and caring for irga in open ground will not be difficult even for novice gardeners. Despite this, it is quite rare to find it in garden plots. And this is a big mistake. It is unlikely that any other fruit tree or shrub can compare with it in terms of ease of cultivation. Irga is resistant to cold and easily endures the harshest winters. It grows in any type of soil and requires minimal care. Pests do not touch her, and she practically does not get sick. The irga bears fruit abundantly every year, and its berries are not only tasty, but also very healthy.
Principles of growing and caring for irga
Irga is a perennial deciduous shrub; some species may have one trunk and form like a low tree.It belongs to the Rosaceae family, apple subfamily. That is why its fruits are sometimes called not berries, but apples. The homeland of this plant is North America. In the wild, irga is found in the United States and Canada; in addition, it can be found in the Caucasus, Crimea, Central Russia, the Urals, Southern Siberia and even Japan.
Irga is undemanding about the planting site. In places of natural growth, it is found even on rocky soils, penetrating into cracks between stones with its powerful, well-developed roots. Saskatoon will grow well on loamy and sandy loam soils with acidity close to neutral. The serviceberry only dislikes close proximity to water. Wetlands should be avoided when planting.
Irga is a frost-resistant and drought-resistant plant; it can easily withstand frosts of -40 degrees and does not need regular watering. The only exceptions are fruit varieties, which need to be watered periodically during the ripening period of the berries. In addition to watering, to obtain a good harvest, bushes require fertilizing, regular pruning, weeding with removal of root shoots and loosening of tree trunk circles.
Planting irgi in open ground
Irgu is planted in a permanent place as seedlings at the age of 2–3 years. Before planting, you need to take into account some of the features of shadberry associated with its cultivation in open ground.
- The lifespan of a bush can reach 60–70 years. Replanting an adult bush is very labor-intensive, so the planting location must be decided in advance.
- The height of an adult bush can reach 8 m, the width of the crown is 6 m, so its shadow will be significant.
- Most species of serviceberry produce numerous basal shoots.It must be constantly removed, otherwise the bush will eventually turn into dense thickets.
- The roots of this plant are powerful and numerous, the tap root can go 2 meters or more deep, and the lateral roots grow 2–3 meters. If you need to remove an adult bush, it will cause a lot of trouble, and it is unlikely that you will be able to completely remove the roots.
- Serviceberry berries are a delicacy not only for people, but also for birds. To protect the crop, you will need to put a special protective net on the tree.
- Harvesting from tall bushes will be very difficult. Therefore, it is better to give preference to low-growing varieties if the shrub is planted as a berry bush. In the future, it is necessary to form a crown and thin out the bush.
If the choice is made and all the nuances are taken into account, you can begin to prepare for planting.
When is it better to plant shadberry: in spring or autumn?
Professional gardeners recommend planting shadberry in the fall, after the leaves have fallen. At this time, the seedlings are full of strength and completely ready for winter. In addition, during this period, as a rule, there are no problems with planting material. Nevertheless, planting irgi in the spring can also be done; this must be done before the buds begin to swell on it. This shrub has excellent survival rate, so there will be no problems with the rooting of the seedling.
Where to plant shadberry
Irgu can be planted in any area of the garden. Shady places are no exception, however, the shoots there will be thinner and the harvest will be poorer. It is optimal to plant shrubs along the northern border of the site. The irga is not afraid of the cold, and a hedge of bushes will reliably protect more delicate bushes and trees from the north wind.
The place for planting irgi should not be near a fence or against a wall; powerful roots can damage the structure.It is undemanding in terms of soil type; the only important thing is that the groundwater is far from the surface.
Before planting, the soil must be dug up in advance, while adding organic fertilizers. It is also better to dig the planting hole itself in advance so that the soil has time to become saturated with air. For spring planting, the pit is prepared in the fall, for autumn planting - 1.5–2 months in advance.
Selection and preparation of seedlings
Usually 2–3 year old seedlings are planted in a permanent place. By this time, its length should be at least 30–35 cm. It is advisable to choose seedlings with a lump of earth on the roots. Exposed roots need to be inspected, rotten areas should be cut off.
How to plant shadberry in spring: step-by-step instructions
The planting hole must be at least half a meter deep. Its dimensions depend on the size of the roots of the seedling; they need to fit in it freely and not twist. Here are step-by-step instructions for planting irgi in open ground in spring:
- Prepare several buckets of humus and soil, mixing them in a 1:1 ratio.
- Add 2 tbsp to the mixture. spoons of superphosphate and 1 tbsp. spoon of potassium sulfate, stir.
- Pour the mixture onto the bottom of the hole so that the root collar of the seedling is 5–6 cm below ground level.
- Place the seedling vertically, straighten the roots and gradually cover them with soil, avoiding the formation of voids.
- Compact the tree trunk circle, water it generously (at least 30 liters) and mulch with straw or sawdust.
Planting irgi seedlings in the spring can be done in a checkerboard pattern, in a row or in spots. Neighboring bushes should be located at a distance of at least 2.5 m from each other, when planted in a row to create hedges - 1–1.5 m.
What can be planted next to irga
It is not recommended to plant trees with strong roots next to the irga: birch, maple.Also, it will not get along next to all types of nut trees, barberries, lilacs and viburnum. If the required distances are observed, the serviceberry's neighbors can be any stone fruit: apricot, plum, quince.
Caring for irga after planting
To obtain good yields and a beautiful appearance, the serviceberry bush requires periodic pruning. In addition, it is necessary to keep the trunk circle clean, clearing it of weed and periodically loosening. Periodic feeding and watering will also be useful.
Rules for proper watering
If there is sufficient precipitation, watering the irga is not required at all. Only recently planted seedlings need watering; before young growth appears, they need to be watered regularly.
In dry times, adult bushes are watered at the rate of a bucket of water per day.
Loosening, weeding, mulching
Keeping the tree trunk clean is important not only from an aesthetic point of view. Regular weeding and loosening increases air access to the roots, which has a beneficial effect on the growth of the bush. This is also an opportunity to remove numerous root shoots. After cleaning the tree trunk circle, water it and mulch it, this helps slow down the growth of weeds and retains moisture in the soil.
Feeding serviceberry in spring, summer and autumn
Irga does not require mandatory feeding, especially if it is planted in fertile soil. On poor sandy and clayey soils, it is recommended to periodically feed the shrub with both organic and mineral fertilizers:
- In the spring, before the buds swell - nitroammophoska 50 g per square meter. m.
- In the summer, when the berries are ripening, use an infusion of manure or bird droppings diluted with 0.5 liters per bucket of water, or urea in a proportion of 40 g per bucket.
- In the fall, along with digging up the tree trunks - potassium sulfate and superphosphate, 1 and 2 tbsp. spoons per square meter respectively. m.
Once every three years, you can make autumn feeding of adult bushes with humus at the rate of 3 buckets per 1 bush. This will prevent soil depletion.
When and how to prune shadberry
Pruning and shaping the shrub helps to properly grow the bush, increase its productivity, rejuvenate the plantings and get rid of old and dry branches. Pruning is done in several stages:
- Sanitary pruning – in spring, before the start of sap flow and in autumn, after leaf fall. Broken, dried branches are cut out.
- Formative pruning is done for tree-like forms, with vertical shoots shortened by ¼, lateral shoots cut off completely. At the same time, the crown begins to grow in width and takes the shape of a cap.
- Thinning pruning used for bush forms of serviceberry. In this case, all root shoots are removed, leaving only 2–3 shoots annually. Gradually, the bush will be formed from 10–15 trunks of different ages. Subsequently, all thickening (growing inside the bush) branches are removed.
- Anti-aging pruning provides for the complete removal of trunks older than 7–8 years. It can be either partial or complete, during which the entire bush is cut out “to fit a stump.”
Pruning serviceberry bushes is best done in the spring, before the buds swell.All cut areas must be covered with garden varnish or painted over with oil paint.
Preparing the crop for winter
The winter hardiness of the serviceberry is sufficient for wintering without shelter. No measures, except for sanitary ones, are required. If the autumn was dry, after the end of leaf fall, you can carry out the so-called moisture-recharging irrigation. After this, the tree trunk circle is mulched with peat or humus.
Planting and caring for irga in the Moscow region
The climate of the Moscow region is quite suitable for growing this shrub. With regard to planting and caring for irga, all the recommendations given earlier will be valid. When planting, it is worth considering that the soils in the Moscow region have high acidity. Therefore, it is more advisable to add dolomite flour or lime to the nutrient soil.
Planting and caring for irga in the Moscow region, photos and videos
Of the species, it is worth recommending the alder serviceberry or the Canadian serviceberry. These plants can be formed as compact bushes, which will greatly simplify the collection of berries and reduce their losses from bird raids. In addition, these species are the most large-fruited and productive.
When and how to replant an adult shrub of serviceberry
It is not advisable to transplant an adult (over 6 years old) bush to a new location. If such a need arises, you must adhere to the following recommendations.
- An adult plant is replanted in the fall, one and a half to two months before frost.
- The bush is replanted only together with a lump of earth.
- The length of the tap root must be left at least 0.8 m, the lateral roots - at least 1 m.
- The planting pit for the transplanted bush must be of appropriate size.
- Exposed roots should be wrapped with wet rags while the bush is being transported.
- After planting, the soil must be compacted well and watered generously.
How does irga reproduce?
Irgu can be propagated quite easily. This can be done in any way typical for shrubs:
- seeds;
- cuttings;
- layering;
- root shoots;
- dividing the bush.
In addition, shadberry can be grafted onto ordinary or chokeberry, as well as onto hawthorn.
Propagation of irgi by cuttings
The best time to propagate irgi from green cuttings is the beginning of summer. By this time, the shoots are already about 15 cm long. Later lignified cuttings take root much worse, while more than half of the green ones take root. The top two leaves are left on the cuttings, cutting off half of them to reduce moisture evaporation. All lower leaves are removed.
For planting, use pots with nutritious soil. Cuttings of cuttings are treated with a special solution of a root formation stimulator, then the cutting is planted in the ground, deepening it by 2-3 buds.
The planted cuttings are placed under film. It is important to regularly moisten the soil during this time. In a month, the cuttings will have their first roots, and by the end of the next season they will be ready for planting in a permanent place.
Seed method
Seeds for planting irgi must be selected from large, ripe berries. Before spring planting, they must be stratified by keeping them in the freezer for three months. Stratification can also occur naturally; for this, the seeds need to be planted in open ground in the fall. A year later, annual seedlings dive.
Dividing the bush
By dividing the bush you can propagate shadberry no older than 7 years. This method is the most difficult, but allows you to immediately obtain an adult fruit-bearing bush. To do this, in the fall the shadberry is dug up completely, part of the rhizome along with the shoots is separated with an ax and planted in a new place. The roots of the mother and daughter bushes are again covered with earth and watered abundantly.
How to propagate shadberry by layering
To propagate by layering, one or more side shoots of the serviceberry bush are bent to the ground, securely fixed with metal clamps and covered with earth. This place is constantly moistened, which leads to the formation of roots and the appearance of new growth.
After the shoots reach a length of 30-35 cm, they are cut off from the parent bush and, together with a lump of earth, are transplanted to a permanent place.
Diseases and pests
Irga gets sick quite rarely. Fungal diseases can be found on neglected bushes, as well as when growing in conditions of excess humidity. The most common diseases of shadberry are shown in the table.
Disease | Symptoms | Treatment and prevention |
Ascochyta blight | Brown spots of irregular shape on the leaves. Affected leaves die and fall off. The frost resistance of the bush drops sharply. | Treatment with Bordeaux mixture 1% until the buds swell. In case of severe damage, repeat the treatment in the fall. Affected leaves must be destroyed. |
Monilial rot | The berries rot and then dry up on the branch, becoming carriers of fungal spores. | Treatment with Bordeaux mixture 1% three times per season: before flowering, immediately after it and then two weeks later. |
Powdery mildew | Light gray spots on leaves. The affected leaf then darkens and falls off. | Treatment with Tiovit Jet or Raek.Infected leaves should be torn off and burned. |
Pestalocy | The leaves begin to turn brown at the edges. The border between healthy and diseased tissue is yellow. | As with ascochyta blight |
Septoria spot | Numerous round small brown spots on the leaves. | As with ascochyta blight |
Insect pests are rarely found on this shrub. But they exist. The table lists some of them.
Insect | What harm do they cause? | Methods of control or prevention |
Rowan moth | The caterpillars of this butterfly live in berries. | At the end of the flowering period, the bushes are sprayed with karbofos or a similar preparation. It is recommended to re-treat 10–14 days after the first. |
Serum beetle | The seed-eater larva lives inside the fruit, feeding on its seeds. | -//- |
Rowan moth | Butterfly caterpillars feed on fruit pulp | -//- |
Conclusion
Planting and caring for irga in the open ground is possible for any gardener. In addition to being easy to grow, this shrub is also distinguished by its good yield. Its berries contain many vitamins and microelements; they are tasty and healthy. They are good for making compote and jam. You can make homemade fruit wine from serviceberry; it is not for nothing that in Rus' it is also called a “wine” berry.
Blooming irga is not only very beautiful, it is also an excellent honey plant. No wonder its Latin name is Amelanchier, which means “bringing honey.”
