Content
It is very easy to propagate barberry from cuttings in the fall. Having just 1 shrub, in a few years you can get a lot of planting material that will retain all its maternal qualities.
How does barberry reproduce?
The barberry bush is distinguished by its decorative appearance and tasty berries. It is planted as a hedge and to attract bees to the site. The desire of gardeners to propagate barberry on their own is quite understandable, especially since it is not at all difficult.
Wild barberry bushes reproduce well by self-sowing, and after a few years they completely fill the area. For cultivated forms there are several main methods:
- obtaining root shoots;
- bends;
- cuttings
In addition, ornamental shrubs are propagated by seeds, but this is the most complex method that requires knowledge and skills.
How to propagate barberry from cuttings
Barberry cuttings can be carried out in summer, autumn or spring. However, green shoots cut at the beginning of the season take root better than others. The survival rate of planting material is almost 100%.
Lignified cuttings are cut in early spring before the buds swell or after leaf fall. It is not so easy to root them; the survival rate is 85-90%. However, the advantages of such cuttings are obvious - the shoots grow quickly, and in the future they will bloom and bear fruit profusely.
In addition, this method of propagation makes it possible to obtain planting material that completely preserves all the varietal characteristics of the mother plant. This is perfect for hybrid forms of shrubs.
How to propagate barberry by cuttings in summer
Planting material for propagation is cut from completely healthy bushes that grow and develop well. This is the only way to obtain high-quality seedlings that will produce noticeable annual growth and tasty berries.
Barberry can be propagated by cuttings from the current year's shoots, which are cut in early summer. The branch is ready for cuttings if the bark on it is light green.
Landing instructions:
- Planting material is harvested from the middle of the shoot. A good cutting is no more than 10 cm long and has 2-3 internodes.
- The lower cut is made directly under the bud, and the upper edge is cut 2 cm higher.
- The upper leaves are shortened so that they do not evaporate moisture, and the lower leaves are removed completely.
- For propagation, prepared shoots are planted in a greenhouse or boxes for rooting. The lower edge is dusted with Kornevin powder or another growth stimulant.
- The shoots are deepened into 2 buds. The landing is made obliquely, at an angle of 45°.
Rooting takes from 1 to 1.5 months.All this time, the plantings need to be properly cared for: maintaining soil moisture, temperature and creating diffused lighting.
When new leaves appear on the shoots, you can judge the success of reproduction. Further care of young plants includes regular watering, weeding and fertilizing. By autumn, full-fledged seedlings grow from the shoots, which are ready for transplanting into the garden next spring. Young bushes overwinter under good cover, since their root system is not yet sufficiently developed.
Propagation of barberry by cuttings in autumn
Experienced gardeners practice propagating barberry at home using lignified cuttings. They are cut in the fall and stored until spring in the basement, the temperature in which does not drop below +5°C. To prevent the planting material from deteriorating, it is wrapped in a wet cloth and, if necessary, additionally moistened. Cuttings are cut from shoots remaining after pruning the bush. Choose healthy branches that are not affected by diseases and pests and whose diameter is no more than 1 cm.
In the spring, planting material is taken out, inspected, dry shoots are discarded, and planted in a prepared garden bed or in glasses. The soil will need to be loose, moisture-absorbing, and nutritious. Store-bought soil for seedlings or garden soil, which is enriched with humus, peat, and loosened with sand, is suitable.
Instructions for propagation in glasses:
- Prepare containers in advance: wash, disinfect, dry.
- Make drainage holes at the bottom, fill a third of the container with expanded clay or other material.
- Pour the soil into glasses so that 1.5-2 cm remains to the top. Water well.
- Deepen the cuttings 2 buds into the soil, compact them around, and water.
Cover the containers with a bag to create a greenhouse effect, but open them every day for ventilation. If this is not done, the cuttings will rot. After 1.5 months, young leaves will appear from the buds; remove the bag completely. Next, barberry seedlings are planted in a garden bed where they will grow.
After cuttings and successful rooting, barberry seedlings are transferred to a permanent place in the fall for the 2nd year of cultivation. Young bushes must be covered for the winter.
Propagation of barberry by cuttings in spring
If there is nowhere to store the shoots until spring, then for propagation they are cut in early spring, before the buds swell. They get along worse. Before planting, barberry cuttings must be kept in water with a growth stimulator for 6-8 hours.
Root planting material directly in the garden bed. They are planted obliquely, leaving 15-20 cm between shoots. The soil is watered abundantly, mulched and the planting site is covered with film. Roots form in 1-1.5 months. The greenhouse is ventilated from time to time. When young leaves appear, the film is removed and the seedlings are well cared for. During the period of active growth, they are fed with nitrogen fertilizers or organic matter. After a year they are moved to a permanent place.
How to propagate barberry by seeds
Barberry can be propagated by seeds to develop a new variety. This is a long process, its success depends on compliance with all the rules and experience of the gardener.
Planting material for propagation is obtained from overripe berries, washed and dried well.Before planting, seeds are stored in paper bags with holes at room temperature. They have a short shelf life, so it is better to plant them in the same year. You need to start sowing when the outside temperature drops below -2°C.
Plant barberry seeds immediately in open ground. It is best to do this in the fall of the same year so that they undergo natural stratification.
Recommendations for planting:
- A bright area is allocated for planting, where the soil will warm up well in early spring.
- The grooves are made shallow, no more than 1-3 cm. To prevent the seeds from drying out, the holes are covered with coarse sand.
- Sowing is done sparsely, with fertile soil and pine litter sprinkled on top.
- In early spring, the shelter is removed and the bed is covered with film so that friendly shoots appear.
The germination rate of barberry seeds is about 50%, so you need to sow more. The sprouts appear tightly and develop slowly. In the phase of 2 true leaves, the bed is thinned out, leaving only strong plants. The distance between them is left at least 5 cm. The seedlings are transplanted to a permanent place after 2 years of cultivation.
Wild barberry bushes reproduce by self-sowing. Shoots appear in early spring, and in the fall they can be dug up and transplanted to a new location. Such plants bear fruit with small berries, sweet and sour taste. However, they do not need special care, so beginners in gardening prefer this method of propagation.
How to propagate barberry by layering
If there is decorative barberry on the site, it can easily be propagated by layering. The procedure begins in the spring in order to obtain full-fledged seedlings by autumn:
- For tapping, choose annual shoots that bend well.
- Grooves are made around the mother bush, the branches are carefully placed in them, pinned and covered with earth. The tip of the shoot remains on the surface.
- The soil around the barberry is kept constantly moist so that root formation is successful.
In the fall of this year or next spring, young seedlings are dug up and transferred to the garden. By this point they should have a good root system. Plants are placed in a well-lit place. For the first few years, seedlings are insulated for the winter.
How to propagate barberry by root shoots
The easiest way to propagate barberry is to transplant root shoots. In spring or early summer, green shoots appear around the bush, which are carefully dug up and planted. The plants take root well, by the fall they form full-fledged seedlings, which in a few years will delight you with a full harvest.
Reproduction of barberry by shoots allows you to obtain planting material with exactly the same characteristics as the mother bush. However, not all varieties produce many shoots; most hybrid varieties do not produce shoots at all.
Nuances of propagation of barberry Thunberg
Barberry Thunberg is the most beautiful ornamental plant with unusual leaf color. Bushes with golden yellow, orange or purple leaves decorate the area from early spring to late autumn. The height of the plant can be from 20 cm to 1.5 m. Barberry bears fruit with edible sour berries.
Propagation of Thunberg barberry is not much different from other varieties; in summer it is easy to propagate the shrub using cuttings. To do this, use the green parts of the shoots, which are planted in a greenhouse. After rooting, the film is removed. The seedlings are fully cared for, and after a year they are planted in a permanent place.
To ensure that all varietal characteristics are transferred from the mother plant to the young bush, barberry is propagated by grafting. It is done in early spring. The cuttings are grafted onto wild barberry, which has good winter hardiness.
Instructions:
- As a scion, take a semi-lignified cutting with a piece of bark.
- A T-shaped cut is made on the rootstock directly around the bud.
- The bark is carefully pushed aside and the scion is inserted there.
- The grafting site is well fixed with a special film and covered with garden varnish.
After a few months, the success of the vaccination can be judged. Young leaves should appear on the barberry cuttings. If this is not the case, then you need to check the vaccination site.
There is another way to propagate Thunberg barberry - eye grafting. A bud is cut from the plant you like along with a piece of bark. Next, it is grafted in the same way as a cutting. The only difference is that the seedlings will develop slowly.
How to propagate barberry by dividing the bush
Propagating barberry by dividing the bush is not an easy procedure. The plant does not tolerate transplantation to a new location well, gets sick for a long time and may die. Reproduction begins in early spring or autumn, but only as a last resort. For example, if mature bushes still have to be dug up and planted, since they were originally planted in the wrong place.
Transplant instructions:
- Trim barberry shoots at a height of 25-30 cm.
- Dig out the bushes completely and divide them into sections with a sharp tool.
- Plant the cuttings in the prepared holes.
- Cut the shoots to a height of 15-20 cm.
After planting, young plants need to be well cared for. Keep the soil moist so that the bushes take root quickly.
Conclusion
It is quite possible to propagate barberry by cuttings in the fall, but you need to take into account all the nuances and subtleties of the process. In order for the shoots to take root successfully and bloom and bear fruit profusely in the future, it is important to properly care for the plants at each stage of growth.
