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It is not only possible, but also necessary to plant hazel grouse in open ground in the fall. This is the most appropriate time, because if planted in the spring, the plants may not take root or will bloom poorly. The timing and rules of planting for different regions are described in detail in the article.
Features of autumn planting of hazel grouse
Planting of hazel grouse bulbs (also called fritillaria) in the Moscow region and all other regions, including the south, occurs in autumn. This is the only acceptable period, since if you start work in the spring or summer, problems may arise:
- Bulbs planted at the wrong time will not have time to take root well before the onset of frost, and then they may die in winter.
- Only in the dormant stage and at low soil temperatures can hazel grouse form normal flower buds.
- To ensure normal conditions in the spring, hazel grouse would have to be planted very early, literally after the snow melts. In practice, this option is difficult to implement even in the south, not to mention other regions.Return spring frosts can lead to the death of almost all bulbs.
- Another reason why it is correct to plant hazel grouse in the fall is related to the development cycle of the bulbs. During the spring and summer they will not be able to accumulate enough nutrients and become stronger by the first frost. Therefore, the bulbs do not ripen fully and may die in winter. And even if they survive, the flowering will be quite sparse.
Planting in the fall has quite a few advantages, but there are also disadvantages. The main disadvantage is related to the fact that you need to accurately determine the timing. If frosts come too early and then recede (it happens that Indian summer even comes after this), then the bulbs can be seriously damaged.
Therefore, when planting, you need to be guided by the fact that the deadlines are tight - hazel grouse need at least 3-4 weeks of stable heat. If you start work earlier, the flowers will grow and freeze, and if later, they will not have time to take root and will suffer from frost.
In order for plants to bloom well, they should be planted only in the fall.
When to plant hazel grouse in open ground in the fall
When planting hazel grouse in the fall, it is very important to determine the timing. As a rule, they occur during warm periods - mainly in September, and in some areas even at the end of August. But if, according to the forecast, the autumn will be dry and not cold, work can begin in the first half of August. Specific dates depend on the weather forecast and climatic characteristics of the regions:
- The optimal time for planting hazel grouse in the fall in the Moscow region and other areas of the middle zone is the first half, mid-September.
- In the south, planting begins at the end of September or beginning of October.
- Grouse hazel grouse should be planted in the fall in the Leningrad region and other regions of the North-West at approximately the same time as in the Moscow region, and in the northern regions - a week earlier.
- In the Urals, Siberia and other areas with harsh winters - from mid-August to the first ten days of September.
How to plant hazel grouse in autumn before winter
Once you have decided on the timing, you need to prepare the place in advance. You will need to dig up and fertilize the soil. The day before planting, begin preparing the bulbs. The more carefully you approach the preliminary work, the better the tubers will take root, and the more flowers they will produce for the next season. The basic rules are described below.
Selecting a location
Before planting hazel grouse bulbs in the fall, you need to choose the right place for the flower bed. It must meet several requirements:
- sunny, open, with slight partial shade from shrubs allowed;
- no stagnation of water (melt, rain, after irrigation). The planting site should be located on a slight hill, and lowlands should be excluded;
- fertile, loose soil - light loam with a slightly acidic or neutral reaction pH of 6-7 is well suited;
- if possible, protected from strong winds, especially on the north side of the garden.
Hazel grouse grow well in lighted flower beds
Hazel grouse look good along fences, framed by paths, and the borders of different zones of a flower garden. They can be used in rock gardens and other beautiful compositions.
Soil preparation
Soil preparation begins 1-2 months before planting in the fall, approximately at the end of July. The surface of the flowerbed is cleaned and dug up onto the bayonet of a shovel. To fertilize the soil, add a bucket of compost or humus per square meter. If the soil is clayey, add up to 3 kg of sand, sawdust or peat to the same area.
Preparing the bulbs
Before planting fritillaria in the fall, it is necessary to prepare the bulbs. Unlike tulips, daffodils, and gladioli, the tubers of hazel grouse are very heavy and can even reach 500 g. They must be carefully examined first:
- crush with your fingers - the surface should be hard enough and not leave dents;
- absence of scratches, other mechanical damage, rot and other symptoms of disease.
Sometimes small roots will appear on the bulbs as the fritillaries begin to sprout. This does not mean that they should be planted as soon as possible - if the roots are no more than 3-4 cm, there is no need to rush. But if the roots have become too long, then when planting in the fall they must be shortened. Otherwise, they will break and may rot.
Also, the corms may contain residues and traces of dried stems. This is a completely normal phenomenon - you shouldn’t cut them off. It is better not to injure the planting material in any way to avoid the appearance of open wounds.
Immediately on the day of planting, hazel grouse should be pickled in a solution of potassium permanganate (1 g per 1 liter, hold for 20-30 minutes).If it is not there, you can use Fundazol, Fitosporin or other fungicides (strictly according to the instructions). No other preparation is required - immediately after disinfection you can begin rooting.
Planting scheme for hazel grouse in autumn
As already mentioned, hazel grouse bulbs are very large, therefore the depth of their planting in the ground in the fall should be maximum. The indicator is calculated individually - it should be three times the height of the bulb. For example, if a tuber is 5 cm, then it is planted at 15 cm, and if it is 10 cm, then at 30 cm.
Small bulbs can be planted at a depth of 15 cm
The planting scheme is quite simple - you need to act like this:
- The corms are sorted by size into 2-3 groups.
- Mark several large holes 40-50 cm wide with the same interval (tight fit). If space allows, you can place it at a distance of 60-70 cm.
- A small layer of drainage is laid at the bottom - small stones, sand.
- Then a layer of fertile soil is laid - literally 2 cm.
- 5-6 tubers are placed on this layer in each hole at once - this is normal practice for hazel grouse. Place it at a slight angle, trying to straighten the roots (if any).
- Sprinkle with sand up to 3 cm, then add fertile soil again and fill up to the surface level.
- Water with settled water, then lay mulch.
Caring for hazel grouse in the fall after planting
Care after planting is quite simple. Hazel grouse do not need abundant watering in the fall, but they need to be carefully covered for the winter and fertilized once. Particular attention should be paid to shelter for the winter. No matter how deep the hole is, the earth itself will not save you from frost. Therefore, plantings must be carefully mulched. The basic rules are described below.
Watering
Watering is given immediately after planting.It should be moderate - 5-7 liters per square meter. The water is first left to stand at room temperature for 10-12 hours. If the autumn is quite dry and warm, two weeks after planting the hazel grouse can be given another watering in a very small volume - 3-4 liters per 1 m2.
Top dressing
If the soil was fertilized before planting the bulbs in the fall, it is not necessary to apply any additional fertilizing. If the soil is infertile, you can add black peat and a pinch of wood ash. Next year, standard fertilizing is applied. In the spring they give nitrogen compounds, and during flowering - complex fertilizers or superphosphate with potassium sulfate.
Shelter
Particular care must be taken when covering hazel grouse for the winter. A week before the first frost, it is necessary to lay out a layer of mulch at least 12 cm high (in the Urals, Siberia, and the Far East - 20 cm). These can be different materials:
- straw;
- spruce branches;
- wood chips;
- hay;
- sawdust;
- needles;
- humus.
You can use wood chips and other materials for mulching.
The shelter is removed immediately after the snow cover melts. You need to hurry up and not leave the protective layer on for too long. Otherwise, the bulbs will rot due to excess moisture.
Conclusion
Planting hazel grouse in open ground in the fall is quite simple. You must first prepare the flowerbed, as well as the bulbs themselves. They are selected, inspected and treated with a fungicide. Then they are planted in pre-prepared deep holes, watered and mulched. The video also shows how to properly plant hazel grouse in the fall.
