Content
Planting and caring for princelings in open ground is not very difficult, so it is accessible even to a novice gardener. It is worth considering that the vine has fragile roots, so it is not worth replanting it often. It is necessary to immediately select a suitable site and set the correct timing for planting. How to do this and how to organize proper care is described in the presented article.
What is the difference between clematis and princely
Princes and clematis are very similar to each other. They belong to the same buttercup family. However, the systematic position is slightly different:
- Prince (Atragene) is a subgenus of the genus Clematis.
- Clematis is a genus that includes both different species of clematis itself and prince. It is also worth recalling that clematis has several other names, for example, clematis or lozinka.
There are different points of view regarding the botanical division of plants. For example, some scientists classify princelings not as a subgenus, but as a section, or do not recognize such a classification at all. But there is no doubt: both prince and clematis belong to the same ranunculaceae family. Therefore, the rules for planting and caring for these crops are practically no different.
Externally, both clematis and princelings are also very similar to each other. They have almost identical stems, leaves and flowers. But there are also differences that can be seen if you look closely.
Comparison criterion | Prince | Clematis |
Bud | There are large sepals, stamens and underdeveloped stamens (staminodes) that do not produce pollen. | There are only small sepals and developed stamens with pollen |
Flower | Smaller (3-12 cm), some open partially, drooping bell shape | Larger (5-20 cm), completely open |
Bloom | Usually in one wave, starts at the end of April* | In two waves - in June, then in August |
Leaves | With serrated edges and pointed shape | Smooth rounded edges |
Trimming group | First (annual pruning is not needed, just remove faded flower stalks) | First, second or third |
*with proper planting and care, there may be a second wave in August, but there will still be few flowers
Prince flowers are slightly smaller than those of clematis
How to plant a prince correctly
Prince planting in open ground is usually planned in the spring. It is best to choose the period from the end of March to mid-April, when the seedlings have not yet begun to grow. It is worth considering the climatic features of the region:
- middle zone - end of March;
- southern regions - the first half of March;
- Ural, Siberia, Far East - early April.
Autumn planting is also allowed - in this case, work begins from the end of September to mid-October. It is necessary to have time before the onset of the first frost, after which the seedlings should be mulched for the winter, and the shelter should be removed in early spring.
Choosing a landing site
In order to properly plant the princes and organize proper care, you need to start by choosing a suitable place. The plant is perennial and should not be replanted often. Therefore, it is advisable to immediately select a good site that meets several requirements:
- dryness - a small hill will do, but lowlands should not be considered;
- sufficient illumination, but at the same time the presence of partial shade, for example, from large shrubs and trees;
- sheltered from the winds;
- the presence of a vertical support, for example, a pergola, fence or gazebo (when planting and caring, it should be taken into account that the prince, like clematis, is a vine with flowers that clings to the structure and grows upward).
Soil preparation
It is better to plant princes in fertile and loose soil with a slightly acidic or neutral reaction (pH = 6-7). Sandy or loamy soil is optimal. It is advisable to prepare it for planting in advance.
It is advisable to start preparing the soil in the fall.
To do this, dig up the soil and add humus in an amount of 5-7 kg per square meter. If the soil contains a lot of clay, it must be fertilized with sawdust or sand in an amount of 2-3 kg for the same area. It is this approach that allows you to create normal conditions for growing princelings.
Correct landing of the prince
For proper planting and care of the crop, it is important to observe both the size of the hole and the distance between the holes (if you plan to plant several vines). The sequence of actions is as follows:
- Dig several holes 50-60 cm deep and wide at intervals of 70 to 150 cm. The fact is that the vines grow quite strongly, and this circumstance must be kept in mind.
- A layer of small stones, for example, pebbles, expanded clay, broken brick up to 15 cm high, is placed at the bottom.
- Cover with fertile soil mixture - for proper planting and care, take garden soil (2 parts) mixed with peat and humus (1 part each). You can add a few handfuls of sand.
- Take a seedling or rooted cutting (age 2 years or more), cut off all shoots growing above the first or second bud.
- Root in the center of the hole, carefully straighten the roots.
- Sprinkle with soil and tamp down a little so that the root collar goes to a depth of 5-10 cm.
- Water with settled water and lay a layer of mulch.
It is better to plant princes in a slightly shaded area
How to care for princes
After planting, it is necessary to organize care. This is especially important in the first season. It should be noted that the plant needs regular, but not very abundant watering. Fertilizing also needs to be given regularly - otherwise flowering will not be as lush and shorter lasting.
Watering and loosening
Princes love regular watering. In the first year, water is given weekly, and in drought - twice as often. But adult vines no longer need such a volume of moisture. It is enough to water them 2-3 times a month. It is important to ensure that the soil always remains slightly moist.
After watering or heavy rain, the soil should be thoroughly loosened using a small rake.Care also includes periodic weeding - if weeds are not removed, this will have a bad effect on the growth rate of the vine. To ensure that there are as few weeds as possible, the plantings are mulched with straw, hay, peat or other materials.
Feeding the princes
It is advisable to feed the princelings every month, starting from April and ending in August. Proper care involves alternating complex mineral fertilizers, for example, Kemira Lux, and organic matter, for example, mullein infusion 1:10.
In the spring you need to focus on nitrogen formulations. Immediately after the snow melts, it is recommended to add urea or ammonium nitrate (20 g per 10 l). During the formation of buds and flowering, it is advisable to feed with superphosphate (40 g per 10 l) and potassium sulfate (30 g per 10 l).
For proper planting and care in early autumn, the tree trunk circle of the princely vine is treated with wood ash. You can simply sprinkle it or pour it with water infusion (concentration 200 g per 10 l).
How to trim princes
Unlike clematis, princelings cannot be pruned so carefully. Proper care only involves removing faded flower stalks. In early spring, sanitary pruning is carried out - old, dry, frozen branches are removed. If necessary, thin out heavily thickened, old vines.
Princes need only minimal pruning
Preparing the princes for winter
Particular attention during care should be paid to wintering. In the first year after planting, the prince overwinters with certain risks, since the seedling is young. Therefore, it must be covered regardless of the frost resistance of the variety and the climatic features of the area.
In other seasons, preparation for wintering is needed only in regions with a harsh climate, for example, in Siberia and the Urals. The instructions are:
- In the second half of October, hill up with dry soil; you can use a mixture of peat and humus in a 1:1 ratio.
- Mulch the soil with sawdust, peat, cover with spruce branches or agrofibre. The use of film is not allowed.
- If the variety is not winter-hardy, the vine must be removed from its supports, carefully rolled into rings and placed on a previously prepared layer of dry leaves or sand and ash.
- Cover the top with a box, sprinkle it with earth, then lay spruce branches or roofing felt.
But even in this case, it is quite possible to revive the prince. To do this, all damaged branches are removed in March, and in April they begin to intensively feed the vine.
How to transplant the prince to another place
It is not recommended to replant the prince unless absolutely necessary. In fact, it is better not to disturb the vine, since planting and caring for it do not require frequent transplants. The root system is very thin and fragile, so it can be easily damaged due to careless actions.
But if the need arises, you can plan to plant the prince in a new place. To organize competent care for it, work should be planned for the period from the end of March to the beginning of April. The rules for selecting and preparing a site are exactly the same. The process itself goes like this:
- The vine is carefully removed from the support.
- Planting holes are prepared in advance in a new location.
- Water the plant abundantly.
- The next day, carefully dig up, trying to preserve the earthen ball around the roots as much as possible.
- For proper planting and care, carefully transfer to a new place and plant at the same depth.
- Water with settled water and mulch after a few days.
Princes should only be replanted if absolutely necessary.
How princelings reproduce
Most often, summer residents and gardeners propagate the crop by vegetative methods, i.e. cuttings and dividing the bush. This practically guarantees the desired result and makes care much easier. Growing from seeds is less common.
Cuttings of princes
It is better to take cuttings of princelings in late spring. Take young green shoots, make an oblique lower cut, and place them overnight in a solution of a growth stimulant, for example, Heteroauxin. Then it is transferred to a fertile, highly moistened mixture (sand and peat 1:1). Cover with a transparent jar and remove it periodically for watering and ventilation.
After 1.5 months, the shelter is completely removed, and for the winter it is carefully mulched and covered with agrofibre. Next spring, the cuttings can be transplanted to a permanent place and proper care can be organized.
How to grow princelings from seeds
At home, you can grow princelings from seeds. They are collected independently or purchased in a store. Sowing begins at the end of September - beginning of October. If you plan spring planting in April, the seeds should be kept in the refrigerator for several months, since proper care necessarily involves stratification.
The seeds are planted in small furrows to a depth of 1-2 cm. There is no need to water them in the fall - they should be mulched and left until spring. If planted in April, it is necessary to water thoroughly, then cover with film and grow in greenhouse conditions.
After the emergence and growth of seedlings, care involves mandatory thinning. For the winter, carefully mulch and cover.A year later, the resulting princely seedlings are transplanted to a permanent place. Since propagation of princelings by seeds is labor-intensive, this method is rarely used.
Dividing the bush
Proper planting and care include periodic rejuvenation of princelings from 5-6 years of age. If the vine has grown greatly, you should dig it up and divide the bush into several parts. In the south it is better to do this in the fall (late October, early November). In other regions, it is advisable to start work from the end of March to mid-April.
To organize proper planting and care, dividing princely bushes is done as follows:
- Prepare a place for transplantation in advance.
- Remove the vine from the support.
- Mark the boundaries of the tree trunk circle with a shovel.
- Carefully dig up from all sides.
- Cut the roots into several parts (each section should have a healthy bud).
- Then they are planted in a new place and buried to the same depth.
- Water with settled water and mulch.
After dividing the bush, the vines will produce flowers this year
Diseases and pests
The prince may suffer from various diseases. If planted and cared for incorrectly, it is at risk for the following infections: powdery mildew, brown spot and rust. For prevention, watering rates should be observed, and in the spring, treatments should be carried out with the following preparations:
- "Profit";
- "Bordeaux mixture";
- "Abiga Peak".
Among the pests, the most dangerous are slugs, snails, root-knot nematodes and mealybugs, as well as aphids. Insects are fought with insecticides, for example, treatments are carried out with Vertimek, Colorado, Inta-Vir. To repel snails, crushed nut or egg shells are sprinkled around the vine after planting.
Why don't princes bloom?
Normally, princelings produce quite a lot of large and medium-sized flowers.But improper planting and care can cause them to stop blooming. The main reasons for this violation are:
- Lack of sunlight.
- Excessive humidity (especially when planting in a lowland, narrow area, for example, between a house and a fence).
- Irregular feeding or its complete absence.
- Severe freezing in winter, lack of or insufficient shelter.
Conclusion
Planting and caring for princelings in open ground requires some caution, especially during transplantation. Liana does not like excessive moisture and is responsive only to moderate watering and regular feeding. If you follow these rules, it will produce many beautiful and quite large flowers every year.
