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Plants of the barberry family are used not only as fruit bushes, but also to decorate the summer cottage. Barberry Ruby Star and Golden Ruby are fast-growing shrubs whose fruits are practically unsuitable for food. However, these plants look spectacular in the most modest garden – they have fairly bright leaves that can change colors depending on the season.
Planting and caring for Ruby Star and Golden Ruby barberries do not require any special rules. Plants painlessly tolerate frost and prolonged lack of moisture. Suitable for landing in almost any region. Having familiarized yourself with the nuances of choosing planting material and the rules for performing top dressing, caring for plants will be a pleasure.
Description barberry Ruby Star
Barberry Ruby Star is a deciduous shrub of the barberry family. This species was bred by Polish breeders in 2015. The Ruby Star variety is decorative, the fruits are practically not eaten.
Barberry Ruby Star grows up to 50 cm in height. The plant has a rounded crown with orange-red shoots. Over time, the branches may darken – this phenomenon depends on weather conditions. Barberry Ruby Star has small spikes, so pruning of this type is done with protective gloves.
The leaves of the Ruby Star variety are small, oval in shape, up to 3 cm in length. The upper part of each leaf is slightly rounded, the color is bright red.
Barberry flowers are yellow, collected in neat brushes. They have a rich sweet aroma. Flowering period – May, duration – 2 weeks.
The berries are red, oblong. The maximum length of the fetus is 0,8 cm.
Barberry of this variety tolerates severe frosts well. Mature plants are able to endure even the most severe winter.
Description of barbaris Golden Ruby
Barberry Thunberg Golden Ruby grows as a compact spherical shrub. Plant height can reach 40 cm. This variety is valued for its color variability, which depends on the season. In spring, the plant becomes coral-orange in color. In summer, the leaves acquire a rich burgundy hue with a golden border. Closer to autumn, the barberry becomes a brick shade. Flowers bloom in late April – early May.
The plant grows well in a sunny area, able to tolerate prolonged drought. In the shade, Golden Ruby does not develop well, the color of the leaves becomes dull. The barberry of this variety has a high resistance to frost and is well adapted to urban conditions.
Planting and caring for barberry Ruby Star and Golden Ruby
These varieties of barberry do not require a specific type of soil for planting. The bushes are not afraid of windy areas, tolerate the lack of watering well, but do not tolerate stagnant moisture in the soil. Ornamental plants love sunlight, can grow in slightly shaded areas.
Seedling and planting preparation
Before you start landing, you should choose the right place. The best option for planting ornamental bushes would be a sunny area, well protected from drafts.
Particular attention should be paid to the presence of groundwater in the soil. The area should not be swampy, it is better to land on a hill. Light, slightly loosened soil is suitable for barberry, acidity is at a neutral level. In acidic soils, liming should be done. And when planting in loamy soils or black soil, lay drainage stones on the bottom of the planting pit.
Before planting, prepare a hole. The size of the planting hole depends on the size of the seedlings. If the bush is under 2 years of age, the hole is made 30 cm deep. Older bushes are planted in holes with a depth of at least 60 cm. After preparation, the holes are filled with humus, sand and loose earth. All components are taken in equal proportions.
A few hours before planting, the root is placed in a growth stimulator. It is worth paying attention that the root system of the planting material is not damaged. Otherwise, the plant will not take root.
Rules of landing
Planting a young plant is carried out in the spring. It is very important to have time to plant a bush before the buds have blossomed, and the ground has warmed up well. If it is not possible to plant a plant in the spring, you can do it closer to the fall. Planting is carried out during the period when the foliage begins to fall off the barberry.
Ruby Star barberry planting algorithm:
- Dig deep holes.
- Lay out drainage stones, apply top dressing: humus, sand, soddy soil.
- Lay the bush in the prepared hole, sprinkle the root with earth.
- Water well, mulch.
At first, barberries are not recommended to be watered and fertilized. They start watering in drought, and fertilizing – 3 years after planting.
Watering and top dressing
Watering is carried out as needed. The shrub needs moisture during a period of prolonged drought. After watering, the ground around the bush is loosened and mulched with peat. Thus, moisture will remain in the soil longer, the root system will receive more oxygen.
It is necessary to feed the Thunberg barberry Ruby Star only for 3 years after planting. When the plant gets stronger, you can start adding nutrients:
- The first top dressing is made with the addition of mullein.
- Before flowering, nutritious granular dressings are applied.
- In autumn, the barberry is fed with potassium and superphosphate.
Trimming
Pruning barberry Ruby Star is performed in protective gloves. Due to the huge number of thorns on the shoots, this event is best done with scissors with a long handle.
Since these varieties of barberry are stunted, the shrubs do not require special pruning. It is enough to perform annual preventive removal of branches. Dry and frozen shoots are subject to pruning.
You can complete this event in the fall. Closer to September, old shoots are cut off on the bushes. Such pruning will be a good prevention against diseases and insect pests.
Preparation for winter
Although the Ruby Star and Golden Ruby varieties tolerate low temperatures well, the shrubs need shelter. The purpose of this event is to protect the branches from freezing and an abundance of moisture. The barberry is insulated when the temperature drops to -6 degrees. To do this, it is necessary to sprinkle the root neck with a 10 cm layer of earth. If the weather is snowy, you can sprinkle the bushes with snow. The upper part is covered with burlap.
Reproduction
Barberry Ruby Star and Golden Ruby are able to breed in almost any way. Planted shoots take root well, require little or no special care.
Shrub propagation methods:
- cuttings. To perform this method, a young strong cutting is separated and planted in a prepared flowerpot. When the barberry Ruby Star takes root, you can start transplanting to a permanent place;
- by dividing the bush. Used for propagation of adult shrubs. The bush is divided into several parts and planted in a prepared planting hole;
- green layers. To carry out the event, it is necessary to determine a strong branch and press it tightly to the ground, water it well. Soon the branch will give roots and take root;
- seeds. For propagation by this method, seeds are collected in the fall and dried. Landing is carried out the following year. However, reproduction in this way is more troublesome, the bush develops for a long time.
For any of the methods of reproduction, adult shrubs aged 4-5 years are better suited.
Diseases and pests
Barberry Ruby Star has an average susceptibility to diseases and insects. The shrub is susceptible to damage by barberry aphids, sawflies, codling moths. In the fight against these pests, special tools help well. However, in order to prevent damage to ornamental bushes, it is important to carry out preventive pruning of shoots, to apply nutritious top dressing once every few years.
Conclusion
Barberry Ruby Star and Golden Ruby are ornamental shrubs that are widely used to decorate a garden or local area. With the right choice of a seedling and planting in accordance with all recommendations, mistakes and hassle in care can be avoided. By planting Ruby Star barberry in a sunny corner of the site, you can observe the change in the bright color of decorative bushes.
