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Lilac Congo (pictured) is one of the early flowering varieties. Used to form alleys in parks, looks good in compositions with other trees and shrubs. The culture is self-sufficient as a tapeworm. A description of the Congo lilac with a photo will help you get to know the variety in more detail, learn about its advantages and disadvantages, breeding methods and other nuances of agricultural technology.
Description Congo cheeses
According to the description, common lilac Congo belongs to tall varieties, its length is 3-4 m. The crown of the seedling is dense and dense, rounded. The foliage is glossy, green, presented in the form of a heart.
Shrub of the Congo variety is photophilous, but tolerates moderate partial shade. In the shade it loses its decorative effect, stops blooming. The plant prefers moderately moist soils, grows well on fertile lands and loams.
How the Congo lilac blooms
The Congo lilac variety is early flowering. Dark purple buds open in early May. The flowers are bright, purple-lilac, fade in the sun and change color, becoming light purple. The smell of the buds is sharp, characteristic of lilac bushes. The petals of the flowers are broadly oval, after blooming they become flat. The flowers are collected in dense, wide-pyramidal inflorescences, the length of which reaches 20 cm. The diameter of the flowers does not exceed 2,5 cm.
Features of reproduction
There are several methods for propagating Congo lilacs. At home, shrubs are not bred with seeds; vegetative methods are more suitable for these purposes:
- cuttings;
- layering;
- graft.
For planting on the site, you can purchase grafted or own-rooted shrubs. The advantage of the latter is that they are less demanding on growing conditions, tolerate winter better and recover faster after freezing, and can also be used in the future for vegetative propagation. In addition, the life span of own-rooted lilacs is much longer than that of grafted seedlings.
Planting and care
The right place for planting is a guarantee that the Congo lilac will bloom and delight with its decorative effect for many years.
Recommended dates
In Central Our Country, the best time for landing is the last decade of August and the whole of September. This time the lilac is considered a state of rest, and before the onset of frost there is still time for rooting.
Lilacs can be planted in early spring, but in this case there is a risk of damage to the shoots by return frosts.
If the seedling is purchased from a nursery and has a closed root system, then it can be planted at any suitable time from April to October.
Site selection and preparation of soil
For planting Congo lilacs, sunny sites with fertile soils are chosen. The optimal conditions for Congo lilacs are:
- a site located on a plain or a gentle slope;
- fertile soil with good drainage;
- groundwater occurrence at the level of 1,5 m;
- neutral acidity of the soil;
- good lighting;
- wind protection.
Pre-prepare the seat, remove weeds. The standard dimensions of the pit are 50 cm in diameter and 60-70 cm deep. The dimensions of the pit depend on the condition of the soil and the development of the root system. The older the seedling, the larger hole it needs.
How to plant
A layer of drainage is poured into the bottom of the pit, which is used as gravel, small stones, broken bricks. The next layer is nutrient soil mixture. To prepare it, you will need to mix humus or compost with the ground (in equal parts).
The earth is covered in a hole in the form of a hill. The prepared seedling is set vertically, the roots are spread over the poured soil. Fill the hole with the remaining soil mixture, carefully tamping each layer.
Growing lilac Congo
In order for Congo lilac bushes to please with abundant flowering every year, some rules must be followed. Watering and fertilizing are important for the plant, mulching plays an important role, as well as timely pruning.
Watering
If the Congo lilac bush was planted in the spring, it must be moistened regularly, especially when hot, dry weather sets in. With watering, you can not overdo it so that the roots do not rot from excess moisture. After watering, the soil in the near-stem soil is loosened.
If there is no rain in the autumn period, the Congo seedling is watered several times. Usually the shrub has enough seasonal rainfall.
Mature shrubs are watered as needed. In dry times, the amount of watering is increased, if the weather is rainy, then additional moisture is not required.
Additional fertilizing
Congo lilacs will bloom more abundantly if fertilizing is properly distributed. The first two years, the seedling requires a minimum of fertilizer. In the spring, you can make a small amount of nitrogen under the bush. In the third year, you can use urea (50 g) or ammonium nitrate (70 g). For those who appreciate naturalness, we can recommend the use of organic fertilizers – manure diluted in water (5: 1). For irrigation with manure, a shallow trench is dug around the seat at a distance of at least 50 cm from the trunk. A nutrient solution is poured into the resulting moat.
Every three years, the plant is fertilized with a potassium-phosphorus composition. For each bush you will need:
- 40 g superphosphate;
- 30 g of potassium nitrate.
Fertilizers are applied to the ground, deepening by 7-10 cm, then the Congo lilac is watered.
Wood ash can be used as fertilizer. To do this, 1 bucket of water will require 300 g of powder.
Mulching
The mulching procedure helps to solve several problems at once. Under a layer of mulch, moisture does not evaporate very quickly, so the amount of watering can be reduced. In addition, mulch prevents the growth of weeds, and also becomes a source of fertilizer. The mulching substrate insulates the roots of the plant, so it is very important to renew the layer in the autumn. The mulching procedure is carried out twice: in autumn and spring.
Trimming
Congo lilac bushes need periodic pruning. There are several varieties of this operation:
- regulating flowering. It is necessary to cut off blossoming inflorescences. If the procedure is late, fading flowers will draw out the juices of the plant, which will negatively affect its appearance;
- pinching involves shortening the tops of too long healthy branches. This procedure stimulates the formation of stronger side shoots, which makes the Congo lilac bush dense and beautiful;
- sanitary removal of branches (thinning) is necessary for broken and diseased shoots. They are removed with a pruner, after the procedure the bush looks refreshed. In addition, thinning should be carried out when the bush is too thick. If there are too many branches, they begin to grow inward, become thin and brittle, and air exchange inside the crown is disturbed;
- pruning is necessary if the bush has more than three main trunks. The growth weakens the lilac bush, so it is cut off completely (under the root);
- a rejuvenating procedure is carried out for old lilac bushes. The procedure stimulates the formation of young, strong shoots. After the rejuvenating procedure, the tree can bloom only next year.
Preparation for winter
Congo lilacs are hardy (USDA zone 3), but winterization is essential. To prevent freezing of the root system of seedlings, the trunk circle is mulched. Organic materials are used for shelter: straw, sawdust, peat.
Mulching is carried out after the air temperature has dropped to -5 ºC. Young seedlings of the Congo variety additionally need crown shelter. If the branches freeze, the lilac may not bloom in spring. The trunks are wrapped with burlap or a special insulating material.
Warming depends on the region in which lilacs are grown. For example, in the conditions of Siberia, more serious preparation for winter will be required. The mulch layer should be increased to 20 cm, and the bush should be covered with agrospan and insulated with spruce branches.
Adult lilac bushes are characterized by good frost resistance, so tying the bole is not required.
Diseases and pests
With proper care and a well-chosen place for planting, the Congo lilac practically does not get sick. With a decrease in plant immunity, the following diseases may develop:
- powdery mildew;
- bacterial necrosis;
- bacterial decay;
- verticillosis.
Disease prevention consists in regulating soil moisture, fertilizing, and carrying out sanitary pruning. Of the preparations, treatment with Bordeaux liquid is used.
Insect pests can choose Congo lilac bushes: hawks, mining moths, mites, moths. To combat them, chemicals are used. The crown is treated with Fozalon or Karbofos, Fitoverm, blue vitriol.
Conclusion
A description of the Congo lilac with a photo will help you choose a seedling to decorate the site. This variety of lilac is popular, because. characterized by early flowering and an unusual purple-lilac color of the inflorescences.