Curly honeysuckle: planting and care
Curly honeysuckle is popularly called “honeysuckle”, or “goat leaf”. This plant is a perennial deciduous shrub, the shoots of which reach 6 m. It is often used as an ornamental fence in central Russia.
Planting curly honeysuckle
The shrub retains its decorative effect throughout the year. From June to September, it is adorned with white, yellow or purple fragrant flowers. In autumn, the plant is covered with dark red berries. Caprifole tolerates frost well, recovers quickly. The shrub blooms on the shoots of the current year.
Climbing honeysuckle fruits are not edible
A goat leaf is planted in early spring, somewhere from April to May. Although in practice, some plant honeysuckle in the fall. You should not do this, the plant will take root for a long time, the fragile root system will suffer during frosts. Autumn planting is possible only in the southern regions of the country, where the first frosts begin no earlier than November.
An ornamental shrub blooms profusely only in normal light. Set aside the lightest spot in your garden for planting. If this is not possible, then a light partial shade will do. The place should be open and well ventilated.
Honeysuckle grows best in fertile soils. Before planting, they dig up the soil, add mineral and organic fertilizers. Necessarily bring nitrogen and potassium, they are necessary for normal growth and flowering. After all the procedures, the earth should settle, they start planting in 2 weeks.
Landing rules:
- the pit is prepared with a size of 50 × 50 × 50 cm;
- the bottom is covered with broken brick or rubble;
- the root collar is left 5 cm above the soil surface;
- the trunk circle is mulched with humus.
A shrub is planted at a distance of at least 1 m from other plants. When planting several seedlings, about 1,5 m is left between them.A strong support is immediately installed that will support the shoots.
The shrub loves moist soil, but does not tolerate stagnant water at the roots. Water it abundantly, especially during dry periods. The soil around the plant is loosened so that a crust does not form. Mulching the trunk circle will allow you to get rid of weeding and keep the soil moisture.
Honeysuckle blooms profusely only on fertile soil. In the spring, humus is introduced, fed with a mullein solution, mineral fertilizers are used for flowering plants. If the weather is rainy, then granular preparations are added. Liquid dressing is done in dry weather. Fertilize the shrub once a month. In the summer, it is useful to do foliar feeding on the sheet.
Honeysuckle is disease and pest resistant
If the weather conditions are unfavorable, then the shrub is affected by aphids, caterpillars, suffers from powdery mildew or rust. For the purpose of prophylaxis, chemical preparations of complex action are used.
Growing honeysuckle is not as difficult as it seems. Choose a suitable location and the shrubbery won’t be a problem. Caring for him is minimal, standard procedures are enough.