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Cotoneaster horizontalis one of the common varieties of cotoneaster, which is used to decorate suburban areas, as well as to ennoble the adjoining territories. Often this plant is used not only for ground cover, but also in rock gardens, as well as to create a hedge.
Description of cotoneaster horizontal
Cotoneaster horizontalis is a lush shrub from the Rosaceae family. Wild specimens of this plant are found in China. This is an evergreen perennial shrub that does not lose its “clothes” for the winter.
Shoots, as the name implies, grow horizontally and spread along the ground. In height, the plant does not grow above 1 meter. At the same time, it grows up to 2 meters in width. Such shoots perfectly mask unsightly and rocky areas of the earth.
Horizontal cotoneaster shoots are most often located in the same plane and have the shape of a fish ridge with one large branch and symmetrically arranged processes.
The leaves of the shrub are small – up to 1,5 cm in diameter. The surface is smooth and shiny. In autumn, the foliage on the shrub changes its color to red or crimson.
Cotoneaster blooms in early May, and the flowering process continues for 3 weeks. The flowers do not have a bright attractive color and are usually painted in a light pink hue.
Fruits from an ornamental shrub are inedible, because they do not have a pronounced taste. But at the same time, they are not poisonous, therefore, if there are children in the family, decorating the site with cotoneaster is a safe option.
The shrub does not need to be covered, as it calmly tolerates frost. This is an excellent decoration solution for the northern regions of the country.
As for diseases and pests, the cotoneaster most often suffers from fusarium. This is due to the fact that the plant does not tolerate high humidity, and the fungus starts up quickly. Affected shoots must be cut off and destroyed. The most common pests that are dangerous for shrubs are aphids and spider mites. In this case, it is enough to treat the shrub with a good insecticide.
Varieties of cotoneaster horizontal
Before planting cotoneaster horizontal, you need to choose a variety. Popular varieties of cotoneaster, which are most often used when planting for decorative purposes:
- Variegatus– this is a creeping plant, reaching a height of up to 30 cm. The main feature is an evergreen shrub only in warm and temperate latitudes, and in cold climates it turns into a deciduous plant.
- Perpusillis – a variety that is characterized by slow growth of shoots. The plant grows to a height of up to 50 cm. The leaves are dense and fleshy. Fruits in late August, blooms in late May. The shrub is distinguished by elegance and will decorate any site, especially in autumn, when it will stand out as a crimson spot against the background of conifers and evergreens.
These are the most popular varieties that are often found in ornamental areas and decorate areas, create hedges, as well as evergreen sculptures. Cotoneaster horizontal in the photo looks just as impressive as on the site itself.
Planting cotoneaster horizontal
With proper planting and quality care, the plant will decorate the site for a long time and delight the owner with its smooth leaves. It is important to choose the right soil and place for planting, and then carry out simple care.
Site selection and preparation of soil
Cotoneaster horizontal differs from its related varieties in that it is picky about the soil on which it grows. He needs to have a fertile and nutritious environment for normal development. The soil must necessarily contain sand, peat and earth. The site must be dug up and leveled before planting.
It is desirable that the groundwater lies deep, and it is ideal that the shrub itself is located on a small hill. And also cotoneaster feels great on the slopes.
Rules of landing
The cotoneaster planting algorithm is not difficult. First you need to prepare a pit with a drainage system. The thickness of the drainage layer of broken bricks is 20 cm. In addition to broken bricks, pebbles are excellent as drainage. The depth of the pit is 70 cm, and the width is up to 50 cm. More accurate parameters of the pit depend on the size of the root system. Seedlings with a closed root system are not supposed to be released from the ground. Shaking off clods of earth can cause damage. Thus, it will be easier to dig in. In this case, the root neck should be at the same level with the ground. After planting, the seedling should be watered abundantly.
Aftercare for cotoneaster horizontal
Shrub care is also easy. First of all, it should be remembered that the horizontal cotoneaster does not tolerate excess water, but prefers drought. Therefore, even if the summer turned out to be without rain, it is enough to water the shrub once a week or two. In the presence of rain, the amount of watering is reduced. When watering under one bush, you can not pour more than 5 buckets of water. If the soil is wet, then this figure should be reduced.
After watering, be sure to loosen the soil and weed, removing all weeds. As a spring fertilizer, a solution of urea is applied under the bush. Before flowering begins, superphosphate or potash fertilizers must be applied under the bush.
In addition, pruning is necessarily present in the care. This helps to form a hedge or give the shrub the desired shape.
Reproduction of horizontal cotoneaster
The horizontal cotoneaster reproduces in several ways. The shrub can be propagated by growing seeds, as well as cuttings and layering. When propagating by seeds, a shrub will have to be grafted, most often cotoneaster is grafted onto a hawthorn or mountain ash.
Cuttings
For propagation, cuttings are needed. As cuttings, you can use healthy shoots that remain after pruning. Shoots should be prepared by cutting at an angle, and then put in a growth stimulator for a day. The stalk should have several buds and not show signs of being affected by various diseases.
When the day has passed, the cuttings can be planted on the site in loosened and fertilized soil, which was specially prepared for them. After planting, all cuttings are covered with a plastic jar or bottle. The optimal time for planting and rooting cuttings is June. In this case, next spring, the cuttings will become full-fledged plants. Cotoneaster horizontalis propagated by cuttings quite well, this is the most common method of propagation.
Cultivation from seeds
Growing a full-fledged cotoneaster bush from seeds is quite troublesome, but the owner will be pleased with the results. The algorithm is simple:
- Harvest fruits in October and November.
- Peel the seeds from the pulp, rinse and dry.
- Soak in water, while all floating seeds are removed as defective.
- Mix seeds with peat and sand.
- Moisten the mixture.
- Put in boxes with a layer of 30-40 cm.
- Seeds should be deepened by 0,7 cm.
- Keep the box until spring at a temperature close to zero degrees.
- Germination of cotoneaster – from 5 to 20%.
- During the germination period, the seeds should be watered, while making sure that the seeds are not exposed. If seeds appear on the surface, deepen again to the required depth.
Seeds can be planted in spring. In open ground, seedlings can be determined after the first 2 leaves have appeared on them.
Layers
The location of the cotoneaster horizontal provides for easy reproduction by layering. To do this, it is enough to press the shoots to the ground and pin them with staples. The place where the shoot is pressed should be covered with humus and peat. In the spring, the main bush should be cut off from the pinned layer and the seedling should be transplanted to a permanent place.
Cotoneaster horizontal in landscape design
In horticulture, cotoneaster horizontalis is highly valued as an ornamental plant. Cotoneaster horizontal in landscape design can be seen in various photos. These are most often hedges and various structures. And also often you can use small varieties in the form of curb structures that adorn garden paths.
In group plantings, dogwood bush goes well with various coniferous plants.
Used in landscaping park areas, as well as sidewalks and recreation areas around the world. If you use cotoneaster in rock gardens, then choose the middle tier for it.
It also looks great against the background of stones and rocky hills, and therefore are used in various combinations.
Conclusion
The decoration of a suburban area or a park area will look completely different if, in combination with other plants, a horizontal cotoneaster shrub is planted. This shrub is able to endure frost and does not need constant watering at all. Unpretentious to the choice of soil, and propagated by cuttings and even seeds. As a result, the owner can quickly get a beautiful hedge with a fast-growing plant, which is also a long-liver. With proper care, cotoneaster is able to live on the site for up to 50 years or more. The main thing is not to abuse watering when leaving, so that a fungus does not form.
