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Irga is an ornamental plant that grows as a shrub. It is very beautiful, pleasing to the eye with its flowering in May, and in September with a charming crown. Favorably complements not only landscape design, but also brings significant benefits, as it contains a complex of vitamins and useful elements.
Description
The origin began at the shadberry in North America and Europe, it belongs to the Rosaceae family. The height of the shrub can vary several meters in height, it all depends on the variety. The fruit grows in the form of berries and can be red, purple and even black. From one base can grow up to 25 trunks, up to 10 meters high.
This shrub is considered a long-liver (it can bear fruit for more than 50 years), not afraid of strong and frosty winds, drought, and tends to take root in any environment and soil.
About 10 species are known in Ukraine.
- Irga Smooth. A real beauty, it is distinguished by wide branches, rich color of leaves and gracefully hanging inflorescences. The berries have a purple dark color, and the leaves, over time, acquire a crimson hue. In height it can reach about 5-10 meters. It grows well in urban environments and requires almost no watering.
- Irga Canadian. Shrub, quite large in size, about 12 meters long. It has beautiful white inflorescences and reddish shoots. By autumn it is covered with dark berries and burgundy leaves. It is often used as an ornamental bush, because Canadian irga looks very beautiful, planting and caring for which do not require much time and effort. The plant can exist with minimal watering, in a polluted urban atmosphere.
- Irga Kolosistaya. Absolutely not big, decorative bush. Unlike other species, in autumn it does not change the color of the leaves. A distinctive feature is the white fluff on young leaves. Frost tolerant and drought tolerant.
- Irga Lamarck. It has an umbrella-shaped crown and copper-colored leaves. In autumn it changes color to orange. Its berry is very tasty sweet and has a deep black color.
- Irga oval-leaved. Its height reaches 50 cm, has felt leaves. It tolerates a lack of moisture in the soil and loves heat. Suitable for southern regions. Can grow in rocky areas. Amenable to decorative “haircut”.
- Irga alder-leaved. A distinctive feature is the love of moisture, unlike other species that calmly endure drought. It has rounded leaves and large fruits. It lives on the banks of streams and rivers, near canyons, but not in swampy areas.
The beneficial properties of berries make it possible to use it in medicine. Berries contain sugar, minerals, vitamins, pectins, coumarin, keratins. Irga copes well with beriberi, which develops seasonally. An excellent prophylactic against viral and colds.
It can be used both in the form of jams, jams, and in the form of compote. After heat treatment, the berries do not lose their useful qualities. They are recommended for people suffering from cardiovascular diseases. Reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood.
It should be noted that it is best to take irgi berries at night, they, especially in combination with drugs, can cause drowsiness. It is better for people suffering from hypertension to refrain from taking the fruits of irgi, they lower blood pressure. In addition, they increase blood clotting, with a tendency to thrombophlebitis, it is undesirable to take berries.
When picking berries in the forest, it is important not to confuse the irga with the buckthorn, if you eat it less than a year after picking, you can get very poisoned.
Video “Description”
From the video you will learn what kind of unusual irga plant it is.
Soil preparation
Irga is not whimsical to the choice of soil. It can grow on the edge of the forest, in rocks, in sandy areas. The soil should not be very dry and not swampy.
In order for the harvest to be large and the plant to “ripen” correctly, experts recommend planting it in loamy or sandy loamy soil. Preparing the soil for planting is no different than when planting other berry bushes.
Site Selection
Before planting the irgi, you should carefully consider the place for this procedure. The plant loves the sun’s rays and therefore it is best to plant on the south or west side of the site. Thanks to the sun, the branches will not grow upwards. If there is no such place, then you can plant it along the house or fence. Often irgi bushes are planted as a living fence.
Landing
Irga when planting and leaving is completely unpretentious. It does not take much time and is not distinguished by special rules and canons.
Planting seedlings occurs in spring or autumn. One- or two-year-old shrubs are used. It is recommended to prepare a landing site in advance, clearing all roots and weeds.
The excavated earth is mixed with manure and sand, phosphate fertilizers are added. The width of the pit should be approximately 0,5-0,8 meters, a maximum depth of 0,5 meters. It should be lowered before the beginning of the root system, after which it is covered with the prepared mixture and watered abundantly.
After the water is absorbed and the soil settles, it is necessary to add earth to the hole and level it with the level of the site. After that, the soil around is sprinkled with humus or earth. As a result, branches are cut to 12-15 cm from the ground, so that 4 buds remain on each branch. It is recommended to plant 2-3 bushes in one area.
Care
Irga in planting and care is very simple and does not take much effort and time. In the first year after planting, watering, processing and weeding around is necessary. Fertilizers should be added, preferably mineral.
In early spring, it is recommended to cut vertical branches. This is done in order to give strength and the opportunity to bloom to all the kidneys. Pruning should be done once every 1-3 years. If the bush develops poorly in the second year, then at the end of spring it is worth adding bird or cow droppings, a manure mixture.
Trimming
Pruning must be done very carefully. This is done to rejuvenate the branches and give the desired shape. In the early years, almost all branches are removed and some of the strongest shoots are left.
There are 2 types of pruning: shortening and thinning. During thinning, weak, diseased, broken branches or those that grow inward are cut off. This is done every year.
In the case of shortening, only the tops of the shoots are cut off, due to which the crown becomes wider and denser. It is important to remember that pruning should be done in the fall – after the foliage has fallen or in the spring – until the buds swell.
Reproduction
Such types of reproduction of irgi are known:
- seeds – is considered one of the longest growing methods;
- grafting – usually use rowan. Grafting occurs before the start of the growing season, in the spring at a height of 15 cm from the root collar;
- cuttings – one of the most difficult types, but the most common;
- layering – choose one- or two-year-old branches.
Which breeding method to choose depends on your own beliefs and preferences.
Cutting
So that varietal characteristics are not lost. Then preference should be given to the method of propagation by green cuttings.
From an adult bush, cuttings 15 cm long are taken. All leaves are removed, leaving only a couple of top ones. Further, the lower cut is placed in a special root-forming mixture. Leave for as long as indicated in the instructions.
After this procedure, the stalk is washed with cold water and placed in a greenhouse at an angle. Sprinkle with a little sand. A distance of approximately 20 cm should be maintained between the top of the cuttings and the dome of the greenhouse. The temperature is maintained at a level of at least +25 degrees. Fresh air is also needed.
When watering, it is necessary that water does not fall on the area at the roots, but is sprayed. The soil must be constantly moist.
When the cuttings take root, the greenhouse begins to open during the day, this happens after three weeks. When they become strong, then the greenhouse can not be closed at night.
You can transplant to a small bed, back up with mineral fertilizers. And next autumn they can be transferred to a permanent place of “residence”.
Graft
Rarely, but still used and grafting reproduction. They graft onto mountain ash, for example, a kind of smooth irgi. It is possible for another variety of shadberry, but the result will be root shoots.
This method of reproduction basically does not produce root shoots. This greatly facilitates the care of the plant. It grows quite quickly and actively bears fruit.
Layering
Can be propagated by layering. To do this, choose young shoots that are less than two years old. They are dug in early spring. Previously, the soil is plowed under the selected shoots. Furrows are drawn and shoots are laid in them.
The top must be pinched. When young shoots reach 10 cm, they must be half covered with earth. After a few weeks, when they grow another 5 cm, sprinkle with earth again up to half.
In the fall, rooted layers can be transplanted, or you can do this procedure in the spring.
If you properly care for this, a very beautiful and decorative shrub, it pleases the eye and complements any landscape design.
Video “Landing”
From the video you will learn how to properly plant an irga plant.
