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Peony Summer Glau is a hybrid variety of peony with large flowers up to 18 cm in diameter. It mainly blooms in the second half of summer, decorates the garden well both in single and in group plantings. It does not impose special requirements for care, but needs abundant watering and regular fertilization.
Description of peony Summer Glau
Summer Glau is one of the most beautiful peonies. This hybrid variety was bred in the early 1990s in the USA. The height of the bush reaches 80 cm, but the main value is represented by large double flowers. They are painted in creamy, creamy shades with fawn, peach-yellow accents. Excellent contrast against the background of dark green leaves.
Peony Summer Glau casts delicate, large flowers exuding a delicate aroma
It grows very slowly, the bush is compact, not sprawling. However, it produces a lot of lush, heavy flowers, so it needs support. It can be an ordinary peg to which a bush is tied. On average, the Summer Glau peony blooms successfully for several years in a row, producing lush, fragrant flowers.
It belongs to light and moisture-loving varieties, so when breeding it is better to choose the southern and eastern side of the garden. At the same time, the plant tolerates shade well. It is distinguished by increased winter hardiness, growing zone 3. According to various sources, it withstands frosts from -34 to -40 degrees.
Therefore, it can take root in different regions:
- Central Our Country;
- Northwest;
- South of Our Country;
- The Urals;
- Siberia;
- Far East.
Features of flowering
Flowers are cream, white, creamy shades interspersed with fawn, orange and peach. Variety characteristics:
- large-flowered (up to 18 cm in diameter);
- maroon;
- type: woody shrub.
The flowering period of Summer Glau usually falls in the second half of July and August, so this variety is classified as late flowering. The splendor of flowering mainly depends on such factors:
- soil fertility;
- degree of friability;
- site illumination;
- fertilizing and watering.
Application in design
Peony Summer Glau, thanks to its beautiful foliage and lush flowers, looks good even in single plantings. For example, it can be placed along paths, on an open lawn, next to a veranda, gazebo or bench.
Peony Summer Glau looks good in single plantings
The bush goes well with many other flowers. It also harmonizes with perennial conifers. Summer Glau is often planted in mixborders, combining them with asters, delphiniums, geleniums and other beautiful flowers.
When planting a Summer Glau peony, it is important to remember that it likes to dominate, absorbing moisture and nutrients from the soil. Therefore, you should not place it next to colors such as:
- windmill;
- Adonis;
- backache and other representatives of the Ranunculaceae family.
Lush, delicate Summer Glau flowers and rich green foliage – a real decoration of the garden
Methods of reproduction
Peony Summer Glau is often propagated vegetatively:
- with the help of layering;
- cuttings;
- division of the bush.
Since this variety does not like to be disturbed, it is not worth propagating by dividing the bush. It is better to try an easier way – for example, plant a peony with cuttings. It is this method that is used when propagating valuable, exotic varieties.
The instruction is simple:
- Reproduction is started when the Summer Glau bush has reached an average age of 4-5 years. From one plant, you can prepare 10-15 cuttings.
- They are cut in the first half of June – preferably from the middle part of the stem. The length of the cutting is arbitrary, the main condition is that it has at least 2 internodes.
- The upper part is cut 2 cm above the last sheet. From below, a cut is made under the leaf cushion.
- Soak for several hours in a growth stimulator (“Epin”, “Kornevin”).
- Planted directly in open ground at an angle of 45 degrees in fertile soil (equal parts of humus and soddy soil) with a top layer of sand 6-7 cm.
- Sprayed with water 3-4 times a day for 10 days, first grown under glass or under film at a temperature of 24-25 degrees.
- Then they begin to ventilate (after 3-4 weeks), spraying is reduced.
- After 2 months, a greenhouse is opened.
- For the winter, they mulch well with sawdust, as well as needles, straw or fallen leaves – the seedling must be completely covered.
- In the spring (March – April), the mulch is removed and the cuttings are transplanted to a permanent place.
The main method of propagation of the Summer Glau peony is stem cuttings.
Rules of landing
It is better to purchase Summer Glau seedlings in trusted nurseries or stores. This should be done at the end of summer in order to immediately land in open ground. The last week of August is considered the optimal time, since autumn root growth begins at this time, and on the other hand, the weather is still warm even in the Siberian and Ural regions.
When choosing a place, it is recommended to pay attention to several points:
- it must be open – only a slight shadow is allowed;
- ideally, if the site is protected from strong winds by fences, benches, bushes and other shelters;
- it is advisable to plant in a dry place, on a slight hill, since moisture can stagnate in the lowland after rains.
Ideally, it is better to prepare a landing pit in April so that the soil shrinks. But if it didn’t work out, then you can plant the Summer Glau peony directly into fresh holes. The sequence of actions is as follows:
- Clean and dig the site to a depth of 50 cm.
- Dig a middle hole (diameter 40 cm, depth 50 cm). At the same time, they are guided by the size of the roots – they should be freely placed in the hole (sometimes the dimensions are increased to 60 cm).
- At 2/3 of the depth of the hole, a mixture of garden soil and compost is poured (in equal amounts), 200 g of superphosphate fertilizer and 60 g of potassium top dressing are added.
- Water abundantly so that the soil becomes like porridge in consistency.
- The seedling is deepened so that the upper buds are close to the surface (up to 5 cm deep).
- From above they fall asleep with earth, but do not tamp.
Aftercare
Despite the fact that the Summer Glau peony variety is exotic, caring for it is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. The rules are exactly the same as in the case of other, more familiar varieties.
Water not too often, but very plentifully – 2-3 buckets per flower. The soil should remain very moist, in the future they are guided by the weather. If it rains, water only 1-2 times a month, if necessary. In case of drought, watering should be weekly. For long-term moisture retention, the roots are mulched with needles, sawdust (layer 5-7 cm).
Regular application of top dressing guarantees the lush flowering of the Summer Glow peony.
For lush flowering, the Summer Glau peony must be fed several times per season:
- After the snow is completely gone, give 2 g of potassium permanganate per 5 liters of water.
- When the shoots began to grow, they are fed with nitrogen – for example, 15 g of ammonium nitrate per 10 liters of water.
- In mid-May, a complex mineral fertilizer is given, the dosage is determined according to the instructions.
- When the buds are tied, along with ammonium nitrate (7,5 g per 10 l), they give superphosphate (10 g) and potassium salt (5 g).
- At the end of the flowering of the Summer Glau peony (half a month later), fertilizer is applied a second time – again superphosphate and potassium salt in the same amount.
Preparation for winter
Despite the fact that the Summer Glau peony is a winter-hardy plant, it needs additional preparation for the winter period. According to the recommendations of experienced gardeners, the sequence of actions should be as follows:
- The last top dressing (potassium salt and superphosphates) is applied in early September. At the same time, you can give 2-3 buckets of water – shock watering for the winter.
- Peony pruning is desirable to carry out right before the first frost or immediately after them. The stems are harvested directly to ground level, leaving only 2-5 cm.
- Top cover with fallen leaves, spruce branches with a layer of 5-10 cm. You can use rotted sawdust, compost or peat. It is allowed to fall asleep with the foliage of the Summer Glau peony itself, if it did not get sick in the summer.
During the autumn pruning, the branches of the Summer Glau peony are almost completely removed.
Pests and diseases
The Summer Glau variety is resistant to many pests and diseases, but is sometimes affected by fungal and viral infections:
- rust;
- powdery mildew;
- gray rot;
- mosaic leaf disease.
Among insects and other arthropods, the following are particularly harmful:
- aphid;
- ants;
- gall nematodes;
- thrips;
- hop fine yarn.
The methods of prevention and treatment are traditional – treatment with fungicides (“Maxim”, “Skor”, “Topaz”, “Fitolavin”) and insecticides (“Biotlin”, “Green Soap”, “Aktellik”, “Karbofos”). It is allowed to use folk remedies (solutions of baking soda, mustard powder, ammonia).
Conclusion
Peony Summer Glau is one of the most beautiful hybrid varieties, which is distinguished by large flowers in pastel colors. Due to its increased winter hardiness, it is suitable for cultivation in different regions of Our Country. Since the plant does not need special care, not only an experienced, but also a novice grower will be able to cope with its cultivation.
