Reproduction of spirea

Even a novice gardener can propagate spirea. The shrub takes root well in a new place, does not need special care.

Features of reproduction of spirea shrub

It is most effective to propagate spirea in early spring or autumn, when there is enough natural moisture in the soil for the shrub to take root. However, experienced gardeners successfully breed it in the summer.

Spring breeding is planned until the buds swell. Usually this is mid-March, but dates may vary in different regions. If time is lost, then you will have to wait until the active growth of the leaves stops. As a rule, this happens at the end of spring, when the spirea is preparing to bloom.

Reproduction of shrubs in summer is possible, but only if the weather is cloudy. It is very important that the young plant does not lose moisture. Strong heat and lack of water adversely affect the survival rate of spirea. Work is scheduled for early or mid-June. If at this time the spirea is still blooming, then reproduction will have to be postponed for several weeks.

Autumn reproduction of spirea should be completed a few weeks before the first frost. Work is planned for mid-September, but planting can be extended until early October. Autumn breeding has the most advantages. Gardeners are pleased with the fact that young plants do not need constant care, it is enough to insulate them for the winter. In summer and spring, spirea needs constant spraying and watering, without which the survival rate of planting material is low.

How does spirea reproduce?

The most common way to propagate spirea is to root cuttings. Young plants retain all varietal characteristics and take root well. Absolutely all shrub hydrides are easy to cut.

There are also proven ways of propagating spirea, which, with the right approach, give good results:

• dividing the bush;
• retraction method;
• seeds.

The latter method is only suitable for varietal plants; propagating hybrid spirea using this method does not make sense.

Reproduction of spiraea by cuttings

Spirea propagation can be carried out with lignified or green cuttings. It all depends on what time of the year rooting takes place. Cuttings are annual or last year’s shoots. It is easy to distinguish them – on a new growth, the bark is still light.

When to cut spirea

Spirea cuttings are possible in early spring and summer, as well as autumn. You need to harvest shoots in cloudy weather. Planting material is cut from a healthy bush. If the spirea has signs of damage by pests or diseases, then the mother plant must first be treated. Spraying is repeated if necessary. It is possible to harvest cuttings for further propagation no earlier than after 3 days.

How to propagate spirea cuttings in spring

In spring, spirea propagation is carried out with lignified cuttings. Use last year’s matured branches, the thickness of which is not more than 0,5 cm. Cuttings are cut from the middle of the shoot. The lower cut is made oblique, and the upper cut is straight. Each prepared cutting should have 5-6 buds. Small incisions are made above the bottom two to encourage root formation.

Root cuttings in the spring can be directly in the ground or in a container, followed by transplanting to a permanent place.

Algorithm of actions:

1. For rooting in a container, you will need a loose substrate, sand, drainage.
2. Expanded clay is poured at the bottom of the tank, then a layer of fertile soil, sand.
3. The cuttings are pre-soaked in a solution of “Kornevin” or another growth stimulant.
4. The lower cut is deepened by 2-3 buds so that it does not touch the soil, but is in a layer of sand. This will prevent rotting and increase the survival rate of planting material.

After planting, the container is placed in a greenhouse. It takes up to 1 month to form roots. All this time you need to ventilate and, if necessary, water the plantings.

In open ground, cuttings are rooted in the same way, with the only difference being that they are planted immediately in a permanent place or in a school. To make the formation of roots faster, plantings are regularly sprayed with a spray bottle.

How to propagate spirea cuttings in summer

In summer, green cuttings are chosen for spirea propagation. The tops of young shoots are cut off, as they can rot or break off during the rooting process. All the lower leaves are cut off from the prepared cutting, leaving only the top 4 pieces, while the leaf plate is shortened by a third.

The lower cut is treated in a solution of potassium permanganate, after which the cuttings are planted in a nutrient substrate. The shoots are deepened by 1,5-2 cm. The distance between them is about 3 cm.

A place for rooting is chosen shaded from the scorching sun, but well ventilated. Landings are covered with glass or a package to form a greenhouse effect. Periodically, the cuttings are aired. They are transferred to a permanent place when the shoots grow.

How to propagate spirea by dividing a bush

Reproduction of spirea, which has reached the age of 3-4 years, can be carried out by dividing the bush. It is difficult to divide older plants in this way without damaging the root system.

You can propagate the perennial by division at any time of the year, but it is better to do this in the fall. Gardeners recommend planning work for the beginning of September. At this time, the shrub requires a minimum of care. In summer, it is more difficult to divide it, it is better to do it in cloudy weather or when it rains.

Spirea is dug up, placed in a bucket of water for several hours, after which it is divided into 2-3 divisions. Use a sharp pruner, which is pre-disinfected. The roots of plants are cut before planting and transferred to prepared holes.

Propagation of spirea by seeds

One way to propagate spirea is to grow seedlings from seeds. This method allows you to get a lot of planting material. Seeds do not require special preparations and stratification. They are harvested in the summer, and planted in autumn or spring.

To do this:

1. Seed boxes are harvested in late July – early August.
2. They are ripened for 3 weeks at home.
3. For planting, loose soil is used, which is filled with containers.
4. Seeds are evenly distributed over the surface of the soil, lightly sprinkled.
5. Landings are well sprayed from a spray bottle and covered with a bag for the greenhouse effect. When shoots appear, the package is removed.

Seedlings dive in a few months, by that time they will reach a height of 2 cm.

Instructions:

1. Plants are planted in a box, a distance of 7 cm is left between them.
2. After that, the container with the seedlings is removed for the summer in the garden, so that direct sunlight does not fall on it.
3. Young shoots are watered abundantly, the soil should not dry out, as weak roots will quickly die.

In autumn, the sprouts are transplanted into open ground, where they overwinter. In the spring, plants are assigned a permanent place. Flowering of young bushes will begin after 3 years of cultivation.

How to propagate a spirea bush by layering

If you need to get only a few shoots from a bush, it is most convenient to propagate spirea by tapping. Work is scheduled for early spring. The lower shoots are selected, slightly broken, pinned to the ground and covered with soil.

At the mother bush, all inflorescences are cut off so that forces are spent on the formation of roots in young shoots. The soil under the perennial is kept moist. By the end of the season, the cuttings will form a good root system, but it is too early to transplant them. For the winter, the plants are spudded, covered with dry leaves. Transplanted to a permanent place in the spring.

Tips from experienced gardeners

In order for the spirea to develop well after rooting and delight in flowering, you need to follow simple rules:

1. For planting in a permanent place, a deep hole is prepared, which is 3 times the size of the root system. The bottom is well drained with broken bricks, pebbles and sand.
2. The hole is filled with a nutrient substrate from garden soil, peat and sand. The components are mixed in a ratio of 2:1:1
3. The seedling is lowered into the hole so that the root collar remains level with the soil.
4. After planting, spirea is mulched with humus and watered abundantly.

If there are several plants on the site, then between them it is necessary to maintain a distance of up to 1 m. To create a hedge from spirea, the plants are planted denser, it is enough to leave 40-50 cm between them.

The first years after rooting, perennials need careful care. At this moment there is an acclimatization of bushes. Water them regularly, the root system should not dry out. In rainy weather, it is not necessary to additionally moisten the soil.

During the growing season, the perennial must be fed with liquid mineral mixtures and organic matter. For the winter, the soil under the plant is mulched with dry leaves, the shoots are tied and covered with spruce branches. The first time spirea pruning is done after wintering.

Conclusion

Spiraea can be propagated in many ways. It is important to correctly determine the method and time of the procedure. Beginners should stop at grafting a shrub, gradually learning more complex methods.