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Flowering shrubs are used to decorate the garden plot. Spiraea Arguta (meadowsweet) is one of these plants. She has an exquisite beauty if proper care is provided. The rules for growing shrubs, which are widely used by landscape designers, will be discussed further.
Description of Spirea Argut
Spirea Arguta (spiraea arguta) is an ornamental shrub from the Rosaceae family. To create this hybrid, 2 species were used: Thunberg’s spirea and many-flowered.
The shoots of an adult plant grow up to 2 m, the diameter of the branches can stretch up to 3 m. The leaf blades are narrow, lanceolate. Sharp notches are clearly visible on dark green leaves. The branches of the Argut spirea are thin, bent in the form of an arc. At the end of May and almost until the end of June, meadowsweet bushes are covered with white flowers. Long umbrella-type inflorescences are formed on shoots for 2 years.
The diameter of the buds is 8 mm, the petals are 5 pcs. Inside each flower there is a large number of stamens, due to which it becomes fluffy. When flowering begins, the leaves are almost invisible, and the branches droop under the weight of the inflorescences. And the whole space is filled with honey aroma.
The development of the Argut spirea bush is slow, shoots grow by 10-20 cm per year, but regardless of this, the plant must be cut.
Spiraea Arguta is widely used by landscape designers for single plantings and creating hedges. The shrub can be found not only in garden plots, but also in large parks. Plants look favorably against the background of conifers.
Planting and caring for Spirea Argut
You can plant spirea seedlings in spring or autumn, until frosts begin. In order for the plant to take root well, choose a cool, better cloudy day.
Spirea grows on any soil, but a shrub develops better if, when planting, leaf or soddy soil, peat, and sand are added to the pit.
Meadowsweet is an unpretentious shrub that does not require special care. But when choosing a place, preference is given to an openwork shadow. Frost-resistant spirea can withstand temperatures down to -40 degrees.
Preparation of planting material
The survival rate and development of the shrub depend on the quality of the planting material. You can use seedlings with an open and closed root system. If young bushes were grown in containers, then they are well watered before planting in order to pull out the seedling along with a clod of earth.
Plants with an open root system are specially prepared:
- For a day, soak in a solution of potassium permanganate or any composition that stimulates the development of roots.
- If this part of the plant is too long, it is shortened with a sharp tool to 20-25 cm. It is important that the cut is even.
- Shoots also need to be shortened for all Argut spirea seedlings, leaving no more than 4-5 live buds for rooting to be successful.
Spirea Argut seedlings (as in the photo below) can be grown on their own, as the shrub reproduces well, or purchased from nurseries.
Rules of landing
After choosing a site for planting single spirea bushes, in combination with other trees or hedges, you need to start preparing. The earth is carefully dug up, weeds and roots are removed.
After that, they dig a hole 2 times the size of the root system. With single plantings between bushes, spireas are left 1-2 m. To create a hedge, seedlings are planted at a distance of 70-80 cm.
Landing steps:
- The bottom of the dug pit is filled with 10-15 cm drainage (large pebbles, broken bricks).
- The rest of the seat is filled with fertile loose soil.
- The earth is watered, let it go to the depth.
- In the center of the pit, a small mound is made, on which a seedling of the Argut spirea is arranged.
- Gently straighten the roots and cover with soil in such a way as not to deepen the root collar.
- The plant is watered, then the seedling is slightly tugged if it is pulled down during planting.
- The root zone is sprinkled with mulch (peat or humus) to retain moisture.
Watering and top dressing
Further care for spirea is no different from the activities that are necessary for deciduous shrubs.
After planting, the plants need systematic watering, but it is not necessary to bring the soil to the state of a swamp. Emerging weeds are removed, as they can cause diseases and pests. For immature plants, such a neighborhood is dangerous.
Adult shrubs, if there is no rain, watered once a week. Each bush will require 1 buckets of water. After watering, the soil in the root zone is loosened shallowly so that oxygen enters the roots, and mulch is added.
Pruning Spirea Argut
Sharp-toothed spirea or Argut must be cut off in order to properly form the crown of the shrub. Such a procedure will benefit the meadowsweet, since the plants then throw out new powerful shoots, on which, next year, a large number of snow-white inflorescences will form.
In addition, a haircut will give Arguta a decorative effect, since you can create any shape for a deciduous shrub. You also need to cut out some of the young shoots, which grow a lot over the summer. If they are left, the bush will look sloppy, and heavily thickened plantings suffer from diseases and pests.
Spirea pruning is carried out for different purposes, it can be:
- sanitary;
- stimulating;
- formative;
- rejuvenating.
Sanitary pruning
Drying of meadowsweet shoots begins at 2 years. They should not be left on the bush, as spores of diseases and pests can overwinter on them. Branches that have not survived the frosty winter are also subject to pruning. The sanitary procedure is carried out in early spring, until the buds have blossomed.
Damaged shoots are also trimmed during the vegetative period.
Stimulating haircut
Such pruning of the shrub is carried out in early spring, when the spirea is 3-4 years old. When shearing, weak shoots and branches are removed, the spirea begins to branch better, which contributes to abundant flowering. The bush itself will become healthier and more attractive.
Forming pruning
You can form the crown of a shrub in spring or autumn. With the help of such pruning, you can get bushes with the desired crown shape.
Formative haircut, depending on the age and condition of the bush, can be performed in different ways: moderately or strongly.
Bush rejuvenation
Old bushes that have been growing on the site for more than 15 years need rejuvenation. So that the spirea does not lose its attractiveness and continues to delight with snow-white clusters of fluffy flowers, it needs to be cut. Haircut is performed 14-21 days before frost, so that the wounds have time to heal and not freeze in winter.
Preparation for winter
Mature plants do not need special shelter, since, according to the description, the shoots of Arguta are able to withstand frosts down to -40 degrees. But the roots are located close to the surface and need protection. In autumn, compost or humus is added under the bushes with a layer of at least 30 cm.
Young meadowsweet bushes up to 4 years of age need to be specially prepared for wintering. The root zone is sprinkled with mulch. Branches, while there are no frosts, are compressed and tied with twine. Burlap or any non-woven material is pulled on top.
Protection against diseases and pests
Spiraea Arguta is a strong and robust plant that practically does not get sick. But he can be annoyed by aphids and spider mites, caterpillars. Meadowsweet needs to be protected from these pests. For spraying, you need to use special chemicals.
Reproduction
The Argut shrub ages over time, seedlings will be required for new plantings. Gardeners should know the characteristics of meadowsweet breeding. You can get new plants by cuttings and layering.
Cutting
Cuttings are cut in summer. The leaves are cut off at the bottom, and the stem is lightly scratched with a pruner to stimulate root formation. Then they are buried at an angle to a depth of 2 cm. They are sprinkled with earth on top, and well watered and covered with a plastic bottle. Next, you need to water. Transplanted seedlings the next year.
Layers
In spring, young shoots of spirea are bent down and pinned to the ground. Top with soil. Regular watering is required during the summer. The following spring, the rooted layers are separated from the mother bush and transplanted to a permanent place.
Reviews of Argut’s spirea
Conclusion
With proper care, the Argut spirea will become an original decoration of the summer cottage. In one place it can grow up to 25 years. Meadowsweet does not require special care, which is very popular with gardeners who do not have time for a daily trip to the country.
