Spirea bush: division, reproduction
Due to the variety of shapes and colors, spirea bushes are widely used for urban landscaping and garden decoration. The plant has about 90 varieties, but not all of them are capable of forming a full-fledged seed. In this case, the reproduction of spirea is carried out by cuttings or dividing the bush.
Reproduction of spirea bushes by cuttings
This method is the most popular because of its effectiveness. When spirea propagates by cuttings, up to 70% of seedlings successfully take root. A favorable time for cuttings is from spring to mid-summer. Moreover, in the spring, you can use the shoots left after trimming the shrub.
Spirea bushes that have reached 3 years of age are used for division
Preparing cuttings for planting:
- Cut the young spirea shoot into several 10 cm long pieces.
- Remove the bottom leaves completely, and cut the rest in half.
- Soak the planting material for 10 hours in a growth stimulator.
- Before planting, dust the cut with a root stimulating agent.
- Plant the material in a container with wet sand, spray with water and cover with plastic.
- When the cuttings are rooted, open and transfer to a shaded area on the site.
In the fall, seedlings are harvested for the winter in the cellar or buried in the area, covered with fallen leaves on top. With the onset of spring, young plants are transplanted to a permanent place.
For dividing the bush, specimens that have reached 3-4 years of age are used. Older shrubs have strong, tangled roots that are difficult to make out.
The spirea shrub is removed from the soil and the roots are cleaned from the ground, having previously been placed in water to facilitate the procedure. After that, the roots are untangled and the plant is cut into several parts with a pruner so that each division has a good root lobe and at least 2-3 powerful shoots. The tips of the roots are cut off so that they develop more intensively.
Reproduction of spirea by dividing the bushes can be done throughout the season. Saplings take root better if cloudy weather persists for several days after planting
At the bottom of the planting pit, a small mound of earth is made, on which the seedling is installed, carefully distributing the roots along its slopes. The hole is filled up, the soil is slightly tamped and watered. The soil around the seedling is mulched with peat.
Although spirea is an unpretentious plant, a sunny area with fertile soil is needed for its abundant flowering. In addition, when planting, it should be borne in mind that the shrub has a well-developed root system, which requires a large area.