Weigela

Weigela description

Weigela is considered a moisture-loving plant, grows well in the shade. The shoots of the shrubs are mostly erect, the foliage is located opposite the stems, the leaves have denticles along the edges, the foliage resembles a little willow foliage in shape. The flowers have a beautiful bell-shaped shape, they reach 5 cm in length. We should also say that during flowering, the shades of the flowers change from light to bright. The seeds are collected in bolls that form after flowering. This culture is considered unpretentious, it is also easy and simple to care for it, but the decorative properties of the weigela are simply unsurpassed. The foliage of the plant is more than graceful, and the inflorescences are beautiful, bright.

Weigela landing

Weigela is best planted in the spring. This will need to be done when the buds are swollen and the soil warms up well. The weather should be stable and warm outside. If you plant this crop in the fall, then, most likely, the shrub will not survive until the next season, so it is preferable to plant these plants in the spring. At this time, the shrub adapts well to new conditions. Plants are best planted on a hill, in a well-protected area from the wind. If it is too cold on the site, then the shrub can shed buds and flowers, so you can plant this crop near any fences so that the wind does not disturb the plant. It is good to plant the crop near buildings on the south side. For these plants, you should choose well-lit places, partial shade, if the sun's rays illuminate the bush well enough, then the weigela will bloom abundantly and brightly.

If we talk about the type of soil, then the soil must be loose with a sufficient humus content. You can plant the bushes on loam or clay soil. Speaking of acidity, weigela prefers neutral and slightly alkaline soils. You can plant a shrub in an area where peat is abundant. However, it should be borne in mind that the seedling should be about 3 years old, otherwise the plant will not take root well.

The planting hole should also be deep enough. If the soil on your site is not very fertile, then the planting hole will need to be dug deeper, and drainage must be laid on the bottom. To do this, use fine gravel, broken brick, sand. Fertilizer is also added to the planting pit, usually compost and nitrophoska are used for this, this layer will definitely need to be mixed with the garden soil, the roots should not directly come into contact with the dressing. And in order for the plant to quickly adapt to a new place, you can treat the root part of the seedling with a growth stimulant, thus the plants are better accepted.

Do not forget that the bush needs free space for normal development. Therefore, leave about 80-100 centimeters between plantings. And if you grow high varieties, then the distance should be increased to 2.5 m.If you do not, then the plants will lack nutrients, as well as moisture, they will constantly compete with each other, which means nothing good from it won't work.

The seedling is placed in the middle of the planting pit, the roots are well straightened, and then layer by layer the prepared soil mixture is poured into the pit. Do not forget to tamp the ground, there should not be any voids in the hole. The root collar is usually buried a couple of centimeters; you can leave it on the soil surface.After planting, the seedlings will definitely need to be watered abundantly, and in order to prevent moisture from evaporating, it is recommended to mulch the topsoil. To do this, use sawdust, straw and dry grass.

Weigela care

As we noted earlier, weigela is considered an unpretentious plant, but you also need to take care of it properly. Plants are not watered very actively, mainly only in dry summers. However, a lot of water is usually used for this. If you mulch the topsoil, the shrub will need to be watered less frequently.

Do not forget to weed the area, as well as loosen the soil in the near-trunk zone. But this will need to be done not so actively, since you can damage the root system of the plant, which is located close enough to the surface of the earth, and do not forget to feed the shrub in time.

If during planting you have already applied fertilizer to the soil, then you will not need to feed the plant in the next two years. But at the age of three, the shrub will need to be fed. For this, a complex mineral fertilizer is suitable. Ammophoska is often added to the soil. The plant needs substances such as phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen. However, fertilizer containing nitrogen is recommended to be applied to the soil only in spring. When buds begin to form on the shoots, it will be possible to feed the shrub a second time, for this you should add potash and phosphorus fertilization to the soil. It is these fertilizers that contribute to a more intense bud formation, abundant flowering of the bush. But for the third time, it is recommended to feed the plants in the fall, when you will dig up the plot before wintering. To do this, a little wood ash is introduced into the soil, as well as other complex fertilizers, do not forget about the dosage, do not overdo it with fertilizing, otherwise you will only harm the plantings. Surprisingly, this shrub usually blooms twice a summer.

The first time its lush inflorescences will delight you at the end of May, and the second time - at the end of summer, at the beginning of autumn. It is believed that it is the spring flowering that will be more lush and abundant, however, the shrub blooms quite intensively in autumn. Therefore, even on a gloomy September day, your area will be cozy and light, and all this is thanks to the bright, airy flowers of weigela.

Weigela reproduction

This plant is also propagated in several ways.

• The shrub propagates quite easily by seeds. Moreover, usually the seeds have good germination for several years, so you should not plant this crop in a greenhouse or in pots. Weigela reproduces well by self-seeding. To do this, in order to control this process, you will need to select the healthiest and strongest plants from wild seedlings in the spring, and the rest will need to be pulled out. Self-seeding develops within 2 years, and only after that they are transplanted to a permanent habitat. However, you will need to take into account the fact that the varietal characteristics of plants through self-seeding are sometimes not preserved, so be prepared for unexpected results.
• Therefore, it is better to propagate this plant by any vegetative method, very often gardeners reproduce through rooting of cuttings. To do this, you will need to select young shoots that will grow close to the surface of the earth, then carefully examine them and start rooting. Layers must be strong and healthy, the lowest shoots for rooting are bent to the surface of the earth, in several places the bark is incised on them, the layering is fixed with staples and covered with loose soil. Usually, next spring, the root system at the shoot is thus formed, at the age of three you can already transplant the layers to new habitats, having previously separated them from the mother bush.
• Many gardeners propagate this crop by cuttings.To do this, you need to choose suitable shoots, the cuttings should be 10-15 cm long. It is best to cut the cuttings at the beginning of summer, but make sure that the shoots must have a dense bark. Sometimes for the same purpose, gardeners cut off part of the root growth. Cuttings are cleaned from below, and cut off a little from above. Before planting the cuttings in the ground, it is advisable to treat it with a growth stimulant so that the root system is formed intensively. Cuttings are planted in specially prepared soil with the addition. Moreover, there must be a layer of sand on the surface. Cuttings do not need to be buried too deep, in order to create a favorable microclimate, you should cover each plant with a glass jar, but do not forget to sometimes ventilate and water the plants. When leaves appear on the shoots, as well as young branches, they can be pinched, this is done so that the plant has a bushy appearance. After a certain time, the cuttings can be planted in open ground, best of all in the warm season.

Weigel's pruning

Naturally, these shrubs need pruning. Young plants are pruned for sanitary purposes only. Shoots that thicken the bushes are also removed; all deformed and diseased branches should also be cut off. Mature plants are treated more often as they need formative pruning. Usually it is carried out when the culture fades, namely, in July. However, by this time, young branches should not yet have formed. If you cut the plants after the second flowering, then the bush will not tolerate this procedure well. It is believed that the plant blooms again only if young shoots are formed on the bush, because it is on them that the flowers are formed. Therefore, if you do not form the crown during the time, then new branches will not appear on the plant, which means that the culture will not bloom a second time. Sometimes gardeners carry out anti-aging pruning, and it is advisable to repeat this procedure once every few years, old shoots will definitely need to be cut off or at least shortened. You can also collect cut shoots and root them, these cuttings often make beautiful new bushes. Weigela usually recovers normally after these activities, so do not be afraid, pruning will definitely benefit the plants.

About diseases and pests

These shrubs have a fairly high immunity, but many pests love to feast on the delicate foliage and flowers of this amazing plant. Very often caterpillars and aphids settle on the bush, they usually appear when the air humidity in the area is high. But during a drought, the foliage of the bush is entwined with a web of ticks. However, by early summer, plants usually have faded for the first time, so you may well be able to use chemicals to combat these dangerous garden pests, such as pesticides. But remember, these drugs are still considered quite harmful, so before using heavy artillery, try to get rid of these insects using insecticidal infusions. Many gardeners use wormwood or garlic to make medicinal concoctions. And very often these solutions really help. If a young seedling for no reason at all began to turn yellow and wither, then perhaps a bear or May beetle larvae settled in the root part. It is imperative to get rid of these pests. They sometimes fall into the ground during plant transplantation, along with fertilizers. Sometimes weigela suffers from diseases such as rot, rust, spotting. Usually, in order to get rid of these infections, the bushes are treated with Bordeaux liquid. For the prevention of diseases, plants are sometimes also sprayed with a solution of copper sulfate.

Weigel's Seeds

The seeds usually ripen in the fall, so they are best harvested in October, after the pods are completely dry.If you do not want the boxes to crack right on the shoots, then you will need to wrap them with gauze, so you fix the fruits on the branches of the plants, which means that all the seeds after cracking will remain in the gauze. When the fruits are fully ripe, they should be cut and brought indoors, all the seeds will definitely need to be poured onto the newspaper and distributed in such a way that they are freely located on the paper. When the seeds are dry, they can be wrapped in some kind of paper, do not forget to sign the name of the crop, and also indicate the date of collection of the seeds, as this planting material has excellent similarity during the first two years. You can store the seeds in a dark, dry place, where they will wait for spring and the moment when they go back to the open ground. However, remember that seed propagation is not always effective, since new plants often lose the varietal properties of the mother bush, so the result may be unexpected.

Preparing for wintering

It will be necessary to prepare the plant for wintering when the foliage falls off. It is advisable to cover the near-trunk circle with soil mixture, such a mound should be high enough. It is best to bend the shoots to the ground and fix them on the surface of the ground. After that, the bush will need to be covered with some breathable material; roofing material is suitable for this. You can completely and not fix the branches on the soil surface, but simply tie them in a bundle. Do not forget to cover the trunk circle with dry fallen leaves, and be sure to insulate the structure itself. The shrub does not tolerate frosts well.

Varieties and varieties

Naturally, this culture has its own varieties. However, all varieties are considered fairly resistant, including frost resistance.

• The first variety we would like to introduce you to is Weigela Early. In its natural habitat, this plant is found in the Far East. The bushes are quite high, they grow up to 2 m in height. The foliage is lowered, the crown is spherical. The flowers have a deep pink color, two or three flowers are formed in one inflorescence, moreover, all the flowers grow on young branches. Inside, the flowers are white-yellow, and outside they are purple, deep pink. This culture begins to bloom in late spring, and the shrub blooms for a long time, sometimes up to a month. Weigela is not very whimsical, it is easy to look after her. Sometimes yellow spots form on the leaf plates, which have a pleasant decorative appearance, over time they become creamy.
  
• The next type of weigela is Blooming or Florida. This plant also has a pleasant appearance. The bush is taller, sometimes even 3 m in height. Hair is formed on the shoots, the leaf plates are also slightly lowered, the central veins have a brighter color than the leaves themselves. Three or four flowers are formed in each inflorescence, they are also painted in bright pink color, this culture usually blooms also in late spring, the flowering period also lasts quite a long time.
  
• Quite popular Purple weigela and weigela Alba. The first variety of this culture is a low bush with a lush crown. The leaves of this plant are brownish red, and the flowers are purple, red, yellow inside. This variety also blooms for a long time, but the bushes are relatively small in size. Alba is considered a dwarf variety of this culture. The flowers are white at first, but when the buds open, they turn pink.
  
• There is also Pink weigela and weigela Victoria. They also have a pleasant appearance, the bushes are large in height, the foliage is dark green and brownish red, but the flowers themselves are pink and crimson. The hybrid weigela has a spreading crown, it blooms very luxuriantly. In height, the bushes reach a one and a half meter mark. Flowers are funnel-shaped, tubular.They have a pleasant aroma, several flowers form loose inflorescences. In color, they are very diverse from pink to purple-red.
• Red prince is considered a popular variety in the United States of America, this bush is small in height, rather compact, but its crown is spreading, the flowers are bright, red, look spectacular next to bright green foliage. Another variety from the USA is bristol ruby. This bush is quite tall, its shoots grow up to 3 m in height. The crown is spreading, the leaves are deep green, and the flowers are ruby, pink. In the middle, they are usually colored yellow or orange. This variety blooms in early summer.
• And the last grade of weigela is Middendorf. The flowers of this plant are yellowish, the bush is small in height, the shoots are erect. Inside each color, large ones, you can see several orange spots, which give the flowers an interesting decorative appearance. Each inflorescence includes several flowers, this bush also pleases its owners twice a summer. Flowers are formed on the plant quite intensively.
  

Currently, other varieties of weigela are known, this plant has recently become very popular. The culture is unpretentious, and the decorative appearance of the shrubs is simply amazing. So Weigela can really become a real decoration of your garden.