A shrub called spirea is a universal plant suitable for single cultivation in the garden and the design of hedges. Its spectacular appearance and the absence of difficulties in the care process was appreciated by many gardeners, as well as landscape designers. Spiraea propagation is available even to beginners, it can be grown from seeds, using cuttings, layering or by dividing. For this purpose, spring or autumn is ideal, but the growing process is carried out in the summer during cloudy weather.
Planning work on the reproduction of Japanese, or ordinary, spirea in the spring is better for the period before the buds of the trees swell. Usually this is mid-March, but in other regions, the timing can shift depending on the climate. If the gardener misses the right time, he will need to wait until the end of the enhanced leaf growth in late spring, when the plant begins to bloom.
Blooming Spirea
Important! Since moisture loss is detrimental to young shrubs, the plant can be propagated in summer on cloudy days. Due to the heat and lack of water, the bushes may not take root and die in the early stages of growth.
The best time for summer is from the beginning to the middle of June, but before you cut the plants, you should wait until they stop blooming. Propagation of any kind of spirea by cuttings can be carried out in the summer. If the gardener does not want to spend a lot of time, he should postpone the work for the fall, they must be completed strictly before the start of frost.
The optimal interval is mid-September, but you can plant plants until early October inclusive. About how to propagate spirea correctly in the fall, it is worth knowing in advance. At such a time of the year, new plants will not need careful care, they will be sufficiently insulated to protect them from the cold in winter. This saves time, because in the summer and autumn the bushes must be often watered and sprayed so that the planting material takes root more quickly.
Reproduction using seeds is available only for species of spirea, for example, Japanese or oak-leaved. It is better not to use hybrids for this purpose, since their seeds have a low level of germination, and after germination they are able to change the properties of the original species. You can grow a shrub from seeds easily and quickly, this method allows you to get many plants at once. Seeds do not need preparation, if you collect them in the summer, they are able to wait for sowing before autumn or spring.
Important! Each branch with a seed box should be cut no later than July or August. At this time, they are in a closed state with seeds inside. Boxes are set aside for ripening, then seeds are pulled out and harvested before sowing.
The ideal time for sowing in the fall is October or November, in the spring it is better to spend it in April. Seeds can be planted according to the standard scheme in the soil from one part of vermiculite mixed with four parts of peat. Seeds are laid out on the surface of the soil and sprinkled with earth on top, in the spring they are additionally moistened and covered with a film. Seed containers are removed to a dark place and returned to the light after germination. When the sprouts increase to 2 cm after two months, they are pulled out in bunches and separated to preserve a larger number, diving along individual containers.
Spirea bushes
Pinch a third of the length of each root. Sprouts are planted at a distance of 5-7 cm from each other. A box with sprouts is best set in the shade for the summer, where plants need to be watered often. In the fall, they are planted in a temporary garden, then transplanted to a permanent place next year.
For your information! Young bushes grown from seeds will bloom only after three years.
Knowing how spirea propagates in the summer, it is better to choose cuttings as a cultivation. Thus, the bush is propagated using green or woody cuttings, depending on the time of year. It is worth taking annual or last year's sprouts, the bark of which has remained light on growth. Cuttings of such spirea are carried out in the summer, but the sprouts themselves are cooked in cloudy weather.
Important! Planting materials are cut only from healthy bushes, if there are pests, you will need to process the main plant.
Cuttings of spirea
To root the cuttings well, spiraea is trimmed, green shoots are chosen for this procedure. Their tops need to be cut to avoid decay, in which case even beginner gardeners will be able to plant. On the prepared handle there should be no leaves in the lower part, it is enough to leave only the four upper ones. The sheet plate itself is made shorter by a third.
Slices of cuttings from the bottom are wetted in a solution of potassium permanganate, then shoots are planted in a substrate with the addition of a nutrient concentrate. Each branch should be at a depth of at least 1.5-2 cm, between which a gap of 3 cm is left. In order to root, a place in the shade that is well ventilated is suitable. The shoots are additionally covered with a bag or glass to create a greenhouse effect. They are planted in a permanent place after complete rooting.
Propagation of Spirea
Features cuttings of spirea in the Japanese summer
Japanese spirea, or the bride, whose full care and reproduction should be carried out according to the rules, has its own differences. It is necessary to plant cuttings with a length of at least 7-15 cm, taking into account the size of the main plant. Their shoots are cut with a razor or a sharp knife just below the knot, the leaves on the underside are removed. Then the ends of the cuttings are lowered into the solution with phytohormone. When they stand there for several hours, they can be planted in pre-prepared recesses in the soil.
How to root a white spirea from a twig
To root a white spirea or a bush of the Wangutta variety from a twig can be easily done at home. It is important to plant sprouts in a substrate so that they quickly form the root system. To prepare it, mix sand and horse peat. Cuttings are kept in solution in advance, then dipped in a growth stimulator, then transplanted into the soil. In order to disinfect the planting, you can spray with garlic solution by adding 1 teaspoon of the resulting slurry to 1 liter of water.
As a method of growing, you can also choose the division of the bush. It is suitable for shrubs that are already 3-4 years old.
Important! Adult plants are better not to separate in this way, as there is a risk of damage to the root system.
It is necessary to dig up the bush, place it in a bucket of water, hold for several hours, then divide it into 2-3 parts using a pruning shears. Before planting, it is important to prune the roots. Then the spirea needs to be abundantly watered after planting, especially in hot weather.
Obtaining layering is suitable for those who need several processes from one bush at once. This method of cultivation is best carried out in early spring, choosing shoots from below that need to be slightly broken, fixed on the ground and sprinkled with soil. At the main bush, you need to cut off the inflorescences so that it expends its energy on the emergence of roots at the shoots. The soil under it should be slightly moist all the time. At the end of the season, the layers will have their own root system, but they can only be transplanted next spring.
Spirea does not cause problems in the growing process, it is not a very demanding plant, even a novice can cope with it. For shrubs to grow well, they need more light, good soil and regular watering. In winter, they need additional shelter, but only in the northern regions. Bushes need to be cut and fertilized if necessary. A haircut allows you to give them a beautiful shape, which is useful if they are part of the landscape. For fertilizer, it is worth using mineral fertilizing with nitrogen in the spring and additives with phosphorus and potassium in the winter.
White spirea
All About Pruning Spirea
Pruning of ordinary or gray spirea is carried out after flowering, it is done differently taking into account the type of shrubs that are spring-blooming and summer-blooming.
Trimming shrubs after flowering is necessary to remove all branches with withered inflorescences from plants that bloomed in May or early June. This is especially necessary for panicle-type bushes blooming in spring, as they are pruned for decorative purposes. The buds of flowers in such spirae arise along the length of the branches in the autumn period, and over the summer adult shoots form on them, on which buds will bloom next spring. Bushes blooming in summer are pruned in early spring.
Many novice gardeners are interested in the question of when you can cut off gray spirea. This species is considered the most popular, it is unpretentious and requires pruning in early summer after flowering. In each of the shrubs, buds form in the fall, so they cannot be cut in March or April. During these periods, only pruning of the anti-aging type is allowed when the bushes are cut at ground level. You can also carry out standard sanitary pruning.
Note! Trimming gray spirea is usually carried out after flowering, this is the best option.
How to cut a spirea
Home bushes growing in the garden can be made more beautiful with the help of sanitary and decorative haircuts. This process begins in the spring immediately after the snow melts. During pruning for sanitary purposes, damaged shoots and shoots inside the bushes are removed. Bushes blooming in summer should be freed from last year's dried inflorescences, weak and old branches. When shortening the shoots, you need to watch so that the slices are above the buds growing outward. Pruning for the formation of bushes is carried out at the same level with the gradual giving of the bush a round shape.
The plant is very resistant to most dangerous diseases, but sometimes gray mold or spotting may appear on the bushes. These are fungal infections, for the fight with which fungicidal agents are needed, for example, foundationazole or phytosporin-M. There are also pests that can damage the bushes if measures are not taken in time. Their list includes:
- rose leaflet. May appear on shrubs in late spring and damage leaves. For elimination of caterpillars it is necessary to apply pyrimor;
- spider mite. In the presence of ticks, the spirea leaves begin to turn yellow, and a thin web appears on their underside. From pests, plants should be treated with karbofos, acrex or tincture of tobacco dust;
- aphid. This pest can be found in summer, aphids can damage both leaves and flowers. To eliminate it, you will need to treat the bushes with tincture of tobacco dust or pyrimor.
Damaged shrubs treated with drugs should stand for at least a day, covered with cellophane. If necessary, the procedure must be repeated several times and open the bushes only after the complete elimination of pests.
To give shrubs an attractive look, experienced gardeners recommend not to forget about pruning and give the bush an attractive look in the form of a ball or a pyramid. All weak and withered branches are removed to the stump, and the shearing itself is best done in the spring before the first leaves appear. After the procedure, you need to water the earth with manure diluted in water.
Important! It will be necessary to change several waters to make the solution more nutritious.
In the form of fertilizer, superphosphate or a Kemir wagon is also used. In general, common spirea, the care and full cultivation of which does not cause problems, can be an excellent choice for beginners.
Spirea is a very beautiful plant that can transform the landscape of a garden or summer cottage. With proper care, shrubs will delight for a long time with their magnificent appearance, especially during flowering periods.
