The first time you see a blooming forsythia bush, you will definitely want to grow the same on your site. Like all flowering shrubs, this culture requires some care before the onset of winter. Cold stress can adversely affect flowering. It will not be as abundant, or it will not start at all. In this article I will tell you what activities are required for the plant in the fall.
About winter hardiness of forsythia
One of the important characteristics of perennial plants is the ability to tolerate frost normally. The winter hardiness of forsythia depends on the specific variety. The most stable are Forsythia Poniklaya, Siebold and Ovate. Other varieties do not tolerate frost so well, so they need preparatory procedures before cold weather.
Frost resistance of other varieties:
- European. Poorly suited to the Mid lane. In winter, it must be transferred to a room that does not freeze.
- Giralda. It began to spread from North China. This variety does not need to be insulated only in the southern regions of Russia.
- Average. Suitable for growing in the Middle Lane, but requires careful shelter for the winter.
- Greenest. Can only be grown in southern regions.
Watering and feeding
In summer, the shrub requires watering only in dry weather or if it grows on sandy soil. In the fall of forsythia, only water-charging watering is needed. Under each bush, I gradually pour 3 buckets of water, waiting for it to be absorbed in the trunk circle.
In August I feed with complex mineral fertilizers, which contain a lot of potassium and phosphorus. I do not use nitrogen, it is not needed in preparation for winter. If the soil is poor, nitrogen fertilization can be applied in the spring.
Pruning forsythia
The pruning will determine how luxuriant and elegant your forsythia will be. This is a mandatory autumn procedure, which not only affects the appearance of the plant, but also helps it to survive the winter normally.
I trim it as follows:
- First of all, I pay attention to the branches that are too long. If there are shoots that are noticeably longer than the others, I prune them.
- After that, I examine the bush for damaged or ugly branches. I cut them off near the growth point.
- Next, I remove all shoots growing close to the ground. I leave only those that I will use in the future for breeding shrubs.
I also draw attention to the woven branches. They will interfere with each other, so I delete one of the branches. The same applies to the shoots growing inside the bush. They quickly thicken the plant.
Mulching forsythia
Mulching is an excellent prevention of hypothermia. I use humus as mulch, although you can take peat, straw, sawdust, etc. Near the root collar, the layer should be at least 15 cm.
Before mulching in the trunk circle, I remove all weeds and loosen the soil.
Shelter for the winter
You need to take care of the shelter before the onset of cold weather, while the branches are still flexible. Forsythia should be bent to the ground and fixed with something. I use metal staples for this, but bricks will work as well.
For shelter, you can use only breathable material; you cannot take roofing material or polyethylene. During a thaw, due to the greenhouse effect, the plant may begin to rot. I use spunbond as a covering material. It protects not only from frost, but also from temperature extremes.
It is not necessary to protect frost-resistant varieties in winter. But during spring cold snaps, it is better to cover them with spunbond.
Autumn breeding
The easiest way to propagate is by using cuttings. I cut the selected lignified branches and cut them into cuttings approximately 20 cm long. After that, I plant them in pots with nutritious soil. You need to plant so that there are several buds in the ground. It is they who will put down the roots.
Then I sprinkle the soil with dry leaves and put the pots in a cold greenhouse. I move to a permanent place next summer. It is important to choose the right place for planting, otherwise forsythia may not bloom. The plant loves sunny places and does not tolerate dampness.
Read also: How to properly prune strawberries after harvest
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