Proper planting and caring for the Ottawa barberry is a guarantee of beauty all year round
Having their own personal plot, everyone strives to decorate it with various flowers, trees, bushes. One of these plants that will take root perfectly in the garden is the barberry. And, if you want to admire its beauty all year round, then your task is to properly plant and create the necessary care for the Ottawa barberry.
A little about the plant
This shrub can rightfully be called a garden decoration. Its height reaches two meters. It grows quickly to its final size. This will take no more than ten years. The plant is not afraid of frost and is not whimsical to care for. Barberry begins to bloom in May. The racemose inflorescences have a strong aroma. Looks great in:
- single landings:
- hedges;
- decorative groups.
There are no problems with cutting the plant either, although the crown is spreading and large. The leaves are purple-violet with a metallic tint in summer and turn bright red in autumn. True, at this time of the year, the bush is not painted entirely.
Ottawa shrub varieties
Barberry Auricoma
It is best to plant this plant where there is a lot of light, but if it is not possible to find such an area, then you can define it where there is little shading. This plant is not demanding on the soil, but excess moisture affects it negatively. Good drainage is required. It is advisable to hide the shrub from the wind. In winter, the ends of the shoots can be damaged, but this variety is considered frost-resistant.
Barberry Superba
Now the conversation will be about planting and caring for the Superba barberry. Let us immediately dwell on the fact that it differs from its congeners in size. Its height can be up to four meters. In summer, the leaves are purple-violet with a metallic tinge, and in autumn they turn bright red. The shrub blooms in May, and bears fruit in September - October. The fruits can be eaten.
The plant loves light, but can grow in partial shade. Easily tolerates heat and lack of moisture. Does not like stagnant water, there must be good drainage. Although undemanding to soils, it grows better on alkaline. It tolerates the cold easily, but sometimes annual shoots can die in frosty winters.
Caring for the Superba barberry should be as follows:
- when planting, the root collar should be at ground level;
- good drainage;
- in spring - pruning a bush, a haircut to shape, undesirable;
- for the winter, it is advisable to cover young shoots;
- pest control.
Barberry Silver Miles
It is a powerful shrub, spreading, two and a half meters high, purple leaves with a metallic shade. Does not require special care, Does not like to grow in places of stagnant water, any soil is suitable, but good drainage should be provided. Grows well in open, sunny places. If they are absent, you can land it on a slightly darkened area. Susceptible to diseases such as:
- powdery mildew;
- rust.
Pests who love to eat this shrub:
- aphid;
- moth.
Barberry Silver Miles easily tolerates the cold, but in winter you should still cover young shoots. Dry weather does not harm him either, it is drought-resistant.
Conclusion
All of the above plants belong to the Ottawa barberry species. Planting and leaving are identical everywhere, it remains only to figure out how they reproduce and to summarize.
Several types of reproduction:
- dividing the bush;
- seeds;
- summer cuttings;
- root shoots.
Most often used: seeds and cuttings. Before sowing, the seeds are poured into a nylon bag and placed in a damp place. In this way, they are stored until May. After that, they are sown either directly in the garden bed or in the greenhouse.
- If the soil is acidic, it is advisable to lime it. The shrub will grow well in neutral soil. The optimum acidity should be between 6 and 7.5. Only with a properly prepared substrate will the plant delight you with its beauty. The substrate should be both light and nutritious.
- Top dressing starts from the second year. In spring nitrogen fertilizers... The frequency of application is once every four years.
- Frequent loosening.
- Constant weeding.
- Watering is desirable once a week.
- The first two to three years for the winter should be covered with peat, dry leaves, spruce branches.
Barberry easily tolerates pruning, but in no case should you shorten the branches too much. The reason is that flowers and fruits appear on annual shoots.