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Forsythia dwarf. Solar forsythia: planting and caring for ornamental shrubs. Feeding and fertilizing the plant

Before planting this plant, you need to decide on its type, this is mainly depends on climate, in which the flower will grow.

Although all varieties of forsythia withstands frost down to – 10 degrees, many can freeze even under winter shelter. And this subsequently has a bad effect on growth and flowering.

For example, Forsythia green and drooping are very susceptible to frost, it is better to grow them in southern regions. Forsythia ovate and European are the most frost-resistant species.

Landing

The holes for planting this plant are prepared in advance. They are filled with the following composition: 1 part humus, 1 part sheet soil and 2 parts sand.

If the acidity of the soil on the site is high, add neutralized lime or chalk solution (300 - 400g) or wood ash to each planting hole (200g).

Drainage is made from crushed stone and crushed brick, the layer of which should be 15-20 cm. A layer of sand 6-8 cm is poured on top.

The distance between each plant should be 1.5 - 2 meters, the depth of the hole should be 50 - 70 cm. Its parameters are 60x60 or 70x50 cm. It is better to plant forsythia in the fall, before frost sets in.

When choosing a location, you should take into account that the plant will bloom in a few years to 3m in height and 2m in width.

Newly planted shrubs are watered abundantly and a layer of mulch is laid (peat, humus, rotted leaves), the branches are tilted to the ground, secured with wire and a shelter is made for the plant so that it can overwinter and not freeze.

Moreover, all types of forsythia need to be covered. For these purposes, materials through which air penetrates are used. This is necessary so that during the onset of a thaw the shoots and buds do not rot.

You can cover the bush with pine needles. In spring, the material is removed from the plant, the branches are straightened, and the covering of leaves is removed.

Although you can plant shrubs in the spring. When buying seedlings, it is advisable to choose them with a closed rhizome. In this case, they will take root better.

Ideal landing spot it will be where there is a lot of sunlight. But the plant should also be away from drafts and wind.

But a little partial shade will not harm the plant either. Many flower lovers prefer to plant forsythia in the country because of its unpretentiousness to watering. This is relevant if it is not always possible to water it in a timely manner.

Care

In early spring, before the bush begins to flower need to fertilize mineral fertilizers– per 1m2 70 grams.

When the plant fades and the next flower buds begin to form, you can use Kemiru-universal (100 grams per m²).

If there is enough precipitation, then there is no need to additionally water the forsythia.

It is better adapted to dry weather than to excess moisture.

But still, if there is long hot weather in the summer without rain, then once a month the bushes need to be watered with 10 liters of water for each.

After watering, the soil around the flower is loosened and compost is added.

Should be carried out regularly weeding forsythia. When weeding, it is necessary to loosen the soil with one spade blade. This allows air to freely penetrate to the roots and nourish them.

At the beginning of spring it will be beneficial for the plant mulching the ground around manure, which will also serve as top dressing.

The plant is very resistant to pests and diseases. When wilting, it is sprayed with zineb or foundationazole.

If nematodes are found, the soil around the forsythia is disinfected with carbation. In case of bacteriosis, the bush is uprooted and removed.

Trimming

For the first year or two, young shrubs are not pruned, except shoots damaged by frost. An adult bush is also removed from frozen branches in the spring.

The main pruning work occurs in the summer, when the flowering period ends. Branches that have bloomed are shortened by half.

Old or dried branches are cut off and left only 5-6 cm from the ground level; new side shoots will grow from them in the future.

Thanks to pruning, you can give the plant a ball or bowl shape, as well as control the density and height of the bush.

To stimulate growth and make forsythia more luxuriant in the future, it is necessary to trim it by 2/3 or even shorter once every 3 years. This is a kind of rejuvenating procedure.

From the base, young shoots will activate growth, the number of which will be greater than before. To prevent the shrub from losing its decorative appearance, it must be pruned every 3 to 4 years. If you don’t do this, the branches will stretch out and bloom worse.

Circumcision is carried out in several stages:

• removal of old coarse branches under the base (1/4 of the total);
• cutting off dead branches and thinning out dense bushes;
• shortening faded shoots by ½ their length, taking into account decorative look forsythia.

Reproduction

The plant propagates quite simply - by layering, cuttings and, less often, by seeds.

By layering

This method is most often used because of its simplicity.

If forsythia branches bend to the ground, and they will come into contact with it for a long time, they will soon take root.

But it’s better to monitor the reproduction yourself and choose the best branch, bending it to the ground and digging it in.

It is necessary to cut the bark in the place where the branch is buried. IN spring period When the shoot takes root, it can be transplanted from the main bush to another place.

In a year, the young forsythia will already bloom.

Cuttings

This method is also quite simple. Can reproduce woody and young shoots. Young green cuttings are cut in early summer.

To begin with, they are kept in a root solution for some time, planted in specially prepared soil and covered with film so that create greenhouse conditions.

Already in the fall the cuttings will take root and take root well.

At this time it can be determined by permanent place and cover with a ball of dry leaves for the winter.

Lignified cuttings for planting are cut in the fall. Their length should be up to 18 cm. They are planted in the ground 10 cm deep. Several buds are left on the surface. In order for the plant to overwinter, it is covered with dry leaves.

Seeds

This method is used very rarely. The germination rate of seeds is around 40%. Their sow in boxes with soil in spring. A month later the first shoots appear.

Within a year, young shoots grow up to 6 cm. In the second year they can grow up to 30 cm; they can already be planted in open ground and left to overwinter under a thick layer of leaves.

The first flowering of such a shrub occurs in the 4-6th year of life.

Forsythia – good option for gardeners and summer residents. This shrub can be used to create a vibrant, colorful fence. Moreover, giving it the desired decorative form, you can organically fit it into the landscape design of any site.

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Rod not so much big trees and forsythia shrubs, or forsythia, is a member of the olive family. They bloom in early spring with deep yellow flowers. This genus is considered very ancient, which explains its wide distribution. So, in East Asia you can see 6 various types of this plant (in Korea, Japan and China). And in European countries you can meet only one species - European forsythia (Forsythia europaea), most plants are found in the Balkans. This plant was named after the Scotsman W. Forsythe, who was a botanist, head gardener at Kensington Palace, and also one of the founders of the Royal Horticultural Society. From China to European countries for the first time this plant got it thanks to Forsythe.

Forsythia is a not very large tree or shrub, the height of which can vary from 1 to 3 m. The brownish-gray bark has a rough texture. In certain species, the leaf blades are trifoliate. However, most often they are oval, simple, opposite, have no stipules, with a jagged edge, and can reach 2–15 centimeters in length. The rich yellow flowers are bell-shaped. Forsythia blooms at the beginning of spring, and the flowering period is 20 days (in some cases longer). The fruit is a capsule with winged seeds.

Features of growing forsythia

Today in European countries, most public gardens, private gardens and city streets are decorated with forsythia. It is considered a symbol of the arrival of spring. Imagine early spring, when everything is still gray and nondescript on the streets, and suddenly the eye catches the forsythia blazing with its bright flowers. A distinctive feature of this shrub is its very early flowering. This plant has also won great love gardeners due to the fact that it does not impose special requirements on growing conditions and care. Main features of cultivation:

• such a plant grows best in a well-lit place, but it can also be grown in shade;
• suitable soil must be limed;
• It is recommended to plant next to coniferous plants dark green color.

In autumn, the green foliage changes its color to violet-purple or golden, why plant regains its high decorative value.

Planting forsythia in open ground

What time to plant

You can plant or transplant forsythia in spring time or in early autumn, before frosts begin, because the plant must be well established before frosts begin. This plant grows well in the shade, but it prefers a sunny area, which must be protected from gusts of wind. The quality of the soil does not matter for this plant, but it feels best in dry, slightly alkaline soil. If the soil on the site is acidic, it is recommended to add wood ash to it for digging.

Landing Features

The planting hole should have a size of 50x50x60 centimeters, while the root system of the planted plant should be at a depth of 0.3 to 0.4 m. When planting several specimens at once, a distance of at least 150 centimeters should be maintained between them. Place at the bottom of the prepared planting hole drainage layer made of crushed stone and broken brick, the thickness of which should be from 15 to 20 centimeters. It is covered with a layer of sand on top, the thickness of which should be 10 centimeters. After this, a soil mixture consisting of sand, leaf soil and peat, taken in a ratio of 1:2:1, is poured into the hole, to which 0.2 kg of wood ash must be added. Then the seedling must be placed in a prepared hole, which is filled with soil and compacted well. The planted forsythia needs to be watered abundantly. When planting in spring, the seedling will need to be cared for like an adult plant. If planting was done in the fall, then no matter what type of plant was planted, it will be necessary to fill trunk circle layer of mulch. The plant must be covered for the winter. In this case, covering material should only be used that allows air to pass through, so that the flower buds do not begin to rot during slight thaws in winter.

Features of care

You need to care for forsythia in the same way as other shrubs grown in the garden. If it rains regularly in the summer, then you will not have to water this plant. This should be done only during prolonged drought, 1 or 2 times every 4 weeks, while 10 to 12 liters of water are taken per bush. After the plant has been watered, weed and loosen the soil to the depth of a spade bayonet; this is the only way to ensure normal air access to the root system. When loosening is completed, the tree trunk circle should be sprinkled with a layer of mulch (dry soil or compost).

Forsythia should be fed 3 times during the season. The first time you need to feed the plant is at the beginning of spring. To do this, a fairly thick layer of manure (necessarily rotted) is laid out on the surface of the tree trunk circle; make sure that it does not touch the branches or trunk. Then it is watered with plenty of water. Manure will not only benefit the plant organic fertilizer, but also mulch. Apply complete mineral fertilizer to the soil (1 square meter 60 to 70 grams) follows in April. When the plant fades and the formation of flower buds for next year begins, you will need to feed it with Kemira-universal (per 1 square meter from 100 to 120 grams).

Most often chosen for reproduction vegetative methods. For example, cuttings. Green cuttings should be harvested in June, and their length should be approximately 15 centimeters. The leaf plates located below must be torn off from the cutting, then it must be treated with a preparation that stimulates root growth (Epin, Kornevin or Heteroauxin). It is planted in a greenhouse using sand or perlite. Also suitable for propagation are lignified cuttings, which are harvested in October; for rooting, they are planted directly in open soil, with 2 or 3 buds remaining above its surface. Don't forget to cover the cuttings with fallen leaves for the winter. In the spring, it is necessary to remove the shelter, after which the cuttings will begin to grow actively, and in the fall they will become full-fledged seedlings. Layers can be used for propagation. In order to get them, you need to select a stem in summer or autumn that grows very close to the surface of the site. At the base it is tied with wire, and an incision should also be made in the bark on the surface that faces the ground. The stem is fixed on the surface of the soil and covered with nutritious soil. The cuttings take root in a relatively short period of time. In spring, you need to separate the cuttings from the parent plant, and after just 12 months it will begin to bloom.

It is possible to grow forsythia from seeds, but only specialists resort to this method of propagation.

Forsythia pruning

Young bushes only need sanitary pruning, during which all dried, injured, and frost-damaged stems are removed. If the forsythia is mature, then in spring only the frozen tips of its branches are cut off. The main cutting is done in the summer, when the bush has faded. Those branches that have bloomed should be cut off by ½ part, while dried and old ones should be cut off at a height of 40 to 60 mm from the ground surface, in this case young side shoots will come from them. With the help of pruning, you can control the height, density and shape of the crown, which can be spherical or cupped. If an old bush needs rejuvenating pruning, then all its branches should be cut to a height of 4 to 6 centimeters or shortened by 2/3, thanks to this young shoots will begin to actively grow. However, it is impossible to carry out anti-aging pruning very often, because this will cause the forsythia to grow very much, but flowering will stop completely. As a rule, it is recommended to carry out a rejuvenating haircut once every 3 or 4 years.

This plant has high resistance to diseases and pests. In rare cases, the bush may be affected by moniliosis, wilt or bacteriosis. A bush infected with wilt should be treated with a solution of foundationazole (2–5%). If forsythia is affected by bacteriosis, then in this case it will have to be dug up and burned. If spots form on the surface of the sheet plates brown, this means that the plant is suffering from moniliosis. In this case, it is recommended to cut out all affected parts of the plant and thoroughly clean them to healthy tissue. The bush may also suffer from nematodes; in this case, the soil is disinfected with Carbation.

Forsythia after flowering

To prevent forsythia from freezing in winter, it should be covered. To do this, the tree trunk circle needs to be sprinkled with fallen leaves, and the layer thickness should be 10 centimeters. The branches are bent to the soil and fixed in this position, then the bush is covered with spruce branches. At the very beginning of the spring period, the shelter must be removed and the branches freed, while fallen leaves should be removed from the trunk. If the bushes are still young, then they are covered entirely with spruce branches for the winter. If there is a lot of snow in winter, then forsythia can do without shelter, but no one can accurately predict the forecast for the entire winter.

Types and varieties of forsythia with photos and names

European forsythia (Forsythia europaea)

This species is most popular among gardeners living in mid-latitudes. This upright growing shrub can reach 200 centimeters in height. The entire leaf blades are oblong in shape and about 7 centimeters long. The color of the bell-shaped single flowers is yellow-golden.

Forsythia giraldiana

This species is very similar to European forsythia, but it is less frost-resistant. The bush can also reach 200 centimeters in height. Almost all shoots are straight, but they are colored brown-yellow and tetrahedral. Dark green elliptical leaf blades reach 10 centimeters in length. Flowering occurs in May. Graceful large pale yellow flowers have twisted petals.

Hanging or drooping or drooping forsythia (Forsythia suspensa)

This shrub with a spreading crown can reach 300 centimeters in height. Thin tetrahedral arched drooping branches have an olive or brown-red color. On old stems the leaf blades are simple, while on growth stems they are trifoliate. Large (diameter about 25 mm) yellow-golden flowers are collected in bunches of several pieces. Several forms are cultivated:

1. Motley(forsythia variegata). The color of the flowers is rich yellow. The leaf blades are pale yellow and variegated.
2. Fortune(forsythia fortunei). The flowers are dark yellow in color and collected in bunches. The narrow leaf blades are trifoliate.
3. Purple stem(forsythia artocaulis). Stems are dark red. At the moment of opening, the leaf plates are painted in the same color.
4. Other forms: forsythia Zimbold, forsythia deceptive, forsythia hanging Fortune.

Dark green forsythia (Forsythia viridissima)

The height of the bush does not exceed 300 centimeters. Its green branches point upward. Densely growing simple leaf blades have a lanceolate-oblong shape, upper part they have a serrated one. They are painted dark green, reach 15 centimeters in length and 4 centimeters in width. The small bunches consist of flowers that are colored a rich yellow-green color. It is resistant to drought.

Forsythia x intermedia

This hybrid was created by crossing dark green forsythia and drooping forsythia. It can reach 300 centimeters in height. The bush begins to bloom only after it turns 4 years old. The leaf blades are usually oblong with a jagged edge, but they are also trifoliate and reach 10 centimeters in length. They are dark green, and their color remains unchanged until late autumn. The color of the flowers is rich yellow, they are collected in bunches of several pieces. Flowering occurs in April and May. This shrub grows quickly and is resistant to frost and drought. Varieties:

1. Beatrix Farrand. The shrub reaches a height of 400 centimeters. The rich yellow flowers have a dark yellow stripe at the base.
2. Denziflora. The height and diameter of the bush are 150 centimeters. The twisted flowers are light yellow. Flowering occurs in May and lasts 15–20 days. Does not tolerate frost.
3. Spectabilis. This variety is one of the most beautiful. The height of the bush is about 100 centimeters, and its diameter is 120 centimeters. IN warm time During the year, the leaf blades have a green color, which in autumn changes to rich yellow and purple. The diameter of the dark yellow flowers is about 45 mm, flowering begins at last days April.

Snowy or white forsythia (Forsythia abeliophyllum)

The height of the bush can vary from 150 to 200 centimeters. The length of the oval leaf plates is about 8 centimeters, their reverse surface is summer period turns purple. The flowers are colored white and have a yellow throat. The color of the buds is light pink.

Forsythia ovata

The height of the bush can vary from 150 to 200 centimeters. The spreading branches are yellow-gray in color. The length of the leaf blades is about 7 centimeters; in summer they are colored rich green, which in autumn changes to purple. The diameter of single flowers is about 20 mm, their color is rich yellow. Blossom this type starts earlier than others. It is fast growing and resistant to frost and drought. The most popular varieties are:

1. Spring Glory. The height of the bush is about 300 centimeters. The leaf blades are green in summer, and in autumn they become variegated (from dark purple to light yellow). Lush flowering observed in May. Large flowers have a rich yellow color.
2. Tetragold. The height of the bush is about 100 centimeters. The diameter of the dark yellow flowers is approximately 30 mm. Flowering begins in the second half of April.
3. Goldzauber. This variety is very valuable and popular. The large flowers are yellow-golden. Resistant to frost. Flowering begins in the second half of April and lasts approximately 20 days.

It’s early spring, the buds are just beginning to swell on trees and shrubs, and forsythia is already covered with golden-yellow flowers, although its leaves have not yet blossomed. In central Russia, this shrub begins to bloom in April-May, and in the southern regions - in February-March. Bright spots blooming forsythia unusually enliven the landscape. The leaves are also decorative - quite large, bright or dark green, smooth, “cool”; they retain their rich color until late autumn and fall only in late October - early November. The very shape of the bush is beautiful - the shoots arch and droop.

Forsythia, or Forsythia, or Forsythia (Forsythia) is a genus of shrubs and small trees of the Olive family (Oleaceae), blooming with beautiful yellow flowers.

Forsythia, or Forsythia, or Forsythia. © Laurie White

Forsythia is widespread in North America, Western Europe. In our country, it decorates gardens and parks in many regions of Central Asia, Crimea, the Caucasus, Moldova, Ukraine, the Baltic states, central regions Non-Black Earth Region, Moscow and Leningrad, and on personal plots remains a rare guest for now.

Content:

Types of forsythia

There are 6 known species of the genus Forsythia, named after the English gardener Forsyth, who lived in the second half of the 18th century.

Forsythia (Forsythia) European. © Sergey Naumov

Forsythia europaea- a shrub reaching 2-3 m in height, with a narrow ovoid crown. The leaves are bright green in color and arranged oppositely, like all forsythia. The flowers are bright yellow, 1-3 in the leaf axils, drooping, bell-shaped, up to 2 cm long, on short curved pedicels. The shrub is very spectacular, although it is considered less decorative among other types of forsythia. This is the only forsythia that is found naturally in Europe and is one of the most winter-hardy. In the conditions of Moscow and Leningrad it blooms and bears fruit every year.

Forsythia (Forsythia) Giralda. © Andrea Moro

Forsythia Giralda comes from Northern China. In appearance it resembles a European one. The leaves are elliptic or oblong-elliptic, drawn-pointed at the apex, dark green above and pale below. The flowers of forsythia giralda, like the previous species, are golden-yellow, on short stalks, not very large, abundantly covering the shoots. In winter hardiness it is close to European.

Forsythia (Forsythia) is oval-leaved or ovoid. © Lisa

Forsythia ovate- a shrub with spreading branches, 1.5 m high. It grows in nature on the Korean Peninsula. The leaves are bright green, broadly ovate, 5-7 cm long, sharply pointed at the apex. One of the earliest flowering types of forsythia. Forsythia ovoid flowers are bright yellow, on short stalks, with wide oblong petals. This is the most stable species for the central and northern regions of the Non-Black Earth Region.

Forsythia (Forsythia) is the greenest. © Fanghong

Forsythia greenest- a powerful shrub with vertically directed shoots. In nature it grows on the mountain slopes of Central and Eastern China. The leaves of forsythia green are dark green, oblong, and quite large. The flowers are bright yellow with a greenish tint, 1-3 in the leaf axils, the corolla petals are wide, the flower length is 2.5 cm. This species tolerates only the climate of the southern and southwestern regions of the USSR, and to the north it freezes and does not bloom every year.

Forsythia (Formaithia) drooping, or weeping. © KENPEI

Forsythia drooping, or Forsythia weeping- a powerful shrub up to 3 m high, found in nature on mountain slopes in Northern and Central China. This species is most valued in Western Europe as one of the most beautiful. In our country it can grow only in the southern regions - Moldova, Western Ukraine, Crimea and the Caucasus. The large dark green leaves of drooping forsythia turn yellow and yellow in the fall. purple tones. Golden-yellow flowers are arranged 1-3, sometimes 6 in a bunch. The corolla tube has orange stripes inside, the flowers are 2.5 cm long. There are several varieties of drooping (hanging) forsythia.

Forsythia (Forsythia) average, or hybrid, or intermediate. © Jardiland

Forsythia medium- garden hybrid of green and hanging forsythia. Powerful tall shrub 3 m high, with straight and slightly hanging shoots. The leaves of medium forsythia are quite large, ovate-oblong, on strong growth shoots, sometimes tripartite, often with a transition from whole to tripartite. The flowers are bright yellow, several in a bunch.

There are many forms of this garden hybrid known. Some of them are quite winter-hardy and can withstand the climate of the central and northern regions of the Non-Black Earth Zone.

Propagation of forsythia

Forsythia is propagated by seeds, layering, winter and summer cuttings.

In October, the capsule fruits ripen, crack slightly, and winged seeds can be seen in them. Forsythia is sown in the spring, in March-April, in pots or boxes with soil. Shoots appear in 3-6 weeks, germination rate is 35-50%. In the first year of life, seedlings reach a height of 2-8 cm, in the second - 12-30 cm, in the third year - 60-90 cm. From boxes, forsythia seedlings dive into ridges in the second or even first year of their life, and there they overwinter satisfactorily when covering the soil with a layer of leaves of 15-20 cm. They bloom for the first time at the age of 4-6 years.

For vegetative propagation, cuttings are harvested in winter and stored moist in a cold basement. However, in the conditions of the middle zone, forsythia is most often propagated by summer cuttings. To do this, choose vegetative growth shoots with not very long internodes. Best time for cuttings - June - early July. Forsythia cuttings are cut with 1-2 internodes at a distance of 0.5-1 cm from the node, the lower leaves are removed, the upper ones are cut in half. For better and faster rooting, the cuttings are placed for 5-6 hours in aqueous solution heteroauxin.

Rooted in river sand at a distance of 5-7 cm from each other, deepening the cuttings by 2-4 cm. Forsythia can be cut in film greenhouses, which many gardeners have on their site. In hot weather, greenhouses must be ventilated and the cuttings must be watered 4-5 times a day. In cool weather, watering twice a day is sufficient. 4-5 weeks after cutting, 70-100% of forsythia cuttings will form roots. In the first year, the plants are left in the ground in the greenhouse; they are covered with leaves and spruce branches for the winter. In the second year, forsythia can be planted on ridges, and in the third or fourth year - in a permanent place, where many plants bloom in the same year.

Forsythia, or Forsythia. © Vineta Radziņa

In conclusion, I would like to remind you once again that forsythia came to us from rather warm places and even the most winter-hardy of them can suffer in severe winters - part of the annual growth or flower buds die if they are above the level of snow cover. However, extraordinary decorative qualities These shrubs are worth waiting patiently for the next, more favorable year and seeing the forsythia in lush bloom again.

Forsythia is a spreading, fairly tall (up to 3 m) shrub of the Olive family.

Her homeland is East Asia, but forsythia has long been successfully adapted in the European part of Russia, as well as in Siberia and the Urals. It is valued by landscape designers and loved by gardeners for its spectacular and very early flowering.

With the first warm days, bell-shaped flowers of golden color appear, when the leaves have not yet blossomed on the shoots. Against a background of gray naked orchard sunny balls densely covered with blossoms look fabulous.

But let’s leave poetry aside, because for a garden to be beautiful you need to take care of it, and work in the garden is very prosaic. For successful cultivation, you need to know what features of planting and caring for forsythia in open ground in different regions.

Requirements for growing conditions

Forsythia, called forsythia in Europe, has become the queen of city squares and alleys, thanks to its unpretentiousness and ecological plasticity. But in order to get abundant and bright flowering, you need to try to create the best conditions for it.

When choosing a location, it is better to give preference to sunny areas, but forsythia also feels at ease in partial shade. It is advisable to have protection from prevailing winds. Soils should be nutritious, light, breathable, without stagnant water. Heavy and acidic soils need preparation. It grows well on calcareous soils.

Forsythia is quite drought-resistant and does not need frequent watering; as a rule, it gets by with precipitation. Waterlogging and stagnation have a detrimental effect on shrubs. melt water and poor aeration of the root system.

Forsythia exhibits good winter hardiness, but in the conditions of the Urals and Siberia it needs shelter on winter period. In these regions, it is necessary to select southern, well-warmed areas for planting.

For the European part of Russia, 3 types of varieties are recommended: drooping (drooping), ovoid and hybrid (intermediate). In the south of Russia, European and dark green forsythia are grown. In Siberia and the Urals, it is better to plant the most winter-hardy species: ovoid and intermediate. In this case, you need to carefully study the characteristics of specific varieties.

Reproduction of yellow-flowering beauty

Forsythia propagation work is carried out mainly in the fall. Let's say right away that seed propagation although possible, it’s “not worth the candle,” leave these experiments to the breeders.

Like all shrubs in private gardening, forsythia propagates vegetatively: by cuttings and layering. Reproduction by layering is the easiest and fastest way to get a new seedling. In autumn, flexible, falling branches are bent to the ground, a shallow incision is made in the bark at the point of attachment, pinned for fixation and sprinkled with moist, loose, fertile soil.

Already next spring you will have ready seedling, which must be separated from the mother plant. Over the summer, the young plant will form a powerful root system, and in the fall it can be transplanted to a permanent place. With this method, the flowering of the bush will begin already in the 2nd - 3rd year of life.

Also in the fall (September - October) propagation is carried out by lignified cuttings. To do this, the mature shoots of the new year are cut into cuttings 15 cm long and planted in a shrub in open ground or a greenhouse, buried 10 cm into the substrate, so that 2 - 3 buds remain. For the winter, the cuttings are covered with dry leaves and covered with snow during the winter.

Rooting and growth planting material will be necessary for the entire growing season and only in the fall the grown seedlings can be transplanted to a permanent place. They will bloom a little later than with the first method, but cuttings allow you to get a large yield of planting material. This method is convenient if you want to plant hedge and decorate the alley.

In summer (June) you can propagate forsythia from green cuttings. They are cut from young growth, the lower leaves are removed, and the upper leaves are shortened in half. In this case, it will be necessary to treat the cuttings with growth stimulants and cover the plantings in the shkolka with film to retain moisture. The volume of maintenance work will also increase: spraying, watering, ventilation.

Features of planting and care details

Although forsythia can be planted in both autumn and spring, it is preferable to carry out this activity in autumn terms(at the beginning of leaf fall), since in the spring you simply may not have time before the sap begins to flow.

Forsythia awakens from winter dormancy early, and at the beginning of spring there is enough trouble without ornamental plants. If you still need to plant in the spring, then use better seedlings with a closed root system. They tolerate transplantation less painfully and adapt faster.

Planting holes are prepared with a length and width of 60 cm, their depth should be about 70 cm to install a drainage layer of crushed stone or broken brick at the bottom. The soil mixture for filling the hole consists of humus, rotted leaves, garden soil and sand. The addition of lime, wood ash or chalk is welcome. Autumn planting in the first year, regardless of the region and variety of forsythia, it is necessary to cover it for the winter. The tree trunk circle is mulched with dry leaves, and the above-ground part is protected with covering material.

Forsythia does not require close attention and feels even better when forgotten about. In the spring, you can apply reduced doses of complex fertilizer and organic matter (in the form of mulch from compost or humus). In autumn, on poor soils, it is recommended to apply phosphorus-potassium fertilizers. Reasonable fertilizing with universal complex fertilizers improves flowering, but an excess of nutrition reduces winter hardiness and negatively affects decorativeness.

In its natural habitat, forsythia conquers rocky mountain slopes, so it can easily tolerate drying out soil. Excess moisture affects its condition much worse. In summer, it is watered only during periods of prolonged drought, but not abundantly and no more than once a week. In this case, it is necessary to loosen the top layer to restore the air chambers.

An important spring event is phytosanitary pruning of bushes, during which frozen, dry and broken shoots are removed. Old bushes can be rejuvenated by cutting off up to half the entire length of the shoot. Formative pruning is carried out after flowering, giving the bush a ball shape or creating an even hedge.

When pruning, you should not touch the young growth, as it contains flower buds for the new season. Old woody shoots are removed, and young shoots are only slightly shortened to stimulate branching. Forsythia grows quickly and tolerates pruning well, but you should not overdo it, so as not to get uncontrolled growth of shoots with scanty flowering.

Forsythia in the Moscow region at correct selection varieties survive winters well with minimal shelter (mulching tree trunks with dry leaves and spruce branches). Even in the event of a harsh winter with little snow, only young growth will die, but the bush itself will quickly recover. But for the Urals and Siberia, complete cover is recommended. In young plants, shoots are pressed to the ground and covered with spruce branches or agrofibre. Wrapping with appropriate covering material will also help protect the crown.

Forsythia in the garden: where and with whom to plant it

Forsythia blooms in April (for the Moscow region and the middle zone) or May (for the Urals and Siberia). Flowering lasts up to 3 weeks, and then the yellow bells are replaced by light or dark green leaves. The shrub does not lose its decorative properties even in the fall, when the leaves turn purple or golden.

IN European gardens forsythia is very popular in landscape design and is becoming more common in Russia. It is perfect for creating a hedge, as it grows quickly and tolerates pruning well.

It also goes well with evergreen conifers; the picture will be especially bright during the flowering period.

Single plantings, with a spherical crown formation against the backdrop of a well-groomed green lawn, will give the garden a special grace.

Forsythia goes well with spirea and euonymus. Varieties of hanging (drooping) forsythia are used for trellis growing along the walls of houses or for decorating a gazebo.

In late autumn, finishing the season in the garden, cut off several young shoots of forsythia, wrap them in film and place them in a cool place (cellar, loggia or refrigerator). In winter, just put the shoots in water with diluted honey and the room will be filled in a few days bright yellow blossoming forsythia.

Description of types and popular varieties

The most versatile and widespread species is forsythia intermediate. It has good winter hardiness and is very decorative. However, other varieties deserve attention.

• Forsythia ovate - the most winter-hardy and drought-resistant species with the most early flowering average duration. The shrub reaches a height of no more than 2 meters, the flowers are small, the crown is spreading. Varieties of this species are very decorative in the fall, when the leaves acquire a purple hue.

Tetragold is a meter-long shrub with dark yellow flowers.

Spring Glory is a real giant in its group (height up to 3 meters) with large flowers and powerful shoots. In autumn, the bush is full of pale yellow and purple leaves.

• Forsythia hybrid (intermediate) , or medium stands out with a powerful tall bush up to 3 meters and dark green color large leaves. Bright yellow flowers are collected in simple inflorescences of several pieces.

Spectabilis is one of the most decorative varieties. Reaches a height of more than two meters and forms a wide crown with flowing shoots. Blooms later, flowers are large (more than 4 cm in diameter). In autumn the bush turns yellow and purple.

Linwood is a medium-sized shrub (2 - 3 meters) with golden flowers. In autumn, the leaves acquire a bright decorative color.

Minigold is a dwarf, slow-growing variety with compact crown and small flowers.

Goldzauber is a popular variety with golden flowers, often grown in Siberia and the Urals.

• Forsythia drooping (drooping) characterized by a spreading crown and drooping branches covered with olive-colored bark, which in combination with yellow looks very impressive.

Forsythia fortunea produces flowers with orange tint. In the first years of life, the bush forms erect shoots, and after 2-3 years long drooping branches appear. Has abundant flowering.

Forsythia variegated is distinguished by the unusual color of its sword-shaped leaves: a dark green center and a lighter yellowish border.

Forsythia Siebold is a winter-hardy low-growing variety for central Russia, which still requires shelter (the shoots are removed from the trellis and covered with leaves or spruce branches).

• Forsythia europaea - a more heat-loving species, which, with careful shelter, can winter in the Moscow region. A bush 2 meters high is covered with large lemon flowers. The leaves are oblong, light green.

• Forsythia dark green (greenest) - tall, heavily leafy shrub. The flowers have a greenish tint, the bark of the shoots is dark green. The species is drought-resistant, but has low winter hardiness, so it is grown only in regions with a mild climate.

Separately, I would like to note the low-growing, with drooping branches hybrid variety Koomson. It is distinguished by its leaves with a milky network of veins. Its flowers are pale yellow. When grown in the Moscow region, flower buds may freeze, so shelter is required.

Forsythia will decorate any garden and will not cause any trouble if you choose the right variety. It quickly gains strength and pleases with consistently abundant early flowering in a season that is scarce in colors.

Decoration landscape design Forsythia often appears in gardens and courtyards, Moreover, planting and caring for it do not cause any particular difficulties. Due to its aesthetic appeal and spectacular appearance This shrub looks much more advantageous than many other ornamental crops.

How to choose the right seedling in the store

The very first and, perhaps, fundamental question concerns the purchase of forsythia seedlings. How to do right choice so as not to regret it in the future?

We do not recommend buying plants from people without the necessary documents confirming them trading activities and professionalism in the plant trade. Simply put, it’s better not to take it “from hand.” Order seedlings from organizations, shopping centers, in a word, from those who specialize in landscape design and have established relationships with trusted nurseries and plant suppliers. It is better to entrust the choice to an experienced dendrologist. Another advantage to this is that, being next to him, you will receive basic but necessary information about your future plant.

If you decide to make a choice yourself, then definitely go to the trade fair. Since choosing a forsythia seedling, like any other plant, is not easy, it is better to have a certain reference book with you. This is how you will choose, ask leading questions, and generally navigate this type of product.

You have every right to ask for a quality certificate regarding the forsythia you choose. The main points to pay attention to are the supplier country and the climatic zone of growth. What looks great when planted does not necessarily stay that way until the very end.

Pay attention to the age of the seedlings. The older the plant is and the more the conditions during future planting differ from the previous ones, the more difficult it will be for the shrub to adapt.

When choosing a seedling, examine not only the one you like, but also the others. If there is at least one patient among them, leave there with nothing. An infected plant will be an extra troublesome task for you, since it will not only require special care, but will also infect nearby plants. Buy only seedlings with thick and strong branches with many buds. Do not purchase plants with broken branches or damaged shoots.

Did you know? The ornamental shrub received its name in honor of the botanist from Scotland William Forsyth, part-time head gardener of Kensington Palace and one of the founders of the Royal Horticultural Society. He was the first to bring the forsythia bush from the Celestial Empire to Europe.

Planting a forsythia seedling

To make a forsythia bush with yellow flowers a decoration for your garden, you need to know a few basic aspects of planting it.

Optimal planting dates

Planting forsythia in principle, just like replanting it, it’s better in the spring or early autumn, until frost hits. The plant needs to get accustomed to winter.

Choosing a landing site

Forsythia is a warm and sun-loving plant. Taking this factor into account is important when planting and further care behind the bushes. In the rays of sunlight, the development of forsythia occurs much better, and the flowering is more spectacular. But even in partial shade this ornamental shrub feels good. The place where forsythia grows should also be well protected from the wind. Typically, group planting of shrubs is done along paths and fences.

How to prepare the soil for planting

Rich nutrients and well-ventilated soil is best for forsythia to develop. For this plant, it is certainly better to prepare a special soil mixture. Humus, sand and leaf soil in a ratio of 1:2:1. Forsythia will not be able to fully grow in acidic soils. If the soil pH level is low, it will need to be balanced by adding wood ash.

Proper planting of seedlings

The hole for forsythia should be about half a meter deep and wide. If you plan to plant several shrubs on the site, then you need to leave a distance of at least two meters between them. The process of planting forsythia occurs as follows:

1. At the bottom of the hole, a ten-centimeter layer should be laid out with drainage consisting of broken bricks or crushed stone.
2. On top of the drainage there is a five-centimeter layer of coarse sand.
3. The plant must be carefully removed from the container and lowered into the hole so that the root collar is visible on the surface.
4. The roots need to be covered with the prepared soil mixture.
5. The trunk circle needs to be trampled down a little.
6. At the end, the forsythia needs to be watered and mulched with humus, straw or fallen leaves.

Comprehensive plant care

Unpretentiousness is a kind of “slogan” for almost all types of forsythia. Caring for this shrub is not particularly difficult. All a gardener will need to do with forsythia is:

• Water periodically.
• Loosen and weed around the trunk.
• Trim the bushes.

Soil care

In this sense Forsythia is an unpretentious plant. Particularly noteworthy is a species such as forsythia medium yellow. Many gardeners may not water forsythia at all. It tolerates drought well climatic conditions. But when warm winds blow, it is recommended to moisten the soil from time to time. This is done very rarely - about once a month. One bucket of water per plant will be enough.

Important! After each watering, it is imperative to loosen the tree trunk circle by thirty centimeters and then mulch again.

Spring feeding forsythia involves spreading manure around each bush in early March. Then in April you can feed with mineral fertilizers in the amount of 70 g for each bush. The next feeding is done when the forsythia blooms, or more precisely at the end of this period. Here they use Kemira Universal and only according to the instructions on the package.

Pruning and shaping the bush

So, we’ve sorted out the watering and feeding of forsythia, now let’s move on to the aesthetic part - crown formation. The bush should be trimmed in any case - this is a mandatory requirement, because otherwise it will look unkempt. For a plant that is positioned as a decoration for landscape design, this is unacceptable. But the pruning procedure must be performed as carefully as possible. So, when and how to prune forsythia correctly?

In the first years after planting, shrubs are not formed. Only the removal of frozen branches is permissible. You should start pruning the crown in the third or fourth year. When the frosts pass, the frostbitten ends of the branches are cut off from the forsythia. The main pruning is carried out in the summer, when the bush has faded. The branches need to be shortened by half and old and dry shoots removed, leaving five to six centimeter stumps. New shoots will form from them.

The forsythia crown is usually formed in the shape of a bowl or ball. If forsythia is used in hedges, then it is periodically rejuvenated by cutting off the branches by two-thirds or to a stump of several centimeters. After this, the plant begins to grow new young and strong shoots in another large quantities. Forsythia should be pruned no more than once every three years. Otherwise, the plant will stretch out greatly and bloom poorly.

Preparing bushes for winter

Preparing forsythia for winter is similar to the procedure for relatively similar representatives of ornamental crops. Even those tested “minus” frost-resistant varieties It is imperative to insulate with the onset of severe cold. This is done using heaps of dry leaves or pine needles. Particular attention should be paid to young shoots. If they freeze in winter, they will not be able to bloom fully in the spring.

Important! Before you start insulating the branches of the bush, they need to be pressed to the ground and only then covered.

This is how you need to care for forsythia. Planting, care, pruning, watering and feeding - all this is carried out according to very simple rules.

Did you know? The most frost-resistant variety of forsythia is ovoid forsythia.

How to propagate forsythia yourself

Growing forsythia, like caring for it, is not difficult. The simplest and most used method is cuttings, but we'll look at all three.

By layering

Forsythia is propagated by layering in the spring. The shoots of the mother tree are cut to form a stump. This is done so that new young and healthy branches grow over the summer. And in the fall they are bent to the ground and placed in grooves at a shallow depth. To make it more reliable, the shoot is pinned and then covered with earth.

Such a “transplantation” of forsythia requires special processing of the soil composition. First, you need to loosen it well, then lay out the bottom of the furrows with a layer of drainage made of fine crushed stone, and sprinkle soil on top. Reproduction of forsythia by layering is permissible not only in autumn, but also in early spring. One condition: the shoots must be young.

Cuttings

If you can’t trim a bush at the root, then this is suitable for you The next propagation method is cuttings. Take semi-lignified twenty-centimeter cuttings and plant them in a box filled with a moistened mixture of soil and sand. The twig needs to be stuck into the ground at a slight angle of a couple of centimeters. Everything is covered with film on top.

Important! An unused aquarium is perfect as a greenhouse.

Maintaining sufficient humidity and shading, when necessary, from scorching sun rays, in a month you will receive rooted cuttings. It is better to plant them in open ground in the spring.

Seeds

Forsythia can be propagated by seeds in both spring and autumn. In spring, seeds are sown in boxes with soil. After a month and a half, shoots are visible. The plant is pruned in the second year. For the winter, cover with a 20 cm layer of leaves.