Content
Each summer resident or owner of a private house wants to make his site bright and unique. Weigela Carnival is an excellent solution for decorating the local area. The shrub blooms incredibly beautifully, is unpretentious in care and undemanding to the surrounding conditions.
Description of Weigela Carnival
The plant was first introduced to European soil from the distant eastern regions. This variety is one of the most widespread in the world. A feature of the shrub is its considerable size. Adult plants are capable of reaching a diameter of 3.5 m with a bush height of 50-70 cm. The shoots of the bush grow straight up, sinking slightly closer to the ground with age, forming a lush spherical crown. Leaves are green, elongated, slightly pointed towards the end.
Weigela Carnival variety is one of the most frost-resistant among other representatives of this plant. He calmly endures the winters of central Russia. An exception for cultivation can be only the northern part of the country with heavy and prolonged snowfalls.
How Weigela Carnival blooms
A feature of this variety is that the flowers can be painted in different colors. Unlike traditional monochromatic colors, Carnival pleases with three different colors at once - white, pink and purple. A scattering of multi-colored buds makes a great impression on the guests of the local area.
The shrub begins to bloom at the age of 4 years. The active flowering period begins in early summer and lasts until about the end of June. The flowers are small but frequent. Flowering lasts constantly - dead flowers are replaced with new ones. Photo of blooming weigela Carnival amazes with the abundance of blossoming buds.
Application in landscape design
Weigela Carnival can be used in landscape design in different ways: you can create steep curves on the lawn, you can plant it alone in a remote area of the territory, or attach it to trees with a wide crown. Low-growing weigels are best suited for rocky surfaces, tall ones are used to create hedges.
Having about 10 seedlings, you can divide them into 2-3 groups, depending on the overall desired composition. Each group includes 3 to 4 bushes for a more spectacular appearance. They are all planted side by side on the lawn, forming lines or circles. For each group, they try to create a common near-trunk circle, be sure to mulch. If weigels Carnival are planted far from each other, it is necessary to fill the distance between them with green spaces - ferns or hosta.
Breeding methods
Reproduction of weigela Carnival can be done in two ways - by seeds or cuttings. In the first case, sowing is carried out in spring without preliminary seed preparation. They are placed in a pot and covered with transparent film or glass. After the second leaf appears at the seedlings, it is necessary to thin out the crops. The one-year-old weigela plant is approximately 6-7 cm in height and 3 cm in diameter of the root system.
The next year, weigelu Carnival in pots is taken out into the open air.It is placed in a slightly shaded area of the garden - a tree with a thin crown is best suited. For the winter, the plant is brought back into the house. The result of 2 years of such cultivation will be a seedling 40-50 cm long, ready for transplanting into open ground.
To get a stalk of weigela Carnival, a fresh green branch is cut off from an adult bush, which is just starting to grow stiff. An ideal stem is one internode long with two pairs of leaves. A straight cut is made with a sharp knife.
The leaves are removed from the shoot and placed in water for a couple of hours. Then a special nutrient liquid is prepared, which includes 150 mg of a growth stimulator per 1 liter of water. After 12 hours of preparation, the plant is ready for planting.
Landing Weigela Carnival
Planting outdoors is one of the most important moments in the life of every plant. If it is done incorrectly, the future shrub will not take root and will soon die. Strict adherence to all planting rules and regulations guarantees the health and intensive growth of the bush.
Weigela Carnival, like other flowering shrubs, requires fairly strict adherence to planting rules. The established plant later becomes more unpretentious, but it still requires care. Need regular watering, mulching the soil around the shrub and periodic pruning of the crown.
Recommended timing
For the plant to take over well, the soil must be warmed up as much as possible. The ideal time for planting cuttings of weigela Carnival in open ground is considered to be the beginning to mid-June. Warm soil and abundant feeding will speed up the formation of new roots.
Young Weigela Carnival absolutely does not tolerate cool nights. Since the root system of the plant is not yet fully formed, lowering the thermometer below 6-8 degrees can spoil the nascent roots. It is necessary to make sure that the weather is warm - over the past 2 weeks, the night temperature should not fall below 10 degrees.
Saplings grown from seeds are planted in the third year of the plant's life. Since at this age the root system of the weigela Carnival has already been formed, it is possible to plant from May. The main thing is that at night there are no sudden cold snaps, destructive for this plant. You can also plant the plant in the fall - in September or early October.
Site selection and soil preparation
Although some species of weigela like shaded areas, the blooming Carnival grows best in open spaces. The growing area should not be closed from direct sunlight. You should not place the weigela in the shade of a country house or near the fence on the south side of the site.
The right soil for planting weigela Carnival is the key to a healthy plant in the future. Carnival is very demanding on the substrate in which it grows. To prepare the perfect soil, mix:
- 2 pieces of leafy land;
- 2 pieces of sand;
- 1 part of turf land.
Carnival dislikes wind most of all. The shrub has flowers that are too thin, which easily break off with strong gusts of the elements. The site should be surrounded by a high solid fence.
How to plant correctly
Pits must be prepared a week before planting. The ideal size of the pit for planting the weigela Carnival is 50x50x70 cm. A layer of drainage of sand, gravel and coarse gravel is lined at the bottom of the pit. The layer height must be at least 15 cm.
Planting depth should be such that the root collar of the weigela is at ground level. The roots are buried 40-60 cm. In the spring, the plant is placed perpendicular to the ground. In autumn, it is advised to tilt it on its side so that the vegetative system gives additional roots.
Growing rules
In order for Weigela Carnival to receive the maximum amount of nutrients from the soil, it is very important to weed its tree trunks from weeds. Weeding should be done every 2 weeks. A large number of foreign plants absorb water, leaving the Carnival without a power source.
At the same time, it is important to avoid the overflow of the Carnival weigela. This shrub really does not like areas with close groundwater. Therefore, watering should be done as carefully as possible. In constantly wet ground, weigela may refuse to bloom.
Watering
If the winter was with little snow, as well as in the case of a large number of frostbitten shoots, the plant is watered abundantly. The main watering occurs in March, when the soil has already completely thawed. The norm for a bush is 8-10 liters.
Weigelu Carnival is also watered before flowering. During this period, about 4-5 liters of water are poured under each bush. Of course, the plant should not be forgotten during dry periods. If there has been no rain for a long time, the soil looks very dry, preventive watering from a garden hose is recommended.
Top dressing
The introduction of the right fertilizers is the key to the health of the weigela. The Carnival variety is fertilized 2 times a year. The first application takes place immediately after the snow melts and the soil thaws. A full range of fertilizers is applied so that the plant recovers faster from wintering. At this time, urea, superphosphate and complex potassium fertilizer will be the best bait.
The second bait takes place in the summer during the swelling of the flower ovaries. Weigela is poured with double superphosphate and potassium sulfate at the rate of 30 ml per 1 sq. m of soil. Such fertilization prolongs flowering, filling the Carnival with all the substances necessary for the plant.
Loosening, mulching
For the proper development of the weigela bush, it is recommended to keep the trunk circles in good condition. Continuous loosening and mulching of the soil will improve the health of the plant and accelerate its growth. Loosening must be done after each serious watering of the plant. The area around the trunk of the Carnival should be loosened to a depth of about 7-8 cm.The diameter of the serviced circle around the weigela should be at least 2 m.
Mulching is necessary for slower evaporation of water from the roots of the tree. The layer of mulch should be at least 8-10 cm. Traditionally, sawdust is used for it. An oak or apple tree works best.
Pruning, crown shaping
In early spring, it is imperative to remove shoots damaged by severe frost. This will accelerate the set of green mass of weigela Carnival due to the fact that excess juices will not be supplied to the affected areas. Pruning is done with pruning shears. After removing the dead parts, the weigela is treated with garden varnish.
Also, once every 2 years, pruning is performed to form the correct crown of the plant. It is best produced after flowering. Too long side shoots are removed, as well as new branches growing inside the crown.
Preparing for winter
From mid-October, weigelu Carnival begins to prepare for wintering. The first task is to collect the fallen leaves and bend the branches to the ground. At this time, additional soil mulching is carried out. The mulch layer should be larger than usual. Usually peat and dry oak chips are added for wintering.
In November, young plants are covered with foil to protect them from severe frosts. Rodent traps are set around the weigels. After the first snow falls, it is trampled down to create a kind of thermos around the planting pit.
Pests and diseases
The biggest disaster for the weigela Carnival is the common aphid. These flies can completely destroy the leaves and young shoots of the plant. To get rid of uninvited pests and diseases, they use:
- anabasine sulfate solution 0.2%;
- karbofos 0.2%;
- chlorophos 0.4%;
- nicotine sulfate 0.4% with soapy water.
Natural ingredients will also help protect weigela from diseases. Decoctions based on shag, garlic and onions are very effective. Among spices, allspice and black pepper show the best efficiency.
Conclusion
Weigela Carnival will decorate any garden and local area. It is ideal for landscaping, blending with other shrubs and small trees. Subject to planting technology and constant painstaking care, the plant will delight its owners with lush flowers during the long summer months.
