Weigela is a versatile ornamental shrub that can decorate almost any garden. However, during cultivation, it requires increased attention, especially in the fall. With improper care, this southern species can seriously suffer from seasonal cold weather and die. The article examined in detail what is necessary for Weigel in the fall, and also describes how to properly prepare the plant for winter.

Watering mode

This decorative bush necessarily needs a supply of water for the winter, therefore, in the fall, watering flower beds do not reduce. At the same time, water is added as the soil dries, so that it is always slightly moist (about 1-2 times a week with a calculation of 5 l / bush).

At the same time, substrate water recharging is quite important, therefore, from the end of September to the beginning of October, it is necessary to wet the soil well (once). Make a liquid with a calculation of 20-30 l / plant. The day after the procedure, it is necessary to protect the soil from loss of introduced moisture. This should be done using the so-called mulching.

Important! If heavy rains are observed in early autumn, water is not recharged. Overmoistening of the soil can provoke putrefactive lesions of the root system of the shrub, as well as create favorable conditions for the development of pathogenic fungi.

The procedure includes the following steps:

1. Clean the bed of all kinds of weeds and debris.
2. Occupy the bush so that around its base an earthen hill is formed approximately 20–25 cm high.
3. Fill the near-stem circle with peat, humus, husk of seeds, hay, straw, conifer needles, etc. In this case, the protective layer must be at least 10 cm thick.

Autumn top dressing

In order for the Weigela to winter well, and also safely out of suspended animation in spring, the plant also needs to be equipped with the necessary nutrients. Without this, the resistance of the plant organism to all kinds of environmental challenges will be minimal, which will certainly lead to freezing or wilting of shoots. In addition, the subsequent flowering of the bush often depends on the autumn top dressing, as the plant often reserves strength for this from the end of the previous season.

Did you know? Weigela was introduced to the culture in 1845 by the British botanist Robert Fortune. Until that time, the species was distributed exclusively in Indonesia, Japan, China and Java.

To fertilize the flower correctly, the procedure should be resorted to in the first half of September. Compliance with this feature is a mandatory measure, since in the future, after recharging the soil, it is strongly not recommended to subject it to any agrotechnical procedures (this will lead to the loss of moisture of the substrate).

Weigel needs to be fed comprehensively, in which case both organic and mineral fertilizers are used. To do this, about 4–5 kg of compost or humus, as well as 50 g of superphosphate and 30 g of potassium chloride should be added to the near-stem circle of each plant. After this, the soil needs to be dug well and watered.

Alternatively, instead of mineral fertilizers, you can use about 200 g of chopped wood ash.

Purpose and features of trimming

Autumn pruning of weigels is performed for sanitary purposes, at the end of the season the bush must be cleaned of withered or broken branches, as well as shoots affected by fungi or pests.

Important! Before trimming, it is imperative to sterilize all garden equipment. To do this, it should be well sprayed or dipped in a 2% solution of potassium permanganate or the drug "Fitosporin".

If necessary, root growth can also be removed during this period, which will help to avoid undesirable thickening of the flower bed. Shorten the main shoots and form a crown in the fall is not worth it, as this will lead to a weakening of the bush. In addition, this will lead to the fact that in the next season the plant will not be able to fully blossom.

All places of cuts on the branches must be treated with any comprehensive protective agent. This will help protect the shrub from damage by a variety of pathogenic fungi and small pests. The most popular, affordable and effective tool for this is considered a garden var.

To cook it, you need:

1. Mix in equal parts unsalted animal fat (pork, beef, mutton, etc.), rosin and wax (can be replaced with paraffin).
2. Dissolve mixture until smooth over low heat.
3. Add flaxseed oil (4: 1) and approximately 15–25% of the total amount of zinc oxide to the substance. Prepare the drug immediately before use and use only when refrigerated.

Video: Weigel Pruning and Winter Prep

Shelter and preparation for winter

In addition to protective mulching, the preparation of the Weigela for winter also provides for the shelter of the aerial parts. They begin this procedure after a complete decrease in the average daily temperature to –3 ... 0 ° С. Depending on the region of cultivation, this period begins in mid-October - late November. There are only two ways to perform this procedure, the so-called frame and frameless.

Did you know? Weigela was named after the German scientist C. E. Weigel (1748–1831), who made an invaluable contribution to the development of chemistry and pharmaceuticals.

The frameless method is suitable for stunted plants up to 30 cm high.

Perform such a shelter according to the following algorithm:

1. Tie the branches together with a tight rope.
2. Bend the workpiece to the ground and secure with metal arcs.
3. Fill the shrub with mulch on top, and then wrap it with spruce branches, spunbond, burlap or any other vapor-permeable material.

The frame method is most often used for adult bushes with a height of 40 cm or more. To do this, you need to connect the branches of the bush with each other, and then around each plant to build shelter from boards, moisture-proof plywood, slate, etc.

Inside the structure, pour mulch (hay, straw, sawdust, lapnik, husk of seeds, etc.), while it should completely cover the top of the bush. After the temperature drops to –10 ° C, the structure must be densely covered with hay, straw or coniferous spruce branches.

Autumn Pest Control

Despite the fact that properly prepared bushes rarely suffer from pests, each gardener should protect himself from them to the maximum. This procedure begins at the beginning of September, first of all, the trunk and shoots of the plant must be treated with any complex insecticide. The best drugs for this are Vertimek or Fitoverm.

After sheltering, it is also recommended to create a protective barrier against rodents. Its role is played by a dense metal mesh with a cell of no more than 10 × 10 mm. Install it along the outer perimeter of the plant at a distance of about 10–20 cm.

As an alternative, a variety of electronic repellers or chemicals can be used. “Karnofer” is considered the safest and most effective drug; it has a sharp and specific odor that repels rodents. They process the entire territory of the flowerbed, as well as the area around the perimeter.

Weigela is a fairly popular and elegant shrub that can create an atmosphere of a real holiday in the garden. The graceful flowers of the plant allow you to decorate almost any landscape, even a coniferous flower bed. However, the view is quite whimsical and demanding to the microclimate, so the grower should look after him throughout the season. Particular attention is paid to the bush in the fall, since even the slightest neglect of the basics of agricultural cultivation can provoke its death.