Japanese Kerria: landing and care, photo

Kerria is a perennial shrub belonging to the Pink family. Homeland - Japan, southwest of China. Prefers mountains, terrain and forests. In Russia, they often adorn parks, alleys, gardens, squares, etc. When planting bushes on the site, it is necessary to select varieties based on the climatic characteristics of the region.

Description of the Kerry bush

The shrub is named after the first botanist in Ceylon and a collector of flora representatives - W. Kerr. The people called kerriya Easter rose. This is due to the fact that she begins to bloom in one of the most important church festivals, and her flowers look like pink buds.

The bush grows very quickly, reaches a height of 3 m. It has stems in the form of green twigs. Leaves lanceolate, serrated, with a pointed end. In length up to 10 cm. The outer side of the plate is smooth, the lower side is pubescent. During the growing season, the foliage is pale emerald, in the fall - yellow.

The buds exude a sharp aroma (similar to the smell of dandelions), are located singly, reach 4.5 cm in circumference. Petals are simple and terry. It blooms since May. The life cycle of flowers is 25-35 days. When the necessary conditions are created, the re-formation of buds can be observed in autumn.

After flowering, a dark brown drupe emerges. In central Russia, a shrub, as a rule, does not produce fruit.

The undoubted advantage of the plant is the tolerance of polluted air. Therefore, it can be planted next to highways, factories and in other places with increased gas contamination.

Types and varieties of Kerry

Shrub has only one variety - Japanese kerriya. Her most popular forms grown in Russia:

Landing of Kerry Japanese in the open ground

You can immediately plant in open ground or pre-grow seedlings in containers. In the first case, planting is carried out in the spring, after warming up the earth or in October before frosts. Shoots grown in room conditions are transplanted in any month except winter ones.

The place should be sunny, protected from drafts. However, ultraviolet rays can burn greens. Therefore, at noon, shrubs need shading. An ideal option would be to plant near fruit trees, which with their crown will protect the foliage from burnout. Landing in the shade is undesirable, because of this there will be no magnificent flowering.

Step-by-step landing process:

• In a moist, loamy, humus, nutrient soil, dig a hole 0.4 m deep.
• Pour a mixture of humus and turf on the bottom, add 6-8 tablespoons of complex mineral fertilizer (so that a small hill is formed).
• Place the bush in the center on the knoll, spreading the rhizome.
• Fill the voids with a substrate. The root neck should be at ground level.
• Tamp the soil a little and water.

Caring for Kerry in the Garden

After planting behind a shrub, you need the right care. Only in this case he will not get sick, will become a wonderful decoration for the garden.

Watering, top dressing, pruning

Kerria needs daily watering only in the first 2-3 weeks after planting. Take the settled, warm, soft water. Then there will be enough natural rainfall. However, in dry weather and during the formation of buds, regular hydration is necessary. The top layer of the earth (about 10 cm) should not have time to dry out. This is necessary for better flowering, the growth of new shoots and their protection from high temperature conditions.

So that moisture is well retained in the soil, it is recommended to mulch it. For example, fallen leaves. If the weather is too rainy, you need to constantly loosen the soil and weed, so that there is no stagnation of the liquid.

Pruning branches must be done often, because the bush is growing fast. In March, remove frozen, dried or broken branches during the winter. Shorten young shoots by 1/4. Cut the branches a second time after the first flowering. In the process, remove the old shoots. The third manipulation is carried out at the end of July-August, so that the re-formation of the buds is more plentiful.

To give decorativeness, too long processes must be shortened to the same size. Young shoots do not need to be touched. It is also necessary to thin out the shrub periodically. Thanks to these procedures, the bush will be more compact, but at the same time lush.

The first time the plant needs to be fertilized in the spring, immediately after pruning. Use organics as a top dressing (preferably a mullein diluted with water 1 to 10). After 1.5-2 weeks, you can add wood ash (per sq.m. 100-200 g) and compost (1:10). After the first flowering, it is recommended to water with complex mineral mixtures.

Care after flowering

If kerriya was cultivated in the nurseries of our country, usually it calmly tolerates Russian frosts. However, it is recommended that winter hardiness be specified for each individual specimen.

When landing in southern Russia, shelter is not necessary. If the flower is grown in the middle lane with cold winters, the bush should be mulched with spruce branches or dried leaves to prevent freezing, and cover with a waterproof material on top. You need to do this when lowering the temperature to -10 ° C, not forgetting to leave holes for air circulation. When wet, rotting and stagnation of melt water, the bush will begin to rot and die.

In spring, the shelter is removed gradually, so that the plant has time to get used to the surrounding atmosphere. First, remove the film, then reduce the height of the mulch to 15 cm, only then release the bush completely.

Breeding methods

The easiest method is dividing layering. It happens as follows:

• In the summer, dig small trenches (5-7 cm deep) near the mother bush.
• Press flexible branches to the ground.
• Fix them with brackets.
• After the appearance of leaves (after about 3-4 weeks), fill the ditch with a substrate, leaving only the ends of the branches on the surface.
• The root system will begin to develop in the fall. In spring, separate the grown layering.

Stepwise propagation by cuttings:

• In early April, separate the lignified shoots, and in July - the green ones. A minimum of a pair of kidneys should be formed on the cuttings.
• Land in a cool, shady area of ​​the greenhouse.
• It takes a lot of time to develop the root system, so leave the young bushes in the greenhouse for the winter.
• In May, transplant cuttings into containers and bring them into a warm room.
• Next season, transfer to the street.

In autumn, Kerria is propagated by offspring. Separate the shoots from the mother bush and plant them separately. When creating the necessary conditions for development, the root system quickly passes into adaptation, young bushes grow into a full-grown adult plant.

When transplanting, you can divide the bush. This is another way to multiply kerria. During the pick, clear the rhizome from the ground and carefully divide into several parts. Each of them must have well-developed roots and powerful stems. The landing of delenoks is carried out in the same way as the initial landing. Young bushes abundantly watered.

Diseases and Pests

Kerria is one of the strongest decorative deciduous plants. When creating the necessary conditions of detention, it is rarely affected by pests and various infections.

In rare cases, spider mites can begin to live on seedlings. This is due to errors in care: dry air, dust and dirt on the foliage, the presence of dry leaves in neighboring pots. You can destroy the pest with insecticides. For example, Fitoverm, Fufanonom and others. To prevent damage in the room, it is recommended to install a humidifier, wipe the bushes with a damp cloth, and remove fallen greens in time.

Mr. Summer resident informs: how to grow kerry in the Moscow region

When landing in the central region, special conditions must be observed. They also apply to the Leningrad region. Such requirements are related to the climate.

In late autumn, in dry weather, lay a foam around the base. Cover with coniferous branches or dry leaves so that the shoots are slightly pressed to the ground. So that they do not straighten, build a frame. It should be borne in mind that the shelter should be well ventilated. Therefore, it is necessary to leave openings for air circulation in it.

At the beginning of spring, in cloudy but dry weather, remove the structure. First remove the frame, then peel off the spruce branches, foliage. The bright sun can harm Kerria, so the first time it needs to be protected with covering material. It can be purchased at a store for gardeners. Burnt shoots, of course, can be cut, but then the flowering process will be disrupted.

Subject to the rules for planting and care, Kerry begins to form buds before the rest of the trees. Her flowering is colorful and plentiful, the bush will decorate any landscape design. Keeping it in Russian gardens is easy, watering it in a timely manner, pruning and fertilizing. If done correctly, no diseases and pests are terrible to the plant.