Buddleja shrub (Buddleja) is a flowering, fragrant plant with a high decorative effect and is very popular among amateur flower growers and landscape designers. The culture goes well with many perennials, it can grow in group and single plantings. The plant resembles a multi-colored fountain of heavy lush fragrant inflorescences.
Among several dozen different types, you can choose a specimen suitable in color and shape for your site, which can be used for landscaping and decorating the territory. A hedge of flowers of all iridescent shades not only attracts the attention of butterflies and bees, but also cannot leave indifferent any, even casual, glance. When growing a budley in a personal plot or in a country house, it must be remembered that it comes from the southern regions and is a very thermophilic and light-loving plant. For the full development of the bush, you need to create all conditions close to its natural habitat.
Outdoor Budleia Care
Landing budley
The budlea planting site should be open, with sufficient sunlight during the day, but protected from drafts and sudden gusts of wind.
The culture does not impose special requirements on the soil, but it will grow better on light nutritious soil with good and regular moisture.
Top dressing and fertilizers
Budleya responds positively to additional feeding, which is perfectly reflected in the timeliness, duration, splendor and brightness of flowering. Fertilizers are recommended to be applied 2-3 times per season.
The first time is at the beginning of the growing season. Nitrogen-containing top dressing promotes plant recovery after the winter period and ensures its active growth and development.
The second time is in the middle of the summer season. It is recommended to apply fertilizers with a high content of potassium and phosphorus. They have a positive effect on the intensity of flowering and the formation of new shoots. You can use a variety of organic fertilizers (for example, compost or rotted humus).
The third dressing can be applied periodically during the summer months. It is recommended to pour a small amount of wood ash into the trunk circle of the shrub. Such fertilizer will protect budleia from various pests and diseases, as well as support the immune system.
Budlea after flowering
Depending on the type of plant and climatic conditions of the region, the flowering period of the shrub lasts for 1.5-2 months, starting from August - September. After the end of abundant and lush flowering, faded inflorescences-panicles of a red hue remain on the culture, which spoil the appearance and attractiveness of the bush. The main rules of care include timely pruning of such inflorescences.
Shelter for the winter
Cold and long winters are a real challenge for a crop with very low winter hardiness. Reliable shelter can help wake up in this difficult period.In harsh winter conditions with temperatures below 15-20 degrees, the shrub can freeze out completely, to the very base. True, with the arrival of the warm spring sun, recovery takes place, and flowering still comes. Only such stressful periods after 3-4 years, even if all the rules of care and maintenance in warm seasons are followed, will lead to a loss of decorativeness and a gradual withering of the culture.
Experienced gardeners and florists recommend pruning the stems after flowering, leaving about ten centimeters from the soil level, and then hilling. The stems remaining on the surface of the earth must be covered with a thick layer (about 10 cm) of peat or humus. In dry, frosty winters, such protection will be sufficient, and during a wet winter period, additional measures will be required in the form of a frame with a covering material. In this case, the plantings are covered with fallen leaves, and a wooden or metal "skeleton" with a cover of spunbond or lutrasil is erected on top. Such work is recommended to be carried out in dry weather with zero temperature.
Reproduction of budley
Budlea propagates by seeds and green cuttings.
Seeds are sown on the surface of a wet substrate in early spring, covered with glass or plastic wrap and left until shoots appear. Two-week-old seedlings dive into individual small flower pots, and they need to be transplanted into open ground in early June. Budley will bloom only next summer.
For grafting, at the beginning of summer, green cuttings up to 10 cm long are cut, the places of the cuts are treated with root formation stimulants. The seedlings are buried 3-4 cm in a special mixture of two parts of garden soil and one part of sand and peat and rooted within two months, transplanted into open ground in the fall.
