Cotoneaster is a beautiful evergreen that looks like a short shrub or deciduous tree and belongs to the Pink family. The name was invented by the famous naturalist Kaspar Baugin. Translated from Greek, one part of the word means "quince", and the other - "having a look, similar." On closer examination, the external similarity of the leaves of the bush with the quince becomes obvious.
There is a huge variety of cotoneaster varieties, differing in structure, color and other characteristics. Under natural conditions, they are found in northern Africa or in Eurasia. Do not confuse the concept of dogwood and cotoneaster. The names, of course, are consonant, but these plants have nothing in common and belong to different families. Small cotoneaster fruits are inedible, but cornel berries can be eaten.
Cotoneaster is considered an excellent decoration for a garden in a suburban area, therefore it is grown primarily for decorative purposes. The article will tell you in detail how to plant, grow and properly care for a cotoneaster.
Description of the plant cotoneaster
Some plant species retain their greenery throughout the year, while others shed their foliage after the season is over. Due to its dense branching, the shrub is often used for landscaping the territory. The shape of the leaves is ovoid, the plates are arranged alternately. In summer, they are colored dark green, and in autumn the shrub becomes reddish. The flowers are pink or snow-white, gather in corymbose inflorescences. After flowering, small black or red berries are formed.
A shrub can be kept in one place for decades. Shoots grow slowly. In the botanical literature there is a description of about 40 cultivated species of cotoneaster. A variety of plantings and forms of this plant are suitable for creating landscape design. The most popular types of cotoneaster are: shiny, whole-edged and black-fruited. The latter is highly resistant to frost. Summer residents are engaged in the cultivation of this shrub because of its unpretentious care. Experienced gardeners prefer to arrange seedlings as a hedge.
Planting a cotoneaster in open ground
Young cotoneaster bushes begin to be planted in thawed soil with the arrival of spring, before the first buds open. It is allowed to do an autumn planting before leaf fall, when frosts are not yet dangerous. This is a good time for diving into the open ground of the brilliant and black-fruited varieties.
The cotoneaster feels great in the shade, while the decorativeness of the leaves will not suffer at all. However, the bushes look more attractive and thrive better in open, sunny areas. The composition of the soil does not really matter. For optimal growth, a little fertile soil can be poured into the hole before planting.
A hole for a bush is dug in such a way that its dimensions are 50x50x50 cm. A thick layer of broken brick is poured onto the bottom, and on top it is filled with a soil mixture consisting of peat, sand, turf and organic fertilizer. Experienced gardeners recommend adding a glass of lime.
A distance of at least 0.5 m is maintained between individual seedlings and plants located nearby. The greater the height and size of the bush, the further you need to dig the next hole. When burying a seedling, it is important to leave the root collar open. The soil around the bush is compacted and watered. To retain moisture in the root system and get rid of the growth of weeds, it is better to mulch the surface around the trunk circle with peat. The layer of mulch should not exceed 8 cm. Shiny cotoneaster is planted in oblong grooves. When the crown of the bushes grows, it forms a hedge.
Caring for a cotoneaster in the garden
The cotoneaster is unpretentious in care and does not require special care. The only thing worth taking into account is that the plant does not tolerate stagnant moisture well. Roots can rot. It can cope with other weather whims.
Watering
Watering the cotoneaster needs moderate. Even with prolonged drought, the bushes are able to grow for some time without water. If the summer is very dry, watering is done twice a month. About 7-8 buckets are consumed for each seedling. After watering or rain, the soil is loosened and weeds are removed. It is recommended to regularly wash the leaves from dust. This applies primarily to varieties that replace hedges and are located near roads or paths. Then the bushes will look fresh, and the foliage will shine in the sun.
Top dressing and fertilizers
The first feeding is carried out in the spring. Nitrogen-containing compositions are used as fertilizers. For example, urea, which is dissolved in water, or granular Kemir-wagon. Before flowering, the bushes are fed with potash and superphosphate fertilizers. In autumn they are mulched with peat.
Pruning
The cotoneaster is easy to trim. Designers skillfully create interesting plant figures from shoots: cones, balls or curvilinear compositions. However, such decorative trimming is done with special tools. One-year-old bushes are allowed to be cut by a third of the growth. Shoots are able to grow back easily without losing their desired shape.
Shearing is also carried out as a preventive measure to free the plant from old, dried or diseased branches. Mature perennial shrubs need rejuvenating pruning. These activities are done only at the beginning of the year before the kidneys open. A sanitary haircut is allowed throughout the year.
Cotoneaster in winter
Cotoneaster stands are cold-resistant and hibernate without additional shelter. In late autumn, the soil around the trunk circle is mulched. When the plant does not look strong enough, it is better to bend the branches to the ground for the winter and fix them in this position, sprinkling them with leaves on top. If winter promises to be without snow, it is recommended to cover the bushes with spruce branches.
The most resistant to low temperatures for cultivation in our latitudes are the varieties of black cotoneaster and brilliant. They are able to withstand even severe frosts.
Reproduction of cotoneaster
There are various ways to breed cotoneaster bushes. Growing from seeds is laborious and does not always give a result, since they have a low percentage of germination. Sowing is carried out before winter. In cold soil, seeds undergo natural stratification. The first shoots appear with the arrival of spring. The cotoneaster is also bred using cuttings, layering and dividing the bush.
Seed propagation
After the fruits are ripe, they wither, then the pulp is better separated. The seeds extracted from the berries are thoroughly washed and stored in a container filled with water.Hollow bodies are collected at the surface, while those suitable for sowing remain at the bottom. They are combined with sand and peat, the mass is soaked and placed in wooden boxes, which remain in a cool room until spring.
Reproduction aboutwipes
The remains of branches after pruning or cuttings can be used as planting material. To form roots, they are placed in water and then planted in open ground, covered with a plastic bottle on top. Healthy and strong cuttings with a developed root system are transplanted to a permanent place.
Diseases and pests
The shrub is resistant to disease and is rarely affected by insects. However, in some cases, the inner surface of the leaves is covered with apple aphids. For this reason, they begin to curl and then gradually dry out. Sometimes the vegetative parts are eaten by the clischevik or scale insect. To destroy pests, leaves and branches are treated with herbal decoctions prepared on the basis of tobacco, yarrow and makhorka. If insects are still a threat, you will have to use chemicals that are sold in specialized stores. The most dangerous disease of the cotoneaster is fusarium. Fusarium can be treated with fungicides. Diseased branches and leaves are removed before processing.
Types and varieties of cotoneaster
Cotoneaster brilliant - the territory of Eastern Siberia is called the homeland. The branches of the shrub are straight and densely leafy, grow up to 2 meters. The leaves are dark green in color and elliptical, closer to the crown - more pointed. The flowers are pink in color, gather in loose corymbose inflorescences that begin to open in May. Duration of flowering is about a month. Fruits are formed on the shoots of a shrub that has reached the age of four. The cultivar is planted to create a hedge or placed in groups as a decorative ornament in the middle of the lawn.
Black cotoneaster Is a frost-resistant variety that grows well in our climate. Its berries are quite edible, unlike the fruits of other varieties. Found in Central Asia and Europe. The height of the shoots can be several meters. Fruiting begins after five years. The wood of the black cotoneaster is highly prized. Various wooden crafts, pipes and canes are made from it.
All-edge cotoneaster - grows in the regions of the Caucasus Mountains and the Baltic States. It has a spherical crown, the surface of the shoots is pubescent. The length of the dark green leaves is about 5 cm. The flowers, painted in a pale pink tone, are collected in small brushes. The berries are red.
In addition to the above varieties, no less popular are cotoneaster: horizontal, Dammer, pressed, small-leaved, bubbly, Henry and Franchet.
