Mahonia or "Oregon grapes" is an evergreen berry shrub from the Barberry family, numbering about 50 species and varieties in its genus. The peculiarities of this culture are its high decorativeness, resistance to frost and drought, shade tolerance and undemandingness to the composition of the soil, use in landscape design, individual taste of fruits and their beneficial properties.
The plant consists of strong shoots with a smooth surface of pinkish-gray or gray-brown shades depending on age, dark green leathery leaves, flowers of various shades of yellow and bluish-black sweet and sour berries with a thick bluish bloom. The berries are used in confectionery and winemaking. The flowering period lasts 20-30 days and falls in April - May, ripening of fruits and harvesting - at the end of August - at the beginning of September.
Planting Mahonia in open ground
When to plant Mahonia
You can plant Mahonia in open ground at any time from early spring to late autumn. The most favorable period is from March 1 to March 15.
The place must be protected from strong gusts of wind and drafts. Mahonia prefers open and sunny areas, but it is good if tall trees grow nearby, which can provide light partial shade, at least for a few hours a day. Being in constant partial shade, the crop will significantly lose in the quantity and quality of the crop. And hot sun rays throughout the day can leave sunburn on the leaves of Mahonia.
Saplings need fertile, loose soil with a rich humus content. For the planting pit, you can use one of several options for suitable soil mixtures. For example, a substrate of one part of sod land and sand and two parts of humus.
How to plant Mahonia
The depth and width of the planting pit should be at least 50 cm. On clayey soils and loams, the depth must be increased to accommodate the obligatory drainage layer. Broken brick or gravel can be used as drainage. Two weeks before planting, the pit must be filled with soil mixture and left to shrink and compact.
The ideal distance between seedlings is 1.5-2 meters. When planting shrubs, 1 meter will be enough for a hedge.
The day before planting, the purchased seedlings are recommended to be carefully examined, to trim dried or damaged roots, to shorten the long root processes and be sure to sprinkle all the cuts with crushed charcoal or activated carbon.
Prepared seedlings are placed in planting holes, gradually filling all the free space in it with a fertile soil mixture.The mixture of turf, sand and humus should not cover the root collar of a young plant. It should be about 1 centimeter above the soil surface. After planting, it is necessary to mark the boundaries of the near-trunk circles with the help of earthen rollers (their height is about 10 centimeters). The first abundant watering is carried out immediately. Each seedling will need 2 large buckets of water. After it has been absorbed, the soil surface in the trunks is covered with a layer of mulch.
Mahonia care rules
Basic care does not take much time and effort. It consists in watering and spraying, fertilizing, pruning (starting from the age of ten), caring for the soil and protecting against diseases and pests.
Watering
Moisture and watering are very important for Mahonia in the first years after planting. These water treatments should be done abundantly and regularly. Water is introduced under the root into the trunk circle and onto the crown directly from a hose with a diffusing watering can. The best time for watering is in the evening after sunset.
It is recommended to water adult shrubs only during long dry periods. Watering frequency is 2-3 times a week. The optimal volume of water for each crop is at least 10 liters. With regular precipitation, irrigation is not carried out. The next day after natural or artificial moistening of the soil, shallow loosening in the near-trunk circles is recommended.
Top dressing and fertilizers
Berry bushes require two additional mineral dressings per season, which are applied to the soil in early March and mid-May (before flowering). It is recommended to use Nitroammofosku or Kemira Universal balanced complex. Each square meter of land will require about 100 grams of top dressing. Humus or compost can be used as organic fertilizer. In the autumn period, it is applied with a five-centimeter layer in the near-trunk circle of each shrub, and in the spring it is dug up with the ground.
Transfer
Plant transplantation and planting of seedlings are carried out according to the same scheme. Magonia can be transplanted in spring and summer. In autumn, this procedure is not recommended, since the culture will not have time to adapt to a new place and may die during the winter cold.
Pruning
Magonia is subjected to sanitary, formative and rejuvenating pruning. Each of them has its own characteristics. Early spring is a good time for sanitary pruning, when damaged, frozen and dried branches are removed. It must be done before bud break. Formative pruning is essential for young crops to create lush and short plants. For her, the ideal time is autumn or the end of flowering. Well, old shrubs get rid of unnecessary branches, thereby giving the culture with renewed vigor to continue its development.
Preparing for winter
Wintering of young bushes should take place under a reliable shelter in the form of spruce branches. Adult plants need such shelter only if the winter is very harsh, but without snow. Under a blanket of snow, crops are not afraid of even the most severe frosts.
Reproduction of Mahonia
Seed propagation
Sowing Mahonia seeds in open ground can be done in autumn and spring. Freshly harvested seeds are planted around September to a depth of 1-2 cm. Before spring planting, the planting material must be prepared. Seeds undergo stratification within four months at low temperatures (from 0 to 5 degrees Celsius). Delicate and fragile seedlings should be shaded from direct sunlight. In August - September, young plants are thinned out and transplanted into individual pots or small containers. The seedlings will get to the permanent place of cultivation only after a year. Flowering will come only after 3 years.
Propagation by cuttings
Cuttings must be prepared in early spring, before the buds swell. Each cutting should have at least 5-6 buds. Rooting takes place in a container of water in the open air.The period of formation of the root system on cuttings is about two months. Cuttings with roots about 7-8 cm long can be planted in the soil, covering each of them with a cut plastic bottle. After about 10-15 days, the seedlings must be gradually accustomed to the open air, removing the plastic cover for several hours.
Reproduction by layering
The shoots of Mahonia closest to the surface of the earth are tilted and pinned with wire brackets into special grooves, sprinkling with soil. Regular watering is recommended throughout the season. The next year, the layers are separated from the main bush and planted in a new place.
Diseases and pests
Mahonia is practically not attacked by pests, but fungal diseases occur in rare cases. It is recommended to deal with them with proven and effective means.
- Powdery mildew - for 10-12 days, you need to spray diseased crops once a day with special solutions - "Topsin-M", "Fundazol", "Karatan".
- Rust - fungicides recommended for treating shrubs - "Oxyhom", "Bayleton", "Tsineb" or "Abiga-Peak".
- Phylostictosis - signs of the disease - large brown spots on the leaves, shedding of leaves, a decrease in decorativeness, a minimum number of flowers and fruits. Preparations for processing - "Oksikhom", "Kaptan", "Ftalan".
- Stagonosporosis - signs of the disease - multiple oval-shaped spots on the edges of the leaf plates, loss of attractiveness, cessation of growth and development. Preparations for processing - "Oksikhom", "Kaptan", "Ftalan".
Types and varieties of Mahonia
The most common species are Creeping, Japanese, Lomarillata, Winter Sun, Fremonti, Bracts, Newbert and Holly.
Mahonia "Padubolistnaya" is the most typical species and has its own varieties and varieties.
- Golden - it is distinguished by an unusual golden-yellow tint of the leaves.
- Variegated - this variety is beautiful with a multi-colored leaf mass.
- Walnut - differs from the main species in the shape and size of the leaves. They have a denser structure, but much smaller in size. On each petiole of a red hue there are seven small leaves.
- Graceful - it is distinguished by elongated long leaf plates, much larger than that of the main species.
- Apollo is a Dutch hybrid with a compact dark green crown in the summer months and bronze in early fall. The average height of the bush is 60-100 cm. The length of the leaves is about 30 cm, the flowers are yellow with a pleasant aroma, the fruits are dark blue with a bluish bloom.
- Atropurpurea is a Dutch low-growing variety, the average height is 40-60 cm m. The plant consists of dark green leaves with a shiny surface, fragrant flowers and sweet and sour fruits of blue-black color.
Useful properties of magonia and contraindications
The fruits and roots of Mahonia contain a large amount of tannins, vitamins, organic acids, and various alkaloids. On their basis, tinctures, extracts, ointments are prepared. Magonia is used to enhance immunity, improve blood circulation, as a choleretic agent, to treat skin diseases and the digestive system, to fight viruses and bacteria.
Like all medicinal plants, if misused, Mahonia can not only benefit, but also seriously harm. Do not self-medicate. Before using Mahonia preparations, it is recommended to consult with a professional who will take into account the individual characteristics of the patient and give his advice. This is especially true for people with digestive problems, various chronic diseases, as well as pregnant and breastfeeding women.
