The heather ordinary is creeping long-term bush and the frequent guest on seasonal dachas. This very ornamental plant, but for long blossoming and growth is important to pay special attention to process of disembarkation and care for it.
Landing of heather
Usually landing of heather is carried out by the young saplings acquired in containers from razvodchik. For trees landing holes at distance of 0.5 m from each other will be organized. Their size has to exceed root lump approximately twice. At placement of saplings it should be taken into account that heather roots grow horizontally therefore after withdrawal from container they need to be straightened more accurately in the parties.
Saplings get to the level of root neck. The soil from above needs to be stamped slightly hands, to water and powder with sawdust, peat or small spill from coniferous trees in which contains useful to heather of mikories. If landing is carried out in clay soil, in landing poles the drainage (mix of pebble, crushed stone and brick splinters) 2-3 cm high is poured previously.
Also landing of heather seeds is possible, however this process will be quite long. Seeds place in flat dishes, scatter thin layer, humidify and cover with glass. After germination in 2-3 weeks the seeds sow in the wooden boxes filled with soil substrate. Month later there has to be seedling for which development further it will be necessary to observe particular temperature condition (18-20 degrees) and to support sufficient soil moisture in boxes. In the summer boxes with seedling can be held for hardening in the open air. Approximately in two years the saplings will be ready to change to the open ground.
Reproduction of heather
In the nature the heather usually breeds layers: its branches gradually lie and take roots in the soil, forming numerous young growths. If desired it is possible just to protect with small fence plant saplings, to powder with peat the most mature escapes and to fix them in the soil. In year there will be around new saplings which can accurately separate from maternal bush and replace in separate holes.
Effective way of reproduction by the hands - by means of division of rhizomes. At the end of summer the bush of plant is dug out, and the root is cut on several parts so that each of them contained young growth. Backs with young growth land in separate holes and in year give full-fledged saplings.
Artificial reproduction is also possible by means of top shanks. At the end of summer it is enough to cut shanks from the strongest branches of bush (except for the blossoming escapes). Shanks need to be implanted in separate pots, having filled them with peat and sand in proportion 3:1).
Saplings are established indoors with temperature of 15-18 degrees. Each several weeks shanks it is necessary to feed up urea solution, dissolving substance gram in water liter, and adding mix of microfertilizers. By next spring the shanks can be landed to the open ground.
Care for heather
To provide dense plantings from heather on the seasonal dacha, in the early spring (kidneys have not appeared yet) the top branches of bush need to be cut moderately. The same operation is performed during the autumn period, upon termination of blossoming. At the same time branches of heather cut off several centimeters below than the faded inflorescences, leaving scraps for the winter as the shelter and moving away them on spring.
The plant needs fertilizing by mineral fertilizers. Ezhesezonno is required not less than 30-40 g square meter. Watering is carried out as required. At the same time it is desirable to delete weeds, carrying out natural scarification.
In case of low temperatures during the winter period the heather should be covered with fir-tree fir twigs, previously powdering each bush with the mulching sawdust, peat layer and dry leaves. In favorable conditions the heather is in constant development and is capable to stay up to 50 years.