How to propagate Barberry - cuttings, division

Barberry is a spectacular deciduous ornamental plant that ennobles garden plots. Sooner or later, its owners are wondering how to propagate barberry. This procedure can be carried out in different ways, and they all have certain nuances. Moreover, each type of breeding of barberry should be carried out at a certain time of the year.

When can reproduction be carried out: features

The advantage of all types and varieties of barberry can be called a quick survival rate after planting and resistance to adverse environmental conditions. Therefore, the bushes tolerate reproduction easily.

Barberry gives the plots a spectacular look

How barberry reproduces at home:

• cuttings;
• seeds;
• dividing an adult shrub;
• rooting of air layers;
• root shoots.

For each season, you can choose a certain type of bush breeding:

• Spring - ideal for cutting barberry, digging lateral air layers into the ground, dividing the bush and sowing seeds.
• Summer (second half) - cutting of cuttings and their rooting, preparation of root shoots for subsequent transplantation.
• Autumn - the time is right for planting root shoots in another place, sowing seeds in open ground for the winter, separating cuttings from the mother bush and transplanting them to another place.

It is worth considering the features of reproduction:

• Before propagating barberry by cuttings, you need to know that cuttings will take root for a long amount of time - about a month.
• Sowing seeds does not give 100% of their germination, only 20-40% of all seedlings will be suitable for planting them in the garden.
• The process of dividing the bush should be carried out carefully and carefully, otherwise there is a high probability of damage to the root system.
• When digging in air layers, it is necessary to carefully fix them to the ground with wire, otherwise rooting will not occur.
• Not all types and varieties of barberry can be propagated by root shoots.

It is imperative to take into account the type of plant, for example, the propagation of Thunberg barberry by cuttings is the most effective and suitable method for it. In this species, new young shoots constantly appear, which will quickly take root.

It is imperative to remove the lower leaves from cuttings.

Propagation by cuttings

Before cutting the barberry, you need to choose a suitable bush from which parts of the shoots will be cut off. You need to choose a healthy adult bush. In the spring, before the buds begin to bloom or in the summer after their flowering, side branches are cut off with a length of 10 to 20 centimeters.

The lower leaves of each cutting must be cut off. It is recommended to put the trimmings in a solution with a growth stimulant for a while in order to increase the survival rate and increase their immunity. The twigs should stand in the liquid for at least 2 hours.

The soil substrate from peat, sod land, river sand is poured into a box and cuttings are planted there. From above, they must be covered with a film, which in the future should be regularly removed and the soil and seedlings should be sprayed with water. As soon as the twigs can be rooted, they should be transplanted to the garden plot.

Dividing the bush

Dividing a bush is a very quick and easy way to propagate a bush.To do this, you need to dig up a healthy adult, but not very old bush. Together with the root, divide it into several parts, and then plant it in separate, pre-moistened pits one by one.

It is worth noting that with a strong root system, it will be difficult to use a regular knife or pruner. Therefore, in such cases, a saw is used. It is only important to cut the roots very carefully, because the damaged root system will destroy the entire plant.

Layers must be attached with wire to the ground

Air layering

It is also not difficult to propagate the plant with air layers, although you will have to wait a long time for their rooting. Side young shoots are chosen from any ordinary bush. Then they are applied to the previously dug and moistened pits and sprinkled with an earthen mixture on top. The top of the branches should stick out 15-25 centimeters from the ground. To prevent the branch from jumping out of the ground, it must be carefully fixed with wire or a special hairpin.

Layers need to be watered periodically. When they get stronger and grow roots, they can be separated from the main bush. After that, dig up all the young bushes and plant them in the hotel areas.

Seeds can be planted in a pot and grown as normal seedlings

Seeds

This is the most ineffective breeding method available. However, it is widespread in breeding, when it is necessary to develop new, more suitable for certain growing conditions, hybrids.

Seeds are selected from ripe and large fruits. Before planting in the substrate, they are thoroughly rinsed in water and dried. To increase the percentage of germination, you can treat the planting material with special saline solutions or dilute potassium permanganate in slightly warm water and process it with this liquid.

In early spring, sowing is carried out as normal seedlings. Seeds are planted in a box with an earthen mixture to a depth of about 2-3 centimeters and watered. Of the grown seedlings, the strongest are chosen and planted in the spring on the site.

In the fall, sowing can be carried out directly into open ground. To do this, they dig up the earth, apply fertilizers and level it. Then they sow seeds, during the winter they have time to harden and increase their immunity.

Root shoots

Not all varieties are propagated in this way. A species such as red barberry reproduces only by layering, cuttings, seeds and dividing the bush. The shape of the root system is important here: if it is branched, then it is easier to separate it from the rest.

In the summer, part of the root growth is cut off from the mother bush. In order not to get an infection, you need to process all the sections with a special garden varnish. Before reproduction, throughout the summer period, it is necessary to very carefully look after the shoots in order to subsequently grow a healthy bush. With the onset of autumn, when a small sprout appears, they are planted in a separate place.

When digging up a part of the growth, it is necessary to leave the clod of earth intact in order to facilitate its survival. The top of the sprout is pinched 1/3 of the height in order to accelerate the appearance of new foliage in the future.

Not all planted seeds germinate

Common mistakes

Even experienced gardeners make mistakes, let alone beginners. This helps to draw certain conclusions and correct all the mistakes in the future.

Before propagating barberry, it is necessary to study common mistakes:

• For sowing, only a few seeds are taken, which may not germinate at all.To play it safe, you need to grow dense seedlings in order to then select the largest and healthiest seedlings from it.
• When the root shoots are dug up, they do not always calculate the necessary part of it, which will be needed for the young plant to take root in a new place. As a result, the bush dies.
• Transplanting cuttings before the times when they still do not have time to take root well.
• Damage to the root system when dividing the bush.

Barberry can be propagated in a variety of ways. The unpretentious plant has a good survival rate and is able to recover in a short time, delighting the owner with its beautiful appearance for many years.