Bush shrub - decorative, white, variegated
Derain belongs to decorative deciduous plants. It is beautiful not only in summer, but also in winter: after the leaves fall off, red-brown shoots become visible, serving as an adornment of the surrounding landscape. Further information on planting and caring for the white turf shrub, as well as other types of culture.
Turf shrub
Derain belongs to the Cornel family. The height of the shrubs varies from 20 centimeters to 3 meters. Derain is also represented by trees growing up to 7-9 meters. The leaf plates are green or variegated. Flowering occurs in late spring, fruits are formed by autumn.
Derain is one of the spectacular garden shrubs
Several regions are considered the homeland: Japan, China, the Caucasus, North America. In Western Europe, red turf is a shrub that is planted in almost every yard. Now shrubs can be found in all parts of the world.
Decorative properties of turf in landscape design
If you need to protect the area from cold winds, the best option would be to plant turf around its perimeter.
A hedge of tall shrubs will also protect the area from prying eyes. In addition, the plants will prevent the soil on the slope from erosion and landslides. But the most important property of turf is the decoration of the site throughout the year.
Turf types
In nature, there are about 50 types of turf, the most popular is the White turf. He is able to decorate the site throughout the year. There are several varieties that are most popular with gardeners, a description of which is briefly given below.
Siberian White Turf (Cornus Alba Sibirica)
Even in winter, the bushes of Siberia have a decorative appearance due to the red or red-brown color of the shoots. The leaf plates are colored dark green. White berries are formed from white inflorescences, later acquiring a blue color.
Derain white Siberica
Derain white Elegatissima (Elegantissima)
It is one of the most decorative sod varieties. The height of the shrubs reaches 3 meters, the diameter is 2 meters.
The shoots of plants are colored red, the flowers are white. The leaf plates are light green with a white edging, which may be invisible when the shrub grows in the shade.
Derain white Elegantissima
Variegated dogwood white Siberica Variegata (Sibirica Variegata)
This variety is very similar to the Elengatissim tree. The difference lies in the fact that Siberica Variegata reaches a height of no more than 2.5 meters.
The leaf plates are darker in color. During the season, they are able to change color: in summer they are light green, in autumn they are purple. The white edging on them remains unchanged.
The flowers are creamy with a greenish tint.
Derain white Siberica Variegata in autumn
White Derain (Cornus alba Spaethii)
Shrubs of this variety reach a height of 2 meters. The leaves are light green, the edging is yellow. In autumn, the middle of the leaf plates turns purple, the edges remain unchanged.
In spring, white flowers bloom, from which lilac berries are formed.
Derain white Shpeta
Care features
Derain is unpretentious in maintenance, which is its great advantage. But still, the gardener must know his requirements, and then the shrub will show itself in all its glory.
- Temperature
The culture tolerates temperature changes well. Derain adapts to summer heat and winter frost without losing its decorative effect. Withstands short-term drought.
- Lighting
A well-lit place is selected for the sod. This is necessary so that variegated leaves do not lose their decorative effect. The more sun hits them, the more intense the color. It develops well in partial shade.
- Watering
If there is rainfall during the season, there is no need to additionally moisten the ground under the bushes.
If the summer is dry, the lawn is watered once a week. At least 2 buckets of water are spilled under the bush.
- Spraying
Watering at the root is enough for the bushes; spraying on the leaf is not required. Only sometimes it is possible to arrange the plant with sprinkling to wash off the accumulated dust.
- Humidity
Derain is a drought-resistant crop, with an excess of moisture, the root system can begin to rot. Therefore, if the groundwater on the site is located close to the surface of the earth, drainage must be laid out in the landing hole.
Sod can be cut to any shape
- Priming
The turf is unpretentious to the composition of the soil. But decorative qualities are better displayed when planting in fertile soil. For this reason, humus or compost is added to the garden soil.
- Top dressing
Intensive fertilization of the turf is not required. It is enough to feed the plants twice a year. In early spring, a nitrogen-containing fertilizer is applied, which will induce the active growth of the vegetative system. In summer, the bushes are fed with a mixture of potassium and phosphorus.
- Sod pruning and shaping
Shrubs are capable of spreading widely to the sides. It does not always look decorative, so plants are pruned every spring.
Old shoots are completely cut off, which thicken, lose their spectacular appearance. This stimulates the growth of young branches.
In addition, by pruning, you can give the shrubs the following shapes: column, hemisphere, ball, cube, arc. Some craftsmen even form sea inhabitants, animals, and men from the turf.
How dogwood reproduces
In the garden, the culture can be cultivated in several ways: by seeds, cuttings, layering, dividing the bush.
Germinating seeds
Long before planting, the seeds are stratified: they are kept for 2-3 months in a cold place, for example, in a refrigerator. Then do the following:
- a mixture of sand and peat is poured into the box;
- planting seeds;
- cover the box with plastic wrap.
The container is placed in a room with a temperature of 18-20 ° C. When 3-4 leaves appear, the seedlings are transplanted into separate containers.
Rooting cuttings
This is the most commonly used turf propagation method. For this, slightly lignified cuttings are cut, in June they are planted in containers or in a greenhouse. They are grown for at least a year, then planted in open ground.
Rooting by cuttings is the most common method of sod propagation
Turf transplant
The grown seedlings are transplanted to the site as follows:
- dig a hole 2 times larger than an earthen coma;
- pour in the nutrient mixture;
- a young plant is planted;
- slightly tamp the root circle;
- watered abundantly.
To retain moisture, the ground around the shrub can be mulched.
Possible growing problems
Sod shrub, as it is sometimes mistakenly called, has good immunity, but if not properly cared for, it can be affected by some diseases.For example, a dense planting increases the likelihood of powdery mildew. To prevent the appearance of fungal diseases, shrubs are sprayed with fungicides several times per season.
Against fungal diseases, the lawn is sprayed with fungicides
Curling and subsequent drying of the leaves can occur under stress caused by prolonged drought or excessive moisture in the soil. The same symptoms appear with excessive feeding. Having corrected the problems of care, the gardener will restore the decorative effect of the shrubs.
Derain is one of the spectacular garden plants. It is beautiful, unpretentious in maintenance, retains its decorative appearance even in winter. If the shrub is properly looked after, it will serve as a decoration of the site for a long time.
