Planting dogwood in autumn and spring in open ground: planting seedlings, growing from a stone, rules of care
Despite the fact that dogwood is traditionally grown in the southern regions, it can be done quite successfully in the temperate zone, it takes root very well. Moreover, the shrub gives not only useful fruits, but also blooms very decoratively in early spring.
Well, then we'll talk about how to properly plant a dogwood seedling in the country and take care of it in the open field, including touching on the topic of growing dogwood from a bone (seed propagation method).
Content
How to plant dogwood seedlings in open ground: step by step instructions
Landing dates
Dogwood can be planted both in spring and autumn... But often conduct exactly spring planting dogwood, especially in cool regions where winter comes early enough, and dogwood needs a relatively long time to take root in a new place.
Place in the garden
Dogwood likes when it is moderately humid, while it needs enough sun, because the plant is still southern, which means that you better find a moderately lit, while relatively shady place in the garden. Light partial shade near the fence is perfect.
However! Of course, you can't plant in pitch darkness, it's better in the sun (you just need to water a little more often).
It will be just ideal if the plant is covered from the sun at noon.
When choosing a place for a dogwood in the garden, you must understand that it will grow there for a very, very long time, because this is a long-lived plant.
The need for pollination
Dogwood is cross-pollinated plant (the culture is self-fertile), which means you need to plant at least 2 trees, and different varieties.
Of course, if nearby, for example, neighbors already have a dogwood, then it will bear fruit. But in any case, it is better when the trees are nearby.
At what distance to plant
As a rule, dogwood seedlings are planted at a distance of 3-4 meters.
But! You can plant 2 seedlings at once in 1 planting hole.
Video: planting dogwood - 2 seedlings in one hole.
Preparing the planting pit and planting a seedling
The procedure is completely standard:
- Dig a hole 2-3 times larger than the root system of the seedling (or an earthen ball, if it is a container plant).
- Prepare a fertile soil mixture: mix the top fertile soil layer with humus, compost and fertilizers (for example, 40-60 grams of potassium sulfate and 60-80 grams of superphosphate).
The plant has a bone, which means that it needs alkaline (calcareous) soil rich in calcium (pH not less than 6, optimum - 7).
- Place the seedling in the center on a mound, if it is with an open root system (OCS), or on a flat surface, if with an OCS (in a container).
- Fall asleep with a fertile mixture, water (2-3 buckets), wait for the moisture to be absorbed. If the earth settles, then add more sleep.
- You mulch.
Growing dogwood from a bone
Unfortunately, dogwood is poorly cuttings, and in some cases it is impossible to propagate it by layering (if the lower branches lie directly on the ground, then drop in, be sure to root. But if they are located high, then ... will have to be seeds). Therefore, it is often necessary to resort to the seed method of reproduction.
Note! A dogwood grown from a seed will not completely repeat the properties of the parent variety (it will definitely be different), but in general it will be very similar to the parent. However, your plant will be most adapted to the climatic conditions of your region.
If you still decide to grow a dogwood from a stone, then you need to know the following:
- Need to be patient, dogwood seeds are usually sprout for a very long time, often only in the second year (even if stratified).
- The first harvest will have to wait 5-7 years.
- Dogwood seeds should not be overdried. Therefore, you need to immediately plant in the garden (in the school) freshly picked bones, while the fruits should be fully ripe (the bones are well separated).
Important! You should not take the bones of the imported dogwood (Crimean or Turkish) for planting, only the bones of the dogwood growing in your area will take root well, i.e. buy from local summer residents.
- It is better to plant not two or three, but many (10 or more) seeds at once in order to leave the best specimens.
- The planting depth of dogwood seeds is standard - 2-3 cm.
How to care for dogwood outdoors
Dogwood is distinguished by a rather docile nature, in other words, it is quite unpretentious, it does not require any complicated care.
But it is worth considering that, especially in the first years after planting, the dogwood builds up the root system and grows rather slowly (relevant for seed growing).
How many years after planting it begins to bear fruit
If you have planted a grafted seedling, then you can taste the first fruits, as a rule, 3-4 years after planting. But a decent harvest will be only for 5-6 years.
If planted with a bone, then not earlier than in 5-7 years.
Why so late?
- The fact is that the dogwood takes a long time to build up the root system.
When to harvest and what to do with it
The fruits can be removed from the tree when they are completely colored, slightly soft and can be easily removed from the branch. Early and mid-season varieties ripen around August-September.
It is better to harvest the dogwood unripe than overripe.
Even if the fruits are slightly hard, they will be great at home, and so they will be even tastier and sweeter.
Cornel will also be processed, and in any form:
- Very tasty compote (only on dogwood, you don't need to add anything else).
- Fresh juice.
- Jam, jam or jam (unlike any other).
- Paste.
- You can freeze the grated dogwood with sugar (add raspberries as an option).
Well, now you know what you need to pay attention to to successfully plant and grow dogwood in the garden.