Planting the princes and caring for them in the open field

Knyazhiki is a perennial shrub vine. Planting the princes in open ground is not very difficult. Many people think that the princes belong to the genus Clematis. We can say that it is, but still they have some differences. The prince has small flowers with delicate petals, from below they are framed by a cup with leaves. Clematis does not have petals, it has a cup of leaves, which some gardeners mistake for the flower itself.

The prince looks more graceful than clematis. It grows to a height of about 3 meters. The flexible stem, covered with small carved leaves, has many shoots. The princes bloom in early summer. An elongated bud is formed on a peduncle 10-12 centimeters in size. As it blooms, it becomes like a bell with inflorescences of white, purple flowers. Princes differ from clematis by non-accrete, separately located petals. At the end of flowering, in place of the buds, round, fluffy fruits of a bizarre appearance are formed. Clematis is attached to the support in the same way as the princes - with young leaves. For these purposes, a rope or wire mesh is best suited.

Varieties of princes

There are over a hundred varieties of clematis. Princes, along with clematis, are able to decorate any garden. The most common types are:

1. Alpine with purple flowers and a bud size of about 6 centimeters. It is known for its recurring autumn blooms. It is one of the first varieties from which other species with different shades were bred.
2. Okhotsky. The most cold-resistant species. Flowers differ in that they have up to 8 petals.
3. Siberian. It begins to bloom by mid-summer in small flowers up to 4 centimeters in size. This is a very unpretentious species that can take root both in a sunny place and in the shade. Inflorescences of white or yellow shades attract bees with their delicate aroma.
4. Large-petaled. The care of this variety is more demanding. Does not tolerate frost, flowers must be wrapped in winter. It has very beautiful blue inflorescences that begin flowering a week later than the Alpine. Prefers an extremely sunny location.

They bloom for about 3 weeks. First, the Alpine prince begins to bloom, then the Okhotsk and last of all the Siberian. Planting these varieties together will create unique long-flowering compositions, and care it does not take much time and effort behind them.

Some varieties of princes were brought from Canada to our country, having delicate shades of lilac, pink, white and purple-violet. These are Markham's Pink, Rosie Ogredi, Teige Landell, White Columbine. They are adapted to the conditions of central Russia and are winter-hardy species. On sale they can be found under the name "Clematis".

Growing and care

Outdoor care for princes is quite simple. Some features for choosing a landing site for princes:

• their flowering in a sunny place begins earlier, but lasts less;
• in partial shade, on the contrary, flowers bloom later, but the flowering period itself increases;
• in the shade, the flowering is less abundant and lush, but it lasts even longer.

The princes are quite unpretentious and do not require much care from gardeners, unlike clematis. In open ground, they easily take root in sunny areas and slightly shaded areas. Their flowers have a delicate, vulnerable structure, like that of clematis, so it is recommended to protect the plant from strong winds.Plants with a small root system can be planted below them to shade the lower zone. Planting flowers is possible in any soil, except for too wet and swampy areas. Loose fertile or slightly alkaline is well suited.

Water them in moderation, except for the first year of life. At this time, in dry sunny weather, they need a lot of moisture. Their long roots, deep underground, are able to extract moisture on their own. It is advisable to carry out regular fertilizing of flowers, especially at the beginning of growth in spring and before budding. This contributes to a more abundant and lush flowering, the leaves are filled with color and become more glossy. Although the princes can do without fertilizers for a very long time.

To rejuvenate the bush, you need to carry out periodic pruning every 5 years. After the plant has bloomed, the shoots are shortened to 70 centimeters. Do not forget to get rid of old dried leaves and stems of the vine and carry out periodic care... They need support only at the beginning of development, adult plants themselves cling to trees, fences and gazebos.

Reproduction

Dukes reproduce very easily in various ways: by cuttings, dividing roots, layering or seeds.

The simplest is the method of reproduction by layering. The plant is pinched, pressed to the ground and buried. After rooting, they are transplanted to the desired place.

In the spring, before flowering, the bush is divided. To do this, a bush is dug up and cut into separate segments with buds and roots.

The cuttings should have a lower oblique cut of about 3 centimeters. On each segment, 2 internodes are desirable. They are planted under the film in June, towards the end of the month, they are watered and ventilated.

Seeds from flowers can be collected and planted in autumn in October, then the seedlings will appear in June. It is necessary to sow them in a container, which must be buried in the soil for the whole winter. Landing in a permanent place is made at the age of two.

Seed planting

The method of reproduction of princes by seeds is very often used. Caring for seedlings is not difficult. The seeds are soaked in gauze. For planting, a mixture of 2 parts of earth and 1 part of sand is used, which is poured into a container. Then they sow seeds there and sprinkle them with sand a little. After that, you need to water the ground and cover it with glass.

After 3 pairs of leaves have risen, the seedlings can be transferred to the beds, which must be carefully prepared. Peat, humus, compost from leaves and pine needles can be added to the ground. The distance between plants should be about 25 centimeters. The soil is mulched and periodically loosened as the seedlings grow. It is necessary to monitor timely watering to prevent drying out of the earth and carry out careful maintenance. It will be possible to transplant young plants only next spring or autumn.

Landing in open ground

Princes are planted in open ground in May or September. For planting, it is better to use two-year-old seedlings. Pits 60 centimeters wide are pre-dug. It is recommended to make the distance between them about 100-150 centimeters. Drainage is laid out at the bottom: brick chips, crushed stone. It is advisable to apply fertilizers such as humus, superphosphate, wood ash. Slaked lime can be added to acidic soil. The roots are buried 6-10 centimeters.

These flowers have fragile roots that need to be handled very carefully. If they break during planting, then they are treated with manganese and sprinkled with ash. It is better to immediately choose a place for the constant growth of flowers, since adult princes do not tolerate transplantation well. After planting, the plant is watered and mulched. To prevent fungal diseases, the root zone should be sprinkled with a mixture of ash and sand and poured with a manganese solution.

Major diseases

Dukes are susceptible to some types of diseases, such as powdery mildew, rust, spotting.In addition, it is necessary to remove various pests in time - snails and slugs. To protect against rodents, it is recommended to cover the flowers with fir branches for the winter. Tip: Spraying the plant with karbofos will prevent the formation of a mealy worm.

Powdery mildew dominates all parts of the plant. Leaves and shoots affected by it begin to dry out. A characteristic feature is the formation of a white coating on them. All diseased shoots must be removed and burned to prevent further infection. Spraying with whey or aqueous solutions with the addition of ash, mustard powder, liquid soap and baking soda will help prevent the onset of the disease.

Rust overcomes all aboveground parts of the plant. This disease can be identified by the presence of swollen red spots. Control methods are the same as with powdery mildew. Spraying with a suspension of polycarbacin can be used.

Brown spotting usually begins with young shoots and leaves. The formation of brown spots threatens the death of the entire plant. It can also appear as white specks with a purple outline on fresh leaves. To prevent this disease, the plant is treated with a 0.1% solution of copper or iron sulfate.

Application of the prince

The princes can beautifully frame a fence, balcony or staircase. They can decorate any wall. A gazebo or tree decorated with flowers will emphasize the originality of any garden.

This climbing crop takes up very little space in the garden and can therefore be planted instead of trees or shrubs. Its dense shoots and leaves, and its gorgeous colorful flowers, can protect from bright light and dust by shading the area well.

This flower is best planted next to an arch or veranda, taking into account that it is a climbing culture. As it grows, it will wrap around nearby objects. In one place, a culture can grow up to 10 years. Poor transplantation due to fragility of the root system.

The medicinal properties of the prince are widely known. Various tinctures are made from this plant, serving as a general tonic for the body.

These noble flowers can decorate both the garden and the walls of any house, if you provide them with the necessary space and all the conditions for growth. Planting and caring for the plant will give a lot of pleasure to true lovers of these flowers. The prince and clematis complement each other well. Thanks to the princes, the flowering of the northern garden is extended for half a month. These flowers are very decorative not only during flowering, but also during budding.