The beautiful barberry will give your garden plot a magical and unique look from spring, when its yellow flowers with a delicate aroma bloom, until late autumn, when clusters of bright red fruits are stunningly combined with orange leaves. And if you add to this the high medicinal properties, then barberry is a resolved issue. Caring for this plant is simple, and the hedge turns out simply magnificent.

Description of the plant

The name of this original ornamental bush comes from the Arabic beriberi, which means shell. The flower petals really resemble her. The barberry plant is distinguished by its branching, thorns and light brown bark. The size of the bush can reach a height of 3.5 m. The rhizomes are woody, creeping. Shoots with edges are straight, yellow, later they will turn gray and white. On shorter shoots, leaves up to 4 cm long, thin, elliptical or obovate, appear from the buds. On longer shoots, three to five spines up to 2 cm long develop.

In the spring, at the end of April and beginning of May, fragrant clusters of yellow flowers appear on the plant. Their number can reach up to 25 pieces. By the end of September, the bush bears fruit with bright red or purple oblong-shaped fruits. Barberry has seeds up to 7 mm long, narrowed and flattened in its upper part.

Distribution and ecology

Previously, barberry could only be found in Europe, Transcaucasia and Western Asia. He preferred the forest-steppe zone with sufficient lighting and dry soil. It was possible to meet him in the mountains, at an altitude of up to 2 km. What does a barberry bush look like growing in wildlife? The plant has a rather unsightly appearance. Today, due to the fact that a huge number of varieties have been bred, the decorative barberry bush cannot be found except in the Arctic or Antarctica.

Useful properties

Apart from the ripened berries, all other parts of the plant contain the alkaloid berberine. The roots also contain other alkaloids: oxyacanthin, jatroricin, palmatine, columbamine. The bark contains a lot of tannins and aromatic resins, and the leaves contain vitamin K. Ripe fruits contain carotenoids - lutein, flavoxanthin, xanthophyll, etc., as well as sugars, malic acid, pectins.

Back in Ancient Rus' Roots, branches and bark were infused with alcohol to stop the flow of blood from wounds and relieve inflammation. Barberry is an ideal antibiotic, gifted by nature, which was used to treat various colds. An infusion of fruits strengthened the immune system and supported the liver. And in Ancient Rome it was believed that barberry brings happiness and good luck, so it was protected in every possible way.

In modern official medicine, an alcohol tincture from the leaves is used in gynecology to stop uterine bleeding and inhibit inflammatory processes. Berberine treats major liver and gallbladder problems. An aqueous infusion of the fruit relieves attacks of malaria due to its strong diaphoretic properties. In case of rheumatism, it helps to soothe pain.

Application of barberry

The most widespread use of berries is in cooking: juices and fruit drinks, jams and jellies. Add dried berry powder to the meat sauce, and you won’t be able to drag your family away from the plate by the ears. In Central Asia, pilaf is not prepared without barberry, and the peoples of the Caucasus add it to horseradish.

Thanks to its sour taste, barberry can replace vinegar. And unripe pickled fruits can perfectly replace capers. Tincture and decoction are used in veterinary medicine as a hemostatic agent for various wounds in animals.

Barberry and pregnancy

Unfortunately, if the situation is interesting, you should completely avoid eating both the berries themselves and various infusions. Due to the alkaloids contained in the plant, miscarriage is possible. Also, in pregnant women, fetuses can cause blood clots.

However, a small amount of meat sauce containing barberry will not do any harm, so if you really want it, then eat it for your health. Just remember that everything should be in moderation.

How and where to plant barberry

Planting a barberry bush begins with choosing a location. This plant prefers open areas, well illuminated by the sun. And for species that belong to Central Asia, you need to select a place so that there are no drafts. The barberry bush has the following soil requirements: loam or well-drained soil, because the plant does not like waterlogging.

Planting a barberry bush in the place allocated for its growth is carried out in the spring, before the buds begin to bloom, but planting is also possible in the fall, when the leaves begin to actively fall off. Before planting in the hole, add a mixture of humus, soil and sand (in equal proportions). The depth should be 25-30 cm for 2-3 year old seedlings and 40-50 cm for 5-7 year old seedlings. If you plan to make a hedge, then you need to plant the bushes in a trench. If the soil on your site is acidic, for example peat, then under the bushes you need to add 200 g of wood ash, lime or dolomite flour- 300-400 g. Of the fertilizers, only 100 g of superphosphate is needed.

How to care for a barberry bush

If you have planted barberry bushes, caring for them will be easy. If the planting site is initially chosen correctly, and the soil is provided with good aeration, the roots will be healthy and able to breathe. Sometimes you just need to loosen the soil and remove weeds.

In the spring, at the beginning of the season or immediately after flowering, you need to prune barberry. The bush is trimmed annually. This action is aimed at the formation of a lush crown and the removal of weak and diseased shoots. And do not forget about the sharp barberry thorns when caring. The next year after planting in the spring, be sure to feed your barberry with nitrogen fertilizer. The size of the bush and its lush flowering will thank you for such care. Feeding needs to be repeated every three years.

Basic techniques for propagating barberry

There are four main ways to propagate barberry on your site: dividing the bush, planting with layering, summer cuttings and seeds.

• The plot should be sown with seeds in the fall. Squeeze the freshly picked fruits, rinse with running water and dry. They need to be placed at a depth of no more than one centimeter. The soil should be loose, and the planting site should be well heated by the sun. By summer, the plant will delight you with friendly shoots. But it is better to replant the barberry bush after a year.
• The plant is easily propagated using summer cuttings. Just place them required quantity into the soil in June, and within a couple of years you will have enough material for planting.
• Dividing the bush is another method of propagation. In this case, the main bush is carefully dug up so as not to damage the root system and cut into several parts. If the roots are very thick, they are simply sawed lengthwise and the resulting parts are planted in new holes, moistening them generously before planting.
• Layerings are made in the spring from young and healthy branches. Grooves are dug around the bush, into which the selected branches are placed. There they are fixed and sprinkled with earth so that only one top remains outside. The cuttings are well watered throughout the season, and in the fall you will have bushes ready for planting.

Pests and diseases

Although the decorative barberry bush is quite resistant to both fungal diseases and pests, it is also susceptible to them. The most common fungal infections are anthracnose and powdery mildew. In the first case, the disease manifests itself as round brown spots on the leaves, in the second - a white coating, as if sprinkled with flour, on branches, leaves and flowers. Fungal infection is the first sign of excess water. Fungicides are used for treatment, and the affected parts are pruned and burned.

Barberry is a plant that is an intermediate host of such a scourge agriculture, like a rust fungus that attacks cereal crops. That is why its cultivation next to fields of rye and wheat is unacceptable. The only exception is Thunberg barberry, which is not susceptible to rust. When the disease occurs, orange spots with pads on the underside are visible on the leaves, in which spores ripen in large quantities. They spread to cereals, both wild and cultivated, with the help of the wind.

Another disease is caused by a fungus from the genus Fusarium. Infection occurs through the roots, which rot, and the fungus rises through the vessels through the branches, causing the bush to wither. If you cut a branch, you can see rings of brown vessels.

The most common insect pest is the barberry aphid. Its presence can be seen by wrinkled and dried leaves. You can get rid of aphids using a solution laundry soap(per bucket of water 300 g). The moth caterpillar eats the berries. If they appear, treat barberry with Chlorophos or Decis.

The most common types of barberry

Berberis vulgaris, or ordinary barberry, is very unpretentious in care, the height of which can reach two or more meters. The leaves are dark green and the flowers are brilliant yellow. The fruits are quite edible, juicy, with a sour taste, and colored bright red.

If your region has severe frosts, then this species is for you. It tolerates frost well and survives drought well. It can be propagated by seeds, dividing the bush and cuttings. Do you need a hedge to prevent anyone from passing through? Common barberry will help with this. However, protect your bushes from excess moisture; this species is very susceptible to diseases caused by fungi.

The plant has many varieties:

• Atropurpurea is a barberry bush, the photo of which is presented below, with red leaves.
• Aureomarginata is a plant bordered with a golden line.
• Albovariegata with variegated leaves.

When propagating original varieties, it should be taken into account that when planted with seeds, only some of the plants will retain their varietal characteristics.

Berberis canadensis, or Canadian barberry, as the name implies, came from North America. It differs from its European counterpart in being more spreading. Resistant to frost and drought. Mainly used for landscaping on the American continent, therefore it is extremely rare in Russia.

Berberis thunbergii, or Thunberg's barberry, is native to China and Japan. This is a small shrub up to a meter high, but in diameter it can reach one and a half meters. The shoots are very densely covered with small spines. The flowers are reddish-yellow in color and are collected in small inflorescences of 2-4 pieces. But the berries are unsuitable for food because of their bitter taste, although birds eat them with great pleasure.

Unlike its European and American counterparts, Thunberg barberry practically does not suffer from fungal diseases, including rust. It is easy to propagate either by seeds or by dividing the bush; cuttings are also easy. This species has more than 50 varieties, which differ in the original color of the leaves, their shape and size. If you come across an unusually colored barberry bush, the photo of which interests you, most likely it is Thunberg.

Berberis x ottawiensis, or - is a hybrid obtained by crossing red barberry and Thunberg. The main difference is the dark purple, obovate leaves. When autumn comes, they turn a deep red. Beautiful clusters of yellow flowers with a reddish tint, which are collected in groups of 8-10, bloom at the end of May. From its “parents” the plant acquired all the best - beauty of color, unpretentiousness and immunity to fungal diseases.

Berberis koreana, or Korean barberry, the height of which reaches two meters, has large leaves obovate in shape, leathery to the touch. In autumn they turn purple-red. The plant is native to the Korean Peninsula. The flowers are collected in long racemes of 15-20 pieces, and the smell is very strong. Barberry is very easy to care for and resistant to frost. Only in windy, cold winters can its tops freeze. But it will not like thaws; during this period the humidity is very high for it, and this plant, as is known, is highly susceptible to rust.

Berberis integerrima, or entire barberry, came to our garden plots from Central Asia, where it grows at an altitude of up to 2500 meters above sea level. The height of the bush can reach two and a half meters. The spines are small, one and a half centimeters long, and the leaves with a solid edge are colored grayish-green. Up to 20 yellow flowers can be collected in inflorescences, and the fruits are dark burgundy with a bluish coating. The entire barberry bush does not like acidic soil. Planting and caring for it is quite simple. Adult plants survive even the harshest winter well, but young plants may freeze, but they can easily tolerate pruning and grow back quickly.

Berberis sphaerocarpa, or spherical barberry (also called heteropod), came to our garden plots from the mountains of Central Asia. The shrub can reach 2.5 meters in height, very spreading, with finely serrated leaves of gray-green color along the edge. The inflorescences collected in groups of 5-10 flowers are very fragrant. The fruit with a bluish bloom is colored dark blue.

Uzbekistan and Tajikistan constantly use berries in cooking, adding them to barbecue sauce and shurpa. The fruits are an excellent means of combating scurvy, as they are very rich in ascorbic acid.

This species is very easy to care for and can tolerate even extreme heat and long droughts. It tolerates frosty winters well, but young shoots may be damaged, so it is better to cover them. But excessive moisture can lead to spherical barberry disease; it is especially susceptible to rust. Plant it in a place that is not blown by draft winds, and the soil is dry and not acidic, and you will enjoy tasty fruits and a beautiful appearance. Propagated best by cuttings and seeds.

Berberis nummularia, or coin barberry, came to us from the steppes of Central and Northern Asia. The shrub is very branched, up to 2 meters high. The reddish branches are covered with very large spines up to 3 cm long. The bluish-green leaves are very hard, entire, oblong-elliptical in shape. Large flowers bright yellow color collected in brushes. Berries oval shape when ripe, bright red. Until 3-4 years of age, barberry is susceptible to frostbite, after which it takes a long time to recover. It does not like heavily moist soil, as it is very susceptible to fungal diseases. But he is not afraid of drought, even severe and prolonged. It requires light, non-acidic soil.

Originally from the Far East. In the wild, it prefers to settle on river banks and forest edges. Outwardly, it is not much different from the ordinary Amur barberry, the height of which can reach 3.5 m. Large, jagged leaves of a glossy green color turn either yellow or purple in the fall.

The ancient Babylonians and Hindus knew about barberry. Inscriptions on clay tablets from 650 BC mention barberry berries as a blood purifier. Barberry juice replaces lemon juice. It is used as a valuable vitamin remedy. A decoction of the root helps with pneumonia, cough, fever, lowers body temperature, and quenches thirst. Berries stimulate appetite, strengthen the stomach, lower blood pressure, strengthen the heart muscle, and improve blood circulation.

Barberry, Latin - Berberis.

A genus of shrubs from the Barberry family. It is characterized by a 6-leaf calyx, the same corolla, with two glands at each petal, 6 stamens, a sessile, capitate stigma and a 2-, 3-, 4-, 9-seeded berry.

The most common species is the common barberry (Berberis vulgaris L.), a branched shrub with tripartite spines, in the corners of which there are shortened branches with tufts of obovate, ciliated, finely serrated leaves with short petioles along the edges.
Light yellow flowers with a heavy scent are collected in hanging racemes; the stamens are sensitive to touch. Blooms in late spring. The berries are oblong and red.

It is grown in gardens and is found occasionally between bushes north to St. Petersburg, as well as in southern and central Europe, Crimea, the Caucasus, Persia, Eastern Siberia, and North America.

© ndrwfgg

Decorativeness

Most barberries are very decorative and are used in single or group plantings, hedges, and low-growing species - on rocky hills and as borders.

The color of the leaves of varietal barberries is incredibly diverse and not only green. It can be yellow, purple, variegated (for example, green with bright white spots in the Kelleris variety or purple with white, pink and gray spots in the Harlequin variety), with a border (purple with a thin golden border in the Golden Ring variety ). Moreover, among the barberries there are giants and dwarfs, picking up a shrub of any height from 30 centimeters to three meters is not difficult.

Barberries are good not only as decorative foliage plants, they also bloom incredibly beautifully. Small flowers, similar to spherical bells, either singly or in inflorescences, literally completely cover the branches from mid-May. Their color is usually yellow, sometimes orange with the inclusion of reddish shades. In hot weather, the flowers exude a sweetish, tart aroma. Each petal bears two nectaries, which secrete highly visible transparent droplets that attract insects. Moreover, barberries bloom and bear fruit profusely not only in the sun, but also in partial shade. Barberry is a wonderful honey plant. Along with linden, buckwheat, and flower honey, there is also barberry honey.

Plants tolerate urban conditions well. They are unpretentious to soil conditions, drought-resistant, do not tolerate stagnant moisture at all, develop better in the light, but also tolerate some shade.

In the garden we pay attention not only to the color of the leaves and the height of the bush, its shape is very important. Often this is the main thing when designing plantings. Dwarf barberries, as a rule, have a compact, dense hemispherical crown shape. Tall barberries are most often spreading shrubs with drooping branches, although among them there are very interesting group with erect, vertically arranged shoots, for example, green-leaved “Erecta” and purple-leaved “Red Pilar”. You yourself can come up with a shape and size for the barberry, achieving this by cutting. They cut perfectly, they make excellent figures, for example, spherical shapes. Don't be afraid to cut your hair, it's very interesting activity, and this can be done almost at any time of the year.

The autumn color of barberries is charming, especially the green-leaved one, its leaves become orange-purple, and the purple-leaved barberries turn red in the fall and are also good, while the yellow-leaved ones practically do not change in the fall. After the leaves fall, the bushes are decorated with scarlet berries for a long time, until spring.. Birds do not eat them, although they are not poisonous.

© seeks2dream

Landing

Barabaris are undemanding to soil; they grow best in bright and sunny places. In the shade, decorative leafy forms of barberry (colored, with spots and borders) lose color. The more light and sun, the more vibrant the foliage will be.

Container plants with a closed root system tolerate replanting well throughout the season.. Plants with bare roots can be planted in early spring, before buds open, or in the fall, after leaf fall begins.

When planting barberry alone, place it no closer than 1.5-2 m from other plants: in crowded conditions the bush will lose its proportions. If you want to make a hedge, with dense planting, plant four plants per linear meter, with sparse planting, two. At the same time, it is more convenient to dig a whole trench rather than single holes. For single planting, a hole of 40x40x40 cm is sufficient.

It is important to properly prepare the substrate - it is both light and nutritious.. Usually humus, peat, and turf soil are added, but in general it all depends on specific conditions plot. Add lime or ash to acidic soil. If you add superphosphate, the plant will grow stronger and healthier and will withstand winter better.

In the second year after planting, the plant can be fed with complex fertilizers. It will also need regular weeding, loosening and watering.

Sanitary pruning involves removing old and diseased branches.

© xerofito

Location

The unpretentiousness of barberries is amazing. They are absolutely undemanding to soil, are not afraid of strong winds, tolerate drought well, and only cannot stand getting wet. All of them are photophilous, but grow well in partial shade, although there are several peculiarities. To get the richest color of purple leaves, grow them in full sun, in those bushes that grow in partial shade, there is clearly green in the purple color of the leaves.

There are very few yellow-leaved barberries. Everyone knows the Thunberg barberry "Aurea" of cool yellow color, about a meter high. It burns in the sun and requires a partial shade location. The relatively new yellow variety Bonanza Gold is not afraid of the sun, but it is shorter.

© goforchris

Care

Feeding is given starting from the second year after planting. In the spring, nitrogen fertilizers are applied (20 - 30 g of urea per bucket of water). Then fertilize once every 3-4 years. It is necessary to apply complex fertilizers with microelements, for example Kemiru-universal. Water once a week. Frequent loosening and weeding are required. After planting, mulching is carried out. Pruning involves the annual removal of weak, poorly developed shoots. Old bushes are thinned out in the spring. When constructing hedges, pruning is carried out in the second year after planting, cutting off from 1/2 to 2/3 of the above-ground part. Then in subsequent years, pruning is carried out 2 times a year: in the first half of June and in early August. Low-growing forms of barberry do not need to be cut; they are well suited for dividing a garden plot into zones.

© kafka4prez

Types and varieties

The barberry family is huge. But the three most common species are common barberry, Thunberga and Ottawa barberry.

Common barberry (Berberis vulgaris). In the conditions of the Moscow region, common barberry bushes are frost-resistant, drought-resistant, and undemanding to the soil. The three most interesting forms of common barberry:

• Berberis vulgaris f. aureo-marginata– leaves with a golden border.
• Berberis vulgaris f. atropurpurea– leaves are dark purple-violet, bush up to 2.5 m high.
• Berberis vulgaris f. alba-variegata– leaves with white spots and stripes.

There are forms with white and yellow fruits.

Thunberg's barberry (Berberis thunbergii)). Its homeland is the mountain slopes of China and Japan. This is a shrub up to one and a half meters tall with green leaves and arched shoots. Small hedges and borders are made from it, dividing the area into zones; decorative groups are made from plants with different foliage colors; single plants are planted on a green lawn. Thunberg's barberry is ideal for Japanese garden. It is especially beautiful in autumn, when the foliage turns yellow, orange, red, or rather purple. Thunberg barberry has many decorative forms and varieties:

• Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea– 1–1.5 m high, dark purple leaves.
• Berberis thunbergii f. aurea– up to 1.5 m high, leaves are bright yellow, golden.
• Berberis thunbergii ‘Red Chief’‘ – spreading, dark purple leaves.
• Berberis thunbergii ‘Red King’– compact, dark red leaves.
• Berberis thunbergii ‘Rose Glow’– leaves are pink-red-brown, with white “splashes” and streaks.

Ottawa barberry (Berberis ottawiensis). This species is rare in our country, but such an elegant two-meter bush will decorate any garden. From its parents - Thunberg barberry and common barberry - Ottawa inherited all the best. In autumn, its dark pink-violet leaves turn bright purple and the bright fruits that remain on the bushes for a long time look very impressive. On sale, Ottawa barberry is usually represented by the following varieties:

• Berberis ottawiensis ‘Superba’– tall (2.5–3 m) spreading bush with reddish leaves and yellow flowers with a red mark.
• Berberis ottawiensis ‘Auricoma’– up to 2–2.5 m high with bright red leaves that turn orange in autumn.
• Berberis ottawiensis ‘Purpurea’– a bush up to 2 m high with leaves of a rich dark purple color; widespread in Europe.

© Drew Avery

Protection from pests and diseases

Barberry aphid: leads to wrinkling and drying of leaves. In the spring, they are sprayed against it with a solution of laundry soap (300 g of soap per 10 liters of water) or a tobacco solution (0.5 kg of shag is brewed with 10 liters of water with laundry soap dissolved in it).

Flower moth eats the fruits. When caterpillars appear, plants are treated with decis (0.05 - 0.1%) or chlorophos (0.1 - 0.3%).

Spraying with a solution of colloidal sulfur (0.5%), sulfur-limestone mixture or sulfur-lime decoction is used (first time at the beginning of leaf blossoming, then every 2-3 weeks). Severely affected shoots and leaves are removed and burned.

Rust: when using barberries in rural areas, it should be taken into account that a number of species (common barberry, Siberian barberry and a number of others) are the intermediate host of the rust fungus that affects cereals. For this reason, growing them near grain fields is unacceptable. In spring, bright colors appear on the young leaves of the bushes on the upper side. orange spots, and from the bottom orange convex pads of aecia are formed, in which a huge mass of spores ripen, spreading to both wild and cultivated cereals. With severe development of the disease, severe drying out and leaf fall are possible.

Spraying with a 1 - 1.5% solution of colloidal sulfur or a 1% solution of Bordeaux mixture is effectively used (the first time after the leaves bloom, then twice every 20 days). Thunberg's barberry is not affected by rust.

Leaf spot represented by several pathogenic fungi. They all have a narrow specialization. Spots of different shapes and colors form on the leaves, the leaves dry out prematurely and fall off. In this case, the decorative appearance of the bushes is lost, biochemical processes are disrupted, the shoots do not ripen well, as a result of which they may freeze in winter.

Use copper oxychloride (30–40 g per 10 l), 2 treatments, before and after flowering; as well as Abigapik (40–50 g per 10 l), - 2 treatments.

Barberry wilt manifested by withering of leaves and drying of individual shoots, initially on one side of the bush, gradually spreading to the entire plant. On sections of branches, browned rings of blood vessels are visible. The causative agent is a fungus of the genus Fusarium, and the disease can rightfully be called tracheomycosis wilt, since the infection from the soil enters the roots, causes decay, and then spreads through the vessels to the shoots.

Separately, it should be noted drying out of shoots, in which pathogenic fungi (more than 14 species have been described) develop both under the bark and on its surface. The leaves of the bushes dry out, fall off and individual branches die, but this is not due to damage to the vascular system, but is explained by drying out of the bark. In this case, timely pruning of diseased shoots can stop the further spread of the disease.

Bacteriosis of barberry Caused by bacteria of the genus Pseudomonas. These bacteria cause bacterial canker with characteristic cracks, cancerous growths and shoot growth. Initially, dark, watery, small (2–5 mm), angular spots form on the leaves, petioles and young shoots, which over time acquire a dark purple color. Leaves of all ages are affected and when bacteriosis is severe, they quickly fall off. On branches, spots take on an oblong shape, crack, swellings and brown spots form, but bacteriosis does not appear on flowers and berries.

Preparing for winter: Barberry Thunberg "Aurea" in the first 2 - 3 years, like other varieties, is covered with spruce branches, dry leaves or peat for the winter.

© Tim Green aka atoach

Thanks to its exceptional decorative properties, barberry can increasingly be seen in garden plots. This plant is excellent for various landscape compositions (looks good both in single and group plantings, including as a hedge), and can also have edible fruits. Some even call barberry the king autumn garden, because it is in the autumn season that it literally flashes with bright colors and attracts everyone's attention.

Growing a shrub is quite simple, since it is a fairly unpretentious plant that can grow in almost any soil and can withstand long droughts and severe frosts.

Let's talk about when and how to plant barberry correctly, how to care for it after spring or autumn planting.

Barberry, like many other shrubs, can be planted in both spring and autumn, especially if you purchased a container plant, and it is in this form that it is sold in most garden centers and nurseries.

Planting dates in spring and autumn

If you decide to plant barberries in the spring, then you need to do this immediately after the temperature outside is above zero and the snow has melted.

For example, in Middle lane(Moscow region) barberries are planted in the spring from April (usually in the 2-3rd decade).

Autumn planting of barberry can be done until stable frosts and freezing of the ground are established, but it is better to do this 2-3 weeks before, so that the plant has time to take root well in the new place before wintering.

In other words, the approximate time for planting barberry in the fall in the middle zone (Moscow region) is September to the first half of October (if the autumn is warm, then, of course, it can be planted at the end of October).

Video: planting barberry in autumn

According to the lunar calendar in 2019

This can help you choose the optimal date for planting seedlings. lunar calendar.

So, favorable days for planting barberry in 2019, according to the lunar calendar, are:

• in April - 11-17; 21-26.

Yes, this is not a mistake! According to the lunar calendar, seedlings of fruit and berry crops are recommended to be planted in the spring only in April.

• in September - 17-24, 30;
• in October - 2-4, 12, 13, 21-25, 30, 31.

Of course, it is not always possible to get to the dacha on favorable days, so the main thing is not to land on unfavorable days.

Unfavorable days, according to the lunar calendar, for 2019 The dates for planting barberry seedlings are as follows:

• in March - 6, 7, 21;
• in April - 5, 19;
• in May - 5, 19;
• in June - 3, 4, 17;
• in July - 2, 3, 17;
• in August - 15, 16, 30, 31;
• in September - 14, 15, 28, 29;
• in October - 14, 28;
• in November - 12, 13, 26,27.

According to lunar calendar, from the magazine “1000 tips for a summer resident.”

How to plant barberry correctly: step-by-step instructions

Varieties and popular varieties

There are several varieties and varieties of barberry:

Naturally, in landscape design As a rule, Thunberg barberry is used, which comes in many varieties with different leaf colors and sizes.

Atropurpurea Nana

The most popular varieties of Thunberg barberry are: Aurea (yellow, up to 80 cm), Atropurpurea Nana (purple-red, up to 50 cm), Admiration (red, up to 50 cm), Golden Ring (dark purple or red, up to 1 meter) , Kobold (green, up to 40 cm, very similar to Boxwood), Bagatelle (dark purple), Red Carpet (red, up to 1 meter) and Green Carpet (green), Coronita (purple-red, up to 1.5 meters) , Maria (yellow, up to 1.5 meters), Natasha (pink-green-white), Pink Queen or Pink Queen (pink), Red Chief or Red Leader (purple), Orange Rocket (orange-red).

Video: the most interesting varieties of barberry top 10

What should a seedling be like?

When buying a seedling, you need to pay attention not only to the appearance of the branches and leaves, but also to the root system of the plant. It should be sufficiently developed, with a powerful main root and many additional adventitious roots (if you find a seedling with an open root system - OKS).

It is best to purchase seedlings in specialized garden centers or in nurseries. As a rule, they sell seedlings in containers with soil (with a closed root system - ZKS).

By the way! You can do it yourself in several ways.

Landing location

Barberry is a heat-loving plant; accordingly, it is recommended to plant it in sunny areas, but protected from drying northern winds.

If you plant a shrub in a shaded area of ​​your dacha, then most varieties will lose their decorative properties in the shade (only green varieties can grow in partial shade, but variegated ones, in other words, red and yellow - no).

Of course, ideally you should find a place in the garden where the barberry will be well lit in the morning and evening hours sunlight, and at midday it will be slightly shaded and receive diffused light.

Barberry does not like soils with close proximity groundwater(closer than 1.5-2 meters) - from this root system It begins to mold, rot, and the bush dies. Also, however, barberry should not grow in a place where moisture stagnates after the spring melting of snow or heavy rainfall.

Therefore, the plant should be planted on slopes (preferably southern) or hills (an artificial embankment can be made).

Barberry looks very beautiful in composition with heather and coniferous crops.

Suitable for framing ridges and borders.

You need to know that barberry should not be planted next to windows facing the garden. The plant attracts various insects and midges in large numbers, so if you do not want to constantly keep the windows closed or drive annoying insects out of the room, then you should choose another planting location.

At what distance to plant

The distance from other plants must be calculated depending on the purpose for which the barberry is planted and what variety it is.

If you want to plant a single barberry, for example, on a lawn, then the shrub should be placed at a distance of 2-3 meters from other plants (we’re talking about ordinary ones), although decorative Thunberg barberry can be planted closer (especially dwarf varieties - 50-60 cm) than usual - 1-1.5 meters.

If you plan to make a hedge from barberry, then the bushes should be placed much closer, i.e. the distance between plantings can be about 30-40 centimeters.

Moreover, barberry can be beautifully planted in a checkerboard pattern.

Let's write it down! Decorative varieties (for example, Thunberg barberry) at a distance of 50-150 cm, ordinary barberry - 2-3 meters.

To what depth (dimensions of the landing pit)

As a rule, standard sizes planting hole for barberry - 50 by 50 cm (depth and width/diameter).

If you have a seedling in a container, then the hole should be 2-3 times larger than the earthen coma of the plant (i.e. the container).

But a drainage layer is poured into the bottom of the hole, and then it is approximately half filled with a nutrient mixture (more on this in the next paragraph).

What kind of soil is needed andHow to fertilize (fill the planting hole)

Barberry can grow in any soil - neutral or slightly acidic - so it can be grown in almost any garden.

How to prepare a nutrient substrate to fill a planting hole?

So, you will need a bucket of humus or compost, peat and phosphorus-potassium fertilizer (according to the instructions on the package), as well as top layer fertile soil that remains after digging a hole.

For example, a mixture of superphosphate and potassium sulfate, or a complex fertilizer - diammofoska (optimal for autumn planting) or nitroammofoska (for spring planting).

If you are not a supporter of using mineral fertilizers and prefer organics, then your choice is wood ash and bone meal.

Direct landing

Step-by-step instructions for planting barberry seedlings in open ground:

• Fill the planting hole with fertile soil in advance, leaving a depression the size of the seedling’s root system.
• If desired, lightly spill the hole with water.

To water or not to water before planting a seedling is a controversial issue. Many water only after planting, others - both before and after.

• Place the seedling in the center of the hole on a mound, carefully straightening the roots down (The roots should under no circumstances bend or stick up!)

If the seedling is in a pot (with ZKS), then there is no need to pour any mounds - just place it in the center without damaging the earthen ball.

• Bury the root collar 3-5 cm below ground level (the root collar is the place where the first root leaves the plant trunk).
• Cover with soil and compact lightly.
• Sprinkle generously and wait until the soil shrinks.
• Add soil, make trunk circle, water again.
• Mulch.
• At the end, it is recommended to trim the bush, leaving only 4-5 good buds (although you don’t have to do this).

Video: how to plant barberry correctly

Caring for barberry after planting

Caring for the plant after planting is quite easy.

If you planted in the spring, then during the season you will only need to monitor the humidity (But do not overdo it!), Watering the bush periodically (especially in the case of hot and dry summers).

When planting in autumn, at the end of autumn, insulate it for the winter, or rather, mulch the tree trunk circle in order to protect the still fragile root system of the plant from possible freezing.

In the future, caring for barberry is completely standard:

• timely watering (but infrequently and only when necessary, for example, in the case of a very dry summer. The fact is that the shrub is very drought-resistant and does not like waterlogging);
• feeding (as a rule, once a year is enough complex fertilizer, but it is possible 2 times: in the spring - with nitrogen fertilizer, and in late summer-early autumn - with phosphorus-potassium fertilizer);
• regular pruning (sanitary and anti-aging once every 3-5 years) and haircut/shaping (best done in June or mid-late August);

• treatment against diseases and pests;

As a rule, most varieties of barberry, especially Thunberg, are resistant to all diseases, but in late summer and early autumn the shrub is often affected by powdery mildew, especially if there are occasional rains and your barberry is planted in the shade or is too thick. In general, in this case, it is possible to carry out autumn eradication treatment of the bush copper sulfate or Bordeaux mixture, but this is not necessary, because next spring Your plant will be fine.

• carry out autumn care.

Important! Read more about how to care for barberry in the fall in order to properly prepare it for winter, you can read.

Now you know that planting barberry is no more difficult than any other shrub or tree, which means that you do not need any extra effort or new knowledge. It is much more important to choose a suitable sunny place on the site, where all the beauty of barberry foliage can be fully revealed.

Video: features of growing and caring for Thunberg barberry

Barberry - the taste of these berries has been familiar to us since childhood - sucking candies with that name, sparkling water "Barberry". But it’s unlikely that in childhood we thought about what kind of plant this is, where it grows, what its fruits look like, and whether it can be grown on garden plot.

This culture belongs to a large species of plants from the Barberry family. Translated from Arabic, this word means “shell-shaped.” Varieties of this shrub grow mainly in the mountains of the Northern Hemisphere, there are over 160 varieties in total, some of them have been cultivated.

Gardeners grow this plant for its tasty fruits - they are used to make jams, drinks, and are also used as raw materials for the preparation of medicinal preparations.

This culture is also a decoration for any garden plot: barberry foliage has a wide variety of colors - from green to yellow, purple and variegated. Shrubs also vary in size - from miniature bushes (0.3 - 0.4 m in height) to huge three-meter bushes.

Barberry is a decoration for any garden plot

This crop is a deciduous, evergreen or semi-evergreen thorny shrub, the foliage of which can be leathery, simple or alternate. The spines of this plant are modified foliage, from which, in the process of evolution, only the middle vein has survived to this day. In the axils of these spines, short stems grow, so the foliage grows in bunches. On the shoots that grow in the new season, the foliage grows in a spiral, one by one.

The flowers are small, with a pleasant aroma, golden in color with a yellow tint or orange with a red tint. They are collected in corymbose or racemose inflorescences, but can also be located singly. The petals have a pair of nectaries. The scent of flowers always attracts bees, since this shrub is a wonderful honey plant. The shape of the berries ripening on these bushes can have a different appearance and color - it depends on the variety of barberry.

It can be planted in city conditions (in parks, squares), it can grow on any type of soil, it is drought-resistant and unpretentious. This shrub is one of the best for creating hedges.

Gallery: barberry (25 photos)

Useful properties of barberry (video)

Description of types and varieties of barberry

Barberry Thunberg and its varieties

A deciduous variety of barberry with beautiful foliage colors.

Aurea

Dwarf shrub with a rounded crown, about 0.9 m high, branches are green with a yellow tint. In summer the foliage is bright lemon or yellow. The flowers are small, yellow, slightly red at the edges.

Atropurpurea Nana

A dwarf shrub (its height is about 0.4 m), the foliage is purple, turning bright red in autumn. The flowers are collected in inflorescences of several pieces, they are yellow inside, with a red border along the edges.

Also popular among gardeners are such varieties of Thunberg barberry as Akrlekin, Golden Ring, Coronita, Harlequin and Superba.

The shrub grows in forest-steppes. Bushes with thorns about 2 - 2.5 m high with brown shoots diverging into different sides from the root.

This hybrid, its “parents” are the Thunberg barberry and the red-leaved barberry. Its height is 1.8 - 2 m. The foliage is oval, purple throughout the season. Small flowers are collected in inflorescences (10 pieces each). Their color is yellow with red edges.

His homeland is Korea. Height – 1.8 – 2 m. Foliage – large, slightly leathery. The flowers are yellow with a pleasant aroma, collected in racemes.

Plant height is 2 – 2.5 m. The foliage is green with a gray tint. Flowers with a lasting aroma, collected in brushes of 8 - 9 pcs.

Bushes with spreading branches, their height is up to 2 m. The shoots have large spines (about 2.5 cm). The foliage is rigid and elliptical in shape. The flowers are collected in yellow inflorescences. The berries are red.

Grows in eastern North America. The bushes reach a height of 2 - 2.5 m. The shoots are brown and purple, the spines are tripartite, about 1 cm long. The foliage is oval. The flowers are collected in racemose inflorescences, yellow.

Planting barberry in open ground

It is best to plant this plant in early spring, immediately after all the snow has melted and the soil has warmed up. But you need to plant the plants before the leaves begin to appear on the seedlings. But you can start planting barberries at the end of September when the leaves begin to fall.

Selection and preparation of a site

Barberry is a very unpretentious shrub, so there will be no problems with choosing a place where to plant it. He is not afraid of drafts, hot rays of the sun and gusts of cold wind, so sunny conditions are suitable for him. open place. If only areas in partial shade are available in the garden plot, barberry will grow well there too. However, a sunny location is perfect for those species whose foliage is purple; under the rays of the sun it will have a brighter shade.

These shrubs prefer neutral acidity of the soil (with a pH of about 7). If the soil is acidic, then lime should be added to it to make the soil more neutral. You can do this during autumn digging, or add lime to the planting hole before planting. The composition of the soil mixture used to fill such holes is as follows:

• humus (or compost) – 10 kg;
• garden soil - 10 kg;
• superphosphate – 1 glass;
• slaked lime - 4 cups;
• wood ash - 2 cups.

How to propagate barberry (video)

Technology and planting timing

When such plants are planted singly, a distance of 1.6 - 2.0 meters should be maintained between seedlings. When they want to create a hedge from barberry, then by 1 running meter. two bushes are planted.

Planting holes are prepared at least 10 - 14 days before planting the seedlings. The dimensions of such a hole are 0.4 by 0.4 m, with a depth of up to 0.45 m. To improve the supply of oxygen to the root system, sand 5–6 cm thick must be poured onto the bottom of each hole.

If the acidity of the soil is slightly acidic or neutral, then ash and lime are removed from the composition described above. The hole is filled with most of this mixture, then the seedling is placed in it, the roots are carefully spread over the entire diameter of the hole, the remaining soil is covered on top, and compacted. 8-10 liters of water should be poured under each seedling. and mulch with high-moor peat or rotted compost.

After planting, the shoots of the above-ground part should be cut off by about half, leaving no more than 3 buds on each stem.

It is best to plant barberry in early spring, immediately after all the snow has melted and the soil has warmed up.

Caring for barberry in the garden

It is very easy to care for barberry of any variety and type, even a novice gardener can grow this plant in his garden. After all, caring for ornamental species (whose fruits are too inedible) and barberry with edible berries is absolutely the same.

Therefore, knowing how to care for one type of this crop, you can grow any varieties of barberry on your site in the future.

The main list of agrotechnical plant care measures includes:

• watering;
• weed removal;
• loosening the soil in tree trunk circles;
• formative pruning;
• application of fertilizers.

It is very easy to care for barberry of any variety and type.

Watering

This fruit bush quite resistant to drought. That's why Watering must be carried out according to a special schedule. If the season is quite rainy, then you should not water the plants. If the season is hot and dry, then barberry should be watered once every 7 days with water at room temperature directly under the root - splashes of water should not get on the foliage. The seedlings are watered with the same frequency until the bushes take root. The rainy season, when too much moisture accumulates in the soil, is much worse for this plant. A large amount of moisture can cause great harm to this shrub.

In addition to watering, you should regularly loosen the soil around the plants and remove weeds. To simplify the care of barberry, you should pour a layer of mulch up to 6–7 cm thick under each bush. It will protect the soil from drying out quickly, and weeds will not grow in such places.

Barberry is quite drought tolerant

Top dressing

If fertilizers were applied in full before planting the seedlings, then the bush will have enough of these nutrients for the entire season. The following year, in April or early May, fertilizer, which includes nitrogen, is applied to each plant. Typically, 1 tablespoon of urea is diluted in 10 liters of water. 1 bucket of this solution is added to each tree trunk circle. In the future, nitrogen fertilizers are applied to plants no more often than once every 3 years.

If barberry varieties are grown for their delicious berries, That During the season you should feed them according to the following scheme:

• after the bush fades;
• at the moment of leaf fall.

Such fertilizers should include 1 teaspoon of potassium salt and 1.5 teaspoons of phosphate fertilizer for each plant.

The most optimal fertilizer that is sold in specialized stores, – Kemira is an all-rounder. It is applied in the first ten days of July, diluting 1.5 teaspoons of the drug in 10 liters of water.

Bush pruning

Barberry pruning is usually done in the spring. At the same time, all damaged, dried or frozen shoots are removed. Those branches that thicken the barberry are also removed.

A one-year-old bush should be pruned for the first time in April - early May. In this case, all branches are shortened by half (sometimes more). Subsequently, this procedure is carried out twice per season - in the first ten days of June and in the first ten days of August.

Pruning these bushes is a sanitary procedure, in addition, it is also a formative event. Miniature varieties are usually not pruned.

Barberry pruning is usually done in the spring.

Protection from diseases and pests

Typically, this fruit crop is damaged by fungal diseases such as:

• powdery mildew;
• rust;
• bacteriosis;
• leaf spotting;
• withering.

Powdery mildew appears as plaque white on foliage, stems and berries. They fight this disease by treating all damaged areas with colloidal sulfur diluted in water. Heavily damaged areas should be trimmed and burned.

Rust It affects those shrubs that grow near fields where cereal crops are planted. It appears as orange spots on the upper side of the foliage. Severe infection with this disease leads to drying out and falling of the foliage. The disease should be combated with a 1% solution of colloidal sulfur or Bordeaux mixture. Diseased bushes should be treated three times. The first time the treatment is carried out immediately after the foliage blooms, subsequent treatments are carried out every 20 days.

Against spotting Spraying with copper oxychloride helps a lot (1.5 tablespoons of the drug are diluted in a bucket of water). This procedure is carried out before and after flowering.

Bacteriosis usually damages the entire above-ground part of the plant. If only the tops of the shoots of the bush are damaged, then the barberry can still be saved - usually the diseased area is cut off completely and burned. But if the lower part of the plant is damaged by this disease, then it cannot be saved - the bush is completely uprooted and burned.

Harmful insects that can attack fruit crops are:

• barberry aphid;
• barberry sawfly;
• flower moth.

The appearance of aphids is accompanied by wrinkling and drying of the foliage, and the moth feasts on edible berries. A soap solution works well against aphids. And other pests are fought with a 2% chlorophos solution.

Rust affects those shrubs that grow near fields where cereals are planted

Preparing the bush for winter

Before the onset of cold weather, the soil around the bushes is covered with a thick layer of mulching material - peat or sawdust. Layer thickness – at least 10 cm.

Shrubs that are less than 5 years old (especially evergreens) are covered with spruce or pine branches for the winter. Large bushes are tied tightly with twine, a metal mesh is installed around it (it should be higher than the barberry), dry leaves are poured into the gaps, and the mesh is covered on top with any covering material.

Options for using barberry in landscape design

Varieties of this shrub with decorative foliage are used in landscape design.. Species with the same foliage color or with different leaves that match each other can be planted nearby.

Usually like this ornamental plants used to create hedges or in single plantings.

Methods for propagating barberry

Propagation of this fruit crop is possible in four main ways.

Seeds

Seeds are planted directly into the ground, in a specially designated bed. In spring, seedlings appear. When they grow 2 - 3 true leaves, the seedlings are thinned out - the distance between them should be 2.5 - 3 cm. Young plants should grow in one place for two seasons, and only then they are transplanted to a permanent place.

Barberry can be propagated by seeds

Cuttings

Cuttings are taken from healthy shoots in early summer, lower leaves remove, cut off half of the top ones. Such parts of the shoots are placed in solutions that accelerate the formation of roots for a couple of hours, then planted in a greenhouse, the soil in which consists of equal parts of humus, fertile soil and peat. Add ½ part there river sand. The greenhouse should be ventilated from time to time. Such seedlings are also planted in a permanent place after two seasons.

By layering

When propagating by layering, the strongest annual shoot is selected from the lower branches and immersed in a pre-dug ditch, secured and covered with soil on top. Only the top few leaves of the shoot are left on the surface. A similar procedure is carried out in the spring, and by the beginning of September the shoot will take root, it can be separated from the mother bush and transplanted to a permanent place.

When propagating by layering, the strongest annual shoot is selected from the lower branches and immersed in a pre-dug ditch, secured and covered with soil on top

Ornamental shrubs serve as hedges and shade flower arrangements.

Thanks to their elegant foliage, many of them look good in single plantings. Barberry in the country will be the pearl of the garden.

Majority decorative varieties changes foliage color throughout the summer. The culture is unpretentious and can withstand harsh winters almost painlessly.

In the wild, the crop is a shrub reaching two meters in height. The arched branches of the plant are studded with thorns.

Leaves grow from the base of the thorns. Barberry blooms in May–June.

The oblong red berries ripen in September. They contain many vitamins and microelements. In their natural environment, bushes grow along rivers, at the foot of mountains, and on the edges.

Decorative barberry looks great both during the flowering and fruiting periods. Elegant autumn foliage sets off yellowed trees and bushes.

About ten species of shrubs grow on Russian territory, but breeders are creating new unique and hardy varieties.

Today, tall plants, dwarfs and semi-creeping shrubs are available for sale.

Common barberry is more common than others. The plant takes root well and grows quickly. The flowers have a honey aroma.

Gardeners prefer bushes with purple leaves, which look impressive as a hedge.

Popular varieties:

The low-growing shrub has white-variegated foliage.

In shaded areas it loses its decorative effect.

The flowering period occurs at the end of May.

The fruits ripen by the end of September and remain on the bush until frost occurs. The berries can be used in cooking.

Aureo-marginata is a medium-sized plant.

The leaves have a golden hue.

By early autumn they turn bright red.

Yellow-red flowers form on the bush.

The berries ripen in September.

Atropupurea - the bush reaches two meters in height. The leaf color is purple.

The branches grow by 25 cm per year.

Small flowers are yellow in color.

The plant produces a bountiful harvest every year. The variety is drought resistant.

Common barberry is suitable for hedges in the conditions of Siberia and the Far East.

From the mountain slopes of China and Japan came barberry thunberg. This species is compact and spherical.

Other advantages include special decorativeness and resistance to fungal diseases.

Popular varieties:

Lutin rouge. This variety of Thunberg barberry is suitable for small areas. The foliage is tinted red throughout the summer. The fruits do not fall off in the winter, which gives the bush additional decorativeness. The variety can withstand cold temperatures down to -30˚C.

Pink Queen. The height of the bush does not exceed one and a half meters. The spreading crown and pinkish leaves allow this variety to be planted in solitaire plantings. In the shade the leaves turn brown. The variety tolerates pruning well.

Admiration. The height of the plant barely exceeds half a meter. Shoots grow slowly. Red leaves are edged with a light stripe. Bright red berries remain on the bush until mid-winter.

Thunberg barberry “Kornita” is most often used for landscaping parks and courtyards. The spreading, dark-colored shrub is drought-resistant and winter-hardy.

Timing and choice of landing site

An open and sunny area is suitable for the plant. The amount of light directly affects the color of the foliage.

The future flowerbed must be dry; the plant does not tolerate flooding and high groundwater. The shrub has a powerful root system, so low-lying areas are also not suitable.

Barberry seedlings are planted in the spring, before the buds open. During this period, the seedlings will actively grow and produce new shoots.

It is allowed to plant barberry in the fall. In this case, it is necessary to pay special attention to protecting the young plant from frost.

Preparation and rules for planting young seedlings

Planting and further care in open ground. It is not recommended for a novice gardener to pursue exotics.

It is better to give preference to proven varieties of ordinary barberry. When purchasing, you should make sure that there are no dry leaves or shoots on the seedling. The root system must be elastic.

The plant prefers soils with a neutral pH.

If the soil on the site is acidic, it is necessary to add wood ash or slaked lime in advance.

Heavy soils drain. To do this, crushed stone or broken brick is poured into the bottom of the planting pit.

The size of one pit is 40 by 40 cm.

After planting, the bushes are watered and mulched abundantly. It is recommended to trim off extended branches.

Planting a single plant

The distance from other plants is at least one and a half meters.

The depth of the hole should be slightly larger than the earthen ball of the seedling.

After immersing the roots in landing pit carefully laid out.

It is better to sprinkle the plant with a nutritious substrate consisting of peat, turf soil and humus.

You can’t bury the growing point, as this slows down the development of the bushes.

Planting a hedge

Barberry does not suffer from baldness of the lower part, so the green fences are especially lush.

Planting barberry depends on how thick the hedge is planned to be.

In order for the bushes to grow in a dense wall, it is necessary to plant 4 seedlings per linear meter.

Selection of neighbors for barberry

The shrub gets along well with most garden plants. It goes well with flowering perennials like roses and chrysanthemums. Peony and barberry are often used together in landscape design.

In alpine hills, shrubs are planted next to thuja, juniper, heather and boxwood.

In mixborders, barberry's neighbors are hostas, echinaceas, bergenia and miscanthus. Dogwood and barberry are good to alternate in a hedge.

Methods for propagating barberry

All types of shrubs reproduce quite easily. The choice of one method or another depends on the variety of the mother plant and the climatic conditions of the region.

Seeds

Growing barberry from seeds is not suitable for hybrid varieties.

The fruits are harvested after they are fully ripe. There are two methods of sowing.

For autumn sowing The seeds are not cleared of pulp, but the berries themselves are immediately lowered into the ground to a depth of 3 cm.

The top of the soil is covered with mulch. With the arrival of a thaw, the plantings are covered with film until the sprouts appear.

For spring sowing, barberry seeds must be pre-treated. After picking, the berries are passed through a sieve and washed.

Then the seed is soaked in a solution of potassium permanganate. At the last stage, dry the bones well on a napkin.

Prepared seeds overwinter in the refrigerator. They are immersed in sand or wet sphagnum moss. In March, seeds are sown on the windowsill traditional way.

The first few years the crop is grown in room conditions. Young plants can be transferred to the site two years after germination.

Cuttings

Propagation of barberry in this way is suitable for all climatic zones.

Cuttings are carried out in the summer, in early hours until the dew dries.

To work, you will need annual growths 15 cm long. The bark on such shoots does not have time to become woody.

It is necessary to make an oblique cut under the kidney. Leaves and spines are removed.

Cuttings give roots in a covered greenhouse with nutritious soil.

The material is buried 2–3 cm. The plantings are watered from a watering can with a diffuser with water at room temperature.

Full roots are formed at the end of September. The seedlings are dug up and sent to open ground for growing.

After a year, the strengthened plant can be planted in a permanent place.

Layerings

A full-fledged barberry bush can be obtained with the help of several annual shoots.

This is an ideal way to propagate rare varieties.

Long and straight branches are suitable for work.

The ground around the bush is first dug up, loosened and watered abundantly.

The shoots are bent to the ground and pinned with iron staples. Then this place is covered with earth, leaving the top of the branch.

In autumn, rooted shoots are dug up and separated from the mother plant. The young shoot is planted in open ground for the winter.

Dividing the bush

The method is suitable for low-growing and dwarf varieties. An adult bush is dug up in the spring, before the buds open.

It is carefully divided using garden tools, and the sections are treated with charcoal. Barberry is transplanted immediately to a permanent place.

How to care for barberry on the site

Caring for barberry is not much different from caring for others ornamental shrubs.

For a rich shade of foliage, sunlight, watering and fertilizing are required.

Watering, weeding and loosening the soil

A newly planted plant is watered once every 10 days.

The root system of adult barberry is deep and branched, so the bushes do not require systematic watering.

During the dry period of summer, water at room temperature is introduced into the tree trunk circle from a watering can without a nozzle.

Weeds are removed as they grow. The soil around the bush is loosened a few days after watering.

This procedure must not be neglected, otherwise the root system will not receive the required amount of oxygen.

Fertilizer application

In spring, nitrogen fertilizers are applied under the bushes. To do this, 30 g of urea is dissolved in 10 liters of water. This feeding will give impetus to the development of green mass.

During the flowering period, barberry in the garden is responsive to organic matter. Humus or diluted manure works well.

Mineral fertilizers are applied in early autumn. Granules of superphosphate or potassium sulfate will help the shrub survive the winter.

Proper pruning

Trimming dry branches and thickened shoots is necessary for proper development barberry. This type of pruning can be done at any time.

Barberry pruning for the purpose of formation is carried out in the fall, before the onset of the first frost.

It is necessary to set the shape of the crown during the first trimming, then all subsequent procedures will be easier.

In the second year of life, a third of all green mass is removed from a hedge.

Low-growing and compact dwarf varieties do not need to be formed.

Wintering barberry

Most varieties withstand the Russian winter without additional shelter.

The exception is evergreen plants; their annual growth is killed by the cold.

In warm regions, barberry retains berries on the bushes in winter, which gives it additional decorative value.

Heat-loving varieties are covered with spruce branches as soon as the temperature drops to -10˚C.

Very young bushes can be wrapped in spunbond.

With the arrival low temperatures The bushes are additionally sprinkled with a thick layer of snow.

Barberry begins to grow in early spring, so it is important to remove the cover in time.

How to deal with pests and diseases of barberry

Prolonged rains, cold weather and errors in agricultural technology lead to various ailments. The barberry bush is susceptible to powdery mildew.

Under its influence, the leaves become covered with a gray coating, which spreads to the thorns and berries.

At the first signs of infection, the plantings are sprayed with the preparations “Skor”, “Topaz”, “Fundazol”.

The cause of rust on the leaves is a fungus that gets onto the bushes from nearby plantings of cereal crops.

In advanced forms of the disease, the plant may die. Bushes are treated against fungus with a solution Bordeaux mixture, “Oxychom”, “Ordan”.

A common disease is bacteriosis. Infected plants become covered with cracks.

Both individual branches and the whole bush can die. Some types of bacteriosis lead to neoplasms. The drugs “Fitolavin” and “Gamair” are used as prophylaxis.

The most dangerous insects is the barberry aphid. Because of it, young foliage grows asymmetrical and wrinkled.