Dogwood - planting and care

Bright red small size cornel berries have long been recognized by the inhabitants of the Caucasus, where they are brewed jam, dried and used as a seasoning for meat dishes. But for the middle band of Russia, dogwood is more a rarity than a rule. And only because few know that the dogwood is fully able to grow and fully bear fruit in a temperate climate, it is only right to choose for this variety. The rules of planting and caring for a dogwood will be devoted to our article.

Corn Growing

To experiment on the cultivation of dogwood on your own site was successful, you need to take into account the main features of this plant:

1. Planting cornel is necessary in well-lit areas, protected from drafts. It is best to plant a dogwood bush on an open area in a few (4-5) meters from the wall of the house or fence, where it will have enough space and nutrients.
2. The soil on the site should have an alkaline reaction, which can be achieved with additional liming. Acidic and weakly acid soils dogwood perceives much worse.
3. Planting the dogwood is best in the autumn, when leaves begin to fall from the poplars (approximately in the first decade of October). Optimal to choose for planting two-year-old cornelian sapling, having a height of approximately 150 cm and 5-6 skeletal branches. That the seedling has started for certain, branches immediately after planting should be cut off, leaving only 1/3 of their length.
4. Since the flowers on the dogwood blossom early enough, when the temperature on the street is not yet sufficient for the active flight of the bees, it is necessary to place several cornelian saplings on the site, leaving a gap of several meters between them.
5. In the first year after planting, the dogwood seedling should be additionally shaded to create more sparing conditions for rooting and growth. When the dog will finally become stronger in artificial shade, there will be no need.
6. Care for dogwood is reduced to periodic watering, the removal of weeds and loosening and mulching the soil around the bush. Young dogwood seedlings are recommended to feed for several years in the first two or three times per season, alternating mineral and organic fertilizers. After watering the ground in the trunk circle it is desirable to loosen to a depth of 10 cm, and then lay on top a ten-centimeter layer of mulch from peat or sawdust. Mulch while not only helps to keep the soil in the required amount of moisture, but also significantly slow the growth of weeds.
7. Reproduction of the dogwood is most often made by root layers. There is this way: near the plant digging out grooves, in which with the help of wooden pins are laid side shoots dogwood. Shoots are sprinkled with earth and moistened, and eventually they form roots. After rooting, the root layers are separated from the mother plant and planted in the desired location. In addition to this method, the dogwood is often propagated by seeds or by a method of budding.

Varieties of dogwood

Varieties of dogwood to date, displayed a huge variety, but the greatest interest for gardeners-lovers present the following:

• "Vladimirsky" - ripening in late August, a large variety of cornelian, characteristic of red and black berries with a very pleasant taste;
• "Firefly" - a yielding large-bodied variety of dogwood, a very pleasant taste and excellent transportable characteristics;
• "Coral brand" - a variety that is characterized by a gentle coloring of berries and large barrel-shaped fruits;
• "Semen" - a variety of dogwood, which has a cherry color of fruits weighing 6-7.5 grams;
• "Prior" is a winter-hardy corn variety, annually yielding stably good yields.