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Spirea Magic Carpet is the generic name for a group of Japanese spirales. Literally translated, magic carpet means magic carpet. And indeed it is. Spirea of the Karpet group is a stunted shrub, to which the word "ground cover" is more applicable.
Varieties of the Japanese Spirea Magic Carpet group:
1. Walbuma (Spiraea japonica Walbuma).
2.Sparkling (Spiraea japonica Sparkling Carpet).
3.Golden (Spiraea japonica Golden Carpet).
4.Green (Spiraea japonica Green Carpet).
5. White (Spiraea japonica White Carpet).
The whole variety of varieties of decorative ground covers should be considered more carefully.
Spirea Japanese Magic Carpet
Spirea Magik Carpet is better known as Valbuma. In 2002, it was she who was awarded the Special Award of Garden Merit, which is awarded by the English Royal Society of Gardeners. The main advantages for which the spirea was awarded:
- high decorative qualities;
- ease of growing and care;
- resistance to fungal diseases and attacks of insect pests.
The value of the shrub lies in the originality of the color of the leaf plates, a bright and abundant flowering period.
Description of spirea Magic Carpet
The habit of the plant is due to the dwarf growth of the shrub, not exceeding 50 cm in height, and a dense cushion-shaped crown, spreading, reaching a diameter of 1 m. During the year, the shrub is able to add only 20 cm in growth. The shrub of the Magic Carpet variety has a dense, well-branched root system.
The leaf plate is of the simplest lanceolate shape, 4-5 cm long and with a changing color:
- at a younger age, the leaf blade has a red-orange tint;
- at an older age, the leaf plate has a shade of bright yellow;
- by autumn, the color changes to the color of young leaves.
Peduncles are small, with a rich pink tint, in the form of a dense shield, no more than 5-6 cm in diameter. Valbuma blooms from late June to early September. The shrub is capable of bearing fruit, the fruits are in the form of small leaflets and ripen from September to October.
Spirea Valbuma is endowed with several more positive qualities:
- Smoke resistance.
- Gas resistance.
- Frost resistance.
These characteristic features should become a decisive factor in the purchase of Magic Carpet spirea seedlings by residents of large cities and small towns.
Spirea Japanese Magic Carpet in landscape design
The photo shows how spirea Magic Carpet perfectly merges into landscape design of the site... It harmoniously fits into group plantings (photo 2), it can decorate the garden as a single plant, especially during the flowering period (photo 3, 4). A good combination can be obtained by planting shrubs in architectural forms near lawns (photo 1).
By planting the Magic Carpet along the garden paths (the distance between the holes is from 30 cm to 50 cm), you can get a beautiful low curb. You can safely use Valbuma when creating rockeries, rock gardens and flower beds.
The only condition for planting and planning a place will be the presence of sunlight. Spirea Magic Carpet prefers areas with direct sunlight, but also easily copes with light shading. The Magic Carpet leaf plate fades in the shade and can completely change color.
Planting and caring for spirea Magic Carpet
When buying spirea seedlings of the Carpet group, you should pay close attention to the condition of the roots of the plant.
If the seedling was purchased with ACS (open root system), then it should be carefully examined - the root processes should be moist, without dryness. On flexible shoots, live buds are required. When planting, the root shoots are shortened to 23-25 cm.
If the seedling was purchased in a pot with a closed root system, then good watering will be enough before planting to remove it from the container.
Valbuma blooms only in summer, so planting new bushes is best done in early spring before budding in the trees. In different regions, this process begins in different ways, but it is worth focusing on March-April.
The shrub is unpretentious to the soil, but it will develop better on fertile, drained, moderately moist soils with a neutral acid reaction. On hot sunny days, it requires good moisture.
Before planting shrubs, it is necessary to dig holes in advance at a distance of 50 cm from one another. In the process of growth, the root shoot grows well, therefore the width of the planting hole should be 3 times larger than the size of the root shoot. In depth, one shovel bayonet will be enough.
Planting holes should be dug 2 days before planting the shrub. Then a small layer of broken rubble or brick is poured onto the bottom as drainage. The soil substrate necessary for the normal development and survival of seedlings is prepared in a 4: 2: 2 ratio of the following components:
- garden soil;
- river sand;
- high-moor peat.
Part of the substrate is poured over the drainage, after having straightened all the root processes, the seedling is buried in the hole and sprinkled on top with the rest of the substrate.
After planting, the soil is tamped and irrigated - at least 20 liters of water under one seedling.
Spirea seedling Magic Carpet is very demanding for watering, frequent and abundant. After 1.5-2 weeks, when the plant takes root, watering is reduced, but the volume is not reduced - 13-16 liters of water for each seedling once every 15 days. After watering, it is necessary to loosen the trunk circle with the simultaneous removal of all weeds.
Madzhik Karpet has no special requirements for further care. To stimulate the second flowering, you need to prune wilted inflorescences. The formation of the crown of the bush is carried out in May of the year following planting. Cut off all dead wood and damaged shoots. Healthy shoots are shortened to the first healthy buds. The rejuvenation of the shrub is carried out 4 years after planting by cutting off shoots from the soil surface no more than 30 cm.
In early spring, it is necessary to mulch the soil under the bushes. Mulch contains high-moor peat, compost and shredded pine bark. Before preparing for winter, the mulch must be embedded in the soil.
Fertilization is necessary in the summer after planting. For the summer top dressing of the first year of the growing season and the spring top dressing of the second year, you will need a complex fertilizer (NPK 20:20:20). Introduced by watering at the root every 3 weeks. Since August, root feeding with potassium-phosphorus fertilizer is necessary (1 time in 2.5 weeks). A good solution would be to carry out foliar feeding of Spirea Magic Carpet throughout the summer - 2 times a month.
Spirea Sparkling Carpet
Another representative of the Carpet group ground cover spirits is the Sparkling Carpet, which is the lowest of all carpet.
Description of Spirea Sparkling Carpet
The plant habit fully justifies the name - the growth of the shrub does not exceed 30 cm in height, with a dense, at the same time rounded and flattened crown, an elliptical shape, reaching a width of 40 cm.The crown growth by 10 cm lasts for 5 years. The shrub has a small but well-developed root system.
The leaf plate is small in size, up to 2 cm long, with barely distinguishable notches along the edges. The color can change throughout the season:
- in the spring - orange gold color;
- in summer - the color of lemon gold;
- in the fall - a kaleidoscope of fiery red and orange tones.
The flowers are very small, deep pink, thyroid-shaped, with a size of no more than 3 cm. The "Sparkling carpet" is able to show its flower stalks only from June to July.
Spirea Sparkling Carpet in landscape design
Small bushes of the Japanese Spirea Sparkling Carpet are indispensable in creating landscape compositions. A group compacted shrub planting will allow you to get a dense and bright carpet. Can be used as cover for bare trunks of tall shrubs and trees. A good solution would be to create a decorative border with the help of the "sparkling" ground cover of the Carpet group.
Planting and leaving
The variety easily tolerates short-term shading, but it is better to choose a place with constant sunlight. Although the "sparkling carpet" is not whimsical, it is better to choose a site with loose, fertile and moderately moist soil.
In the spring, in the second year of planting, it is necessary to carry out sanitary pruning of the shoots, shortening them to a height of 18-20 cm from the ground level. In the summer, pruning of dry inflorescences is carried out - this will preserve the decorative effect of the crown.
Agrotechnical techniques for a dwarf do not differ from Valbuma.
Spirea Japanese Golden Carpet
Another representative of "carpet" spirits is Golden Carpet. “Golden carpet” literally means a golden carpet. And this is the most accurate characteristic of a ground cover.
Description of Spirea Golden Carpet
It is necessary to thank Canadian breeders for the appearance of a shrub of this species. The variety of tall spirea "Golden Princess", taken as a basis, made it possible to breed a low-growing groundcover, which became a reduced copy of the mother plant. Before proceeding with the description of the Golden Carpet spirea, looking at the photo below, you can notice some similarities between the two shrubs.
In appearance, the plant looks more like a small hummock, up to 40 cm high and wide, with densely spaced creeping shoots and a huge potential for the appearance of lateral branches from the sinuses of each internode.
The “golden carpet” does not differ in the growth rate. The root system is small, but has the ability to grow rapidly.
The leaf plate has the simplest oval shape, medium-sized. The maximum leaf length is 2 cm, and the width is 1 cm. Looking closely at the branches, you can see how symmetrically the leaves are located on them. Throughout the season, the leaves do not change their color - the bright color of yellow gold.
The flowers are very small, pale pink, unsightly in appearance. Taken together, they form a scutellum, with a total diameter of no more than 3 cm. It blooms for a short time (only 3 days), but all summer - from June to September. Does not form seeds or fruits. Propagated only by cuttings, layering and dividing the bush.
Spirea Golden Carpet in landscape design
Due to its bright color, the use of the "golden dwarf", the Carpet group, in landscape design, becomes simply irreplaceable. Gold bumps also look spectacular in single (solitary) plantings, but there is even no need to talk about group compositions. Looks great on rocky alpine hills, flower beds, along the curbs.
A prerequisite for planning the landing will be the presence of sunlight. This type of spirea prefers sunny areas, but easily tolerates brief shading. In the shade, the leaf plate completely changes color to green.
Planting and caring for the Japanese Golden Carpet spirea
For planting Golden Carpet spirea, fertile, drained soils with a neutral acid reaction (PH = 7) are suitable. Even a short-term stagnation of water masses will be disastrous for the shrub.
Sanitary pruning should only be done in the early spring of next year.
Spirea Green Carpet
One of the rarest varieties of spirea of the Carpet group, a magnificent form, created by the efforts of Canadian breeders. In a group planting, this ground cover resembles an airy carpet, which directly corresponds to the name - a green carpet.
Description of spirea Green Carpet
In appearance, the plant looks like a small green tubercle, up to 20 cm in height and with a maximum diameter of up to 30-35 cm, round in shape. This groundcover (like the Golden Carpet) forms side branches from the axils of each node. Green Carpet does not differ in its growth rate - it can grow only by 10 cm annually. Root shoots are small in size, but capable of overgrowth.
From the photo you can see that the leaf plate of the Green Carpet spirea has a simple shape. Quite small, no more than 1 cm long and 2 cm wide. A closer look at the leafy branch will allow you to notice the symmetry of the arrangement of the leaves, with absolutely unchanged color throughout the season - this is a bright color of rich greenery. By autumn, the color of the leaf plate changes to a paler color.
Peduncles are very small and inconspicuous, pink with a green tint, in the form of a dense thyroid shell, no more than 2 cm in size. Blossoms for a short time (only 3 days), but with constant periodicity. You can notice a blooming green carpet not only in June, but also in September. Seeds and fruits are not formed on this shrub.
Spirea Green Carpet in landscape design
In landscape design, the Green Carpet shrub plays a huge role, so any landscape design bureau cannot do without this variety of spirea. Canadian and American designers have come to love the green bush and have always used it for golf course designs.
In Russia, golf courses are not very popular, so this ground cover spirea is planted on rocky alpine hills, along paths and curbs. Spirea Green Carpet looks spectacular in solitary and group plantings.
Planting and leaving
Seedlings of this variety of spirea are sold only with ZKS (closed root system). When planting, the seedling is transferred from the pot to a pre-prepared hole. The planting site should be sunny or with short-term shade. Soil only with a neutral acid reaction. The variety is frost-resistant and does not require additional shelter for the winter. Sanitary pruning of branches should be carried out no more than once every 3 years. The rest of the care of the Green Carpet is identical to the spirea Valbume. Does not propagate by seeds.
Spirea White Carpet
Planting a shrub variety White Carpet will bring notes of tenderness to the garden. This shrub resembles an airy white cloud during flowering.
Description of spirea White Carpet
A shrub of the White Carpet variety reaches a height of 50 cm with a diameter of no more than 85 cm. Creeping shoots capable of covering the ground with a white carpet (White Carpet is translated from English and means a white carpet).
The leaf plate is small in size, elongated in the shape of an ellipse, up to 3 cm long. The upper surface of the leaf is colored deep green, while the lower surface has a slightly bluish tint.
The White Carpet spirea blooms in May and lasts until the end of September. Peduncles are collected together and form an armor shield. The size of the flower itself is very small and reaches no more than 1.5 cm in diameter.Seed formation is possible.
Spirea White Carpet in landscape design
In the landscape design of the spirea, White Carpet is more used as a ground cover in group and single plantings. The wide distribution and popularity of White Carpet was achieved by unpretentiousness and minimal maintenance when landscaping city squares and front gardens of industrial enterprises.
Planting and leaving
White Carpet feels great in the sun and slightly shaded areas. There are no strong watering requirements. The only condition for this ground cover will be the absence of stagnant water in the soil.
Sanitary pruning of White Carpet spirea is carried out annually and only in early spring.
Reproduction of spirits
Absolutely all breeding methods are suitable for Japanese spirits of the Carpet group:
- Generative, seed propagation.
- Vegetative, propagation by layering, cuttings and dividing the bush.
Of all the above methods, reproduction by layering and dividing the bush remains the most popular, reliable and highly effective. These methods are the fastest and least expensive in terms of time and labor, but all breeding options should be considered in more detail.
Growing a spirea shrub of the Carpet group from seeds is suitable for experimenting enthusiasts.
To plant spirea seeds, you need a wooden skewer or toothpick. In the spring, small seeds are placed on the surface of the substrate (preliminary stratification of the planting material is not needed). The substrate is prepared from 4 parts of neutralized peat and 1 part of vermiculite. Once placed, the seeds must be carefully spilled and covered with plastic or glass. The container is placed on the west or north side of a shady garden. After the first shoots appear, the shelter is removed. When the seedlings reach 2 cm in height, they must be dived.
When picking, the long root is pinched 1/3 of the length, after which it is planted in a separate container. Until autumn, pots with small seedlings are in the shade of large trees until autumn. For the winter, the pots can be brought into a cool room and in the spring they can be planted in a permanent place in the ground.
Spirea cuttings must be carried out in the autumn months (September or October):
- The strongest shoots are cut from the spirea bush, which must be cut into pieces.
- Each part must have at least 5 sheets.
- The lower leaf plates should be removed all except the petiole, and the rest should be shortened exactly 2 times.
- The cuttings are placed in a container with a root former (root, heteroauxin) for 3 hours.
- The cuttings are planted in a substrate consisting of 1 part of high-moor peat and 2 parts of river sand at an angle of 45 °, deepening by only 2 cm.
- The planted cuttings of spirea are spilled with a root former solution, covered with a transparent container and placed in a shaded place.
- During rooting, cuttings must be sprayed and watered.
- At the onset of the first cold weather, the cuttings should be buried in the soil, covered with fallen leaves and covered with a wooden or plastic box.
- In the spring, the cuttings of the spirea should be grown in a common garden bed and transplanted to a permanent place only in the fall.
For the reproduction of the spirea of the Carpet group by layering, it is necessary to bend the lower shoots to the ground in early spring, fix and sprinkle with earth, leaving only the top of the shoot on the surface. This method is quite applicable for young root growth. During the summer, the cuttings develop, and by the fall, full-fledged single seedlings are obtained. In the fall, the layers are dug up and transplanted to a permanent place.
Reproduction by dividing the spirea bush is best done from August to September. A prerequisite after dividing is cool air or more shade. A spirea bush is dug in with the capture of at least 65% of the crown projection, while part of the roots will be cut off.
The root system is well washed under running water. Root layers are well straightened and divided into parts.Each of them should have 3 strong shoots and a sufficient number of roots. Long root branches are shortened, treated with ash and planted in pre-prepared grooves. Watering is carried out every day on sunny days or once every 7 days when it is cloudy.
Diseases and pests of Japanese spirits
Shrubs of Japanese spirits of the Carpet group are more resistant to fungal diseases, but sometimes they can be affected by spotted fungus or gray mold spores. Fungicide preparations will help to cope with this problem:
- foundation;
- Bordeaux mixture;
- colloidal sulfur.
Sometimes the decorative ground covers of the "carpet" group of spirits visit troubles in the form of an invasion of insect pests: blue meadow sawfly, spirea aphid, whitefly and spider mite. To cope with these troubles will help preparations of the insecticidal-acaricidal spectrum:
- decis-pro;
- inta-vir;
- Bi-58;
- Fitoverm;
- actofit;
- kinmix.
Conclusion
Spirea Magic Carpet is an absolutely unpretentious shrub that can decorate the landscape of any personal plot. Any of the varieties of spirea of the Karpet group can bloom already on the shoots of the first year of growing season, which further enhances the beauty and popularity of these varieties. When choosing a spirea of the Karpet group, you should remember that they tolerate Russian winters well and do not freeze out without additional shelter.
Do not hesitate when choosing - minimal care and durability of the plant will make the garden play with a varied palette of colors.
