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Among the creeping plants for the garden, ampel verbena stands out. It can be successfully planted as an indoor flower, used in flower pots on the streets, and also planted in open ground. Bushy branches with lush buds cover the soil and blend well with most other flowers. Planting and caring for ampelous verbena will not cause difficulties even for novice gardeners, if they know some of the secrets of the agricultural technology of this culture.
Description of ampel verbena
Verbena ampelous is a perennial plant with dense shoots that densely cover the ground. Leaves of a simple structure, rather tough, covered with hairs. The flowers have 5 petals of different shades:
- red;
- pink;
- purple;
- blue.
One stem gives up to 30 inflorescences, so the bush blooms very luxuriantly. The plant is unpretentious, although it requires an abundance of sunlight and moderate heat (long-term frosts below +5 ° C are not allowed). The culture is responsive to feeding. Ampel verbena needs additional fertilization more than upright varieties.
Application in landscape design
Due to its lush flowering and a variety of colors, the ampelous verbena fits well into any garden. It is used in different ways:
- in unusual pots to decorate the recreation area;
- ground cover plantings perfectly hide the soil;
- in pots on gazebos, fences;
- in mixborders and ridges;
- in street containers next to the entrance, along the paths of the garden.
Seedlings can be planted both in the ground and on a small hill.
Breeding features
Verbena ampelous can be multiplied:
- seeds... Seedlings are grown, which are transferred to open ground in mid-May;
- layering... Pin the branch to the ground, sprinkle it with soil and get 2-3 layers;
- cuttings.
Cutting is considered one of the most effective ways to reproduce ampel verbena. The procedure starts at the end of February. A mixture of sand, peat (in equal amounts) and perlite (a few pinches) is preliminarily prepared. Sequencing:
- cut the cuttings from the upper shoots. It is necessary that they have 4-5 sheets;
- the lower leaves are removed;
- the cuttings are immersed in Kornevin's solution;
- planted in moist soil and grown under glass at a temperature of 22-25 ° C.
Ampelny verbena varieties
Verbena ampelous has a great species diversity. In landscaping a garden, different varieties can be used both together and separately.
Tiara red impr
Tiara Red Impr is one of the most beautiful ampelous verbena varieties with red flowers. The culture is unpretentious, it grows very quickly. The branches of this verbena are densely covered with inflorescences.
Ampel verbena Tiara Red is suitable for growing in the open field and at home
Empress peach
Empress Peach is an interesting variety with creamy, fawn flowers. Shoots are small (up to 50 cm), but compact.
This variety of ampelous verbena blooms magnificently throughout the summer.
Imagination
This is a purple variety of ampelous verbena with rather large flowers.
The bush grows well both in height and in width, so it almost does not require pruning
Verbena ampelous Imagination goes well in compositions with bright orange-yellow flowers.
Obsession Burgundy
Ampel verbena Obsession Burgundy is distinguished by interesting cherry, wine tones. Large inflorescences look good on a compact bush.
The flowers of this variety of ampelous verbena are very large - up to 7 cm in diameter
Temari
This verbena ampelous produces beautiful lilac-pink flowers. The branches are drooping, low, but dense, completely covering the ground. The leaves are practically not cut.
The inflorescences of this variety of ampelous verbena are round, symmetrical, and the bright flowers contrast well against the background of dark green leaves
Ametist
Another attractive variety of ampelous verbena with delicate lilac flowers with a white core. Blooms all summer.
Verbena Ametist produces delicate lilac and blue flowers
Tapien
A very attractive variety of ampelous verbena with branched shoots and inflorescences in the form of scutes. Long flowering is characteristic - until the beginning of autumn.
The flowers of this variety of ampelous verbena can be not only lilac, but also of other shades.
Lanai candy cane
This is one of the last varieties of ampelous verbena, obtained several years ago. Pink petals with a bright red border look really chic.
This variety of ampelous verbena produces flowers until the beginning of September.
Estrella voodoo star
Another two-tone variety. The colors contain shades of bright red and pure white. At the same time, the plant is unpretentious and even tolerates a dry period well enough.
The bush of ampelous verbena Estrella Voodoo Star is very compact, shoots reach 30-40 cm in length
Quartz XP Silver
An attractive variety with silvery white flowers. The plant is small - the branches grow up to 30 cm. It looks very beautiful both in the garden and in the pots.
Milky white flowers look like snow flakes from afar
Planting ampelous verbena for seedlings
Verbena ampelous can be grown from seedlings. To do this, you need to purchase seeds in advance, prepare the soil and planting containers. Growing conditions are standard: timely watering, good lighting and a sufficiently high (room) temperature.
Timing
You can plant seeds in both spring and summer (until early June). However, the best time is March or April. The sprouts will receive enough sunlight so that the verbena will quickly gain green mass. If the deadline is missed, you should no longer purchase seeds and plant them in the summer. Better to buy ready-made seedlings.
Tank and soil preparation
You can find seedling soil in any store or make a mixture yourself:
- 1 piece of garden land;
- 2 parts of peat;
- 0.5 parts of sand.
Also for cultivation, you can use a mixture of sand with perlite. Previously, the soil should be disinfected with a weak solution of potassium permanganate (1-2%). Then the earth is dried, and immediately before planting it is warmed up.
It is better to plant verbena seeds in individual containers - plastic cups, small pots or bowls
Seeding Algorithm
Correct planting guarantees good germination. You can act according to the following instructions:
- Before planting, the seeds are warmed up a little, putting them on the battery for 1 hour.
- Sow 2-3 seeds in each glass. It is not necessary to deepen - it is enough to lightly sprinkle it with soil.
- Moisten, put in a warm place (+ 24-25 ° C) and cover with glass or film.
- After the appearance of the third leaf, they are seated.
In this case, the pot is placed on a battery (several hours a day), and placed in the refrigerator overnight. This is repeated for 3 days, after which shoots appear.
Some varieties of ampelous verbena require stratification, as there is a corresponding warning on the pack with seeds.It can be carried out in the standard way: 5 days before planting, place the seeds on a damp towel, put it in a plastic bag and leave in the refrigerator.
Growing seedlings
Seedlings are grown in the south or east window, where the maximum amount of sunlight is observed. In March, the days are still short, besides, the weather is cloudy, so it is necessary to provide illumination with a phytolamp, creating a day length of 12-13 hours.
Watering is moderate. Top dressing at the stage of growing seedlings is done only once - after 2 weeks. A complex fertilizer is introduced, it is better to take a slightly lower dosage so that the roots do not "burn out" due to the abundance of nitrogen.
Then the lateral branches are activated, and the ampelous verbena will quickly gain mass.
Planting and caring for ampel verbena in the open field
Ampelnaya vervain is transplanted into open ground already in mid-May. It can be placed in a garden or street containers. 10 days before this, it is useful to harden the seedlings by reducing the daytime temperature to 17-18 ° C.
Transfer to the ground
Seedlings are transplanted when recurrent frosts are no longer expected. In most regions of Russia, this is mid-May, but in the south, ampel verbena can be planted at the end of April. And in Siberia, the term may increase slightly - until the last ten days of May.
The place is chosen sunny, open, because the plant is very fond of light. If possible, this should be a hill - stagnant moisture has a bad effect on the root system. When planting, they are guided by the fact that the branches completely cover the soil. Therefore, the density is quite high - 25-30 cm can be left between neighboring vervains.
Algorithm of actions:
- The site is cleaned and dug to a shallow depth.
- Dig several holes of small depth (it is necessary that the roots fit freely in them).
- Drain with a layer of pebbles, brick fragments or other stones.
- A mixture is prepared on the basis of garden soil and humus (2: 1) with wood ash (2-3 tbsp. L.).
- The seedlings are rooted and covered with soil.
- Water and mulch.
Verbena seedlings are not placed too tightly, they grow well and cover the ground
Watering and feeding
If it is warm enough outside (at night not lower than 10 ° C), ampelny verbena seedlings take root quickly. Further care for them is quite simple. Water as needed: the surface of the soil should be slightly damp. If the roots are mulched, watering will be needed only in the absence of rain for a long time.
After transplanting, any nitrogen fertilizer can be applied to accelerate growth.
At the stage of bud formation and during flowering (1-2 times), superphosphates and potassium salt are added
An alternative way is to use a long-acting complex fertilizer. It can be paid 3-4 times per season with an interval of 1 month.
Loosening, weeding, mulching
It is recommended to mulch the roots of the ampelous verbena immediately after planting. This can be done using sawdust, peat, spruce branches and other scrap materials. Such a layer will not only retain moisture, but also inhibit the growth of weeds.
You can loosen the soil once a month - after applying top dressing. In this case, the nutrients are absorbed faster by the roots. Weeding as such is not needed, although sometimes it is done anyway. Verbena is very good at dampening weed growth, since its dense cover deprives them of access to light.
Pruning
Pruning must be done, otherwise the bushes will grow in height, but not in width. When a shoot with a height of 7-8 cm is formed, pinch the top with your fingers. After this, there will be an active growth of side shoots.
In the future, pruning is done only if necessary - bushes are formed and old or damaged shoots are removed. If the branch is too long, don't prune it. It is better to pin in several places to the soil and get layers that will germinate very quickly and cover the surface with a green carpet.
Even minimal care will ensure a lush and long-lasting flowering of ampelous verbena.
How to preserve ampel verbena in winter
Ampelnaya verbena is a perennial plant, but in most regions of Russia it can only winter at home. There are exceptions to this rule:
- In the southern regions, verbena can be left in the soil - short-term frosts down to -2 ° C are not dangerous for it. If you are not sure, it is better to transfer it to the house.
- Straight verbena variety is characterized by moderate winter hardiness, so the plant can spend a cold period in the soil. However, it must be cut off and covered with spruce branches.
Before the onset of the first frost, the verbena is cut so that the length of the remaining shoots does not exceed 10 cm. When digging up, you need to try to have as much soil as possible on the roots. The plant is placed in pots or other containers and stored at a temperature of 10-12 ° C (indoors, on insulated balconies or loggias).
Pests and diseases
Verbena is extremely rarely affected by fungal diseases. It is quite resistant to pests, although caterpillars and aphids feed on its foliage. A simple way of fighting is to spray the foliage with an aqueous solution of shavings of laundry soap (for 1 liter of liquid - 2 tbsp. L.). You can also use other folk remedies - baking soda solution, infusion of onion peels or mustard powder.
If these measures do not help, it is advisable to use a proven insecticide.
Can be processed with Biotlin, Decis or Confidor
The procedure is carried out in calm and clear weather (after sunset).
Conclusion
Planting and caring for ampel verbena is not difficult, but they require compliance with the rules. Culture will beautify the garden, gazebo, veranda and other recreation areas. This is an unpretentious plant that gives beautiful flowers of different shades. Blooming lasts all summer, so the garden looks beautiful and well-groomed.
