Berry bush: structure, features of cultivation, planting and care

It is impossible to imagine the surrounding world without berry bushes - not only in the suburban areas where decorativeness and benefits are combined, but also on city streets framed by very modest but no less lovely fluffy crops. We'll figure out what kind of plant is a berry bushes.

Features of the structure

All bushes are distinguished by a lack of trunk. Instead of it, from the root system, at once one leaves up to a dozen branches creating the bush itself. They are the main branches. The bush consists of branches of different ages and annual shoots developing from the buds at the base or on temporary branches. Harvest as fruit, and vegetative branches. The oval shape of the crown is inherent in most shrubs. The only exception is lianopodobnye species with a flattened crown or decorative crops, the shape of which is attached to the skilful pruning.

The root system usually consists of several basic, but non-coarse roots, located at a depth of not more than one and a half meters. They quickly become overgrown with a lot of suction roots, horizontally lying surface of the earth and covering a vast area of food. Typical are berry bushes, whose names we know from childhood. This is the most common garden berries in Russia - currants, gooseberries, honeysuckle, raspberries, some varieties of cherries , etc.

Main characteristics

The species of berry bushes are diverse, but they unite one thing - their harvest ripens much earlier than in stone and pome fruits. The yield of berries is very high with the proper application of agrotechnical measures. And reproduction by vegetative means gives an opportunity of fast reception of fruits: already on 2-3 year after planting.

Berries are rich in various bioactive compounds, vitamins, organic acids, pectin, sugars. The most widespread in our country have berry bushes, photos and names of which are presented in the article - currants, gooseberries, raspberries, aronia, honeysuckle, etc. All berries are tasty and useful, but with many common characteristics of cultures, each species requires an individual approach.

Pruning of berry bushes

Autumn is the best time for pruning. In the spring because of the vicissitudes of unstable weather, one can not catch it or even do much harm: the berry pickers start growing early. At this time, you can make a correction pruning, so to speak, to carry out light cosmetic procedures. Often berry bushes are not pruned. There is an opinion that pruning shrubs is not needed. On the contrary, shrub pruning is needed much more than trees. Without competent formation it is impossible to get a good fruiting bush. The thickening is the main enemy of the bush. Lack of light will immediately affect the crop. Branches will begin to die before the term, but about pests and diseases, and not worth talking about - in impenetrable thickets for them, just an earthly paradise. Here rust and powdery mildew flourish, the glass bead develops well. In other words, without forming a bush you can not do. Cropping fruit-berry bushes is not difficult, it is much harder to treat them. Of course, when pruning, you should take into account the characteristics of each type of berry, and we'll talk about them a little later.

A few words about the necessary tools for trimming. The garden saw and the pruner must be sharpened and in good condition. Do not replace the garden saw with an ordinary hacksaw. It is uncomfortable and difficult to work with, often damaging adjacent branches that do not need trimming. Sections should be smooth and clean. If properly pruned, they will become less infected and grow faster.

Landing

The most important stage of landscaping of the garden area is planting berry bushes. It should be carried out according to the landscape design, taking into account the preferences of each species. The seedlings should be comfortable and convenient, because shrubs are planted for a long period of time. No less important are the choice of location, cultivation technology and post-planting care for the crop. Planting is carried out in terms that depend on the type of culture, season, climatic conditions, physiological condition of the bush.

It is necessary to take into account the distance between the planted shrubs. Usually, planting or transplanting is started at the end of September (before the end of October), but the most favorable period is spring. High demands are made on the quality of the soil (acidity, fertility, availability of fertilizers and moisture level). To create conditions for the successful growth of bushes, their planting sites are subjected to continuous deep tillage with the addition of fertilizing. Then, for each bush, an individual Landing pit, the depth of which should be at least half a meter.

Care of bushes

Care for berry bushes is a complex of activities, which includes pruning, fertilizing, watering and protection from pests. Its high-quality implementation will yield a high yield. Raspberry, blackberries, currants, gooseberries are all fruit and berry bushes. Considering the general aspects of planting fruit and berry bushes and care for them, we turn to the specific features of these plants.

Currant - berry bushes

Black currant - a favorite among Russian gardeners. Useful berry is light-loving, although a slight shading makes good. It prefers neutral fertile soils or with a low level of acidification (6-6.5), which are not prone to underflooding by groundwater. Currant is a moisture-loving culture and demanding regular watering. In a dry summer you should water it every three weeks. Propagate berries cuttings or horizontal layers. The most preferable time for planting is autumn, but well rooted and currant planted in early spring.

Planting pits are prepared by carefully digging up the soil and adding humus. They are located at a distance of 1.5-2 meters from each other. The seedlings are deepened by 10 cm, arranging them obliquely and shortening up to 2-3 kidneys. Annual nutrients are needed with nitrogen and organic fertilizers and maintenance of proper acidity with dolomite flour or ash. Proper pruning helps reduce the risk of disease. The bush should consist of 15-20 branches of different ages. Currant pruning is performed in the spring or in October (after the fall of the fall). Bushes thin out, cutting off drooping branches, 5-6-year-old branches with a weak (less than 15 cm) growth completely or to a strong lateral branch.

Diseases and pests

Diseases of berry bushes do not bypass the currant side: it is susceptible to anthracnose, powdery mildew, buds currant tick. The aversion of pests or diseases often affected by these crops will allow spring processing. Currant, for example, is useful shower from boiling water. Freshly boiled water is poured into a metal watering can and watered bush from top to bottom. You can treat berries by spraying Bordeaux mixture. It should be done in the early spring, before the culture begins to grow.

Raspberries

The excellent taste of berries, their high medicinal qualities, as well as the ornamentality of the crimson bushes are appreciated by many gardeners. It is difficult to imagine a country plot that would not adorn this berry bushes. Depending on the variety, the height of the raspberry bushes can reach two meters. For a good return of the crop, raspberries should be planted in rows, with a half-meter interval between the bushes, into holes of depth of 0.3 m. The best period for planting it is autumn, since from the first spring days, raspberry begins to grow actively. When planting, the roots should be placed horizontally on the soil surface. Do not need to ground the soil.

Raspberry is unpretentious, caring for it is a prerequisite pruning. It allows you to significantly increase the number of peduncles and, consequently, the yield. When spring pruning on the bush leave 7-9 strong shoots. After harvesting, two-year-old stems should be removed, trying not to leave stumps. They are well winter pests, and it is important not to give them this opportunity. Raspberry, like many berry trees and shrubs, is moisture-loving and needs moderate, but not excessive watering. The best top dressing for her is humus.

Care for gooseberry

Gooseberries - low (no more than a meter in height) berry bushes, branches of which are covered with spiny thorns. Fruits - round or oval berries of green, red or yellow color. Gooseberries are drought-resistant, do not like excessive moisture, watering should be rare and uninhabitable.

Proper pruning of gooseberries is especially important. It is the guarantee of a generous harvest. Every year choose three to five strong young shoots, carving out all
The rest under the root. Removing patients, drooping branches and emerged shoots from the rhizomes can be during the entire growing season. Every year you need to replenish the bush with new branches. Their total number per bush should not be more than 10-15. A timely spring treatment of the bush will help prevent the appearance of aphids and other pests. A bush of gooseberry with good care can bear fruit up to 25 years.

Honeysuckle edible

This shrub is the most light-loving of garden crops. That is why honeysuckle is in desperate need of pruning. In addition, it is able to thicken, if pruning was not carried out only 2-3 years. Honeysuckle - a fairly large shrub, reaching 2 m in height, with a beige peeling bark. The berries are dark purple with a bluish bloom, oblong in shape. The taste of fruits - from sweet and sour-sweet to sour with distinct bitterness - depends on the variety.

Honeysuckle needs periodic moderate watering, especially before fruiting. She prefers neutral fertile soils and is demanding for additional fertilizing: once in 2-3 years, bushes fertilize 10 kg of humus, 80 g of superphosphate and 200 g of ash. Every year in the spring, honeysuckle is fed with carbamide - 10 g per 1 m2. This winter-hard berry bushes in the early years is gaining weight. After this period, shaping pruning is carried out annually.

Berry bushes, photos and brief information about which are presented in the article, are distributed throughout the territory of Russia. This is the favorite garden culture, every year please the gardeners with good harvests of fragrant beneficial berries.