Broom: landing and care at home, breeding

For all who want to plant a unpretentious but decorative shrub on the site , experts unanimously recommend a broomstick. Planting and care, reproduction of this plant does not require special efforts.

Rakitnik - what is this bush?

Under this name, about 60 species of plants (shrubs and small trees) are united into one genus. All of them, as a rule, grow in Europe, Africa, and some in Western Siberia. Basically, representatives of the genus Rakitnik are small in height (0.5-3 m), most often deciduous shrubs. The broom, planting and caring for which do not present special work, is very often used in landscape design and for greening streets, parks, squares. A special charm and interest in the plant add fragrant flowers that cover it in the spring. Most often they are yellow, but they can also be white, lilac or combined. Being a representative of the legume family, the broom has beautiful butterfly flowers, collected in the inflorescence of the panicle.

Types of broom

The exact number of species of broom is not established, according to different classifications there are from 30 to 70. Let us dwell on the most famous and those that can grow in our climate. After a broom - shrub, planting and caring for which are fairly simple, but you need to know some nuances of each kind.

1. Russian bacon. It grows mainly in the European part of the country, in Western Siberia and in the North Caucasus. Can form whole thickets in the steppes and forest-steppes, pine forests. This deciduous shrubbery grows to 1.5-2 meters in height. Forms a spherical bush with straight branches and a dense green of leaves. Blooms in May-July for a month and sometimes again in autumn.
2. Rakkitnik coronoid (rod-shaped). High bush (up to 2 m) with small leaves and large flowers (it can be seen in the sixth photo). This is a fairly thermophilic broom. Planting and nursing in the middle zone are similar to other species, except that it may take shelter for the winter. Many hybrids of this species are distinguished, differing in color of flowers. It is best suited for sandy light soils or limestones.
3. The broom is oblong. A small (up to 1.5 m) spreading shrub, flowering begins in early spring. Used in landscape gardening.
4. An ember broom. Low bush (70 cm) with slightly falling shoots. Due to the compactness it is possible to use on alpine slides. It blooms in May-June with bright yellow butterfly flowers.
5. The broom is dull, black and sedentary. Small shrubs, reaching about half a meter in height. Bloom is not as plentiful as the previous species.
6. Rokytnik purple (photo below). Low (up to 1 m), but very spreading shrub, creeping. As the name suggests, the flowers have a purple-pink color, are located along the entire length of the branches. Flowering is abundant and lasting. It is a drought and cold plant.
7. Coyote broom. The low-growth (up to 50 cm in height) deciduous shrub is grown as a stalk. Leaves are decorative, light green or with a gray tinge. Flowers of cream color appear in early May. It is resistant to gassing and urban air rakitnik. Planting and care in the suburbs will not require special care, just as in the middle band, since it is frost-hardy and tolerant to heat and drought.
8. The broom is creeping. The most miniature representative of the genus, its height barely reaches 20-30 cm. In the gardens it forms real green carpets, each bush creeping in diameter up to one meter.

A large number of varieties of broom. This allows it to be used, firstly, for different purposes (green carpet, hedge, group and single landings), and secondly, in different climatic conditions.

Rakitnik: landing and grooming in winter at home

In the conditions of a room or a winter garden, you can also grow this plant. To do this, one type is used - a rakish bush. Evergreen shrub, the birthplace of which is the Canary Islands and Madeira. Sometimes you can come across the name "golden rain", thanks to the bright yellow fragrant flowers that appear on the plant from February to May. In nature, it grows up to one meter in height, in room conditions a little less (60-70 cm).

Planting depends on the method of reproduction (seeds, cuttings, layers). For hybrid varieties, only the vegetative method is suitable. Seeds are best planted in the spring. Beforehand, they must be soaked in water for 2-3 days before swelling. Use soil from a mixture of peat and perlite. The depth of planting is 1-1.5 cm. Then the container must be covered with polyethylene and put in a warm but bright place. In order for the seeds to germinate better and faster, you can slightly rub them with sandpaper. Reproduction by cuttings is carried out in the summer. Cut young, not quite lignified shoots (about 10 cm). They take root fairly well and quickly - 1,5-2 months.

Choosing a racemic for the house, planting and care in winter for which are quite simple, you should remember a few nuances. The plant prefers cool indoor air throughout the year: in winter + 10-18 ° C, and during flowering not more than +16 ° C. Also during this period he needs good lighting, but without direct sunlight. In summer, the plant can be taken out on the balcony, terrace.

Broom in room conditions: soil and watering

You can use the soil bought in the store, for example, intended for palm trees or ficuses. If you want to prepare the soil yourself, then remember that it should be light, but fertile. It is recommended to use the following mixture: soddy earth - humus - sand or perlite in the ratio 2: 1: 1. Do not forget about good drainage, it is best to pour a layer of expanded clay.

If you want to get a spring fragrant flowering bush right at home, then choose a racemic broom. Planting and care (the photo of the plant is presented in our article), which is extremely simple.

Young plants are transplanted annually into the pot a bit more (2-3 cm) of the previous one. Do this after the blossom has blossomed.

Watering the broom, grown in room conditions, depends on the season and air temperature. In summer it is more intense, 2-3 times a week, and in winter it is reduced to one time. At a time when the plant begins to pick buds and blossom, it is necessary to apply once a month a liquid mineral fertilizer containing potassium.

Rakitnik: planting and care

Almost all kinds of shrubs are very photophilous and drought-resistant. They can grow even on the poorest soils. However, it is worth knowing two nuances. The broom completely does not tolerate swamping and stagnation of water, as well as heavy loamy soils. And the second - do not transplant the bush in the adult state, he reacts to this very badly.

If you are going to have a broom on your site, then choose open spaces for it, for example, gentle slopes, without a close passage of groundwater.

The soil must be loose and air-permeable. If you are not sure of its suitability for a broom, prepare the soil for the young plant yourself. Initially, you need to dig a hole for the bush. Separately mix turf ground, humus and large river sand in the ratio 1: 2: 5. The depth, length and width of the pit must be about 60 cm, you can put rubble or broken brick on its bottom, and then it is necessary to fill in the prepared soil.

The main care for the broom is in proper watering, regular fertilizing with fertilizers and decorative pruning.

Watering the broom

One of the most drought-resistant shrubs in our climate is, of course, a broomstick. Planting and caring for him is extremely simple. The only thing that can happen is the freezing of shoots from the most thermophilic species in the conditions of a harsh winter. Resistance to prolonged high temperatures without precipitation is due to the structure of the root system. It is powerful and deep in the broom, but without a clearly defined main rod. This property, by the way, is used to prevent soil shedding. Digging an adult plant without damage to the roots is unrealistic, so the survival rate is very low. Therefore, to buy a broomstick is better in containers or diluted by cuttings. Thus, watering the plant is not necessary, but in the most arid years is still desirable.

Feed fertilizer fertilizer

This procedure is recommended by all specialists in the field of horticulture. The introduction of fertilizers strengthens the plant, promotes abundant and prolonged flowering. Remember that the broom does not like fresh organic (manure). It is best to make an infusion of herbs or ordinary herbs, give him ferment for 2-3 weeks and then water the shrubs under the root (consumption - 1 bucket per adult plant). The frequency should be 2-3 times during the spring-summer season.

Loose and granular fertilizers are best introduced into the soil in the circumferential circles. Of the most accessible it is possible to recommend wood ash, from mineral fertilizers in granules - potassium chloride and superphosphate (20-30 g per 1 sq. Meter).

Trimming the broom

Cutting a shrub is necessary, only it needs to be done correctly, depending on what goals you pursue. If you want to strengthen the flowering and update the plant, then the pruning is carried out until the middle of June. Such a haircut in no way hinders the laying of buds with flowers. Old branches should not be touched, cut new shoots to the middle of the length.

If your goal - to give the bush any silhouette or shape, especially this is relevant for single plants, you can cut the bush in summer or autumn. It will not be blossomed for next year, but foliage will become more decorative.

Use of broom in landscape design

Fashion trends exist not only in the world of clothing, but also in landscape design. The broom, landing and caring for which are surprisingly simple, was undeservedly forgotten. Popularity returned recently, thanks to the breeding of new varieties. The broom is used in group plantings, so it looks as effective as possible. Such an approach is implemented in large areas (parks, streets, yards, road interchanges, etc.). In a small area you can use a broom in combination with other woody plants, the most successful combination with conifers (mountain pine, juniper, cedar stlanik), as well as with jerk, lavender, lily of the valley, heather. Shrub can be easily trimmed, which allows you to create various shapes and fences.