Is it necessary to cover cinquefoil for the winter and how to do it without extra costs

Planting and care

Cinquefoil is an unpretentious plant, frost-resistant, drought-resistant, and not demanding in care.
Since in nature it grows in different conditions, it can also be planted in the country where it is convenient. However, the optimal place to “settle” is a sunny part with shading in the afternoon. Bushes with yellow and white flowers are especially demanding of the sun. Flowering pink and red cinquefoils, on the contrary, prefer shade - in the bright sun the flowers fade and lose their presentability and appearance. If cinquefoil is grown from seeds, then the soil for planting is prepared in advance. Weeds are removed from it, it is fluffed up, diluted with sand, filled with humus and fertilizers. The optimal planting time is spring. The seeds should not be buried too deep and should be watered thoroughly. When the plants sprout, they are planted at a distance of 0.3 meters.

Potentilla also propagates by cuttings, which are cut from the end of June to the end of July. Rooting them is simple: they are planted under a film or a jar. It is better to identify them in a permanent place in the spring. Also, a creeping branch can be buried with earth, and at the beginning of the summer season, the rooted branch can be separated from the “mother”. You should not allow a rooted cutting to bloom - this will negatively affect root formation.

Caring for a planted plant is easy. The ground under the bush is loosened and cleared of weeds. The cinquefoil is watered several times during the season, and during drought it is recommended to moisten the shoots in the evening. To preserve moisture, mulch the ground under the bush. There is another benefit to this - then weed control will be reduced to a minimum. Feeding is also included in the package of measures. To do this, 0.025 kg of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers are diluted in a bucket of water and each bush is watered with this amount.

Methods for propagating cinquefoil

Cinquefoil reproduces using:

• seeds;
• layering;
• dividing the bush;
• cuttings.

The choice of method depends on the preferences and capabilities of each gardener.

Seeds

It is not difficult to propagate cinquefoil from seeds, and this method is suitable for both novice gardeners and experienced professionals. The method is considered the most time-consuming, but if all stages are properly followed, it is in no way inferior in effectiveness to other options.

By layering

It is used in summer, when young, flexible shoots form on the bush. The process of propagation by layering is carried out as follows:

• the lower part of the shoots, in places of contact with the ground, is trimmed;
• shoots prepared in this way are sprinkled with a layer of fertile soil and fixed with a stone or metal bracket;
• after a year, the cuttings are separated from the main bush and planted as an independent plant.

Dividing the bush

Reproduction by dividing the bush is done either in autumn or spring. In autumn, it is allowed to propagate cinquefoil in a similar way only in regions with a warm climate. To divide the bush you need:

• dig around the bush on one side;
• extract some of the roots with shoots, carefully separating them with a hatchet or shovel;
• The main bush is covered with earth, and the extracted shoots are cut to a height of up to 30 centimeters, after which they are transplanted to a previously prepared place.

Many varieties of cinquefoil, including pink, lend themselves well to this method.

Cuttings

Any shoots are suitable as cuttings for propagation - both young and mature ones that have already become woody. Cuttings are separated from a healthy, disease-free bush. Cuttings are carried out together with the leaves, since it is in them that all processes vital for this method occur.

Protecting plants from cold

Evergreen deciduous and coniferous trees evaporate moisture through their leaves and needles in winter, but when the soil is frozen, they cannot take moisture from it.
Therefore, in winter, on frost-free days, these plants need to be watered, as a last resort, when signs of water shortage appear. The branches of spruce and pine trees have proven themselves especially well as natural materials for shelter: thanks to their thick needles, they retain the cold well, but at the same time allow air to pass through. In addition, after rain they dry quickly and do not begin to rot prematurely. Place branches over the damaged plant or cover the root area with branches. To protect tall plants, spruce branches are stuck around the plant directly into the ground, climbing plants are wrapped in these branches or the paws are secured to the frame along which the plant climbs.

Another good natural insulating material is autumn leaves (however, they must be free of signs of disease). They are especially good for covering the root area

These leaves can be used to pack even young, tender trees in the area of ​​the lower shoots, pushing them into a wire mesh (be careful not to pack too tightly!)

If you cover the ground parts with foliage, then check if necessary to see if the leaves are too stuck together and if they have begun to rot. When it gets warmer, it is necessary to loosen the too tight wrapping around the plants.

Proper protection of roses

Sprinkling soil around the root area, covering the top with foliage or bark mulch, and then adding a few spruce paws is the recommended minimum for almost all roses in frost-prone areas. For tall roses, it is best to throw a jute bag filled with wood fibers or straw on top and tie it under the budding point on the trunk. For climbing roses, you can insert pine branches between the shoots. Hardy bush roses, wild roses, and rose hips do not need special protection.

Preparing tuber plants for winter

Dahlias and tuberous begonias will not overwinter outside without protection. Therefore, before the first frost, their tubers must be dug up. Remove the remains of the trunk and adhering clods of earth and leave the tubers in a draft to dry. Then bury the tubers in boxes of sand and leave them to overwinter in a cool, dry place.

Why whitewash trees?

Temperature changes on clear sunny days and frosty nights in the winter months cause tension in the bark, especially of young fruit trees. This can lead to frost cracks, which encourage pests and diseases. This is why you need to prepare your trees for winter. A light whitewash that reflects the sun's rays will help you here. Whitewash sold in specialized stores also contains a bark care product. Whiten not only the sunny side of the root, but also the base of the crown.

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How to trim cinquefoil in spring

Of course, the spring period is the most favorable for cutting cinquefoil, especially when it comes to the northern regions. After all, it is precisely the many dense branches left on the bush to winter that can retain a large amount of snow and contribute to better overwintering of the plants.

Deadlines

The best period for spring pruning of shrubby cinquefoil is the month from mid-March to mid-April, when the buds on the bush have not yet had time to swell. Pruning Kuril tea during this period not only does not cause any harm to the plants, but also maximizes the growth of shoots.

The only difficulty in pruning cinquefoil in shrub spring is that the branches still look lifeless and sometimes it is difficult to distinguish a living shoot from a dried one, especially for beginners. In this case, it is recommended to wait for the first sap flow and swelling of the buds on the cinquefoil and then start pruning.

Preparation of tools and materials

The most important tool that will be needed when pruning cinquefoil shrubs is a sharp pruner. Before work, it must be sharpened well and, if necessary, lubricated if there are areas of rust on it. The pruning shears must be quite powerful, since old branches of Kuril tea can reach a thickness of 0.8-1.2 cm.

If the main purpose of pruning is to form the exact shape of a cinquefoil bush or an entire hedge made from it, then you will need to stock up on a tape measure.

A fan rake will be needed to clear the bushes themselves and the soil surface underneath them.

To protect the skin of your hands when pruning, it is advisable to use gardening gloves.

How to prune Kuril tea in spring (pruning rules)

The first action that is performed when pruning cinquefoil in shrub spring is to remove blackened inflorescences from the ends of the shoots, as well as obviously dry and broken branches. In the spring, the ends of frozen branches are also removed, down to the first green spot on them.

Then it is advisable to take a closer look at the very old shoots and cut out at least a few of them at the very base of the bush. This operation will somewhat rejuvenate the plant.

Lastly, start with formative pruning. If the procedure is carried out for the first time, then approximately measure the required shape and size of the bush. It could be a ball, an oval, or even a cube. After which they begin to shorten all the branches protruding beyond the intended limits. If the shape of a bush or hedge has already been formed in previous years, then only strongly protruding branches are cut off, and all other shoots are only shortened by ¼-1/3 of their length. The shape may need to be adjusted if the lighting conditions were uneven and one part of the bushes has greatly outgrown the other. The video below describes in detail and shows the diagram for pruning cinquefoil in the spring.

When pruning Kuril tea, it is important to follow the following rules:

• Before pruning begins, the ground under the cinquefoil shrub is cleared of plant debris using a fan rake.
• They also comb the bushes themselves to remove obviously dry and lifeless forms.
• Branches should not be cut by more than half; the ideal proportion is to remove no more than 1/3 of their length.
• It is advisable to remove broken and old branches entirely, close to the ground. When removing the sections, they are smeared with garden varnish.
• Weakened bushes are cut as close to the ground as possible, while with strong plants they act in exactly the opposite way.
• The cuts should be smooth; no burrs or lacerations should be left on the branches.

Why do you need to cover cinquefoil for the winter?

As soon as the time has come to prepare the cinquefoil for winter, the first thing you need to remember is organizing a protective shelter from the cold. Young plants especially need this procedure on the eve of their first wintering, which have not yet become sufficiently strong. If this is not done, the plant will simply freeze.

Despite the fact that shrubby cinquefoil is considered a frost-resistant plant, experienced gardeners recommend not neglecting the mandatory winterization of the crop. This is especially true for those who live in a climate with rather harsh winters, for example in the Urals.

In temperate climates, adult cinquefoil can safely be left for the winter months without additional protection. She is quite capable of surviving the cold without loss, so that next year she will delight again with colorful flowers. The main thing is not to forget to clean the plant from wilted inflorescences, and also carefully remove the area from fallen leaves. The latter will certainly undergo rotting, which can provoke the development of pathogenic microorganisms.

Shaping and pruning when growing garden shrubs

Usually the gardener himself determines whether he likes the appearance of the plant or not, hence the need for pruning. It is not difficult for a person who even knows little about the plant to identify defects that need to be eliminated: branches damaged by severe frost, freezing rain or simply broken branches, dry and rubbing shoots, rotting branches, protruding branches, especially on trimmed hedges.

Sanitary pruning when growing shrubs (removing broken and damaged branches) can be done at any time. In other cases, it should be taken into account that plants such as forsythia, mock orange, honeysuckle, some types of spirea, lilac and others lay buds on last year’s shoots and bloom in early spring or early summer.

They should be pruned only after flowering has finished. And plants such as privet, roses, hydrangea, David's buddleia, snowberry and others that bloom in summer and autumn are pruned in early spring.

Different types of plants react differently to pruning, since the shape of the crown of the bush is of great importance, which can be either pyramidal, or spherical, or creeping, etc. For example, in Hungarian lilacs, cotoneasters, honeysuckle, new shoots appear after low pruning along the entire length of the branches, and in rhododendrons and yellow roses, low pruning causes the death of entire branches and even the entire bush, since these plants do not have the property of budding on the lower old branches.

When growing shrubs in a nursery, shaping is carried out in the first years of their life. Subsequently, after they are planted in a permanent place, sanitary, formative and rejuvenating pruning begins. When pruning shrubs, plant growth is usually weakened or enhanced, flowering and fruiting are accelerated or slowed down, and the desired crown shape is improved or created.

The degree of pruning can be very different: from removing faded flowers from lilacs or roses to trimming large skeletal branches of fruit crops, as well as rejuvenating pruning of old bushes. It should be remembered that pruning for plants is the same surgical operation, and before proceeding with it, the gardener must know exactly whether it is necessary and what he wants to achieve with this operation.

This is especially important for such species as honeysuckle, lilac, hawthorn, buckthorn, hazel, which are predisposed to develop a central shoot to the detriment of the lateral ones. At the same time, barberry, spirea, cotoneaster, and cinquefoil bush well even without pruning

But, if you want to get a particularly lush specimen or give it some original shape, pruning berry and ornamental bushes should be done in the spring, before the buds begin to bloom.

When to fertilize

Pruning pears in autumn - how to prune correctly

It is not at all difficult to care for such a plant, like all similar plantings, cinquefoil requires little:

1. Regular watering, especially in hot weather.
2. Fertilizing in spring, during active flowering and in autumn. Usually mineral fertilizers containing phosphorus and potassium are used, and nitrogen components are added in the autumn.
3. Pruning is carried out constantly throughout the growing season.

Pruning regularly

In open ground, cinquefoil takes root perfectly if the listed growing conditions are observed and the plant is regularly cared for (watering + fertilizer).

Popular plant varieties

Most often, gardeners grow semi-shrub and shrub types of tea, full of flowers of a wide variety of colors: from white and yellow, to orange and red. Mostly shrubs, which are planted in borders, hedges and alpine hills, bloom with delicate yellow buds at the end of May. The most popular variety is “Goldfinger”, about which you can read in more detail in our article. But, besides this, the following varieties take root and grow well in the temperate climate zone:

• 'Abbotswood', which grows into a spreading shrub up to one meter high. The green cap of the plant is strewn with small white flowers. The color of the leaves is faded, light green. The bush is well suited for creating a decorative alpine hill. But when planting, you must take into account that a small seedling grows well not only in height, it can reach up to one and a half meters in diameter. If the bush is formed correctly, it holds a spherical or rectangular shape well. This variety is one of the most requested in garden stores due to its beauty and unpretentiousness.

  Abbotswood Kuril tea

• “Marion Red Ruby” is a medium-growing variety, reaching only half a meter in height. The crown diameter can be no more than a meter. When pruned in a timely manner, it holds its shape well and produces a dense crown of young shoots. It blooms in early summer with large, bright red flowers with yellow stamens. Sometimes the color of the flowers can turn orange. The diameter of the petals is almost 3.5 cm. The variety is frost-resistant, blooms until frost, and tolerates winter well.

  Kuril tea variety Marion Red Ruby

• 'Guildford Cream' has large white flowers. The tall bush begins to bloom in early summer and ends in September-October. It looks very picturesque due to the combination of creamy white flowers against a background of lush greenery. The variety tolerates pruning well, sprouting new young shoots and looking larger and brighter.

  Kuril tea Guilford Cream variety

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• "Happy Orange" is a striking representative of the bush cinquefoil. If gardeners manage to obtain and grow this variety, then a very bright bush dotted with marigold flowers appears in the garden. Bright flowers are an undeniable advantage of the species. They have a warm orange color with bright veins. The flowers look large against the background of small leaves. An adult plant reaches a height of 90-100 cm. The variety has proven itself well in regions with harsh and early winters; it is quite resistant to diseases.

  Kuril tea of ​​the Happy Orange variety

• “Pink Beauty” is one of the new varieties of Kuril tea, quickly gaining fans thanks to the unusual color of the flowers, the overall beautiful shape of the bush and the delicate combination of pink flowers, light green buds and dark small leaves. The buds open with the arrival of spring warmth, reaching a diameter of 3 cm. The petals have a bright color and do not fade in the sun. Closer to autumn, the flowers acquire a more intense shade. The plant tolerates winter well and blooms almost until frost. The height and width of the bush are approximately the same, no more than 80 cm. If you have purchased a varietal plant and are wondering whether it is necessary to prune Kuril tea for the winter, whether this will harm it, then the advice of experienced agricultural technicians will help you make a decision.

  Kuril tea of ​​the pink beauty variety

Types of Potentilla

In nature, cinquefoil can be found in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere: in the Far East, Siberia, China, Mongolia, Western Europe and the Altai Mountains. There are different types of shrubby cinquefoil. There are fifteen of them in the genus, all deciduous. This miracle of nature is numbered in more than a dozen varieties, which differ from each other in the color of leaves, flowers, and plant height. In places with a temperate climate, varieties with yellow-orange flowers feel most comfortable and stable.

Each variety of shrubby cinquefoil has its own flowering color. But most often it is white, yellow, orange-yellow tones. The most popular varieties of shrubby cinquefoil:

• Cinquefoil bush "Abbotswood" is a bush up to one meter high with a dense cushion-shaped crown and light green leaves. The white flowers are small clusters. "Abbotswood" is one of the best varieties and looks good in group plantings of rock gardens and low-growing borders.

Cinquefoil care

Cinquefoil is very popular in landscape design due to its ease of care. The plant needs regular weeding, loosening the soil and timely watering during drought. And if you mulch your plantings with peat or sawdust in the spring, then these manipulations can be done less frequently.

To achieve lush flowering, it is recommended to feed the cinquefoil in May, July and at the end of August with complex mineral fertilizer for flowering plants. Although it grows well in fertile soil without additional fertilizing. However, flower growers still recommend applying phosphorus and potassium sulfate (25-30 g of each fertilizer per 10 liters of water) to each adult bush at least once a year (in spring). Consumption – 1 bucket per plant.

Cinquefoil erecta, or galangal

In dry summers the plant becomes stuffy, so it often fades quickly. To prevent this from happening, every evening after hot weather the cinquefoil is sprayed with water from a spray bottle. Then flowering will last longer.

With good care, diseases and pests do not bother the cinquefoil. In exceptional cases, the plant can be attacked by rust, spotting and powdery mildew. Any fungicide (Bordeaux mixture, Fitosporin-M) can easily cope with these fungal diseases.

Among the pests on cinquefoil, cutworms can be found. An insecticide (Decis, Fitoverm) will help cope with them. A few sprays at intervals of 2 weeks are sufficient.

Adult plants (both herbaceous and shrubby cinquefoil) do not need shelter for the winter. Only cuttings and young seedlings that have taken root this year provide insulation.

Planting cinquefoil

Growing shrubby cinquefoil is not difficult even for a beginner. Planting of seedlings begins in the spring, when the snow melts and the soil thaws. But if you are late in this matter, planting or transplanting cinquefoil can also be done in late summer - early autumn.

The planting hole should be approximately 2 times deeper and wider than the seedling's earthen ball. Drainage (preferably lime gravel) must be placed at the bottom, after which the hole is approximately half filled with a mixture of humus, leaf soil and sand (in a ratio of 2:2:1), and 150 g of complex mineral fertilizer for ornamental plants is added there. The seedling is lowered into the hole and covered with the same soil mixture so that its root collar is located slightly above the ground level. Then the soil is compacted and watered abundantly.

For group plantings, the distance between seedlings should be at least 30 cm.

To prevent the soil from drying out quickly, the planting site is mulched with straw, bark or sawdust. This is especially true in the first 3-4 weeks after planting, since if there is a lack of moisture, the seedling does not take root well and may die.

When is it necessary to replant cinquefoil?

Two periods are suitable for replanting cinquefoil:

• autumn;
• spring.

It is better to replant those bushes that have reached the age of at least three years. Preparing the site for transplantation is carried out in a manner similar to preparing for planting a young bush.

Autumn transplant

Autumn replanting is carried out in late August, early September. This time is the most optimal, and the plant will have time to take root in a new place before the onset of cold weather. It is not recommended to replant in autumn in regions with poor climatic conditions.

Transplantation in spring

In the spring, it is allowed to replant cinquefoil in any growing region. The best time is considered to be the period when the snow has completely melted and the soil has thawed after winter frosts. The transplant is carried out in the usual way and does not have any peculiarities or nuances.

How to prune shrubby cinquefoil in the fall

Autumn is also a good time for pruning shrubby cinquefoil, since the plants gradually begin to retire, but living and non-living (sick) branches are still clearly visible, which should definitely be gotten rid of as soon as possible.

Why do you need to trim cinquefoil in the fall?

In autumn, cinquefoil shrub can be pruned to rejuvenate the bush or to give it a certain shape. After all, if you complete the pruning before permanent snow falls, then in the spring the cinquefoil shrub will appear in absolutely ideal condition, and you will not need to make time for it during the overly busy spring season filled with other gardening chores.

Deadlines

Autumn pruning is usually carried out after the last flowers have faded or before the threat of frost and permanent snow cover. Calendar dates may vary greatly depending on the specific region. But most often this happens between the end of September and the beginning of November.

Rules for pruning Kuril tea in autumn

As a rule, there is no particular need for sanitary pruning in the fall, especially if it was carried out in the spring. But if by this moment broken branches or shoots with signs of disease have appeared on the cinquefoil bushes, they must be cut out.

If in the spring it was not possible to carry out formative pruning for one reason or another, then in the fall they perform all the same operations with Kuril tea as listed above. If in the spring the bushes were already formed, then the essence of autumn pruning comes down to the fact that all branches that by this time protrude beyond the previously defined boundaries are cut off.

Description of Potentilla

Cinquefoil bush gets its name from the shape of its leaves, which resemble a tiny paw. Previously, these plants from the Rosaceae family were classified into various genera, but now they have been separated into the genus Pentaphylloides. Cinquefoil has a shrubby habit. The bush, 10–150 cm high, consists of straight shoots that branch intensively. The branches are covered with red-brown flaking bark.

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Young shoots are densely covered with thin hairs; adult branches have no pubescence. Each leaf blade of cinquefoil consists of two or three pairs of leaves with a trifoliate apex. The surface of the tiny oval lobes is densely covered with appressed hairs. The length of a small leaf is no more than 3 cm, width is about 10 mm. The flowering period of cinquefoil falls at the beginning of summer. Depending on the variety, numerous flowers are single or collected in apical inflorescences in the form of an umbrella, shield, or brush. Wild relatives of cinquefoil have yellow flowers. The structure of the corolla is simple, it consists of 5 petals and a fluffy center with stamens. Varieties of hybrid origin can boast different bush shapes and a wide palette of petal colors.

Timing and purpose of work

To understand the best time to prune the cinquefoil bush, you need to decide on the purpose of the haircut. There are 3 types of Kuril tea pruning.

Sanitary pruning

It is a preventive measure against various diseases and prevents mass attacks of harmful insects. It consists of removing all dried, broken or parasite-infested branches. In addition, faded flower stalks are also pruned. Sanitary pruning is carried out throughout the growing season: spring, summer and autumn.

Rejuvenating procedure

It is carried out to extend the life of the plant and improve its decorative properties. It is carried out once every 5-7 years in late autumn or early spring before the start of sap flow. The procedure is also known as cutting the cinquefoil to the stump. You can trim in this way only those bushes that have taken root well at the planting site and are more than one year old.

Usually the procedure is divided into 3 stages:

• with the onset of autumn, 5 large old branches are removed, cutting them off at the root and leaving stumps up to 15 cm in length;
• after a year, remove ½ of the remaining branches in the same way;
• The third stage of pruning is carried out another year, removing the remaining branches.

This promotes gradual rejuvenation of the bush and prevents depletion of the plant.

Formative (decorative) pruning

As the name implies, it is produced to give a beautiful shape to the cinquefoil bush and stimulate its flowering. Dates: May-October, that is, the entire growing season. You can trim either a single plant, giving it a ball or any other shape, or a group of shrubs planted in the form of a hedge.

Let's tell you in a little more detail how to give a decorative shape to a bush. First, decide what it will be: a ball, a cube or a rectangle. We recommend starting with these simple geometric shapes, and when you become a pro in this matter, you will be able to give free rein to your imagination and cut the cinquefoil more creatively.

There are 2 ways to create a form: “by eye” and wireframe. With the first option, everything is clear: you focus only on your vision of the future figure and remove everything unnecessary. The frame method involves making a wire model that is placed on the plant, and all branches extending beyond it are cut off.

Cinquefoil bush or Kuril tea. How to grow and trim cinquefoil

When a landscape designer talks about cinquefoil, he is not talking about a simple grass with small yellow flowers; most likely, he is suggesting bush cinquefoil (Potentilla fruticosa).

This plant is also called Kuril tea . Although the cinquefoil belongs to the rose family, it does not have wonderful flowers like roses.

The appearance of the cinquefoil is modest, but not without its charm, for which landscapers value it so much.

Kuril tea

Landscape designers choose Kuril tea for its unpretentiousness, high winter hardiness, good survival rate and, of course, for the color of the flowers. Based on the color of the petals, Kuril tea can be divided into 3 groups:

• cinquefoils with white flowers,
• cinquefoils with red and pinkish flowers,
• Potentillas with yellow flowers.

The most common are yellow-flowered cinquefoils. The flowers are collected in corymbs and can reach 3 cm in diameter. Potentilla bushes can reach 1.5 meters in height, but with skillful shaping and pruning, you can use Kuril tea to form not only a tapeworm on the lawn, but even a small hedge.

Kuril tea is decorative at any time of the year: in the spring with the leaves blooming, all summer in bloom and even in winter, covered with frost. All the beauty of cinquefoil lies in its miniature size. Small leaves, short branching shoots and an abundance of flowers on such crumbs have gained immense popularity for Kuril tea.

Where to plant cinquefoil

All shrubby cinquefoils love lighted places. The sun and cinquefoil are a sign of identity. The only disadvantage of the sun is that the petals of red-flowered cinquefoil varieties easily burn out. In the shade, plants grow worse, the flowers are less decorative.

It is better to choose fertile, light soils for Kuril tea bushes. You need to add sand to the loams. Kuril tea needs to be watered and loosened in a timely manner. With good care, the plants will definitely delight you with their abundant flowering.

But cinquefoil is not at all afraid of frost, so you don’t have to run around in the fall with covering material and spruce branches.

How to propagate

Shrub cinquefoil propagates well by cuttings, dividing the bush, pieces of rhizomes, seeds and layering. Young plants or pieces of roots with buds should not be buried too deep when planting. When propagated by seeds, cinquefoil is sown before winter. In spring, Kuril tea germinates well.

Pruning cinquefoil bush

Shrub cinquefoil tolerates haircuts well.

If your Kuril tea grows as a hedge, then you need to cut such plants as is customary for hedges, and if you want to form a good and regular ball from a single bush, then you should cut out the excess shoots using a wire or hoop. In addition, for all cinquefoils in the spring, sanitary pruning should be carried out and all diseased, dry or broken shoots should be cut out.

Kuril tea in design

Cinquefoils are versatile plants for the designer and gardener. You can plant Kuril tea as a tapeworm on a green lawn, find a place for a cinquefoil bush in a rock garden among large boulders, or plant cinquefoil bushes in front of a coniferous composition.

Potentillas can be used to form a low hedge or a neat low border. By correctly combining cinquefoil varieties, you can create a mini garden from Kuril tea alone. The cinquefoils are very beautiful surrounded by tall beautiful roses.

Here the cinquefoil is not lost at all, but only emphasizes the majesty of its neighbor, the rose.

Making a drink from Kuril tea

In Siberian Kuril tea, tea is used as a raw material for preparing the drink. Well-infused cinquefoil tea has a pleasant taste and a wonderful aroma, reminiscent of some varieties of Indian tea. A healing drink made from Kuril tea restores vigor to a person, increases performance, has a positive effect on the cardiovascular system, and relieves fatigue.

People call Kuril tea “mighty”, attributing to it healing properties in the treatment of many diseases. Residents of Tibet, China, Mongolia and Eastern Siberia have long paid attention to the medicinal properties of Kuril tea, prepared from leaves and flowers.

Decoctions and infusions of Kuril tea are used:

• as an astringent for gastrointestinal diseases,
• dysentery,
• lobar pneumonia,
• scurvy,
• pulmonary tuberculosis.

A thick decoction of cinquefoil is recommended for burns and stomatitis. There is information about the treatment of various infectious diseases with Kuril tea: cholera, typhoid, etc. In Altai, its crushed branches called “jura” (1 tablespoon per glass of boiling water) are steamed for 2 hours and drunk 1/2 glass a day for fever .

The raw materials are one-year leafy shoot tips with flowers. The shoots are cut during the period of mass flowering (July-August). The harvested raw materials are dried for 24 hours in the shade in the open air or in a well-ventilated area.

The leaves and branches are then pressed until the juice is released, which enhances the aroma and improves the taste. After fermentation, the leaves and shoots are crushed with pruning shears and dried at a temperature of 80-85 degrees. The finished tea has a brownish-brown color and has a pleasant aroma.

Source: https://smoldacha.ru/lapchatka_kustarnikovaya_ili_kurilskij_chaj_kak_vyrastit_i_obrezat_lapchatku.html

Pruning shrubby cinquefoil in spring

It is better to use a fairly powerful pruner as a tool, since the oldest branches reach 0.7-1.2 cm in diameter. You can make a haircut in the fall, before installing the snow cover. In this case, in March-April you will see a neat crown of the bush, which will not require your attention on busy spring days for the gardener. However, in colder latitudes, in the middle zone, it is better to prune in the spring. Old branches of a dense bush will contribute well to snow retention, and the plant will better tolerate frost.

Use a fan rake to clear the ground around the bush of old leaves and grass. With the same rake you can “comb” the branches of the cinquefoil, removing last year’s leaves and flowers that have dried on them.

Examine the shape of the plant, determine the degree of shortening of the branches. If the plant was exposed to the sun on one side and in the shade on the other, it could not form its crown symmetrically. In this case, to give the correct rounded shape, the branches will not be trimmed equally on different sides. The main thing is that as a result of cutting, the branches of the bush become the same length, which will create a ball shape.

When cutting cinquefoil, proceed from the rule that the branches should not be shortened by more than half, the best option is by a third. Remove old broken and dried branches entirely, treat the cuts with garden varnish.

Trimming the cinquefoil stimulates abundant flowering. It is advisable to feed the plant in the period after cutting, when the first green leaves begin to appear on the branches. Potentilla responds well to spring feeding with phosphate fertilizer (25 g per 10 liters of water) and potassium sulfate (30 g per 8-10 liters of water). In dry summers, cinquefoil needs a cool shower, so do not bypass it with a hose when watering, but give it a good “rain” on its crown. By comparing the photos before and after cutting, you can clearly see that a well-groomed look can be given to a plant by spending only 15-20 minutes working with pruning shears.

Pruning cinquefoil: timing and methods, useful recommendations

Decorative flowering plants are undoubtedly a decoration for any garden plot. Some of them are quite capricious and difficult to cultivate, while others, on the contrary, do not require special care and are able to please their owner for many years. The latter includes shrubby cinquefoil, or Kuril tea. It is a perennial (its lifespan can exceed 20 years), different varieties have different parameters (50-100 cm in width and height).

However, any of the varieties needs timely pruning in order to maintain an attractive appearance. Read about how to produce it correctly in our material.

Diseases and pests of cinquefoil

Diseases and pests are not dangerous for shrubby cinquefoil. The only thing that bothers the plant is rust. Yellow-brown or reddish-brown convex spots of various sizes and shapes appear on the leaves.

Every day they swell more and more, forming pustules. Then they become dry, crack, burst, and rusty powder spills out of them. These are fungal spores that spread to other plants.

As the disease progresses, the leaves begin to curl and dry out, and then fall off. The plant turns brown. It is necessary to treat the plant with preparations that contain sulfur and boron.

A solution of potassium permanganate also helps. Plants growing near coniferous trees are affected, so make sure that the cinquefoil bush grows away from them. Problems also occur with plants with red and pink flowers.

When the air temperature rises at night in the summer, plants stop producing pigment, so bright red flowers turn orange or yellow. The Red Art color will return during the cooler months of August. This is the brightest flowering period for these varieties.

Growing cinquefoil in open ground, although it brings some inconvenience (flowers fading, rust), but you will enjoy the fresh greenery and bright colors of the plant all summer. “Kuril tea” will help get rid of many ailments and strengthen the immune system.

Features of caring for shrubby cinquefoil in the garden

Caring for shrubby cinquefoil will be kept to a minimum if, after planting, you mulch the plant’s trunk circle. In this case, weeds will not grow abundantly. Loosening the soil is mandatory, but do it very carefully so as not to catch the roots of the plant.

How often and what to feed

How and what to feed cinquefoil:

• During the period of development and growth, in the spring, potassium (sulfate) and phosphate are added. Mixtures of 30 g per bucket of water (per bush).
• During the formation of buds, the plant is fed with potassium-phosphorus fertilizer. You can purchase any composition for flowering plants.

Feeding is carried out 4 times a season. If possible, use mullein infusion with ash.

How to prune shrubby cinquefoil

Pruning of shrubby cinquefoil is carried out either in spring or autumn. Broken, dry and weak branches are removed from the bush. To give a certain shape, branches that protrude from the general shape of the crown are removed. Old bushes (more than 7 years) are rejuvenated by cutting off old shoots to a third of their length. Rejuvenate every year until the bush is completely renewed.

Options for using cinquefoil

Cinquefoil is an almost universal shrub that can be easily shaped and retains its decorative appearance from early spring to late autumn.
Low-growing varieties of cinquefoil look great in rock gardens. A dwarf bush, covered with bright flowers from June to October, will become the center of the composition and an excellent company for decorative leafy creeping perennials.

For a rock garden, it is better to choose the dwarf shrubby cinquefoil, which will not cause problems in care, while the creeping type of shrub will have to be pruned more often due to its aggressive growth.

Tall varieties, reaching 1.5 m, are best suited for use in creating hedges. Such a “living” fence will please the eye until winter. To ensure that the hedge does not lose its decorative value in the cold season, it is good to combine cinquefoil with evergreen conifers; moreover, they are very favorable to such a neighborhood.

Spring pruning of Kuril tea

The crown of Kuril tea can be formed in the spring according to the principle of shaping and sanitary pruning. To carry out the procedure, you will need the same tools: pruning shears, fan rakes, mittens, tape measure and a bag for collecting leaves and branches. You also need to prepare a garden varnish in case you have to cut off large branches that will need to be covered with varnish to prevent infection. Be sure to have time to prune before the buds open. It's quite easy to miss this moment

It is important to notice the beginning of swelling of the buds, which will allow you to see dry and frozen branches. You will need to get rid of them using pruners

When pruning, you need to remember that you cannot shorten the shoots too much. It is enough to cut the branches by a third. Spring pruning will give the plant the opportunity to grow new green shoots, which will make the bush look fluffy and well-formed.

Sequence of work:

1. Cleaning up last year's leaves and flowers. Under the layer of melted snow from last year, fallen leaves could remain. Also, several small leaves and dried buds and flowers always remain on the bush. They are absolutely useless on a spring bush about to bloom. They must be removed to obtain a beautiful appearance for the plant. To do this, we first comb the crown of the cinquefoil with a fan rake, removing dry leaves and buds. And then we rake out all the dry leaves from under the bush.
2. Crown molding. Before you pick up the pruning shears, be sure to carefully examine the Kuril tea: did the branches grow symmetrically during the last season or did the bush form unevenly due to the shade? How much can you shorten the branches so as not to spoil the decorative appearance if the bushes grow in hedge, then you need to measure the height to which you need to cut all the greenery equally.
3. Removing dry branches. The rule of shortening shoots by one third does not work when removing dry and frozen branches. They need to be cut out completely. In this case, large cuts must be covered with varnish. Don't rule out this simple procedure as unnecessary. In the future, it will avoid many problems with the penetration of viruses and pathogens.
4. Care after haircut. All cut shoots must be immediately put into a bag along with the foliage. They should not be left under the bush. All tools, especially pruning shears, must be treated not only before trimming, but also after (wipe with alcohol, vitriol or heat). And when favorable weather conditions occur, fertilizer must be applied to the roots. They will help increase green mass and lay buds.

Creating a hedge from Kuril tea

Having planted cinquefoil bushes along the path in the garden or in front of the house, you can almost immediately begin to form lush and decorated plants. The first pruning for autumn seedlings is carried out in the spring. Spring seedlings can only be cut next spring. When pruning, it is important to pay attention to the location of the buds; cuts should be made above those buds that look outward, and not inside the bush. Thus, new shoots formed from these buds will not thicken the crown, but will promote lateral growth. You can cut off shoots on young trees by no more than a third.

Hedge - Kuril tea

Kuril tea for hedges can be used in several ways:

• plant a hedge of plants of the same variety;
• alternate specimens of different colors with each other (it is important to pay attention to the possible height of growth, dwarf ones cannot be alternated with tall ones, such a combination is very difficult to care for);
• alternate flowering cinquefoil bushes with decorative deciduous bushes or flowering bushes of another type, for example, blood-red currant, lilac or weigela.

If you are worried about when to prune Kuril tea for the winter, and whether to prune flowering shoots, then there is no need to worry. Systematic trimming of the crown benefits flowering shrubs and promotes the appearance of new shoots on which buds form. Flowering after pruning only becomes more abundant, and the plant itself looks neat and well-groomed.

Aftercare

Kuril tea is a popular shrub. With its help, you can form hedges, create compositions with other ornamental flowering plants, or plant bushes individually. It is easy to care for, but you still have to carry out some procedures.

• Weed the plantings regularly, loosen the soil around the trunk of each plant, and water abundantly during the dry period.
• Spring mulching with peat or wood shavings is recommended - then you will perform all the above-mentioned actions less often.
• If you want Kuril tea to begin to bloom profusely, feed it with a complex mineral mixture intended for flowering plants.
• If it's a hot summer, the cinquefoil may begin to drop flowers. To avoid this, spray it with water from a spray bottle every day in the evening. Then the plant will “breathe” and flowering will continue.
• If you follow all the rules for caring for Kuril tea, it will delight you with good health. However, there are diseases to which this plant is most susceptible: ash fly, rust and spotting. They can be dealt with by treating them with a fungicidal preparation - Bordeaux mixture, Fitosporin.
• Of the harmful insects, the shrubs are most bothered by cutworms. These are nocturnal moths, whose voracious larvae can practically destroy a plant by eating its foliage and damaging the root system. To combat them, purchase an insecticide - “Fitoverm”, “Decis” - and treat the plantings once every 1.5-2 weeks.
• We said earlier that shrubby cinquefoil is a frost-resistant plant that does not require winter shelter. However, this only applies to mature, well-rooted bushes - young trees need to be insulated with fallen leaves.

To learn how to trim cinquefoil, see the following video.

Use of white cinquefoil

Among the beneficial properties of cinquefoil is its ability to relieve inflammation, stop bleeding, strengthen the immune system, kill viruses and bacteria, and treat the gastrointestinal tract. This is a good diuretic.

Cinquefoil is also used in the treatment of gynecological diseases, to normalize metabolism in the body, and is useful for the human respiratory system. A decoction of cinquefoil is used to treat diseases of the kidneys, liver and lungs.

Warm decoction is used to gargle and rinse the nose. Applying it to burns and wounds significantly speeds up the healing process. Fresh leaves of the plant are used for the same purpose. Potentilla tea is delicious; in addition, it calms the nervous system and increases the body's resistance.

Honey collected from cinquefoil is very useful. Decoction baths are indicated for dermatitis. Cinquefoil is a means to stabilize and reduce pressure. It is also a good sorbent - it cleanses the body during poisoning. Moreover: cinquefoil is included in herbal preparations taken to reduce the risk of cancer.