Today we will talk about this sort of virgin cherry, like Schubert. This tree has extraordinary foliage that can be a beautiful decoration of your garden. In this article you will learn what conditions are necessary for growing a plant, as well as the rules of care and beneficial properties of bird cherry.
Prunus virgin: description
Bird cherry virgin is different from ordinary not only by its properties, but also by its description. It is a tree with a spreading and wide crown that grows up to 7 m in height. The young shoots are dark brown in color, and the leaves are dense and bright green. In autumn, the leaves turn red. During flowering (late spring) you can see white flowers.
Fruits reach up to 1 cm in diameter, have a sour, astringent taste. The color of the fruit - burgundy. Ripen in late summer - early autumn. The fruit contains sugar, organic acids and tannins. As part of the seed there is oil.
Together with bird cherry virginsky in your garden will look beautiful plum, zizifus, cherry plum, cherry, pear and apricot.Due to the fact that the tree blooms a little later, it contributes to high yields, as the color of the fruit is not damaged by spring frosts.
Did you know? Bird cherry attributed to the genus Drain.
Growing conditions
Now, when we know what the virginian bird cherry looks like, we will figure out how to grow a red tree in our garden.
Lighting
The tree develops better in well-lit areas, but in the shadow of the bird cherry it preserves the color of the leaves. It is best to grow the plant on the north or west side.
What should be the soil
The tree is not demanding on the soil, but it will be better to grow it on a moist and rich in nutrients land.
Features of planting virgin cherry in the garden
In order for the tree to be a truly decorative ornament, we recommend planting a plant in a lighted area with moisture-holding and fertile soil.
Important! In lowland areas should not grow a plant, as this leads to damage during the spring frosts.
Landing pit preparation
The depth of the pit for planting should be of such size that the roots are fully accommodated in it. That is, the depth should be about 50 cm, and the width - 70 cm. Before planting, you can make a little organic and mineral fertilizers.
Landing pattern
The distance between the plants should be at least 6 cm. This is due to the fact that the tree grows over time and prevents other plants from developing well.
Also, the crown of the tree creates a shadow that can interfere with the active growth of other flowers or shrubs. After planting, the tree should be watered, and the soil around it should be mulched either with peat or sawdust.
Did you know? In ancient times, wooden blades were made of bird cherry wood for washing laundry.
How to care for a plant
Now that we have learned all about the bird cherry and planted this plant in our garden, we will discuss caring for it.
The plant is quite unpretentious. In the following sections, you will learn how to properly care for a tree all year round.
Watering the subgenus
You can water the plant several times a year. This is due to the fact that you planted a tree on wet and moisture-resistant land. That is, after each watering, the moisture will remain near the root system of the plant and, if necessary, it will absorb it. An exception is made only in summer, as the weather during this period of the year is hot and dry. Therefore, water the plant should be 2 times in two weeks.
Did you know? Essential oil released from the leaves of the bird cherry, used in the perfume industry.
Feeding rules
So that the plant does not starve, in the fall it should be fertilized with manure and wood ash. In the spring, before blooming buds, the plant should be fed with liquid mineral supplements.
Soil care
For the ground, too, need to take care during the year. It is necessary to dig up the earth in order to get rid of weeds that hinder the development of the root system and the youngest plant. Loosening the soil should be carried out after the rain, so that oxygen gets into the roots.
Trimming
To form the crown of a tree can be in the form of a multi-trunk shrub or as on a high trunk. For low masonry, cut only skeletal branches at a height of 75 cm.
From the side shoots, leave only 5 more developed. In the following years form tiers of 2 and 3 orders of magnitude.
Important! Fruiting occurs only on the growths of the last year, so cut the branches more carefully so as not to be left without fruit.
A little bit about tree reproduction
The tree can be propagated by grafts, green cuttings, seedlings, root shoots and layering. Plant the plant in winter or early spring. As a stock for grafting using seedlings.
Green cuttings are engaged in the morning. For cutting use those shoots that have finally grown. The cuttings should have 2 leaves on the tip, the rest are removed. In the autumn, when the cuttings have formed a good root system, they can be planted on an open area.
For breeding seedlings use only strong seeds that have reached the age of two.
Like the bird cherry, plum, clematis, honeysuckle, viburnum buldenezh, mountain ash, pear, cornel, yoshta, gooseberry also multiplies with layers.For better rooting of young shoots in the spring, root shoots are cut from the root of the uterus. In the fall they are transplanted to a permanent place. The layering multiply the bird cherry in the spring.
Major pests and diseases
The plant is practically not exposed to various diseases and parasites. However the most The main enemy of the tree is the bird cherry mole. The main diseases are leaf spotting and marsupial fungus. In these cases, you need to remove the affected parts of the tree, as there is no treatment for these diseases.
From the bird cherry moth in early spring you can treat the tree with extract of tobacco or soapy water. Repeat processing after flowering.
Did you know? Bird cherry juice is used as a coloring agent for confectionery products.
Useful properties of red bird cherry
Red virginian cherry has many useful properties, thanks to which it is used not only in cooking, but also in medicine. As mentioned earlier, fruits and stones contain many useful substances. In addition, the fruit can be cooked bird cherry flour. It can be used as a filling for pies and pies. To make such flour, separate the berries from the stalk, wash them, let them dry and dry in the oven (the temperature should be no higher than 50 °). Then dry the berries grind.
Also, the fruit can be added to compotes or used fresh.
Important! Eat unripe fruits should not be, as they are poisonous. A sign of poisonousness is a light almond fragrance.From unripe and ripe berries, you can make jam. You can not worry at the expense of toxicity, as when heated, the remnants of the poison decompose, and the jam becomes completely safe for your health. For medical purposes, use leaves, bark and flowers, but with extreme caution, as it is believed that they also contain a certain amount of poison.
From the dried leaves and berries you can brew tea, which is taken for colds and bronchitis. A decoction of flowers used for washing wounds, ulcers or conjunctivitis.
Important! Prunus is contraindicated in pregnant, lactating women and those who want to get pregnant.The plant is used not only in medicine, but also as an air purifier. It produces phytoncides that drive ticks and mosquitoes away. However, branches should not be kept indoors, as the smell of a plant can cause headaches for allergy sufferers. The fruit also contains amygdalin, which helps the cardiovascular system to function normally.
Many scientists argue that the fruits have a positive effect on the state of the body, that is, strengthen the immune system.
Did you know? To get rid of mice, our ancestors left a bunch of bird cherry behind the stove.From all of the above, we can conclude that the virginian bird cherry is not only unpretentious, but also a useful plant.
Thanks to its many beneficial properties, the tree has won the hearts of many gardeners. Using our recommendations for growing trees, you can plant and grow this storehouse of vitamins in your garden.