Black chokeberry, which also goes by the name aronia, is a perennial, well-growing, dense, tall shrub. Every year, it produces new shoots. The aronia's crown requires regular pruning. If this is not done for at least two years, the bush can grow up to two meters at the base. But only if the rowan is pruned correctly will the bush retain its attractive appearance.
The need and timing of pruning
If black chokeberry bushes aren't thinned and pruned in a timely manner, their crown will become too dense, and the shoots growing inside will lack sunlight. In this situation, a large amount of nutrients are wasted on extra branches and their growth, rather than on setting berries. Flowers and berries can only be expected from the outer branches. Fruits on densely planted bushes become sour, the berries themselves are small, and lack any nutrients. With proper pruning, a good harvest can be expected. Furthermore, the bush will look well-groomed.
If this procedure is performed once or twice a year, the plant will grow properly and the fruit set, which is rich in valuable macro- and micronutrients, will improve. If excess branches are not removed, berries will only appear on the branches growing at the edges, as the middle will lack light and become impenetrable. The shoots will begin to stretch toward the sun, and the bush will lose its decorative appeal. Due to excessive growth, the chokeberry will become a thicket, occupying a huge area.
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The exact timing of this procedure depends on the area where the plant is growing. September and October are considered the best time. Experienced gardeners recommend performing the formative and rejuvenating treatments in the spring, and the sanitary treatments in the spring and fall. Excessive growth can be pruned throughout the season; this will not harm the plant.
Types and patterns of pruning
When starting the pruning process, consider the plant's age, its current condition, and the number of branches bearing berries. There's a rejuvenating pruning technique used on very old bushes, 10-15 years old. Chokeberries are pruned to the very roots in the fall, removing all branches. The following spring, many new shoots will emerge from this root, and berries can be expected in 2-3 years.
Formative pruning is also used. Newly planted seedlings should be cut back to a height of 15 cm in the spring; nothing else is required. In the second year, 3-5 branches showing promise for fruit production are pruned to a height of half a meter. In the fourth year, 4-5 young, strong root shoots are pruned at the same level. In the sixth year, 5 shoots are added from fresh young shoots and leveled with the others. The crown will be formed from approximately 15 strong, fruit-bearing branches.
Subsequently, pruning should be carried out regularly, leaving about a dozen fruit-bearing branches of varying ages. Six- to seven-year-old shoots should be removed, and young, closely growing shoots should be left in their place. The chokeberry crown should be pruned so that it receives equal amounts of heat and light along its entire length, and the area around the roots is well-ventilated. These conditions will help establish numerous fruiting buds, prevent fungal diseases, and make the shrub easier to care for.
How to properly shape an aronia bush
Beginners can watch a step-by-step video on pruning chokeberries in the fall. Use clean, sharp pruning shears. Special disinfectants are used to disinfect the tools. Using a blunt tool will severely damage the plant, requiring a near-tear. Make the cut at a slight angle above the top bud. If you cut at a steep angle, the vulnerable area will be large. The stump above the bud should be small, allowing the wound to heal faster. Only the correct approach will yield good results.
The goal of bush training is timely pruning and removal of basal shoots. No more than five strong branches are left on the plant each year, and the tops of one-year-old shoots are trimmed. A good fruiting bush should have 30 to 40 shoots of varying ages. With proper care, it can produce fruit for a maximum of 20 years, and a minimum of 12. To extend the fruiting period, the tops of perennial branches are trimmed. This will awaken dormant buds, germinate, and produce new ovaries on the new shoots.
In spring, the branches are cut:
- sick;
- dried up;
- frozen;
- very exposed;
- poorly flowering;
- old.
After these are removed, further thinning can be done to create a more open crown. Berries are not expected on shoots 8-10 years old, so they should be pruned. Older branches differ from younger ones in color; they are dark and have many side shoots. Sanitary pruning is performed in the fall. After harvesting, the plant should be inspected, removing broken, dry, unhealthy, and weak shoots. At this time, lateral shoots are pruned from the skeletal branches. Those shoots that cause the bush to become very dense can be removed even in the summer. Otherwise, they will waste some of the nutrients. The cut areas should be coated with garden pitch.
You may be interested in:Processing of cuts and further care
Autumn care for chokeberries includes clearing pruned branches from the garden and vegetable patch. Burning these branches is recommended to kill insect pests and pathogens that have accumulated during the warmer months. Fertilizing with mineral and organic compounds is permitted if the plant hasn't been fed for several years. The soil around the trunk of the bush should be dug to a depth of 30 cm, and weeds should be removed. Chokeberries are an undemanding plant and are disease-resistant. As a preventative measure, spraying with a 7% urea and 1% Bordeaux mixture solution is recommended in the fall.
You may be interested in:Possible errors
Caring for chokeberries is easy, but some gardeners make mistakes that result in the bush producing few berries and weakening itself. Avoid leaving thin shoots on the crown. Weak branches, which are still short at this point, will quickly become full-grown and grow so large that the bush becomes impenetrable and dense. If more than five shoots are left after pruning, they will eventually make the bush overgrown. Beginner gardeners often overuse fertilizer. If you apply too much fertilizer, the foliage will become overgrown and grow too quickly, but the yield will decrease.
Even a gardener with no experience growing chokeberries can grow an attractive shrub. They just need to remember to prune in the spring and fall, control pests and diseases, and remember to prepare for the cold season.
Aronia berries ripen all at once, so the handful is cut whole. Wicker baskets are ideal for harvesting. Fresh berries can be stored for just over 30 days. They are often used to make liqueurs, juices, and jams, mixed with other fruits. Gardeners love the "Black Eyes" variety, whose berries grow to 1 cm in size and have a very pleasant taste. Black rowan is also known for its medicinal properties, one of which is its ability to normalize blood pressure.
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