Caring for Weigela in Autumn: Preparing for Winter

Weigela is a beautifully flowering perennial shrub from the Capsicum genus. This plant is native to Southeast Asia. Weigela is often planted in gardens, but many novice gardeners lose interest due to unsuccessful attempts to keep the shrub viable until spring. To successfully survive the winter, the plant needs to be fertilized, pruned, and covered in the fall.

Frost-resistant varieties

In Russia, wild Weigela is found in Primorye. Three varieties of this deciduous shrub grow there: Weigela palatina, Weigela middendorffiiana, and Weigela pratensis. Twice a year, the shrub is covered with funnel-shaped flowers in a variety of shades. The petals gradually change color, becoming darker.

Species with the greatest frost resistance

For residents of Russia, especially in the northern regions, one of the defining characteristics of weigela is its frost resistance. Therefore, it is preferable to choose the following types of weigela:

Popular varieties

Weigela has a wide variety of cultivars, but those with good frost resistance are more suitable for the Russian climate. The following cultivars are particularly popular with Russian gardeners:

1. The Pink Princess variety is easy to care for and very hardy. In southern Russia, in regions with a mild climate, it can be grown without winter insulation.
2. The Purpurnaya variety forms bushes up to 1.5 meters tall. Flowering occurs in midsummer, when the bush is covered with beetroot-colored flowers with creamy centers. It has good frost resistance, but needs to be covered in northern regions.
3. The Alba variety forms bushes up to 3 meters tall. It blooms with white flowers that gradually turn pink. It is moderately frost-resistant.
4. The Nana Variegata variety grows up to 1.5 meters in height and features unusual, decorative leaves with a light edge. Flowering occurs in the second half of May. It is frost-resistant to -12 degrees Celsius. Therefore, in northern regions, shelter is essential.

General tips

Growing this plant in your garden is easy. To prepare your weigela for winter, autumn care involves the following essential steps:

• glaze;
• application of fertilizers with a high concentration of potassium;
• mulching the tree trunk circle;
• formative pruning;
• insulation in autumn using frame or frameless methods.

Autumn pruning of Weigela

Pruning is a must for all deciduous varieties. If pruning is done promptly, wounds on the shoots heal quickly, and the shrub gains aesthetic appeal. Removing unwanted shoots increases resistance to winter cold.

Weigela needs to be pruned to solve the following problems:

• stimulation of growth of young shoots;
• giving the correct crown shape to adult plants;
• abundant flowering next year;
• rejuvenation;
• improving disease resistance.

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Trimming time

Shrub pruning for sanitary purposes is performed in the spring. During this procedure, all diseased, broken, or frost-damaged branches are removed. Formative and rejuvenating pruning is performed in the fall. The goal of this procedure is to give the bush a pleasing appearance and, if necessary, remove old shoots that no longer produce flowers.

When pruning the plant twice a year isn't possible, it's preferable to do it in the fall. This is especially important for Weigela. In the spring, only a few branches are removed, which aren't essential to the plant's development.

Pruning technique

Before removing all unnecessary branches, spray the soil around the trunk and the lower part of the plant with a fungicide solution. This will protect the bush from fungal diseases. Then, prune according to the following instructions:

1. Cut off all affected, broken branches 0.5 cm above the second healthy bud.
2. Cut off poorly developing branches completely.
3. Remove a third of the old branches to rejuvenate the bush and stimulate flowering.
4. Thin out the shoots that grow deep into the bush to reduce crowding.
5. Trim branches that protrude from the overall crown and completely remove fallen ones to improve the decorative qualities.

If pruning is done for rejuvenation purposes, all branches older than three years are completely removed, while younger branches are cut back by a third. If the bush is very neglected, all branches are removed completely, leaving only a stump.

Care after pruning

After removing all unnecessary branches, the remaining wounds on the bush are sealed with garden pitch. After this, the plant is fertilized with mineral complexes containing a high concentration of potassium, or potassium sulfate and potassium chloride are used. These fertilizers have a strengthening effect on weigela. When applying fertilizer, follow the manufacturer's instructions. Another option is mullein diluted with water at a ratio of 1:10.

Covering Weigela for the winter

Weigela's frost resistance increases with age. Therefore, plants over five years old do not require additional winter protection. Young specimens that have recently been transplanted or are sick should be covered in the fall to increase their chances of surviving winter frosts. Besides their low frost resistance, weigela bushes are covered for the winter with dense material because of the structure of their branches. They are very fragile and easily broken by the weight of snow.

Weigela's shelter is constructed after the final cold snap. This can be done in two ways.

To cover the weigela for the winter, build a frame:

1. Wooden or metal arches are placed above the plant so that the distance between them and the shoots is 5-10 cm.
2. Cover the frame with plastic film or other thick material. Secure it with stones or add soil underneath.
3. If severe frosts are typical in winter, straw or hay is thrown on top.

Another method of covering weigela for the winter is to bend the shoots:

1. The soil around the trunk is mulched with spruce branches, tops or brushwood.
2. The branches are tied into a loose bundle and wrapped in burlap.
3. The resulting structure is bent towards the ground and secured with staples.
4. Cover with mulching material and roofing felt.

Preparing Weigela for Winter by Region

The type of winter cover for flowering shrubs is determined by the climate in the growing region. In central Russia and the Moscow region, a frame method is predominantly used, with additional rags or hay added to the cover before severe cold weather sets in.

In the Volga region, weigela is bent down to the ground to protect it from winter cold. In the Urals and Siberian regions, where winters are harsh, the bush is then bent down and covered with mulch and building materials. In winter, snow is piled on top for additional insulation.

In southern regions with warm winters, weigela requires minimal shelter. The soil around the trunk is mulched with a suitable material, and a small mound of soil is built around the trunk.

Features of growing early Weigela

This deciduous shrub prefers a well-lit area, protected from drafts. Choose a site with loose soil. If the soil doesn't meet the required characteristics, add additional sand and humus.

Dig a hole for the weigela with sides measuring 50 cm. Then place the bush in the hole and bury it. Firm the soil and water the plant thoroughly. When planting, space the plants so their branches don't touch.

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Preparing for winter

Weigela care in the fall to prepare for winter involves insulating it with spruce branches. These are laid around the trunk, covering the lower part of the trunk. Peat or sawdust can be used instead of branches. The bush is then tightly tied and a wire frame is installed over it. This is covered with agrofibre, lutrasil, or another covering material.

Care Features

In summer, weigela is watered regularly. During hot and humid summers, the bush is watered daily, using 5-8 buckets of water. To reduce moisture loss, the soil is regularly loosened and mulched with a suitable material. This procedure is also useful for reducing weeds. The mulch layer should be 4-6 cm thick.

In spring and summer, weigela is fed with mineral complexes containing all the nutrients it needs. Fertilization is stopped in August to allow the shoots to harden and prepare for winter. After the snow melts, weigela is fed with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers or organic matter.

Reproduction

Weigela pratensis is propagated primarily by cuttings. For this, cuttings up to 12 cm long with two living buds are taken. The cuts are made straight.

Rooting of cuttings is carried out in the following order:

1. The lower cut of the cutting is treated with a growth stimulator.
2. Leave the prepared planting material in a darkened room for 12 hours.
3. Place the cuttings in a peat-sand mixture to a depth of 0.5 cm for rooting.
4. Cover the shoots with sand and cover the container with film or glass to create a greenhouse effect.
5. Roots appear 40 days after planting.
6. After this, the young seedlings are grown for one and a half years before being planted in a permanent location.

Another method of propagating Weigela is by seed. Seeds are sown shallowly in wooden boxes filled with fertile soil. They are then sprinkled with sand and covered with plastic wrap or glass. The first shoots appear within three weeks.

Possible mistakes in care and preparation for winter

Most often, gardeners improperly care for deciduous plants and make mistakes in preparing them for winter due to a lack of experience. The main ones are:

1. Providing cover before frost sets in can lead to plant damping-off and fungal infections.
2. Covering a wet plant or bending shoots down into damp soil also leads to rot and damping off.
3. Pruning should only be performed after the tree reaches three years of age. During this time, the bush grows rapidly, the crown takes on an irregular shape, and further pruning takes several years.

To maintain the viability of Weigela, it needs to be pruned annually and well covered for the winter. It's important to carry out these tasks on time and in the prescribed order. This will ensure the plant survives the frosts and delights you with abundant blooms in the summer.