only in the Americas. Of the 15 species of ornamental plants in our latitudes, the white snowberry has received the greatest popularity. Planting and caring for the snowdrop is easy and does not take much time. Its bushes adorn the gardens and parks, the fruits help to survive the cold time of the wintering birds of the Central region. Description of the plant
Without pruning a branch of an ornamental shrub, it can reach 3 m in length. Under the weight of snow and fruit formations in the winter they do not break. The small size of the opposite leaves peel off with the first frost.
At the end of summer, in July or August, the snowfield blooms: the correct form of flowers is collected in the racemose in 5-15 pieces. A good honey plant, a late flowering shrub allows bees to prepare for winter.
In autumn, the bushes of the snowy colony are unusually decorative: juicy spherical drupes with a diameter of up to 2 cm are tightly pressed to each other. The fruits of the snowfield, depending on the type of plant, are of red, black and purple color, most often white with snow-white friable pulp.
Snowballs with red fruits hibernate and grow poorly in the conditions of the Central region - they prefer mild winters and nutritious black soil. Bushes with the usual white berries are very undemanding to soil conditions and withstand -30 degrees.
In addition to high winter hardiness, the snowberry bushes have a unique property: they do not care about exhaust fumes and smoke - an invaluable quality in a megacity.
Pros and cons of the
snow berry To the gardeners of the Middle Band, an unpretentious ornamental shrub fell to the yard. Unlike the thermophilic and demanding to the soil species with pink fruits, the classic snowberry is ideal for growing in the Central region:
- is not completely demanding to the light regime - grows in the sun and partial shade;
- grows on wet lowlands and dry hillocks;
- practically does not suffer from fungal diseases;
- in our latitudes came from America and did not get dangerous pests.
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The bush is distinguished by its long flowering and preserves its decorative appearance for almost the whole year. Vigorous young greens with fragrant flowers are replaced by heavy clods of snowy berries.
Until now, there is no consensus on the harmful effects of the snowfield on the human body. Due to the high content of acids and saponin, the fruits of the snowfield are considered dangerous. An adult will not eat them, and a small child may taste beautiful berries - this is absolutely contraindicated.
Forest animals and birds feed on snowfruit in winter - frost destroys dangerous substances. The Indians of North America knew about the medicinal properties of the shrub of the snowy berry - they treated the stomach ulcer with fresh juice. Wild fruits and now used in the manufacture of dosage forms.
Traditional medicine recipes use the snowfield for the treatment of skin diseases, non-healing wounds, inflammations and even tuberculosis.
Do not forget about the toxic properties of snow berries and consult a doctor for recommendations on the method of treatment and dosage.
Snowball - planting an unpretentious shrub
Snowberry bush is perfect for decorating a summer cottage. Any free space will fit for planting a bush: in the sun or in the shade, on a hillock or in a damp lowland - an unpretentious plant feels great in any conditions.
You can familiarize yourself with the technology of the fall planting of the snowberry in the following way:
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A snowberry planted on a crumbling slope with tenacious branched roots will stop soil erosion.
Snow berry bushes can be planted both in spring and in autumn. With sufficient attention to planting seedlings take root well, planted even in the heat of summer. For the rapid growth of young plants should be planted in the soil prepared in advance.
What you need to know about planting an
snowfield For a separately located bush, a planting hole 50 x 50 cm deep 50. .. 60 cm is prepared.
The planting of the snow fence for planting a hedge is made in a similar section( 50 x 60 cm).Given the sprawling shape of an adult bush, the density of planting cuttings should be at least
- . . 150 cm - for single plants;
- 4-5 plants per 1 running meter - in a trench for a hedge.
A trench or pit for planting a snowberry in the fall is prepared in advance - in the spring, and for spring planting - for the winter. The time interval is necessary for shrinking the soil and averaging the nutrient composition, which filled the pit.
At the bottom of the pit( trench) lay 10. .. 15 cm of drainage and fill it with separately prepared soil mixture:
- 1 part of coarse-grained river sand;
- one piece of compost or loose humus;
- 1 part peat;
- 600 g per ash tree bush;
- 200 g per dolomite flour;
- 200 g per bush superphosphate.
After a 2-week period( the minimum time for shrinkage of the soil), snowberry seedlings are planted. The most convenient way to plant seedlings with a closed root system. Transplant with a clod of earth occurs painlessly for the plant. Such an operation is not tied to the season.
When planting, it is necessary to control the depth of the snowfruit. After watering and subsidence of the soil, the root neck of the plant should be flush with the soil surface.
For guaranteed rapid acclimatization, the cuttings in a new place and good contact of the root system with the soil are recommended to dip its roots in a clay mash before planting. For the first 4-5 days after planting, the snowberry is watered daily at the rate of 3. .. 5 liters per bush.
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Layers for planting a decorative bush can be obtained independently in any quantities. 
. A very simple method of obtaining seedlings.
. Cutting option: a snowfield shrub easily forms cuttings by the “Chinese” method: the branches of the bush are dropped to a depth of 2. .. 5 cm and fixed with a stone or wire brace. Depending on the conditions, the new bush is ready for transplanting in a maximum of six months.
Taking care of a snow field
After planting a snowberry the care of a bush requires minimal. The implementation of simple agrotechnical rules does not take much time:
- Mulching a tree trunk with 8. .. 10 cm of peat solves the problem of regular watering, weeding and loosening the soil.
- Watering the snowberry is given only in extreme heat - 15. .. 20 l / bush.
- In the fall, the near-stem circle is dug up.
- Sanitary pruning of the bush is done in early spring.
- In mid-April( Central region), top dressing is given: 5. .. 6 kg( 1 bucket) of humus or compost, 100 g of superphosphate and potassium salt are added to the near-barking circle for digging.
- The second dressing is given in the middle of the season( July-August) - 50 g Agricola is dissolved in 1 liter of water per bush.
One should not worry about the wintering of the white snowberry; all its hybrids easily endure a 30-degree frost.
Decorative shaving of bushes produced in late May-June - a month before flowering. Such forethought allows the plant to form flower buds on already shortened branches. A neatly trimmed shrub or hedge in flowers or covered with fruits is decorative and will delight with a beautiful view until the next spring.
Video about growing snowberry
