For everyone who wants to plant an unpretentious, but decorative shrub on the site , experts unanimously recommend a broom. Planting and care, reproduction of this plant does not require much effort.
Broom - what is this shrub?
Under this name, about 60 species of plants (shrubs and small trees) are combined into one genus. All of them, as a rule, grow in Europe, Africa, and some in Western Siberia. In general, representatives of the genus Broom are small in height (0.5-3 m), most often deciduous shrubs. Broom, planting and caring for which is not difficult, is very often used in landscape design and for landscaping streets, parks, squares. Of particular charm and interest to the plant are added fragrant flowers that cover it in the spring. Most often they are yellow, but can also be white, purple or combined. Being a representative of the legume family, the broomberry has beautiful moth flowers collected in panicle inflorescences.
Types of broom
The exact number of species of broom has not been established, according to various classifications there are from 30 to 70. Let us dwell on the most famous and those that can grow in our climate. After all, the broom is a shrub, planting and care of which are quite simple, but you need to know some of the nuances of each species.
- Russian broomman. It grows mainly in the European part of the country, Western Siberia and the North Caucasus. It can form whole thickets in the steppes and forest-steppes, pine trees. This is a deciduous shrub that grows to 1.5-2 meters in height. It forms a spherical bush with straight branches and thick green leaves. It blooms in May-July for a month and sometimes repeatedly in the fall.
- Coronary broom (rod-shaped). High shrub (up to 2 m) with small leaves and large flowers (it can be seen in the sixth photo). This is a fairly heat-loving broom. Landing and care in the middle lane are similar to other species, except that shelter for the winter may be required. Many hybrids of this species, differing in color of flowers, have been bred. It is best established on sandy light soils or limestones.
- The broom is oblong. A small (up to 1.5 m) spreading shrub, flowering begins in early spring. It is used in landscape gardening.
- Emery broom. Low shrub (70 cm) with slightly flowering shoots. Thanks to its compactness it can be used on alpine slides. Blossoms in May-June with bright yellow moth flowers.
- The broom is crowded, blackening and sedentary. Shrubby bushes reaching about half a meter in height. Blossom is not as plentiful as previous varieties.
- The broom is purple (his photo is presented below). Low (up to 1 m), but very spreading shrub, creeping. As the name implies, the flowers have a purple-pink color, located along the entire length of the branches. Flowering is plentiful and long. It is a drought and cold tolerant plant.
- Cusky broom. Low-growing (up to 50 cm in height) deciduous shrub, grown as a shrubbery. Leaves are decorative, light green or with a gray tint. Cream-colored flowers appear in early May. It is resistant to gas pollution and urban air broom. Landing and leaving in the suburbs will not require special care, as well as in the middle lane, as it is frost-resistant and tolerant of heat and drought.
- Creepy Creeper. The smallest representative of the genus, its height barely reaches 20-30 cm. In the gardens it forms real green carpets, each bush sprawls in diameter up to one meter.
Bred a large number of varieties of broom. This allows you to use it, firstly, for different purposes (green carpet, hedge, group and single plantings), and secondly, in different climatic conditions.
Broom: planting and winter care at home
In a room or conservatory, you can also grow this plant. For this, one species is used - racemose. An evergreen shrub whose homeland is the Canary Islands and Madeira. Sometimes you may come across the name "golden rain", thanks to the bright yellow fragrant flowers that appear on the plant from February to May. In nature, it grows to one meter in height, in room conditions a little less (60-70 cm).
Planting depends on the method of propagation (seeds, cuttings, layering). For hybrid varieties, only the vegetative method is suitable. Seeds are best planted in spring. They must first be soaked in water for 2-3 days before swelling. Use a mixture of peat and perlite. The landing depth is 1-1.5 cm. Then the container must be closed with polyethylene and put away in a warm but bright place. In order for the seeds to sprout better and faster, you can gently rub them with sandpaper. Propagation by cuttings is carried out in the summer. Cut off young, not quite lignified shoots (about 10 cm). They take root quite well and quickly - 1.5-2 months.
When choosing a brush-like broom for home, planting and care in the winter of which are quite simple, you should remember a few nuances. The plant prefers cool indoor air temperature all year round: in winter + 10-18 ° C, and during flowering no more than + 16 ° C. Also during this period he needs good lighting, but without direct sunlight. In summer, the plant can be taken out to the balcony, terrace.
Indoor broom house: soil and watering
You can use the soil purchased in the store, for example, intended for palm trees or ficuses. If you want to prepare the soil yourself, then remember that it should be light, but fertile. It is recommended to use the following mixture: turfy soil - humus - sand or perlite in a ratio of 2: 1: 1. Do not forget about good drainage, it is best to pour a layer of expanded clay.
If you want to get a fragrant flowering bush in the spring right at home, then choose a racemose. Planting and care (a photo of the plant is presented in our article), for which it is extremely simple.
Young plants are transplanted annually into the pot a little more (2-3 cm) of the previous one. This should be done after the broom has flowered.
Watering a broom house grown indoors depends on the season and air temperature. In summer, it is more intense, 2-3 times a week, and in winter it is reduced to once. During the period when the plant begins to pick up buds and bloom, it is necessary to apply liquid mineral fertilizer containing potassium once a month.
Broom: planting and care
Almost all types of shrubs are very photophilous and drought tolerant. They can grow even on the poorest soils. However, you should know two nuances. Broom can not tolerate waterlogging and stagnation of water, as well as heavy loamy soils. And the second - do not transplant the bush in an adult state, it reacts very badly to this.
If you intend to start a broom on your site, then choose open places for it, for example, gentle slopes, without close passage of groundwater.
The soil should be loose and breathable. If you are not sure about its suitability for broom, then prepare the soil for a young plant yourself. Initially, you need to dig a hole for the bush. Separately mix turf soil, humus and coarse river sand in a ratio of 1: 2: 5. The depth, length and width of the pit should = s be approximately 60 cm, crushed stone or broken bricks can be placed on its bottom, and then it is necessary to fill it with prepared soil.
The main care for the broom is the proper watering, regular fertilizing with fertilizers and decorative pruning.
Watering the broom
One of the most drought-tolerant shrubs in our climate is, of course, broom. Landing and caring for it are extremely simple. The only thing that can happen is the freezing of the shoots of the most heat-loving species in a harsh winter. Resistance to prolonged high temperatures without precipitation is due to the structure of the root system. She has a powerful and deep broom, but without a clearly defined main shaft. This property, by the way, is used to prevent soil shedding. It is unrealistic to dig an adult plant without damaging the roots, therefore, the survival rate is very low. Therefore, it is better to buy a broomberry in containers or to plant by cuttings. Thus, watering the plant is not necessary, but in the driest years it is still desirable.
Fertilizing the broom with fertilizers
This procedure is recommended by all experts in the field of gardening. Fertilizing strengthens the plant, promotes abundant and prolonged flowering. Remember that broom house does not like fresh organic matter (manure). It is best to make an infusion from it or ordinary grass, let it ferment for 2-3 weeks and only then water the bushes under the root (consumption - 1 bucket per adult plant). The frequency should be 2-3 times for the spring-summer season.
Loose and granular fertilizers are best applied to the ground in periapical circles. Of the most affordable, you can recommend wood ash, from mineral fertilizers in granules - potassium chloride and superphosphate (20-30 g per 1 sq. Meter).
Trimming Broom
Mowing the shrub is necessary, only you need to do it right, depending on what goals you are pursuing. If you want to enhance flowering and renew the plant, then pruning is carried out until mid-June. Such a haircut in no way interferes with the laying of buds with flowers. Old branches should not be touched, cut new shoots to the middle of the length.
If your goal is to give the bush some silhouette or shape, this is especially true for single plants, then you can cut the bush in summer or autumn. It will not bloom for next year, but the foliage will become more decorative.
The use of broom in landscape design
Fashion trends exist not only in the world of clothing, but also in landscape design. The broom hunter, landing and caring for which is surprisingly simple, was undeservedly forgotten. Popularity has returned recently, thanks to the development of new varieties. The broom is used in group plantings, so it looks as impressive as possible. This approach is implemented in large areas (parks, streets, courtyards, car interchanges, etc.). In a small area, you can use broomberry in combination with other woody plants, the most successful combination with conifers (mountain pine, juniper, cedar dwarf pine), as well as with gorse, lavender, lily of the valley, heather. The shrub lends itself well to decorative pruning, which allows you to create various shapes and hedges.