Dogwood shrub and cotoneaster - planting and care

Many amateur gardeners mistakenly believe that dogwood and cotoneaster are the same plant, only the names are slightly different. This is far from the case, therefore, before planting shrubs, one should understand their similarities and differences, as well as the issue of growing each species.

Dogwood

Dogwood (Cornus mas) - a plant in the form of a deciduous shrub or tree.

Dogwood

The name is Turkic: the word "kyzyl" means "red".

Origin

The exact place of origin is unknown, but there is an ancient legend according to which the founder of Rome, Romulus, stuck a spear into the ground and marked the place for the future construction of the city. The spear took root and gave the first crop of dogwood.

Interesting. There is no one to confirm this, much more Romulus "became famous" for the murder of his brother Remus and the name of the city in his honor. The seeds of the plant were found at the sites of people of the Neolithic era. There is a Christian belief that the cross on which the Savior was crucified was made from dogwood wood. Historical or archaeological evidence of this has not yet been found.

Gardeners of central Russia are somehow skeptical about the possibility of growing a southern plant. It’s completely in vain. Asian frosts are no less severe. Viable and fruitful plantings of the Main Botanical Garden of the Russian Academy of Sciences in 1950 only confirmed this.

Wild forms are ubiquitous in the Caucasus, less often in the southern regions of Russia, also in Moldova, Ukraine, Central and Asia Minor, China, Japan, North America, in the central and southern parts of Europe. Horticultural crops are found wherever conditions are suitable for them.

Cornel is a shrub that can reach a height of 2 to 6 m. Its shoots have a brown tint, they have oval-shaped leaves.

Descriptions of flowers and fruits of dogwood

It is the bright red color with various shades that the fruits of most varieties have. Less common are yellow berries (considered albinos), purple and even almost black.

Dogwood fruit

The shape is also varied, it can vary in each region. Among them, the most common:

ellipsoidal;
spherical;
pear-shaped.

The fruit is a drupe, with a high content of juices. The taste is sweet and sour, sometimes a little astringent. The weight of the berry is 2 ... 6 g, the selected varieties may have a little more.

Helpful. An interesting feature: flowering begins before the leaves appear (around April) and lasts about two weeks. Umbellate inflorescences, 15 ... 30 bisexual flowers.

Composition, useful properties and use

Dogwood fruits are a real storehouse of valuable ingredients, in addition to the usual carbohydrates and fiber for berries. In terms of content, for example, ascorbic acid, they surpass even black currant berries, which are considered the standard for this indicator.

Vitamin composition of fruits:

Carboxylic acids (especially rare and valuable succinic).
Astringent tannins.
Nitrogen compounds.
Essential oils.
Alkali and alkaline earth metals, zinc, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, sulfur.
Vitamins A, C, P.
Polyphenols.
Phytoncides.

Flowering dogwood

The very scent of this plant in the garden scares away unwanted insects. Honey makers, on the other hand, are welcome guests. The bacteria don't feel well either.

The healing properties can hardly be overestimated. The beneficial properties are so numerous that it is impossible to mention everything, the main ones:

Leaves and their broth have wound healing, anti-inflammatory, urine, - and choleretic effects.
Infusions of leaves and twigs are effective for gout, anemia, and general metabolic disorders.
Infusion of berries strengthens the digestive tract, prevents diarrhea.
Fruit juice helps maintain normal blood sugar levels.
A decoction of the roots can relieve rheumatic pains, sciatica.

Nutritionally, dogwood is so valuable that it deserves a separate section of gastronomy. Dried, frozen berries almost retain all their useful properties. Freezing, according to many, even improves their taste by removing the acidity.

Interesting! Use options: preserves, jams, jellies, juice, tinctures, sauces, cooking with meat, poultry, fish.

Types and varieties

Dogwood is divided into 50 species, which are combined into 4 subgenus. Among them are known in the world and are popular with gardeners:

Cornel ordinary (male). A small plant up to 5-6 m cornel is a tree and shrub (up to 4 m).
Dogwood is white. Shrub up to 3 m tall.
Dogwood canadian. Small shrub up to 20 cm tall.

Alyosha

An early variety with a yellowish-amber fruit color. They taste sour-sweet, their flesh is tender. Begins to bear fruit at 3 years after planting, in some regions from 2. The variety is resistant to diseases and tolerates long frosts well.

Helena

An early variety with dark red fruits. The berries have a slightly sour aftertaste, followed by a bright sweet taste. The flesh of the fruit is dense and well separated by bones.

Kizil Elena

The variety is often planted for production purposes, juices, jams and even marshmallows are prepared from it.

Nikolka

One of the earliest varieties with a bright cherry fruit tone. The pulp is firm, sweet on the palate with a slight sourness. The plant tolerates frost well up to 32 degrees.

Elegant

Another early variety with deep red fruits. Juicy dark red pulp has a sweet and sour taste. The plant tolerates frosts well, even the berries do not lose their appearance during the first frosts.

Transplant after purchase in open ground

It is necessary to purchase seedlings in the autumn. The best time for planting a plant is autumn, as soon as leaf fall begins.

Dogwood transplant

It is worth choosing a site for permanent planting - partial shade, in sunny places it feels less comfortable. It is necessary to plant plants 3-5 m from the fence and from each other.

Before planting, a pit is prepared, 80 cm deep and 0.8-1 m wide. At the bottom of the hole, humus is laid, mixed with mineral fertilizers, a small layer of earth is poured on top of it, spilled with water, and a dogwood is planted - an ornamental shrub. Soil is poured around the plant and compacted, after which it is spilled.

Propagation by cuttings

Like all plants, the dogwood (tree or shrub) reproduces in several ways. The most common is vegetative. Only green shoots that are no more than 5 years old are suitable for breeding. Lignified ones are also good, but they take root very poorly, therefore, in order to save time and effort, it is best to use only young branches.

Shoots are cut in the morning, 15 cm each. Each of them should have at least 2 pairs of leaf plates. The lower pair is removed, the cuttings are placed for several hours (at least 6) in a heteroauxin solution.

Important! Check fit and spill periodically.

After that, they are planted at a slight angle in the prepared sand (it is pre-washed). Further, the planting is covered with polyethylene, but there should be space above the cuttings.

Outdoor care for dogwood

Taking care of the plant is easy. It is necessary to weed the area around the shrub or tree. If necessary, watering (1-2 times a week).

Dogwood (this is a tree or shrub) must be fed twice a season. In the spring (at the beginning of the growing season), fertilizers should be fed, which contain a large amount of nitrogen, in the fall - potassium.

4 Care of dogwood

To avoid the appearance of pests and diseases on dogwood trees or shrubs, as well as to give the plants a decorative look, it is necessary to prune at least once a year. Dogwood responds well to pruning in the spring and fall.

Cotoneaster - ornamental shrub

Barberry shrub - species, varieties, planting and care

Cotoneaster is an evergreen shrub that adorns the garden all year round, in spring and summer it pleases with delicate and bright flowers, in autumn - with red fruits.

Origin and appearance

The cotoneaster is vaguely similar to a quince, so it was named Cotoneaster (which means "similar to a quince"). The family includes more than a hundred different varieties of cotoneaster. In the wild, they are found throughout Africa and Europe. Many summer residents, confusing it with dogwood, acquire a shrub and expect a delicious harvest of fruits with a skin that begins to shine beautifully after full ripening.

Cotoneaster

Irga is capable of reaching a height of 3-6 meters. Shoots, woody, acquire a blackish bark tone. Leaves of a bright green hue are oval and slightly shiny.

The flowers are small and are collected in small inflorescences of 15-20 flowers, sometimes 25. The shrub begins to bloom before the foliage appears on the shoots.

Decorative properties

Cotoneaster (irga) refers to creeping shrubs. It has proven itself perfectly as a plant that can be used for landscaping cities and summer cottages. It is often used for planting rock garden compositions or single plantings (as a ground cover plant).

The main decorative element of irgi is red fruits that do not fall off the shoots for a long time. Another benefit is the leaves, as they are green throughout the year. Thanks to the fruits and leaves, the cotoneaster looks decorative all year round.

Types and varieties

The cotoneaster has a large number of species, some of them are deciduous, others are evergreen. Each of them has its own unique beauty.

Cotoneaster fruits

Ordinary

A beautiful deciduous species, capable of reaching up to 2 m in height. Its leaves are ovoid, bright green. The flowers are inconspicuous, pale pink, collected in inflorescences. The fruits resemble small red apples that fall off at the end of September.

Pressed

Not very tall plant, grows only up to 30 cm in height. The leaves are small, in summer they have a green tint, by autumn they turn purple. The flowers are small, have a pink tone, they sit in 1-2 throughout the shoot. After ripening, the fruits become bright red, having a small size, only 5-7 mm.

Reproduction of cotoneaster

Horizontal

An evergreen member of the family, capable of reaching a height of 45 to 55 cm. The shoots, growing, begin to nestle on the ground. On them, 1-1.5 cm of green are formed, having a rounded shape. By autumn, they change color to a purple tone. It pleases with its bright flowering (pink-red flowers), alternating with the formation of red fruits.

Transplant after purchase in open ground

The cotoneaster does not have special requirements for growing conditions, so it can be planted anywhere, but it feels much better in a shaded one. Before planting, a hole is prepared, 0.7 m deep and 0.5 m wide. A soil mixture of peat, humus and earth is laid on its bottom (1: 1: 1). The mixture is spilled with water, and a bush is planted in the pit.

Helpful. The cotoneaster shrub requirements for planting and care are standard: regular watering, seasonal fertilizing with complex fertilizers, anti-aging haircuts and preventive pruning. The cotoneaster easily tolerates a short drought, but it is better not to delay watering, as it begins to shed its leaves from lack of nutrition.

Reproduction

The cotoneaster reproduces vegetatively; for this, green shoots of 10-15 cm with 2-3 leaf nodes should be used. With lignified cuttings, the process will be more laborious, and the result of survival is much lower. The best time for breeding is the month of August.

For planting planting material for propagation, a substrate is prepared from sand and peat. Peat is placed on the bottom, a large layer of washed sand is poured on top. The landing is covered with a film. By spring, the cuttings should take root.

Two beautiful shrubs will make the garden brighter and more comfortable. Despite the slight similarity of leaves and fruits in some varieties, the most striking difference is the ability to grow: the cotoneaster is pressed to the ground, the dogwood is an upright bush.