Cinquefoil Abbotswood - description and care

Abbotswood shrub cinquefoil is also known as Kuril tea or five-leaf tea. It is a compact ornamental plant. It is used for planting on lawns, in flower beds, creating hedges.

Description Potentilla Abbotswood

Shrub cinquefoil (Potentilla fruticosa Abbotswood) is a low shrub plant. It has a rounded crown, easy to shape. The average height of the shrub is 1 meter. The maximum crown diameter reaches one and a half meters.

Cinquefoil Abbotswood

Potentilla bloom begins in June and lasts until autumn. Under favorable conditions, it ends in October with the onset of the first frost. Cinquefoil forms white flowers up to 3 cm in diameter. The leaf plates of the shrub are lanceolate, ovoid. The color of the leaves is light green. A yellow tint is possible.

Cinquefoil is a hardy, undemanding crop. Easily tolerates drought and winter frosts. Resistant to most diseases and pests.

Planting a plant

For planting cinquefoil, it is important to carry out preparatory work. They consist in organizing the site and planting material.

Planting from seeds

The cultivation of Potentilla seeds is used in cases where it is not possible to cut cuttings or make layers from adult bushes. In the southern regions, direct sowing into the ground is allowed. In the central and northern regions, the seedling method is recommended.

Seedlings are germinated at a temperature of 15-18 ℃ above zero. After emergence, the film is removed. In the phase of 2-3 large leaves, the seedlings dive into individual peat pots. Planting is carried out in August, when the plants have grown stronger and developed a full-fledged root system.

Planting Potentilla seeds

Landing in open ground

Potentilla planting is carried out both in the spring - in the month of April, and in the fall. In the autumn period, the deadline is determined by the onset of frost (early September). Technology description:

1. For Potentilla, a seat is pre-prepared. Well-drained fertile soil is suitable. The depth of the planting pit is 60 cm. The width is determined by the size of the root system. When planting in groups, the interval between plants is observed - at least 1 meter. When planting a curb or hedge - 50 cm.
2. A drainage layer of broken brick or expanded clay is laid at the bottom of the pit. Its thickness is 15-20 cm. Drainage is sprinkled with humus mixed with garden soil and sand. Mineral fertilizers are added to the substrate.
3. A pre-dug bush or prepared cuttings are installed in the hole. The root collar should be at ground level or 2 cm higher.
4. The pit is filled with soil mixed with humus and tamped.

How to care for Potentilla Abbotswood

Cinquefoil is unpretentious in care. Compliance with the rules of watering, regular loosening of the soil and the introduction of fertilizers allows you to admire the lush flowering of the shrub for a long time.

Watering features

Cinquefoil is demanding for watering. During the dry period, there is a decrease in color formation. The plant should be watered as the soil dries up.Water is applied 1-2 times a week in dry weather. 5-10 liters of water are poured under each bush.

Drying out of the soil and the formation of a hard crust on the surface of the soil is detrimental to plants. The beds are loosened and weeded the next day after watering to a depth of 10 cm. Timely loosening and removal of weeds contributes to better soil aeration.

Top dressing

Cinquefoil Abbotswood grows well in loose, fertile soil. A lack of nutrients leads to poor flowering and slow plant growth.

The first feeding is carried out in the spring or after planting the plants in the ground. An infusion of mullein, chicken droppings, compost is suitable. Effective application of complex flower fertilizers. Nitrogen promotes active plant growth and green mass gain.

The second feeding is done at the flowering stage. Preference is given to potassium-phosphorus compositions. Top dressing with a mixture of superphosphate and potassium has shown high efficiency. Of the complex, it is better to use nitrophoska, potassium monophosphate, ammophoska. From organic matter, a solution of wood ash is used.

Feeding Potentilla

The third feeding is carried out in late summer or early autumn. Plants also need additional nutrition with phosphorus and potassium. They contribute to the establishment of more flower buds, stimulate the immune system, and increase the resistance of plants to unfavorable weather conditions.

Pruning

According to the description, the Abbotswood shrub cinquefoil needs regular pruning. Formation work is carried out as needed. The optimal period is once every 2-3 years. For young plants, pruning is done every year. For work, they choose spring time before the start of sap flow or the end of summer - the beginning of autumn, when the flowering period ends.

It is recommended to prune any dry, broken or diseased shoots. Branches directed deeper into the bush are also removed. The general growth is pruned, forming a neat bush. The culture is rejuvenated every 3-5 years. To do this, a third of the shoots are cut out from the bush to the base of the bush.

Reproduction methods

Gardeners distinguish several ways of breeding Potentilla. The most successful among them are plots, cuttings, layering. Seed propagation is used much less frequently. Description of the procedure:

1. For layering, a healthy shoot, 2-3 years old, is chosen and located as close to the ground as possible.
2. A hole is dug in the ground, at a distance of 20-30 cm from the bush. Humus is poured onto the bottom, mixed in equal parts with the soil.
3. The pit is spilled abundantly with water. The shoot is laid in a pit.
4. The upper part is brought up vertically. For reliability, they are tied up in a peg. The hole is covered with soil and tamped.
5. During the engraftment period, they are regularly watered.

Germination of Potentilla cuttings

Cuttings are the second simplest breeding method. It is suitable when it is necessary to completely rejuvenate the culture and transfer the plant to a new place. The planting material is cut in June or July. Only young shoots are used. The branches are cut with a length of 15-20 cm.

To stimulate root growth, cuttings are soaked in Epin, Kornevin or another preparation. For seedlings, containers are prepared in advance. They are filled with nutrient soil. The cuttings are buried in the ground. Above the ground remains from 3 to 5 cm. The seedlings are watered and harvested in a dark place. The cuttings are watered regularly. The root system is formed within 2-3 weeks.

Transfer

An improperly selected area, insufficient lighting or a lack of nutrients lead to slow development of Potentilla and poor flowering. In such a situation, it is recommended to transplant the plant to a new location.

For transplantation, use the plots method or complete transfer of the bush. The procedure is recommended to be carried out in the spring, before the start of the active growing season. The technology is as follows:

1. The bush is dug in at a distance of 15-20 cm from the base. At the same time, it is important to preserve the earthen lump. Thanks to this, the roots located in the upper part are preserved. The plant is removed from the pit along with a lump.
2. If it is necessary to divide the bush, then it is chopped up so that each half has 3-4 large shoots. The branches are cut 30 cm, leaving at least 3 healthy buds on each shoot.
3. The new site is prepared in advance. For this, the soil is dug up and fertilized. A hole is dug depending on the size of the horse system.
4. The bush is carefully placed in a hole, straightening the root system and sprinkled with earth mixed with humus. The soil is compacted starting from the center.
5. After planting, the cinquefoil is watered abundantly with water. The root circle is mulched with needles, sawdust, straw to a height of 10 cm.

Protection against diseases and pests

Abbotswood cinquefoil is resistant to disease and pests. The plant does not require any special processing. Diseases develop only in unfavorable conditions or when the rules of care are not followed. The main problems include the formation of rust.

Experts recommend treating with boric acid or manganese solution 1-2 times a season as a prophylaxis for fungal diseases.

Preparing for winter

In the autumn, after the end of flowering, experts recommend preparing Potentilla for winter. This requires:

1. Remove fallen leaves.
2. Dig up the root circle.
3. Apply phosphorus-potassium fertilizers.
4. Carry out pruning.
5. Mulch the root circle.
6. Cover young plants.

Use in landscape design

Abbotswood and other varieties of Potentilla are unpretentious, long-blooming crops. Due to its attractive appearance, it is actively used for hedges, the creation of borders. The shrub is planted on the lawn, lawn, used in the creation of alpine slides. Thanks to their decorative shaping, they create original single or group compositions.

Application in landscape design

Useful properties of the plant

In folk medicine, cinquefoil is used for:

• treatment and prevention of diseases of the genitourinary system;
• diabetes treatment and prevention;
• treatment of burns, suppurations, furunculosis.

Cinquefoil is known for its hemostatic effect. Infusions from it are used for diarrhea and pain in the intestines. Cinquefoil Abbotswood is a wonderful decoration for any garden plot. The plant easily takes root in a new place, grows quickly and easily tolerates a haircut. Low growth and decorative qualities make it possible to combine it with most crops.