Green hedge barberry, Thunberg barberry, Berberis thunbergii

The green hedge barberry is particularly valued by gardeners because of its dense foliage and the height of well over 2 m. The robust plants from Asia transform into an opaque privacy screen within a few years. The shrubs decoratively shield individual areas of the garden from prying eyes. In autumn the ThunbergBarberry with its orange to scarlet foliage at its most beautiful.

Location

Berberis thunbergii has been planting and decorating domestic gardens for a few centuries. In the 18th In the 19th century, the deciduous barberry found its way to Europe. This slow-growing variety of sour thorn was originally native to China and Japan. The shoots of the plant with long thorns are characteristic of all barberries. These make the shrub an impenetrable barrier for dogs and cats. An effective way to protect the beds in the garden from contamination and damage.

• the barberry needs a sunny spot
• Partial shade is tolerated
• if there is a lack of light, the color of the leaves and the formation of flowers suffer

care

The hardy hedge barberry does not need to be protected from drafts and cold. A few years after planting, it is the perennial that effectively shields icy winds. The choice of the location should not be made ill-considered. If you let the sea buckthorn grow undisturbed, the plant can reach a width of over 2 m. The dense network of roots makes it difficult to move older Berberis thunbergii to a new location. The Thunberg barberry sets accents in the garden, also as a solitary plant.

The plant is just as suitable for edging terraces as it is for use as a privacy screen. Due to the size and the shallow roots, the robust shrub is not suitable for long-term cultivation in a tub. Purchased container plants from the trade should be relocated to the field immediately after purchase.

Substrate

The soil should be permeable and rich in nutrients so that the sea buckthorn feels comfortable with its striking autumn color. Barberries are considered robust and easy to care for. It is still worthwhile to prepare the soil sufficiently before planting. The shrub is of little interest in whether the substrate is alkaline or acidic.

The floor should meet the following requirements:

• the pH should be between 5.5 and 7.2
• have a high proportion of clay and sand
• be rich in humus

A high calcium content and a lack of oxygen can have a lasting effect on the growth of Berberis thunbergii. If the soil is too compacted, there is a risk that this will be fatal for the plant. Regular mulching of the soil can counteract this. The disadvantage: the sea buckthorn is covered with spines. As the size increases, this task becomes more difficult. A drainage in the substrate can help here. Pebbles or expanded clay have proven effective for permanent loosening of the soil. The material is small enough that it will not be an obstacle to normal gardening.

Sauerdorn tolerates the urban climate, but is not very tolerant of salty soils. In urban areas it is advisable to keep a minimum distance of about 2 m from busy roads. The road salt applied by the winter service can make the distinctive Hedge plants do no harm in this way.

plants

sowing

Even if barberries with their long thorns are very defensive, the advantages of the deciduous sour thorn outweigh the advantages. New bushes can be grown from the seeds of ripe berries with little effort. After the flowering period in June, Berberis thunbergii forms coral-red, elliptical berries. The fruits are harvested in late autumn. Hedge barberries are cold germs. In order to break the germination inhibition of the seeds, they must first go through a cold phase.

• Sea buckthorn is poisonous, wear gloves when coming into contact with the plant
• Collect berries and let dry
• store in the freezer for 6 to 8 weeks

If the cultivation takes place in the garden, you can dispense with the stratification in the freezer. The propagation in the bed takes a long time and demands a lot of patience from the passionate hobby gardener.

• choose a suitable place in the bed
• Remove dead plant parts and stones
• press the seeds into the substrate
• only cover a few millimeters with soil

If the weather cooperates, the delicate green of the young barberries should show itself in warm spring. Prick out the individual plants as soon as they have reached a height of about 15 cm. Alternatively, it is possible to prefer the Thunberg barberry in a container.

• sowing is carried out in February in a shallow container
• the location on the windowsill should be cool and light
• Avoid places in full sun
• Press seeds into the substrate
• keep evenly moist

A high level of humidity cannot accelerate the germination of the small seeds. Sea buckthorn is a shallow rooted plant. The young plants should be separated before the fine network of roots of the shrubs grows together.

Plant Thunberg barberry as a privacy screen

Berberis thunbergii is an interesting plant that brings structure and variety to home gardens and parks. The Thunberg barberry is most often found in group planting. The width, height and the dense foliage serve as a summer green privacy screen. Anyone who wants to use the wood to delimit the property should take certain factors into account.

• the legal minimum distance to streets and neighbors should be observed
• choose the optimal location
• Hedge barberry form a flat network of roots
• The hedge should be freely accessible for regular maintenance

Depending on the terrain and the planned length of the hedge, it is easy to lose track of things. Before the first groundbreaking, it is advisable to mark the area with barrier tape and bamboo sticks. At this point in time, irregularities can still be corrected without any problems. Digging up the plants is more complex. The Thunberg barberry can be planted all year round on frost-free days. Late summer has proven itself. In this way, the barberry family can take root and prepare for the upcoming winter.

With hedge plants, the minimum distance between the individual shrubs plays an important role. Over the years the barberry can reach a maximum width of 2 m. If you use these measurements to calculate the planting distance, you will not have much fun with your deciduous privacy screen. The closer the bushes are set, the sooner the shoots and leaves form an opaque area. However, planting too close together can affect the development of sea buckthorn. A distance of 50 to 60 cm has proven itself when creating hedges.

• dig the area generously
• the soil should be loosened to a depth of 30 cm
• Mix the substrate with clay, sand and compost
• Add pebbles or expanded clay
• insert the plants
• fill the cavities with the prepared soil
• pour vigorously

Similar to the planting of trees, a watering edge has proven itself in the hedge plants. To do this, a small cone of earth is piled up around the stem. This ensures that the rain and irrigation water quickly seeps into the ground.

Cultivation as a solitary plant

The Thunberg barberry is not a crop that only comes into its own as a hedge plant. Dreary walls, fences and garden corners quickly disappear behind the thick leaves of the barberry. Decorative frame in the foreground blooming Ground coversuch as upholstery phlox, geraniums and rose primroses, the thorny plants.

• indulge the roots of bought-in Potted plants a 2-hour bath in the water bucket
• the planting hole should be twice as wide and deep as the root ball
• prepare the substrate if necessary
• insert the barberry up to the upper root neck
• Fill back the earth and silt the soil

Berberis thunbergii is not suitable for delimiting children's playgrounds. All parts of the plant are poisonous and can cause severe symptoms of poisoning if consumed. The red berries of the barberry exert a magical attraction on young children. It makes sense to play it safe and use Thunberg barberry in other garden areas.

Cut

The ornamental trees from Asia are cut compatible plants. Evergreen Perennials often resent cutting back into old wood and it takes a long time before they can recover from it. Berberis thunbergii is the exact opposite. Cutting the shoots covered with thorns is not entirely easy. One careless movement is enough to cause nasty injury. Thick work gloves are mandatory when handling the defensive plant.

• pruning takes place in spring
• Shorten shoots up to 25 cm
• Wilted and transversely growing parts of the plant can always be removed

How much is cut back is a matter of taste. If you want to take the trouble and stay behind, you can regulate the height of the hedge barberry by pruning it back. The shoots of the plants slowly rot. Dispose of the leftovers in a green waste container or shred the pieces with a garden shredder. Half lignified shoots can be used for propagation.

Overwinter

The near-natural hedge is insensitive to frost. She has no objection to the application of a warming layer of brushwood or bark mulch. The material protects the roots of the plant and at the same time supplies the soil with important minerals. The Thunberg barberry belongs to the deciduous sea buckthorn species. So it is not uncommon for the plant to shed its leaves in winter.

Multiply

Propagation by cuttings

Growing from seeds isn't the only way to propagate the popular hedge barberry. As with many perennial plants, the ornamental shrub can be propagated by cuttings. The best time to do this is between December and March. Thick gloves and sturdy rose shears are part of the solid basic equipment for caring for buckthorn.

• Cut 15 cm long, slightly woody shoots
• Defoliate completely except for 2 upper pairs of leaves
• Remove thorns
• Bevel the interface

The cuttings are placed 2/3 deep in lean substrate. This measure can be done either directly in the bed or in a planter in the garden. Despite the cold temperatures, the substrate should never dry out completely. Even short-term drought can lead to the death of the shoots. After the roots have formed, which is noticeable in the form of new leaves and shoots, the young plants can be moved to their final location.

Diseases

Diseases and Pests

Berberis thunbergii is a rustic plant. It is rare for pests and fungal pathogens to colonize the Asian plant. In this particular case, it is advisable to take effective countermeasures immediately.

Root rot

This disease is invariably due to a mistake in care. Wet feet favor the infestation with hose fungi. The toxic secretions of the pathogens attack the roots of the plant and slowly decompose them from within. A strong odor that penetrates from the soil is characteristic of root rot. The disease cannot be controlled by fungicides or biological agents. Many plants regenerate when they are moved into fresh, dry soil. Provided there is still enough healthy root mass left.

Aphids

The cell sap sucking insects are inevitably part of the garden's inventory. Their existence regulates itself in a natural landscape. Predators, such as lacewing larvae and ladybirds, literally like to eat these insects, which are only a few millimeters in size. With a large hedge barberry, aphids can do little damage. However, there is a risk that the pests will settle on vegetable and other crops and destroy them permanently. Take effective measures against aphids in a timely manner.

• Apply adhesive boards
• Spray diluted nettle liquid manure
• Wipe off infected shoots and leaves with soapy water
• Pour with nettle stock
• Only dispose of wilted shoots and leaves with household waste

Those who do not have a near-natural garden in which the natural predators feel comfortable and multiply themselves can fall back on offspring from specialist retailers. Ladybug larvae and Co. can be conveniently ordered over the Internet. Expose the beneficial insects near the infested plants. The little crawlers will not eliminate the entire population of aphids, but they do contribute visibly to a decimation of the pest population.

sorts

With its small leaves, dense growth and red fruits, Berberis thunbergii is a popular hedge plant. The popular cultivated forms of this hedge barberry include, for example, the following.

'Orange Rocket'

• with red-green leaves

'Atro Nana'

• is an eye-catcher with its red to purple foliage

,Bagatelle'

• has a small growth and is a splash of color in the garden with red leaves

'Admiration'

• has purple leaves with a white border

With the right planning, all representatives of the Thunberg barberry can be cultivated side by side. The different shapes, heights and colored leaves create a contrasting image in the garden.