Oregon grape ∗ The 10 best care and planting tips

Plant Oregon grape correctly

Before starting the actual planting, place the potted root ball in a bucket of lukewarm water. Then loosen the soil thoroughly and create a spacious planting pit. If the soil quality does not reach the optimum, add soil additives such as compost, Horn shavings(€ 32.93 at Amazon *) or sand. It continues in these steps:

• Pot the plant and place it in the middle of the pit
• Plant so deep that the top of the root ball is a few centimeters below the ground
• Press the substrate on and pour it immediately

In the bucket you spread a drainage over the water drain in the ground, as an effective prevention against waterlogging. Suitable materials are potsherds, grit or Expanded clay.(€ 16.36 at Amazon *)

Care tips

There is hardly an ornamental shrub that is easier to care for. Pour the Oregon grape in the bed when it is dry and in the bucket regularly. When budding begins, the plant is happy to receive a starter fertilizer in the form of compost or liquid fertilizer. After the hibernation, clear the wood thoroughly. The plant is ideally given a shape and maintenance cut immediately after flowering. In order for the Oregon grape to develop an opaque privacy screen as a hedge, it can withstand repeated cuts throughout the year in order to encourage the shoots to branch out vitally. As long as it doesn't freeze or the blazing sun is shining, she'll come Secateurs can be used without hesitation.

Which location is suitable?

The Oregon grape is considered to be extremely location tolerant. The splendid shrub achieves its optimum in the Penumbra. The plant thrives in a sunny location as long as the soil is moist enough. In addition, the ornamental wood does not deny the enchanting flowering of flowers even in the shady location. The flexibility continues with regard to the soil quality, because whether as a hedge or solitary, the oregon grape spreads in every normal Garden soil joyfully take off their roots.

The correct planting distance

The tall species and varieties come into their own in a solitary position. In this case, settle one bush per square meter. If the plant acts as an opaque hedge, the growth width defines the planting distance. For the majestic Mahonia 'Winter Sun' with a width of 80 to 150 cm, you are exactly right with 100 cm distance to the neighbor. Ideally, you should place 3 specimens of the dwarf variety 'Apollo' per running meter.

What soil does the plant need?

Mahonia feels in good hands in common garden soil. Ideally, the soil is humus, sandy-loamy and rich in nutrients. The top priority is first-class permeability, because the shrub does not want to be confronted with waterlogging. When cultivated in a planter, a commercially available compost-based potted plant soil comes into question, with a few handfuls Lava granules(€ 14.00 at Amazon *) or expanded clay is enriched.

What is the best time to plant?

Regardless of whether the Oregon grape acts as a solitary shrub or an opulent hedge, the planting time extends over the entire growing season. The ornamental wood gets ideal starting conditions for a long plant life when it is placed in the sun-warm soil in autumn.

When is the flowering time?

At no time of the year do you have to go without the enchanting panicle blossom of an Oregon grape. The shrub is available in a variety of species and varieties, which come up with different flowering times. For example, if you combine the following varieties in a hedge, there is always a flower to admire:

• Winter Sun (Mahonia media): Flowering period from January to April
• Ornamental Oregon Grape (Mahonia bealei): Flowering period from late February to April
• Common Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium): Flowering period from April to May
• Chinese mahonia (Mahonia bealei) blooms from June to August
• Charity (Mahonia x media) flowering from September to November
• Hivernant (Mahonia japonica): Flowering period from November to February

Cut Oregon grape correctly

The Oregon grape is one of the ornamental trees that are compatible with pruning. This characteristic implies that corrective interventions on the hedge or the bush with scissors are possible at any time during the year. The central pruning should preferably be done after flowering, as at other times there is a risk of accidentally removing the buds that have already been created. In early spring, the shrub should also be thinned out thoroughly by cutting off all dead wood at the base.

Pour Oregon grape

The frugal shrub is content with the natural rainfall in normal weather conditions. Only in summer drought do you water the plant directly on the Tree grate. The substrate dries out faster in the bucket, so the moisture content has to be checked every few days in order to water if necessary.

Fertilize Oregon grape properly

The deep-rooted shrub takes care of itself in the sufficiently nutrient-rich soil. On the other hand, in rather poor soil and in the bucket, we recommend starting fertilization in spring with compost or liquid fertilizer, which should be refreshed every 2-3 weeks during the flowering period. Winter-blooming varieties gratefully accept a layer of mulch made from nutritious leaf soil or compost, as this also provides better protection for the soil from frosty temperatures.

Diseases

If the plant is weakened as a result of neglect of care, the following diseases strike mercilessly:

• mildew: Treat with a mix of fresh milk and water in a ratio of 1: 9
• Rust disease: Carry out a radical cut back in the case of red and yellow pustules on the leaves

Overwinter

Only common Oregon grape has an unconditional winter hardiness in the Central European climate. Highly bred varieties have lost part of their frost resistance in favor of their beauty. The evergreen ornamental trees are all sensitive to the intense winter sun. So give the shrub the following winter protection:

• Before the first frost, spread a layer of mulch from leaves, coniferous twigs or compost
• Protect the shoots from sunlight in winter with reed mats or jute ribbons
• Wrap the bucket with several layers of bubble wrap and place it on a wooden block
• Move the shrub to a shady location in the planter during winter

Since the plant wears its green foliage all year round, evaporation continues at a reduced level in winter. So water the shrub and hedge every now and then on a frost-free day.

Propagate Oregon grape

A garden gem, such as the Oregon grape, understandably arouses the desire for more specimens. Choose one of the following methods of propagation:

• Cut cuttings in summer in order to plant them in the partially shaded location
• Division of the root ball in autumn or spring
• Cut off vital runners and place them in the new place in the earth

In addition, you can harvest the berries and take the seeds from them. After stratification, sow the light germs, preferably from behind glass, and care for the seedlings until they are planted out from a height of 20 cm.

How do I transplant properly?

The Oregon grape can handle a change of location well if it is carried out during the sap dormancy. Cut the shrub back by about a third to compensate for the lost root volume. Then cut off the roots widely and lift the plant out of the ground in order to plant it in the new place without any further delay. A plentiful supply of water in the next few weeks will largely determine the success of the campaign.

Oregon grape in the pot

There is no doubt that the care of an Oregon grape is a little more extensive in a pot than in the garden bed. However, the effort remains manageable, as the following list of all important measures shows:

• Regularly check with a thumb test whether there is a need for watering
• Water the plant directly on the root area and do not irrigate
• From the beginning of the budding until the end of the flowering period, apply liquid fertilizer every 2-3 weeks
• Before winter, cover the earth with leaves and protect the shoots from the sun with jute ribbons
• Water the evergreen plant every now and then on frost-free days

So that the shrub does not grow over your head in the pot, cut it back by a third immediately after flowering. In addition, the plant should be thinned out after winter.

Is Oregon Grape Poisonous?

The use of Mahonia berries as jam or fruit wine should not hide the low toxicity of the plant. Toxic berbin is contained in all parts. The shrub is primarily of concern for toddlers up to 3 years of age and for pets. If the berries are eaten raw, they cause unpleasant symptoms of intoxication such as vomiting, stomach pain and diarrhea.

Brown leaves

Brown leaves in spring indicate frost damage or damage. Burns from the intense winter sun. Thanks to the robust cut tolerance of an Oregon grape, remove the discolored, frozen leaves to make room for new shoots. For the next winter season, we recommend protecting the shrub and hedge with raffia or reed mats.

What is the difference between Mahonia and Barberry?

There is no doubt that the Oregon grape and the barberry are closely related botanically. The classification into a common or separate plant genus is still controversial among botanists. Nevertheless, the following differences are obvious, which distinguish an Oregon grape from the barberry:

• Panicle-like inflorescences
• Evergreen, imparipinnate foliage
• No thorns
• Edible berries

At the latest when you reach into a barberry, you will painfully realize an essential difference to Oregon grape, because this shrub is littered with sharp thorns.

Nice varieties

• Winter Sun: Magnificent winter bloomer as a solitary and hedge from January to April with light yellow flowers; Growth height 150-200 cm
• Apollo: Compact plant with thorny, serrated foliage that turns reddish in winter; Growth height 50-80 cm
• Ornamental Oregon grape: a top-class shrub thanks to its light yellow flowers and blue-black frosted fruits; Growth height 200 cm
• Orange Flame: The plant impresses with bright orange autumn leaves; the ideal shrub for the bucket; Height 50 cm
• Creeping Oregon grape: Ground cover plant for shady locations that eagerly forms runners; Height of growth 30 cm
• Hivernant: Beautiful Japanese Oregon grape that blooms in yellow from November to February; Height 100-150 cm
• Charity: Autumn flowering shrub for almost all locations from sunny to shady; Growth height 200 cm