Wig Bush »Planting, Grooming, Cutting and More

Plant the wig bush properly

With the professional planting, you lay the horticultural foundation for the brilliant autumn spectacle of a wig bush. The months of September and October are considered the optimal planting time, when the soil is deeply warmed by the sun's rays. While you are preparing the clod in fine crumbs, the still potted root ball is soaked with water until no more air bubbles rise. The perfect planting pit is twice as large in diameter as the root ball and corresponds in depth to its height. Proceed in these steps:

• Enrich the excavation with Rock flour, Horn shavings and compost
• Heavy earth can be made more permeable with the help of a handful of quartz sand
• Insert the potted root ball and bury it deep enough so that it is flush with the earth

Tread on the soil and water abundantly on the day of planting and afterwards without causing waterlogging.

Care tips

It is a clear process plan that indicates the direction for proper maintenance. So that the wig tree feels at home and thrives vitally, these contributions are important:

• If it is dry, water the ornamental wood with normal tap water
• Monthly Fertilize with compost or nettle manure is beneficial from April to August
• Nitrogen-stressed Complete fertilizer affects the flower and the decorative fruit cluster
• With the help of a gift or two Garden lime stabilize the pH at 7 and higher
• Mulching leaves, grass clippings or bark mulch keep the soil warm and moist
• Annual thinning in early spring and pruning only if necessary

The wig tree only requires light winter protection in the first two years outdoors. In pot culture, we recommend placing the plant in frost-free, dark winter quarters. Alternatively, wrap the bucket in foil and place it on an insulating material such as styrofoam or wood.

Which location is suitable?

The wig tree develops its optimum in a sunny, warm and sheltered location. The ornamental wood also tolerates a partially shaded location, but here the habitus falls short of the high expectations. Its demands on the nature of the soil are limited. As long as it is normal, well-drained Garden soil trades with a light to medium lime content, the sumac happily spreads its roots. The only thing the plant cannot make friends with is strongly acidic soil.

The correct planting distance

In a solitary position, a wig tree impressively sets the scene. So settle one copy per square meter. If the ornamental shrub acts as a decorative hedge, the planting distance should be 100 cm.

What soil does the plant need?

The wig tree feels in good hands in common, well-drained garden soil. Ideally, the substrate is rich in nutrients and has a medium calcium content. In particular, there should be no risk of waterlogging, so that immediate proximity to a body of water should be avoided. In contrast, the ornamental wood proves to be remarkably drought-resistant, which makes it easy to position in the sun-drenched rock garden.

What is the best time to plant?

In the sun-warmed, autumnal soil, you provide the wig tree with first-class starting conditions and a vital growth advantage for the first season. If the ornamental wood comes into the ground during the months of September and October, there are good prospects of flowering in the first year of standing. Another time window for planting opens in spring, as soon as the ice saints have said goodbye.

When is the flowering time?

The period of the rather inconspicuous flowering extends over the months of June and July. At the protected location, it sometimes starts as early as May and does not end until August. Depending on the variety, the flowers unfold in a subtle, yellowish shade or in a pink to purple shade. Although the flowers thrive less noticeably, the spectacular development of the fruit clusters with the wig-like hairs does not take place without your preliminary work.

Cut the wig bush properly

Generally, the wig tree develops a harmonious silhouette without horticultural work. Since the wood can take on imposing dimensions with good care, a cut is still an option due to the lack of space. Since a Cotinus coggygria is pleasantly tolerant in this regard, proceed as follows if necessary:

• Thoroughly thin out the wig bush between February and April
• Shorten branches that are too long to the desired length
• Make each incision 2-3 mm above an outward knot

In addition, a wig tree can withstand a radical cut back by half to two thirds. In this case, however, this year's bloom and with it the fluffy wig costume in autumn falls by the wayside.
Continue reading

Water the wig bush

Don't water a wig tree on a firmly cemented schedule, but basically as needed. Only when the surface of the earth has dried 3-5 cm deep is watered with normal tap water. This may be necessary every 2-3 days during dry summer periods and every 1-2 weeks or even less during a rainy spring. Enter the water with the Garden hose or the watering can spout directly on the Tree grateto avoid watering the flowers and leaves.

Fertilize the wig bush properly

Although the application of fertilizer is not absolutely necessary in the nutrient-rich and calcareous garden soil, a wig tree proves to be grateful for the following extra dose:

• Spread a nutrient-giving layer of mulch, such as autumn leaves or grass clippings
• Fertilize with compost or nettle manure every 4 weeks from April to August
• Apply a liquid fertilizer for flowering trees in the bucket

Avoid using nitrogen-stressed complete fertilizer because this oversupply the Leaves growth while flowering and the resulting conspicuous fruit cluster remains behind. If the growth rate falls short of expectations, adding garden lime tends to solve the problem.

Diseases

If the leaves hang limply and entire branches die off, the suspicion is that the Verticillium wilt has struck. First check by extensive watering whether drought stress can be excluded. If the damage does not improve, the fungus spores Verticillium albo-atrum and Verticillium dahliae clog the supply lines in the wig tree. Immediately cut all affected branches back into the healthy wood. In addition, dispose of any fallen leaves with household waste. With a little luck, the plant will recover in the early infestation stage. Otherwise the wood has to be cleared extensively in order to counteract the further spread of this infectious disease in the garden. Effective control agents have not yet been developed.

Overwinter

A well-established wig tree can get through the cold season on its own. Only in the first two years and in the bucket do the following precautions for healthy wintering:

• Cover the tree slice with autumn leaves, straw or a thick layer of coniferous twigs
• The young crown and trunk are wrapped in jute ribbons
• Cover a bucket with bubble wrap or bubble wrap and place it on a wooden block
• Pour a little every now and then when it is cold

In the pot there is always the risk that the root ball will freeze through. If in doubt, the wig bush should therefore be placed in a frost-free winter quarters that can be dark before the first frost. Only water the wood so much that the root ball does not dry out and do not use fertilizer.

Propagate the wig bush

If you would like more specimens of the spectacular ornamental shrub, you can choose from the following methods of propagation:

• Pull the sinker to the ground, dig it in the middle and let it take root until the next year
• In winter, cut several cuttings 15-20 cm long and plant them in poor substrate
• sowing of seeds behind glass from February

How do I transplant properly?

You can still replant a wig tree without hesitation within the first 5 years. For this measure, choose a frost-free day during hibernation. Before doing this, cut back about a third of the shoots to compensate for the loss of root volume. Following the transplanting action, an ample supply of water is of the highest relevance for vital root formation.

Wig bush in a pot

So that a wig tree can thrive in a pot, knowledgeable breeders have produced small-stature varieties such as Young Lady. Choose a planter with a minimum volume of 30-40 liters and use a nutrient-rich and well-drained substrate. The addition of vital lime or rock flour ensures the required lime content. A drainage made of potsherds or chippings over the water is indispensable, so that waterlogging cannot develop in the first place.

Is the wig bush poisonous?

Classified as a search plant and due to its botanical relationship with poison ivy, it was suspected for a long time that it was toxic. Extensive field tests have now shown that a wig tree does not pose any health risk to humans or animals.

Wig bush does not bloom

There are various causes behind this when a wig tree does not bloom. The following brief overview gives the most common triggers for the dilemma with tips on how to fix them:

• Unsuitable location: move to a sunny, warm place
• Waterlogging: Water less and, if necessary, replant in permeable, loose soil
• Too acidic soil: test the pH value to limescale the wig tree if the value is below 7

In the first two years, a wig tree also takes time to first take root in the ground. If the shrub originates from a hand-made propagation by sowing, it will take 3 years and more into the country until the first flowering. So exercise a little patience until a young plant blooms for the first time.

Nice varieties

• Golden Spirit: The variety has golden yellow leaves that turn reddish in autumn; Growth height 200-250 cm
• Royal Purple: Magnificent wig tree with black-red leaves and feathery fruit clusters in autumn; Growth height 300 cm
• Young Lady: The compact shrub impresses with white-pink flowers from the end of May; ideal for the bucket thanks to its height of 120 cm
• Grace: Majestic new breed up to 4 m, with purple leaves, dark pink flowers and dark red wigs in autumn