Wigbush » Planting, care, pruning and more

Plant twig bush correctly

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

• Enrich the excavation with rock flour, horn shavings and compost
• Heavy soil gets more permeability with a few handfuls of quartz sand
• Insert the potted root ball and dig deep enough so that it is flush with the soil

Tamp down the soil and water generously on the day of planting and afterwards without causing waterlogging.

care tips

It is a clear flowchart that provides direction for proper care. So that the wig tree feels at home and thrives vitally, it depends on these donations:

• Water the ornamental tree with normal tap water when it is dry
• monthly Fertilize with compost or nettle manure is an advantage from April to August
• more nitrogenous complete fertilizer impairs flowering and decorative infructescence
• With the help of a gift or two garden lime stabilize the pH to 7 and higher
• mulching with leaves, grass clippings or bark mulch keeps the soil warm and moist
• Annual thinning in early spring and pruning only when necessary

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

Which location is suitable?

The wig tree develops its optimum in a sunny, warm and sheltered location. The ornamental tree also tolerates a partially shaded location, although the habit here falls short of the high expectations. His demands on the soil conditions are limited. As long as it is normal, well-drained garden floor with a light to medium lime content, the sumac happily spreads its roots. Only with strongly acidic soil, the plant can not make friends.

The right planting distance

In a solitary position, a wig tree is impressively staged. Therefore settle one specimen 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 lime content. In particular, there should be no risk of waterlogging, so the immediate vicinity of a body of water should be avoided. In contrast, the ornamental tree is remarkably drought-resistant, which makes it easy to position in a sun-drenched rock garden.

What is the best planting time?

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 tree is planted in the ground during the months of September and October, there are good prospects of flowering in the first year. Another time window for planting opens in spring, as soon as the ice saints have said goodbye.

When is flowering time?

The period of the rather inconspicuous flowering extends over the months of June and July. In a sheltered location, it sometimes begins as early as May and does not end until August. Depending on the variety, the flowers unfold in a subtle, yellowish hue or in a pink to purple nuance. Although the flowers thrive less conspicuously, the spectacular development of the infructescence with the wig-like hairs does not take place without their preliminary work.

Properly cut twig bush

In general, the wig tree develops a harmonious silhouette without any horticultural intervention. Since the wood can take on impressive dimensions with good care, pruning is still an option due to the lack of space. Since a Cotinus coggygria shows itself to be pleasantly tolerant in this respect, proceed as follows if necessary:

• Thin out the wig bush thoroughly between February and April
• Shorten branches that are too long to the desired length
• Start each cut 2-3 mm above an outward knot

In addition, a wig tree can tolerate a radical pruning by half to two thirds. In this case, however, this year's flowering and thus the fluffy wig costume in autumn falls by the wayside.
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Pour twig bush

Don't water a wig tree on a hard-packed schedule, but generally as needed. Water with normal tap water only when the soil surface has dried 3-5 cm deep. This may be required every 2-3 days during dry summer periods and every 1-2 weeks or even less frequently during a rainy spring. Enter the water with the garden hose or the watering can spout directly on the tree discto avoid sprinkling of flowers and leaves.

Fertilize the peregrine shrub properly

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

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

Avoid using nitrogen-rich compound fertilizers because this oversupply will Leaf growth drives forward while flowering and the consequent conspicuous infructescence stays behind. If the growth performance falls short of expectations, adding garden lime is more likely to solve the problem.

Diseases

If the foliage hangs limply and entire branches die off, the suspicion arises that Verticillium wilt has struck. First check by extensive watering whether drought stress can be ruled out. If the damage does not improve, the fungal spores Verticillium albo-atrum and Verticillium dahliae clog the supply pathways in the wig tree. Immediately cut back all affected branches down to the healthy wood. In addition, dispose of any fallen leaves in the household waste. With a bit of luck, the plant will recover in the early stages of infestation. Otherwise, the wood should be cleared over a large area to counteract the further spread of this infectious disease in the garden. Effective control agents have not yet been developed.

hibernate

A well-established wig tree gets through the cold season on its own. Only in the first two years and in the bucket should the following precautions be taken to ensure a healthy winter:

• Cover the tree disc with autumn leaves, straw or a thick layer of needle brushwood
• Wrap the young crown and trunk with jute ribbons
• Cover a bucket with bubble wrap or bubble wrap and place on a block of wood
• Water a little every now and then when there is a frost

In the pot there is always a risk that the root ball will freeze through. In case of doubt, the wig tree should therefore be placed in a frost-free winter quarters, which can be quite dark, before the first frost. Water the shrub only enough to keep the root ball from drying out and do not apply fertilizer.

Propagate peregrine bush

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

• Pull the sinker to the ground, dig in the middle and leave to root until next year
• Cut several 15-20 cm long sticks in winter and plant them in lean substrate
• sowing of seeds behind glass from February

How do I plant correctly?

Within the first 5 years you can still transplant a twig tree without hesitation. Choose a frost-free day during the hibernation for this measure. Before doing so, cut back the shoots by about a third to compensate for the loss of root volume. After the transplanting campaign, an extensive water supply is of the utmost importance for vital root formation.

Periwinkle bush in a pot

In order for a twig tree to thrive in a pot, knowledgeable breeders have produced small 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 powder ensures the required lime content. Drainage made of potsherds or grit over the water debris is essential to prevent waterlogging in the first place.

Is peregrine poisonous?

Classified as a locust plant and due to the botanical relationship with poison ivy, a poison content was suspected for a long time. Extensive field tests have now shown that a twig tree poses no health risk to humans or animals.

Peruvian bush does not bloom

There are various reasons behind when a twig tree does not bloom. The following brief overview indicates the most common triggers for the dilemma with tips on how to rectify them:

• Unsuitable location: Relocate to a sunny, warm place
• Waterlogging: Water less and, if necessary, transplant into permeable, loose soil
• Too acidic soil: Test the PH value to lime the twig 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 self-propagation by sowing, 3 years and more will pass before the first blossom. Therefore, exercise a little patience until a young plant flowers for the first time.

Beautiful varieties

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