Plant, care for, cut and more

Plant daphne correctly

The linchpin of a professional planting is the preparation of the soil. Remove all weeds, roots and stones from the soil. To optimize permeability, add some sand, fine grit or expanded clay to loamy soil. Meanwhile, the still potted root ball remains in a vessel with water until no more air bubbles rise. The ideal planting pit is 1.5 times wider than the root ball and is at least 60 cm deep. Pot the soaked one daphne and put it in the middle of the pit. Now fill in the soil to such an extent that the previous planting depth is maintained. Finally, water and spread some fall leaves as a mulch.

care tips

The relevant program items for proper care of daphne can be counted on one hand. How to do it right:

• Water young plants regularly, later only during summer drought
• Fertilize only required in the pot from March to August every 30 days
• Cut back immediately after flowering
• Light winter protection advisable in the year of planting and for potted plants

So that the all-round feel-good program for daphne does not result in health problems for the Gärtner münden must not fail to wear long-sleeved clothing, long trousers and gloves will. The high poison content of all Daphne species should not be underestimated.
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Which location is suitable?

Daphne is found in a wide variety of habitats around the world. The ornamental tree does not make any significant demands on the light and temperature conditions. The condition of the soil is more relevant for magnificent growth. The following overview lists all important factors:

• Sunny, semi-shady position to light shade
• Warm, airy and easily exposed to the wind
• Well-drained soil with a neutral to alkaline pH
• Fresh to dry and without risk of waterlogging

Please keep toxicity in mind when choosing the location. Are the framework conditions still the most perfectly suited; Daphne should not be placed where children and pets are within reach.
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What soil does the plant need?

Looking at the natural occurrences, it becomes clear that you will not get much pleasure from a daphne in moist, nutrient-rich soil. Instead, allocate the ornamental shrub to a spot in the rock garden's lean, well-drained soil. Where these ideal conditions are not given, you can create an appropriate balance with soil additives. Heavy, loamy soil is enriched with grit, sand, peat and compost. Vitalize impoverished soil by adding Thomaskali, algae lime or Agrosil.

What is the best planting time?

With a planting date in autumn, a daphne receives excellent starting conditions for a vital plant life. In sun-warmed soil, the roots can establish themselves in good time before winter. In addition, no unfavorable drought stress is to be expected in the rainy autumn. If you miss the ideal time, plant Daphne species in the spring, taking care to ensure an adequate water supply in the first few days and weeks.

When is flowering time?

The flowering period of daphne extends from March to April. After a mild winter, the flowering shrub heralds the approach of spring as early as the end of February. With this very early start, however, comes the risk of frost damage to the buds. So keep the weather forecast in Eye, to cover the branches with jute or fleece at night when the ground frost is announced.
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Cut daphne correctly

As a classic herald of spring, daphne blossoms and bears fruit on the previous year's wood. Therefore, cut the ornamental shrub immediately after flowering. Since you are removing most of the autumnal berry decorations, this measure is only taken if it is actually necessary. A maintenance cut is necessary at least every 3-4 years, otherwise the wood will bare from the inside. How to proceed professionally:

• Put on long-sleeved clothing, long pants and gloves
• Cut off too long shoots by a maximum of one third
• Always position the scissors 2mm above an outward facing eye
• Cut deadwood at the base
• Completely remove stunted, diseased and rubbing branches

Avoid a pruning that shortens the shoots by more than 30 percent. Daphne could react angrily to this and reduce or completely stop growth.
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water daphne

Once a daphne has gained a foothold in the bed, you will rarely make your way there with a watering can. Until then, an adequate water supply is advisable so that the root system can branch out as desired. Water young plants regularly in the early days without causing waterlogging. In the further course, normal rainfall is sufficient for a balanced water balance. In the bucket, on the other hand, a sip of water is always required when the top 2 cm of the substrate has dried.

Fertilize daphne properly

Planted Daphne species do not require fertilizer. On the contrary, if the supply of nutrients is too plentiful, it will result in masty growth that weakens the plant as a whole. Due to its remarkably long roots, daphne is easily able to feed itself completely self-sufficiently. However, this does not apply to potted plants, since the supplies are quickly used up in the limited substrate volume. Here you fertilize every 30 days from March to August with a commercially available liquid preparation.

hibernate

A well-established daphne endures the lowest minus temperatures without complaint. It's less the freezing cold that causes problems than the change between thawing and freezing weather. The blazing winter sun in connection with frost also causes problems for the wood. The care program for the winter therefore includes these points:

• Protect the root disk in the bed with a layer of autumn leaves, straw, leaf compost or needle brushwood
• Cover the bucket with bubble wrap and place on insulating wood or polystyrene
• Cover the substrate with leaves, straw or pine fronds

If winter comes with frost, with no snow cover under bright sunshine and freezing cold, water daphne on mild days.

multiply daphne

In order to enjoy the benefits of daphne in other places in the bed and on the balcony, hobby gardeners use the following methods of propagation:

• Take summer cuttings in June/July, root them in the pot and plant them out in autumn
• Take autumn cuttings in September and cultivate them behind glass in lean substrate until February/March
• sowing seeds taken from the berries

While cuttings root within a few weeks, sowing takes more time and requires an increased amount of work. The seed is subject to a natural germination inhibition, which can only be eliminated with the help of stratification. To do this, place the (very poisonous) seeds in a bag with moist sand in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator for 6-8 weeks. Then scatter the seeds on lean seed soil and sieve them thinly with sand. In the period that follows, keep the substrate constantly moist in a partially shaded window seat at 20-25 degrees Celsius. Seedlings with at least 2 pairs of leaves are pricked out.
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How do I plant correctly?

The very deep rooting of a daphne makes a change of location difficult if not impossible. Since digging up is always accompanied by an injury to the branched root system, the wood will not grow in the new place. A resettlement is more promising if you take cuttings from the plant, root them in the pot and plant them in the new place.

Daphne in pot

A wealth of magnificent Daphne species and hybrids thrive in pots. Thanks to the wide range of locations, you can solve many a decoration problem on the balcony and terrace with the ornamental tree. The most important prerequisite for vigorous growth is a well-drained, lean substrate. commercial potting soil is optimized with fine grit, sand, or expanded clay lava granules. To prevent waterlogging, some potsherds above the water outlet are used. Care is limited to the following measures:

• When the top 1-2 cm of the potting soil dries up, it is watered
• Apply a liquid fertilizer every 30 days from March to August
• Shortly after flowering, cut off too long shoots

Before the first frost, wrap the pot with bubble wrap, cover the substrate with leaves and fir fronds. So that the cold does not penetrate to the roots from below, place the jar on a block of wood. Planters with a diameter of less than 30 cm move to a frost-free winter quarters.

Is Daphne poisonous?

The sight of a lavishly blooming Daphne belies the extremely high poison content. In fact, the decorative wood has a dark side. The plant pathways are permeated by toxic ingredients that can be deadly in the worst case. The health threat is by no means limited to the consumption of the poisonous berries, but is already noticeable with slight skin contact in the form of inflammation up to bubble throw. Daphne species should therefore only be part of the planting plan if the garden is inaccessible to children and pets. In addition, wearing protective clothing for all planting and care work is the gardener's top priority.

Daphne does not bloom

There are various reasons for the lack of the longed-for spring blossom. The most common trigger for this shortcoming is a pruning at the wrong time. If the shrub becomes too voluminous, cut back immediately after flowering. As part of later pruning measures, the buds that have already formed are removed so that the next flower fails. If the offending daphne is a specimen propagated by seedling, the first flowers appear 3-4 years after sowing at the earliest.

Beautiful varieties

• Rosemary Daphne: Robust variety with ground cover qualities and after cloves fragrant pink flowers
• Rubra: Mighty flowering shrub, up to 200 cm high and flowers early from the end of February; one of the most poisonous varieties
• Eternal Fragrance: Magnificent variety with white-pink flowers that linger in mild areas until May/June
• Plena: Premium variety of daphne with full, white flowers and a compact height of up to 100 cm
• Variegata: Robust Daphne variety with pink flowers and variegated leaves