Preparing a budley for winter with a minimum of funds

Pruning in the fall

In order to enjoy the regular and abundant flowering, buddleya must be pruned in time. In addition, there are a number of reasons confirming the feasibility of this procedure:

1. Aesthetic aspect. The branches of an unkempt plant are strongly elongated. Because of this, the shape of the shrub loses its presentability.
2. Immunity. Regular pruning of the branches stimulates the budlea's resistance to environmental factors and diseases.

Pruning dates in most cases fall in October-November. The main guideline for the gardener will be the blackening of the leaves of the shrub. In order for the autumn pruning to bring the maximum benefit to the shrub, it is necessary to understand the technical aspects of its implementation.

Autumn pruning is carried out in two stages:

• removal of inflorescences, after flowering;
• shortening shoots.

As a result of the procedure, the height of budleia branches should not exceed 25 cm, which will have a positive effect on its spring development. After pruning, the plant is not fed, but systematically hilled. The plant is fertilized with potassium-phosphorus mixtures in early July - this activates the growing season and supplies the bush with the nutrients necessary for abundant flowering.

Video "How to cut a budley for the winter"

This video will show you how to prepare your budley for the winter season.

Winter shelter

How to cover a budley for the winter is a question that worries many novice gardeners. And it is not in vain, because the shelter of the bush is considered one of the most important aspects of care. There is no specific deadline for preparing insulation for the winter. You need to be guided by the peculiarities of the budley variety and the region of residence.

It is possible to cover the shrub only after the cold weather is established on the street. Otherwise, the branches, and with them the root system of the budley, can rot from excess moisture. Shrub seedlings that are not yet frost resistant are recommended to be dug up and stored in the basement.

Adult plants are insulated by the following methods:

1. In northern latitudes, budley is insulated by creating a kind of slate case around the trunk. First, the trunk is covered with a thick layer of dry soil. Then, on top of the soil, a structure of a suitable size is installed, like a box, and covered with slate or roofing material. Sawdust, polyethylene and other heat-insulating materials are unacceptable, as they will inevitably lead to rotting of the root zone of the bush.
2. For regions with severe winters, the method of building a greenhouse is relevant. The trunk of the budley is covered with soil, and the root area is mulched with manure or peat. Arcs are installed along the perimeter, onto which agrotextiles or film are pulled. For additional protection from frost, dry leaves or straw are spread over the greenhouse.

Regional distinctive features

The method of insulating a shrub directly depends on the climatic characteristics of a particular region. In Siberia and the Urals, many gardeners use sawdust as organic insulation. They are poured on top of a plant cut off and covered with a special material.The disadvantage of this method is the ability of sawdust to absorb moisture, which often causes decay and death of autumn lilacs.

In the Moscow region, where winters are relatively mild, a kind of greenhouse made of polyethylene is being built over the budley. This is more than enough for a comfortable wintering of the plant. Residents of the Volga region install a greenhouse, on top of which a thick layer of mulch is distributed, which provides a high level of thermal insulation.

Frost-resistant varieties

There are frost-resistant varieties that perfectly tolerate winter without any additional insulation. They can be grown even in severe frost conditions. These include budleys:

• Wilson;
• Vicha;
• David;
• snowy;
• white-flowered.

Novice growers often make a number of mistakes that negatively affect even such a resistant plant. Among them:

• early warming, which is fraught with decay of the root system;
• dressing made under the bush in the fall;
• belated opening of budley in spring, as a result of which the plant rot.

Many summer residents give their preference to wooded shrubs. It is famous for its enchanting autumn bloom and honey notes in the aroma.

The flowering period, by the way, is much longer for Budleia than for other horticultural crops. Its unpretentious advantage is its unpretentiousness - many plant varieties perfectly tolerate both summer drought and frost in the cold season. The gardener can only take care of her wintering: prepare the plant itself and a cozy shelter for it. A responsible and patient florist will certainly be rewarded with the lush and fragrant flowering of this shrub.