Delphinium before winter: preparation guide, varieties

Delphinium before winter: recommendations for choosing a resistant variety, order of care, pruning, how to prepare a delphinium for winter correctly.

Delphinium flower, beautiful, unusual, attracting the attention of any gardener and just a passing viewer. Garden decoration is the first goal when choosing the various varieties of this flower, and there are more of them. Each variety is original in its beauty, unpretentious and not demanding in special care, therefore it is so appreciated by designers for decorating a summer cottage. The flowers on the stem are arranged in an unusual shape, the color and various shades are very pronounced, flashy-bright, with the correct seating, an enchanting picture is created. But for each culture there must be a special approach. So Delphinium is no exception. So that every year you can observe the flower splendor on your site, you need to know how to prepare the delphinium for the winter, so that it is warm and comfortable, and in the spring, with renewed vigor, the delphinium will begin active development. In the article, we will try to suggest as much as possible how to prepare the delphinium for the winter correctly.

Is it possible to sow a delphinium before winter?

Not everyone has the patience to tinker with seedlings, but there is a great desire to admire the beauty of the summer. Therefore, experienced gardeners proposed an option that is less expensive in time and effort - a delphinium for the winter. The long-awaited early flowering comes on time. Just pay attention to planting in the fall, before the onset of the winter cold. It is only important to remember that it is necessary to sow only after the soil freezes. For such a planting, you can choose any of the multiple varieties. The choice is yours.

At the end of autumn, sowing of seed begins. But according to the advice of gardeners' experience, it is possible in October, when the soil will definitely begin to freeze. There are still a small number of people who recommend the November landing. One little piece of advice. To sow a delphinium before winter, take about 25% more seeds than the usual amount, in case of partial non-germination.

Delphinium before winter: the need for pruning before the winter period

A well-known varietal feature - the plant is quite frost-resistant, the ability to transfer up to -45 degrees, while retaining all its qualities. You can refuse to trim the delphinium when planting before winter in the case when you live in an area where snowfalls and a lot of snow are a constant phenomenon in winter and the culture hibernates under a thick snow blanket. At the moment, winters have ceased to please residents of many regions, those where there should be a lot of snow and severe frosts. Therefore, pruning is essential in such a climate. But even under natural insulation in the form of a snowdrift, a storage problem may arise. Rotting and simply damping off, in the case when there was no trimming. You can, of course, not cut off, but install an additional device for good air permeability, but according to the recommendations, it is still better to cut off all the shoots to a certain level. Do not be lazy and take care of your flowers.

Preparing the delphinium for the winter: the reasons for the negative tolerance of frost

A small percentage of adult plants do die during wintering. Everything seems to be done according to the rules, but alas, it happens sometimes. A number of factors are at play here.Let's highlight several main reasons when the delphinium could not endure wintering.

Climatic conditions and their significance for growing a delphinium before winter

Climate

As mentioned above, the delphinium is a plant that tolerates any weather quite staunchly, from hot climates to frosty winters. The most extreme temperatures are not harmful during wintering under snowdrifts. But when choosing a crop variety, it is necessary to take into account all the recommendations regarding cultivation and storage in the southern regions. In such a territory, weather conditions change very often, the temperature difference occurs in a sharp form. It is the varietal characteristics that will help in choosing a variety for growing in such regions.

The entire list of recommendations is located on the packaging when buying in the store. And buyers very often do not pay attention to such information. Hence the bewilderment when a seemingly suitable variety did not take root or did not survive the winter period. Experts are developing new varieties, especially for the climatic conditions of a particular region. An inattentive choice leads to numerous disappointments, when hopes are not justified when growing a delphinium, that is, a person lost time and spent efforts, but the result is zero. As a result, the gardener simply abandons the idea of ​​decorating his site with such a beautiful plant. Therefore, when choosing a variety, be sure to read all the details of planting and planting.

Dampness and consequences

It must be remembered that high humidity is a great threat to the delphinium. Especially this moment is of great importance in the winter. A large percentage of moisture will lead to decay of the root system, and as a result, the plant dies. To eliminate this problem, we choose an elevated place for planting and create a good drainage system.

Excess moisture must necessarily go deep into the ground, so that this happens faster, during planting, the planting hole is half filled with sand. Although today there is a very large selection of drainage materials. The gardener's experience recommends crushed stone.

Poor pruning

Another problem is created for the inexperienced gardener when he does the wrong pruning of the plant. When the delphinium has faded, they begin pruning all the greenery, just under the base. Which is strictly prohibited. What do they want to get by cutting in this way? Of course, re-flowering. But such manipulation, unfortunately, leads to a significant weakening of the vegetative life of the plant. From here comes the death of an immature plant during winter.

It is necessary to cut off only the inflorescences that have faded, and at the level of the upper leaves. In this way, you will contribute to the re-flowering and excellent tolerance of the winter cold by the plant. Repeat the pruning procedure just before the cold. Some, even during repeated cutting, may make a mistake: there is no need to leave the stem at a height of up to 30 centimeters, and cover the ends with clay. To avoid water getting on the shoots, you just need to break the stem, leave it bent.

Pruning a delphinium for the winter

How to cut a delphinium for the winter and when is it better to do it? In the autumn?

The moment of need for autumn comes depending on the time of flowering. For each variety, such terms are different. About 7 to 14 days. But the main time for the procedure is the last decade of September.
At this point, the weather changes from warmer to fairly stable cold. Pruning is desirable in the morning, and without precipitation. There are recommendations when there is no need to cut off the shoots. They are believed to be easy to break in the spring. You can try both methods, and stop the choice according to the result, which is more convenient for you.

How to prepare a delphinium for the winter?

As with any question, opinions on any fact are always divided into pros and cons. So on the question of the degree of winter hardiness of the delphinium, the opinions of gardeners differed. Some believe that the plant does not require a thorough preparation process for the winter period. The second half categorically insists on such an action, explaining this by the tenderness and capriciousness of the flower, insists on direct intervention, otherwise the flower will simply die in winter. But in fact, at the present time, the variety of plants is sufficient to choose the right variety for your garden, climatic living conditions. Each species has its own biological nuances.

One-year-olds

For a group of one-year-olds, perfect unpretentiousness is characteristic. We can observe the cultivation of such varieties in any region of our planet, from south to north. However, diligence and desire is necessary to observe the healthy development and flowering of the delphinium every year. Therefore, you will have to try.

Already in September, the collection of seed begins, which will have to be stored under certain conditions and according to all recommendations until spring planting. In such cases, there is also a landing before the winter. Sow strictly in a well-lit place, preferably on a permanent one, where these flowers have been grown for a long period. Seeds are placed to a depth of 0.5 centimeters in the ground.

Perennial varieties

For varieties belonging to the perennial group, in the fall, high-quality care and preparation for the winter period begins:

- be sure to cut off all the upper shoots, leaving no more than 30 centimeters above the soil level;
- dry foliage is collected around each bush and must be burned. Why do this? In case of exclusion of diaper rash and overwintering of various pests. Weeds are also destroyed;
- after cleaning from foliage and weeds, loosening of the soil begins;
- remove all supports, stakes installed in the spring.

The process of preparing a plant for winter begins with preparing the stems. To do this, you can use the standard clay scheme. If you find it necessary to create a shelter, do so.

There are cases when the plant needs care during the cold season. In this case, pay attention to watering. Until the very frost, soil moisture continues. Why frequent and systematic watering during the dormant period? Thus, you help the plant to winter comfortably.

Marfin hybrids

Breeders near Moscow have bred a number of hybrids that are not inferior in varietal qualities to foreign brethren. The cultivation of such representatives occurs without special shelter in the regions of the central and northern regions of the country. Whimsical, they belong to the group with minimal requests.

Delphiniums of the Belladonna group

These varieties have an excellent immunity to the cold, typical of regions with harsh winters. Also, no special cover is required. This is the snow cover, perfectly coping with the function of insulation.

Varieties of Pacific and New Zealand breeding

The bred varieties successfully take root in the southern region of our country. They are adapted to such a climate and are not able to survive wintering under normal conditions. Such a feature is due to the fact that a hundred varieties were bred in the subropics. On the territory of the Moscow region, such species are still grown, but they create a shelter, a suitable one is spruce branches. But the plant dies after the first year of flowering.

Storage rules and methods

Regarding how to prepare a delphinium for the winter, there are two versions of this process:

1) correct pruning;
2) use the minimum necessary insulation.

1) in this case, it is necessary to cut off all the shoots, and the place of the cut must be lubricated with a solution of clay. The area around the bush must be mulched. This option is used mainly for regions where snowy winters prevail.
2) this method also requires cutting off the stems and subsequent processing with clay. But for a more comfortable wintering, additional necessary insulation should be created. In most cases, this is an ordinary spruce branch, that is, branches of a coniferous tree of the lower level. Such a shelter is most useful when the winter is quite damp.

Subtleties of the process

If you approach the process of warming and preparation for the winter correctly, this helps to avoid the threat of the appearance of various diseases of the delphinium. A very large percentage of gardeners, especially beginners, make various mistakes when pruning in the fall. They are just choosing the wrong moment. Why is this happening? There is simply no regularity in the growing process, missed the recommended deadlines, delayed the cutting process, and such an attitude can lead to detrimental consequences for the plant. There is a decrease in the full development of functional kidneys and immunity for overwintering.

The shoots of the plant must be cut off only when stable cold weather sets in.

Plants planted in spring develop quite actively until stable frosts and even in the late autumn they can form buds. It is in such a situation that the question arises whether the plant is ready for the coming winter or not.

When the delphinium bush is young enough, by the onset of late autumn it can form buds. But the advantage of a young plant is that even in this state, it can easily endure the winter. This is what distinguishes young flowers from older counterparts. Thanks to their well-developed root system, they are able to resist root decay on their own.

Regions dominated by warm winters are ready for constant, in extreme cases, frequent thaws. It is thanks to such stability in climatic conditions that gardeners begin to prepare the plant for winter very carefully, thinking over any nuances in advance. Above each bush, a kind of hut is erected, the necessary shed. This structure is able to protect the bush from the penetration of excessive moisture and sharp and frequent wind gusts.

Required insulation material

Young plants planted in the spring of the current season always need additional insulation. Simple straw will help to save a young bush from severe frost and abundant snow cover; this is an excellent alternative to the standard shelter made of coniferous spruce branches.

It is not recommended to use foliage or peat for use as cover. Such material is able to retain the amount of excess moisture, and this will lead to the formation and excellent development of the fungus and all associated diseases that develop on a mushroom basis. A large amount of moisture attracts particular attention of a variety of pests and slugs.

Already in early spring, the plant wakes up and is completely ready for full development, active growth. Minor night frosts are not able to interfere with this process. There are cases with weak rooting of the plant in the fall, so an additional deepening should be carried out in order to avoid damage to the kidneys.

Delphinium is one of the most beautiful, even magnificent and original and unusual representatives of the floral fauna. Despite the minimal whimsicality, the flower needs some care, the creation of comfortable conditions by a person. This attitude fully contributes to active growth, full development, magnificent, abundant flowering. The use of delphinium in garden decoration is very common.

When all the growing processes start to flow, the plant responds in kind. Sluggish development, little or no bloom. As the worst case scenario, the death of the plant. The most common period for plant withering away is winter.Inappropriate care, disregard for their plantings, nullifies all efforts. Delphinium does not require constant attention and long-term care, but a minimum of rules on agricultural techniques for growing such a flower must still be observed. And only in this case, your garden will be decorated with a beautiful, charming, amazing plant, delighting your views.

Sowing delphinium for the winter: video