Horizontal cotoneaster

The horizontal cotoneaster, named for its decorative name "Corallian extravaganza", is a small evergreen, thick-bush shrub, with horizontally spread out shoots. This decorative plant has rounded shiny leathery leaves that tightly envelop the densely branched branches, and in the fall change the color from green to fiery red. The small pinkish-white flowers of the cotoneaster are blossomed at the end of May and please their bloom only three weeks, somewhere until the middle of June. Then on the bush appear bright red fruits, which sometimes can last on the plant until the spring of next year.

Canteen horizontal - planting and care

The cotoneaster horizontal is a rather unpretentious plant that is able to adapt to various growth conditions. It is worth noting that the cotoneaster is photophile, but quietly tolerates and shaded places. This shrub is more or less demanding for the fertility of the soil and is quite indifferent to its moisture content. Thus, the optimal soil composition for the cotoneaster will be a mixture of sand, turf and peat compost in a proportion of 2: 2: 1. In addition, during planting it is very important to arrange for a good drainage plant 10-20 cm thick from broken brick or gravel.

The horizontal cotoneaster perfectly grows in conditions of minimal care. As a rule, the plant requires watering only in the hot and

dry summer, and with a relative norm of precipitation, the shrub can not be watered at all. Periodically it is worth loosening the soil around the cotoneaster, removing the weeds. Fertilize the plant twice a year: in spring and summer before flowering. In the spring, complex mineral fertilizers are introduced into the soil, and in the summer they usually fertilize the earth with sulfuric kalium or granulated superphosphate . In addition, the horizontal cousin perfectly responds to pruning. As a rule, it is carried out in early March, when there is still no sowing. During the cutting, weak and damaged shoots are removed after the winter, as well as shoots that cross or grow into the bush. For the winter branches of the cotoneaster, you can bend the ground and cover with a small layer of dry leaves or peat.

Horizontal cotoneaster - reproduction

Reproduction of the cotoneaster is possible in several ways: seeds, cuttings, layers and grafting. The least effective method is the cultivation of the cotoneaster horizontal from seeds, and the most successful - green cuttings. As a rule, seeds give very low germination, not more than 50%, while propagation by cuttings guarantees almost 100% rooting. However, in order for the process of reproduction of the cotoneaster with cuttings to be more successful, it is important to provide them with fertile soil and cover with plastic wrap.

Grades of the cotoneaster horizontal

To the horizontal form of the bush are varieties of different origin. One of them is the evergreen horizontal cotoneer Variegatus, which becomes especially attractive in the autumn period, when on its leaves a narrow white or cream border appears. Also, the powerful and fast-growing Perpusillus and the evergreen shrub Sakhatilis are considered to be horizontal, with recumbent branches and tiny leaves.

Due to its decorativeness, the horizontal cotoneaster is often used in landscape design, in the form of single landings or in the creation of various compositions. This shrub perfectly forms spectacular hedges and curbs, and is also often used as soil cover plants.