Tamarix or comber - a shrub or a small tree of amazing beauty and grace. The height usually reaches 3-4 meters, but some plants reach 5 m. Thin branches-twigs are covered with small leaves of bluish-green color, reminiscent of scales. Especially unusual looks during the flowering period from the beginning of summer to October, its multiple pink or white flowers are collected in racemose inflorescences, and their unrevealed buds resemble small beads, so the people of Tamarix are also called a bead. This perennial plant has more than 75 varieties, widely distributed from Europe to India itself. Particularly common in the East of Russia and in Siberia.
Tamarix is recommended for growing both group and single, well suited for creating hedges . It looks good in combination with other elegant bushes - spirea, a practical. You can plant a number of plants that bloom simultaneously with the comber, or you can "replace" it at the end of the flowering period. Effectively grown up bushes will look and against the background of a variety of ground cover plants.
Tamarix - planting and care
Grebenshchik belongs to the number of unpretentious plants. It is salt tolerant, and the glands on its leaves themselves excrete salt. Well tolerates the conditions of the city. The ideal place for its landing is well-lit or slightly shaded. The soil is undemanding, the only condition is that the soil must be well drained - the bush categorically does not tolerate water stagnation. It grows well on dense and even clay soils, but in this case, when planting in a pit, humus and peat should be added.
Planting seedlings carried out in early spring. It is better to take young seedlings, adult plants take root much worse. To do this, good drainage is laid on the bottom of the landing pit, wood ashes, organic fertilizers are added. Immediately after planting, the plant needs abundant watering.
Water the plant moderately and then only in the dry period. Under normal conditions, it can do without irrigation. Well tolerates tamarix and pruning, which is produced in the garden in order to give the bush the necessary shape. In conditions of high humidity and lack of wind on young shoots of bushes, sometimes there are dark spots - this is mold, which has a disastrous effect on the condition of the plant. Affected shoots should also be cut and burned.
In general, the beaded birch is frost-resistant, can withstand a temperature drop down to -28 ° C, therefore, as a rule, does not need a winter shelter. But some of its species carry the cold worse, so they should be prepared for the onset of colds - wrapped in cloth or polyethylene. If the branches are still frozen, they should be cut in spring. In their place very soon grow new - the plant is quickly restored. Tamarix is transplanted only if necessary - in one place it can grow for decades without losing its decorative properties.
Tamarix - reproduction by cuttings
Reproduction of the comber is made with the help of offspring, seeds, but more often by means of cuttings. Cutting of tamarix is best done in autumn. To do this, trim the stiff cuttings and place them in a container of water, or immediately plant on an open ground to a depth of 20 cm, after which the seedling should be watered. Before planting the soil should be prepared - loosen and make organic fertilizers. When rooting cuttings in water, it should be periodically poured, and they can be planted immediately after the appearance of the roots. For wintering, planted cuttings must be mulched using sawdust or peat, and in spring they can already be transplanted to a permanent place.