All about broom

Broom is a popular shrub that belongs to the legume group of plants. Among the people, this kind is also known under the names of iron ore, zenovka, steppe chiliga. It is worth considering the features of the plant, the varieties in demand, as well as how to grow it at home in the garden.

Broom is a shrub-type plant that grows mainly in Europe, Russia, and the Caucasus. Most often, bushes are found in forests, as well as on forest slopes, in a pine forest. The main characteristics of the species:

• type - evergreen or deciduous plant;
• family - legumes;
• leaves are predominantly trifoliate, less often they have a single form;
• height - in a mature plant up to 3 meters;
• branches - spreading, often lowered;
• flowers are large.

One of the additional interesting names for broom - Golden Rain. And also the bush is called Albus and Olgold. The buds of the shrub delight gardeners with a pleasant aroma, and the bushes - with a lush crown, which in most cases forms independently. The broom for the most part belongs to wild plants, demonstrates excellent frost resistance. Therefore, the bush can easily withstand frosts and survive the winter without additional shelter.

Hybrid broom is not recommended for planting in the shade; it prefers sunny areas more. Otherwise, the likelihood of developing serious diseases and plant death is high. The bush tolerates drought well, does not require additional fertilizers.

The leaves on the bush grow mostly alternately... It is interesting that one stalk accommodates both two leaf plates and one specimen, and in rare cases, stipules can be found at all. The surface of the leaves is decorated with small fluffy fibers of a light gray shade, turning into green. The plates are slightly rough to the touch, but at the same time give off a slight sheen when exposed to sunlight.

Broom inflorescences form a brush and are located closer to the top of the stems. Flowers have predominantly yellowish or purple petals. Shrubs with multi-colored buds are very rare.

Towards the end of summer, the broom forms fruits in the form of beans, inside which there are a large number of seeds. Ripe beans are gradually covered with cracks, and then completely open, releasing seeds out.

Broom is a wild growing culture, therefore it does not need special care, for which it is appreciated by gardeners... Most varieties of shrub are characterized by large and long, upright shoots, thanks to which the bush takes on the shape of a broom. From this follows another name for the broom - broom.

A huge number of broom varieties are known in Russia. So, many have come across a bush "Lena" or "Boskop Ruby". The most popular varieties are worth considering.

The variety grows mainly in mixed forests or northern regions of Russia. Specifications:

• height - up to 1 meter above the ground;
• leaves are medium in size, light green;
• fruits - beans, 3 cm in longitudinal section.

Tall variety with the following characteristics:

• shoots - slightly pubescent;
• stems - tall, green;
• flowers - yellow, irregular in shape;
• fruits are beans.

The variety is characterized by increased winter hardiness, does not need additional shelter when frost occurs. There is a small amount of seeds inside the beans, the total diameter of the fruit does not exceed 2-3 cm.

The name makes it clear what the plant looks like. The variety grows mainly in rocky areas, prefers fertile soils and is completely unstable to severe frosts. With the help of a creeping broom, alpine slides are decorated in landscape design, and rockeries are also equipped. Specifications:

• height - up to 20 cm;
• bush diameter - 0.8 meters;
• flowers - small, yellow tones;
• the fruits are pubescent beans.

Early ripening variety, pleasing with pretty buds already in early spring. Specifications:

• medium-sized bush;
• leaf plates are small, oblong, dark green;
• flowers are yellowish, of medium size.

A small bush, which is also often used in landscape design. Specifications:

• height - up to 1 meter;
• shoots - weak, green;
• inflorescences are large, form up to 15-30 buds;
• flowers are yellow;
• fruits are beans.

It is considered the most common variety of broom, which is characterized by unpretentious care and high resistance to diseases and pests. Specifications:

• bushes - low and branched;
• leaves are medium in size, green in color;
• flowers are golden in color, smooth.

The fruits are beans with few seeds. The shrub grows mainly in loose and fertile soils, so before planting the broom, you should take care of the timely application of fertilizers. It is better to choose a sunny place for disembarkation.

A feature of the shrub is its compact size, which allows it to be used to form interesting compositions in landscape design. Other characteristics:

• height - up to 0.8 meters;
• leaves - small, rich green hue;
• buds are medium in size, yellow or cream;
• fruits are beans.

Another popular compact variety with the following characteristics:

• height - up to 0.6 meters;
• leaves are of medium size, oblong, dark green;
• buds are large, yellowish.

A dwarf variety, first bred two centuries ago. Specifications:

• height - 0.3 meters;
• width - 2 meters;
• leaf plates are small, light green.

The bush, despite its size, forms rather large yellow buds, giving a pleasant aroma.

Broom is a rather unpretentious plant. Even a novice gardener can grow a shrub, and in any case, the broom will delight with lush greenery and pretty buds. Long flowering and attractive fruits are what every perennial shrub is ready to impress with.

Broom planting is carried out mainly in the spring. Recommendations for choosing a site for planting.

• The place should be sunny, no drafts.
• Preference should be given to fertile and loose soils with a low level of groundwater.
• The soil should be light and slightly acidic. If necessary, the acidity index can be reduced using special formulations.

So, the best option for a shrub is loose soil, pre-fertilized with the necessary components. Before proceeding directly to the landing, it is recommended to re-dig the site onto the bayonet of the shovel.

It is better to land in a ready-made mixture - the broom loves this. For this, humus, turf and sand are mixed in equal proportions, where mineral fertilizer is also added. A seed or stalk of a broom is placed in a substrate, allowed to germinate a little, and then transplanted into open ground.

1. It is better to plant broom in the Moscow region and other regions of the country in the springso that he has every chance to take root.
2. When planting cuttings, you should make sure that the work is carried out in cloudy weather.... You can also plant cuttings in the evening. Direct sunlight can destroy the plant.
3. Before planting a bush, a drainage layer in the form of pebbles or broken bricks should be poured on the bottom of the pit... This solution will prevent root decay.
4. Above the drain, another layer should be arranged. A pre-prepared soil mixture is suitable for this.
5. Shrub cuttings during planting must be carefully placed in the holes and covered with fertile soil. At the same time, the root collar should protrude slightly.
6. After planting, the earth should be tamped and watered abundantly with warm water, and cover the trunk circle with mulch.
7. If it is not possible to carry out planting work in cloudy weather, you need to take care of the shading of the seedlings so that the sun's rays do not burn them... An adult broom is more difficult to tolerate planting, so there is a high probability that the plant will die with active exposure to the sun.
8. If you need to plant several brooms at once, it is worth maintaining a distance of 0.3 meters between the bushes.... This will be enough so that the seedlings and mature bushes do not interfere with each other.

The broom will delight with pretty flowers only with proper care. Timely watering, regular feeding and other agrotechnical processes will help speed up the growth of the shrub, as well as make it more lush and healthy.

The first fertilizers are applied to the soil at the time of transplanting the seedling. Further, the shrub in the garden is fertilized during the period of active growth and flowering, using both organic compounds and potassium-phosphorus complexes... Before using fertilizers, it is recommended to carefully study the instructions.

The shrub is unpretentious to watering and, if necessary, will calmly endure drought. However, so that the plant does not wither and dry out, it is recommended to adjust the watering, having previously determined its frequency and the amount of liquid introduced into the soil.

And also the gardener should monitor the moisture level during the germination of seeds. Water stagnation should not be allowed, otherwise the roots of the plant will quickly become sick and rot.

The broom does not need special pruning, which is used to create a certain shape. You do not need to take great care of the plant. It is enough to take care of the timely removal of:

• deformed branches;
• dried shoots;
• areas damaged by diseases or insects.

And they also begin to cut the bush after flowering in order to increase the number of shoots, thus making the bush more lush.

Cold winters are dangerous for young brooms, which in the first three years of active growth have every chance of freezing under the influence of low temperatures.

To prevent the death of the plant, it is necessary to provide shelter... For this, spruce branches are used. To protect the entire bush, the broom branches are tilted, pressed tightly against the soil, and then their position is fixed with special brackets, and spruce branches are arranged. At the end, the bush is covered with dried foliage.

Broom bushes can be propagated in different ways. Gardeners offer several simple and popular options, the features of which are worth considering in more detail.

A fairly common method of propagation of broom bushes, regardless of the variety that is planned to be grown. To propagate a bush, you will need to perform a number of actions.

1. Collect seeds from ripe fruits.
2. Take the material, leaving intact and plantable samples.
3. Dry, and then treat the seeds with special compounds that stimulate growth and strengthen the immune system.
4. Wrap the seeds in cheesecloth or cloth and refrigerate. The seeds should be kept there for 2 months.
5. Remove the cloth with seeds after the set time, place in warm water for 2 days.
6. Plant the seeds in a box pre-filled with fertile soil mixture. The sowing depth should not exceed 1 cm.
7. Cover the container with a film or glass of a small thickness and put it in a room with an air temperature of up to 23 degrees Celsius. The soil needs to be watered periodically to provide ideal conditions for seed germination.

Not the most popular way. Shrub breeding scheme.

1. First you need to wait until the plant has completely bloomed.
2. Further, the lowest branch must be bent to the ground as much as possible, trying not to break it, and fix it in this position.
3. The plant will give a daughter cut next spring. It will remain to separate and transplant.

Quite a common breeding scheme, the main advantage of which is ease of implementation.

1. Gently cut off the young shoot immediately after flowering.
2. Place the finished cutting in a fertile and pre-loosened potting mixture.
3. Cover the hole with soil, water abundantly and cover with transparent material.