Features of Matsudan willows and their cultivation

To give the site a well-groomed and freshness, gardeners often resort to planting ornamental trees. Willows have gained particular popularity lately. There are quite a few varieties and types of them, and each has its own characteristics. In this article we will talk about Matsudan willows, find out their characteristics, as well as planting methods and rules of care.

Iva Matsudana or Matsuda has many other names: corkscrew, Peking, Chinese, winding or Japanese. This ornamental tree is a direct relative of the common weeping willow. It is often used in landscaping to decorate ponds or any other body of water. Because of its unusually curved branches, the Matsudan willow has been praised by Japanese artists since ancient times.

The leaves of the culture have a maximum of 10 cm in length, they are pointed at the edges. Their peculiarity lies in their complex color: the lower edge of the leaf has a bluish-gray tint, and the upper one is painted in juicy green. And the leaves are also able to twist in a spiral, giving the tree an amazing and unusual look.

At the moment there are 2 types of Matsudan willow used in garden plots.

• "Tortuosa" grows in the form of a shrub, reaching 3.5 m in height. The trunk is straight, and the branches grow downward, creating the shape of the familiar weeping willow. Thanks to the spirally twisted leaves, the crown shimmers very beautifully with any breath of wind. The only drawback of this type of Chinese willow is its weak resistance to frost. If you do not cover it, then during spring frosts, it can completely die.
• "Erythroflexuose" - this is also a bush-type willow. It is characterized by slow growth. The maximum height of this willow species is 4-6 meters. The crown is very dense, requires careful maintenance, but creates a pleasant cool shade. The willow reproduces rapidly and takes root. Like the previous option, it requires careful shelter for the winter.

Japanese willow can become a real highlight of any site. The tree is beautiful not only during flowering, but even in winter. Thanks to the twisting branches of the Matsuda willow, you can easily shape any shape. The tree grows well both in a solo version and in a group planting.

Finding seedlings of Matsudan willow will not be difficult, because they are in almost every nursery. Before planting, keep in mind that the Peking willow is a light-loving plant, so carefully consider the place in which this brooding and delicate Chinese beauty will grow. Consider some expert advice on this matter:

• it is important to choose a place where there will be enough sunshine: per day, the Peking willow needs at least 5-6 hours of sunshine;
• strong wind is detrimental to the tree, so choose a place protected from drafts (for example, the corner of the site is well suited);
• pay special attention to the direction of the wind: the north wind can destroy a young tree;
• do not plant willow near a house and other buildings, as the crown in this case can grow lopsided;
• care should be taken that other trees do not limit the willow in the sunlight;
• willows perfectly tolerate the close proximity of groundwater, they are suitable for increased soil moisture (the banks of ponds and other reservoirs are their natural elements).

Before planting, the site must be dug up. Pay attention to the characteristics of the soil: infertile ones are mixed with compost, dense ones - with sand, poor ones - with mineral additives. After that, a hole is made on the site 50x50x50 cm, a drainage layer is added to the bottom. The soil will consist of 2 parts of humus, the same amount of black soil and 1 part of sand.

The seedling is removed from the container along with the lump and placed in the middle of the hole. Sprinkle with earth, leaving a small part (5-7 centimeters) above the surface with three buds. To maintain moisture in the soil and better rooting of the seedling, cover it with a bag. When the willow seedling is sufficiently rooted, it can be opened.

The best time to plant a willow seedling with closed roots is from April to October.... And if the root system is open, then it should be planted in early spring, before bud break, or already in October, when leaf fall began.

Chinese willow is very easy to care for. She has a strong and rather long root system, so she can compensate for the lack of watering herself. The tree as a whole is frost-resistant, but if severe frosts or spring frosts are expected, then it is advisable to insulate it. The main thing is not to overdo it with the layers of shelter, otherwise the culture may damp.

Since the root system of the culture is long, the adult tree does not feel the need for constant watering, but if the seedling is just taking root, then it must be watered thoroughly and abundantly. In the first two weeks, the seedling needs to be watered once with a volume of water up to 20 liters, and if the weather is dry, then watering is needed every week.

Pruning is perhaps the most important thing in willow care. To implement your ideas, you will need to arm yourself with pruning shears and garden shears. Aesthetic pruning of Matsuda willow depends only on imagination and the amount of free time. There are a lot of options for shaping the crown, but the most popular will be an openwork crown and intertwined branches. In addition to aesthetic pruning, there is also stump pruning and sanitary pruning. The latter is usually produced in early spring, before the moment the sap begins to move in the tree. The purpose of this pruning is to remove dry, frozen branches.

Stump pruning is used by gardeners who are confident that this increases the frost resistance of the tree. And this is really quite an effective way, because the willow cut down under the stump survives even the most severe frosts, and in the spring it gives new, fresh and young shoots. In addition to increasing frost resistance, this radical pruning allows shrub formation.

It is not difficult to propagate such a willow on your site or share it with neighbors. Two methods of propagation are used: cuttings and the seed method. Seed can cause certain difficulties, therefore cuttings are most often used.

In early spring, cut a twig 20-23 cm long with a sharp knife. Make sure that the cuttings you are preparing for planting have at least 5 buds. The branch must be cut at a right angle. Plant the cutting in pre-prepared soil, consisting of sand, humus and turf. To ensure that the stalk takes root, treat it with Kornevin or any other stimulant for the growth of the root system. After planting in the ground, only 5-7 cm of twigs and at least three buds should be visible above the ground. Cover the planting with a bag: this will help the cuttings to harden and retain moisture.

It is preferable to cut branches for subsequent planting in early March, because when cutting cuttings in the fall, they will need to be saved all winter. If the cuttings are harvested in the fall, then it is carried out only after the Matsuda willow has lost all its leaves. Cut cuttings approximately 30 cm long are placed in bags and stored in the basement.

Iva Matsudana quite easily takes root in a new place, but if there are concerns, then you can not plant the cutting directly into the ground, but first wait for the roots to appear. To do this, cut the bark at the bottom of the cutting, lower the seedling into the water and wait for the roots to appear. It is this method that increases the chances of the Matsuda willow to settle down in a new place.

The described willow has a fairly strong immunity, it is weakly susceptible to disease. However, in the summer, if the weather is damp and stuffy, willow can be hit by spotting, caused by spores of the fungus. The appearance of gray and brown spots on the foliage and leaf fall in summer serve as a signal of a tree disease. In this case, it is necessary to immediately spray the ground part of the tree with a copper oxychloride raster. Of the pests, the Matsuda willow is preferred by spider mites, aphids, willow buckwheat, caterpillars, leaf beetles. If any of the pests is detected, the tree should be immediately sprayed with insecticides.

To avoid disease, a Peking willow seedling should be carefully considered when purchasing. It should look like a healthy and strong tree. Buy plants only from nurseries and from those vendors who have already established themselves.

Iva Matsudana adds luxury and sophistication to the garden in which she grows. The culture goes well with almost all types of conifers, deciduous trees and shrubs. It is planted both in composition with other cultures and solo, and is used to decorate ponds. A willow like this will perfectly fit into any flower garden. But a special and central place for her, of course, belongs to the Japanese-style garden. The sinuous willow with all its appearance adjusts to relaxation and tranquility.

There is not a single owner of this plant who would regret his purchase. Willow is easy to care for, it will effectively complement an existing landscape design or will be an excellent starting point for creating a new style of garden. Willow Matsuda can also be used as a hedge. In addition, in nature there are no two identical Chinese willows, so each site with such a plantation automatically becomes unique. Due to the fact that the crown is easy to adjust, it can be easily formed into various shapes: a ball, a pyramid or a cylinder. Everything is limited only by the gardener's imagination. And the willows of Matsuda can be planted in a whole alley.

For more information about the features of Matsudan willows, see the next video.