All about the felt

Felt shingle has a high decorative effect, and therefore is actively used in landscape design. An unpretentious perennial is easy to grow on your own.

Tomentosum, whose name in Latin sounds like cerastium tomentosum, is a herb, a member of the Clove family. Perennial crops in the wild grow to a greater extent in Europe and Canada. Plant height ranges from 15 to 45 centimeters, although there are also dwarf species with a height of 8-10 centimeters. The presence of a white felt cannon on all the green parts explains the unusual name of the species. Each plant has several stems, which makes it more lush. The plant's rhizome is pivotal, and some species even have nodes.

Narrow leaf blades of a characteristic shape do not exceed 30 millimeters in length. They sit either on short petioles or immediately on shoots. A snow-white or silvery corymbose inflorescence is formed from 15 small buds with a diameter of no more than 1 centimeter. The flowering culture lasts from May to June. Immediately upon completion, seed-filled bolls form on the inflorescences. Throughout the season, the plant actively grows, as if spreading like a carpet over the surface of the earth.

In landscape design, felt field shingle is often used, growing wild throughout Russia. In height, it rises no more than 40 centimeters and does not differ in particular decorativeness, and therefore it is most often used as an addition to English gardens. Felted alpine in its natural environment lives in the Altai region. Compact bushes in height reach only 15-20 centimeters. The flowering period of this variety does not exceed 20-30 days in May.

Large-flowered felted chrysalis is characterized by the presence of relatively large buds in relation to other varieties. The diameter of the flowers reaches 3 centimeters, while the stem does not exceed 20 centimeters in height. Large-flowered chickweed is optimal for the formation of alpine hills and lush flower beds.

Felt Bieberstein, originally from the Crimea, is even listed in the Red Book of Europe. Such a plant reaches a height of 25 centimeters. Its flowering begins quite early - in early April, and continues until mid-May. Inflorescences of white flowers with pointed petals reach 1.5 centimeters in diameter. There is a yellowish center inside the bud.

A variety called "Crystal waterfall"... However, its inflorescences are smaller, and therefore are less often used in landscape design. However, he takes root much better on the site.

Terry stem came from the southern regions of Italy. It blooms for 2 months and is considered to be the most decorative variety.

Felt splinter Columnae Is a dwarf variety originally from Italy. The height of an adult plant does not go beyond the boundaries of 10-15 centimeters, but the width reaches 30-40 centimeters. Branched shoots are covered with small buds with white petals and a yellow center.

The culture is recommended to be planted only in open areas with good lighting. Even moderate shade will depress the plants, reducing the number of buds set.

However, the felt does not make such serious demands on the soil of the chickweed. For example, it can grow in rockeries between stones, on poor soils or sandy areas.

Felt seeds are planted on open ground twice a season. Traditional planting is carried out from April to May, when the ground warms up, and at the end of October, planting takes place "before winter", which provides the material with natural stratification.

For seedlings, sowing of seeds is carried out in the second half of March. While the felt sprouts germinate and develop, it should be located in the most illuminated place, ideally on the sill of the south window. After 10 days, young shoots will appear, and when 3 leaves appear on them, it will be possible to pick.

Young plants are transferred to open ground only at the beginning of summer. It is important to be sure that the probability of return frost tends to zero, and the earth becomes dry and warmed up. Holes for plants are dug out cubic, with sides equal to 20 centimeters.

A small drainage layer is formed at the bottom, after which the seedling is carefully placed in the recess. The free space is covered with earth, and the plantings are irrigated.

Outdoor plant care consists of basic procedures.

Moisture is minimal, so successful cultivation is possible even if the plant is watered once a week during the driest periods. Before flowering, the crop should be stopped to water. In no case should the soil become waterlogged, as the roots of the plant will begin to rot. There is no need to loosen the soil, since weeds very rarely survive near the chickweed. During watering, you can not be afraid to water the entire bush, and not just the root zone.

Top dressing of felt chicks is carried out no more than once a year during active growth. Both organic and mineral compositions are suitable for the culture. Dosages should be minimal, and in the case of soil fertility, it will be possible to do without them at all.

A culture transplant is required every 3 years. If you ignore this procedure, then the shoots of the plant will be too elongated, and the plant itself will not look so attractive. In addition, transplanting allows you to rejuvenate the chick and give it a more accurate look. 2-4 weeks before the event, the earth must be dug up onto the bayonet of a shovel and enriched with the necessary fertilizers. The plant moves to a new place together with an earthen clod.

The plant is able to overwinter without shelter and at the same time retain some of the shoots, and even foliage. In the spring, this shingle will recover rather quickly. However, if desired, the crop can still be covered with agrofibre or a similar nonwoven fabric. Chickpea will have problems if the temperature drops below -20 degrees, and there is not enough snow at the same time.

In regions for which a similar development of events is characteristic, plantings, shortened to 5 centimeters, are protected by spruce paws and roofing material. There is also an opportunity to remove the perennial for wintering in the house.

It is also worth mentioning that in the spring all plant debris will need to be removed around the plantings. Fading flower stalks will need to be cut off immediately so as not to provoke excessive stretching of the stems. Overgrown or thickened bushes are formed in spring, then dry branches are trimmed with sharp scissors.

It is customary to propagate the felt yaskolka using seeds, cuttings or dividing the bush. The division of the bush is carried out in early spring or late autumn. The above-ground part of the plant is cut off, after which it is carefully removed from the ground. By dividing the piece into several parts, it remains only to plant the plots in new places.

The grafting method is not very popular, but in general it is just as simple. Single shoots are pruned immediately after flowering, either before it, or even throughout its length. In principle, it is not forbidden to collect branches in March, but then the bushes will be too weak.

The cut cutting plunges into the loose earth, and the surface around it is compacted. The plant is covered with a glass jar, glass, plastic bag, or any other object that imitates a greenhouse. You will have to remove the shelter every day for 30-40 minutes in order to provide the chimney with ventilation. When new shoots appear on the handle, the jar or glass can be removed altogether. After 2 weeks, the shoots are pinched for better branching. Crop seeds are purchased in the store or collected independently and stored until spring in a dark and dry space.

Felt chippers are widely used in landscape design. For example, the plant looks organically on alpine slides, in mixed flower beds and carpet plantings. It effectively takes place in the foreground of mixboards and forms an elegant border.

You can find a bush among the stones of rocky gardens, in rockeries, near fences and walls of buildings. It is considered popular to make the shingle a key element of the so-called "waterfall" or "flower-bed" and place it against the background of gravel, expanded clay and decorative mulch.

Felt chickweed beautifully contrasts with dark bells and armeria, and also forms a harmonious combination with blue, blue and silver colors. Tulips, lilies, calendula and veronica become good "neighbors" for a flower.