Widely known and popular in the Northern Hemisphere ornamental plant Canadian serviceberry. It is also called northern grapes or wine berries, as a tasty and aromatic low-alcohol drink is prepared from it. This crop does not receive the attention it deserves from our gardeners. Perhaps this is because little is known about her. But anyone who has ever seen a plant in bloom and tasted its delicious and healthy berries, will definitely want to plant shadberry in your garden.
Irga Canadian: features of the species
Ornamental shrub - Canadian serviceberry, depending on the variety, can grow from 2 to 7 meters in height. This is an upright crop with long, smooth shoots that droop slightly, forming a wide oval crown. Young growth is slightly reddish in color, while older branches are the usual brownish color.
The leaves of the Canadian serviceberry, ovoid in shape, grow up to 10 cm in length. They have an unusual color. When they bloom in spring they are brownish-green. In summer they acquire a bluish tint. And with the onset of autumn they become crimson-golden. At this time, the bush looks especially impressive. The leaves are soft to the touch, slightly rough, covered with a delicate fluff.
The Canadian serviceberry blooms in late spring with large snow-white flowers. The buds do not last long, from a week to 10 days. Individual flowers are collected in drooping clusters of 5-12 pieces. They go especially well with reddish young shoots. Almost every flower forms an ovary, so irga is one of the generously fruiting plants.
Irga Canadian produces excellent taste and healing properties fruits resembling rose hips in shape and size. They are round and, as they ripen, turn light pink and then dark blue with a purple tint. Ripe berries have a bluish waxy coating. They are edible. Unlike other types of this crop, the fruits of Canadian serviceberry are sweeter than others, since they contain a large amount of sugar and very little acid. Birds love them. Therefore, in order to keep the harvest intact, you need to throw nets or other protection from birds over the bush.
The plant's berries look beautiful against the foliage all season long. At first these are pinkish beads, entwining the bush in an original way. Then deep blue drops splashed across the branches. If birds do not peck at them, they are preserved until severe frosts, when the foliage has already flown off and bare shoots remain.
Irga Canadiana is one of the best representatives of its family. It is distinguished by excellent frost resistance, is unpretentious in maintenance, and undemanding to the composition of the soil. However, in order for the plant to bloom beautifully and luxuriantly and produce a harvest of berries with excellent sugar content, it must be placed in an open area that is well lit during the day. Although, having planted a bush in the shade of other plants, over time the gardener will observe that the serviceberry will outgrow everyone and rise above its rivals. And it grows quickly, reaching optimal sizes already for 3-4 years.
To emphasize decorative features Canadian serviceberry, trim it and give it a beautiful oval shape. This makes the plant even better; young shoots with fruit buds are formed.
Irga Canadian: popular varieties
Slate- the most famous variety among gardeners is Canadian serviceberry. This is an early crop with black juicy fruits, very large in size. Its berries are characterized by increased sugar content, therefore they have excellent taste and aroma.
The Slate bush must be protected from birds, otherwise you will not be able to taste the fruits. From a decorative point of view, this is a wonderful view. The plant is 1.5-2 meters tall and has a wide crown with slightly curved light gray shoots. The branches are covered with bright, green, slightly elongated leaves with a dense structure. In autumn, the bush changes its green outfit to a luxurious bright red dress.
Variety "Mandam" is one of the mid-season shrubs of Canadian serviceberry. The shrub grows up to 3 meters in height and has a spreading crown. Forms large, flat-round berries without sourness. It has high productivity even in unfavorable years. Winter-hardy and unpretentious. 
Variety "Ballerina" bred by breeders on the basis of wild-growing Canadian serviceberry. It is a tall, deciduous, up to 6 m, shrub with long shoots that hang to the ground with age. The high decorativeness of the plant is achieved due to the color of the foliage, which turns from bronze at a young age to green, and by autumn becomes purple.
Magnificent snow-white flowers, similar to large stars, are collected in lush inflorescences. The flowers are replaced by dark red and then almost black berries. They ripen juicy and sweet at the end of July. This variety grows excellently in urban conditions, withstands air pollution without accumulating harmful components in the fruits.
Variety "Krasnoyarsk"- a product of domestic breeders - specially adapted for cultivation in difficult conditions Middle zone, Siberia and North-West. Its most important advantage is its excellent winter hardiness. It refers to late-ripening varieties, on which the fruits ripen at the end of July.
This variety can be grown as a shrub or a low tree up to 4 meters. It has especially large berries, reaching 1.5 cm in diameter. They are sweet, with a pleasant sourness. The Canadian serviceberry variety “Krasnoyarsk” is famous for its high yield.
Irga Canadian: application
The berries of the Canadian serviceberry contain a large number of useful substances that have a beneficial therapeutic effect in various diseases heart and blood vessels. They create a general strengthening effect, reduce high blood pressure and normalize cholesterol levels. Irga is an excellent product that saves from sclerosis.
The berry is eaten fresh at the moment of its ripening, frozen or dried in the oven, and used as a filling for pies. Wine made from serviceberry is especially tasty. It has a pleasant sweetness and delicate aroma.
Irga is becoming increasingly popular among gardeners, especially the varietal variety, with its large berries and high resistance. This is exactly what the Smoky variety of irga is like - one of the most productive and hardy species of this plant. Why is it remarkable, and how to grow a sweet berry on your plot?
Characteristics of the variety
That's enough tall plant, a species of Canadian alder serviceberry. It is more like a tree than other species, stretching up to 4.5 m in height. At the same time, dense shoots form a beautiful vertical crown, but droop on the sides with age, creating something like an umbrella.
Irga variety Smoky is distinguished by its abundant fruiting - up to 1 kg of berries can be taken from just one shoot in the second year of fruiting. In addition, the berries are very large, with an average diameter of about 14 mm. They are collected in brushes of 15-20 pieces, which makes cleaning faster and easier. The pulp is sweet, without signs of astringency, with a fruity aroma. At first the berries are pink-red, but as they ripen they turn a rich dark blue color. The first harvest of irga will be produced in the 5th year of life.
Due to the fact that the berries grow in clusters, Smoky is ideal for sale and transportation. You don’t have to pick one berry at a time, but immediately cut it with tassels and put it in a container for transportation. In this form, the irga will not drain juice, because it is not damaged when collected.
The bush bears fruit consistently, even despite possible frosts. They are not scary for Smoky, since the serviceberry blooms much later than other species (after May 20). By this time subzero temperature no longer, therefore, nothing threatens the buds.
Among the advantages of the variety, it is worth noting its large fruit, productivity and high resistance to diseases and weather conditions. It has, perhaps, one drawback, but it is characteristic of all types of serviceberry - numerous basal shoots.
Irga variety Smoky - growing features
To achieve more uniform ripening of the crop, it is worth choosing a well-lit area for planting. All the irga that will be in the sun will ripen almost simultaneously, leaving green (in the sense, red) only those brushes that will be in the shade.
Otherwise, growing Smoky serviceberry is no different from other types of crops and includes:
- Regular spring pruning to thin out the crown. If this is not done, the plant will become too dense, making it difficult for light and air to enter the bush. In addition, fruiting without pruning will only occur at the top of the shoots.
- Feeding. To preserve varietal characteristics, it is advisable to fertilize the bush in the spring with nitrogen preparations. They bring it in in the fall.
- In dry summers, water at the root.
The variety overwinters just fine and can easily withstand frosts of 40° without shelter. This allows you to grow shadberry even in northern latitudes, which gardeners use successfully.
Video review of the Smoky serviceberry variety
Canadian serviceberry is a plant that definitely has a place in any gardener’s garden. It is not too whimsical, usually bears fruit abundantly, can serve as a decorative hedge and lives for fifty years.
Description
The Canadian serviceberry is a fairly tall shrub, reaching a height of six meters. The tree has a large number of trunks, from three to twenty, the exact number of which depends on the variety. Irga can grow for up to fifty years, and if one of the trunks dies, a new one will certainly form. The depth to which the roots go ranges from fifty centimeters to three meters. The crown diameter ranges from two and a half to five meters.
The “cap” of leaves itself resembles an umbrella, the branches of which point down. The trunks are covered with smooth bark of a pleasant brown tint and most often look curved. Young shoots appear red. The leaf length is approximately six centimeters, and the petioles are about one and a half centimeters. They are covered with silvery fluff and have the shape of a rounded oval, the top of which is much narrower than the bottom.
Each flower has narrow petals, the diameter of which is about two centimeters. One of the advantages of Canadian serviceberry is the winter hardiness of flowers - this crop does not die from frost if the temperature does not drop below -7 degrees. The buds begin to bloom at the end of April, and flowering lasts approximately fourteen days. Fruiting begins in the third year of the serviceberry's existence, but a large number of berries appear from the tenth to the thirtieth year of life. On one bush, the gardener collects from six to eighteen kilograms of irgi - again, the exact amount depends on the variety.
The berry itself weighs only one gram, and its width is on average sixteen millimeters. The fruit has a neat round shape and a sweet taste. Harvesting can be done in the second half of summer. The maturity of serviceberry is easily determined by its color - ripe berries look dark purple, and unripe ones look pink. Blue considered transitional. The composition of serviceberry contains approximately twelve percent sugar, 40% vitamin C, one percent fruit acids, carotene, as well as other essential substances and vitamins.
The variety is not afraid of either drought or low temperatures– the shrub will survive frosts reaching -40 degrees. It is self-pollinating, which is very convenient, does not express special requirements to the condition of the soil, absorbs noise and is able to grow even in an urban environment. Among the disadvantages of the crop are problems with uprooting the plant and a long period of fruiting.
Overview of varieties
"Thyssen" is the most early variety serviceberry, because gardeners begin to harvest at the end of the first summer month. The berries themselves are quite large in size, the diameter varies from seventeen to eighteen millimeters. The taste of “Thyssen” is quite sweet, and the sourness does not even spoil it; rather, it gives a “refreshing” effect. The height of the bush reaches five meters and the width – six meters. The only disadvantage of this variety of serviceberry is that, while it blooms early, it falls into a period of frost and does not always tolerate it successfully.
Variety "Smoky", on the contrary, is considered the latest - it begins to bloom only at the end of spring. The height of the bush is four and a half meters, the width corresponds to it. From one bush, the gardener receives approximately 25 kilograms of sweet and tart berries. The diameter of one fruit varies from 14 to 15 millimeters, its pulp is tender and fleshy, and the peel is colored deep blue. The advantages of the variety include high resistance to numerous diseases.
"Krasnoyarsk" refers to late ripening varieties. The height of the bush varies from three and a half to four meters. The berries are harvested at the junction of July and August, and the diameter of one fruit reaches two centimeters. This irga tastes quite sweet and moderately sour. The winter hardiness of this variety is very impressive - it does not die in winter at a temperature of -40 degrees. In addition, the varieties “Martin”, “Prince William”, “Ballerina”, “Mandam”, “Rainbow Pillar” and “Starry Night” are popular.
How to plant?
Planting irgi follows a fairly conventional pattern. Its period is determined depending on weather conditions, more precisely, climate. For example, in the Moscow region, shadberry is planted in the spring, but in the south you can wait until autumn. The soil can be almost any, but it is better not to take risks with wetlands. The place should not be in the open sun, but shadberry is allowed to be planted as a decorative hedge.
When a gardener plans to harvest, then The holes should be placed so that there is five meters of free space between them. The seedlings used must be smooth, without scratches, with fibrous roots. The best specimens are considered to be those that are one or two years old. The bottom of each hole is covered with drainage. Its depth should reach half a meter and its width should be approximately 60 centimeters.
The soil used is a mixture of humus, sand, peat and soil available on site. You can immediately add fertilizers, for example, 400 grams of superphosphate, 100 grams of lime, tidying alkali, and 150 grams of potassium sulfate. When planting a seedling, it will need to be tilted at an angle of forty-five degrees, and not deepen the root collar. After adding soil, the area is watered, and the area around the trunk is also mulched.
How to properly care?
Caring for the Canadian irga is, in principle, quite standard. Effective cultivation of crops is impossible without high-quality watering. As a rule, during rains, the roots of the plant absorb moisture on their own, but if a drought occurs, then twice a month you will have to irrigate the beds yourself. Usually a fine diffuser is used for this, and it takes from twenty to thirty liters. Watering ends with loosening and weeding, which promotes better transport of oxygen to the roots.
You need to feed the shadberry about two or even three years after planting with mineral and organic fertilizers. At the beginning of spring, about fifty grams of nitrogen fertilizer is usually applied to the area near the trunk, and after flowering begins foliar feeding. For this purpose, as a rule, about two grams are dissolved in ten liters of water. boric acid, copper sulfate and zinc sulfate. In the summer, organic matter is periodically introduced - mullein, droppings or herbal infusions. In the fall, it is worth feeding the crop with 0.5 liters of ash or a combination of 100 grams of superphosphate and 50 grams of potassium preparations.
Any application of fertilizers is completed with abundant watering.
In early spring, it is necessary to trim off the shoots and those branches that are already dying, damaged, or creating excessive crown density. During the year, it is also necessary to shape the crown, for example, cutting off young branches to stimulate crown growth. At the end of autumn, all dried parts are also removed, fallen leaves are cleared, and the soil is dug up. If the plant is mature, it is not necessary to cover it for the winter.
Reproduction of the Canadian serviceberry is carried out in several ways: using seeds, cuttings, layering, shoots or division. In the first case, ripened berries are collected from the most productive bushes, and seeds are extracted from them. Sowing is carried out in the fall under film. If sowing should take place in the spring, then the pre-sowing material will need to be stratified for about three months in fabric bags filled with moistened sand. In the case when it is decided to use shoots, the procedure is carried out either in the fall or in the spring, when the young shoots are separated from the main bush.
The cuttings will need to be cut from late June to mid-July. The size of this part of the plant should reach fifteen centimeters, and it is selected from five- or six-year-old branches directly from the top. The finished cuttings are first rooted in greenhouses, and in the spring months they are already transferred to open ground. When working with layering, you will need to dig up the bush, separate the long branches of the root system and place them in pre-dug holes. Finally, it will be possible to propagate the shadberry if you dig a suitable hole next to the lower branches in March. Having placed a branch in the recess, it needs to be pinned and covered with earth.
Diseases and pests
Canadian serviceberry often suffers from tuberculosis. This disease can be determined by examining the shoots and leaves - they become bright red, become covered with growths, and then wither. Damaged parts of the bush will definitely have to be cut off and destroyed, after which the remaining parts will have to be treated twice copper sulfate or one percent Bordeaux mixture. The interval between procedures should be ten days. To prevent the disease, gardeners are advised to promptly remove falling leaves and trim damaged branches.
A disease such as sulfur rot is also characteristic of this crop. On the berries of the affected plant, wet dark spots first appear, which then transform into gray plaque. In order to cure shadberry, you will have to use ash or colloidal sulfur, which is sprinkled on both the plant itself and the soil nearby. Basic preventive measure in this case, a decrease in watering is considered. We must not forget about the appearance of multi-colored spots, signaling a fungal disease.
Treatment in this case is possible only with purchased fungicides.
To prevent leaf spotting, you will need to treat the shadberry with copper sulfate or Bordeaux mixture, but only until the flowers appear. Finally, often the branches begin to dry out due to moniliosis. In this case, the affected parts will have to be destroyed, and next year do not forget to treat the bush with solutions containing copper.
The main pests affecting Canadian shadberry, called leaf roller, seed eater, hawthorn, aphid and moth. As a rule, they can be destroyed only with the help of purchased drugs, and the crop can be protected by properly caring for the crop.
Irga is a shrub that is known to every gardener. It looks beautiful in any garden and is completely easy to care for and plant. It withstands frosts perfectly, it could withstand it North Pole, and besides this, it has a number of useful properties. The varieties of serviceberry are very diverse, so the serviceberry is an excellent ornamental tree and can decorate any garden. There are several dozen of them.
Irga takes root in various climatic conditions. This could be the northern region or the Urals. This is a very “tenacious” plant. Under natural conditions it can live about 50 years. Each year it produces fruits whose total weight ranges from 5 to 10 kg, depending on the variety. When the trunk dies, it is replaced by a new one.
The berries themselves have different size, one variety is large-fruited, the other may differ in the purple color of the berries.
Spiked
One of the species is the shadberry. She has rather small fruits compared to her “relatives”. The weight of berries at 0.5 g is very good result for this variety.
This shrub does not stand out with its bright taste. It seems that the sugar content is quite high, but to call it juicy, delicious berry Saskatoon shadberry is quite difficult.
It grows preferably on rocky coastal areas; it can be found in rocks, on ledges, and in mixed forests. As a rule, it does not grow much in height, on average it is 50-70 cm. 
Irga spicata can propagate by shoots, cuttings, seeds or dividing bushes. If you use seed propagation, then before the process itself they are stratified for three months at a temperature of +1+5C.
In the case of propagation by cuttings, most of them take root and take root. This variety tolerates drought and frost well. There is no need to cover for the winter.
Due to its small size, the shrub often acts as decorative tree. Distinctive feature is the presence of fluff on young leaves, the back side. The same felt is observed on the tops of the ovaries and pedicels. In autumn it does not change leaf color, like most varieties. As a rule, the bush is densely strewn with berries that have a dark and rich color.
Blood red
Another varietal variety is the blood-red shadberry. Compared to other species, it begins to bloom late, and the fruits ripen later than others. The berries are shaped like blueberries, they are slightly flattened. An interesting fact is that birds do not eat them because they contain a large number of seeds, which, to put it mildly, do not taste very good. 
The berry itself is dense and rubbery. It produces a lot of juice, since the pectin content is low and the liquid almost does not coagulate. Juice can be mixed, for example, with apple juice. It turns out to be a very interesting taste.
Round-leaved
Irga roundifolia has olive bark and small sizes. This is a deciduous shrub. It has an ovoid leaf in shape. The flowers are dazzling white, which bloom in May, when the branches are still completely bare. 
This plant loves a lot of light and if it grows in forests, then in thinned ones. It can be found on the edges of the forest, on southern rocky slopes.
Irga oval survives severe frost well. When it begins to ripen it becomes red in color, over time it turns blue and eventually turns into a black, deep, rich tone berry. They usually ripen from the end of July.
The taste of the round-leaved serviceberry is fresh and sweet. They make it out of it delicious jam or jam. Can be processed into juices or used for jelly, jelly, compote. Additives to wine or liqueurs are made from dried berries. And can be used as food coloring.
Canadian
Canadian serviceberry is a large tree. Its height can be 12 meters and is distinguished by the red tint of its shoots. It has beautiful white tassel inflorescences, and the berries are purple, dark and rich in color.
It often serves as a decoration for the landscape, as by autumn the leaves turn crimson in color. 
Planted out this variety in the spring or before the onset of winter. The most in an efficient way Propagation is considered to be by cuttings or using rhizome shoots. Very easy to care for, requires almost no watering, shelter in winter period and tolerates frost well. Easily lends itself to decorative haircuts.
It is considered an excellent honey plant and easily takes root in polluted areas and in urban environments.
This variety is distinguished by its rather dense and strong wood, which makes it possible to make interior items from its raw materials.
Alder
This shrub loves moisture very much and, unlike its “brothers”, which tolerate drought and are indifferent to watering. Young shoots are round in shape and descend to the ground. The berries are large, with a diameter of 10 to 15 mm. From a fruit growing point of view, this is a valuable shrub.
In nature, it is found on the banks of rivers, streams, and on wet slopes. But it does not take root in swampy areas. It can reach a height of about 9 meters. 
It is best to plant the plant in autumn or spring. Propagated by seeds and cuttings. Although cuttings take root with difficulty and require a lot of effort and their own characteristics. Regular watering is required and tolerates winter well. It can take root in urban conditions, and shows maximum fruiting 5 years after planting.
Video “Description”
From the video you will learn a lot of interesting things about Irgu.
Useful properties
Irga is characterized by a number of useful qualities. It is an excellent preventive berry for viral diseases. Perfectly replenishes vitamins and minerals in the body. Even with heat treatment, the berries retain their benefits; the fruits are stored for quite a long time.
If you have problems with cardiovascular processes, this berry is recommended for consumption. It contains beta-sitosterone, which helps lower blood cholesterol. But its benefit also lies in the fact that it helps prevent varicose veins, heart attacks, and reduces the negative impact electromagnetic radiation. The latter is especially true for all residents of megacities.
Despite the significant benefits it brings to the body, there are a number of indicators under which this berry should not be consumed.
Abundant intake of fruits increases drowsiness, when combined with its use medicines you should be careful, it is best to take it before bed.
Hypotonic patients should stop using it; it significantly reduces blood pressure. In addition, it helps increase blood clotting. If there is a predisposition to thrombophlebitis, then consumption of serviceberry berries should be discontinued.
An interesting species is the tree serviceberry. It is also called “Robin Hill”. This variety has beautiful pinkish buds. Like other plant varieties, the irga endures the winter “with dignity.” Another beautiful one decorative look- This is a profusely flowering irga, it resembles a round-leaved one, but its flowers are larger.
Irga Pembina is also a very beautiful variety, like Irga Krasnoyarsk. Garden irga is widely popular. She is unpretentious and does not require much attention and time.
Irga ( Amelanchier) - a shrub or tree, up to 6-8 m high. In spring, the shadberry blooms profusely with small white flowers collected in racemes. At this time, the plant looks a little like a bird cherry. In autumn, the leaves turn golden and purple.
The most common cultivated species are four types of serviceberry, of which the Canadian serviceberry ( A. canadensis) the most decorative.
See photos of the shrub serviceberry, the most common species in our country:
All species have edible apple-shaped fruits similar in color and size to currants.
Irga is a frost-resistant, undemanding shrub that can tolerate both drought and slight soil salinity. The plant is resistant to diseases and pests, tolerates air pollution, loves light, but can grow in partial shade, tolerates pruning well, including “to the stump,” grows and is rejuvenated by offspring.
Serviceberry makes beautiful hedges and screens that protect from prying eyes, noise, and dusty highways. In addition, serviceberry is a good background for other shrubs. Below is a description of the shrub shrub, features of care and cultivation.
Description of the shrub shrub
This bush can be considered a “newcomer” on the territory of domestic summer cottages, but despite this, she was loved by gardeners. The tree grows quickly and has several trunks, is resistant to winter cold, unpretentious to conditions, is not susceptible to disease and has a bountiful harvest.
The shrub has oblong, oval, dark green leaves, which turn purple-orange in the fall and look especially decorative, and brown-gray bark. It blooms with white flowers, which are arranged in inflorescences in the form of brushes. The berries have a sweetish taste, are juicy, dark blue in color, and are arranged in up to 12 pieces on one cluster.
Flowering occurs in April-May, which makes the shrub very attractive at this time. During this period, he is not afraid of frosts that happen in the spring, but in winter time the bush can withstand frosts down to -30 °C without additional hilling.
Types and varieties of serviceberry for the Moscow region: photos and description
There are 18 species of serviceberry in total (there is also information that there are 25). The shrub is classified as a member of the Rosaceae family, most of which are distributed in the territory North America. He loves open sunny places, such as forest edges, mountain slopes, and can grow in tundra areas.
In our country, the following types and varieties of serviceberry are considered common:
Irga roundifolia ( Amelanchier rotundifolia)
Irga spicata ( Amelanchier Spicata)
Irga Canadian ( Amelanchier canadensis)
Irga blood-red ( Amelanchier sanguinea)
These varieties can be found wild in nature, which grow there thanks to birds who love delicious fruits.
The listed varieties of serviceberry are suitable for the Moscow region, they “take care of themselves” perfectly, the main thing is to plant the tree correctly. They are not afraid of drought, strong winds and almost any unfavorable conditions, and all thanks to the root system, which penetrates to a depth of about 2 m and spreads within a radius of 2-2.5 m. It provides the plant with all the necessary nutrients and moisture.
What type do they have? various varieties irgi, look at the photo:
Let's consider more detailed description varieties of serviceberry with photo.
Round-leaved
This shrub has many trunks, grows up to 4 m. It has smooth bark, dark gray color, oval, sometimes almost round leaves, which makes them similar to alder leaves. In autumn they turn bright yellow. It blooms white with a slight fragrance. The berries are very sweet, large, dark blue with a purple tint. The shrub can bear up to 10 kg of fruit per harvest, which is why it is considered the best variety of serviceberry.
Canadian
This plant is distinguished by its height, which can reach 8 m. It blooms with cream or white flowers that are odorless. The branches are thin, hanging down, the leaves are oblong, elliptical, autumn period become dark purple, red, purple. The berries inside are dark pink, taste sweet, and you can harvest about 6 kg in one harvest.
Spiked
Bush up to 5 m in height, has a dense crown oval shape, gray bark and matte dark green ovoid leaves. The flowers have a bright pink or white hue and are placed in racemes. The berries are dark red, almost black, with a bluish bloom. The plant begins to produce crops from the age of 4 years.
Blood red
Its berries have an irregular spherical shape, reminiscent of blueberries. They taste like unripe fruits, which even birds disdain. Despite this, they are very juicy, so they are used to make juice based on other fruits.
Taking into account the description of the types of serviceberry, the best varieties for the Moscow region are Canadian or round-leaved. But it is necessary to pay attention to some nuances. Since this shrub has a powerful root system, you will have to fight shoots all the time, so you should not plant this shrub near paths and buildings or decorative landscape elements. You should not do this for the reason that falling fruits leave dark spots.
Planting and caring for irga in open ground
Before you start growing this shrub, you need to familiarize yourself with the features of planting and caring for irga. She loves sunny areas and soil that is rich in organic amendments. Depending on preferences and care characteristics, you can form it into a bush or tree.
Planting and caring for irga in open ground has its own characteristics. For planting, seedlings 1-2 years old are taken and planted in prepared holes with a diameter of about 50 cm. The distance between plants should not be less than 1 m. After this, the seedlings are abundantly watered and mulched with peat or humus. A trunk about 10 cm long with 4-5 healthy buds remains above the ground.
See photos for some stages of planting irgi:
Planting a seedling in a prepared hole.
after landing.
Serviceberry seedlings for sale.
How to plant shadberry in spring
Features of planting serviceberry and care in the Moscow region correspond to general recommendations to planting and caring for trees in general. It is advisable to plant seedlings of this shrub in autumn. According to some experts, this can be done in March, when the weather conditions are favorable.
It is necessary to prune weak branches in a timely manner. In general, there should not be more than 2-3 healthy shoots on one trunk. At 3 years old, the bush should have about 15 branches. More mature plants can be periodically rejuvenated.
For planting irgi and care features, see the photo below, which shows the annual method of combating the growth of this shrub:
Young shoots, or “zero” shoots as they are also called, should be removed not above the surface of the earth, but near the root of the plant, except for those from which the bush is subsequently formed or with the help of which its rejuvenation is carried out in the future.
How to grow shadberry from seeds
Planting irgi and caring for it, as well as propagation, is not a difficult process not only for professional gardeners, but also for beginners. The shrub can be propagated by seedlings, which can be purchased or grown from seeds. The seeds are planted in fertilized beds and then watered well. When the seedlings reach 1-2 years of age, they are planted in a permanent place.
Growing serviceberry does not require special skills, the main thing is that the plant begins to grow when planting; further care consists of feeding, forming the crown, pruning weak, old or dry branches, and thinning the bush.
If you are interested in how to plant shadberry from seeds, you need to know how to properly prepare them for planting. To prepare the seed material, ripe fruits are taken, wiped and washed with cool water. Bad seeds usually float to the surface. The washing procedure must be carried out until the good ones remain at the bottom.
You need to know how to properly plant shadberry using seeds if you choose this method of propagation. About 300 seeds should be sown in a one-meter-long furrow to a depth of 1.5-2 cm. Sowing is done early spring, sometimes at the end of winter, and you can wait almost a year for the ascent of the gatherings.
Every gardener should know how to grow shadberry when the seeds have sprouted. Seedlings that grow 3-5 full leaves are picked and grown until they are 1-2 years old. Bushes grown from seeds are characterized by uniformity. Presumably this is caused by asexual reproduction (apomixis).
Propagation of irgi by cuttings and root shoots
The easiest way to propagate irgi is to use shoots from the roots for planting, which have to be removed every year. This bush requires a living area of 2.5-4 m, leaving 1.5-2 m between future shrubs. In nurseries, seedlings are planted in a checkerboard pattern.
The work consists of choosing suitable root shoots, the diameter of which should not be less than 0.5 cm and the length 10-15 cm. It is important that the roots are healthy and well developed. The buried seedlings are watered well so that the humidity is constantly at a high level.
For this method of propagation, shoots that are no more than 6 years old are suitable. It is suitable for amateur gardeners who are interested in how to plant shadberry in the spring by dividing the bushes, because no more than 4-6 full-fledged cuttings are obtained. In nurseries, preference is given to propagation by seeds in order to obtain a larger number of seedlings.
Propagation of irgi by cuttings involves selecting branches that are no more than one year old and 12-15 cm long. It is necessary to prepare a special greenhouse with a special soil mixture. The bottom is covered with a layer of pebbles (30-40 cm), then a mixture of light soil with humus (25 cm) is poured, and the top is covered with sand (4-5 cm).
Planted and well-watered cuttings are covered with film until roots appear. This usually happens around the 25th day, depending on the variety. To speed up the appearance of roots on cuttings, they are treated with special solutions. Rooted cuttings are planted in open ground the next year.
Despite the fact that growing irgi and caring for this shrub do not require special effort, it is still necessary to carry out some standard actions, such as fertilizing, pruning and protection from pests and birds. Birds love to feast on ripe fruits, so when you want to get a harvest, you need to cover the bush with a fine net.
Growing and caring for irga consists of properly applying fertilizing in the summer. The nutritional composition should be liquid, prepared from ammonium nitrate, 50 g of which is used per bush or 5 liters of 10% bird droppings emulsion. Fertilizing should be done at night, when there has been heavy watering or it has rained.
How to prune shadberry in spring
In order not to harm the bush, you need to read the information on how to prune shadberry in the spring. You can start shaping the crown at 3-4 years of age. During this period, it is important to remove the root shoots, leaving 1-2 shoots that grew near the main trunks of the bush.
Let's consider further how to properly trim the shadberry in order to rejuvenate it. “Rejuvenating” pruning is done when the bush is 8-10 years old. The need for rejuvenation is indicated by the condition of the bush, such as:
- small growth per year (no more than 10 cm);
- increased bush density;
- the appearance of weak and dry branches.
If rejuvenation is not done, the bush begins to lose its decorative value, bears fruit worse and is susceptible to pests. How to prune irgu to rejuvenate the bush:
- thinning (remove all unnecessary, weak shoots);
- trimming overly elongated branches;
- shortening long healthy shoots.
As a result, no more than 10-15 strong branches should remain. The cut site is treated with garden varnish.
Every amateur gardener, using basic information, will know how to care for shadberry correctly, what needs to be done at each “age” period of the plant, and what actions to take at different times of the year. With careful care, it can grow safely and bear fruit for up to 70 years.
