 |
The Gardener's Almanac |  |
||||
| Index | FAQ's | Links | Photos | Guest book | ||
| Calluna | Common name; Ling / Heather |
Heathers make good ground-cover and rock gardens plants.
Erica arborea alpina is a compact tree heather suitable for a wide range of gardens, and in spring is covered in fragrant white flowers set against bright green young foliage
An annual top-dressing of peat helps to conserve moisture.
Cut back winter and spring-flowering heathers after flowering.
Watering is essential on all soils during spring and dry spells.
Week 13; Tidy up around plants by dead heading, weeding, and applying a bark or peat mulch.
Apply a suitable fertiliser for ericaceous plants, at the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Week 14; Large plants may also be propagated by layering
Select healthy stems from the outside of the plants, bend these down to soil level, then bury them under the soil with only their tips showing.
Keep the layers in position for a year or so with stones or bent wire pegs.
When rooted they can then be severed from the parent plants and set out in their permanent positions.
Week 28; Root batches of erica cuttings anytime from now until September.
Artificial heat is not essential, but they will root more rapidly if given the protection of a cold greenhouse or frame.
Use a well-drained, lime-free (ericaceous) compost, take care not to let it dry out completely, and shade cuttings from hot sun.
Tip growth may be pinched out, or gently pull off side-shoots about 25mm (1”) long.
Where side-shoots are used, trim back excessively long 'tails' or 'heels' of old wood with a sharp blade.
Removal of lower leaves is not usually necessary.
If you have undersoil heating and mist facilities, cuttings up to 50mm (2”) may be used.
Fill containers with a lime-free ericaceous compost, or home mix, consisting of two parts sharp sand and one part moss peat.
Insert cuttings to a depth of 12mm (½")
You can root 50 cuttings in a 125mm (5”) pan, but for greater numbers use trays.
Root cuttings in a cold frame, enclose in polythene bag, or cover with proprietary plastic propagator lid.
When the cuttings have rooted, grow on in a nursery bed, a cold greenhouse or a cold frame.
Transplant the cuttings to their flowering quarters when they are about 75mm (3") high.
Week 40; Check the soil ph prior to planting.
Normally heathers are best grown in peaty, acid soils, but they will tolerate many others, providing some preparation is done prior to planting out.
Select an open position in full sun.
Dig the ground thoroughly, and rake bone-meal into the topsoil at the rate of 100gms (4oz) per sq metre, then add a 50mm (2") mulch of peat.
Heavy soils should be lightened with the addition of river sand, peat or well rotted farmyard manure or compost.
n.b. Heathers should be planted in pure peat.
Plant out in groups, setting the plants 300-400mm (12”-15”) apart, up to 600mm (24”) for larger types.
Set them with the lowest shoots at ground level, firm them in, and then mulch with peat, or bark chippings.
Week 42; Trim tall-growing varieties lightly with shears before new growth starts, to prevent legginess.
.jpg)
.jpg)
About this Site © The Gardener's Almanac 2005 Top of page