Heather plants are a decoration for the garden, even in winter, as they withstand cold weather beautifully. However, growing heather in your area is not an easy task, as this plant, although quite resistant to external influences, is still demanding.
Gardener Alexandra Nazarova shares what you need to know to ensure that heather thrives in your garden plot.
Where and How to Plant Heather
You should start with the soil and the choice of the right variety of heather. The vast majority of heathers prefer acidic soil, some can grow in neutral, and only a few rare species tolerate alkaline soil.
Therefore, the best solution would be to acidify the soil: you can buy special acidic compost or make it yourself. In a ratio of 3:1:1:1, you will need to mix peat, sand, coniferous soil, and coniferous sawdust. You can additionally line the plantings with pine cones — this will make a beautiful decorative element.
The next step is choosing the right spot in the garden. Heather loves sunny places and does poorly in the shade, but direct scorching sun can burn your plantings. Consider the neighboring plants: for example, blueberries grow well next to heathers.
Next is the choice of the heather itself: think about the variety (there are tree-like, decorative, Scottish heathers) and the combination of colors. Heather will retain its color even when it dries out.
When is the Best Time to Plant Heather
It is best to plant heather in spring, but some varieties can be planted in autumn.
Each bush should be planted 40-50 cm apart, and in the prepared hole (one shovel blade deep), fill it with acidic soil mix, water it with acidified water (1-2 g of citric acid per 1 liter of water), be sure to add drainage, cover it, compact the heather, and water it abundantly (preferably with warm settled water).
Proper Care for Heather
Caring for heather is no less important. It is quite unpretentious: water it as needed, weed it like any other garden plants, and fertilize it with mineral fertilizer once a year. To keep the heather pleasing to the eye, it needs to be pruned: in spring, before the first flowers, the upper branches are pruned, and in autumn, the faded flowers should be pruned back to 7-10 cm.
How to Prepare Heather for Wintering
Since heather is quite resistant to cold weather, it only needs to be covered in case of severe frosts. The best material for this is coniferous tree branches; you can also use cut faded heather flowers, sawdust, or peat. In spring, the covering must be removed.
