Vinegar trees are considered a blessing and a curse at the same time. Their fall color is breathtaking, but they quickly become a nuisance. To prevent this from happening, you should pay attention to various aspects when planting.
How do I plant and care for a vinegar tree correctly?
When planting a vinegar tree, choose a sunny location with sandy, well-drained soil and install a root barrier to prevent uncontrolled growth. Care includes occasional watering and possible thinning of older trees.
Location requirements
Vinegar trees grow beautifully in sunny places and also thrive in partial shade. A sandy soil with high permeability is ideal so that waterlogging does not form. The nutrient content plays a minor role. Pay attention to the pH value, because the shrub does not tolerate very calcareous soils. The same conditions apply to container planting.
Root barrier
The shrubs develop an extensive root system that spreads shallowly into the upper soil layers. Since the roots tend to sprout, especially when the bush is pruned, uncontrolled growth often occurs. To prevent spread, you should place a root barrier in the soil when planting. Pond liners (€10.00 on Amazon) are unsuitable because the strong roots drill holes in the material and grow through.
Sink a bottomless stone pot or a bottomless rain barrel into the planting hole. The root barriers should provide the shrub with enough space so that it can spread well in the first few years. A diameter of two meters is ideal. It is inevitable that vinegar trees will wither over time due to lack of space. In this case, you can take cuttings and rejuvenate the bush.
How to grow young plants:
- Cut 15 centimeter long shoots diagonally
- Fill the planter with a mixture of sand, soil and coconut fibers
- Place the cutting halfway into the substrate
Care
Vinegar trees do not require any complex care. In a suitable location, they will be grateful for water during long periods of drought. When cultivating in a bucket, you should ensure that the soil is kept continuously moist.
You do not need to provide the shrub with special fertilizers. If growth stagnates and the tree is stunted, you can support the vinegar tree with compost. Spread the compost on the tree disc and avoid incorporating it into the soil. There is a risk that you will damage the roots and cause them to sprout uncontrollably from the wounds. Older trees should be thinned out regularly. Cut off bare branches and pay attention to root shoots.
