The diverse family of spindle bushes provides us with dense ground cover plants, small shrubs and majestic solitary plants; evergreen or deciduous with a furious play of colors in autumn. Given this wide range of species and varieties, common questions arise that receive a practical answer here.
How to plant and care for a spindle bush in the garden?
The spindle bush is a versatile ornamental tree for the garden that is characterized by attractive foliage, delicate flowers and good pruning tolerance. The planting and care requirements include a sunny to partially shaded location, regular watering without waterlogging, fertilizing twice with compost and, if necessary, pruning in autumn or spring.
Plant spindle bush correctly
You will direct a spindle bush in the right direction right from the start if the planting proceeds in these steps:
- In a sunny location, loosen the soil, weed and till it until it is finely crumbly
- Meanwhile, place the root ball in a container with water until no more air bubbles appear
- Dig a planting pit with twice the volume of the root ball
- Mix compost and horn shavings into the excavation
Unpot the young spindle bush and place it in the middle of the pit. This is filled with the enriched substrate to such a level that the previous planting depth is maintained. If you shorten all shoots by a third, this measure promotes bushy, richly branched growth. Water abundantly on the day of planting and afterwards without causing waterlogging. A mulch layer of leaf mold, compost or bark mulch keeps the earth moist and warm for longer.
Care tips
The pivotal point in the care program is a balanced water and nutrient balance. Water a spindle bush regularly, especially in the first few years of life, without causing waterlogging. Since evergreen species continue to lose moisture even in winter, watering is required all year round. In the bed, the subshrub is content with a portion of compost in March/April and June/July. Fertilize potted plants every 14-21 days from April to August with a liquid preparation (€18.00 at Amazon). A spindle bush tolerates light topiary cuts at any time during the growing season. For a comprehensive pruning, a date in autumn or spring is wisely chosen. To ensure that the subshrub survives the cold season in good he alth, pile up the root disc with leaves or coniferous twigs. Buckets receive a winter coat made of jute or foil and a warm base made of wood.read more
Which location is suitable?
The spindle bush is one of the sun worshipers. Variegated species in particular cannot get enough of the sun to showcase their splendid colors. Their plain-colored, evergreen counterparts still do their best even in partial shade. All important location conditions at a glance:
- Sunny to semi-shady location
- Warm, protected and without cold drafts
- Freshly moist to moderately dry soil
- Humos, nutrient-rich and with good drainage
In view of this flexible attitude, the spindle bush is often used to green gravesites that can only be visited irregularly for maintenance work.read more
What soil does the plant need?
The spindle bush thrives excellently in any normal garden soil. The subshrub achieves its optimum in loose, humus-rich soil, rich in nutrients and with a fresh, moist to sandy-loamy structure. As long as the tree does not have to deal with waterlogging or compacted soil, it will meet horticultural expectations.
When is flowering time?
Although the distinctive foliage is the focus of interest, a spindle bush still delights us with its delicate flowers. Depending on the species and variety, the green-white flowers appear from May to June or June to July. The sunnier the location, the more lush the flowers will be.
Cut the spindle bush correctly
Thanks to its gentle pruning tolerance, the spindle bush has occupied one of the top places in the ranking of popular trees for years. If protruding shoots disrupt the harmonious shape, they can be trimmed throughout the entire growing season. Autumn and early spring have proven to be a good time for comprehensive shape and maintenance pruning. On this occasion, the subshrub is thoroughly thinned out so that light and air can reach all regions again. For a long-lasting hedge trimming, we recommend St. John's Day on June 24th as a second trimming date.read more
Watering the spindle bush
The dense leaves cause a high degree of evaporation. Therefore, water a spindle bush regularly, as drought stress will cause the entire plant to die. In the bucket, this is sometimes necessary every day on hot summer days. In addition, evergreen species continue to lose moisture in winter, so watering cans continue to be used in the event of frost.
Fertilize spindle bush properly
The nutrient requirements are covered by adding compost and horn shavings twice. Starting fertilization in March/April is followed by another application in June. If a spindle bush thrives in a bucket, the supplies are used up more quickly. In this case, apply a commercial liquid fertilizer every 2-3 weeks from April onwards. This year's nutrient supply ends in August so that the subshrub matures in time for winter.
Wintering
Since a spindle bush only develops its winter hardiness over the years, we recommend the following precautions for he althy wintering:
- Pile up the root disc in the bed before the first frost with leaves, brushwood or straw
- Cover the pot with foil, place it on wood and cover the substrate with wood wool or leaves
- Put away smaller pots in a bright, frost-free winter quarters
Evergreen spindle bushes come under drought stress in winter if there is no snow or rain. Therefore, water the subshrubs on mild days.
Propagate spindle bush
Since the spindle bush thrives as a subshrub, it offers the hobby gardener an uncomplicated method of propagation. In summer, sink a clay flower pot in the ground next to a he althy specimen. Fill this with a mix of potting soil and sand. Now pull an outer, half-woody branch to the ground so that the middle part in the pot can be covered with substrate. To fix it, place a stone on top and tie the shoot tip to a small wooden stick. Lightly scratching the bark promotes rooting. Within a few months, the pot is completely rooted, so that the sinker can be separated from the mother plant and planted in the new location.read more
Is spindle bush poisonous?
Unfortunately, the indestructible spindle bush has a downside. This manifests itself in a worryingly high toxic content. The subshrub is so extremely toxic in all parts, especially in the small fruits, that it is not suitable for cultivation in the family garden. The tiny berries in autumn fit into every child's mouth, where consumption triggers dramatic symptoms of poisoning. This also applies to pets, horses and grazing livestock. Therefore, for reasons of caution, dispose of the clippings with household waste.read more
Beautiful varieties
- Emerald'n Gold: Gardener's favorite variety thanks to its golden variegated leaves as a ground cover or small hedge
- Silver Queen: A feast for the eyes with white and colorful foliage that is decorated with red tips in winter
- Sunspot: Golden-yellow beauty, with creeping growth in youth, later upright habitus
- Pfaffenhütchen: Majestic, upright shrub with furious autumn leaves in bright red-orange
