The hosts have already faded, what procedures should be carried out to get even more magnificent flowering next year

Distant relatives of asparagus, hosts, have recently been very popular in landscape design and, of course, many are interested in how to properly care for them?

In principle, finding such information is not a problem. But unfortunately, little attention is paid to their autumn preparation for winter. But it is during this period that their well-being is laid, the potential for flowering for the next year!

Therefore, I think that the rules that I used to follow after the hosts have faded may be useful to someone.

And for starters, I note that after flowering, fertilizers are contraindicated for hosts, because the task now is to help the plants enter the dormant phase, preparing for wintering.

If we talk about the garden procedures themselves, then this is, first of all, pruning of peduncles. Hosts do not need to waste energy on their nutrition and ripening of seeds, when it is necessary - to strengthen the roots and develop greens.

I cut the stems 10 cm from the ground with a disinfected garden tool. You can wipe it even with alcohol, the main thing is that it prevents infection through the "wounds" of the plant, which it is also advisable to sprinkle with wood ash.

When August is dry, hosts after flowering should continue to be watered until the onset of rainy weather.

The botanical features of the hosts are such that frequent watering little by little is contraindicated for them - because of this, the root system does not develop well. So watering should be rare and abundant - 10-30 liters per plant.

Contrary to popular belief, hosts tolerate transplanting well in spring, even better than in autumn! The exception is the Siebold and Tokudama species, which are transplanted in late August and early September, because only at this time of the year do they grow roots.

When frosts become common at night, it is necessary to cover the bases of the bushes with peat, sawdust or dry humus, adding a small amount of tobacco dust to any type of mulch and sprinkling it Fitosporin.

This will provide preventive protection against fungal, bacterial diseases and some pests.

So that the frosts do not deprive the hosts of the vitality necessary for a beautiful flowering next year, you also need to insulate the plants. Brushwood, spruce branches, dry leaves. The main thing is not to use plastic wrap, under which the plants can rot.