Are plum blossoms suitable for growing in the courtyard?
Plum blossoms blooming in the courtyard in cold winter always bring unique visual enjoyment and spiritual comfort. As the first of the top ten famous flowers in China, plum blossoms not only have the character symbol of frost and pride, but also have its cultivation history dating back to the Shang and Zhou Dynasties more than 3000 years ago. It is a classic choice for courtyard landscaping. Five major advantages of planting plum blossoms in courtyards are four-season landscape values. The flowering period at the turn of winter and spring is as long as 60-80 days. The curved branches and branches are combined with thin shadows and diagonal shapes, and evergreen background plants can form a scattered landscape level. Dark green leaves provide shade in summer, and yellow leaves and red fruits show seasonal changes in autumn. Ecological regulation function Plum trees can release about 50 liters of water every day through transpiration, effectively regulating the courtyard microclimate. Its root system can loosen and harden the soil, and fallen leaves can be decomposed to form natural organic fertilizer. Site selection and soil improvement of the four major elements of courtyard plum tree cultivation Select an area with higher terrain and good drainage, and dig deep into 60cm soil layer before planting. Mix garden soil, humus soil and coarse sand in a ratio of 4:3:3, and add 2kg of bone meal to each hole as base fertilizer. Light and temperature management ensure direct light for more than 4 hours per day. When the high temperature exceeds 35℃ in summer, a sunshade net needs to be built. A low temperature environment of-15℃ to 5℃ in winter helps flower bud differentiation, and roots soil is needed in northern areas to prevent cold. Scientific water and fertilizer control adopts the "see dry and wet" watering method, and water is watered every 7-10 days in spring and autumn. When applying phosphorus and potassium fertilizers during the flower bud differentiation period, it is recommended to use a 500-fold diluted potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution and spray it on the leaves twice a month. Modeling and pruning techniques Cut off residual flowers in time after flowers, and retain 2-3 full buds. Pickling treatment was carried out in mid-July to control the branch length to 30-40cm. Renewal and pruning will be implemented every 3 years, and the amount of old branches removed shall not exceed 1/3 of the total number of branches. Ancient plum maintenance special tips for old plum trees that are more than 20 years old, lime water needs to be applied to the trunk to control stem borers. Before germination in early spring, use 5 Baume sulfur mixture to comprehensively clean the garden. Pay attention to the prevention and control of (T-J) disease in the rainy season, remove the diseased leaves in time and spray mancozeb.
Following these maintenance points, the plum trees in the courtyard can not only bloom elegant flowers every year, but also create a classical artistic conception of "thin shadows, horizontal slopes, clear water" through reasonable design, making the courtyard a poetic space for inheriting plum culture.