There are plants that simply cannot be missing in a garden. This includes, for example, the summer heath. Once planted, they can enjoy their beauty for up to 15 years.
The summer heather, common heather or botanically Calluna vulgaris is an easy-care plant that flowers from late summer until late autumn. You can seed summer heather, but it will take a few years before it becomes an attractive garden plant. It is better to buy plants from the nursery. The plants are cheap, can be used without any problems and are a beautiful eye-catcher in the garden for many years. The summer heath develops optimally in a sunny location with slightly acidic soil.
Location and soil for the summer heath
Sunny spots are preferred. The summer heather also thrives in a partially shaded location, but then blooms a little later. A moderately nutrient-rich garden soil with an acidic impact is ideal as soil. You can incorporate bone meal or horn shavings before planting to improve the soil climate. Peat (rather little) and bark mulch are also favorable. In addition, the soil should be loose and moist. Waterlogging, lime and too much nitrogen, on the other hand, do not tolerate common heather at all. In the bog bed or in the heath garden, on the other hand, it finds ideal conditions. The basic rule is: in a soil with many nutrients, the summer heather grows quickly. On the other hand, it forms a compact growth form on a rather barren soil. The many small flowers then come into their own much better.
Summer heather looks best in groups
You can plant summer heather in spring and autumn. The small shrub comes into its own when it is not alone. An exception are summer heathers in pots, here you can arrange the plant with other autumn plants to create a colorful eye-catcher and beautify the house entrance or the terrace. It is best to put several plants together in a bed or in a border. A distance of about 20 centimeters between the individual plants is favorable. If you want to plant an entire bed, count on eight to twenty plants per square meter, depending on the variety.
This is how it will beSummer heather planted correctly
Rack up the soil thoroughly and dig the planting holes deep enough to accommodate the root ball comfortably. Before planting, water the pad by submerging it in a bucket of water until well soaked. Then fill in the soil around the root ball and press down. The roots must be completely covered with soil. Water the plants vigorously and always make sure that the soil is slightly moist over the next few weeks. Later, occasional watering will suffice. Reading tip: Pour and fertilize summer heath - this is the best way to take care of the shrub plant.