Crown Vetch Care and Management Methods and Technical Key Points

Crown vetch (Coronilla varia) is a perennial herbaceous plant with strong adaptability, vigorous growth and few pests and diseases. Crown vetch has been used in China for more than twenty years, and in the United States it has been used for several decades. So how can crown vetch be grown well?

Crown Vetch

Crown vetch prefers a warm, humid climate, but because its root-tiller buds lie dormant about 20 cm below the soil surface, it has strong cold resistance and can overwinter well. In Xi'an the green period is about 220 days, and in Wuhan and Qianjiang it is more than 300 days, remaining basically evergreen.

This grass requires a fair amount of water for growth, but because its root system is well developed, on road slopes in Shaanxi it can reach 1.4 m in one year and 4.8 m deep in two years. Lateral roots can number more than a hundred per square meter. It is also fairly drought tolerant; generally, in places with annual precipitation of 400-450 mm it can grow normally even without irrigation. It is not tolerant of waterlogging; after being submerged for several days the roots rot and the whole plant dies.

Crown vetch grows slowly at the seedling stage. If slope erosion is not a concern for the time being, with strengthened management and care it can reach more than 80% coverage within six months. In order to help prevent soil erosion as quickly as possible, according to different construction times and site conditions, it is mixed-sown with grasses of the Poaceae family, which can cover more than 80% of the ground surface within 40 days, while crown vetch needs about two years to completely "swallow up" the companion grass species and cover the ground surface. Once crown vetch covers the ground surface, it will remain green like a carpet with bright flowers for a long time. Crown vetch has been used on roads in Shaanxi Province for more than ten years, and has been extended to Hunan, Hubei, Henan, Hebei, Shanxi and other places. On roads in the United States it has been used for sixty or seventy years, with good feedback from all sides.

Crown Vetch Coronilla varia L. Crown Vetch Illustrated Guide: How to Grow Crown Vetch / How to Propagate Crown Vetch

July Flower Management Methods | July Flower Care and Management

  I. Flower Cultivation

  1. Sowing

  Flower species that can be sown in July include: cineraria, Chinese primrose, ornamental kale, campanula, etc. When sowing, attention should be paid to moisture retention, shading and increasing ventilation and light transmission.

  In July, mature fruits of plum, peach, wild peach, elm-leaved spirea and others can also be collected. After washing off the flesh, sow them promptly in furrows, or store the washed stone fruits in moist sand until they crack and then sow them; wintersweet seeds can be sown immediately after collection, or the seeds removed from the fruit capsule can be dried and stored until the following spring for sowing, without affecting their germination rate.

  2. Cuttage

  Flower species suitable for cuttage propagation in July include: Scutellaria indica, begonia species, coleus, Pilea cadierei, Salvia splendens, marigold, Tagetes patula, Gomphrena globosa, geranium, Aster novi-belgii, Lythrum salicaria, Cyperus alternifolius, Parthenocissus tricuspidata, coral flower, pepper grass, Epipremnum pinnatum, Polygonum chinense, Kalanchoe, pothos, etc.

  Woody flower species suitable for cuttage propagation in July include: Excoecaria cochinchinensis, Nandina domestica, poinsettia, Euphorbia milii, Hypericum, Hypericum kouytchense, Weigela florida, Hydrangea macrophylla, Weigela, Spiraea cantoniensis, Spiraea thunbergii, Daphne odora, gardenia, Edgeworthia chrysantha, Magnolia sieboldii, Bougainvillea, Aglaia odorata, jasmine, Chloranthus, Schefflera, Mahonia, pomegranate, crape myrtle, hibiscus, firethorn, Cordyline, hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Serissa, Michelia, coral tree, rubber tree, Viburnum macrocephalum, Viburnum sargentii, boxwood species, fig, Magnolia liliiflora, osmanthus, rhododendron species, camellia, sasanqua, Salix matsudana var. tortuosa, golden willow, etc. Amaryllis can also be propagated by scale cuttage.

  In addition, in July water cuttage can also be used to propagate some flowers and trees. They are: gardenia, oleander, rose, jasmine, Chloranthus, fig, pomegranate, fuchsia, crape myrtle, hibiscus, etc. When using water cuttage to propagate flowers and trees, first prepare a thick foam plastic board of 1 cm to 2 cm, and after perforating it use it as fixing material for the cuttings; second, keep the water used for cuttage clean, and put in a few pieces of charcoal for antisepsis.

  3. Grafting

  One-year-old seedlings of wild peach and peach can be used as rootstock, and ornamental peach, longevity peach, red-leaf peach, plum blossom, elm-leaved spirea, red-leaf plum, beauty plum and others can be bud-grafted; cuttage seedlings of wild rose, Rosa multiflora and "Ten Sisters" can be used as rootstock, and variety roses, cut-flower roses and rugosa roses can be bud-grafted; potted Magnolia liliiflora and Magnolia denudata seedlings can be used as rootstock, and Michelia alba, Michelia figo and others can be approach-grafted; 2-year-old potted seedling wintersweet can be used as rootstock, and fine varieties of wintersweet can be approach-grafted; 2-year-old wintersweet seedlings can also be used as rootstock, using the method of softwood side grafting with bagging for moisture retention, grafting at 3 cm to 4 cm above the ground, and whether it survives can be judged after 7 to 10 days; "Purple Butterfly" and "Jade Butterfly" among azaleas can be used as rootstock, and Belgian azalea or Western azalea can be cleft-grafted or side-grafted; cherry seedlings can be used as rootstock, and fine varieties of flowering cherry can be bud-grafted; current-year seedling of Malus baccata, Malus hupehensis, Malus halliana or Malus spectabilis can be used as rootstock, and "T"-shaped budding can be carried out to propagate fine varieties of crabapple; Acer palmatum seedlings can be used as rootstock, and bagged grafting can be used to propagate red maple, feather maple and other seedlings.

  4. Layering

  Flower and tree species suitable for layering propagation in July include: Aglaia odorata (air layering), wintersweet, honeysuckle, Hydrangea macrophylla, Campsis grandiflora, Viburnum macrocephalum, oleander, Weigela, Caragana, osmanthus, gardenia, Magnolia liliiflora, jasmine, Chloranthus, climbing rose, winter jasmine, etc.

  5. Division

  Ornamental plant species suitable for division in July include: hosta, purple hosta, Acorus species, Cyperus alternifolius, Aspidistra, Tradescantia spathacea, bromeliad species, Haworthia, spider plant, Ophiopogon species, Reineckea carnea, Zephyranthes, Nephrolepis, iris, Tradescantia zebrina, etc.

  II. Seed Collection and Transplanting and Planting

  1. Seed Collection

  Flower seeds that can be collected in July include: hollyhock, mallow, morning glory, baby's breath, petunia, phlox, foxglove, Coreopsis, sweet pea, daisy, delphinium, pansy, Lampranthus, etc.

  Flower and tree seeds that can be collected in July include: wintersweet, plum, peach, wild peach, elm-leaved spirea, etc.

  2. Transplanting and Potting

  July is the main period for potting flowers for display during the National Day period. The flowers transplanted and potted at this time can be seedlings from sowing or cuttage, and after 3 months of careful care they will bloom exactly during the National Day period for holiday decoration. They are mainly: Salvia splendens, early chrysanthemum, Gomphrena globosa, dahlia, Impatiens hawkeri, dragon's mouth flower, marigold, Tagetes patula, Kochia scoparia, China aster, sulfur cosmos, cockscomb, etc.

  Tree transplanting is generally not carried out in July, but under some special circumstances, it is also feasible to transplant some flowering shrubs with soil balls, such as Mahonia, Hypericum, Ligustrum sinense, Berberis thunbergii, Aucuba, sabina ball, etc. However, targeted pruning should be done, shade sheds should be built promptly, and the frequency of water spraying should be increased. After they have basically survived, normal management can be resumed, and carelessness must be avoided.

  III. Flower Management

  1. Watering

  For flower species that enter a semi-dormant state at high temperatures, such as Oxalis corymbosa, geranium species, fuchsia, clivia, calla lily, begonia species, Sedum, kalanchoe, cactus species, Haworthia, Stapelia grandiflora, Senecio rowleyanus, Senecio radicans, Daphne odora, Christmas cactus, Portulacaria afra, aloe, etc., because the temperature is too high, their growth activity basically stops and their metabolic level is very low. Watering should be reduced, the potting soil should be kept moist, and attention should be paid to shading and ventilation to create a relatively cool environment for them. If watered too much, it easily causes root rot and also seriously affects their recovery growth after autumn.

  For flower species that enter a deep dormancy state at high temperatures, such as cyclamen, Lycoris species, Ranunculus, Dicentra, etc., in July the aboveground stems and leaves wither and the underground nutrient fibrous roots die, and they overwinter in the soil as underground stems or tuberous roots in dormancy. For flowers in deep dormancy, watering should be stopped, they should be moved to a cool place, and the potting soil should be kept from becoming too dry.

  For vigorously growing flower species, especially foliage plants, such as cycad, Aspidistra, Monstera deliciosa, rubber tree, Michelia alba, jasmine, Aglaia odorata, Chloranthus, Norfolk Island pine, Maranta species, Syngonium species, red (green) gem, green giant, green king, green queen, pink lady, Brazilian iron, money tree, camellia, sasanqua, Aucuba, firethorn, bitter orange, lemon, Podocarpus, pomegranate, redbud, wisteria, rose, etc., not only should the amount and frequency of watering be increased, but foliar spraying should also be given appropriately, combining spraying and watering. Especially in continuous cloudy days, because the temperature is relatively high and the air is dry, watering and spraying should likewise be given, and carelessness must be avoided. Once the potting soil is found to be too dry and the leaves wilted, first spray the leaves, and after the leaves recover and stand up, then water the roots. Never pour water heavily at the roots, otherwise it is very easy to cause woody flowers to "drop green leaves," or cause the rotting of the plant's nutrient fibrous roots, and even cause the plant to die.

  For potted plum stumps, because July to August is their flower bud differentiation period, appropriate "water withholding" should be given to promote normal flower bud differentiation. The method is: keep the leaves on both sides of the potted plant slightly curled inward to control vegetative growth; if the vegetative growth of the branches cannot be controlled, when the second new shoot produces 2 to 3 leaves, keep only one leaf at the base and pinch off the rest, and flower buds can still differentiate in the axil of this leaf.

  In July, when watering potted flowers, avoid the few hours before and after noon; watering before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m. is preferable, so as to avoid too great a difference between water temperature and soil temperature, which affects the growth of potted ornamental plants. If continuous rainy weather occurs this month, check the flower pots promptly after the rain, and if water is found accumulated in the pots, pour it out promptly, and after the potting soil dries slightly, loosen the soil once more, so as to avoid root rot of potted plants.

  2. Fertilizing

  In July, fertilization management should be strengthened for four major categories of ornamental plants. The first is species with a particularly long flowering period, blooming from spring and summer into autumn, such as Magnolia denudata, rose, Aglaia odorata, jasmine, etc.; the second is species that bloom profusely in autumn, such as chrysanthemum, osmanthus, cotton rose, etc.; the third is species for winter flower and fruit viewing, such as bitter orange, nandina, wintersweet, rhododendron, etc.; the fourth is foliage plants, such as palm bamboo, Monstera deliciosa, Philodendron, rubber tree, etc. As for the types of fertilizer, for the first three categories, in addition to applying the necessary nitrogen fertilizer, an appropriate amount of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer should also be applied to meet the plant's comprehensive needs for nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, and to provide sufficient nutritional guarantee for bud formation, flowering and fruiting; for foliage plants, thin cake fertilizer liquid or urea liquid should be the main choice. As for the fertilization method, applying thin liquid fertilizer by watering is preferable.

  Flower species that should be fertilized more in July include: Salvia splendens (white, purple, pink), cockscomb, China aster, zinnia, Gomphrena globosa, chrysanthemum, black-eyed Susan, petunia, Pachystachys lutea, shrimp plant, Cymbidium ensifolium, marigold, four o'clock flower, dragon's mouth flower, etc. Woody flowers include: crape myrtle, pomegranate, poinsettia, Michelia figo, osmanthus, camellia, sasanqua, hibiscus, jasmine, Michelia alba, Aglaia odorata, night-blooming cestrum, rose, crabapple species, Brunfelsia, Bougainvillea, rhododendron, Chloranthus, wintersweet, hibiscus, cotton rose, etc. There are many kinds of foliage plants, such as bromeliad species, Brazilian iron, palm bamboo, Norfolk Island pine, Syngonium, Maranta, green giant, red gem, cycad, rubber tree, Monstera deliciosa, Cordyline, etc.

  In July, for ornamental plants in a dormant or semi-dormant state, fertilization must be stopped, especially for succulent ornamental plants such as Sedum species, Senecio, Lampranthus, Stapelia, etc.; fertilization must be stopped even more to prevent the plants from rotting.

  3. Pruning and Bud Pinching

  Ornamental plants that can be topped and pinched in summer must be species that grow vigorously, have strong sprouting ability and tolerate pruning. Pinching means directly removing the young tip buds with the fingers. Bonsai plants suitable for pinching mainly include: Ulmus parvifolia, Sageretia thea, Syzygium buxifolium, Euonymus bungeanus, Buxus sinica, wintersweet, firethorn, Podocarpus, Tamarix, Elaeagnus, Adina rubella, Vitex negundo, Forsythia, Celtis sinensis, Carmona retusa, Ficus, Fraxinus chinensis, Acer truncatum, crape myrtle, Serissa, Murraya paniculata, etc. Pruning means cutting off part of the new shoots with scissors to promote the sprouting of lower lateral buds, so that they form beautiful crown sheets or tree shapes. Bonsai plant species suitable for pruning are mostly woody ornamental plants that are not convenient for finger pinching, such as Juniperus rigida, Platycladus orientalis, Sabina chinensis, Juniperus procumbens, Xylosma, Ilex cornuta, Sabina chinensis var. sargentii, etc.

  For potted flower species that continue flowering for a long time, such as Aglaia odorata, rose, jasmine, Chloranthus, etc., the faded flowers and withered stems should be removed promptly, and the branches that have flowered should be shortened as necessary, which can promote the sprouting of lower lateral buds and reblooming. For rhododendron, camellia, sasanqua, crabapple, wintersweet, plum blossom, etc., overly long branches protruding from the crown should also be shortened so as to form a better crown shape.

  4. Shading

  July is the month with the strongest sunlight and the highest temperature of the year, so special attention should be paid to shading management for potted ornamental plants.

  For ornamental plants that prefer shade or partial shade, they must be moved under a shade shed to avoid damage to the plants caused by exposure to the scorching sun. Such as ferns, hosta, purple hosta, Monstera deliciosa, camellia, sasanqua, rhododendron, Chloranthus, bird of paradise, orchid species, palm bamboo, rubber tree, red (green) gem, Philodendron, pink lady, pothos, pepper grass species, Aspidistra, Tradescantia zebrina, Brazilian iron, Epipremnum pinnatum, bromeliad species, Maranta species, Reineckea carnea, etc.

  For light-loving species, sufficient light can be given, such as pomegranate, wisteria, crape myrtle, firethorn, jasmine, Serissa, cycad, Sabina chinensis, Platycladus orientalis, peach blossom, plum blossom, wintersweet, Ulmus parvifolia, Sageretia thea, Acer truncatum, black pine, Adina rubella, Xylosma, Pinus thunbergii, Michelia alba, Aglaia odorata, rose, etc. For Podocarpus, Podocarpus nagi, Michelia figo, Damnacanthus, cloud bamboo, hedge bamboo (Bambusa multiplex), five-needle pine, etc., appropriate shading is necessary.

  For small, miniature and shallow-pot bonsai, because the temperature is too high this month and the air is relatively dry, in addition to necessary shading, the flower pots must also be buried in wet sand, which can reduce evaporation from the potting soil surface and also help protect the plant's nutrient fibrous roots.

  5. Flowers in Air-Conditioned Rooms

  In air-conditioned rooms, flower species with a relatively high degree of leaf leatherization, or with a relatively thick cuticle on the leaf surface, slightly tolerant of dry environments and with strong resistance should be chosen, such as rubber tree, Fatsia japonica, Mahonia, cycad, Norfolk Island pine, Hibiscus, Livistona, palm bamboo, Canary Island date palm, bromeliad species, Philodendron, Monstera deliciosa, Schefflera, Aspidistra, Aucuba, etc., while Nephrolepis, coleus, green giant, Syngonium, etc. are not suitable. In addition, during management, attention should be paid to combining watering and spraying, and keeping them away from air-conditioning outlets to prevent direct blowing on the plants, which causes leaf tips to wither and margins to scorch.

  6. Disease and Pest Control

  (1) When orchid new shoots unfold their leaves in July, the leaf tips are prone to infection by anthracnose, which gradually spreads to the whole plant and in severe cases causes the plant to wilt and die. This disease can occur throughout the year, and poor ventilation, high temperature and high humidity, and continuous rainy weather are more conducive to the reproduction and spread of the pathogen. Ventilation should be strengthened, and during the onset period spray 75% chlorothalonil wettable powder 800-fold solution or folpet 500-fold solution for control.

  (2) When reddish-brown sawdust-like insect frass accumulates on the stumps or main trunks of plum blossom, peach blossom, crabapple species, red-leaf plum, flowering cherry, elm-leaved spirea, etc., it is mostly caused by the larvae of the peach red-necked longhorn beetle boring and feeding. Methods such as manual removal and killing, injection of systemic pesticides, insertion of poison sticks, and soil burial of carbofuran can be used for control, which can effectively kill the larvae inside the trunk. Note that when injecting pesticides, dimethoate, omethoate, etc. should be avoided to prevent phytotoxicity.

  (3) In July, promptly control the boxwood leaf roller that harms Buxus sinica, Buxus bodinieri, Buxus harlandii and Buxus sinica var. parvifolia. When this pest occurs severely, it can completely chew off all the leaves. Once discovered, promptly spray pesticides such as trichlorfon, dimethoate or fenvalerate. If a certain pesticide has been used for a long time and resistance has developed, a new type of pesticide can be substituted.

  (4) In July, in some areas the larvae of the citrus swallowtail butterfly will continue to harm the leaves of new shoots of bitter orange, kumquat, jin dou, finger citron, lemon, citron and rue, and stomach-poison pesticides should be sprayed promptly to kill them.

  (5) The white wax insect, which harms privet (Ligustrum lucidum), Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense), water wax (Ligustrum obtusifolium), and Chinese ash (Fraxinus chinensis), has its emergence period from late July to late August. Choose the right timing to spray pesticides such as Supuzha for control, which can prevent the white wax insect from causing damage again the following year.

  (6) The Japanese wax scale (Ceroplastes japonicus) is a major pest harming large-leaf boxwood (Euonymus japonicus), plane tree (Platanus orientalis), Japanese pittosporum (Pittosporum tobira), camellia (Camellia japonica), red-leaf plum (Prunus cerasifera), and cedar (Cedrus deodara). In severe cases, the branches and leaves are often covered with the insects. Early July is the peak hatching period of its nymphs, so pesticides such as dimethoate and Supuzha can be sprayed in time for control.

  IV. Bonsai Shaping

  In July, due to high temperatures, low air humidity, and plants being in a period of vigorous growth, branches are prone to infection by pathogens after damage and are not easy to heal and recover. Most types of tree stumps are no longer suitable for wiring and shaping. Those that can still be shaped are some plant species with strong adaptability and tolerance to wiring, and they must be plants that were potted in spring for hardening off or grown in the ground. They are: winter jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum), ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba), Buddhist pine (Podocarpus macrophyllus), Japanese false cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera), Chinese incense cedar (Calocedrus macrolepis), serissa (Serissa japonica), black pine (Pinus thunbergii), Chinese boxwood (Buxus sinica), and water willow (Adina rubella).

  When shaping plants in July, be careful and meticulous, wire slowly and gently, apply force gradually, and do not rush or use excessive force, otherwise it is very easy to cause the branches and trunks of the plants to break, endangering their survival.

  Solar terms in July: July 7 is Minor Heat; July 22 is Major Heat.