Currant garter: briefly about the need for garter
Currant garter
Seedlings need staking after about four years of growth. Since by this time more than twenty branches will already be actively growing and developing on them. With abundant growth, the side shoots will touch the top layer of soil, and this can significantly harm both the shoots and the ripening fruits. But timely garter can solve this problem in the shortest possible time.
What is the need for crop gartering?
Before you start gartering a bush, you need to carefully study in what cases this should be done:
— The bush has become too branchy and spreading.
— The culture grows where there are often gusty winds.
— The culture grows in a harsh region and requires shelter in winter.
Price issue
Today, bush holders can be purchased at very competitive prices. On average, plastic products for one bush will cost 150-300 rubles, depending on the model and company. When choosing a particular stand for a currant bush, you should take into account all its features.
Wooden ready-made frames are more difficult to purchase; they are mainly made to order or made independently at home. They cost no more than 300-400 rubles. The most profitable option for tying is a rope. It is not only very convenient, but also pleases with its price; in addition, it is enough not for one bush, but for several at once.
Properly fencing currant bushes at home will not be difficult at all, especially if you follow the advice of experts. Regardless of what type of plant garter is chosen, the most important thing is to properly lift the branches of the bushes and allow the berries to fully ripen. If properly tied, plants will not be afraid of any fungal or other diseases of viral or bacterial etiology.
A convenient and simple garter for currants is shown in the following video.
Almost all gardeners and summer residents are engaged in growing currants. 3-4 years after planting currant seedlings, it is necessary to do tying. Before this, you need to familiarize yourself with how to properly tie currants.
Currant garter: recommendations from experienced gardeners
Many garden lovers are trying to save the lower branches of the crop from contact with the top layer of soil. They do this by pruning plants. Of course, this can be done, but it will not help one hundred percent. With this method, you will not solve the problem with infections and viruses living in the soil. But if the shoots are raised and securely secured with the help of some kind of support, twig, or trellis, then the bush will be much more convenient to treat against insect pests, as well as to fertilize it. Also, many inexperienced gardeners tie all the branches into a kind of bundle. But it is worth noting that this method is far from ideal. With this impact, the branches become too crowded, and they also come into contact with each other. Naturally, all this contributes to the vital activity of various bacteria and fungi. Also, this method can disrupt aeration, that is, air will not pass between the branches. Also, the branches that are located in the very center will lack sunlight. Because of this, we can conclude that such a bush may not have a harvest, and if it does, it will turn out to be very small and not sweet.
What materials will be required for self-fencing of shrubs?
For the full construction of a wooden fence, the following materials will be useful:
- picket fence or bars;
- stakes from various trees;
- white spirit or yacht varnish and a brush for it;
- several screws measuring 4 by 50 and 5 by 80 mm;
- tape measures of 3 and 10 meters;
- level and axe;
- saw, preferably a circular saw, maybe a grinder and a corner saw;
- hacksaw, plane;
- battery powered drill;
- screwdriver, hammer.
It all depends on the chosen fencing option. An old hoop, table top, wire, the rim of an old bicycle wheel, rope and many other materials that have come out of their own functionality can be used as the main material; it all depends on imagination and the possibility of manufacturing.
Let's take a closer look at the recommendations for the necessary materials.
Why is it better to use yacht varnish? The reason is its characteristics and resistance to environmental influences.
If you are using a block more than half a meter long, use a saw to divide it into 8 equal parts. If you use ready-made picket fences as holders, then shorten them to 1/3 of the height of the bush. The bars are sharpened with an ax, and the stakes are processed using a plane before applying varnish. White spirit is used to rinse brushes after applying varnish.
Screws are required to secure all parts together. Each part is varnished separately, and the second layer is applied to the finished product.
Advantages of tying up a crop
There are several of them and they are all very important:
— The risk that a crop will break its shoots in a strong wind is completely eliminated.
— Trellis, branches, or supports to which you tie plants can serve as a frame for covering material in winter.
- If you tie up a bush, it will be easier for you to care for and harvest.
Why do bushes need support?
Currants on a trellis are a shrub, the direction of growth of shoots of which sometimes needs to be adjusted. For example, a plant develops quite normally, but during the period of formation and ripening of berries, the branches begin to bend under their weight. In this case, it is necessary to take care of the currant bushes and build a special support for them. Moreover, it is not only currants that need such “maintenance” of shape. This kind of frames is also used for other shrubs: raspberries, viburnums, blackberries, gooseberries. Sometimes they are used to create a neat shape for bushy flowers (roses or peonies).
If we take a closer look at the key advantages of adaptation, these include, first of all, the compactness of plants.
Having a support will allow you to significantly save space in your garden. In addition, a rather important advantage is the correct formation of the plant crown. Therefore, a currant bush holder is a necessary device that every gardener will certainly appreciate.
Currant garter using trellises
In order to garter currant bushes using a trellis, you must first build a frame. To do this, you need to drive a stake at each corner of the landing, and then stretch a wire or rope between them. The advantage of this method is that if the crop grows even higher, you can simply stretch another row of wire. Another advantage is that the shoots are distributed as evenly as possible, thus they all receive a sufficient amount of sunlight. Therefore, the harvest should be abundant and sweet. Also, when harvesting, it will be very convenient to collect suspended berries.
How to tie it so that it is convenient to cover for the winter period
Gartering a bush should be done not only to make it easier to care for and harvest, but also to make it easier to cover it for the winter. It is strongly recommended that those who live in harsh regions think about such a shelter. Shrubs are covered with various materials, but among them two are in the lead: 1) burlap; 2) spunbond. For fastening you can use: 1) pegs; 2) frame.
Mounting on pegs
This method is mainly used for young seedlings. How to make it: 1) the crown of the plant needs to be collected in an improvised bunch; 2) in the resulting bundle, you need to stretch the branches closer to each other, and then wrap them in a spiral pattern using a rope or cord. When you wrap the bunch, you need to make sure that the branches are not arranged too tightly, otherwise this will interfere with air circulation and the plant branches will rot, which is very dangerous due to the appearance of infections and viruses.
Frame mounting
This method is used for older specimens. The frame must be mounted in the form of a cone. For this you can use: 1) poles; 2) pegs. Basically, to make a cone-shaped frame, you will need three or four sticks. Their length should be from one hundred and fifty to one hundred and eighty centimeters. You need to drive them in at an angle, so that they connect with each other at the top, thereby forming a cone. To cover, you need to throw the selected covering material over the frame, and fix its ends at the bottom of the pegs.
We make homemade supports
There are two options to become the owner of a support for currant bushes: buy in a store or make it yourself. The second one is more reliable, since the gardener knows for sure that the material is of high quality and the structure is stable.
Assembling a wooden fence
Fencing is easy to do if you approach this issue correctly. The wood must be dried and treated with a mixture of fungus and mold. Drive stakes half a meter into the ground in a circle.
We tie twine or other durable material to such a support. If you have settled on this design, then it is worth considering that its purpose is temporary use, i.e. temporary.
Made from polypropylene
In this version of the support for currants, you need to buy 4-5 meters of pipe and tees. All joints are glued together using a soldering iron (not difficult for beginners).
They make racks on which the tees are attached. Then they are driven into the ground. All that remains is to insert the footrest pipes into the tees and secure them in the ground.
Made of metal-plastic
Simplicity is the key to success. This motto belongs to those who decided to use a structure made of metal-plastic pipes. In addition to pipes, you will need: a screwdriver, pegs, a hammer and hoses.
The design consists of two homemade pipe rings fastened with hoses. Check that they hold the ends of the pipes. 3-4 pieces of pipe are left to imitate legs, to which rings should then be attached.
Made from PVC pipes
Preference is often given to PVC supports. They compare favorably with wooden and metal ones not only in their aesthetic appearance, but also in their longevity of use.
For better fastening of the garters, holes are made. Do it according to the scheme:
- prepare equal pieces of plastic pipes (at least 1 meter);
- make through holes, maintaining a distance of 10-12 cm from the top, between holes - 25-30 cm;
- dig the pieces in a circle. Depth 25-35 cm;
- pass a thick rope through the prepared holes and pull it tight.
We use available branches and pegs
One of the temporary supports for currants is built from improvised means: spears, branches. Definitely an economical option, enough for the season. Cut down and broken branches of fruit trees will be used.
How to tie currants in spring
If you covered your bushes for the winter, then after the snow has melted, the shelter needs to be dismantled or replaced with a lighter material. For example, you can use a thin, whitish fabric. She will be able to protect the bush from the scorching spring sun. If the bush grows in comfortable conditions, that is, not in a harsh climate, there is no need to cover it for the winter. But support needs to be created so that the harvest is abundant and easy to harvest. In the spring, it is very important to carry out sanitary pruning and at the same time you need to tie up the plant. The lower shoots need to be lifted and shaped in such a way that the bush and its shoots receive even sunlight. Also, given that currants have a superficial type of root system, because of this, weed crops can greatly interfere with it. And if it is tied, then removing weeds and mulching the soil is not difficult.
What can you use to fasten it?
You can use available materials, you can make a device using old-fashioned methods. But the most rational thing would be to purchase specialized materials.
Various clothespins, clips for fastenings
Looking at them, you might think that these are ordinary clothespins. If you press them they will open, if you release them they will close. Their advantage is that they are not disposable, meaning they can be used several times. But when purchasing them, you need to remember that they can be used either on thin ropes or on the smallest possible supports.
Garden straps
The most convenient device. There are special levels of measurements and suitable fastenings on it, that is, you can choose any diameter and fasten what you need. This significantly distinguishes them from clothespins and clips. You can also use them more than once.
Advantages and disadvantages
Gartering currant bushes has a number of advantages:
- a plant with correctly tied branches acquires the correct compact shape and takes up less space;
- the shoots are evenly illuminated by the sun and well ventilated;
- a tied bush is less likely to suffer from fungal and bacterial diseases and is less affected by pests;
- the berries do not come into contact with the ground, do not become dirty, and do not rot in rainy weather;
- ventilation of the lower tier of the bush improves;
- caring for the plant and harvesting becomes more comfortable;
- It is easier for tied bushes to organize high-quality shelter for the winter.
Disadvantages of the method: a large currant plantation requires a significant investment of time and effort by the gardener. The use of wooden structures requires periodic replacement of rotten parts.
