One of the most popular plants for creating live fences is the variegated turf. This large shrub is often used in landscape design, and there are many reasons for this. Derain variegated quickly grows, has bright, fringed leaves and unusual color of the bark. It can be found quite often in urban gardens and parks. In addition, the variegated turf is absolutely unpretentious, its care is extremely simple, which makes it an ideal candidate for the role of an ornamental shrub.
Features of a variegated sod
Derain variegated created artificially. This is a deciduous shrub with a large diameter of the crown, spreading. A special feature is the red color of the shoots. This species is famous for its unpretentiousness, even after transplantation and reproduction. The shrub is a variegated shrub that adapts well to various growing conditions.
The color of the foliage may be dark or light green, and the protruding bands may be golden, yellow or white. The flowering period of this species is longer than that of the traditional sod species. The first time is a variegated turf that blooms in late May - early June, and the second time - in September.
Planting of young seedlings of turf variegated at the site
Derain variegated will grow everywhere, but poor conditions will affect its decorative qualities. The soil requires more nutritional value than traditional varieties, otherwise the leaves instead of a motley color will have a dirty pattern. This also applies to the lack of water and lighting.
When is it better to plant
Derain variegated should have time to get stronger before the frost, so the landing should be carried out in the spring. Although woody is variegated and is stable, the spring planting will give him time to get stronger and stock up on his strength for the winter.
Where better to plant
The best option for planting a variegated sod would be partial shade. It is not particularly demanding on soils, but acidified with lime is best suited.
Important! It is necessary to avoid close proximity with tall and coniferous trees, it is also recommended to place the shrub away from other plants.
How to plant
In order for the plant to grow as beautiful as possible, it is desirable to properly prepare the seat by adding compost or humus to it. If the soil is marshy or groundwater close to the surface, additional drainage must be done.
Did you know? Pit is worth digging more to quickly growing root system grew freely.
Planting should be done strictly along the root neck, otherwise the plant will die during deep planting, and if it is too superficial, many weak offspring is formed. If the variegated turf is planted in the form of a separate tree, then at first the seedling must be tied to a peg because of a thin trunk. After planting, the plant must be watered abundantly, then the crust is loosened, and the soil surface is mulched.
Hedge of turf and use in landscape design
Derain variegated can adapt to almost any conditions, so the range of application of this plant in landscape design is quite wide.
I use it as a background for bright garden flowers, on its background they look more distinct. Derain can be planted under trees with a high crown to cover the bare trunks. The shrub is used for decorative framing of long mixborders, forming a solid wall. Also variegated Deren is well suited for stepped plantings and hedges. With regular pruning and shaping, you can give different shapes to your bushes. 
Did you know? Derain can be used to mask the unsightly fences and walls, as well as to cover those places where other plants do not survive.
Turfling Tips
Turf care is very simple. It is only necessary to follow simple rules for watering and periodically feeding.
How to water the turf
Derain is not demanding of moisture, so watering should be done infrequently, it is imperative that only young plants be watered. Shrubs are watered 2-3 times a month, each bush consumes about two buckets of water. Also, watering is necessary in dry weather.
How to carry out top dressing of a bush
It is not necessary to feed the turf, but in order for the plant to show its decorative properties in all its glory, annual feeding will not hurt. In the spring, mineral fertilizers are applied at the rate of 100-150 g per shrub, and in summer they produce organic dressing, adding about 5-7 kg of humus or compost to the stem of each shrub.
Recommendations for pruning and the formation of a crown of variegated sod
Spring sowing is a major part of plant care. You can do without pruning, but then instead of a beautiful hedge or a detached bush, you get an untidy plant that grows randomly in different directions. Decorative pruning done in early spring, its main goal - the formation of the bush. 
Important! Separate bushes begin to cut from three years. To do this, cut out every third escape, removing the oldest and poorly developed ones.
The branches are cut in part, depending on what size and shape you want to give your bush. To create a hedge trimming produce twice: in July and August, after the end of the vegetative growth of shoots. Mowing turf is done after the new growth becomes higher than the main height of the bush in order to maintain the decorative form of the hedge. The more often you perform such a procedure, the more beautiful and more magnificent the fence will be.
Shelter young seedlings for the winter
Adult bushes calmly tolerate any frosts, but young saplings are not as strong. Though the saplings planted in spring have time to grow quite strongly by winter, but wintering without shelter can destroy them, therefore it is necessary to shelter the variegated winter for the winter as carefully as possible.
