Two Aronia species can be found in gardens. The felty one looks confusingly similar to the black chokeberry, but the hair on Aronia melanocarpa disappears after a short time. Both specimens show typical root growth, which requires special measures.
It is advisable to plant Aronia with root barrier
Things to know about root growth
Chokeberries belong to the flat-rooted family. They develop underground stolons that spread into the upper soil layers. Since these sprout at irregular intervals and develop so-called root shoots, they tend to spread uncontrolled. Such shoots are perfect for propagating aronia. If this is not desired, you can prevent the expansion with good preparation.
stop root spread
A root barrier is recommended to prevent the roots from spreading uncontrollably in the subsoil. This should reach at least 60 centimeters deep into the ground for the chokeberry. Plastic foils connected with metal rails offer the greatest resistance to root pressure. Metals are less suitable as a locking device since most materials will corrode in the ground over time.
Dig in root barrier:
- Dig the planting hole and completely line the edges with material
- make sure that the film is vertical and not tilted
- at the ends there should be an overlap of 20 centimeters
- Insert the plant and fill the hole with excavated earth
planting
With the right choice of location, you can influence the growth of the Aronia in your favor, even if you do without underground root barriers. Shady areas on properties bordering forests lead to strong vegetative growth. As the trees strive for a balance between leaf mass and root ball, their root system also expands further.
ground conditions
A deeply loosened soil at least slightly encourages the roots to penetrate into somewhat deeper layers of soil. In shallow soils, on the other hand, development is slower and delayed. Waterlogging damages the fine roots and causes the shoots to age.
Bare root or potted goods?
Aronia bushes are offered either in pots or with a loose root ball. Potted plants are usually three to four years old and produce crops more quickly because the shrubs start flowering in their fourth year. The problem with these plants is the necessary loosening of the ball, which is almost impossible with specimens that have been grown in pots for many years. If this step is omitted, the wood suffers from severe growth retardation.
Bare-rooted shrubs are two to three years old, with older plants growing better and thriving more vigorously. They must be cut before planting. By cutting off long roots, you encourage new growth. Such specimens are recommended for the design of hedges where you need several individuals.
tips
If the site conditions in your garden are optimal, there is nothing to prevent the planting of biennial rootstock. The goal is for the chokeberry to develop as many shoots as possible in the first year.