Spindle shrub ∗ The 10 best care and planting tips (Euonymus)

Plant spindle bushes properly

You will direct a spindle bush in the right direction from the start if the planting proceeds in these steps:

Loosen, weed and work finely crumbly the soil in the sunny location
Meanwhile, place the root ball in a vessel with water until no more air bubbles rise
Dig a planting pit with twice the volume of the root ball
Mix in compost and horn shavings (€ 6.39 at Amazon *) into the excavation

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How to care for your spindle bush - the best tips
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Pot out the young spindle bush and place it in the middle of the pit. This is filled with the enriched substrate so high that the previous planting depth is maintained. If you shorten all shoots by a third, this measure promotes bushy, richly branched growth. Water abundantly on the day of planting and afterwards without waterlogging. A layer of mulch made of foliage soil, compost or bark mulch keeps the soil moist and warm for longer.

Care tips

The pivotal point in the care program is a balanced water and nutrient balance. Water a spindle bush regularly, especially in the first years of life, without causing waterlogging. Since the loss of moisture in evergreen species continues even in winter, there is a need for watering all year round. In the bed, the subshrub is content with a portion of compost in March / April and June / July. Fertilize potted plants with a liquid preparation every 14-21 days from April to August. A spindle bush tolerates light shaped cuts at any time during the growing season. A date in autumn or spring is wisely chosen for a comprehensive pruning. So that the subshrub gets through the cold season in good health, pile up the root disc with leaves or needles.Buckets are given a winter coat made of jute or foil and a warm wooden base.

Which location is suitable?

The spindle bush is one of the sun worshipers. Species with variegated leaves, in particular, cannot get enough of the sun to showcase their blaze of color. Their plain-colored, evergreen conspecifics still give their best in partial shade. All important site conditions at a glance:

Sunny to partially shaded location
Warm, protected and without a cold draft
Fresh, moist to moderately dry soil
Humorous, nutrient-rich and with good drainage

In view of this flexible setting, the spindle bush is often used for greening grave sites that can only be visited irregularly for maintenance work.

What soil does the plant need?

The spindle bush thrives excellently in any normal garden soil. The subshrub achieves its optimum in loose, humus soil, rich in nutrients and from a fresh and moist to sandy-loamy structure. As long as the wood does not have to deal with waterlogging or compacted soil, it will meet horticultural expectations.

When is the flowering time?

Although the distinctive foliage is in the center of interest, a spindle bush pleases us with its graceful bloom. Depending on the species and variety, the green-white flowers appear from May to June or June to July. The sunnier the location, the more luxuriant the flowers are.

Cut spindle bush correctly

Thanks to its modest cut tolerance, the spindle bush has occupied one of the top places in the ranking of popular woody plants for years. If shoots in the nose disturb the harmonious shape, they can be trimmed during the entire vegetation period. Autumn and early spring have proven their worth for a comprehensive shape and maintenance cut. On this occasion, the subshrub is thinned out thoroughly so that light and air can reach all regions again. For a hedge cut that lasts a long time, we recommend the second cutting date on Midsummer Day on June 24th.

Water the spindle bush

The dense foliage causes a high degree of evaporation. You should therefore water a spindle bush regularly, as drought stress causes the entire plant to die. This is sometimes necessary every day in the bucket on hot summer days. In addition, the loss of moisture in evergreen species continues in winter, so that the watering can continues to be used when it is cold.

Fertilize the spindle bush properly

The nutritional requirement is covered by adding compost and horn shavings twice (€ 6.39 at Amazon *). A start fertilization in March / April is followed by another application in June. If a spindle bush thrives in the bucket, the supplies are used up more quickly. In this case, apply a commercially available liquid fertilizer every 2-3 weeks from April. This year's nutrient supply ends in August so that the subshrub ripens in time for winter.

Overwinter

Since a spindle bush only develops its winter hardiness over the years, we recommend the following precautions for healthy wintering:

Before the first frost, pile up the root disc in the bed with leaves, brushwood or straw
Wrap the bucket with foil, place it on wood and cover the substrate with wood wool or leaves
Put smaller pots in a light, frost-free winter area

Evergreen spindle bushes come under drought stress in winter when there is no snow and rain. Therefore, water the subshrubs on mild days.

Propagate spindle bush

Since the spindle bush thrives as a subshrub, it offers the hobby gardener an uncomplicated method of propagation. In summer, sink a clay flower pot in the ground next to a healthy specimen. Fill this with a mix of potting soil and sand. Now pull an outer, half-woody branch to the ground so that the middle part of the pot can be covered with substrate. To fix it, place a stone on top and tie the tip of the shoot to a small wooden stick. Slightly scratching the bark promotes rooting. Within a few months, the pot is completely rooted, so that the sinker can be separated from the mother plant and planted in the new location.

Is spindle bush poisonous?

Unfortunately, the indestructible spindle bush has a downside. This manifests itself in a worryingly high poison content. The subshrub is so extremely toxic in all parts, especially in the small fruits, that it is not suitable for cultivation in the family garden. The tiny berries in autumn fit in every child's mouth, where consumption causes dramatic symptoms of intoxication. This also applies to pets, horses and grazing cattle. For reasons of caution, dispose of the clippings in the household waste.

Nice varieties

Emerald'n Gold: Gardener's favorite variety thanks to its golden varnished leaves as a ground cover or small hedge
Silver Queen: A feast for the eyes with white-colored foliage that adorns itself with red tips in winter
Sunspot: Golden-yellow beauty, with creeping growth when young, later upright habit
Pfaffenhütchen: Majestic, upright shrub with furious autumn leaves in bright red-orange