How to grow hydrangea. When and how to properly plant a hydrangea seedling in spring in open ground. How to prepare a planting hole for hydrangeas

Hydrangea, planting and care - are of no small importance when growing, since an unsuccessfully chosen place and soil composition of the soil can lead to illness and poor development, in some cases death. In addition, you need to properly care for the shrub after planting in order to achieve lush flowering and healthy growth ...

Site selection and soil preparation

When to plant hydrangea? The best time for planting is spring, the moment when the ground thaws, the buds have not yet blossomed, and autumn - in the month of September. When choosing a place for a decorative leafy plant, keep in mind that it is better to plant a hydrangea in the shade or partial shade, as the bright sun causes slow growth, as a result of which the inflorescences become smaller.

Some types of hydrangea can be grown in open sunny areas, but this requires abundant watering. It is desirable to protect young shrubs from the bright sun and high winds. It is not recommended to place under trees that absorb water heavily.

The soil for hydrangeas should be well-drained and moist, consist of a balanced mixture of humus, leafy soil, peat chips, river sand (2: 2: 1: 1). Regardless of the type and variety of hydrangea, remember that lime in the soil adversely affects development. The soil should be with a Ph level of approximately 5.0.

Planting hydrangeas in open ground

In the northern regions of the country, it is preferable to plant hydrangeas in open ground in the spring, in the southern regions, including the Kuban, the procedure is also carried out in the fall. It is recommended to equip a planting hole for a beautiful shrub, the dimensions of which are 0.4 m in diameter and a depth of 0.4-0.5 m. When planting, be guided by the size of the root system, if it is too large, increase the volume of the hole. It is worth noting that the roots of hydrangea are quite branched.

choosing a place and planting a hydrangea with a closed root system - in the photo

It is necessary to bring the prepared soil mixture into the pit and make a small mound, on which the seedling is then carefully placed and the roots are straightened, they fall asleep without deepening the root neck, which should be flush with the soil. A slight penetration is acceptable, but not more than 20-30 mm; a too deep landing can subsequently lead to neck decay.

The soil in the near-trunk zone must be well compacted. Watering the hydrangea after planting is mandatory, it is necessary that the water seeps well to a depth of 30-40 cm. Watering is best done in the hole next to the plant.

Top dressing and mulching as the basis of care

To retain moisture after planting in a permanent place, the hydrangea is mulched in the trunk circle. Mulch also keeps weeds from growing and protects the roots from overheating. As a mulching material, peat chips, wood chips or bark are used, having a uniform layer of 8-10 cm.

Mulch will decompose over time and become part of the soil, slightly acidifying it. Mulching is best done in late spring, when the ground is warm but still damp.

watering hydrangeas - pictured

In order for the shrub to grow well and please with abundant flowering, the garden hydrangea is fertilized when planting, then in the spring in the third decade of May or in early summer - the first days of June. Use a solution of mullein or chicken manure diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10. Do not forget to fertilize with a complex of mineral fertilizers or add at least the most basic components - 20 g of superphosphate, 10 g of potassium nitrate and urea. Subsequent feeding of hydrangeas is carried out with an interval of 17-20 days and ends at the end of July, so that the young shoots have time to lignify by the winter.

For strong and flexible shoots, ornamental shrubs are watered with a solution of potassium permanganate of a faint pink color. In addition, garden stores sell special fertilizers for hydrangeas, which include magnesium and iron, which are necessary for the plant.

mulching hydrangeas with wood chips - pictured

Paniculata hydrangea, large-leaved and ground cover predominantly have pinkish, creamy colors that can be changed if desired. The color of the hydrangea is directly determined by the acidity of the soil. If the soil is slightly alkaline, then the flowering will be pink and raspberry in color; on acidic soils, the hydrangea blooms with blue flowers.

To obtain blue flowers in alkaline soil, the shrub is watered with solutions of iron salts. To get a more intense blue color under the hydrangea, rusty metal cans should be buried.

Hydrangea pruning - continue to care

Do I need to prune hydrangea and how to do it? In order for the care to be correct, it must be remembered that the pruning of large-leaved, serrate, prickly, Sargent, liana-shaped, oak-leaved hydrangeas is carried out taking into account the fact that flowers appear on the shoots of the second year, which means that you need to cut old branches and weak ones, to strong buds.

Pruning paniculate and tree hydrangeas involves removing old and faded shoots, which are also weak. At the same time, experienced gardeners do not recommend removing a large number of shoots at the same time, it is better to stretch the procedure for a year or two so that the plant does not lose strength and does not die from excessive cutting operations. The main branches, as a rule, do not touch, cut only those that are bad and grow inside the bush.

autumn pruning hydrangea - pictured

You can cut the hydrangea in spring and autumn, but it is preferable in the autumn, as the sap flow slows down, and the haircut will help lush flowering in the spring. In the spring months, improper pruning can slow growth and delay flowering. In addition, in the spring, processes begin to actively start at the shrub, juice is released during pruning, so be careful not to harm the plant. In spring, pruning is best done as early as possible, before the buds swell and constant heat is established.

Hydrangea pruning for the winter is carried out as usual, with only one difference - it is better not to touch young shrubs and let them winter without surgical intervention, otherwise you risk ruining the plant. Hydrangea, planting and caring for which is not at all complicated, will surely delight you with its lush flowering if you suddenly decide to grow an unpretentious plant in your garden.

Gotensias: related photos

We describe the planting and care of hydrangeas in spring and autumn (tree-like, large-leaved (garden), paniculate and petiolate). Consider the place, soil, planting rules and step-by-step instructions, as well as watering, fertilizing, pruning and preparing for winter (Moscow region, North-West, Urals, Siberia and southern regions).

Planting hydrangeas in open ground: place, soil, distance and depth

The plant is heat-loving, fast-growing and needs fertile soil and sufficient moisture.

We describe planting in open ground for any type of hydrangea: oak-leaved, large-leaved (garden), paniculate, serrated, tree-like, petiolate, Sargent and others.

Landing place

Hydrangea (all types) is a photophilous plant, it grows well in a sunny and open place, but bright sun and strong wind should be avoided. Therefore, at the peak of the heat, light shading is necessary, she loves diffused light very much.

At the same time, the shrub is able to grow well in light penumbra, in this case it blooms later with fewer flowers. The presence of sunlight in the morning, in the first half of the day is very important. Therefore, the east side is better suited than the west.

Soil and acidity

Hydrangea grows well in fertile, humus-rich clay soils. It develops worse on red soils, and sandy soils are contraindicated.

The optimum level of acidity is pH 5.2-6.0 (slightly acidic soil). The maximum brightness of the inflorescences is observed precisely on acidic soil, and on neutral soil, slow development and pale color.

Alkaline soil leads to chlorosis (yellowing of leaves). When the bush grows on alkaline soil, there is often a lack of iron and magnesium, which is manifested by a light and pale color of the leaves.

Therefore, acidify the soil or treat the bush with an iron chelate. In past centuries, gardeners buried iron objects (nails, a can, a horseshoe).

When planting, a special balanced soil mixture with fertilizers is prepared.

soil mix

Compound: humus, turf land, leaf land and peat - equal parts or humus, garden soil (chernozem), peat and sand - 2: 2: 1: 1. As well as nutrients: 20-25 grams (table + teaspoon) of carbamide (urea), 24-29 grams of potassium sulfate (two tablespoons) and 60-70 grams of superphosphate (150-250 grams of bone meal).

If spruces and pines grow nearby, then under them you can dig up light, loose and slightly acidic soil. Some gardeners successfully grow flowers in such soil, even without fertilizing when planting.

A complete ban - lime, chalk and wood ash.

landing distance

Large-leaved - 120-160 cm, and paniculate 140-240 cm between bushes, and from the nearest large shrubs and trees - 230-300 cm. If you want to plant hydrangea in a row (hedge, "mixborder"), then you can dig a trench wide 90-110 cm.

If you want to achieve earlier flowering, then when planting, dig holes closer to each other (70-80 cm), and after 2-3 years thin out the bushes if necessary.

landing pit

Depth - 36-45, width - 51-65 cm. The roots grow mainly in breadth, extending much further than the crown.

planting depth

The root neck should be at the level of the soil, a maximum of 2-3 cm below, otherwise the flower will develop poorly.

Step-by-step instructions for planting hydrangeas

1. Dig a hole of the desired size 15-30 days before planting.
2. Prepare the potting mix and backfill the planting hole.
3. Dig a hole and place the seedling on the cone of the soil mixture at the desired depth and straighten the roots. Gradually backfill the hole and compact the soil.
4. Water the bush with 8-12 liters of water and sprinkle with bark, sawdust or peat - 6-8 cm thick and 16-20 cm in diameter.
5. Cover the flower from direct sunlight during the day and strong winds.

When is the best time to plant hydrangea? Spring or autumn?

Best planting time: spring - early May and autumn - September. At the same time, the most favorable period to plant hydrangea in a cold climate is only spring, and in more southern regions it can be planted in spring and autumn.

Hydrangea care after planting

Preparing for flowering

For the first two years, cut off the inflorescences at the bud stage (“pea”). And then the plant will direct all its efforts to the development of the root system and the aerial part, which will ensure better flowering in subsequent years.

• Watering, fertilizing, pruning and preparing for winter - see the relevant sections.

Caring for garden hydrangea: the secrets of growing

Flower care consists of watering, fertilizing, pruning and preparing for winter. Spring is the best time to add mulch to the trunk circle to retain more moisture. Scatter sawdust, peat, needles or wood chips in a 7-8 cm layer, with a diameter of 24-30 cm.

top dressing

When planting hydrangeas in a soil mixture with fertilizers, you can not feed them for the first two years. The general rule of fertilizing until July is acidic fertilizers (ammonium sulfate, potassium sulfate), and from July to October potassium-phosphorus (bone meal, superphosphate).

The plant's need for nutrients is high as it grows quickly and blooms powerfully.

1. Comprehensive nutrition for growth. In early - mid-May, feed with complex mineral fertilizer - 25-35 grams per 10 liters of water. Or separately a tablespoon (15 g) of urea + 25-30 g of superphosphate (2 tablespoons) and a tablespoon (15 g) of potassium sulfate.
   Mineral fertilizers can be supplemented with organic: infusion of mullein or bird droppings - 1:10. Repeat top dressing after 13-16 days.
2. Potassium-phosphorus top dressing for flowering. 12-16 days before flowering (beginning - mid-June), liquid top dressing is carried out: dissolve 65-75 g of superphosphate and 41-49 g of potassium sulfate in water and water the bush.
3. During flowering. Repeat the previous top dressing at the time of mass flowering to prolong it and ensure the laying of new flower buds.

• For top dressing, it is not recommended to use wood ash. Fertilizers are well suited for heather species and rhododendron.
• Do not allow an excess of nitrogen, which leads to a decrease in winter hardiness, deterioration of flowering and promotes the development of rot. Apply only in April-May.
• Important! An overabundance of fertilizers, especially organic ones (mullein, droppings) will do more harm than a lack.

Watering hydrangeas

The flower is moisture-loving and needs regular watering. Drought is contraindicated, the lack of sufficient moisture leads to impaired development.

In dry and hot weather, water every 7-8 days with 15-20 liters of water. The usual schedule is every 13-16 days 15-25 liters of water, and if it is rainy in summer, then 4-5 times per season.

The lack of moisture in autumn reduces the winter hardiness of the plant, so if there is little rain in autumn, then additional watering is required.

Periodically add 2-3 grams of potassium permanganate to the water for irrigation to prevent the development of rot. Soft water is best for irrigation.

It is better to water in the morning or in the evening in the near-stem circle, when there is no scorching sun. After each watering, it is desirable to loosen the soil 5-6 cm deep around the plant.

Proper hydrangea pruning: spring and autumn

All species tolerate pruning well and need it, but each has its own characteristics. Pruning in the spring can be carried out only from 3-4 years of age. The most common types of hydrangeas in Russian gardens are divided into two groups according to the type of pruning.

Group No. 1 (large-leaved hydrangea (garden), prickly, serrate, oak-leaved, Sargent and petiolate)

These species bloom on last year's shoots and need sanitary and cosmetic pruning. The optimal pruning time is that as soon as the buds swell a little, there is no active movement of juices, plus such pruned shoots can be rooted. Let's talk about the example of garden hydrangea.

Large-leaved hydrangea (macrophila) cannot be cut, but can only be rejuvenated. Every spring, cut every fourth branch older than 3 years, especially growing inward, so that the bush does not thicken, as well as dead, weak (thin) or broken stems at the root. Such pruning, in addition to giving a more decorative shape, improves flowering.

Spring pruning of garden hydrangea (large-leaved)

Exception: modern varieties from the series "Forever and ever", "You & Me", as well as varieties "MiniPenny", which bloom on the shoot of the first and previous years. They are pruned depending on the condition of the plant and the past wintering.

• Petiole hydrangea is lightly pruned: long stems are shortened for better branching.

Group No. 2 (tree-like and paniculate)

These species that bloom on young shoots (current season) are pruned every year before bud break. Best moment: mid-end of March (as soon as the snow melts). Annual formative pruning is required, as if the flower thickens, the inflorescences will become smaller.

1. Hydrangea arborescens wakes up first. Shoots are cut to 2-3 buds from the ground. On a powerful and mature bush, sometimes only one pair of buds is left. To form a decorative shape of the bush, weak and inward-growing shoots are pruned.
2. Hydrangea paniculata needs more gentle pruning. Last year's shoots are shortened by a third.

Adviсe

• To thin out the bush, completely remove old, weak and inward-growing shoots annually.
• Cut frozen stems to the first living bud.

Bush rejuvenation

It is easy to rejuvenate an old bush with the help of special pruning: cut all shoots at a height of 5-7 cm from the ground level (“under the stump”) or to the level of perennial wood. Next spring, young shoots will begin to grow, and the decorative effect of the bush will be restored.

Should I prune hydrangeas for the winter?

In autumn, faded inflorescences are cut off from the hydrangea without fail so that the branches do not break under the weight of snow.

stamp form

Panicle hydrangea has the ability to grow in the form of a tree - a low stem. Choose one of the most developed shoots on a two-year-old plant grown from a cutting, and cut off the rest. Then prune this shoot to the strongest bud each year in the spring until it reaches 100 cm in height.

To form a crown in the following years, pinch the top of the shoot, and remove new shoots completely. In the future, weak shoots are pruned annually and only 4-5 strongest branches are left for bushiness.

An example of a standard form of paniculate hydrangea

Hydrangea care in autumn and preparation for winter

After flowering, autumn care for hydrangeas consists in removing faded inflorescences and preparing for winter.

• Tree-like hydrangea for the winter can not be covered, mulching is enough - it has high winter hardiness.
• In the conditions of the Middle Strip, the Moscow Region, the North-West, the Urals and Siberia, be sure to cover the hydrangea for the winter, and it is better to dig out the large-leaved hydrangea, transplant it into pots and bring it into the house.
  Since this species can be grown in those parts where the temperature in winter is not lower than -23.5 ° C. The exception is some modern winter-hardy varieties mentioned in the section - "pruning".
• In more southern and warmer regions, hilling and mulching can be dispensed with.

Preparing for winter and sheltering hydrangeas

Inflorescences appear on last year's shoots (large-leaved hydrangea), and the goal is to completely preserve them from frost and decay.

Since the leaves and flowers of the large-leaved hydrangea die from small frosts at night, preparations for winter begin in mid-late October (after the first frost).

• Hydrangea garden paniculata and large-leaved must be covered for the winter.

1. To do this, a bush is spudded with earth, and the trunk circle is mulched with rotted manure, needles or peat.
2. Then the stems are bent to the soil and covered with sawdust, spruce branches or dry leaves. And on top of the bush put a box (box).
3. After the end of spring frosts (April), the winter shelter is dismantled and pruned.
4. It is better to carefully tie a large bush and make a frame shelter (“hut”) above it by 8-12 cm and pour dry foliage inside it.

Preparing hydrangeas for winter Hydrangea shelter for the winter The top layer of winter shelter for hydrangeas

In case of short-term frosts, it is convenient to cover with lutrasil, white burlap or a double layer of film.

Shelter of a large-leaved hydrangea for the winter from a gardener from the Moscow region

1. In autumn, before the arrival of night frosts, cut off all the leaves from the bush. If you leave them, then the flower will begin to rot. Leave only the flower buds at the tips of the branches, with a maximum of two leaves protecting them.
2. Tie all the branches on the bush, 3-4 pieces of approximately the same size, into separate bundles with elastic material (elastic band, tights, strips of fabric).
3. Bend the bundles as low as possible to the soil and secure with metal staples (electrodes, thick wire). Bend the hydrangea to the ground carefully so as not to damage the shoots. In some varieties, they are very lignified and it is better to bend them down gradually, starting with a slight slope.
4. Before the onset of cold weather (mid-November), cover the hydrangea with any non-woven material (burlap, agrofibre).
5. Before the onset of severe frosts, remove the shelter and cover the flower with dry peat, compost or leafy soil. The base of the bush is less afraid of frost than the fragile tips of the shoots, so it is sprinkled quite a bit.
6. Put arcs over the plant and stretch the covering material again, and put a piece of film on top so that the ends remain open and there is no high humidity inside the winter shelter.

Shelter for the winter of a young hydrangea

Young seedlings are not pruned, but simply brought into the house in pots for the winter or spudded with earth and additionally covered for the winter with a layer of peat, dry foliage, needles or sawdust.

When can I open hydrangea after winter?

In the spring, you need to remove the winter shelter from the hydrangea at the right time to prevent the shoots from drying out.

1. In mid-March, remove the film and covering material, rake the peat or earth and cover again with burlap.
2. In early April, when the night frosts end and stable heat sets in, remove the cover from the large-leaved hydrangea completely.

Approximate terms for the Moscow region are indicated.

Winter hardiness of hydrangea

Now large-leaved hydrangea is increasingly grown in the conditions of central Russia and in the Moscow region, in the Urals and Siberia. However, not all winter-hardy varieties are able to bloom in any area due to different microclimates.

The plant withstands up to -23 ° C, and the most winter-hardy are tree-like, paniculate and ground cover hydrangeas.

The winter hardiness of the plant increases if it received enough water in the fall, as well as potassium-phosphorus top dressing.

Diseases and pests

Hydrangea is very resistant to diseases and pests, but sometimes it is still affected by powdery mildew, spider mites and aphids (often indoors).

1. HOW TO FIGHT POWDER DEW? INSTRUCTIONS, PRODUCTS AND FUNGICIDES.
2. HOW TO FIGHT APHIDS? FIGHT RULES AND THE BEST DRUGS!

Why is the hydrangea not blooming in the garden? What to do?

We list the most common reasons for the lack of flowering.

1. Deficiency or excess of nutrients, especially nitrogen. With excessive feeding, especially with organic fertilizers, flowering is very difficult to achieve. Apply nitrogen only during the active growing season (April - May).
2. Improper pruning or winterization. The plant blooms on last year's shoots (upper buds). They often suffer from winter cold and are sometimes removed when over-pruned. If you have a large-leaved hydrangea, then read how to cut it correctly - the “Pruning” section.
3. Too much direct sunlight. Ambient light is ideal for hydrangea, but if it grows in a sunny place without shading in the midday heat, then flowering worsens and shortens.

How to speed up the flowering of hydrangeas?

To make the bush bloom faster, spray it as soon as the inflorescences are 2-4 cm in diameter twice with an interval of 5-7 days with gibberellins - 50 mg / liter of water. This treatment allows you to bloom 2-4 weeks earlier and get more massive and decorative flowering.

How to change the color of hydrangea flowers?

The flowers of the plant can change their color depending on the acidity of the soil, and the ability to accumulate aluminum.

Water the bush with a solution of potassium alum (100 g / 10 liters of water). To change the color, you need to carry out 3-4 waterings every 12-15 days. Therefore, they begin to water 50-70 days before flowering.

After that, white or pink flowers (slightly alkaline soil) will turn blue or blue, depending on the concentration. At the same time, alum reduces acidity, so you need to carefully use them. The price of 100 grams of alum is about 30-50 rubles.

• If you want to dry the hydrangea inflorescences for the winter, then cut them off immediately after the blooming of all the flowers. Tie in small bundles and hang down with flowers in a dark place to dry.
• Hydrangea can be grown at home as a pot culture. In autumn, it sheds its leaves, for the winter it is cut off and transferred to a cool place (+ 4-6), and in late February - early March it is placed in a bright and warm place without direct sunlight. In summer, the flower can be taken out into the open air and left until September.
• Experts advise planting ground cover species in the trunk circle: stonecrop, saxifrage moss and others.

ADDITIONS TO THE ARTICLE:

1. REPRODUCTION OF GARDEN HYDROANGIA: ALL WAYS!

2. TYPES AND BEST VARIETIES OF HYDENSIA WITH PHOTO AND NAMES!

We wish flowers to cheer you up and make you a little happier!

The garden blooms with unusual colors in spring, and this continues until autumn. This hydrangea blooms endless summer and gives pleasure with its appearance and aroma. Planting a garden hydrangea and caring for it in the open field will not require special knowledge and costs, because it grows and reproduces beautifully. And if you select varieties by color, size, combined with other plants, you will get a lot of pleasure for the whole summer. Hydrangea is recognized as the queen of the garden!

When to plant hydrangea: mastering the rules of planting

When choosing this flower as a backyard decoration, you will not need complex and time-consuming pruning procedures, greenhouse wisdom. The most important thing is to choose the right place for planting, water abundantly and fertilize on time. Hydrangea should be planted in open ground in a sunny and calm place. This flower does not like shaded places. Landing in open ground should take place in the month of May or September.

How to plant a hydrangea to get a lush bush

At the site of planting, hydrangeas dig a recess in the ground half a meter deep and about 60-70 cm in diameter. When planting and growing several bushes in the garden, a distance of about one and a half meters should be laid between them. The plant, if properly cared for, grows and occupies a decent area. The recesses are covered with a special compound consisting of 1 part sand, 1 part peat, 2 parts soil, 2 parts humus. Add fertilizer containing urea, potassium sulfide, superphosphate and humus.

It is important! Do not add lime to the mixture for feeding the roots of a flower - this will destroy a fragile plant.

When planting a bush, it is not necessary to deeply deepen the root neck - it should be slightly below the surface level. The plant requires abundant watering.

Beginners are often interested in what year the bush blooms after planting. We answer: with proper planting and care of the hydrangea, it will bloom the very next year. But in the first season, it is recommended to cut off the flowers so that the plant gains strength, grows and gets stronger for the next flowering.

How to care for hydrangeas in the garden

This is an easy care plant. The main activities are reduced to abundant watering, periodic loosening of the soil around the bush, weeding and fertilizing on schedule. If you mulch the bushes with sawdust or peat mixture when planting, then you will not have to water often. Peat and sawdust retain moisture for a long time, which is sufficient for the development of a closed root system.

Perennial shrub requires competent pruning. Prune it before the start of the growing season. Pruning hydrangeas in the garden is necessary to get rid of old shoots, leaving young and vigorous ones. Fresh shoots need only be shortened to 4-5 buds. Withered inflorescences periodically remove. Bushes planted on the site 5-7 years ago should be cut to stumps, which will then give strength to new shoots.

How to plant a hydrangea: mastering top dressing and fertilizers

Planting hydrangeas in fertilizer-rich soil will allow the first 2 years not to worry about fertilizing and top dressing.

Then the rules for planting and caring for hydrangeas in the open field suggest the following:

• in the middle of spring, phosphorus-potassium and nitrogen-containing fertilizers are required at the base of each bush;
• it is necessary to feed with potassium sulfate and superphosphate for the second time in the season during the swelling of the buds;
• over the summer, this honey plant is fed several more times with a solution of cow chicken manure.

It is important! An excess of nitrogen in root feeding can affect the color of the inflorescences to a pale green tint.

About methods of reproduction

Along with other shrub perennials, this miracle shrub propagates vegetatively using cuttings, dividing the rhizome, rooting layering and sowing seeds.

When propagated by cuttings in the middle of summer, young shoots not yet covered with bark are cut off and rooted in a special turf. The composition of the soil includes coarse sand and peat. It is advisable to add crumbled mossy sphagnum to the soil for greater looseness and moisture retention. Planted cuttings with a slight slope every 5-6 cm and strictly monitor the temperature (+ 17 + 20C) and humidity. After a month and a half, shoots with roots are planted in the chosen place for planting and provide all of the above care activities.

When dividing a bush, it is important that young shoots have 3-4 buds. The rhizome is carefully divided, and the shoots are planted in a place prepared in the garden.

Hydrangea propagates in the garden with the help of layering: young shoots from a common bush are pressed to the ground in a place where a hole was dug in advance (up to 20 cm), and added dropwise. For a tighter connection, the elastic shoot is sometimes fixed with staples. To speed up the process of root formation, it is recommended to cut the shoot slightly in the area where it will be buried. The new formation needs abundant watering. As the roots develop, the connecting link is cut, and the young bush is planted in the place allotted to it.

About possible diseases and pests

The plant is resistant to diseases and pests. But it is also susceptible to infection. Downy mildew, chlorosis, the appearance of spider mites and leaf aphids are the most common ailments of garden hydrangea.

Have the leaves lost their natural color, become lighter? This is chlorosis, which develops due to an excess of lime or humus in the ground. Add potassium nitrate, copper sulfate to the watering, and alternate these two solutions after two days on the third.

Downy mildew appears if the air humidity is high. Processing the leaves of the plant with copper sulphate with the addition of laundry soap will help get rid of the disease.

Garlic tincture is not capable of overcoming the army of aphids. It is prepared as follows: garlic (200 gr.) is crushed and infused in a bucket of water for 2 days, then laundry soap (40 gr.) is added. This solution is sprayed onto the bushes once a week until the pests are completely destroyed.

Varietal and species classification

The plant is rightfully considered a favorite of all other country garden flowers. A long flowering period of 4 months until October, various shades and shapes of inflorescences create an excellent image for this plant and make it desirable for owners of country houses, summer cottages, designers who successfully use the advantages of shrubs in creating landscapes.

The flowers are shaped like balls or tassels, the petals are white, lilac, red, pale pink and even two-tone. The most popular in the Moscow region, and throughout the country, is a tree-like form. This bush is unpretentious, easy to care for and propagate, it is recommended for breeding even for beginners. Up to 30 varieties of this flower are known. But the most popular among land owners are varieties:

• "Anabel" is a bush with a lush color, reaching a height of up to 1.5 m. Its snow-white spherical inflorescences bloom from the beginning of summer and bloom until September. Stays green until winter. Adapted to the conditions of our winters, does not require insulation.
• "Grandiflora" has large snow-white flowers, flowering period from June to October.
• Sterilis, with its hemispheres of pale green and white from mid-summer to October, cannot fail to please homeowners with lush color and aroma.

• "BellaAnna" is a novelty among other varieties. The flowers are in the form of balls, hydrangea bushes in the garden grow up to 3 m in diameter. It happens with pale pink and purple flowers, the flowering period is until October.

• "Invincibel Spirit" is attractive with a delicate pinkish tint of petals.

Paniculate and tree-like hydrangeas are very popular. Their flowers have an original shape, bloom for a long period, and can change color. The plant is frost-resistant and endures even the most severe winters in the north of the country. These include varieties:

• "Vanilla Fraise", which has delicate white-pinkish petals;
• "Limelight" blooms only in autumn, the flowers are large, delicate lemon shade;
• 'PinkyWinky' is attractive with pale red petals.

Hydrangea in landscape design projects

Excellent compositions are constructed by modern designers using various shapes and colors. Considering the climatic conditions of the territory of Russia, professionals advise choosing varieties of tree-like, paniculate and petiolate hydrangeas for planting.

Experts do not advise using flowers in compositions with yellowish, red, orange hues. Plants blooming in pale blue, conifers, leaves, cereal family, juniper, clematis will successfully highlight the advantages of bushes.

This plant is deservedly recognized as the basis of a beautiful garden. With good care and cultivation, the hydrangea will be a treat for the eyes for many years.

Garden hydrangea planting and care have their own characteristics. To admire the beautiful and lush flowering, we will learn how to properly care for this plant.

Garden hydrangea - types and varieties

There are many types and varieties of this ornamental shrub. Most of them prefer to grow in partial shade, but there are those that do well in sunny areas. The height of the bushes and the flowering period are very different and depend on the variety.

The most common types:

• large-leaved. It blooms in the second half of summer with lush inflorescences in the form of balls. Flowers may vary in color. Height - 2 m. Requires shelter in winter, tolerates temperatures up to -10°C
• Chereshkovaya. Liana variety. It blooms with white-pink inflorescences. Requires support, otherwise it will spread along the ground. A good option for gazebos and arches.
• Treelike. Flowers are snow white. Height - up to 3 m. It looks very impressive, but it freezes in winter. The advantage is that the plant recovers quickly. Requires heavy spring pruning.
• Paniculata. It blooms from July to late autumn with dense panicles 30 cm long. The shade of the inflorescences varies from white to greenish. Bush height - 3-4 m. Unpretentious and frost-resistant variety.

Based on these species, many different varieties have been created, each of which is beautiful in its own way. Depending on the type of hydrangea, they can be deciduous or evergreen, but in our area they are most often grown in the first version.

Growing features

Interestingly, the shade of the inflorescences can be adjusted independently by adding certain fertilizers to the soil. On neutral soil, the flowers will have a beige or cream hue. Soil with a high alkali content gives the flowers a pink or lilac color, acids - blue.

Bright lighting is very important for a shrub, but the scorching sun's rays are detrimental to it, as well as a deep shadow. Therefore, it is best to plant a flower where there is shade at lunchtime, and the rest of the time - the sun.

It is important not to overfeed seedlings with organic matter. They will grow green mass, but are unlikely to bloom.

Landing in open ground

Hydrangea is a demanding flower. Therefore, before landing, you need to think carefully about all the nuances.

Site and soil preparation

The landing site must be prepared in advance - about 2 weeks in advance. The soil should be acidic and well-drained. Acidity can be adjusted independently with the help of special preparations. Depending on the variety, flowers can grow in partial shade or full sun. The best place for planting is light penumbra; plants will not bloom in strong shade.

The hole should be small: 40 cm deep and 40 cm wide. If a group planting is planned, then the distance between the bushes should be at least 90-100 cm. Sand and fertilizers are added to the pit, mixing well with the ground. The next layer is poured a little peat.

How and when to plant?

Landing is done in early spring or autumn. It depends on the climate of each region. In cold areas, it is better to plant bushes in the spring so that they can give new roots, get stronger and be able to survive the harsh winter. In warmer regions, planting can be done in the fall. If planting is done in the spring, then annual shoots should be shortened by at least 3 buds.

In a seedling, it is desirable to slightly shorten the roots. When planting, you need to make sure that the root neck is not covered with earth. The planted bush is abundantly watered and mulched with peat. When watering, make sure that a strong stream of water does not wash away the soil near the roots.

As soon as new leaves appear on the plant, this indicates that the process of forming new roots is in full swing.

phantom hydrangea care

Hydrangea Phantom is one of the most beautiful of the paniculate family. It blooms profusely throughout the season with long panicles and exudes a pleasant aroma. The variety is resistant to root diseases and frost, quickly recovers after freezing. The bush can grow in one place for many years without requiring a transplant.

Watering and feeding

"Hydrangea" in Latin means "yearning for water." The flower is very moisture-loving, so in no case should the soil dry out. Watering should be regular and plentiful. As soon as the topsoil dries out a little, the plant needs to be watered again. If the ground around the bush is mulched with peat, you can water less often, as the soil does not dry out so quickly. In the first years, 7-8 liters of water are poured under each seedling, in subsequent years - at least 18 liters.

Watering is the best time to feed. In early spring, the plant needs nitrogen fertilizer, during the budding period - potassium and phosphorus.

It is useful to water the bushes with acidified water once every 2 weeks. For 10 liters of water you need to take 1 tbsp. l. citric acid. The solution is poured directly under the roots. In addition, in the spring and summer, once every 3-4 weeks, you need to loosen the ground to improve aeration.

How to transplant and prune?

The plant tolerates pruning well. If it is not cut, the bush will lose its decorative effect, and flowering will be weak. It is best to do this procedure in the spring, when the buds swell. If the bushes are too old, they can be easily updated by cutting them almost to the root.

All types of hydrangeas can be divided into two groups:

• To the first category includes those species and varieties whose flowers are formed on the shoots of the previous year (petiolate, prickly, large-leaved, serrated). They do not need special pruning, it is enough to remove old, dried and improperly growing branches.
• To the second category includes species that form flowers on the shoots of the current year (paniculate and tree-like). These bushes require heavy pruning, all shoots should be shortened in early spring to 2-3 pairs of buds.

When the hydrangea is about to bloom for the first time, you need to immediately cut off all the buds so that the plant gains strength and can bloom profusely next year. Formative pruning of the bush for 5 years will help to get a beautiful little tree.

Phantom hydrangea should be transplanted only in extreme cases. It grows well in the same place for years. Therefore, a transplant is justified if an adult bush needs to be divided into parts and planted in other places.

Flower care in autumn

Caring for garden hydrangea in autumn consists in pruning inflorescences, while removing at least 3 buds from the top of the shoot. This must be done so that suddenly falling wet snow does not freeze on them and break fragile branches. The base of the bushes should be high up, and the ground around them should be well mulched. This will protect the superficial root system from frost.

How does hydrangea winter?

In the conditions of the middle zone, the shrub tolerates winter well. But for safety, it is still better to cover it with spruce branches. In the northern regions, the flower is removed for the winter in a room with a positive temperature, as severe frosts can destroy it.

Sometimes the bushes are neatly tied, wrapped with spunbond and a mesh frame is built near them. The space between the covering material and the mesh is filled with dry foliage. With the first breath of heat, the leaves are removed, but the spunbond is removed only after a constant positive temperature is established.

How does garden hydrangea reproduce?

The easiest way to propagate hydrangea cuttings. They are cut in spring from annual green shoots. Cut at a right angle. The length of the cuttings is no more than 12 cm. Leaves are removed from the lower part, treated with preparations to stimulate growth and planted in a greenhouse or boxes.

A good option is to propagate the flower by division. This can be done both in spring and autumn. The bush is carefully dug up and divided into 3-4 parts, so that each has several renewal buds. Blanks are planted in pre-marked places.

Also, without much effort, you can propagate hydrangea by layering. Young shoots are carefully bent to the ground, fixed and dug in with earth, leaving the top (about 20 cm). Already next spring or autumn, layering with roots can be separated from the mother plant and transplanted.

Sometimes the shrub is propagated by seeds or grafting, but these are too time-consuming methods. Knowing how garden hydrangea breeds, you can choose the appropriate method in advance and do it in a timely manner.

Protection against diseases and pests

Hydrangeas rarely get sick, while the lion's share of the disease is transferred with seedlings. For this reason, you need to buy new plants only in proven nurseries. Other causes of disease are thickened plantings, lack of nutrients and high humidity.

Many fungal diseases can be combated with copper oxychloride.

One of the most common diseases is chlorosis. Due to the lack of iron, the leaves turn yellow, while the veins remain green. For treatment, drugs Agricol, Brexil are used. As a preventive measure, plants need to be fed with iron-containing fertilizers in a timely manner.

Use in landscape design

Hydrangea looks great both in single plantings and in group. You just need to design in advance its location at a decent distance from other plants. Over time, the bushes grow strongly, and they need a lot of space.

A flower can be planted as a soloist in the front garden if it is located on the north side of the house. When choosing companion hydrangeas in a mixborder, you need to take into account their features. Similar requirements for moisture, lighting and soil acidity in astilba, hosta, cuff. If the plot is large, you can plant a composition of several bushes. Their sprawling shape will create an expressive accent in the garden. Often these shrubs are used to limit garden areas.

Hydrangeas are well suited to different styles of garden decoration, so everyone can grow them.

Hydrangea is, of course, one of the most beautiful flowering shrubs that can only be found in home gardens. If you cannot imagine your garden in the spring without this breathtaking beauty, then it is quite natural that you want to learn as much as possible about how to choose the right seedling, how to plant it, how to care for the shrub after planting in open ground in order to wait for enviable growth and catchy flowering. Read all about it below!

The main types of hydrangea that can be successfully grown in our regions are:

Video: tree hydrangea varieties

Video: types and varieties of hydrangeas

Planting hydrangeas in spring

There are several main ways to propagate hydrangeas: by dividing the bush and layering. It is also possible to grow a shrub from seeds, but it is too long and difficult.

Optimal timing

In the spring, hydrangea is planted in open ground, as a rule, in the colder (northern) regions of the country: in the Middle lane (Moscow region), as well as in the Urals and Siberia. But in the fall - in the southern regions (for example, in the Krasnodar Territory, in the Kuban). This is because the seedlings must have time to take root in order to survive the winter. It is noteworthy that shrub seedlings with a developed root system can be quite successfully planted in open ground in autumn, regardless of the climatic features of the region.

The optimal time for the spring planting of hydrangeas is the month of April, although this can also be done in May.

According to the lunar calendar in 2020

It can help you choose the best date for planting seedlings Moon calendar.

So favorable days for the spring planting of hydrangeas in 2020 according to the lunar calendar are:

• in March - 4-6, 12-14, 26-31;
• in April - 1, 2, 5-7, 9, 13-15, 24, 25;
• in May - 2-6, 15-17, 20, 21, 25-31;
• in June - 2-4, 6-9, 11-14, 23-25.

Unfavorable days according to the lunar calendar for 2020 for planting hydrangeas in the spring are the following dates (the days of the Full Moon and New Moon, as well as the period when the Moon is in Aquarius, because this is a barren and dry sign - italicized):

• in March - 9, 19-21 , 24;
• in April - 8, 15-17 , 23;
• in May - 7, 13-14 , 22;
• in June - 5, 9-11 , 21.

According to the lunar calendar from the magazine "1000 tips for summer residents."

Place in the garden

Choosing a site for growing hydrangeas is not so easy. It is optimal to find a place so that in the morning or in the evening the sun will delight the flower, and most of the time the shrub will rest in light shade.

Hydrangea loves well-drained soil. This is the flower that drinks a lot of water and drinks always.

When choosing a specific place in a summer cottage, you should consider that you need to plant shrubs near garden paths at some distance (preferably about a meter from them), otherwise the sprawling branches of the shrub during their abundant flowering will block your path and have to tie them up.

Landing hole and soil

The size of the planting hole depends on the size of the seedling itself and the need to add additional components to create the most suitable soil composition. Therefore, if you need to additionally add sand, humus and other fertilizers to the pit, then it should be made larger. For example, for 1-2 year old young hydrangea seedlings, it will be enough to dig a planting hole measuring 30 by 30 cm, but for large and adult 4-5 year olds - 50 by 50 cm.

Hydrangea will grow well only in soil, the acidity of which ranges from 5.2-5.5 (up to a maximum of 6.2 pH). To make the soil more acidic, you will need to add high-moor peat (it is also called brown), rotted sawdust of coniferous trees (coniferous litter) into the pit.

In addition to organic matter, mineral (60-80 grams) and potassium sulfate (30-40 grams) can be added to the mixture. Don't forget to mix everything thoroughly.

Important! You can not add to the nutrient mixture, lime and, because. - these are soil deoxidizers, and we, on the contrary, need to make the soil more acidic, i.e. acidifiers are required.

Direct landing

Step-by-step instructions for planting a hydrangea seedling in spring in open ground:

If you will plant several seedlings, then it is desirable that the distance between them is about 1 meter.

Video: planting a hydrangea seedling in a treelike spring

In principle, planting other types of hydrangea is not particularly different, except that many gardeners advise differently to mulch and trim the bush after planting.

Outdoor Hydrangea Care

The basic hydrangea care includes the following points: watering, top dressing, pest and disease control, as well as pruning (in spring and autumn) and shelter for the winter. Well, do not forget about loosening the soil, which should be done at least 3 times a year to a depth of half a shovel handle (10 centimeters).

Watering

Hydrangea is a very moisture-loving shrub, it is not for nothing that in Japan it is called "yearning for water." Therefore, in the summer you can not let the soil under the plant dry out. To prevent this, be sure to thoroughly mulch the plantings and do not forget to water your flowers abundantly at least once a week. If the weather is hot and dry, then the frequency of watering should be increased by 2 times.

top dressing

If you planted a hydrangea in good fertile and fairly acidic soil, then the first 2-3 years, as a rule, it will not need top dressing. If you didn’t fertilize the soil enough and didn’t create optimal conditions for the development of a shrub, then you will understand this by small flowers or other “typical” signals (yellow leaves) about the lack of necessary trace elements for the plant.

Usually, feeding hydrangeas during the year is carried out in 4 stages.

The first stage of top dressing for hydrangea is early spring. For the formation of high-quality leaf mass, nitrogen fertilizers are required. As well as some potassium and phosphorus.

The second stage of feeding hydrangeas is during the formation of buds. During the budding process, the shrub requires fertilizers with a high content of potassium and phosphorus.

The third stage of feeding hydrangeas is in the summer and the flowering period. The flower again requires phosphorus-potassium fertilizers.

The final stage of feeding comes after the plant begins to fade. This usually occurs at the end of August-beginning of September. After flowering, potassium sulfate should also be added. Such top dressing will contribute to the accumulation of strength by the plant in order to overwinter well and bloom profusely again next year.

Advice! You can purchase specialized fertilizers for hydrangeas. Fertilizers for rhododendrons and azaleas are also perfect.

Garter

If you decide to grow a tree-like hydrangea, then due to the fact that this type of shrub is quite massive, and it has tall and long shoots, you should take care in advance that they do not accidentally break off by tying them to supports in a timely manner (this can be done immediately after planting, at least by driving in pegs so as not to subsequently damage the root system).

Diseases and pests

In general, hydrangea, as a rule, is not susceptible to diseases and pests and quite successfully fights them exclusively on its own.

If your soil is too alkaline, then it is very common for hydrangeas to get sick with chlorosis (leaves become light green in color, spots appear on them, and they begin to fall off, and the ovaries of flowers become smaller). The flower needs iron. You can, of course, dig nails or tin cans into the soil, but this can hardly be called a modern solution to the problem. Where it would be better to use ferrous sulfate, iron chelate or ferrous sulfate. As soon as you make a solution prepared with one of the fertilizers, the shrub will recover fairly quickly.

Often you can notice powdery mildew on hydrangea leaves. Spraying with a solution of Bordeaux mixture will help to cope with it.

You can fight other pests, such as aphids, with Fitoverm or Aktellik.

Pruning and shelter for the winter

If you do not trim the hydrangea in a timely manner, it will look very untidy. After 2-3 years, it is already worth starting to form a bush. As usual, the optimal time is early spring (March-April) or early autumn (September). In addition, each type of shrub has its own specifics when pruning.

Tree-like, however, like paniculate hydrangea, does not require enhanced shelter for the winter. It's good enough to mulch it. But the large-leaved one is a much more delicate plant, so it is necessary to cover it.

Video: preparing hydrangeas for winter - pruning and shelter

How to adjust the color of the hydrangea and get more blue or pink inflorescences

If you want to achieve the blue hues of hydrangea flowers, then you need to give the plant as much aluminum as possible. For this purpose (to change the color) use high-moor peat, citric acid, potassium alum or ammonium alum. Another way would be to apply a special fertilizer Pokon "Blue Hydrangea" or Bona Forte "Rainbow". If you want to get more pink inflorescences, then you should use a mixture of fluff lime (or just lime), ash, in other words, pink flowers appear on more alkaline soils.

Interesting! If you begin to introduce acidifiers into the soil on only one side, then the flowers on the same bush will be pink, blue, and even lilac.

Unfortunately, initially a white hydrangea cannot be colored.

As in any delicate matter, moderation is needed here: you need to gradually apply fertilizer to the soil to change the color of the inflorescences, otherwise you can destroy the roots of the shrub and it will die.

Thus, a beautiful hydrangea can decorate any suburban area. And if you have already become a hostage to the various forms and tones of a dizzying beauty, you should definitely head for the impeccably correct implementation of tips and recommendations for buying a seedling, planting and caring for it.

In contact with

Lush and solemn flowers are often used in bouquets, but their beauty is fleeting and fleeting. But when growing a street shrub in your garden, you can admire it for a long time! Reproduction of this crop is possible: by layering, dividing the bush, cuttings, and also from seeds (but growing a crop with seeds is too complicated and unpromising option). Decorative flowering perennial shrub is unpretentious in cultivation.

Interesting fact! The Latin name Hydrangea (hydrangea) literally translates as "a vessel with water", the name is associated with the plant's moisture-loving nature.

The main and most popular types of hydrangea:

• Paniculata (popular varieties Vanilla Fraze, Limelight, Phantom, Pinky Winky, Matilda, Grandiflora).
• Tree-like (variety "Anabel", "Radiant", "Hayes Starburst", "Sterilis").
• large-leaved.
• Petiolate (also called climbing, climbing, liana-shaped) - this type of flower is less common in our gardens.
• Bretschneider.

When is the best time to plant hydrangeas in spring?

So, you have firmly decided that you want to grow this wonderful shrub on your site. But you don’t know exactly when it is better to plant garden hydrangea in open ground in spring, in what month? The optimal time for spring planting of seedlings is in April and early May.

The suitable time may vary by region due to different climate conditions:

• In the middle lane(including the Moscow region) - you can plant in mid-April.
• In Siberia, in the Urals, in the Leningrad region- at the end of April or at the beginning of May.
• On South(Krasnodar Territory (Kuban), North Caucasus) - early April.

An excellent assistant in determining the favorable and not very time for the procedure is the cycles of the moon. Thus, planting dates for hydrangea seedlings according to the lunar calendar 2020:

• Auspicious days:
  • in March - 4, 5, 6, 12, 13, 14, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31;
  • in April - 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 9, 13, 14, 24, 25;
  • in May - 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31;
  • in June - 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 23, 24, 25.
• Bad days:
  • in March - 9, 19, 20, 21, 24;
  • in April - 8, 15, 16, 17, 23;
  • in May - 7, 13, 14, 22;
  • in June - 5, 9, 10, 11, 21.

How to choose and save a seedling

It is best to buy a hydrangea seedling in trusted stores and garden centers. They must have a good reputation and positive reviews. You can also get planting material with your own hands by cuttings.

In the store you can find a seedling with an open root system (O.K.S.) and a closed root system (Z.K.S.) of a container type. Of course, it is easier when buying to evaluate the quality of planting material with O.K.S., but also a specimen with Z.K.S. also needs to be looked at carefully.

The following recommendations will help you choose a high-quality and good hydrangea seedling for planting:

• On the root system there should be no traces of mold, rotting. If you smell mold, then most likely unscrupulous sellers simply eliminated the mold in advance.
• The seedling itself, its root system, bark, shoots should not have signs of damage, cracks.
• Roots must be kept moist. If you have met an instance with an overdried root system, then it is better to refuse this option.
• There must be a developed root system. To understand this, regarding an instance with a closed root system, you need to carefully lift the pot and peep at its bottom - roots should be visible from the drainage holes.

If you bought planting material too early, and the weather conditions do not allow planting it, then you need to take care of storage. To save purchased hydrangeas before planting in open ground in the spring, it is necessary to temporarily plant the seedling in a large pot with acidic soil. After planting at home, you need to put the pot in the coolest place. Water moderately (about once every 10-12 days). When the temperature outside is stable to keep more than 10 degrees Celsius, you can put it on a permanent place on the street or on an open balcony before landing.

The main stages of spring planting hydrangeas

In order to properly plant a hydrangea seedling in open ground in the spring on the site, you need to know the scheme and features of both the preparation and the procedure itself. Consider how to choose planting material, plot and place in the garden, prepare a hole, and how to plant correctly.

Choosing a place and soil for planting

The shrub is quite whimsical in terms of choosing a place for growing. If you initially plant it in an inappropriate place in the garden for this, then problems may subsequently begin during cultivation.

In order for the hydrangea to grow well and bloom beautifully, you need to choose a place and soil in the country, taking into account the following requirements:

• The shrub is very moisture-loving. But at the same time, it does not accept stagnant moisture at all, so swampy places, lowlands, and areas with high groundwater should be avoided. The earth should be moderately moist.
• Proper lighting is very important for normal plant growth. Sunlight should be soft, but not bright and scalding. A great place to plant hydrangeas - in the morning and evening, the plant is illuminated by the sun, and at noon, when the sun is most active, the shrub is in partial shade. Without sunlight, beautiful and lush flowering, you will not wait. However, in colder regions of our country (for example, the Middle Stripe, Siberia, the Urals, the Leningrad Region), it can also be planted in a sunnier place.
• The area with flower beds should be sheltered from cold and strong winds, but at the same time there should be normal air circulation.

• Hydrangea is whimsical to soils - should be planted into loose, nutritious, moisture-intensive soil with a slightly acidic reaction. This culture is very fond of slightly acidic soils (optimal pH -5-6.2!).
• Heavy clay soils should be avoided, soil with an alkaline reaction should be avoided
• When choosing a place, you should also focus on the optimal neighborhood. With what can you plant a hydrangea in a flower garden? A beautiful combination in a flower bed next to astilba, hosta, boxwood. But planting this crop next to trees and other flowers and shrubs with a superficial root system is not worth it, because there will be mutual oppression.

Advice!If you want to plant hydrangeas in the garden along the garden paths in the country, it is recommended to plant at a short distance from them. Because when flowering, the branches can bend under the weight of the flowers. And if you land too close, they will be on the territory of the tracks themselves.

Site and landing pit preparation

Prepare the site and landing pit in advance- preferably in the fall or a month before the event. Worst case, at least 2-3 weeks. Due to the peculiarities of the root system it is important to prepare the place not only in depth, but also in breadth.

Advice! If you plan to plant several hydrangea seedlings, it is recommended to plant them taking into account the optimal distance between them - 1-1.5 meters. If you want to grow a hedge, then it is advisable to observe a gap of 70 cm.

First of all, you need to prepare the place itself: clean from debris, stones, weed rhizomes. It is possible to dig up the ground along with acidic high-moor peat at the planned place of cultivation and around (one bucket per square meter), and then thoroughly loosen it with a rake.

Note! The depth and width of the pit depends on the size of the planting material. For example, for one- and two-year-old seedlings, a pit of 30 by 30 centimeters is suitable, for larger three- and four-year-old specimens - 50 by 50 centimeters.

You can prepare a landing pit for planting hydrangeas in the spring in several correct ways:

1. The easiest way- fill the pit by 2/3 with a mixture of sour riding (brown) peat and garden soil. Although peat will deoxidize the earth, it still will not make it 100 percent ideal for shrubs. Therefore, it is better to try to make a more complex, but effective refueling.
2. You can prepare the landing pit in a more complex but effective way:
   • Make a recess in the selected area 60 by 60 centimeters.
   • Put a layer of coniferous litter at the bottom of the pit (it is necessary to acidify the soil).
   • Place a small layer of ordinary garden soil on top of the litter.
   • Mix a quarter bucket of manure (or compost) and a quarter bucket of acidic peat moss (or special acidic soil available at garden centers, such as blueberry potting mix). Fill the hole 2/3 full with potting mix.
   • Sprinkle a handful of superphosphate on top.
3. You can fertilize the pit with organic and mineral fertilizers:
   • Prepare dressing for the pit: riding sour peat (1 part), compost (1 part), potassium sulfate (25 grams), superphosphate (60 grams), urea (15 grams). Mix well
   • Fill the hole 2/3 full (although you can immediately put everything in the recess and mix it there).
4. If you have non-acidic, infertile, heavy, clay soil, then the preparation of the planting pit should be approached especially responsibly:
   • At the bottom of the pit, put a layer of coniferous litter or rotted coniferous sawdust (if you don’t have such an opportunity, then just riding sour peat).
   • Then you need to fill the hole 2/3 with a mixture of the following ingredients: leafy ground (2 parts) + humus (2 parts) + river sand (1 part) + acidic high-moor peat (1 part).

After preparing the pit, you need to water it abundantly so that the soil naturally settles.

Seedling preparation

As for the preparation of hydrangeas for planting in open ground in the spring, only material with an open root system can be prepared. It is possible to process the roots of a seedling before planting by soaking a root formation stimulator in a solution (for example, Kornevin, Heteroauxin).

Direct landing

The scheme of planting garden hydrangea in the open field in spring:

• Immediately a couple of hours before the procedure, you need to water the pit abundantly.
• For a seedling with an open root system, you need to make a small mound at the bottom of the pit (it is best to make a hill from fertile soil and peat).
• Carefully place the seedling in the center of the hole (if the specimen is O.K.S., then put the roots on a raised platform).
• Straighten the roots, they should lie flat, not bend (this step is relevant for O.K.S.).
• Fill the hole with soil mixture from the top fertile layer of earth and acidic peat. Distribute the soil evenly to avoid voids between the roots. In this case, the root neck must remain at the level of the soil, otherwise it will begin to rot.
• Lightly compact the ground around.
• Now you should make a generous watering (at least three buckets of water under one bush).

• If the soil settles after watering, then it will be necessary to add it to the previous level (also check your shrub in a few days, if the earth has settled again, then you need to refill the soil).
• After the event, mulch the place with coniferous litter, rotted coniferous sawdust or high-moor sour peat. The thickness of the mulch is 5-7 centimeters.

Hydrangea care in the garden

Regular and complete care for garden hydrangeas in the open field after spring planting in the garden is very important. You can not plant and forget about the plant. In the first year, the shrub is especially sensitive and demanding of the grower's attention.

To properly care for hydrangea, you must follow this scheme and cultivation techniques:

• Mulching- the most important moment in the care of hydrangeas. After all, the shrub loves moisture, and the mulching material keeps it in the ground. You can mulch with high-moor peat, litter or rotted bark of conifers. The thickness of the mulch is 5-7 centimeters.
• As has been repeatedly noted above, this shrub is very moisture-loving, which means that it is often needed. water. The soil should always be moderately moist, do not allow drying out. In dry weather, increase the amount of watering.
• After each introduction of moisture or precipitation, loosening soil around the bush.
• pruning garden hydrangea is very important for proper care. Should be pruned in the fall, it is recommended to cut half the height of the shrub. Pruning in the spring should be carried out exclusively before the start of sap flow, otherwise the bush can be damaged; in the spring, the weakest, thinnest, damaged shoots should be cut. You should also remove branches that grow inside the bush. It is recommended to take into account the specific features:
  • Tree-like - pruning should be done low, 15-20 centimeters should remain from the ground level (and weak, thin, young shoots should also be cut).
  • Large-leaved hydrangea - only faded inflorescences need to be eliminated, nothing else needs to be cut off, since this variety blooms on the shoots of last year.
  • Paniculata - cut into 3-4 pairs of buds, on the fifth soil.
• top dressing very important for beautiful and lush flowering. In early spring, nitrogen fertilizers are applied with a small amount of potassium and phosphorus, during budding and flowering - phosphorus-potassium fertilizers, and superphosphate can be added when flowering.
• In autumn, after pruning, tie shoots so that they do not break off due to winds, snow and bad weather. Thus, you will prepare the plant for winter.
• In regions with cold winters (Siberia, Urals, Leningrad region), shelter. Manipulation will help the plant survive cold and harsh conditions.

Video: garden hydrangea care rules.

Growing this perennial shrub in a country house or a plot of a private house is a real pleasure. This is not to say that the flower is whimsical and difficult to care for. However, he has his own stringent requirements that must be met, otherwise you may not see beautiful flowering. But first of all, you need to properly plant the hydrangea in open ground, and then pamper the bush with your care.

The most important thing in classes with Hydrangea shrubs is the correct determination of the place for planting, the study of the composition of the soil, which will allow you to get a healthy fruit of your work in the future, save the plants from diseases and yourself from unnecessary disorders. Planting Hydrangeas in the spring is best done at a time when the ground is thawing and the buds on the trees have not yet had time to blossom.

How to plant Hydrangea and what is needed for this?

• moderate sun exposure
• Abundant cyclic watering

To choose a place for such an ornamental plant, you should take care of a good place with respect to sunlight. Hydrangea does not like open sunny fields, long exposure to sunlight contributes to inhibition of plant growth, as a result of which we will not achieve the desired result, lush inflorescences will lose their effectiveness. All success in cultivation depends on this. These shrub flowers love a dark place. but not too much. A place devoid of through winds will be very useful. Compliance with such important rules will extend the time before the first signs of wilting flowers.

How to plant a Hydrangea

In order to choose the right site for planting, it is necessary to take into account the size of the plant, since they reach very impressive dimensions in height and width: three and a half and one and a half meters, respectively. The choice of soil is by far the most important. Shrub prefers data a large amount of moisture, this means that the soil must be moisture-intensive. In advance, you can take care of enriching the soil by adding rich nutrient mixtures in the form of:

1. humus
2. peat rocks
3. hardwood composition

Of the chemical ingredients for nutrition, you can use superphosphate and potassium fertilizers, urea. The more variety in the diet, the better.

When to plant hydrangea

Nevertheless, there are types of Hydrangeas that, contrary to the traditional principle, can be grown in sunny conditions. With this choice, it will simply be necessary to provide brightly colored flowers with an increased level of watering on hot days. The soil must be well drained. The combination of leaves, humus, peat, rich river sand, in proportion to each other, respectively, 2:2:1:1. It is worth remembering that the presence of lime in the soil during planting will have an extremely negative impact on the further growth and development of plants. The pH level must be within 5.0.

Landing Hydrangeas in open ground in the northern direction of the country, preferably in the spring. In the southern regions, this can be done in the fall. The correct arrangement of the landing pit is determined by its size. You need to focus on the root system, when planting in depth, since Hydrangea has an extensive root system. Half a meter in diameter and half a meter in depth is the best option. You can buy varieties of planting material in specialized stores, as well as learn about the reproduction of flowers from the seller firsthand for self-growing in the future. To plant Hydrangeas in any particular way, you need to know what they are.

Methods for propagating hydrangea bushes

1. cutting
2. dividing the bush
3. grafting
4. sowing seeds

We will analyze the main points of each landing method.

Cutting propagation

When breeding, a certain type is used. For better rooting, shoots that are not too hard and not too soft are suitable. Lateral shoots are present on any plant. Rooting occurs in a nutrient substrate. A favorable soil environment with good moisture capacity is created; for these purposes, the addition of sphagnum can be used. The drug Kornevin is perfect for processing cuttings before planting, which will allow them to take root better and faster.

The landing process is as follows. Cuttings are planted in the ground to a depth of several centimeters, the distance between individuals is 5 cm. The process of rooting cuttings in the ground takes less than 1 month, in favorable conditions a little more than 2 weeks. The optimum temperature for this is about 20 degrees. Adults can be propagated by dividing the bush system into several parts. Each individual must have kidneys to replace.

We get an unusual plant using one of the methods

Through vaccination

You can make an unusually beautiful standard plant. In this way, an absolutely extraordinary effect is achieved. A shrub plant will grow like a tree, with a dense crown-cap, cascading branches. Shtambs are grown mainly by specialists, but you can also do this at an amateur level. To get a beautiful standard inflorescence, you need to know the nuances of this process. You can create a stamp for a person, who does not have extensive professional knowledge in horticulture, and use the shaping method for this.

In short, it looks like this: we form the trunk, cut off the crown. The most important thing in this method is to choose a good seedling. It should have, preferably, a perfectly even trunk. Escape in the process of landing, tied to a support. It can be a wooden or metal rod driven in near the seedling.

As the seedling grows, it is tied to a support above, and the growing shoots are removed with scissors. This procedure is carried out until the seedling reaches the desired height. The apical shoot is then subject to pinching, to start the formation of crown growth. Immediately, shoots will begin to form together with pinching and, as they grow, they will also need to be pinched. With this approach, the crown will form fluffy and thick, like a real tree.

Reproduction by seeds

The simplest and most straightforward method is used very rarely due to the more time-consuming process. Hydrangea seeds have a fine structure. They are planted in boxes, on a soil substrate, and covered with glass to create greenhouse conditions. The temperature regime with this method should be stable and be from +15 to +20 degrees.

The laboriousness of seed breeding consists in diving plants. This process, at the stage of germination, is repeated twice. The first time a dive occurs under greenhouse conditions in the winter season in the form of cotyledon leaves. The second time the process is repeated in May, when warm weather has set in outside the window, it is needed in order to take out pots with seedlings for a day, the process of hardening or getting used to future conditions. At night they are taken back. Before planting seedlings in open ground, 2 years should pass. When the first buds appear, they are cut off. This allows the root system to develop, to provide them with good access to nutrients.

In the process of planting seedlings, the previously prepared soil mixture is brought into the pit and a small hilly elevation is made. A seedling is placed on it, the roots are carefully straightened and the plant is covered with earth to the level of the root collar. It should be level with the ground, this will prevent it from possible rotting in the future. Deviations of a few centimeters in the direction of deepening are permissible. The earth near the trunk must be tamped. Mulching the ground is also recommended. To do this, take peat, sawdust or chopped bark to choose from, and mulch a 5-centimeter layer.

These actions will prevent dehydration of plants during a hot period or during a period without regular watering. Plants are best watered into the near-stem area, so the water will disperse as the roots are located and reach them at a depth of 30-40 cm. It is enough to pour about 15 liters of water and this amount will be enough to maintain normal soil moisture.

Garden hydrangea is grown in open ground. In the first couple, cuttings should not be planted in garden conditions. The plant is ornamental and, if planted early, may not be able to cope with the winter cold. We'll have to wait, use a 2 or 3 year cycle of growing flowers indoors. Absolutely any materials for pots are suitable, you just need to take care of the required height of the container, it should be equal to the diameter. Diameter fit about 10cm.

To plant Hydrangea in a pot, use a slightly acidic prepared soil mixture. If the earth is not acidic enough, you can add a little coniferous forest, its sawdust, to the planting hole. In equal parts, mix the ingredients of sand, leaves and peat. Perfectly suited for this and purchased soil mixtures. A small layer of expanded clay is laid on the bottom of the pot, it will help to remove excess moisture into the pan. On the other hand, the moisture remaining on the upper layers of expanded clay will help maintain the moisture level of the earth. A small layer of soil is sprinkled on expanded clay, plants are planted on it, roots are straightened in favorable conditions and completely sprinkled with soil, followed by compaction. The stalk should be well watered.

In such conditions, Hydrangea grows up to 3 years. After 1 year, the Hydrangea is transplanted into a new pot of larger diameter. Upon reaching a certain age and the growth of flowers, in the spring, with the May warm sun, they are transplanted into open ground conditions, flower beds or a garden.

This controversial plant loves slightly acidic soil, does not accept excessive, but feels favorably in an environment of abundant moisture. The sun should dip the flowers in the morning and evening. It is worth knowing that the heavily overgrown Hydrangea bushes lean low to the ground. In garden paths, it is necessary to indent a meter distance so as not to hurt them, otherwise you will have to say goodbye to beauty. Supports are not recommended. because they don't look very aesthetically pleasing. Planting plants is most favorable in the spring, away from large trees. It is known that they will draw out the moisture necessary for flowers.

In Japan, this flower is sometimes called "yearning for water". It is not surprising that Hortense loves watering so much, infrequently, but plentifully. From here comes the second name of this flower - Hydragea.

Rightfully loved by flower growers, no one can remain indifferent when, from the middle of summer, she dissolves her lush inflorescences of pink, blue or white shades. In addition, compared to other species, paniculata hydrangea tolerates cold climates well.

Description of hydrangea paniculata

The plant reaches a height of two meters. On tubular shoots, oblong green leaves grow, pubescent from below with a soft pile. Panicled hydrangea blooms with large 15 cm in diameter and 25-30 cm long flowers of whitish, cream, pink, red-purple hues. Flowering continues from mid-July to late October.

Landing and care

Location selection

It is best to plant a hydrangea in such a way that at noon it is in partial shade. Under bright sunlight, the plant will be uncomfortable. Hydrangea in such conditions blooms later, flowering is not the most lush. Ideally, if the plant will be lit by the sun only in the morning or evening hours.

soil for the plant

Hydrangea paniculata prefers to grow on fertilized loamy soil with high acidity. It is important to consider that the plant does not tolerate stagnant water. Before planting, drainage should be put in the pit: a layer of small stones or expanded clay. If the soil is clayey, it should be mixed with sand, add peat, soil from under coniferous crops.

Landing dates

Hydrangea paniculata are planted in spring and autumn. Each term has its own advantages and disadvantages.

• In areas with a warm climate, planting is possible in autumn, in September. Seedlings have time to take root before the onset of cold weather. Such plants begin to bloom in the next season.
• In the middle lane and colder regions, spring planting is preferred.
• In the spring, hydrangeas are planted after the last frost, when the soil warms up enough.
• Seedlings purchased in special containers (with a closed root system) can be planted in the garden in any summer month. However, you should choose hydrangeas with intact bark and buds, from half a meter to a meter high, with 2-3 live shoots. Live roots should be visible from the earthy coma.

Landing Rules

1. For planting, dig a hole measuring 30 - 50 cm in each dimension.
2. The soil excavated during excavation is mixed with sand, peat, mineral or organic fertilizers.
3. If you plan to plant several plants, the distance between plantings is set from 1 m.
4. Too long roots are shortened when planting.
5. If the roots have had time to dry, they are soaked for a day. It will not be superfluous to add a root formation stimulator to the water.
6. Also, when planting, it is useful to dip the roots in a clay mash.
7. A mound of prepared earth is poured into the hole, a seedling is placed on it, covered with the remaining earth, compacted to prevent voids between the soil and the roots.
8. The root neck should be at ground level, it should not be deepened.
9. After planting, the bush is watered abundantly.
10. Then mulch with a layer (5 cm) of peat, or humus.
11. When planting in spring, annual shoots are cut into 3-4 buds.
12. Before planting, you can pour liquid hydrogel into the hole. During hot weather, it will help retain moisture in the soil.

Watering

Hydrangea paniculata - a moisture-loving plant, it is watered 2 times a week at the rate of about 3 buckets per plant. However, it should be borne in mind that mulching and rains reduce the rate of watering.

Water should be without chlorine, it is good to use rainwater. It can be harvested in wide containers, such as tubs or barrels.

You need to water carefully, do not allow drops to fall on the leaves and flowers. This harms the decorativeness of plants.

top dressing

In the first year after planting, the plant does not need to be fed.

Subsequently, shrubs are fed three times a year.

1. The first time - after the appearance of the first shoots. Use complex mineral fertilizer.
2. The second time is when buds begin to form on the plant, around mid-June. Top dressing is carried out with potassium sulfide and superphosphate in a ratio of 7:4. 100 g of the mixture is dissolved in a bucket of water and the bush is watered.
3. At the end of August, they fertilize for the third time with infusion of mullein. The infusion is prepared as follows: manure (1 part) is poured with water (3 parts) and infused for a week. Then, for top dressing, the resulting concentrate is diluted with water 1:10.

loosening

The soil must be loosened periodically, at least 3 times per season, so that a dense crust does not appear on its surface, which prevents moisture from remaining in the soil. The earth is loosened to a depth of about 7 cm in a radius of 60 cm around the center of the bush. During loosening, weeding is also carried out.

pruning

To maintain the decorativeness of the bush, starting from 4-5 years of age, the hydrangea should be cut.

Pruning serves the following purposes:

1. Achieve luxuriant flowering.
2. Obtaining large beautiful inflorescences.
3. The formation of hydrangea in the form of an attractive tree.
4. Rejuvenation of old bushes.

Pruning is carried out in the spring after the snow melts and after the buds swell, but before they bloom.

Shaping cutting technology:

• Remove thin branches directed inside the crown. They are cut into rings.
• Cut off large shoots. On each leave 2-3 kidneys. Sections are made transverse over the kidney.
• Cut out weak and frost-damaged branches. Large frozen branches are cut to a healthy area.

Anti-aging pruning:

• On old bushes, 6-10 strong skeletal branches are left, the rest are completely cut out. This procedure is carried out annually.
• Another way: cut the bush completely "on the stump". In this case, a rejuvenated ornamental plant is obtained in the second year.

Autumn pruning for hydrangea is not desirable, after it the plants tolerate frost worse. During this period, faded inflorescences are removed so that the branches do not break under the snow.

Reproduction of hydrangea paniculata

Hydrangea can be propagated from seeds, but this is a long procedure, not suitable for an amateur gardener. It is recommended to propagate the shrub by cuttings and layering.

Hydrangea from cuttings

Cuttings can be cut before bud break or in mid-summer with leaves.

In the first case:

1. The cuttings are cut obliquely so that each has at least 2 buds.
2. Then they are planted in peat or sand at a slope of 60 degrees, deepening the lower kidney by 3 cm.
3. Water well, cover with spunbond and place in a greenhouse.
4. Rooted plants are planted in open ground next spring.

In the second case:

1. The lower leaves are removed from the cuttings, and the upper ones are shortened by half.
2. The stalk is placed in a solution of foundationazolone for half an hour and planted in a container in peat with the addition of sand and placed in the shade.
3. The seedling is covered with a jar or the top of a cut half of a plastic bottle.
4. You need to water the seedling twice a week for 4 weeks.
5. After this period, the cuttings should take root, the shelter from the containers can be gradually removed.
6. For wintering, containers are sent to a room with low positive temperatures.
7. Plants are planted in a permanent place in August of the following year.

Hydrangea from cuttings

Hydrangea can also be propagated by layering.

• In the spring, until the buds appear, the soil near the plant is loosened, deepened by 15 cm and the lowest shoot of the shrub is added dropwise.
• The shoot can be fixed in the soil with a stone or strong wire.
• The aerial part of the shoot is attached to a support and watered.
• In August, new shoots form on the layer, when they reach a length of 15-20 cm, they are spudded. Hilling is repeated every 7-10 days until the resulting mounds are 20-25 cm in height.
• You can separate young plants from the mother and plant them in a permanent place in a year.

Problems of growing hydrangea paniculata

With proper care, hydrangea, as a rule, does not get sick and is not affected. However, the following problems may arise with it: