The garden changes when the hydrangea garden blooms. Planting and care, how difficult are they? Very beautiful plant! Planted along garden paths, decorate the entrance to the garden. Will transform any corner of a site. He has one more name - hydrangea macrophile (hydrangea macrophylla). Gardeners around the world rightly consider it one of the most beautiful flowering plants. These are real aristocrats reigning in the gardens all summer. Indifferently to pass by the magnificent flowering hydrangea bush is simply impossible! The variety, beauty of the shades of its flowers is truly amazing. Back in the middle of the 20th century. all varieties of this species were characterized by low frost resistance: they withstood frosts only up to -10 ° С. Therefore, lovers of garden hydrangeas had to be content with their reduced room copies.
Photo of blooming hydrangea:
Over the past 20 years, breeders have been actively working on the cultivation of frost-resistant varieties of hydrangeas that would withstand temperatures of -25 ° C or even lower.
Thanks to the efforts of breeders, the magnificent shrubs of garden hydrangea today delight us with long, plentiful flowering in different climatic conditions.
What is hydrangea, how does it look, description of a garden shrub
Hydrangea garden is a deciduous shrub. Height depends on the variety - from 50 cm to one and a half meters. The flowers are collected in very large spherical inflorescences, with a diameter of 18-20 cm.
At the beginning of flowering, inflorescences often have a barely noticeable light green color. And when the flowering is gaining strength, they acquire bright blue, pink, lilac, purple, snow-white shades. It blooms depending on the variety from early June to October.
Among the flowering ornamental shrubs that are used for landscaping gardens, parks and summer cottages, hydrangea is the undisputed leader in terms of flowering time. This period lasts for an average of about two months in a plant.
Hydrangea planting, how to choose the best place
This is a large long-lived shrub that does not tolerate transplanting, so the place for hydrangea should be selected carefully.
What does garden hydrangea love? How to grow hydrangea so that it brings joy? Unlike most species, the garden prefers partial shade. The best place for hydrangea in the garden is one that is lit by the sun from morning until noon. This shrub grows well, develops near the house or small garden buildings that protect it from the sultry sun. In addition, in such a place in winter it will be sheltered from cold winds. It must be borne in mind that the less light falls on the area where the plant is planted, the later flowering occurs, the less inflorescences will be.
In landscape design, hydrangeas are most often used as tapeworms on small green lawns, and low varieties are very beautiful, elegantly look like a hedge along borders. A hedge of bushes looks especially bright, elegant, if you select varieties with contrasting flowers or different shades of the same tone.
Some large-leaved varieties can be grown not only in open ground in the garden, but also in large pots or tubs on terraces or verandas.
Very often, a plant is planted at the entrance of a house or gazebo, where they look very festive, elegant. Looks great, this shrub feels great also on the banks of small natural or artificial ponds, because due to reflection in water its decorativeness doubles.
When to plant garden hydrangea, planting dates
The preferred timing for planting hydrangeas in the garden depends on the region where you live.
We, in the Kuban, it is better to plant in the fall, approximately in the first half of October. There is no heat anymore, seedlings will feel fine and have time to take root before the onset of cold weather.
In central Russia, it is preferable to plant it in the spring, approximately in the second half of April, when the ground thaws and warms up well.
In the more northern regions, the best time to plant is the month of May, about the middle of the month.
When choosing a seedling, pay attention to the root system. It must be well developed. Even better, if you get a seedling with a closed root system - the plant will be able to take root in a new place, without experiencing stress.
What soil does hydrangea like
This shrub prefers slightly or moderately acidic soils. However, they are not always found in garden plots, therefore, before planting a shrub, prepare a special mixture to fill the planting pit from equal parts of sheet and turf land, peat and sand. After planting in the soil, the plant must be abundantly watered and, if possible, mulched with compost.
How to water garden hydrangea
This is a very hygrophilous plant, not for nothing that in Latin it is called hydrangea.
A large amount of water is needed primarily by young plants (up to 2-3 years). Frequent, plentiful summer watering of the bush during this period allows you to maintain a more or less stable temperature on the surface of the soil of the trunk circle. In subsequent years, watering the bush should be sufficient and regular. Moisture deficiency or drought can cause a regional burn of leaves, wilting of the entire bush, even its death.
Hydrangea fertilizer, fertilizing, than fertilizing
In the spring before the appearance of buds, like most flowering plants, it requires complex fertilizers, in particular nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, and necessary trace elements. Fertilizing, dressing is required if you are counting on the lush, long-term flowering of the bush.
Hydrangea has one feature - during flowering, new flower buds are laid. This means that the plant requires twice as many nutrients that must be given to it during this period. Feed the shrub at this time with phosphorus-potassium fertilizer (superphosphate and potassium sulfate), but you can not add nitrogen. This is necessary for the normal preparation of plants for wintering.
How to care for hydrangea garden? Garden hydrangea will gratefully respond to such a treatment: pouring it with sour milk - whey, kefir, yogurt. Serum can be sprayed a couple of times per season over the leaves. It was already said above that the plant prefers slightly or medium acid soils. And if the soil in your garden is neutral, then watering with acidic dairy products or spraying with serum will respond with more abundant flowering, the bushes will become more magnificent.
And one more secret - periodically water your pet with a weak solution of potassium permanganate - this will give strength to the plant, flexibility to the branches.
Hydrangea pruning, is it needed
Unlike other species, large-leaved hydrangea garden does not require pruning, as in most varieties of inflorescences are formed on last year's shoots. That is why it is important to preserve them. An exception is the spring sanitary pruning of frozen or damaged branches in winter.
But, it is recommended to periodically conduct minor thinning, rejuvenation of the bush. In the latter case, shoots older than four years old are removed.
Do not forget to immediately cut off wilted inflorescences carefully after flowering. It is better to do this gradually, during the entire flowering period. Do not wait until the flowers are completely dry. This is best done after the inflorescences have completely withered.
Hydrangea care in autumn, preparation for winter
Since it blooms primarily on the shoots of last year, it is important to preserve them from cold or frost. For this, we recommend sheltering young plants for the winter.
Firstly, within 2-3 years, the planted shrubs adapt to a new place, get used to the soil, winds, the amount of sun received.
Secondly, transplanting a bush from a container into open ground is a kind of stress for him. Therefore, it is better to play it safe - to shelter the plant for the winter. To do this, first mulch the land with a spruce or sawdust at the base of the bush, and then cover the branches with a special white agrofibre.
If you purchased a shrub with long branches, you must first bend them gently to the ground, secure with metal studs, and then cover. Some gardeners use regular plastic vegetable crates to protect young plants in winter from strong winds or large amounts of snow. Such a sophisticated shelter allows you to save branches without breakage.
Adult shrubs of new varieties withstand fairly low temperatures, so it is not necessary to cover them.
Lush flowering, a healthy look of garden hydrangea suggests that planting and care are correct.