Hydrangea large-leaved planting and care in the open field in the Urals

For many hundreds of years, hydrangea flowers have delighted people with their incredible beauty. The homeland of this exotic beauty is America and East Asia. And today, people do not lose interest in this wondrous beauty. Below, we will talk about how the garden hydrangea is grown in the Urals, as well as all the secrets of caring for this wonderful flower.

How to choose a variety

Many garden flower lovers are interested in what types and varieties of hydrangeas for Russian gardens are the most optimal, given the climatic conditions. First of all, this plant has more than 300 varieties of varieties, but not all of them are suitable for our area.

The following varieties are considered the most resistant:

• serrated hydrangea bluebird;
• pink hydrangea;
• hydrangea sargent;
• hydrangea ground cover;
• petiolate hydrangea;
• large-leaved hydrangea.

But such bushes are suitable for softer latitudes, but as for the Ural Territory, you should choose slightly different varieties, since this region is famous for its severe frosts in winter. Therefore, the most frost-resistant varieties that are adapted to life in this region are the panicle hydrangea shrub, tree hydrangea varieties and sargent hydrangea. These types of plants are considered the most unpretentious and resistant to bad weather. Thanks to these features, the likelihood that the plant will take root is much higher, unlike other varieties.

It is worth noting that the cultivation of such flowers requires a certain skill to care for them and skill.To grow a beautiful, healthy plant, special attention should be paid to the choice of the sprout. Seedlings with a dry clod of earth are definitely not suitable for planting, since there is a high probability that such seed will not take root in the ground.

What are the optimal conditions for growth

How to choose the best place for planting hydrangeas in the country? In fact, there is nothing complicated if you follow several rules, namely:

• flowering shrubs must be protected from the wind;
• the direct rays of the sun should not fall on the hydrangea;
• the most ideal place for planting is a fence. Thus, you can decorate the fence and get a good help for the flower.

It is worth noting that the hydrangea, regardless of the variety, is very fond of the shade, especially the paniculate representative. Therefore, if the initial location was not chosen correctly, then it is better to transplant the hydrangea to another location.

Choosing a soil for an exotic beauty

Correctly selected soil, the key to good hydrangea growth. The most ideal for such a plant is the land rich in peat. And in order to avoid problems with weathering and freezing of the trunk, it is enough to cover the ground around the bush with the bark of coniferous leaves or use geo textiles. Thanks to such simple manipulations, the frost resistance of the plant will increase significantly.

In cases where the land is not particularly rich in fertilizers, you can add fertile black soil by placing it at the bottom of a dug hole.

The main condition for the good growth of hydrangeas is the regular loosening of the soil located near the roots. This procedure will help provide oxygen access. But what to do when there is practically no time for constant leaving, then mulch will come to the rescue. It should be poured into the ground when planting in a small layer.

How to properly water

The exotic beauty hydrangea requires regular watering. Otherwise, a lack of moisture will lead to the fact that in the winter the plant will simply freeze out. This rule is especially relevant for still not matured shoots.

If, due to the busyness of the gardener, it is not possible to water the hydrangea from the watering can, you can install automatic or drip irrigation. For such care, the plant will surely thank you with a beautiful and luxurious flowering.

As for only the seedlings planted in the ground, they should be watered daily until the sprout hardens. And as soon as the hydrangea grows, the number of waterings is reduced to three times a week. If it is summer weather outside, then the plant is watered only as the soil dries up, in order to prevent the trunk from drying out.

In general, there are no strict rules regarding watering, in order to determine whether the flowers need moisture, you should check the soil under it, if it has dried more than 3 cm, then it is time for moisture.

Secrets of the correct planting of hydrangeas

In order for the shrub to please the eye and take root on the site, the choice of planting time must be taken very seriously.

Hydrangea should be planted in the spring or fall. But do not forget that the planting of a garden beauty will be carried out in a rather cold climate, so the time for planting is preferable in the spring.

As for the landing rules, there are several of them, namely:

1. the hole for planting a plant should be no more than 30 cm, and the distance between the shoots should be kept in a meter;
2. before planting the hydrangea, fertilize the substrate, pour a 5 cm layer of peat into the planting hole;
3. immediately before planting the plant, the root should be shortened by 2 cm;
4. it is advisable to place a hydrangea in a flower bed with single sprouts;
5. when the sprout is placed in the planting hole, it is not recommended to deepen the root collar;
6. at spring planting, one-year-old shoots are shortened by three buds;
7. as soon as the hydrangea is planted, it is thoroughly watered and the topsoil around a 5 cm layer of peat is covered or ordinary manure is used, such a manipulation is needed to keep the base of the flower warm.

Planting a plant in the Urals in autumn is not a good idea, since delicate shoots do not adapt to the climate and will die in winter.

We feed the plant correctly

Overwintered hydrangea should be fertilized with top dressing. If the landing in the ground is the first, then ordinary humus is also added. A little later, they feed them with nitrogen supplements or use ready-made fertilizers for these purposes, which can be purchased at any flower shop. This applies to both young plants and perennials.

In order for the hydrangea to bloom and delight the eye, the soil under it is fertilized twice a month according to the following principle.

At the beginning of the growth of a flower, one of the following plants can be introduced into the ground, namely:

• sulfuric potassium;
• urea;
• superphosphate.

When a plant throws out buds, the following substances are used for fertilization:

• superphosphate;
• potassium sulfate.

And when the summer period ends, 10 kg of compost or humus are applied under each plant.

As for the dosage of the above fertilizers, then when buying such a product, you should first read the instructions, where recommendations are given in detail.

Choosing a way to reproduce hydrangeas

When planting this beautiful plant in his garden, each person should know several rules for caring for this plant, reproduction and pruning are carried out in a way that will be most optimal for the climate where this exotic beauty grows. If you strictly follow all the rules, then the first flowering buds will delight the gardener in 4 years.

How to propagate hydrangea yourself? There are 3 ways to do this, namely:

1. sowing seeds;
2. cuttings;
3. reproduction by layering.

Propagation by cuttings

Choosing this method, the gardener should know that the procedure should be started in the spring. Starting from the indicated period, a division is carried out, from the mother bush, processed and planted, in the shade on separate beds or in small pots. And with the onset of cold weather, the sprouts are hidden in the basement.

And only when warmth comes to the ground, the hydrangea is taken out into the fresh air. Green branches are removed from the sprouts, and the trunk of the plant is planted in the ground. In this case, the branches should be arranged in the form of a fan.

Before winter, the tree is mulched, and in spring, each bud will delight the flower lover with a flower bud. Propagation of garden hydrangea by cuttings in spring, the procedure is not complicated, the main thing is to follow the rules.

Reproduction by layering

This flower also propagates by layering, for this it will be necessary to dig up the plant with the onset of spring. Then, radial paths are created up to 2 cm deep. In the prepared paths, carefully lay out one sprout from the bottom of the flower. Next, they take small pieces of wire and pinch the shoots with them, and then pour a little on top of the earth.

Thanks to this method, by the end of summer, new shoots will appear on each layer. As soon as they become visible, they need to be given a couple of weeks to strengthen, and only then they are divided, so that they can then be planted.

Hydrangea seeds, reproduction

Hydrangea seeds

To sow seeds for seedlings, it is necessary to plant the prepared material in early March in individual pots, which are covered with a glass container on top. The temperature for germination should be + 22 ° C. Seed material should be provided with constant daylight, and the ground should be constantly moistened.

You can sow hydrangea in greenhouses, subject to the above conditions.
Under such conditions, after 35-40 days, the first shoots will appear after they are sown. A couple of weeks more, they should grow in pots, at this time the young are taken out for a couple of hours daily, outside, so that the plants get used to the temperature.And as soon as the sprouts grow 10 cm, they can be transplanted to a permanent place.

It is possible to plant a hydrangea with seeds, but this planting does not always give a result, the best way to get offspring is cuttings and layering.

Preparing the plant for wintering

How to prepare hydrangea for winter? This manipulation is most important for this flower, since the correct shelter guarantees the safety of the plant.
As described above, one of the most important flower care procedures is preparing the plant for the coming winter.

Hydrangea care in the fall involves mulching the plant with soil, premixed with compost.
It is very important to approach this procedure responsibly in the case when the bush grows in the flowerbed only for the first year. In this case, the hydrangea needs not only mulching, but also bending all its branches to the ground. Moreover, it is necessary to pin down the young branches.

IMPORTANT

Today, flower shops and nurseries offer new varieties of hydrangea, which can throw out the buds in the first year. But, do not rush to acquire such sprouts. The fact is that there is no data on their frost resistance. Therefore, such a purchase will resemble a pig in a poke.

How to create the perfect hiding place for hydrangeas for the winter

Preparing a hydrangea for winter requires shelter to keep its buds from freezing. Basically, summer residents with experience recommend the two most effective ways to help preserve the flower.

To cover the hydrangea for the winter, you can use agrofibre or a regular wooden box. The branches of the plant are bent to the ground, and on top of them the above-described shelters are tightly laid, on which a layer of spruce branches is poured. Before starting this procedure, the stem at the very root is carefully covered with a layer of dry leaves.

In addition to the above, many gardeners recommend covering the top with coniferous litter or dry leaves, so that the layer is at least 10 cm.This will help protect the plant from even the most severe frosts.

Shelter hydrangeas for the winter provides another way that requires some preparation. It is necessary to count 30 cm from the plant and install in this place a kind of wire frame that will completely cover the plant. The constructed frame should be at least 10 cm higher than the bush itself. When it is ready, the shrub is well covered with dry leaves, so that the leaves cover the created frame. Thanks to this design, the hydrangea can easily withstand the winter.

All about pruning and shaping a bush

Caring for garden hydrangea also provides for mandatory pruning, which is performed not only for beauty, but also to give an impetus to the flowering of the shrub.

Caring for a hydrangea in the garden also includes shaping the plant. For such purposes, pruning of the bush is carried out from time to time. If this manipulation is not carried out, then over time the hydrangea will become thick and take on a neglected look. And this will directly affect flowering, since the buds become quite small.
If the gardener is pruning, then the plant will not only retain its initially magnificent appearance, but will also improve it significantly.

How is the correct aesthetic pruning done? For these purposes, the bushes that have wintered are preliminarily examined. Then, up to 10 of the strongest shoots are selected, which are shortened by a couple of buds.

There is one pruning trick that many experienced growers use. If only a couple of buds are left in the lower part of the bush, then the plant will throw out a few buds, but the flowers will be very large and beautiful, and the bush itself will take on an exotic look.

But in this case, each gardener decides for himself, the only condition, completely cut off should be dry inflorescences.

IMPORTANT

If there is abundant flowering on the tree, then the branches may not cope with the weight of the buds.Therefore, decorative trimming should be done to avoid possible damage.

A very important measure is also the sanitary pruning of the flower when preparations for winter are in progress. The sprouts are shortened by a third or half.

It is worth noting that pruning hydrangeas in the spring is very real. The overwhelming majority of experienced growers strongly recommend pruning such varieties in early spring. Until that moment when the buds bloom on the plant.

If the choice fell on spring pruning, then perform it as follows:

• thin out an adult plant;
• get rid of all weak branches;
• cut off all branches growing inside the bush, which can create extra shadow;
• if frozen branches are found, then they are cut off before the beginning of healthy wood.

After sanitary pruning, the plant should be tied up in a bunch and fixed with a pre-installed stand. Such a support can be made of metal or wood in the form of an ordinary stick.

IMPORTANT

Sometimes rooted cuttings begin to throw out buds. In order to avoid this, such beauty should be immediately removed to fill the young shoots with strength.

We fight pests and plant diseases

How to properly care for this flower so that it delights the grower with its lush flowering? It is important to know that each plant is susceptible to pests and diseases that must be destroyed in a timely manner, this also applies to the garden queen.

The most common ailment of this exotic beauty is bush chlorosis, which manifests itself as a result of a lack of iron. Chlorosis can damage the bush not only from excess lime, but also from frequent watering with hard water.

There are several signs indicating the problem that has appeared, namely:

1. sharp yellowing of foliage;
2. clarification of leaves;
3. drooping plant.

If all of the above signs appear, then the acidity of the soil should be brought back to normal immediately. To do this, you need to purchase a drug or prepare a mixture yourself, which neutralizes the alkali in the soil.

And to perform such a manipulation, you can use the tools at hand:

Dissolve a teaspoon of citric acid in 15 liters of water and water the plant. Florists with experience recommend watering the plant with this remedy every month.

Dissolve a citramon tablet in 5 liters of water and water the bush. It is recommended to carry out such watering every month.

100 g apple cider vinegar is added to 10 liters of water and watering is carried out in the same way as described above.

For many hundreds of years, hydrangea flowers have delighted people with their incredible beauty. The homeland of this exotic beauty is America and East Asia. And today, people do not lose interest in this wondrous beauty. Below, we will talk about how the garden hydrangea is grown in the Urals, as well as all the secrets of caring for this wonderful flower.

How to choose a variety

Many garden flower lovers are interested in what types and varieties of hydrangeas for Russian gardens are the most optimal, given the climatic conditions. First of all, this plant has more than 300 varieties of varieties, but not all of them are suitable for our area.

The following varieties are considered the most resistant:

• serrated hydrangea bluebird;
• pink hydrangea;
• hydrangea sargent;
• hydrangea ground cover;
• petiolate hydrangea;
• large-leaved hydrangea.

But such bushes are suitable for softer latitudes, but as for the Ural Territory, slightly different varieties should be chosen, since this region is famous for its severe frosts in winter. Therefore, the most frost-resistant varieties that are adapted to life in this region are the panicle hydrangea shrub, tree hydrangea varieties and sargent hydrangea. These types of plants are considered the most unpretentious and resistant to bad weather. Thanks to these features, the likelihood that the plant will take root is much higher, unlike other varieties.

It is worth noting that the cultivation of such flowers requires a certain skill and skill in caring for them. To grow a beautiful, healthy plant, special attention should be paid to the choice of the sprout. Seedlings with a dry clod of earth are definitely not suitable for planting, since there is a high probability that such seed will not take root in the ground.

What are the optimal conditions for growth

How to choose the best place for planting hydrangeas in the country? In fact, there is nothing complicated if you follow several rules, namely:

• flowering shrubs must be protected from the wind;
• the direct rays of the sun should not fall on the hydrangea;
• the most ideal place for planting is a fence. Thus, you can decorate the fence and get a good help for the flower.

It is worth noting that hydrangea, regardless of the variety, is very fond of shade, especially the paniculate representative. Therefore, if the initial location was not chosen correctly, then it is better to transplant the hydrangea to another location.

Choosing a soil for an exotic beauty

Correctly selected soil, the key to good hydrangea growth. The most ideal for such a plant is the land rich in peat. And in order to avoid problems with weathering and freezing of the trunk, it is enough to cover the ground around the bush with the bark of coniferous leaves or use geo textiles. Thanks to such simple manipulations, the frost resistance of the plant will increase significantly.

In cases where the land is not particularly rich in fertilizers, you can add fertile black soil by placing it at the bottom of a dug hole.

The main condition for the good growth of hydrangeas is the regular loosening of the soil located near the roots. This procedure will help provide oxygen access. But what to do when there is practically no time for constant leaving, then mulch will come to the rescue. It should be poured into the ground when planting in a small layer.

How to properly water

The exotic beauty hydrangea requires regular watering. Otherwise, a lack of moisture will lead to the fact that in the winter the plant will simply freeze out. This rule is especially relevant for still not matured shoots.

If, due to the busyness of the gardener, it is not possible to water the hydrangea from the watering can, you can install automatic or drip irrigation. For such care, the plant will surely thank you with a beautiful and luxurious flowering.

As for only the seedlings planted in the ground, they should be watered daily until the sprout hardens. And as soon as the hydrangea grows, the number of waterings is reduced to three times a week. If it is summer weather outside, then the plant is watered only as the soil dries out in order to prevent the trunk from drying out.

In general, there are no strict rules regarding watering, in order to determine whether the flowers need moisture, you should check the soil under it, if it has dried more than 3 cm, then it is time for moisture.

Secrets of the correct planting of hydrangeas

In order for the shrub to please the eye and take root on the site, the choice of planting time must be taken very seriously.

Hydrangea should be planted in the spring or fall. But do not forget that the planting of a garden beauty will be carried out in a rather cold climate, so the time for planting is preferable in the spring.

As for the landing rules, there are several of them, namely:

1. the hole for planting a plant should be no more than 30 cm, and the distance between the shoots should be kept in a meter;
2. before planting hydrangea, fertilize the substrate, pour a 5 cm layer of peat into the planting hole;
3. immediately before planting the plant, the root should be shortened by 2 cm;
4. it is advisable to place a hydrangea in a flower bed with single sprouts;
5. when the sprout is placed in the planting hole, it is not recommended to deepen the root collar;
6. at spring planting, one-year-old shoots are shortened by three buds;
7. as soon as the hydrangea is planted, it is thoroughly watered and the topsoil around a 5 cm layer of peat is covered or ordinary manure is used, such a manipulation is needed to keep the base of the flower warm.

Planting a plant in the Urals in autumn is not a good idea, since delicate shoots do not adapt to the climate and will die in winter.

We feed the plant correctly

Overwintered hydrangea should be fertilized with top dressing. If the landing in the ground is the first, then ordinary humus is also added. A little later, they feed them with nitrogen supplements or use ready-made fertilizers for these purposes, which can be purchased at any flower shop. This applies to both young plants and perennials.

In order for the hydrangea to bloom and delight the eye, the soil under it is fertilized twice a month according to the following principle.

At the beginning of the growth of a flower, one of the following plants can be introduced into the ground, namely:

• sulfuric potassium;
• urea;
• superphosphate.

When a plant throws out buds, the following substances are used for fertilization:

• superphosphate;
• potassium sulfate.

And when the summer period ends, 10 kg of compost or humus are applied under each plant.

As for the dosage of the above fertilizers, when buying such a product, you should first read the instructions, where recommendations are given in detail.

Choosing a way to propagate hydrangea

When planting this beautiful plant in his garden, each person should know several rules for caring for this plant, reproduction and pruning are carried out in a way that will be most optimal for the climate where this exotic beauty grows. If you strictly follow all the rules, then the first flowering buds will delight the gardener in 4 years.

How to propagate a hydrangea yourself? There are 3 ways to do this, namely:

1. sowing seeds;
2. cuttings;
3. reproduction by layering.

Propagation by cuttings

Choosing this method, the gardener should know that the procedure should be started in the spring. Starting from the indicated period, a division is carried out, from the mother bush, processed and planted, in the shade on separate beds or in small pots. And with the onset of cold weather, the sprouts are hidden in the basement.

And only when warmth comes to the ground, the hydrangea is taken out into the fresh air. Green branches are removed from the sprouts, and the trunk of the plant is planted in the ground. In this case, the branches should be arranged in the form of a fan.

Before winter, the tree is mulched, and in spring, each bud will delight a flower lover with a flower bud. Propagation of garden hydrangea by cuttings in spring, the procedure is not complicated, the main thing is to follow the rules.

Reproduction by layering

This flower also propagates by layering, for this it will be necessary to dig up the plant with the onset of spring. Then, radial paths are created up to 2 cm deep. In the prepared paths, carefully lay out one sprout from the bottom of the flower. Next, they take small pieces of wire and pinch the shoots with them, and then pour a little on top of the earth.

Thanks to this method, by the end of summer, new shoots will appear on each layer. As soon as they become visible, they need to be given a couple of weeks to strengthen, and only then they are divided, so that they can then be planted.

Hydrangea seeds, reproduction

Hydrangea seeds

To sow seeds for seedlings, it is necessary to plant the prepared material in early March in individual pots, which are covered with a glass container on top. The temperature for germination should be + 22 ° C. Seed material should be provided with constant daylight, and the ground should be constantly moistened.

It is possible to sow hydrangeas in greenhouses, subject to the above conditions.
Under such conditions, after 35-40 days, the first shoots will appear after they are sown. A couple of weeks more, they should grow in pots, at this time the young are taken out for a couple of hours daily, outside, so that the plants get used to the temperature.And as soon as the sprouts grow 10 cm, they can be transplanted to a permanent place.

It is possible to plant a hydrangea with seeds, but such planting does not always give a result, the best way to get offspring is cuttings and layering.

Preparing the plant for wintering

How to prepare hydrangea for winter? This manipulation is most important for this flower, since the correct shelter guarantees the safety of the plant.
As described above, one of the most important flower care procedures is preparing the plant for the coming winter.

Hydrangea care in the fall involves mulching the plant with soil, premixed with compost.
It is very important to approach this procedure responsibly in the case when the bush grows in the flower bed only for the first year. In this case, the hydrangea needs not only mulching, but also bending all its branches to the ground. Moreover, it is necessary to pin down the young branches.

IMPORTANT

Today, flower shops and nurseries offer new varieties of hydrangea, which can throw out the buds in the first year. But, do not rush to acquire such sprouts. The fact is that there is no data on their frost resistance. Therefore, such a purchase will resemble a pig in a poke.

How to create the perfect hiding place for hydrangeas for the winter

Preparing a hydrangea for winter requires shelter to keep its buds from freezing. Basically, summer residents with experience recommend the two most effective ways to help preserve the flower.

To cover the hydrangea for the winter, you can use agrofibre or a regular wooden box. The branches of the plant are bent to the ground, and on top of them the above-described shelters are tightly laid, on which a layer of spruce branches is poured. Before starting this procedure, the stem at the very root is carefully covered with a layer of dry leaves.

In addition to the above, many gardeners recommend covering the top with coniferous litter or dry leaves, so that the layer is at least 10 cm.This will help protect the plant from even the most severe frosts.

Shelter hydrangeas for the winter provides another way that requires some preparation. It is necessary to count 30 cm from the plant and install a kind of wire frame in this place, which will completely cover the plant. The constructed frame should be at least 10 cm higher than the bush itself. When it is ready, the shrub is well covered with dry leaves, so that the leaves cover the created frame. Thanks to this design, the hydrangea can easily withstand the winter.

All about pruning and shaping a bush

Caring for garden hydrangea also provides for mandatory pruning, which is performed not only for beauty, but also to give an impetus to the flowering of the shrub.

Caring for a hydrangea in the garden also includes shaping the plant. For such purposes, pruning of the bush is carried out from time to time. If this manipulation is not carried out, then over time the hydrangea will become thick and take on a neglected look. And this will directly affect flowering, since the buds become quite small.
If the gardener is pruning, then the plant will not only retain its initially magnificent appearance, but will also improve it significantly.

How is the correct aesthetic pruning done? For these purposes, the bushes that have wintered are preliminarily examined. Then, up to 10 strongest shoots are selected, which are shortened by a couple of buds.

There is one pruning trick that many experienced growers use. If only a couple of buds are left in the lower part of the bush, then the plant will throw out a few buds, but the flowers will be very large and beautiful, and the bush itself will take on an exotic look.

But in this case, each gardener decides for himself, the only condition, completely cut off should be dry inflorescences.

IMPORTANT

If the tree has abundant flowering, then the branches may not be able to cope with the weight of the buds.Therefore, decorative trimming should be done to avoid possible damage.

Sanitary pruning of the flower is also very important when preparing for winter. The sprouts are shortened by a third or half.

It is worth noting that pruning hydrangeas in the spring is quite real. In the overwhelming majority of experienced growers, it is strongly recommended to cut such varieties in early spring. Until that moment when the buds bloom on the plant.

If the choice fell on spring pruning, then perform it as follows:

• thin out an adult plant;
• get rid of all weak branches;
• cut off all branches growing inside the bush, which can create extra shadow;
• if frozen branches are found, then they are cut off before the start of healthy wood.

After sanitary pruning, the plant should be tied up in a bunch and fixed with a pre-installed stand. Such a support can be made of metal or wood in the form of an ordinary stick.

IMPORTANT

Sometimes rooted cuttings begin to throw out buds. In order to avoid this, such beauty should be immediately removed to fill the young shoots with strength.

We fight pests and plant diseases

How to properly care for this flower so that it delights the grower with its lush flowering? It is important to know that each plant is susceptible to pests and diseases that must be destroyed in a timely manner, this also applies to the garden queen.

The most common ailment of this exotic beauty is bush chlorosis, which manifests itself as a result of a lack of iron. Chlorosis can damage the bush not only from excess lime, but also from frequent watering with hard water.

There are several signs indicating the problem that has appeared, namely:

1. sharp yellowing of foliage;
2. clarification of leaves;
3. drooping plant.

If all of the above signs appear, then the acidity of the soil should be brought back to normal immediately. To do this, you need to purchase a drug or prepare a mixture yourself, which neutralizes the alkali in the soil.

And to perform such a manipulation, you can use the tools at hand:

Dissolve a teaspoon of citric acid in 15 liters of water and water the plant. Florists with experience recommend watering the plant with this remedy every month.

Dissolve a citramon tablet in 5 liters of water and water the bush. It is recommended to carry out such watering every month.

100 g apple cider vinegar is added to 10 liters of water and watering is carried out in the same way as described above.

Many gardeners are interested in growing hydrangeas in the Urals. A cold of -40⁰ and below is not uncommon there, even cold-resistant crops sometimes freeze out. Breeders are trying to make the life of northerners more beautiful and comfortable; pears, plums and even grapes ripen in Siberian and Ural gardens. You can decorate the site with lush hydrangea bushes, just do not take the first variety you like, pay attention to the zoned varieties. It is not easy for a southern plant to live in a northern climate, provide it with proper care, and your summer cottage will be buried in flowers.

Choosing a variety for cold terrain

Not every type of hydrangea can be grown outdoors in regions with frosty winters. If you want to breed petiolate, large-flowered, or oak-leaved varieties, take care of a reliable shelter, severe cold can destroy the bushes. It is better for a novice florist to opt for a paniculate or tree-like variety. It is advisable to purchase planting material in nurseries of your region or take shoots in your area, and not bring them from other areas.

If dwarf varieties are planted on the site, they can be completely covered with snow, in such a "fur coat" the flower will become 10 degrees warmer than in the open air. When the hydrangea is not more than a meter high, its branches can be bent to the ground, and the Ural weather itself will wrap the ground in high snowdrifts.It will be more difficult to insulate a three-meter bush, it remains to hope that the upper branches will withstand severe frost.

Do not be surprised if friends give you a branch from their bush, and the inflorescences turn out to be of a different shade. You have a hydrangea of ​​exactly the same variety, it is just that this plant can change colors. It all depends on the acidity of the soil. At the dacha, where the main plant lived, the soil is sour and the inflorescences are bluish. You planted shoots in the ground with an alkaline reaction - expect that in the summer it will be covered with pink tassels.

Where to find planting material

The best option for obtaining planting material is to purchase seedlings of zoned varieties in the nursery. Conscientious sellers will never offer you a bush with bare roots. Hydrangea does not tolerate even short-term drying out of the underground part, buy plants only in containers filled with soil. Remove the bush from the container, inspect the soil and root system. If you notice mold or rotten growths, skip the purchase.

The seedling must be healthy without damage. When purchasing a flower with already open leaves, make sure they are fresh, bright green. If the foliage has lost its elasticity or acquired a brownish tint, it is likely that the hydrangea is infected with some kind of infectious disease. You can purchase a plant in the summer, when the inflorescences have already blossomed, in this method there are both pros and cons. You can choose a bush with the most beautiful inflorescences, but hydrangeas will have less time for rooting and gaining strength before a difficult winter in the Urals.

You can detach part of the bush or take a stalk from neighbors in the country. In the spring, several shoots with part of the root system are separated from the overgrown flower with a shovel and planted in a new place. When propagating by cuttings, it is advisable to treat the cut with special stimulants and stick it into the ground. In less than a month, the hydrangea will take root and start developing in a new location.

Planting hydrangeas

In warm regions, hydrangea is planted in spring, summer and autumn. In the harsh Ural climate, it is necessary for the plant to take root well and get stronger by winter. If you plant the bushes as soon as the spring frosts end, they will take root well during the warm season and will be ready for the cold weather.

The site must be well lit and protected from strong winds. Determine from which side the site is blown by the most intense air currents, plant a flower so that buildings, fences and dense bushes protect it. Hydrangea loves fertile soils with a high content of black soil or peat. If the soil is clay, you can fertilize it with humus or compost. Add coarse sand for looseness and drainage. The pH should be between 5-6 units. If it is too low, add peat or needles, and if it is too low, add lime.

Dig holes with a depth and diameter of 0.5 m at a distance of one and a half meters from each other. Place gravel on the bottom for drainage and 2-3 shovels of humus or peat. The roots of the hydrangea branch strongly, gently spread all the processes, place them in the hole so that the root collar is at ground level. Bury the holes with fertile soil, water well and mulch with peat or pine needles, the layer thickness should be at least 6 cm.

Advice

When planting a hydrangea, set it so that the root collar rises a few centimeters above the ground. When you add a layer of mulch, it will be in the right place, so you don't have to shovel the peat off the stems.

Care

In the warm season, growing and caring for hydrangea consists of the same operations that are used for growing other flowering shrubs.

• Watering as the soil dries, 1-2 buckets per bush. Over the summer, water the bush with an acidic solution 2 times: add juice from one lemon to 5 liters of water.
• Top dressing with complex fertilizers in spring, early summer and during the formation of inflorescences.
• Weeding and loosening the soil. With good mulching, the need for these procedures disappears.
• Pruning.In the spring, remove all damaged, frozen, diseased and weak shoots, as well as branches growing inside the bush. In the fall, remove dried flowers and shoots that have not had time to lignify. To rejuvenate aged plants, you need to leave 5 strong and healthy trunks, and cut the rest.

Advice

Hydrangea cannot tolerate excess calcium. When feeding, avoid preparations with a high content of this component and do not use ash and lime.

In summer cottages, it is common to grow hydrangeas in the form of a bush. If you plant plants a short distance from each other, you can make green screens, divide the area into several zones with hedges, or create a labyrinth. Small trees near the house or in a flower garden look original. To give the hydrangea a standard shape, you need to carry out formative pruning on one trunk for several seasons, and remove the remaining shoots.

If the bushes are tall, the tops of paniculate and tree-like varieties can be left uncovered for the winter or wrapped in non-woven fabric. All other species in the Urals must be completely insulated or grown in large tubs and transferred to a greenhouse or winter garden for the cold season. Bend low shoots to the ground, secure and cover with spruce branches or other insulating material. Pour a layer of mulch no thinner than 10 cm on the ground. After snowfalls, throw a large snowdrift over the bushes so that it protects the shoots from frost.

Diseases and pests

Even in unfamiliar climates, hydrangea rarely gets sick. To prevent such a nuisance from happening to your flower, purchase planting material only in reliable nurseries. When you dig up shoots or take cuttings from neighbors, carefully examine their bush. If you saw that he looks depressed, the leaves dry or change color - do not take it, why would you carry the infection to your site. Much also depends on you. Plant the plants at a sufficient distance from each other, do not allow the crown to become too dense. With good living conditions and proper care, the plant will be strong and able to resist infections and pests.

Most often, the bush is affected by chlorosis. It arises from a lack of iron or an excess of lime in the soil. If you notice that the leaves become lighter and acquire a yellow tint, first of all pay attention to the water for irrigation, it should be soft, preferably rainwater. Water diseased plants with water with the addition of potassium nitrate or iron sulfate at a concentration of 40 g per bucket.

Hydrangea can become infected with fungal infections.

• White rot. The leaves darken, rot, a white bloom appears on them.
• Gray rot. Watery spots appear on the leaves, which are then covered with a gray bloom, similar to cotton wool.
• Downy mildew. Oily spots appear on the aerial parts, which gradually darken.
• Powdery mildew. Yellowish, gradually turning brown spots are formed on the leaves. On the inside, a gray or purple bloom appears.

If the bush is damaged, treat it with copper oxychloride or other fungicides.

With high humidity or too dense planting, snails can attack the bushes. They eat young shoots and buds. If the pests are not destroyed, they will overwinter underground in the roots, and in the spring they will gnaw the emerging buds and young leaves. The main methods of control are manual collection of shellfish and poisoned baits. The bushes are also affected by spider mites and aphids. If you spot insects, treat the plants with an appropriate insecticide.

Conclusion

The magnificent hydrangea can be admired not only by residents of the southern regions, thanks to the selection work, this flower grows in Siberia and the Urals. When buying seedlings, keep in mind that not every species can withstand severe frosts. Buy varieties of local breeding, and when buying, check if cultivation in the open field is permissible, or this variety can only be bred as a houseplant.

The zoned varieties can withstand severe frosts, but it is better to help the plant survive the cold winter. Shoots that did not have time to woody will surely freeze, it is better to remove them in the fall. To prevent the bush from releasing new branches by the fall, do not feed it with nitrogen fertilizers from the second half of summer. Cover the ground around the trunks with a thick layer of mulch, and insulate the above-ground part if possible. Hortense does not ask for much attention from you, and she will surely repay for her care with beautiful lush bunches of flowers.

Garden hydrangea is a plant amazing in its beauty and dimensions, which can be confidently attributed to one of the most spectacular in the territory of the CIS countries and Eastern Europe. Given this fact, it is not surprising that a huge number of gardeners throughout the country, including in the Urals, want to get a similar plant for their site.

If there are no problems with planting and growing hydrangea in the conditions of the Eastern European climate, its cultivation in the Urals will require the fulfillment of some requirements, which we will discuss below.

Variety selection

There are about 70 species of hydrangea in the world, and not all of them will take root in regions with cold climates, early winters, and short summers. That is why we have compiled a list of hydrangea varieties that are best suited for growing in the Urals, and which are listed below:

Hydrangea paniculata

Hydrangea

Hydrangea Sargent

It is these three varieties that can successfully take root in the Urals, and with the right content, give their owner a lush flowering, and huge inflorescences. As for other resistant hydrangeas, these include the following varieties:

1. Serrated hydrangea;
2. Hydrangea pink;
3. Stalked hydrangea;
4. Large-leaved hydrangea.

These varieties can also be grown in the Urals, but not recommended. The fact is that these varieties require slightly more sunlight, unlike the first 3 brothers, and are also extremely susceptible to the negative effects of temperature changes, which almost always happens in the Urals in spring and early autumn.

Landing conditions

Seat selection

First of all, you should decide on the place where you plan to plant the hydrangea. Here, one should definitely give preference to sunny areas, which is important for all climatic zones, but for the Urals it is simply vital. The fact is that all varieties of hydrangea are photophilous, and develop much more slowly in the shade.

And if, in a warm southern climate, growth in the shade can still be compensated by the duration of the warm season, in the northern latitudes this will inevitably affect growth, development, and the abundance of flowering. In addition, large hydrangea inflorescences can damage strong gusts of wind, which is also important for the Urals, which means they should be planted along walls, fences and fences, so that they serve as a natural shelter from the wind.

When to plant hydrangea

Now you should decide on the landing time. Everything is extremely simple here. If you are going to plant large and formed cuttings of hydrangea, you are recommended to plant them at the very end of summer, but on condition that 1 month before frost you organize a winter shelter for the planted cuttings, which we will talk about in more detail closer to the end of the article.

It is important to note that in the Urals, frosts can occur in early autumn, which means that, based on the climatic characteristics of this area, it is recommended to carry out the "autumn" planting of formed cuttings of hydrangea in the middle of summer. This method is good because a perennial stalk can bloom as early as next spring.

As for the other methods of propagation of hydrangeas (seedlings, layering, offspring), they must be done only in early spring. The harsh climate of the Urals will not allow tender and young plants to survive the winter if they are planted in the fall.Moreover, it is advisable to grow the planting material at home for at least 1-1.5 years, providing them with a cool winter in order to gradually strengthen them to grow in the open field.

The soil

It is impossible not to mention the soil in which hydrangea should be planted, regardless of the variety. So, it is necessary to categorically avoid soil with lime impurities, because hydrangea simply does not tolerate this element, and in soil with its abundant content it will not last even the season. As for the other parameters, preference should be given to soil with a high acidity index, since it is in such a soil that hydrangea grows best.

The ideal soil for any type of hydrangea will be a soil rich in peat, or with a large admixture of clay. Soil with an abundant sand content is not suitable for hydrangeas, since such a substrate does not retain fertilizers, and when moistened, it does not allow air to pass through well.

Planting process

Planting hydrangeas outdoors is a fairly simple process that even a beginner can handle. To carry out planting work, it is enough to adhere to the following points:

1. Prepare the very hole for planting planting material, in our case a cuttings (we recommend propagating hydrangea by cuttings in the conditions of the Urals). Preparation must be done 2 weeks before planting. So, two weeks before planting, you should dig a hole 60 cm deep and 30-40 cm in diameter (not essential). Fertile soil is poured into the pit, the required composition of which we described above, after which it is diluted with peat, in an amount of about 2-3 kg. If desired, sawdust can be added to the mixture, in an amount of 500 grams, which will also contribute to an increase in acidity. Having done all these steps, the pit is left for 2 weeks (no need to water);
2. Let's start choosing a cutting. Everything is also simple here, in addition to the fact that the stalk should be whole and have full foliage, without admixture of yellowness, you should pay attention to its root system. The main part of the roots of the cuttings should be in a soil coma, and only in this form should the planting material be purchased. By purchasing a cutting without an earth coma on the roots, you will not only increase the period of its survival in the open field, but you will also not be able to store it for more than a few days;
3. During the planting of the cutting itself, dig a pre-prepared hole to a depth of 60 cm, put the cutting there, straighten the roots so that they look around the circle, do not bend and lift up, then fill them with the dug earth, if necessary, add new ... Thoroughly tamp the ground so that it does not sink in the future. Remember, the root collar should be at a depth of no more than 2 cm, otherwise the hydrangea will lag behind in growth;
4. Water the stalk with water so that the soil becomes moist at a depth of 50 cm, even more. One such watering will take about 30 liters of water;
5. Tie the stem to the peg so that the wind does not damage it. The planting process is complete!

Growing and aftercare

After you have planted a hydrangea in your yard, you should start with simple rules for caring for it, which we will discuss in more detail below:

1. A hydrangea stalk is watered once a week, while trying to maintain a balance, and not to allow the soil to dry out exactly like its excessive moisture. As for the seedlings planted in the spring, they should be little by little, but water regularly every day until it grows, after which they begin to water it about 3 times a week. Remember, in the cold climate of the Urals, hydrangea will survive the summer without frequent watering, but in winter such a plant can freeze out even in a shelter;
2. There is no need to feed the cuttings planted in the fall, as it will soon be preparing for hibernation.Upon the arrival of spring, the overwintered stalk is fertilized with nitrogen fertilizers, organic fertilizers are applied from May to June, during the ripening of the inflorescences, the hydrangea is fed with fertilizers based on potassium and phosphorus. In general, you need to feed the hydrangea at intervals of 2 weeks, but given the severity of the climate in the Urals, as well as the short summer, feed them at intervals of 10 days.

Some gardeners feed hydrangeas in a slightly different way, as indicated below:

1. In the spring, fertilize with urea, superphosphate, or sulfuric potassium (only one preparation);
2. During the ejection period, the buds are fed with superphosphate or potassium sulfate;
3. At the end of the summer season, up to 10 kg of compost or humus is applied under the bush.

The first method of feeding is best used in cases when a short and cold summer is expected. The second method is suitable in cases where a hot and longer summer is expected.

Loosening and mulching

Regular loosening of the soil under the bush is not a strict necessity, but it has a beneficial effect on the supply of oxygen to the soil, which means, if possible, this procedure should be carried out at least once a week. You need to mulch the soil in a thick layer, and a mixture of manure and straw should be used as mulch (you can also use sawdust). Mulching can be neglected when grown in warm climatic zones, in the Urals it is strictly necessary!

Attitude to drafts

All types of hydrangeas do not tolerate drafts well, which is especially noticeable in cold climates. Hydrangeas exposed to regular drafts will begin to wither and may die!

Preparing for winter

All varieties of hydrangea in the Urals must be prepared for winter, and this is done in the following way:

• At the end of summer, mulch the soil with a thick layer, and in the fall, after the plant has dropped flowers, gently bend the branches, pin them to the ground, and cover with a blanket or cloth. Along the perimeter of the bush, 4 rods are installed, which are connected with a mesh or a dense film, thus forming a protective frame (see photo). A thick layer of leaves is poured inside the frame, so that they completely cover the bush and form a thick layer on top of it (50-60 cm);

• Next, the resulting structure is covered with polyethylene, everything is fixed with tape or wire, and left until spring. Remember, the frame must be at least 10 cm higher than the bush itself.

Pest control

Hydrangea is susceptible to powdery mildew infection, as well as aphid attacks. To combat these troubles, follow these steps:

1. Add 25 grams of foundationol to 10 liters of water, and spray the plant affected with powdery mildew;
2. Add 250 grams of grated garlic to 10 liters of water, and let it brew for 2 days, then cut 50 grams of laundry soap into the liquid, and spray the plant from aphids, at intervals of 7 days.

If the leaves of the hydrangea turn yellow sharply, and the bush is limp, the hydrangea may have developed chlorosis. For treatment, it is necessary to dissolve 1 tablet of citramon in 5 liters of water, and water the bush with this solution once a month, before the onset of autumn.

Hydrangea (Hydrángea) belongs to the genus of flowering plants, the Hortensia family. Currently, about 70-80 species of this amazingly beautiful plant are known. Even hydrangeas planted alone are able to transform the backyard territory, so growers are very willing to grow them in different regions of our country.

Features of the climatic conditions of the Ural region

In the Urals, the most widespread are mountain-podzolic soils. In the northern part of the region, mountain taiga, podzolic soil type prevails. On the western and eastern slopes, the soils are podzolic and bog-peaty. In the Cis-Urals, on the territory of Kurgan and the Perm region, gray forest soils with areas of leached chernozems are found. Trans-Urals is represented by sod-podzolic, gray forest and bog-peat soils.On the territory of the Southern Urals, well-developed mountain-forest gray soils, as well as mountain-meadow soils, are frequent.

The weather and climatic conditions in the Urals are typically mountainous, so there is an uneven distribution of precipitation not only in different regions, but also within one specific region. The West Siberian Plain is characterized by a rather harsh continental climate. In the mountainous regions of Western Siberia, climatic conditions are milder. To the west of the Ural Mountains, more precipitation falls, and the humidity is quite high. In the Trans-Urals, precipitation falls much less, and the climate here is drier, with a pronounced continentality.

The best varieties of hydrangea for growing in the Urals

On the territory of the Ural region, the temperature in the winter months is often kept below 35-40 ˚С. Such conditions are critical for most types of hydrangeas, including large-flowered, oakleaf, garden and petiolate. In the flower beds of garden and garden plots in the Urals, the most popular and demanded are hydrangeas treelike and paniculate. These are the most winter-hardy and unpretentious plants from the Hortensia family.

Also read: When field and garden daisies usually bloom

Hydrangea paniculata, or Hydrangea paniculata, is represented by several varieties.

Variety name	Characteristics of the variety	Bloom	Indicators of winter hardiness
"Dart's Little-Dot"	Dwarf variety with plants up to 0.8 m high, milky white flowers, fading pink, collected in rounded and flat inflorescences	July to late August	Up to -29 ° С
Limelight 'Pieter Zwijnenburg Jr.	Plant height can reach 250 cm. Inflorescences up to 12 cm long.At the initial stage of flowering, they are creamy white with a green-yellow tint, and turn pink in autumn	From July to the last decade of September	High
"Kyushu"	The height of the plant and the diameter of the crown of the bush is up to 300 cm. The crown is fan-shaped. Shoots are tough, reddish-brown in color, upright. Flowers are white, fragrant, collected in long and wide inflorescences	From the last decade of July to mid-October	High
"Vanille Fraise"	The height of the plant and the diameter of the crown do not exceed 1.5 m. The inflorescences are large, the flowers are creamy white, later turn pink, by the end of flowering they become dark red. The shade range of flowers depends on the place of cultivation, weather conditions and the qualitative composition of the soil.	From July to the second decade of September	Up to -29 ° С
"Unique"	Plant height and crown diameter do not exceed 250 cm.The flowers are white, at the stage of flowering they acquire a pink tint	From July to the second decade of September	Up to -34 ° С

Quite popular and adapted to growing conditions in the Urals, hydrangea is tree-like, or Hydrangéa arboréscens. The plant is unpretentious, shade-tolerant and winter-hardy enough. In the past few years, several new and very promising varieties of this hydrangea have been bred.

Hydrangea: care and pruning (video)

Variety name	Characteristics of the variety	Bloom	Winter hardiness
Bella Anna from the Endless Summer series	Deep-colored burgundy-pink flowers are collected in large inflorescences. Bush height no more than 0.9 m	From July to significant autumn frosts	Up to -34 ° С
"Bounty"	The height of the plant can reach 1 m.The bushes are quite compact, the inflorescences are spherical, slightly flattened, pistachio-colored when blooming, and then milky white	July to September	High
Hayes Starburst	Plant height 1.20-1.50 m. Sprawling crown and abundant flowering. Terry type, large, spherical inflorescences with greenish-white or greenish-creamy star-shaped flowers	From July to the second decade of September	Up to -34 ° С
"Incrediball"	Height up to 1.30 m. Sufficiently large white flowers with a noticeable yellowish-green tinge	July to September	Up to -29 ° С
"Invincibelle Spirit"	Pinkish, very attractive flowers are collected in semicircular, rather large inflorescences.The bush grows up to 1.80 m in height. The plant needs proper tying and is not at all afraid of the winter freezing of the terminal shoots.	July to September	High

All of the varieties listed above tolerate the Ural frosts quite well in winter, but for newly planted and young plants, it is recommended to equip a light shelter that will protect the hydrangea from freezing. Treelike and panicle hydrangea look very impressive and attractive when grown in a standard form. With the help of targeted formative pruning, carried out over four seasons, it is possible to obtain a very original and unusual standard tree.

Landing dates and rules

Planting hydrangeas can be done in early spring or fall. In the climatic conditions of the Urals, it is best to plant this flowering plant in the spring. Planting and growing garden hydrangea does not present any particular difficulties, not only for experienced, but also for novice florists.

Plants are planted in well-lit or some shaded areas with a distance of 1-1.5 m between seedlings. The root collar should not be buried. The dimensions of the planting pit should be 35 x 35 x 35 cm. It is recommended to add a third of a bucket of high-quality humus and high-moor peat into the pit. The branched root system of the planted plant must be carefully straightened out. Immediately after planting, hydrangeas need to be watered abundantly.

Growing and care

To grow a beautifully flowering and healthy plant, you must adhere to standard care measures. Caring for hydrangeas is simple and, in addition to pruning, is not much different from caring for any other shrubs grown in open ground.

Event being held	Features and technology
Watering	The water should be soft, well-settled, at room temperature. Watering is carried out in the morning or in the evening, at the rate of a couple of buckets of water for each adult bush
Top dressing	The first application of fertilizers is carried out in the spring, and further fertilizing is carried out in June and at the flowering stage. As a top dressing, it is recommended to use a mixture of 10 g of urea, superphosphate, potassium nitrate with the addition of fermented poultry manure in a ratio of 1: 10 to water
Spring pruning	It is imperative to remove all damaged and frozen shoots, and also to cut off weak and painful branches that slow down the growth of the plant. Annual shoots need to be shortened to four buds
Autumn pruning	All dried inflorescences should be removed from the bushes. If it is necessary to rejuvenate the plants, all shoots should be removed, except for the five most powerful and well-developed
Shelter for the winter	You can bend the plant to the ground and cover it with spruce branches, or use any non-woven garden covering material to wrap the above-ground part. Trunk circles in the autumn period must be mulched with peat or sawdust

Rarely enough, plants can be affected by powdery mildew or chlorosis, as well as damaged by aphids or spider mites. To stop the development of the disease or to rid the hydrangea of ​​pests, you should regularly inspect the plant and, if necessary, use insect-fungicidal agents.

Types and varieties of hydrangeas (video)

You can grow beautiful flowering plants almost everywhere, including in the difficult climatic conditions of the Ural region. The beautiful hydrangea is no exception: it is grown by many local growers. The main condition for success is the correct choice of varieties and proper care of the plant.

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Garden hydrangea is a very decorative and unpretentious flowering shrub. Despite the fact that this plant is quite thermophilic, it can be grown in different climatic zones.

So, in the conditions of the mountainous Urals, it feels great and blooms profusely. With a properly chosen landing site and proper care, hydrangea perfectly tolerates the harsh Ural climate.

In the article, you will learn in detail about the cultivation of hydrangeas in the Urals.

Features of the climatic conditions of the Urals

The climatic conditions of the Urals are different for all of its regions. So, in the north - in the circumpolar and northern Urals - summer lasts no more than 1 month, and the average July temperature does not exceed 6 ° C. But in the middle and southern Urals, the climate is much milder. Here in summer the temperature rises up to 20 and even up to 28 ° C. The average winter temperature is -20 ... -22 ° C, although it can drop down to -35 ° C. In these regions, it is possible to grow frost-resistant varieties of hydrangea.

The climate of the Urals is characterized by an uneven distribution of precipitation. The ridge traps large air masses. For this reason, in the Cis-Urals, the average annual rainfall is much higher than in the Trans-Urals. The air humidity in these areas also differs.

In the western part of the Urals, the climate is temperate continental, while the eastern part is characterized by continental climatic conditions. The difference between summer and winter temperatures in the Cis-Urals is 38-42 ° C, and beyond the Ural ridge this figure is much higher. Here in winter, frosts are kept down to -45 ° C. Therefore, even when growing the most frost-resistant varieties of hydrangea, the bushes must be carefully covered for the winter. Without shelter in these harsh conditions, the plant does not survive.

Choosing a place for planting hydrangeas

When choosing a place for planting hydrangeas, it is necessary to take into account its illumination, protection from the wind and soil moisture. It is also important to know the composition of the soil at the planting site, so that, if necessary, fill the planting hole with the soil mixture that is optimal for the plant.

In some areas of the Urals, summer is quite hot and sunny... When planting hydrangeas, you need to choose a place with diffused lighting. The sun's rays should not hit the leaves of the plant in the afternoon. Only in the morning hours is it possible to illuminate with direct sunlight. Therefore, it is better to plant a hydrangea under the crowns of trees.

Place the hydrangea in a quiet location. She does not like the wind, grows poorly and blooms in open spaces. It is better to plant a bush near a solid fence or wall of a house so that it is reliably protected from gusts of wind.

A moisture-loving hydrangea should not be planted in an arid place. It is desirable that the soil is well moistened and does not dry out. Otherwise, this plant will need to be watered frequently for good flowering.

But stagnation of water in the soil is just as harmful for him as drying out. Hydrangea should not be planted in swampy places. From excess moisture, root decay begins, the bush quickly dies.

A slightly acidic soil is necessary for the correct development of hydrangeas.... In the Urals, such soils are practically not found. Podzolized and leached chernozems, sod-podzolic and gray forest soils prevail here.

They have a neutral or alkaline reaction, so it is impossible to grow hydrangea on natural soil in many places. When planting a plant, peat is added to the planting hole to acidify the soil.

Suitable varieties of hydrangea for the Urals

Hydrangea is grown by many gardeners in the Urals. But not all plant species are suitable for a given region. Many varieties of hydrangea cannot survive harsh winters even with careful hiding. Only paniculata and tree hydrangea are grown here. It is recommended to choose the most winter-hardy varieties of these species.

In the Ural region, the following varieties of panicle hydrangea are popular:

• Dart's Little-Dot;
• "Limelight 'Pieter Zwijnenburg";
• "Kyushu";
• Vanille Fraise;
• "Unique".

«Dart's Little-Dot"- a low-growing compact variety, not exceeding 80 cm in height. Flowers - milky white, collected in large inflorescences.

Over time, they change color to pink. Blooms from mid-July to late August.Withstands frosts down to -29 ° C without shelter. In the photo on the left.

«Limelight 'Pieter Zwijnenburg"- a large plant, reaching a height of 2.5 m. It has creamy white inflorescences with a slight green tint. Blooms from mid-summer to late September. Winter hardiness of this variety is high.

«Kyushu"- another variety of panicle hydrangea with high winter hardiness. The plant forms very large bushes, the height and diameter of which reaches 3 m. White fragrant flowers are collected in long inflorescences. Flowering is very long, ends in mid-October.

«Vanille fraise"- a small flowering plant, the height of which is rarely more than 1.5 m. Forms large inflorescences of creamy white flowers. By the end of flowering, the inflorescences turn dark red. Blooms until mid-September. Withstands temperatures down to -29 ° C without shelter.

«Unique"Is a fairly large plant, the height of which often reaches 2.5 m. It blooms with white inflorescences, which eventually acquire a pinkish tint. Withstands winter frosts down to -34 ° C without shelter.

Also on the territory of the Urals, many varieties of tree hydrangea are successfully grown. The following varieties are especially popular:

• Annabelle;
• Sterilis;
• Hayes Starburst.

«Annabelle"- a frost-resistant variety that blooms until mid-September. Its height does not exceed 1 m. It blooms profusely with white flowers, collected in large round inflorescences. In the photo on the right.

«Sterilis"- long-flowering variety. It usually blooms from mid-summer to late October. Young inflorescences have a light greenish tint, over time the flowers become pure white. Blooms profusely. A frost-resistant enough variety for growing in the harsh conditions of the Urals.

«Hayes starburst"- a frost-resistant variety that can withstand temperatures of -34 ° C without shelter. This is a compact plant, not exceeding 1.5 m in size. It has snow-white double flowers, collected in large inflorescences.

Hydrangea care basics in the Urals

The frequency of watering hydrangeas depends on the weather conditions in the region. If it rains regularly and the ground is constantly wet, there is no need to water the bushes. But very often, especially in the Trans-Urals, summer is quite hot and dry. At this time, the hydrangea must be watered as the soil dries out, but not to allow it to dry out completely.

In order for the bush to develop better and bloom annually, it is recommended to acidify the soil on which it grows... This is done twice a season. The hydrangea bush is watered with an acidic solution. You can use whey. Good results are obtained by the juice of 1 lemon, diluted in 5 liters of water.

For abundant flowering of hydrangeas, regular feeding is necessary. This procedure is carried out twice a month from May to August.

In late spring and early summer, the plant is fed with complex fertilizers with a large amount of nitrogen-containing substances. This will allow you to quickly build up leaf mass and prepare for flowering.

In the middle and at the end of summer, hydrangeas are fed with complex fertilizers for flowering plants with a predominance of phosphorus and potassium. This will support flowering and slow down the development of new shoots that will not have time to ripen before the onset of cold weather.

Hydrangea wintering

Each frost-resistant hydrangea variety has its own temperature range at which it can winter without shelter. But usually in winter in the Urals, the temperature drops much lower and the shoots of the plant freeze out. Therefore, even the most frost-resistant varieties of hydrangeas when grown in the Urals must be carefully covered.

Before the first autumn frosts, the bush begins to prepare for wintering. Leaves, except for the topmost ones, are removed on all shoots. The bush is pulled together with a rope and wrapped with a covering material.

Then it is carefully bent to the ground and fixed with bricks or stones. From above, the plant is covered with sawdust and covered with spruce branches, and to protect it from moisture, it is covered on top with a film or roofing material.

You can also use the frame method of shelter.... In this case, the plant is not bent to the ground. A metal mesh frame is erected around it, which is filled with dry leaves and sawdust. From above, the entire structure is covered with a film or roofing felt.

With the onset of spring warming, the hydrangea is carefully and gradually freed from the shelter. But the bush is completely opened only after the end of the spring frost.

Plant pruning

In the first 3-4 years of life, the hydrangea is not pruned. Then they carry out the annual spring forming and autumn sanitary pruning of the plant. Sanitary pruning is done to remove excess and dry parts of the plant that interfere with its growth and are a medium for the development of infection. Formative pruning is necessary to give the plant a decorative effect and to ensure annual flowering.

In the fall, dry inflorescences are cut from the bush... Remove all leaves except the youngest at the tops of the shoots. Dry branches are also cut to prevent them from becoming a source of infection during the winter. After that, the bush can be covered for the winter.

Formative pruning is carried out in the spring. Remove broken, frozen, weak and thin branches, as well as shoots growing inside the bush. Very dense and overgrown bushes must be thinned out by cutting out a few of the oldest branches.

Hydrangea species popular in the Urals form inflorescences on the shoots of the current year. Therefore, to form a beautiful crown, all long branches are cut by 1/3, which stimulates branching. The pruning procedure is carried out with a sharp garden pruner.

Terms and rules for landing in open ground

In the Urals, the planting of hydrangeas in the ground is carried out at the end of spring, when the earth is already well warmed up. It is impossible to plant bushes in the fall in this region. They, as a rule, do not have time to take root well and die from hypothermia, even with careful shelter.

Before disembarking, it is necessary to prepare a landing pit. Its dimensions should be at least 50x50x50 cm, even if the seedling is small. It is necessary in advance to provide the required amount of soil for the development of the root system of the bush. At least 3 buckets of water are poured into the finished pit to moisten the surrounding soil well. A day later, they begin to disembark.

Natural soils of the Urals have a neutral or alkaline reaction, which is unacceptable for the development of hydrangea. Therefore, for planting, you need to prepare an optimal earthen mixture. It should include: humus, leaf and coniferous soil, peat, sand. All components are taken in equal parts. A layer of sand or crushed stone is laid at the bottom of the pit, and on top it is filled with a prepared soil mixture.

Now you can plant a hydrangea bush. It should not be deeply buried so that the root collar remains at the soil level. After planting, the soil is crushed, and the plant is well watered. The soil surface is mulched to retain moisture. It is useful to use peat as mulch. Sawdust from fruit trees is also suitable.

The main mistakes of cultivation and their solution

Often inexperienced gardeners plant hydrangeas without taking into account the acidity of the soil. This is unacceptable for the Urals, since most of the natural soils of this region are unsuitable for growing hydrangeas.

To grow a healthy and regularly flowering shrub, the soil for planting must have an acidity of 5.0-5.5... If the soil is neutral and this indicator is in the range of 6.0-7.0, the soil should be slightly acidified. On soils with an alkaline reaction (acidity in the range of 8.0-9.0), hydrangea quickly dies.

Determining the acidity of the soil is the main task of the gardener who wants to decorate his garden with blooming hydrangea. With a neutral soil reaction, it can be used for planting, but to fill the planting pit, this soil must be mixed with peat or coniferous soil. Alkaline soil is not used for planting hydrangeas. The planting hole is filled with soil mixture for hydrangeas, and the plant is fed monthly with iron sulfate (5 g per bucket of water).

Wrong landing site is another common mistake when growing hydrangeas. It should not be planted in places that are too dry. Often, even intensive watering does not help.

Also, you should not place bushes in lowlands where water stagnates. If it is not possible to choose another place, you need to prepare a deep planting hole, and lay a thick layer of crushed stone drainage on its bottom.

Often in the summer months, hydrangea bushes infest pests, which leads to the fall of flowers and the drying of young shoots. Most of all, the plant suffers from aphids, which can multiply on its shoots in huge numbers. Also, a red spider mite may appear on the bushes. There are also other garden pests.

You should not fight harmful insects using folk methods. They allow only partially to destroy them, but the pests will soon multiply again. It is necessary to use only purchased pesticides, with the help of which you can completely destroy pests and save the plant.

Propagation of hydrangea

There are 5 ways to breed hydrangeas:

• Sowing seeds;
• Reinking;
• Reproduction by layering;
• Reproduction by offspring;
• Division of the bush.

Hydrangea seeds are rarely propagated. This is a very time consuming and laborious method. Usually, vegetative propagation methods are used.

Cutting is the most productive method for producing young hydrangeas... Cuttings are cut in mid-July. They are rooted in pots in a mixture of peat and sand under a film. For quick rooting, they are treated with a root growth stimulator. Rooted cuttings are grown for at least 2 years as pot plants and only then are they planted in open ground.

To obtain a layering, cut the bark on the lower branch of the bush and drop it in the place of the cut. This is done in late spring. Usually, by the fall, the cuttings are already taking root. But they separate it and transplant it to a new place only the next year. The offspring are also transplanted - the lower rooted shoots of the bush.

Hydrangea bushes are divided only during transplantation, so it is rarely possible to get a new copy in this way. However, cuttings are fully formed plants that can bloom as early as next year. Divide the hydrangea bushes in the spring.

Growing hydrangeas in the Urals will be of interest to those gardeners who want to get such a crop in their flower beds.

In order for these flowers to delight even in extreme conditions, you need to know the optimal varieties and secrets of care in a harsh climate.

Which variety to choose for a frosty area?

The Ural climate is not suitable for all types of plants. If you want to grow petiole, oakleaf or large-flowered varieties, you should provide a reliable shelter for the bushes.

After all, they can die from severe cold. For novice gardeners, an excellent solution would be to choose a tree or paniculate culture.

To grow such hydrangeas in a harsh climate, it is necessary to use shoots from the local area, since purchased seedlings from other regions may not take root in the Urals.

The most popular is the Anabel tree variety, which was obtained in the United States.

This is an ornamental shrub with a loose and spreading crown. The plant is about 1.5 m high and 3 m in diameter.

The leaves of the culture are large oval in shape, with jagged edges. They are light green in summer and yellowish in autumn.

The plant blooms every year, from the second half of July to September. The shrub is able to withstand up to -39 ° C.

Hydrangea Anabel prefers light shade and tolerates minor droughts well. It is imperative to protect the culture from the winds.

Throughout the flowering season, you need to loosen the soil around the bush and fertilize with a solution of potassium permanganate.

If dwarf varieties of hydrangeas were chosen for the Urals, then they are allowed to be completely covered with snow for the winter.

This will allow the plant to better tolerate the cold. You can choose other varieties of hydrangea that do well in the harsh region:

1. Darts Little Dots.This is a dwarf variety of culture, the height of which is 0.8 m. The buds have a milky white hue. The flowering period is from mid-July to late August. Winter hardiness is possible up to -29 ° C.
2. Vanille Fraise. The shrubs reach a height of 1.5 m. They have large creamy-white buds, and then turn slightly pink and turn dark red by the end of summer. The variety has excellent frost resistance.
3. Unique. Plants reach a height of 2.5 m. The buds are white with a pinkish tinge. The flowering period starts from the 2nd half of July to the 1st decade of September.

It is possible to grow a hydrangea in the Urals both from seeds and seedlings.

Planting process

When choosing seedlings, it must be borne in mind that the roots should be in a small clod of earth.

Treelike hydrangea is demanding on the level of humidity, so you need to pay attention to this.

It is very important that the soil is not overdried, otherwise the shrub will not take root.

The optimal time for planting seedlings is spring, after the frost period has passed. When a suitable variety is selected, the optimal place for placing the hydrangea should be determined.

It should be noted that the culture does not like winds, therefore it is recommended to plant it in places protected from this bad weather. The shrub usually does well next to solid hedges.

The soil in which the hydrangea will be located also plays an important role. It does not take root in alkaline soils, but prefers slightly or medium acidic soil.

The best option is for the soil to consist of peat, sand, leaves and a small layer of drainage.

If you want to grow a shrub not with seeds, but with cuttings, you should prepare a special hole. The pit is not made too small (the optimal size is 50 × 50 cm).

For large seedlings, increase the space to 80 cm wide. The depth of the hole should be 40-50 cm (depending on the root system).

After the pit is ready, 3 buckets of water should be poured into it and left overnight so that the earth is saturated with moisture.

In the morning, humus, peat, sand and fertile soil (1: 2: 1: 2) should be placed in the hole. It is imperative to add organic and mineral dressings.

For this, urea (25 g), superphosphate (65 g), potassium sulfide (30 g) are suitable. To acidify the soil, you can additionally use pine and spruce needles.

It is categorically impossible to allow lime to get on the rhizome, otherwise it can lead to the death of the plant. Before planting a seedling, you should get rid of excess shoots and shorten the roots.

After the preparatory manipulations have been carried out, it is necessary to put the shrub into the hole and evenly cover it with earth.

A prerequisite is that the root collar must be at the same level as the soil.

It can neither be deepened nor left too open, as this can lead to the death of culture.

Hydrangea paniculata requires watering immediately after planting. After that, you need to cover the ground with fir needles.

This will keep the moisture in place for as long as possible. If you want to plant several shrubs, you need to keep a distance of 2 - 2.5 m between them.

How to care for shrubs in a harsh climate?

Regardless of the variety, hydrangeas love moisture, so in the absence of rain, it is necessary to constantly water the shrubs.

Experienced florists advise to carry out such a procedure with the addition of potassium permanganate (2 - 3 g per 1 liter of water).

Thanks to the manipulations carried out, it will be possible to get good flowering. It is very important to give the shrubs beautiful shapes.

This requires regularly pruning the plant. In the fall, it is imperative to get rid of all unnecessary inflorescences.

In the spring, after the appearance of sap flow, shoots should be cut off from the tree hydrangea, leaving 3 - 5 buds.

For a beautiful form of frost-resistant crop varieties, a few more rules are required:

• get rid of old and weak pagons, undeveloped shoots;
• shorten the stems that have formed on the branches;
• leave some kidneys.

Since the climate in the Urals is harsh, you need to carefully prepare hydrangeas for wintering.

For this, special shelters for shrubs should be arranged. It is necessary to lay out material around the plant to retain heat.

To do this, you need to pour a peat layer (height about 20 cm), and then place a film or pieces of slate. Hydrangea stems must be bent to the ground and hidden.

Also, for additional insulation, you need to create a special frame around the shrub.

To do this, it is necessary to place dry leaves from trees near the roots of the hydrangea. When the snow falls, it can also be used as cover. This solution will also provide an additional level of moisture.

Top dressing and pest control

To grow hydrangeas in harsh climates, you need to fertilize regularly. Liquid manure and mineral fertilizing are used to enrich the soil.

Usually, 25 g of the substance is used for 10 liters of water. It is recommended to fertilize hydrangeas at least 4 times a year.

But this should not be done chaotically and haphazardly. You should adhere to a certain pattern:

• start feeding immediately after the start of sap flow;
• then re-enrich the bush at the time of budding;
• 3 times the process is carried out in the 2nd half of July;
• the last feeding is carried out during preparation for winter.

Hydrangeas are shrubs that take unusual fertilizers well. Often they use kefir or yogurt for this.

Such soil enrichment can be carried out at any time and repeatedly. Only dairy products must be diluted with water (1: 2).

Sour bread is also often used for this purpose. It is soaked to a state of gruel and dripped into the upper layers of the soil under the bushes. Lemon juice (freshly squeezed) can be used to fertilize hydrangeas.

In the Ural Territories, it is necessary to protect the culture from pests and various diseases. Most often, flowers are affected by peronosporosis.

This leads to the appearance of oily spots on the leaves of shrubs. To get rid of the problem, it is necessary to use copper sulfate and green soap (for 10 liters, 20 and 130 g, respectively).

The resulting solution must be thoroughly sprayed on the plants. It is better to do this procedure after sunset.

Another disease that hydrangeas suffer from in the Urals is chlorosis. It is formed as a result of an overabundance of lime. To overcome the disease, it is necessary to water the bushes with nitrogenous potassium (40 g of the substance will be needed for 10 liters of water).

The most common pest of hydrangeas is aphids. You can fight the problem with garlic. To do this, you need to take 200 g of a vegetable, pass it through a meat grinder, pour 3 liters of water, insist for 2 days, and then add 45 g of grated laundry soap to the solution.

The prepared product should be sprayed on the plants until the parasites completely disappear.

If you follow all the conditions for growing hydrangea in the Urals, you can get attractive buds of this amazing shrub even in a harsh climate.