Hydrangea garden planting and outdoor care in the Crimea

Planting garden hydrangeas and care have their own characteristics.To admire the beautiful and lush flowering, we will learn how to properly care for this plant.

Garden hydrangea - species and varieties

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

The most common types:

• Large-leaved. It blooms in the second half of summer with lush inflorescences in the form of balls. Flowers can have different shades. Height - 2 m.Requires shelter in winter, maximum tolerates temperatures up to - 10 ° C
• Pereshkovaya. Variety of creepers. It blooms with white-pink inflorescences. Requires support, otherwise it will creep along the ground. A good option for arbors and arches.
• Tree-like. The flowers are snow-white. Height - up to 3 m. Looks very impressive, but freezes in winter. The plus is that the plant recovers quickly. Requires strong spring pruning.
• Paniculata. It blooms from July to late autumn with dense panicles 30 cm long. The shade of the inflorescences varies from white to greenish. The height of the bush is 3-4 m. An unpretentious and frost-resistant variety.

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

Growing features

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

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

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

Landing in open ground

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

Site and soil preparation

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

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

How and when to plant?

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

It is advisable to shorten the roots of the seedling a little. When planting, you need to ensure that the root collar is not covered with earth. The planted bush is abundantly watered and mulched with peat. When watering, care must be taken that a strong jet of water does not erode the soil near the roots.

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

Phantom hydrangea care

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

Watering and feeding

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

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

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

How to transplant and prune?

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

All types of hydrangeas can be divided into two groups:

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

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

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

Flower care in autumn

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

How does hydrangea winter?

In the middle lane, the shrub tolerates winter well. But for a safety net, it is still better to cover it with spruce branches. In the northern regions, the flower is taken to a room with a positive temperature for the winter, since severe frosts can destroy it.

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

How does garden hydrangea reproduce?

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

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

Also, without much effort, you can propagate the hydrangea by layering. Young shoots are gently bent to the ground, fixed and buried in the ground, leaving the top (about 20 cm).As early as the next spring or autumn, the root cuttings can be separated from the mother plant and transplanted.

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

Protection against diseases and pests

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

Many fungal diseases can be fought with copper oxychloride.

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

Use in landscape design

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

The flower can be planted as a soloist in the front garden if it is located on the north side of the house. When choosing hydrangea companions in a mixborder, you need to take into account their features. Similar requirements for moisture, lighting and soil acidity in astilba, hosts, cuffs. If the site is large, you can plant a composition of several bushes. Their sprawling shape will create an expressive accent in the garden. These shrubs are often used to restrict areas of the garden.

Hydrangeas work well with a variety of garden styles, so anyone can grow them.

Hydrangea is still one of the most popular ornamental shrubs. The love of gardeners is primarily due to the stunningly lush flowering, huge leaves (up to 30 cm in length) and the relative simplicity of care. Most species still prefer a warm climate, which makes it difficult to grow shrubs, for example, in the middle lane or in the Urals. However, the Anabel variety is a rather frost-resistant hydrangea. Growing it doesn't cause a lot of hassle.

Description of the variety

When compared with other varieties and varieties, then Anabel has perhaps the most sprawling spherical bush. A lot of shoots are formed, which gives the impression of splendor. Height varies depending on natural conditions and can reach 1-1.5 m, and up to 3 m in width. Hydrangea flowers are small, only 2 cm in diameter. But the thing is that they are collected in spectacular spherical inflorescences, which can be up to 30 cm in volume. Flowering begins in mid to late June and lasts until September. Anabel is a long-lived hydrangea, and one bush can delight you for more than one decade, which is also an indisputable plus.

This variety is very versatile in terms of landscape design. A place for hydrangeas can be found anywhere. It goes well with conifers, irises, roses. If you wish, you can even make a real living wall out of it, which will be covered with fragrant white flowers from year to year.

There is another variety of this variety - this is the Pink Anabel hydrangea. It differs not only in a pink shade of flowers, but also in stronger and more wind-resistant shoots, increased frost resistance. The care is the same as for the Anabel hydrangea with white flowers.

How to choose a landing site?

To begin with, it is worth noting that planting Anabel hydrangea or any other variety should be carried out in the spring (in May) or in the fall (in September), with the first option being preferable. Buy seedlings in specialized stores, pay attention to the root system.Hydrangea at the time of planting may have buds, but should not bloom. The optimum age for seedlings is 2-3 years.

Choose a place for the bush, sheltered from drafts, in partial shade, where direct sunlight is only a few hours a day. There should not be too large trees nearby, as they will pick up moisture.

Hydrangea tree Anabel is not very demanding on soils, but still prefers acidic and with good water permeability, drained.

Preparing the landing site

After the landing site is selected, you need to dig a hole. The size depends on the seedling, approximately 50 x 50 cm and the same depth. The hydrangea has a superficial root system. If you are doing a group planting, then the distance between the seedlings should be about two meters.

It is recommended to pour several buckets of water (4-5) into the prepared hole and leave it overnight to absorb it. Further, a small drainage layer is poured onto the bottom, and then prepared nutrient soil (leaf earth, peat, humus and sand in equal quantities). In no case do not add lime and wood ash, the tree hydrangea Anabel does not like this.

Lower the seedling into a well-moistened soil and sprinkle it so that the root collar is at the level of the soil. The earth must be tamped tightly and watered again. The near-bore soil must be mulched after that. Use peat, sawdust, pine needles or spruce branches, and foliage. If you have a lawn, then you can apply grass that is in sufficient quantity after mowing it. Mulching protects the roots of hydrangea from overheating and limits the growth of weeds, in addition, organic matter rotts and acidifies the soil over time, which is very beneficial for the plant.

Hydrangea Anabel: care

The shrub grows fast enough. Hydrangea care consists in timely watering, loosening and mulching the soil, pruning.

The plant is very hygrophilous, the fact that it does not have enough water will be evidenced by slightly wilted leaves. The best watering option is 1-2 times a week, 3-4 buckets for each bush. It is desirable that it be gradual and slow, for example, a drip irrigation system. Watering frequency can be reduced to one in 10 days if the soil is mulched. It is best to do this in the spring and several times over the summer, while not forgetting to slightly loosen the soil in the near-stem circle.

Anabel is a hydrangea that loves feeding, she needs them for long and abundant flowering. The first time fertilization is applied the next spring after planting. For one square meter, the following nutritional composition is recommended:

• 40 g superphosphate;
• 20 g of urea;
• 30 g of potassium sulfate.

You can use ready-made complex fertilizers, for example, "Kemira-flowers", while strictly following the instructions. At the moment when the hydrangea Anabel is gaining buds, the second feeding is carried out (50 g of superphosphate and 30 g of potassium sulfate). In addition, it is recommended to water the shrub 2-3 times over the summer with a weak (light pink) solution of potassium permanganate.

Anabel is a hydrangea that is quite resistant to various kinds of diseases, but sometimes it can be damaged by spider mites, downy mildew, chlorosis of leaves or aphids. All cases require special treatment.

Hydrangea bush formation

Only shrubs older than five years are subject to pruning, until that time they do not need to be touched. The best time is early spring. Adult shoots are cut 10-20 cm, and annuals can be shortened by 1/3 of the length. Broken, old and often growing branches are subject to removal. You should not cut off weak bushes, since spring is a time of active sap flow, and a painful plant may die.

Propagation of hydrangea

Hydrangea Anabel reproduces very successfully in a vegetative way - by cuttings and layering. In the first case, young shoots are used. Cuttings 10-15 cm long should be cut during hydrangea flowering.Then slightly dry the cut, treat with "Kornevin" and root in light fertile soil. For the formation of roots, cuttings need high humidity and a temperature of 20-25 degrees. In the second case, a strong and healthy shoot is buried in the fall. Already next spring, he will give roots and form a separate bush.

When decorating their personal plot, gardeners are trying to acquire charming plants. Especially if this beauty does not create a large number of worries. The impressive popularity of this combination is the hydrangea species. It is better to start acquaintance with this wonderful plant with the Anabel tree hydrangea variety. Such a shrub will inspire novice gardeners and delight experienced ones.

Description of hydrangea Anabel

The plant is a dome-shaped deciduous shrub. The height of hydrangea reaches up to 1.2 m. The crown span is on average 1.5 m in diameter, and adult bushes can grow up to 3 meters.

The bush is densely covered with rich green oval leaves, pointed at the end, with uneven edges, up to 20 cm long. The brightness of the greenery remains until the very frost.

Flowering begins by the end of June. It lasts quite a long time, up to September-October. Flowers are collected in large balls with a diameter of 20 cm, and sometimes up to 25 cm. Formation occurs due to the combination of a large number of small inflorescences, the circumference of which is about 2 cm. Each flower contains 4 petals. At the beginning of flowering, the hydrangea has a light green hue. And as it ripens, it acquires a rich white color.

The shrub grows rapidly. During the season, the bush can grow by an average of 20 cm. The age of the Anabel hydrangea is 40-50 years.

Planting hydrangeas

Each gardener determines the planting time independently. The end of spring is ideal. If planting occurs in the fall, then preferably not late. Otherwise, the hydrangea may not have time to take root and adapt before the onset of frost. It is better to give the plant extra time.

In order for the shrub to please with its beautiful view, you need to responsibly approach the choice of a landing site. Hydrangea does not like transplanting, so you need to immediately choose a permanent place of its habitat.

It is better not to use sunny places for shrubs. Heavy shade is also not suitable. Planting anabelle tree hydrangea is best done in light partial shade. Light, non-aggressive rays will have a beneficial effect on abundant flowering.

Basically, plants of this kind are planted away from large plants. This is due to the absence of a struggle for moisture, since hydrangea belongs to moisture-loving plants.

The main stages of planting hydrangeas:

1. Before planting, it is recommended to soak the root of the seedling in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. This procedure will disinfect the bush and provide nourishment.
2. A landing pit 40x40 cm is dug. The depth should be about half a meter.
3. With poor soil, peat, humus and river sand are introduced in equal proportions.
4. Gently spread the roots and sprinkle them with earth. The near-root space needs to be pressed a little. The root collar should be above the soil.
5. Experienced gardeners recommend mulching the soil. This allows you to keep moisture longer. Mulch also protects against weeds and makes it easy to loosen the soil.

After the end of all the actions, the hydrangea is watered abundantly with water.

You also need to know that it is strictly forbidden to add ash or lime to the soil. Hydrangea does not tolerate alkaline reactions.

If the Anabel hydrangeas are planted in a row, then you need to leave the necessary spacing between the bushes of about 1.5-2 m. This will provide freedom for the correct formation of the bushes.

Features of hydrangea care

Correct planting of hydrangea Anabel and caring for the shrub is a guarantee of beauty and a beautiful view of the garden area.The ability to create compositions of individual bushes or group them together gives a lot of room for imagination.

The main care is pruning and feeding. Even without these manipulations, an unpretentious shrub will develop and bloom. But the correct formation and nutrition of hydrangeas is also very important.

The peculiarities of the variety include the unusual ability to color the buds in different shades. Gardeners achieve this magic by sprinkling with colored water. Gaining some experience in a similar procedure, you can create several flowers on one bush. It looks very impressive and unusual.

The shrub tolerates winter well and can withstand 40-degree frosts. Young shoots are more vulnerable and can freeze if the temperature drops below 20 degrees.

Watering hydrangea

Hortense Anabel will patiently survive the drought. But the plant belongs to the moisture-loving species, therefore, in order to avoid wilting of the foliage, it is recommended to moisten the soil artificially, by periodic watering. This is especially true for young bushes. With intensive growth, for proper formation, abundant watering is simply necessary.

The need for feeding

Some gardeners do not feed regularly. And the hydrangea develops well and blooms. But the impressive size of the bushes and flowering caps in this case is not expected.

Top dressing for the season takes place in several stages.

1. In early spring, before mulching the soil at the root, fertilizer is applied for intensive growth. It should be dominated by trace elements such as phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen.
2. During the formation of inflorescences, a second feeding is carried out, based on the content of phosphorus and potassium.
3. In the spring, you can spray the plant with a solution of potassium permanganate 2-3 times. This increases the strength of the shoots, which is extremely necessary for the hydrangea. The branches bend towards the ground under the weight of the buds.

Some try to tie the branches to the support. But this action completely changes the whole greatness of the bush.

Correct pruning

The tree-like hydrangea Anabel is beautiful, the care of which means basically correct pruning. This process must be approached responsibly. Improper pruning can completely destroy all the beauty of the plant.

Young bushes should not be pruned until they are 4 years old. From this period, branches should be pruned in early spring. Cuts are made from the ends of the branches, retreating by an average of 15 cm. Young shoots on an adult plant can be cut off by a third. This is necessary for the formation of lush flowers. In the absence of pruning, the buds begin to shrink over time.

Shrub propagation

It is not necessary to buy seedlings. You can take planting material from friends or neighbors. And later, if necessary, multiply.

The breeding process is fairly standard and simple.

There are mainly three methods used:

• growing cuttings;
• reproduction by layering;
• division of the bush.

The latter option is rather risky. If there is no such experience, it is better not to risk it. This is due to the large diameter of the bush. Therefore, dividing the root can damage the main bush. In this case, the damaged plant may start to hurt.

The first two methods are very easy to follow and are ideal for inexperienced gardeners.

The method of grafting consists in cutting off young shoots 10-15 cm long. It is necessary to carry out manipulations in early spring before bud break. It is better to make a cut obliquely. This will create a large area for the root system. After the cuttings are placed for 2 weeks in water or immediately in fertile soil. The temperature for the first time should be above 20 degrees. Cuttings need to get enough moisture on a regular basis. Thus, the cuttings grow for two years, after which they are transplanted into open ground to a permanent place.

The method of propagation by layering is the simplest and most hassle-free. During the period of bud formation, an extreme strong shoot is selected.It needs to be bent to the ground in the middle of the rod and fixed. In the place of the fold, dig it in with earth and water it regularly. The next year, roots will form at the fold. At the base of the mother bush, the layers are carefully cut off with a secateurs and transplanted to a permanent place.

Diseases and pests

Despite the simple planting and maintenance, the Anabel hydrangea can be subject to several diseases. Therefore, it is advisable to carry out regular maintenance work. For this, a weak solution of potassium permanganate is effectively used. It is poured abundantly at the root.

Major diseases:

• chlorosis;
• powdery mildew.

The first variant of the disease occurs on too alkaline soils. The leaves begin to brighten, the veins remain dark. If you do not take action in time, the bush will begin to die.

At the initial stage of powdery mildew disease, yellow spots appear on the foliage. Over time, a brown tint appears. Leaves wither and fall.

The formation of untimely yellowed foliage and the presence of cobwebs indicate the presence of a pest - a spider mite. If the pest is identified at the initial stage of appearance, then you can get by with a solution of laundry soap. When the state is neglected, one cannot do without chemicals: Fitoverm, Vermitic and others.

Preparing the plant for winter

Hydrangea Anabel is a frost-resistant plant. But it is better to cut young bushes at first.

To prepare the bush for the winter period, you need to remove all the foliage and remove old or damaged branches. The trunk circle is generously insulated with shavings, sawdust or coniferous needles. The bush is pressed against the ground and covered with spruce branches. Some gardeners, out of inexperience, use polyethylene for shelter. This is not worth doing. The plant can "suffocate" and stifle.

Variety reviews

Planting hydrangeas Anabel and leaving in the open field, judging by the reviews, do not present any difficulties. Even novice gardeners are delighted with these flowers. With a rather insignificant care, an extraordinary decorative effect of the site is created.

Having planted Anabel hydrangea on your plot, everyone will be satisfied. The uniqueness of the decor with the romantic notes of the backyard space will be the envy of the neighbors and the admiration of the guests. Hydrangea bushes can be used as hedges. She looks amazing on the lawn. It is harmoniously arranged with irises, phloxes, roses and many other flowers.

Hydrangea Annabelle is the original representative of its species. The main feature of this subspecies is the unique ability to change the color of its inflorescences. Watering the bush with a special composition allows you to change the tone of the flowers to purple, blue or pale pink. Experienced gardeners can achieve multiple color changes in a single season. It is worth noting that the Anabel pink variety, which is popular among gardeners, can be obtained in this way.

Tree hydrangea anabel not famous for its height, the average indicators among adult shrubs rarely go beyond values ​​of more than one and a half meters. But with a relatively small growth, the annabelle can reach a width of more than three meters. In early spring, the shrub begins to grow deciduous and form future buds. Annabelle blooms from mid-summer to early fall. The flowers cannot be called large, but they are arranged quite densely and form hemispheres about thirty centimeters in diameter. With lush flowering, the weight of the inflorescences is able to tilt the branches of the shrub to the very ground.

Anabel is distinguished by its strong tree-like trunks, thanks to which the plant is able to endure negative external factors. The shrub can be considered a long-liver, the anabel hydrangea, which is planted and cared for, taking into account all needs, is able to decorate the garden plot for fifty years.An important condition for the well-being of a plant is a permanent location, annabelle negatively perceives transplants and a sharp change in conditions of detention.

Shrub planting

When choosing a place for planting a plant, it is recommended to give preference areas near tall trees... It is in shaded areas that the hydrangea will be able to reveal its full natural potential and please its owners with more lush flowering. In addition, nearby trees will be able to protect the bushes from sudden gusts of wind and drafts, the latter are an extremely negative factor for hydrangeas.

You should not choose places for planting located in the lowland of the site, large accumulations of water can harm the root system and provoke its decay. If the entire site is located in a lowland, then the landing site must be equipped with good drainage. Pebbles, crushed stone, small fragments of bricks or expanded clay can be used as a drainage system. An important condition is the acidity of the soil, acidic soils are the most preferred for planting.

The first half of spring is considered the best time for planting. It is necessary to wait for the period of bud formation on other plants, it is at this time that the earth will be warmed up enough for planting a shrub.

Landing is carried out in several stages:

1. Soaking the seedling in warm water.
2. Preparation of the landing pit 50x50x50 centimeters.
3. Equipment for the drainage layer in the fossa.
4. Filling the landing site with soil. The soil is prepared from peat and humus soil with the addition of mineral fertilizers. The hole is not completely filled, but about one third.
5. Shrub planting. When planting, it is necessary to evenly distribute the root system over the entire volume of the fossa. After that, the roots are covered with soil and slightly tamped.
6. Watering. Use warm, settled water, preferably the temperature is several degrees higher than outside. For watering after planting, 15–20 liters will suffice.

Important! When planting, pay attention to the position of the root collar, it should not be completely covered with soil.

Bush care

Hydrangea anabel is quite unpretentious in care; even novice gardeners can cope with its maintenance.

It is enough to adhere to three basic rules of care:

1. Shrub does not tolerate drought... Regular abundant watering is required. In hot weather, it is recommended to water several times a week. For irrigation, use warm, settled water. Experienced gardeners recommend collecting water in the morning and exposing the buckets to the sun, so the water gets rid of elements harmful to the plant and warms up.
2. The plant needs regular pruning... The best times for pruning are early spring and late fall. The top stems are cut by about ten or fifteen centimeters. When pruning in the spring, it is important to have time to cut the stems before the juice begins to move. If the juice has gone, then it is better to refuse pruning as it can seriously harm the shrub and significantly slow down its development.
3. Mandatory mulching... The procedure allows you to exclude overheating of the plant and protect it from weeds. To maintain the desired acidity, it is recommended to add peat, the layer thickness is at least eight centimeters.

It is widely believed among experienced florists that it is better not to let the shrub bloom in the first two years and cut off the buds that are forming. The fact is that the plant spends a lot of energy on flowering, and if this period is artificially excluded, then the energy will be spent on the formation of the bush itself. Thanks to this, the subsequent flowering will be lush, and the shrub itself will be stronger and healthier.

Fertilizers

An important issue in caring for a shrub is correctly selected fertilizer... Top dressing is applied throughout the entire period of active growing season. Complex preparations for flowering plants are well suited.After the beginning of flowering, fertilizers should be applied with caution; with excessive feeding, the flowers may acquire a greenish tint.

Breeding methods for tree hydrangea

There is nothing difficult in the propagation of a plant, the annabelle hydrangea reproduces well by seeds, cuttings and division of an adult bush.

Propagation by cuttings

It is one of the simplest and most effective ways to propagate tree shrubs. Cuttings are cut from young shoots during flowering, it is better to cut off the side ones. Rooting is carried out in a mixture of equal parts of peat and coarse sand; stimulants can be used to speed up the process of root formation. The cuttings are kept in a dark room, to maintain the necessary humidity, they are covered with a jar or a transparent plastic bag. After rooting, you can transfer the young plant to a bright room.

Reproduction by dividing the bush

Division is done at the beginning or end of the season... The shrub is dug up and divided into several separate plants. The division is carried out in such a way that each new bush has several buds and a good root system. The roots must be given special attention, try not to damage the small roots, and treat the cuts with charcoal or cinnamon.

Hydrangea from seed

This method is suitable for breeding work.... Hobbyists try not to grow shrubs from seeds as it is quite difficult and requires certain skills. Seeds are planted in boxes with acidified nutrient substrate. The substrate is prepared from equal parts of peat, leaf and humus soil. To make it friable, you can add coarse river sand. The soil is regularly moistened and complex fertilizing is applied. With proper care, young plants up to 20-25 centimeters in height grow by the end of the season.

Preparing for winter

Treelike shrubs of the annabelle species are distinguished by their frost resistance and even tolerate severe frosts well. They do not require protection or additional shelter, but young plants can still be insulated.

Experienced gardening tips:

• be sure to cut off dead branches and remove the foliage;
• sprinkle the ground around the shrub with sawdust or dried grass;
• press the rest of the plant to the ground and press it with a board;
• cover the plant with a wrap or burlap with the pressed down.

It should be noted that the bending of the plant should be done smoothly, without sudden jolts and excessive efforts.

How to change the color of inflorescences in a hydrangea tree

For similar experiments it is worth choosing an adult shrub... Young plants are not yet sufficiently strong and can react extremely negatively.

To give the flowers a blue tint, it is necessary to increase the acidity of the soil, and periodically add preparations with a high aluminum content. Watering is carried out with acidified water, the recommended acidity values ​​should exceed pH 5.5. It is in an acidic environment that aluminum compounds become soluble and can enter the plant along with nutrients. Phosphorus prevents the dissolution of aluminum compounds, therefore, preparations containing it should be discarded. Do not expect a quick reaction from hydrangea, sometimes it takes a whole season to change color.

For a pink tint, popularly called "pink", it is necessary to lower the acidity of the soil to neutral values. For these purposes, lime or chalk can be added to the water for irrigation. Additionally, top dressing with a high nitrogen content is applied.

It is worth noting that the repainting of inflorescences from pink to blue occurs quite quickly, but the reverse color change can take a lot of time.

With proper maintenance and care, anabel tree hydrangea can become a decoration of any garden. Caring for it is simple and even an inexperienced gardener can grow a beautiful healthy plant.You just need to choose a suitable landing site and follow the simple tips from our article. The annabelle shrubs are beautiful and elegant and are often used to decorate gardens and create hedges.

> Hydrangea tree Annabelle

Hydrangea Annabel is a lush flowering ornamental shrub. Its unpretentiousness is the main advantage over the choice of such plants. In addition, it has a number of additional important characteristics that are not inherent in the rest of the flowering bushes.

What is this plant?

Its appearance is represented by a not tall, but wide shrub with a round spherical shape. On average, the height is usually about a meter, but in diameter it can grow up to three.

Lat. Hydrángea

Branches and stems are thin, they bear few shoots on themselves. Their bark is brown, with a slight grayish tinge. They tend to grow quickly, so the plant needs pruning and bush formation.

The leaves are dark green in color. They are rather large in shape and not much elongated. Their length can reach 20 cm or more. Each leaf has a petiole, which is attached to the branches of the bush. The total number of leaves on the plant is large, which makes it fluffy and rich.

The gorgeous flowering of Anabel, which occurs in early summer and can persist until mid-autumn, adds contrast to the juicy green plant. Individual and single flowers are not large, only about one cm in diameter, sometimes two, but they are tightly collected in spherical inflorescences. The latter, in turn, have significant dimensions, their diameter is about 20-25 cm.

This ornamental shrub blooms in white, but the fact of the possibility of an artificial color of flowers was discovered. This is achieved by watering Anabel with special dyes of the required shades. This is not inherent in all plant species. With a certain division of the root system initially, it is possible to achieve the presence of multi-colored flowers on one bush.

It perfectly tolerates severe winters, withstanding temperatures of 30-35 degrees. At the same time, having planted it once, you provide the site with a flowering bush for almost half a century, since this variety is distinguished by its longevity.

Thus, this plant is actively used to decorate both individual sites and public places. It looks great both separately planted and in certain flower arrangements. It is used in the creation of fences, as living curbs.

Difference from other varieties

There are several dozen different varieties of hydrangea. They differ from each other mainly in certain parameters and characteristics.

Among these are:

• Bush size
• Leaf shape
• Type of inflorescence
• Flowering period
• Color of flowers
• Frost resistance
• Certain favorable conditions for growth

Blossoming hydrangea Anabel

On these points, one can note the main differences between the Anabel hydrangea from other varieties.

Anabel's flowers are always white. The shade can be given to them by an artificial method.

The plant is frost-resistant, and tolerates cold without additional shelter up to -35 degrees.

Prefers partial shade and abundant moisture. He loves light, but does not like the constantly scorching rays of the sun.

Wind and drafts are unfavorable for Anabel.

The inflorescences are medium in size, located on the bush in moderation. Branches and stems are not prone to brittleness.

Anabel hydrangea is chosen mainly for planting in middle and northern latitudes. Given the fact that a large and open space for her (steppes and fields) would not be an ideal place to grow. But a garden plot or a park area are the most suitable options.

Landing in open ground

Before planting a bush in a permanent place of growth, it is necessary to take into account some significant points.

Namely:

• Determine the most favorable place
• Find or create suitable soil
• Know and adhere to the basic rules of the landing procedure

By paying attention to this before planting, you will not have to carry out any additional procedures for your tree in the future. Providing it with favorable conditions at the very beginning, it will delight you all subsequent years with its mighty beauty.

A place

One of the options for choosing a seat

Thus, if you decide to plant this plant, one, or several bushes, first always indicate exactly where it will grow best. At the same time, it also fulfills its main purpose - to be only a decoration, or else a fence or an object for zoning a site, for example.

Most importantly, the place should exclude the presence of constant drafts. Although the plant is thermophilic and lush flowering, Anabel will delight in the presence of natural light, it is strongly recommended to protect it from direct sunlight, especially at noon. Drought and heat will perfectly tolerate only with constant watering.

The soil

In terms of soil composition, the only things to exclude are chalk and lime. Everything else is permissible for her. Ideally, there will be rich black earth soils, with good drainage and the presence of constant moisture, but not swamps and stagnant water. With its lack, the growth of the bush will be very slow, and there may be no lush color at all.

Landing

It is recommended to plant two or sometimes three summer bushes in a permanent place. This is done either in the spring, somewhere in the middle of April, or in the fall in winter, no later than a month before the first frost. In the case of the latter option, insulation of the root zone of the plant is required.

When planting, a square hole of half a meter is dug for each individual bush, the depth should be about the same. At its bottom, a drainage system of stones, crushed stone or gravel must be placed, this layer must be at least five cm.

Flowering during abundant watering

Then the roots of the bush are placed in a hole, while they must be well spread. Then they are covered with soil. If the soil is not rich in black earth, the soil should be prepared by yourself. To do this, add humus to the excavated earth, you can also add a small amount of sand and sawdust. The bush is buried in the ground before the beginning of the root system.

After planting, the plant needs abundant watering. On average, this is about 2 buckets per day per bush. Spring and autumn are the time when there is no heat, therefore these periods are most favorable for young seedlings.

Observing all the above rules, the hydrangea Annabel will quickly take root, will actively grow and will be able to delight you with its abundant color the next year after planting.

Reproduction methods and rules

The main breeding methods include:

• Division of the bush and root system
• Reproduction by layering
• Growing cuttings

When dividing a large bush, there is a risk of root damage, which in turn can lead to plant disease. This method is also often not convenient due to its strong growth, and sometimes it is simply impossible to do it without damaging both the shoots and stems and the roots.

Most often, they use either the method of growing cuttings, or simple layering. In both cases, Anabelle grows well and quickly. Only simple rules should be followed.

Hydrangea Anabel in landscape design

When propagating by layering, the lower, strongest shoots of the bush are buried approximately in the middle to the ground. This is best done during the period of bud formation, until the leaves appear.

Since it is this time that is most suitable for the growth and development of young shoots and the root system. Thus, young layers grow up to a certain age at the same time as the mother bush, feeding on both their own roots and her.

Cuttings are planted and grown to young and full-fledged seedlings-bushes immediately separately. For this, the upper part of the young branches of the bush is cut by about 10-15 cm.This is carried out in early spring, in the first half of April. Then they are all planted in a large box or pit with pre-prepared fertile soil.

It must necessarily contain:

• Humus
• Sand
• Peat
• Mineral fertilizers

The distance between each handle should be at least 30 cm in each direction. It is imperative to ensure that there is sufficient moisture. In this way, the cuttings grow for about 2 years, after which the young bushes are planted separately in a permanent place.

Which method is most convenient, everyone decides independently. One can only accurately note the fact that with the help of cuttings the largest number of future seedlings is grown at once.

Basic care

Hortense Anabel is distinguished by its unpretentiousness. The presence of moisture is indispensable and necessary for it. If there is no natural precipitation in the required amount, then it is simply necessary to water it at least 1-2 times a month. Loosening of the soil will also be beneficial.

Like any ornamental shrub, Annabelle needs annual pruning. In its absence, it can lose its shape and run wild, bringing small and rare inflorescences. It is carried out every year in early spring, removing old and weak branches, as well as overgrown young shoots.

If you feed the hydrangea with mineral and organic fertilizers, then it will very quickly begin to grow and grow stronger, and the buds will be lush and numerous. Most often, special mixtures of synthetic fertilizers, slurry and manganese solution are used here.

While watching the video, you will learn about planting hydrangeas.

Elementary care rules make the cultivation of hydrangea Anabel available for everyone. It can be grown on its site by both a "newly-made" amateur gardener and experienced professional decorators. It will find its place both on a private plot and in public parks, squares and alleys, everywhere it attracts the same attention.

Hydrangea

Hydrangea (Hydrangea) was brought to central Russia from Japan and China and immediately fell in love with a huge number of gardeners and summer residents. It is relatively unpretentious and grows well. However, its main distinguishing feature is a stunning palette of amazingly beautiful inflorescences: from white and pale pink to blue, light blue, purple and fuchsia.

Moreover, their the color can be adjusted by yourself, achieving a greater variety of shades, so that several hydrangea bushes will become a bright decoration of any garden.

Appearance

The height of the plants depends on the species and variety. In central Russia large-leaved hydrangea, or garden, reaches a height of 2 m, G. tree-like - 2.5 m, paniculata - up to 3-4 m.

The large-leaved hydrangea has large inflorescences with a diameter of 15-20 cm. It blooms almost all summer: from late June to September.

When and where to plant a hydrangea

• In central Russia and north large-leaved hydrangea and its varieties are traditionally planted in the spring, only in warm weather - in the middle of May, and for the winter they are removed to a room with a temperature of + 4 ... + 10 ° С, since it does not tolerate frosts well.
• IN southern regions plants with a developed root system can be planted and in the fall: here they hibernate in the open field with a cover of spruce branches
• But only on the Black Sea coast of the Krasnodar Territory and the southern coast of Crimea hydrangeas survive the winter without shelter.

Ideal for planting light partial shade... It is not recommended to plant the hydrangea in the open sun.

She is picky enough to the ground: she feels especially good on acidic soils... Otherwise, the hydrangea will simply not bloom and will lose all its charm. You can increase the acidity of the soil with the help of special fertilizers. They are liquid or granular.

For example, Pokon is a complex fertilizer in the form of granules. It contains all the necessary substances in the correct proportion.When planting new plants, it is applied twice a year (in spring and autumn).

Fertilizer for hydrangeas can be prepared independently by mixing ammonium nitrate, superphosphate and potassium sulfate. It is brought in at planting, after which the plant is not fed for 2 years.

For better hydrangea growth, it is recommended to mulch the soil around it (with peat, needles, wood chips or a layer of compost).

To improve the soil, you can use ginger peat and compost. In addition, a small amount of coarse sand is introduced into the ground during planting.

Planting hydrangeas

1. Prepare a seat measuring 50x50x50 cm.

2. Add sand and good quality compost. We plant the plant, trying not to deepen the root collar.

3. Water and mulch.

Hydrangea is good in single (specimen) plantings, but more effective in homogeneous groups. Flowering hedges are made from it.

Basic Hydrangea Care

1. Watering

This is the main component of care. Hydrangea loves water very much, so watering should be daily and regular.

2. Pruning

This "exuberant" beauty is actively growing and needs competent pruning.

Otherwise, flowering weakens, and the plants lose their decorative effect.

3. Tying bushes

Since the tree-like hydrangea bushes are quite massive, it is better in advance, even during planting, to establish a support to which it will be possible to tie up the shoots.

Types of hydrangea

Hydrangea tree (Нydrangea arborescens)

On its basis, many varieties have been bred with large hemispherical inflorescences and beautiful heart-shaped leaves.

It grows well in a place protected from the wind, it tolerates lime in the soil better than others, it is demanding on the fertility of the soil and its moisture. For a more lush bloom it is recommended to loosen the soil several times during the growing season after watering within a radius of several centimeters around the plant in order to increase the access of oxygen to the roots.

Treelike hydrangea and its varieties are thinned out in March, leaving only 6-12 branches, depending on the age and size of the bush, which are cut into 2-3 buds of old wood. She tolerates frosty winters well with the shelter of spruce branches in the first years of planting.

Hydrangea paniculata (Hydrangea paniculata)

The most frost-resistant species. It grows quickly, is unpretentious. A distinctive feature is white cone-shaped inflorescences up to 30 cm long. She has very long flowering period: from mid June to October.

Hydrangeas prefer slightly acidic soils, so 2 times a month they are poured with acidified water, for the preparation of which you will need 1 tbsp. citric acid per 10 liters of water. The resulting solution is poured under the roots. On average, this procedure is carried out 2 times a month and allows you to achieve more lush and vibrant flowering.

The plant tolerates winters well in central Russia, but it must be covered with spruce branches for the winter.

Large-leaved hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)

The most popular hydrangea, widely represented by Russian and Dutch suppliers. She has many varieties with large inflorescences.

They bloom in summer on the shoots of last year, therefore, after flowering, it is necessary to cut out the weakened shoots and remove the dried inflorescences along with three to four nearest leaves. Old flowering and strong non-flowering shoots are cut to soil level.

How to change the color inflorescences

We love and appreciate hydrangeas for their luxurious, many-sided flowering.

But in nature, they have only two colors of inflorescences: white and light pink. All other colors are obtained using special preparations:

1. Pokon Blue Hydrangea is a preparation for obtaining and preserving blue and blue flowers. The fertilizer must be dissolved in water in a proportion of 2 scoops per 1 liter of water and added under the roots of hydrangea after watering... This is done in the fall.
2. Bona Forte "Rainbow" is a preparation for changing white and pink colors to blue.It is dissolved in water at the rate of 1 tsp. fertilizer for 2 liters of water. They are also brought in after watering.

Source

Blue hydrangea is a flowering garden shrub. It looks great in landscape compositions, it is suitable for decorating hedges, decorating gazebos, paths. Currently, many varieties have been bred that easily endure winter and delight with their flowering for many years. There is no separate type of "blue hydrangea". The plant got this name for the shade of its flowers. Large-leaved varieties of hydrangea are covered with blue and blue inflorescences, mainly. There are two- and three-color species that change their shade throughout the season. Today we will talk about planting and leaving blue hydrangea.

Content

• 1 Varieties of hydrangea with blue buds
  • 1.1 Fresh articles about garden and vegetable garden
• 2 When to plant blue hydrangea
• 3 Preparing the soil for planting blue hydrangea
• 4 Planting blue hydrangea outdoors
  • 4.1 We recommend reading our other articles
• 5 Caring for blue hydrangea
• 6 Pruning Blue Hydrangea
• 7 Protecting blue hydrangea from pests
  • 7.1 Sowing calendars for 2017
• 8 Dormant period of blue hydrangea
• 9 How to grow a blue hydrangea
• 10 Garden hydrangea: photos, types, varieties
  • 10.1 Treelike hydrangea - photo
  • 10.2 Hydrangea paniculata - varieties, photo
• 11 Features of growing garden hydrangea
  • 11.1 Planting and leaving
  • 11.2 Watering and feeding
  • 11.3 Pruning hydrangeas
  • 11.4 What to do to make the hydrangea change color?
  • 11.5 Preparing hydrangeas for winter
• 12 Diseases and pests of garden hydrangea
• 13 Varieties of hydrangea with blue inflorescences
  • 13.1 Fresh articles about the garden and the vegetable garden
• 14 When to Plant Blue Hydrangea
• 15 Preparing the soil for planting blue hydrangea
• 16 Planting blue hydrangeas outdoors
  • 16.1 We recommend reading our other articles
• 17 Blue hydrangea care
• 18 Pruning Blue Hydrangea
• 19 Protecting blue hydrangea from pests
  • 19.1 Planting calendars 2017
• 20 Dormant period of blue hydrangea
• 21 How to Grow Blue Hydrangea
• 22 Varieties with blue inflorescences
• 23 How to plant
  • 23.1 Care
• 24 Types and best varieties of garden hydrangea
  • 24.1 The best varieties: Decanter Kosel, Schloss Wakebays, Pepermint, Hod Red, Appengluchen, Airlie Blue, Red Baron, Adriapink, Bouquet of Roses, Magic Amethyst.
  • 24.2 Simple varieties: Anabel, Sterilis, White House, Peppermint, Endless Summe
  • 24.3 The best varieties: Grandiflora, Diamant Rouge, Vanilla Freise, Anabel, Phantom, Polar Beer, Pinky Winky, Limelight, Sterilis, White House, Pepermint, Silver Dolar, Little Lime, Magic, Diamantino.
  • 24.4 The best varieties: Miranda, Cordifolia, Petiolaris
  • 24.5 The best varieties: Snow White Domes, Snow Queen, Harmony, Ruby Slipper, Harmony, Tennessee Clone, Burgundy.
• 25 Outdoor cultivation and care:
• 26 When is the best time to plant hydrangea: spring or autumn?
  • 26.1 Correct and timely watering will increase flowering time.
• 27 Top dressing - when, what and how much to fertilize the shrub
  • 27.1 Plants are responsive to organic and mineral fertilization. Contraindicated - chalk, lime, dolomite flour, ash.
  • 27.2 It should be remembered that excess fertilizer increases the mass of the leaves and reduces the number of inflorescences.
• 28 Preparing for the winter, pruning and sheltering
• 29 Reproduction of a perennial flower by green cuttings
• 30 Why doesn't hydrangia bloom in the garden, and the leaves turn yellow?
• 31 Plant pests and control

Hydrangea varieties with blue inflorescences

As a rule, these are large-leaved hydrangeas. They differ in rounded inflorescences, long and abundant flowering. Initially, flower growers saw large-leaved hydrangeas in potted versions. Such crops were not suitable for outdoor cultivation. They just froze. And only much later frost-resistant varieties were bred. Which ones have blue flowers?

Fresh articles about garden and vegetable garden

1. Hydrangea "Mini Penny". Repaired grade.Blooms on the shoots of the current year. It has lush green foliage and pale blue flowers, collected in globular inflorescences.
2. "Ramars". A small compact bush. Refers to multi-colored varieties. Some species are covered with purple or violet flowers. Others are spectacular bright blue and white.
3. Freedom. Bicolor variety. At the beginning of flowering, pink flowers appear against a background of rich greenery. Then their middle turns blue, and the edges turn white.
4. "Compeito". Hybrid variety with large purple-blue flowers, the center of which is white.
5. "Performance". The pink-like flowers are pink at first. Then the hue changes to blue.
6. Hopcorn Blue. A low bush up to sixty to eighty centimeters with tulip-like blue flowers. Blooms on the shoots of the second year.
7. Jomari. Compact bush with blue double flowers. It also blooms on the branches of the second year.

When to plant blue hydrangea

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

Preparing the soil for planting blue hydrangea

The soil for hydrangea should be well-drained and moistened, consisting of a balanced mixture of humus, leafy soil, peat chips, river sand (2: 2: 1: 1). Regardless of the type and variety of hydrangea, remember that lime in the soil has a negative effect on development. The soil should have a Ph level of about 5.0. Alkaline soil leads to chlorosis (yellowing of the leaves). When the bush grows on alkaline soil, there is often a lack of iron and magnesium, which is manifested by light and pale color of the leaves. Therefore, acidify the soil or treat the bush with iron chelate. In past centuries, gardeners buried iron items (nails, a bank, a horseshoe). When planting, prepare a special balanced soil mixture with fertilizers.

Planting blue hydrangeas outdoors

An empty planting hole must be thoroughly shed with water. The surrounding soil must be saturated with moisture. To do this, at least 3 buckets of water are poured into the pit. After a day, you can start planting the plant. For planting, mix the amount of soil substrate required to fill the pit. Dry mineral fertilizers (50 g of fertilizers per plant) are added to the specified soil composition and mixed thoroughly. You can also use specialized fertilizer for hydrangeas. The planting hole is filled with a prepared soil substrate, slightly compacting it. In the center, a hole is made the size of an earthen lump on the roots of the seedling. The bush is set in a hole, the roots are buried in earth. The earth around the bush is compacted with hands. If, after compaction, the planting pit turns out to be insufficiently filled, a substrate is added from above. After planting, the blue hydrangea is well watered so that the entire volume of soil in the pit is saturated with moisture. Following this, the soil is covered with a layer of mulch. It contains crushed bark or sawdust of deciduous trees. Soil mulching is necessary to retain moisture in the soil.

We recommend reading our other articles

When planting several hydrangea bushes, the distance between them should be at least 1 m. This is necessary so that the bushes, growing, do not shade each other. If you want to plant a hydrangea in a row, then you can dig a trench 90-110 cm wide.If you want to achieve an earlier flowering, then when planting, dig holes closer to each other (70-80 cm), and after 2-3 years thin out the bushes at necessity. Planting pit Depth - 36-45, width - 51-65 cm. The roots grow mainly in breadth, extending much further than the crown. Planting depth The root collar should be at the level of the soil, a maximum of 2-3 cm lower, otherwise the flower will not develop well.Now that you know how to plant a hydrangea correctly, you need to take care of the plant in a timely manner.

Blue hydrangea care

Hydrangea care consists in weeding and loosening the soil around it, organizing a timely and correct irrigation regime. In addition, to prevent rapid evaporation of moisture, it is recommended to mulch the bush in early summer with peat or sawdust.

In autumn, plants are fed with complex fertilizers, and in spring with urea (2 tablespoons per adult bush, diluted in 2 buckets of water and water). This allows them to develop and form large panicles.

During the growing season, the plant can be fertilized with slurry, but if you overdo it with organic fertilizing, then the branches of the bush can break off under the weight of the inflorescences.

Pruning blue hydrangea

It is important to form the shrub correctly. Gardeners do not like to prune branches, but in the case of panicle hydrangea without strong pruning, you can not wait for abundant flowering.

Pruning rules:

1. All inflorescences are cut off in autumn.
2. In the spring, all weak and frozen branches growing inside the bush are cut out on the ring.
3. In the spring, the one-year growth is shortened, leaving no more than five pairs of buds on each.

Such pruning contributes to the fact that every year the bush will bloom more magnificently. What does "profuse flowering" mean in the case of panicle hydrangea? A five-year-old specimen, with good care, will delight the owner with several dozen panicles, and a twelve-year-old specimen with several hundred! The plant lives in the garden for 50 years or more. A specimen over 20 years old can be rejuvenated by cutting the bush into a stump. But even such pruning will not prevent the plant from blooming in the same year.

Protecting blue hydrangea from pests

Blue hydrangea is only affected by aphids and red spider mites. These pests feed on plant sap and are capable of multiplying in large numbers. Very often, the lack of control of them leads to the death of the plant.

• Leaf aphids accumulate on the tops of the shoots and petioles of the youngest leaves. Gradually multiplying, it sucks out the sap of the plant, which leads to twisting and drying of the tops of the shoots. Only purchased insecticidal preparations for the destruction of aphids can help in the fight against them.
• Spider mites are harmful arachnids. Ticks are very small and often invisible to the naked eye. You can only notice the cobwebs on the youngest leaves of the plant. To combat this dangerous pest, there are drugs - acaricides and insecto-acaricides that destroy harmful arachnids.

Sowing calendars for 2017

Dormant period of blue hydrangea

Novice growers may be alarmed when they notice that the leaves of the hydrangea are falling. If it happened in winter, then there is no reason to worry. The flower has begun a dormant period that lasts about 3 months. Of course, it is difficult to recognize a blooming beauty in the bare branches, but if you wait for summer, you can be sure that this is the same beautiful blue hydrangea. How to care for a wintering flower? The process is very simple. Watering is significantly reduced, however, the earthen coma must not be allowed to dry. Fertilizing is not needed. Until March, the hydrangea is harvested in a cool, dark place. Young plants, whose shoots are not lignified, do not shed their leaves and hibernate without entering a state of dormancy.

How to grow a blue hydrangea

Do you want to decorate your garden with an unusual shrub? Try planting a hydrangea flower, planting and caring for which in the open field is simple, reproduction and growing of hydrangea is possible even for novice gardeners. You can find a fantastically beautiful flower by reading the description of the variety and considering its combination with other plants in landscape design. In the photo, the hydrangea looks like the queen of the garden.

Varieties and varieties of hydrangea

Hydrangea is an undoubted favorite among flowers in summer cottages.A long flowering period, a variety of shapes and tones attract special attention to it from gardeners and designers; more and more often, various varieties of this perennial are used in landscape design.

Blue hydrangea

Hydrangeas can be spherical, racemose, and white, lilac, red, two-colored in color. The most common in our latitudes is the tree hydrangea. Unpretentious, fairly easy to care for and grow, the plant is recommended for novice gardeners. Several varieties of shrubs have been bred by breeders:

• Bella Anna - a new variety of tree hydrangea, has rather large spherical inflorescences, the crown grows up to three meters in diameter, the color of the petals is from pale pink to purple-pink, blooms throughout the summer season and September;

Bella Anna variety

• "Anabel" - a lush blooming, spreading shrub about 1.5 m high, inflorescences in the form of a ball of snow-white color, blooms in early July and retains its color throughout the summer season until September. After the end of flowering, the leaves of the plant remain bright green throughout the fall. Variety "Anabel" is adapted for wintering, does not require special shelter for the winter, frost-resistant;

"Anabel"

• "Grandiflora" - differs in large crystal-white inflorescences, blooms for 4 months;

"Grandiflora"

• "Invincibel Spirit" - a new variety of hydrangea with pink petals;

"Invisibel Spirit"

• "Sterilis" - a variety with hemispherical, dense, heavy inflorescences, during the flowering period - from July to October - the petals radically change color: from pale green to crystal white.

"Sterilis"

Also, a fairly common perennial variety - Panicle hydrangea, planting and caring for which is quite simple. This flower is attractive with inflorescences of an unusual - paniculate - shape, frost-resistant, is distinguished by its rapid recovery even in unfavorable climatic conditions. An interesting feature of this hydrangea variety is the particularly long flowering period, during which the inflorescence changes its color. Does not need mulching for the winter. The most common varieties of panicle hydrangea are:

• Vanilla Freise - variety with pale white and pink petals;

Vanilla Fries

• "Limelight" - the plant blooms in autumn, differs in large inflorescences of a pale lemon shade;

"Limelight"

• "Pinky Winky" - hydrangea with soft red petals.

"Pinky Winky"

How to plant correctly

Growing hydrangeas in the open field is possible even for novice gardeners. If a hydrangea is chosen for a flower garden, planting and caring for it will never be a burden, they will become favorite activities. The correct location should be chosen for planting the shrub. Hydrangea does not tolerate long shading, the best place to plant it is on the sunny side. Hydrangea propagation is carried out by separate bushes or cuttings. It is recommended to plant a flower in spring (in May) or in autumn (in warm September).

Even a novice gardener can plant a hydrangea

To plant a hydrangea with a bush in the open field, you need to dig a planting hole about 60 cm deep, about half a meter wide and long. The distance between the bushes is at least 1.5 meters. A flower, growing with proper care, will occupy a much larger area than when planted. The pits should be filled with a special mixture, including peat, sand, soil, humus (1: 1: 2: 2) and fertilizers (landscape design experts recommend combining 20 g of urea, potassium sulphide each, add about 60 g of superphosphate in granules and 10 kg of humus ).

Attention: do not add lime to the soil mixture for hydrangea - it is detrimental to this plant.

When planting, it should be borne in mind that the root collar of the plant should be at ground level. After planting the hydrangea in open ground, it must be watered abundantly.

Tip: For the first two flowering seasons, it is recommended to pick off the inflorescences.The root system of the plant will get stronger and grow, which will subsequently give the bush strength and splendor.

Suitable care

Hydrangea care consists in weeding and loosening the soil around it, organizing a timely and correct irrigation regime. In addition, to prevent rapid evaporation of moisture, it is recommended to mulch the bush in early summer with peat or sawdust.

Fading flowers must be cut off so that they do not pull strength from the plant.

A perennial needs proper pruning. The plant should be pruned in the spring before the beginning of the growing season, removing old shoots and leaving young and strong ones, shortening them by 3-5 buds. Faded and dried bush inflorescences must be removed. Old perennial bushes must be cut almost at the root, leaving only low stumps, from which young shoots will develop.

Fertilizing and fertilizing hydrangeas

The hydrangea planted in prepared and fertilized soil for the first two years can not be fertilized or fed.
Then the order of feeding the hydrangea is as follows:

• in the spring, it is necessary to apply a complex fertilizer containing micro- and macroelements (phosphorus, potassium, nitrogen) under each bush;
• for the second time in a season, top dressing (potassium sulfate together with superphosphate) is applied during the period when buds appear on the bush;
• a couple of times it is advisable to feed the perennial with diluted chicken droppings or cow dung.

Hydrangea responds very well to feeding

Caution: Excessive fertilization of nitrogen can lead to greening of hydrangea petals and problems with wintering of the plant.

It should also be borne in mind that hydrangea responds well to lactic acid, therefore it is important when growing it to periodically water the bush with soaked sour bread, milk whey, sour milk, kefir.

Reproduction of hydrangea

Like other perennial shrubs, hydrangea can be propagated vegetatively (by cuttings, dividing the bush, layering) and seeds.

To grow shrubs from cuttings, it is necessary to cut the tops of young, non-lignified shoots in mid-July and root them in specially prepared soil, consisting of coarse sand and peat. Experts recommend taking measures to increase soil moisture under the cuttings. For this, sphagnum moss is added to it. Cuttings are planted in such soil a little at an angle, at a small (up to 5 cm) distance and provide them with a temperature regime in the range of 16-20 ° C. For rooting, 4-5 weeks are enough. After that, the hydrangea is planted in a permanent growing place and provided with proper care.

Propagation of hydrangea by cuttings

When the hydrangea propagates by dividing the bush, part of it is separated, while it is important that there are 2-3 buds on the young shoots, they are dug up and transplanted to a new place.

For the propagation of hydrangeas by layering, it is necessary to bend one of the young shoots of the growing bush to the ground and dig it into a previously dug hole (up to 15-20 cm deep). To prevent the shoot from straightening, it can be fixed with staples. Experienced gardeners recommend making an incision on the part of the shoot that will be in the ground to speed up the rooting process. It is necessary to regularly water the branch, it can also be mulched. After the formation of its own root system at the branch, it is separated from the mother bush and planted in a new place.

Propagation of hydrangea by layering

Diseases and pests

As a rule, hydrangea is quite resistant to all sorts of pests and diseases. However, it can also become infected with chlorosis, downy mildew, spider mites, and green leaf aphids can appear on it.

Chlorosis is expressed in a sharp lightening of the leaves of the plant, the loss of their natural color. The reason for its development is the excess content of lime or humus in the soil.To eliminate chlorosis, it is enough to water the plant with solutions of nitric acid potassium and copper sulfate in turn with an interval of three days.

Hydrangea disease - chlorosis

The cause of hydrangea disease with downy mildew is excess air humidity. For treatment, it is recommended to treat the hardwood surface with a solution of copper sulfate with the addition of soap.

Garlic infusion will help drive aphids from the plant. It is necessary to prepare a garlic infusion (200 g of chopped garlic in a bucket of water, let it brew for 2 days), add laundry soap (40 g) and irrigate the perennial with this infusion every 5-7 days until the aphids are destroyed.

Hydrangea: combination with other plants

In a flower garden or garden, hydrangea is quite effective both by itself and in combination with other flowers. For example, panicle hydrangea looks great next to clumps of purple-leaved barberries, viburnum vesicle. The beauty of the tree-like hydrangea is emphasized by daylilies, sheared barberry, undersized juniper.

Hydrangea in the design of the flower bed

Hydrangea in landscape design

Hydrangea is a fantastically beautiful flower that inspires beautiful compositions in landscaping. Taking into account the climatic conditions, in our latitudes it is recommended to plant a tree-like, paniculate and petiolate hydrangea. Hydrangea looks magical in the photo in large compositions when it grows in the squares, surprising everyone with the size and beauty of its inflorescences. To emphasize the beauty of hydrangea, you can surround it with borders of spirits, cotoneaster, and other shrubs. The hydrangea should be planted in a flower garden in the background so that it does not obscure other plants.

Hydrangea in landscape design

It is not recommended to combine hydrangea with yellow, red, orange flowers. Plants with bluish flowers, needles or leaves can successfully shade a shrub - for example, clematis, cereals, hosts, stunted junipers.
A classic landscape design is the combination of hydrangea with pink phlox with a round shape of inflorescences, thujas, microbiota. Also hydrangea is used in mixborders to create compositions along garden paths, can be grown as a hedge.

Hydrangea is the basis of a beautiful garden. With proper care, it will delight you for years to come. Experiment with different varieties of this shrub, try to decorate your gazebo with climbing hydrangea, plant a tree-like one along the paths, create a living fence using a paniculata.

Garden hydrangea care: video

Garden hydrangea: photo

Even in a very large garden area, it is impossible not to notice a flower bed decorated with large and multi-colored hydrangea caps. This wonderful beautiful plant is so mesmerizing to the eye that you simply cannot pass by it. Hydrangeas have more than 35 species, among which there are varieties that grow well and winter in the Urals and Siberia. But in whatever latitude of our country your garden is, before buying a beauty, you need to study all the features of planting, caring for and growing it.

Garden hydrangea: photos, types, varieties

Most hydrangea species are shrubs, but there are vines and small trees. All of them have beautiful large or small leaves, and flowers collected in paniculate or corymbose inflorescences. All inflorescences are located at the tops of the shoots and have sterile or fertile flowers. Most often, their color can be white, pink or blue.

Among them, only tree hydrangea and panicle hydrangea are grown as perennial plants in the gardens of central Russia.

Hydrangea tree - photo

The shrub, which grows up to one and a half meters in height, has large oval leaves, the length of which reaches 20 cm. Slightly pubescent leaf plates are distinguished by a heart-shaped notch at the base and jagged edges along the edges. From above they are green, and from below they have a bluish tint.Large sterile and small fertile flowers are collected in corymbose inflorescences, which bloom in the first half of July.

Most suitable for planting in the garden the following varieties of hydrangea tree-like:

1. Variety "White House" is a bush with a height of one to one and a half meters. At the ends of its shoots, large thyroid inflorescences are formed, consisting of snow-white sterile and creamy white fertile flowers.
2. InvincibelSpirit grows up to 0.9-1.2 m. Its large inflorescences consist of sterile flowers. At first, they have a bright pink color, and over time they fade to light pink.
3. Variety "Incrediboll" is a bush that reaches a height of 1.2-1.5 m, and has large spherical white inflorescences.
4. Heis Starburst is a short bush with slender shoots that can break under the weight of large inflorescences. The inflorescences consisting of double flowers reach 25 cm in diameter.
5. The Annabelle variety blooms with white sterile flowers, which form large inflorescences with a diameter of up to 25 cm.

Hydrangea paniculata - varieties, photo

Panicle hydrangea differs from tree hydrangea in inflorescences, which consist of large sterile and small fertile flowers, and grow up to 20-25 cm in length... During flowering, they can change color. For the first time days, the petals of flowers are white, after a while they acquire a pink tint, and by the end of flowering they turn green. Large leaves of paniculate species are distinguished by an ovoid or elliptical shape. Below they are heavily pubescent, and slightly above.

Garden varieties bloom from June to July, and bloom for a long time. Among them are:

1. Variety "Vanilla Freise" grows up to two meters and is distinguished by a conical inflorescence on which flowers of a strawberry-pink color are densely located.
2. The Phantom variety is a bush with a spreading crown, growing up to 2.5 m. Its pyramidal large inflorescences have a creamy white hue at the beginning of flowering, and turn pink by autumn.
3. Variety "Pinky-Winky" is a bush up to 1.8 m high, on the shoots of which openwork conical purple-pink inflorescences are formed.
4. The Limelight variety is distinguished by dense greenish inflorescences, which turn pink by the end of the season.
5. The variety "Grandiflora" has been known among gardeners for a long time for its dense inflorescences, which consist of sterile flowers.
6. The Vims Red variety is a beautifully shaped bush that reaches a height of 2 m. From the ground to the very top, it is covered with delicate inflorescences that bloom in June. At first they have a white color, then they become deep pink, and after a while - burgundy-red.
7. The variety "White Lady" is distinguished by white inflorescences, which consist of a few flowers with jagged edges. Grows up to two meters.
8. The Kiushu variety is a bush with delicate inflorescences and erect shoots up to 2.5 m high.
9. The Great Star variety is a plant up to two meters in height. Its shoots are strewn with inflorescences, which consist of white flowers with petals in the shape of a "propeller".
10. Earley Sensation is distinguished by its early flowering and dark purple shoots. On its openwork, wide-cone-shaped inflorescences, purple-pink flowers are formed.
11. The variety "Diamond Rouge" is a bush up to 1.8 m high. Its dense, large inflorescences very quickly acquire a red hue.
12. The Daruma variety is a low-growing shrub with reddish leaves and small openwork inflorescences. The dark pink flowers become reddish over time.

Features of growing garden hydrangea

Those who decide to grow a hydrangea on their garden plot need follow certain rules her planting, placement and care. It should be remembered that only treelike and panicle hydrangeas grow in Siberia.

Planting and leaving

The plant loves well-lit areas with little shade.In sunny areas, hydrangeas grow well and bloom quickly, but from excessive heat they suffer from drying out of the soil and lose their turgor. Small inflorescences are formed in full shade.

The soil for planting shrubs must have an acidic reaction. Alkaline soil plant will suffer from chlorosis and bloom poorly... Neutral soil for hydrangea is unacceptable.

Hydrangeas planted on nutritious loams will take root well and will grow. Therefore, it is recommended to add clay during planting at the bottom of the pit.

Hydrangea belongs to moisture-loving plants, however, it is not recommended to plant it in areas with a high groundwater level. In addition, the wintering of the shrub directly depends on the moisture intake of the plant roots. The less moisture they accumulate in the fall, the better the plant will overwinter. That is why in autumn the soil around the bushes must be partially covered from precipitation.

Planting garden hydrangeas is done in the spring in pits, approximate the dimensions of which should be 50x50x70 cm... The plant is planted after the last frost has passed.

Store-bought plants with a closed root system can be planted until the end of summer, preparing deeper and wider pits for them. After planting, the bushes are well watered, and the soil around them is 6 cm covered with sawdust or peat mulch.

The distance between plants should be between one and one and a half meters. If the group planting was conceived as a "hedge", then the bushes are planted more densely.

Watering and feeding

During the season in the open field, the bushes are watered once a week. In hot months, the frequency of watering increases up to 2 times a week.

Hydrangea care includes mandatory feeding, which produced twice a year:

1. In May or June, during the budding period, the plant is fed with nitrogen fertilizers.
2. In summer, the bushes need potassium, which is added according to the instructions.

It is better not to apply ash under hydrangea bushes, since it reduces the acidity of the soil.

Pruning hydrangea

When caring for a hydrangea, you need to be especially careful about pruning a shrub. Pruning is done every spring. Some growers cut the bushes very short, as a result of which they are removed most flower buds... This cannot be done. It is recommended to approach each bush individually.

First of all, the frozen parts of the shoots are cut out from the plant. If after this there are enough powerful shoots, then last year's branches can be cut to the upper branch. With a small number of annual shoots, only inflorescences are removed from the faded branches.

Too old and thickening shoots are completely cut out. Annual shoots are not recommended to be cut out at all. It should be noted that inflorescences for bouquets can be cut during the entire period until autumn.

What to do to make the hydrangea change color?

Experienced flower growers know that by feeding bushes with pink inflorescences with certain fertilizers, as a result, you can get a plant, blooming with blue or blue flowers... To do this, starting in September, once every two weeks, the following is added to the soil:

• aluminum alum solution (2 pcs. for 1 liter of water);
• iron or aluminum sulfate (20-50 g).

If fertilizers are applied irregularly, then both blue and pink inflorescences will begin to form on the shrub.

Preparing hydrangeas for winter

Unfortunately, without shelter in the Urals and Siberia, hydrangea will not be able to overwinter. Therefore, caring for her in regions with cold winters includes preparing bushes for wintering.

Before sheltering the plant, it is necessary to feed it with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers and remove all the leaves from them, leaving only the upper ones. This will help speed up the process of lignification of the shoots.

Paniculate and tree hydrangea grown in the southern regions can be simply huddle high or cover with peat... For regions with unpredictable and cold winters, you can choose one of the proposed methods:

1. Cover the trunk circle with spruce branches. Bend the shoots away from the center, secure with staples and cover with spruce branches. Cover the center of the bush with peat. Lutrasil is laid on top, which is pressed with bricks or boards.
2. Young small bushes are tied with a rope and carefully, without haste, are attracted and tied to boards lying on the ground, into which nails are driven. From above, the plants are thrown with sawdust or spruce branches, and covered with spunbond, lutrasil or a sheet of iron.
3. It will be difficult to pull powerful bushes to the ground, so a different method of shelter is used for them. The shoots are wrapped in lutrasil, fixed with tape or rope. A metal mesh is installed around the bush. Dry leaves are thrown inside the armament, and everything is covered with polyethylene or roofing felt from above. The frame should be 10-15 cm higher than the bushes.

When growing hydrangeas, you should know that every year it winter hardiness increases... Therefore, in some regions, over time, you can refuse to shelter bushes for the winter. But it is imperative to cover young plants.

Diseases and pests of garden hydrangea

The plant is resistant to diseases and pests, however, may be amazed:

1. Aphids, which can be driven away by infusion of garlic. To do this, 200 g of chopped garlic is infused in a bucket of water for two days. You can add 40 g of laundry soap to the solution, and spray the plant once every 5-7 days.
2. Powdery mildew infects hydrangeas with excess air humidity. When it appears, the plant is treated with a solution of copper sulfate with soap or special fungicidal agents.
3. Sharply clarified hydrangea leaves indicate plant chlorosis. The leaves can lose their natural color due to the excessive content of humus or lime in the soil. Chlorosis is eliminated by alternately watering the plant every three days with copper sulfate and potassium nitrate.

The most beautiful hydrangea plant is excellent suitable for single and group plantings, goes well with low conifers and looks great against the background of stones. With proper planting and caring for it, you can admire the magnificent flowering and be proud of your flower garden all summer until autumn.

Garden hydrangea

Blue hydrangea is a flowering garden shrub. It looks great in landscape compositions, it is suitable for decorating hedges, decorating gazebos, paths. Currently, many varieties have been bred that easily endure winter and delight with their flowering for many years. There is no separate type of "blue hydrangea". The plant got this name for the shade of its flowers. Large-leaved varieties of hydrangea are covered with blue and blue inflorescences, mainly. There are two- and three-color species that change their shade throughout the season. Today we will talk about planting and leaving blue hydrangea.

Hydrangea varieties with blue inflorescences

As a rule, these are large-leaved hydrangeas. They differ in rounded inflorescences, long and abundant flowering. Initially, flower growers saw large-leaved hydrangeas in potted versions. Such crops were not suitable for outdoor cultivation. They just froze. And only much later frost-resistant varieties were bred. Which ones have blue flowers?

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1. Hydrangea "Mini Penny". Repaired grade. Blooms on the shoots of the current year. It has lush green foliage and pale blue flowers, collected in globular inflorescences.
2. "Ramars". A small compact bush. Refers to multi-colored varieties. Some species are covered with purple or violet flowers. Others are spectacular bright blue and white.
3. Freedom. Bicolor variety. At the beginning of flowering, pink flowers appear against a background of rich greenery. Then their middle turns blue, and the edges turn white.
4. "Compeito".Hybrid variety with large purple-blue flowers, the center of which is white.
5. "Performance". The pink-like flowers are pink at first. Then the hue changes to blue.
6. Hopcorn Blue. A low bush up to sixty to eighty centimeters with tulip-like blue flowers. Blooms on the shoots of the second year.
7. Jomari. Compact bush with blue double flowers. It also blooms on the branches of the second year.

When to plant blue hydrangea

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

Preparing the soil for planting blue hydrangea

The soil for hydrangea should be well-drained and moistened, consisting of a balanced mixture of humus, leafy soil, peat chips, river sand (2: 2: 1: 1). Regardless of the type and variety of hydrangea, remember that lime in the soil has a negative effect on development. The soil should have a Ph level of about 5.0. Alkaline soil leads to chlorosis (yellowing of the leaves). When the bush grows on alkaline soil, there is often a lack of iron and magnesium, which is manifested by light and pale color of the leaves. Therefore, acidify the soil or treat the bush with iron chelate. In past centuries, gardeners buried iron items (nails, a bank, a horseshoe). When planting, prepare a special balanced soil mixture with fertilizers.

Planting blue hydrangeas outdoors

An empty planting hole must be thoroughly shed with water. The surrounding soil must be saturated with moisture. To do this, at least 3 buckets of water are poured into the pit. After a day, you can start planting the plant. For planting, mix the amount of soil substrate required to fill the pit. Dry mineral fertilizers (50 g of fertilizers per plant) are added to the specified soil composition and mixed thoroughly. You can also use specialized fertilizer for hydrangeas. The planting hole is filled with a prepared soil substrate, slightly compacting it. In the center, a hole is made the size of an earthen lump on the roots of the seedling. The bush is set in a hole, the roots are buried in earth. The earth around the bush is compacted with hands. If, after compaction, the planting pit turns out to be insufficiently filled, a substrate is added from above. After planting, the blue hydrangea is well watered so that the entire volume of soil in the pit is saturated with moisture. Following this, the soil is covered with a layer of mulch. It contains crushed bark or sawdust of deciduous trees. Soil mulching is necessary to retain moisture in the soil.

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When planting several hydrangea bushes, the distance between them should be at least 1 m. This is necessary so that the bushes, growing, do not shade each other. If you want to plant a hydrangea in a row, then you can dig a trench 90-110 cm wide.If you want to achieve an earlier flowering, then when planting, dig holes closer to each other (70-80 cm), and after 2-3 years thin out the bushes at necessity. Planting pit Depth - 36-45, width - 51-65 cm. The roots grow mainly in breadth, extending much further than the crown. Planting depth The root collar should be at the level of the soil, a maximum of 2-3 cm lower, otherwise the flower will not develop well. Now that you know how to plant a hydrangea correctly, you need to take care of the plant in a timely manner.

Blue hydrangea care

Hydrangea care consists in weeding and loosening the soil around it, organizing a timely and correct watering regime. In addition, to prevent rapid evaporation of moisture, it is recommended to mulch the bush in early summer with peat or sawdust.

In autumn, plants are fed with complex fertilizers, and in spring with urea (2 tablespoons per adult bush, diluted in 2 buckets of water and water). This allows them to develop and form large panicles.

During the growing season, the plant can be fertilized with slurry, but if you overdo it with organic fertilizing, then the branches of the bush can break off under the weight of the inflorescences.

Pruning blue hydrangea

It is important to form the shrub correctly. Gardeners do not like to prune branches, but in the case of panicle hydrangea without strong pruning, you can not wait for abundant flowering.

Pruning rules:

1. All inflorescences are cut in autumn.
2. In the spring, all weak and frozen branches growing inside the bush are cut out on the ring.
3. In the spring, the one-year growth is shortened, leaving no more than five pairs of buds on each.

Such pruning contributes to the fact that every year the bush will bloom more magnificently. What does "profuse flowering" mean in the case of panicle hydrangea? A five-year-old specimen, with good care, will delight the owner with several dozen panicles, and a twelve-year-old specimen with several hundred! The plant lives in the garden for 50 years or more. A specimen over 20 years old can be rejuvenated by cutting the bush into a stump. But even such pruning will not prevent the plant from blooming in the same year.

Protecting blue hydrangeas from pests

Blue hydrangea is only affected by aphids and red spider mites. These pests feed on plant sap and are capable of multiplying in large numbers. Very often, the lack of control of them leads to the death of the plant.

• Leaf aphids accumulate at the tops of the shoots and petioles of the youngest leaves. Gradually multiplying, it sucks out the sap of the plant, which leads to twisting and drying of the tops of the shoots. Only purchased insecticidal preparations for the destruction of aphids can help in the fight against them.
• Spider mites are harmful arachnids. Ticks are very small and often invisible to the naked eye. You can only notice the cobwebs on the youngest leaves of the plant. To combat this dangerous pest, there are drugs - acaricides and insecto-acaricides, which destroy harmful arachnids.

Sowing calendars for 2017

Dormant period of blue hydrangea

Novice growers may be alarmed when they notice that the leaves of the hydrangea are falling. If this happened in winter, then there is no reason to worry. The flower has begun a dormant period that lasts about 3 months. Of course, it is difficult to recognize a blooming beauty in the bare branches, but if you wait for summer, you can be sure that this is the same beautiful blue hydrangea. How to care for a wintering flower? The process is very simple. Watering is significantly reduced, however, the earthen coma must not be allowed to dry. Fertilizing is not needed. Until March, the hydrangea is harvested in a cool, dark place. Young plants, whose shoots are not lignified, do not shed their leaves and hibernate without entering a state of dormancy.

How to grow a blue hydrangea

Blue hydrangea is a flowering garden shrub. It looks great in landscape compositions, it is suitable for decorating hedges, decorating gazebos, paths. Currently, many varieties have been bred that easily endure winter and delight with their flowering for many years.

There is no separate type of “blue hydrangea”. The plant got this name for the shade of its flowers. Large-leaved varieties of hydrangea are covered with blue and blue inflorescences, mainly. There are two- and three-color species that change their shade throughout the season.

In addition, the large-leaved hydrangea is easy to "recolor". You just need to create the appropriate conditions. What varieties have blue inflorescences? How to choose planting material? How to grow a hydrangea? You will find the answers to the questions in the article.

Varieties with blue inflorescences

As a rule, these are large-leaved hydrangeas. They differ in rounded inflorescences, long and abundant flowering.

Initially, Russian flower growers saw large-leaved hydrangeas in potted versions. Such crops were not suitable for outdoor cultivation. They just froze. And only much later frost-resistant varieties were bred. Which ones have blue flowers?

1. Hydrangea "Mini Penny".

   Repaired grade. Blooms on the shoots of the current year. It has lush green foliage and pale blue flowers, collected in globular inflorescences.

2. Ramars.

   Small compact bush. Refers to multi-colored varieties. Some species are covered with purple or violet flowers. Others are spectacular bright blue and white.

3. Freedom.

   Bicolor variety. At the beginning of flowering, pink flowers appear against a background of rich greenery. Then their middle turns blue, and the edges turn white.

4. "Compeito".

   Hybrid variety with large purple-blue flowers, the center of which is white.

5. "Performance".

   The pink-like flowers are pink at first. Then the hue changes to blue.

6. Hopcorn Blue.

   A low bush up to sixty to eighty centimeters with tulip-like blue flowers. Blooms on the shoots of the second year.

7. Jomari.

   Compact bush with blue double flowers. It also blooms on the branches of the second year.

These are the most popular varieties. Many of them change color during one flowering period. Pink hydrangea can be purchased, planting and care provided in accordance with the requirements. And then the flowers turn blue. This is the peculiarity of the variety. We just didn't pay attention to it.

The hydrangea color changes easily. During the budding period, the bush must be watered with aluminum alum (for two liters of water - a teaspoon with a slide). Then the white color will turn blue, pink - lilac, purple or blue-blue.

How to plant

For planting, seedlings of three-, four-year-old shrubs are ideal. It is better to buy them in specialized real or online stores. The root system of the seedlings must be protected and hidden in some material. In the store, containers are used for these purposes. Growing up consists of:

A place.

1. Hydrangeas love partial shade. Open sunny spaces do not like moisture-loving shrubs. In the shade, hydrangea blooms poorly, blooms later. This plant needs a middle ground.

2. When planning group plantings, it is necessary to take into account that the shrub requires space for growth and development. The optimal free diameter around each hydrangea is two meters.

The soil.

Beautifully flowering shrubs love acidic, moisture-consuming and loose soils. Such conditions can be provided in the following ways:

• bring soil from the forest (you need to dig the ground under the pine trees together with needles);
• mix equal amounts of high-moor peat, leaf and turf soil, sawdust compost, sand.

Hydrangeas don't like lime in the soil!

Landing.

Dig a hole the night before (width, length and height - half a meter). Pour in five buckets of water. The next day, add the prepared substrate, place the seedling, gently spread the roots and cover them with earth. Water well and cover with pine needles or peat.

Care

Decorativeness, color saturation, elasticity of leaves and shoots depend on proper watering, pruning, dressing.

Watering.

Hydrangea loves water. With a lack of moisture, it withers, blooms poorly. If you give several buckets of water under such a plant, it immediately comes to life.

The optimal frequency of watering is once or twice a week. For each bush, you need to give three to four buckets. If, after watering, mulch the soil around the hydrangeas, then water it once every ten days. The mulch will retain moisture for longer.

Conclusion: in no case should the soil around the hydrangeas be allowed to dry out.

Fertilization.

The large-leaved blue hydrangea loves feeding and responds very well to them. Fertilizers need to be applied depending on the period of plant development:

• at the end of spring - the first feeding of superphosphate, potassium sulphide and urea (2: 2: 1.5);
• in the middle of summer (during the formation of inflorescences) - the second feeding of superphosphate and potassium sulphide (2: 1);
• in late summer - early autumn (during the period of active flowering) - the third top dressing, organic (compost or rotted manure).

To protect the hydrangea from disease, it is recommended to periodically add any fungicide to the irrigation water (especially in the first year after planting).

Conclusion: hydrangeas need mineral fertilizers; during the period of active flowering - organic. Under no circumstances should ash be brought in!

Pruning.

This is a mandatory step in caring for shrubs. Regardless of the variety. Treelike, Grandiflora, Paniculata, Japanese, Phantom hydrangea ... Planting and leaving will not be complete without pruning.

Almost all varieties of large-leaved blue hydrangea bloom on last year's shoots. This must be taken into account when pruning. It is important to keep the flower buds at the ends of the branches.

Do not touch the inflorescences in the fall. They will protect flower buds from winter frost. They can be removed in the spring:

• in April, completely cut off a quarter of old shoots that are more than three years old;
• the rest have only last year's inflorescences;
• remove weak, diseased and overly exposed branches.

Conclusion: it is impossible to shred a large-leaved hydrangea, since inflorescences appear only on last year's branches.

Wintering of blue hydrangea.

1. Water the plant actively from late summer. It should meet the winter strong enough. To prevent the shoots from stifling under cover, treat the bush with Bordeaux mixture.

2. At the end of October, when light frosts are observed at night, the hydrangea can be covered with perforated polyethylene or agrospan. In early November, tilt the shoots to the ground, cover with spruce branches or dry leaves. And put the box on top.

Conclusion: blue varieties of hydrangeas are prepared for winter, like roses (they reliably protect from frost).

Do you want to decorate your garden with an unusual shrub? Try planting a hydrangea flower, planting and caring for which in the open field is simple, reproduction and growing of hydrangea is possible even for novice gardeners. You can find a fantastically beautiful flower by reading the description of the variety and considering its combination with other plants in landscape design. In the photo, the hydrangea looks like the queen of the garden.

Varieties and varieties of hydrangea

Hydrangea is an undoubted favorite among flowers in summer cottages. A long flowering period, a variety of shapes and tones attract special attention to it from gardeners and designers; more and more often, various varieties of this perennial are used in landscape design.

Blue hydrangea

Hydrangeas can be spherical, racemose, and white, lilac, red, two-colored in color. The most common in our latitudes is the tree hydrangea. Unpretentious, fairly easy to care for and grow, the plant is recommended for novice gardeners. Several varieties of shrubs have been bred by breeders:

• Bella Anna - a new variety of tree hydrangea, has rather large spherical inflorescences, the crown grows up to three meters in diameter, the color of the petals is from pale pink to purple-pink, blooms throughout the summer season and September;

Bella Anna variety

• "Anabel" - a lush blooming, spreading shrub about 1.5 m high, inflorescences in the form of a ball of snow-white color, blooms in early July and retains its color throughout the summer season until September. After the end of flowering, the leaves of the plant remain bright green throughout the fall. Variety "Anabel" is adapted for wintering, does not require special shelter for the winter, frost-resistant;

"Anabel"

• "Grandiflora" - differs in large crystal-white inflorescences, blooms for 4 months;

"Grandiflora"

• "Invincibel Spirit" - a new variety of hydrangea with pink petals;

"Invisibel Spirit"

• "Sterilis" - a variety with hemispherical, dense, heavy inflorescences, during the flowering period - from July to October - the petals radically change color: from pale green to crystal white.

"Sterilis"

Also, a fairly common perennial variety - Panicle hydrangea, planting and caring for which is quite simple. This flower is attractive with inflorescences of an unusual - paniculate - shape, frost-resistant, is distinguished by its rapid recovery even in unfavorable climatic conditions. An interesting feature of this hydrangea variety is the particularly long flowering period, during which the inflorescence changes its color. Does not need mulching for the winter. The most common varieties of panicle hydrangea are:

• Vanilla Freise - variety with pale white and pink petals;

Vanilla Fries

• "Limelight" - the plant blooms in autumn, differs in large inflorescences of a pale lemon shade;

"Limelight"

• "Pinky Winky" - hydrangea with soft red petals.

"Pinky Winky"

How to plant correctly

Growing hydrangeas in the open field is possible even for novice gardeners. If a hydrangea is chosen for a flower garden, planting and caring for it will never be a burden, they will become favorite activities. The correct location should be chosen for planting the shrub. Hydrangea does not tolerate long shading, the best place to plant it is on the sunny side. Hydrangea propagation is carried out by separate bushes or cuttings. It is recommended to plant a flower in spring (in May) or in autumn (in warm September).

Even a novice gardener can plant a hydrangea

To plant a hydrangea with a bush in the open field, you need to dig a planting hole about 60 cm deep, about half a meter wide and long. The distance between the bushes is at least 1.5 meters. A flower, growing with proper care, will occupy a much larger area than when planted. The pits should be filled with a special mixture, including peat, sand, soil, humus (1: 1: 2: 2) and fertilizers (landscape design experts recommend combining 20 g of urea, potassium sulphide each, add about 60 g of superphosphate in granules and 10 kg of humus ).

Attention: do not add lime to the soil mixture for hydrangea - it is detrimental to this plant.

When planting, it should be borne in mind that the root collar of the plant should be at ground level. After planting the hydrangea in open ground, it must be watered abundantly.

Tip: For the first two flowering seasons, it is recommended to pick off the inflorescences. The root system of the plant will get stronger and grow, which will subsequently give the bush strength and splendor.

Suitable care

Hydrangea care consists in weeding and loosening the soil around it, organizing a timely and correct irrigation regime. In addition, to prevent rapid evaporation of moisture, it is recommended to mulch the bush in early summer with peat or sawdust.

Fading flowers must be cut off so that they do not pull strength from the plant.

A perennial needs proper pruning. The plant should be pruned in the spring before the beginning of the growing season, removing old shoots and leaving young and strong ones, shortening them by 3-5 buds. Faded and dried bush inflorescences must be removed. Old perennial bushes must be cut almost at the root, leaving only low stumps, from which young shoots will develop.

Fertilizing and fertilizing hydrangeas

The hydrangea planted in prepared and fertilized soil for the first two years can not be fertilized or fed.
Then the order of feeding the hydrangea is as follows:

• in the spring, it is necessary to apply a complex fertilizer containing micro- and macroelements (phosphorus, potassium, nitrogen) under each bush;
• the second time in a season, top dressing (potassium sulfate together with superphosphate) is applied during the period when buds appear on the bush;
• a couple of times it is advisable to feed the perennial with diluted chicken droppings or cow dung.

Hydrangea responds very well to feeding

Caution: Excessive fertilization of nitrogen can lead to greening of hydrangea petals and problems with wintering of the plant.

It should also be borne in mind that hydrangea responds well to lactic acid, therefore it is important when growing it to periodically water the bush with soaked sour bread, milk whey, sour milk, kefir.

Propagation of hydrangea

Like other perennial shrubs, hydrangea can be propagated vegetatively (by cuttings, dividing the bush, layering) and seeds.

To grow shrubs from cuttings, it is necessary to cut the tops of young non-lignified shoots in mid-July and root them in specially prepared soil, consisting of coarse sand and peat. Experts recommend taking measures to increase soil moisture under the cuttings. For this, sphagnum moss is added to it. Cuttings are planted in such soil a little at an angle, at a small (up to 5 cm) distance and provide them with a temperature regime in the range of 16-20 ° C. 4-5 weeks are enough for rooting. After that, the hydrangea is planted in a permanent growing area and provided with proper care.

Propagation of hydrangea by cuttings

When the hydrangea propagates by dividing the bush, part of it is separated, while it is important that there are 2-3 buds on the young shoots, they are dug up and transplanted to a new place.

For the propagation of hydrangeas by layering, it is necessary to bend one of the young shoots of the growing bush to the ground and dig it into a previously dug hole (up to 15-20 cm deep). To prevent the shoot from straightening, it can be fixed with staples. Experienced gardeners recommend making an incision on the part of the shoot that will be in the ground to speed up the rooting process. It is necessary to regularly water the branch, it can also be mulched. After the formation of its own root system at the branch, it is separated from the mother bush and planted in a new place.

Propagation of hydrangea by layering

Diseases and pests

As a rule, hydrangea is quite resistant to all sorts of pests and diseases. However, it can also become infected with chlorosis, downy mildew, spider mites, and green leaf aphids can appear on it.

Chlorosis is expressed in a sharp lightening of the leaves of the plant, the loss of their natural color. The reason for its development is the excess content of lime or humus in the soil. To eliminate chlorosis, it is enough to water the plant with solutions of nitric acid potassium and copper sulfate in turn with an interval of three days.

Hydrangea disease - chlorosis

The cause of hydrangea disease with downy mildew is excess air humidity. For treatment, it is recommended to treat the hardwood surface with a solution of copper sulfate with the addition of soap.

Garlic infusion will help drive aphids from the plant. It is necessary to prepare a garlic infusion (200 g of chopped garlic in a bucket of water, let it brew for 2 days), add laundry soap (40 g) and irrigate the perennial with this infusion every 5-7 days until the aphids are destroyed.

Hydrangea: combination with other plants

In a flower garden or garden, hydrangea is quite effective both by itself and in combination with other flowers. For example, panicle hydrangea looks great next to clumps of purple-leaved barberries, viburnum vesicle. The beauty of the tree-like hydrangea is emphasized by daylilies, sheared barberry, undersized juniper.

Hydrangea in the design of the flower bed

Hydrangea in landscape design

Hydrangea is a fantastically beautiful flower that inspires beautiful compositions in landscaping. Taking into account the climatic conditions, in our latitudes it is recommended to plant a tree-like, paniculate and petiolate hydrangea. Hydrangea looks magical in the photo in large compositions when it grows in the squares, surprising everyone with the size and beauty of its inflorescences.To emphasize the beauty of hydrangea, you can surround it with borders of spirits, cotoneaster, and other shrubs. The hydrangea should be planted in a flower garden in the background so that it does not obscure other plants.

Hydrangea in landscape design

It is not recommended to combine hydrangea with yellow, red, orange flowers. Plants with bluish flowers, needles or leaves can successfully shade a shrub - for example, clematis, cereals, hosts, low-growing junipers.
The combination of hydrangea with pink phlox with a round shape of inflorescences, thujas, microbiota is considered a classic of landscape design. Also hydrangea is used in mixborders to create compositions along garden paths, can be grown as a hedge.

Hydrangea is the foundation of a beautiful garden. With proper care, it will delight you for years to come. Experiment with different varieties of this shrub, try to decorate your gazebo with a climbing hydrangea, plant a tree-like one along the paths, create a living fence using a paniculata.

Garden hydrangea care: video

Garden hydrangea: photo

Hydrangea is one of the most luxurious perennial garden shrubs. Lush, large and vibrant flower inflorescences consist of large sterile flowers with four colored blende petals. On almost every site in our horticultural partnership, bushes of delicate flowers with huge heads grow, and we change varieties from time to time, since the price on the market is "biting", it is expensive to buy varietal seedlings.

Novice gardeners consider this beauty to be capricious, and do not risk cultivating it in the garden. Although soil and location selection, proper outdoor planting, and proper care will do the trick. And the bushes, hung with white, cream, pink, blue flowers, will delight you with a long and beautiful flowering.

Over the centuries, since the name of the flower in honor of Princess Hortense, more than 600 varieties have been bred, differing in shape, color of inflorescences and color of leaves.

A very interesting feature of this plant is the ability to change the shade of the inflorescences depending on the acidity of the soil. In this regard, an amusing incident comes to mind. The husband, having arrived after a long business trip, drove past the garden, because he did not recognize him, because the hedge had turned from a white bush into a pink one.

The content of the article

• Types and best varieties of garden hydrangea
• Outdoor cultivation and care
• When is it better to plant hydrangea: spring or autumn?
• Top dressing - when, what and how much to fertilize the shrub
• Winter preparation, pruning and shelter
• Reproduction of a perennial flower by green cuttings
• Why doesn't hydrangia bloom in the garden and the leaves turn yellow?
• Plant pests and control

Types and best varieties of garden hydrangea

According to the latest information, 52 types of shrubs are known, of which flower growers of the Moscow region and the Urals distinguish the most common:

• large-leaved
• tree-like
• paniculate
• petiolate
• oak-leaved

Large-leaved hydrangea - a shrub that grows up to 4 meters, inflorescences up to 20 cm in diameter.In Russia, it grows in open ground only in the south, but recently, with the development of agricultural technology, it began to be cultivated in the middle lane, only with the introduction of plants for the winter indoors or with a good hiding place.

It grows well in light partial shade conditions. If there is not enough light, it will bloom, it will begin with a delay and with fewer inflorescences. It blooms in pink, red, white or blue from July to September. The leaves are simple, bright green.

It serves as a decor in the design of gardens and parks, it is distinguished by abundant and long flowering, by pruning shoots, you can form any shape of a bush.

The real flowers of this beautiful plant are small and inconspicuous, hidden under bright inflorescences and can only be seen upon close examination.

The best varieties: Decanter Kosel, Schloss Wakebays, Pepermint, Hod Red, Appengluchen, Airlie Blue, Red Baron, Adriapink, Bouquet of Roses, Magic Amethyst.

Hydrangea — shrub 1 to 3 m in height, actively growing in height and width, with spherical inflorescences up to 15 cm in diameter. Often used to create hedges. It is unpretentious to watering, tolerates short-term drought. Loves shading. Blooms from July to October.

Flowers form on new buds. Young growth often does not ripen and freezes out, but after a strong spring pruning, the bush grows back well. In the inflorescences, fertile flowers predominate, and there are few sterile ones.

Simple varieties: Anabel, Sterilis, White House, Peppermint, Endless Summe

Hydrangea paniculata -shrub or tree, up to 10 m high. Inflorescences are pyramidal, with dense hairy panicles. Flowers of honey plants, small with white petals, later turn pink. It blooms from mid-June to October.

The bush is planted in semi-shady places, the flowers lose their decorative effect from direct sunlight.

The best varieties: Grandiflora, Diamant Rouge, Vanilla Fraz, Anabel, Phantom, Polar Beer, Pinky Winky, Limelight, Sterilis, White House, Pepermint, Silver Dolar, Little Lime, Magic, Diamantino.

Stalked hydrangea- in fact, it is curly liana, and is fundamentally different from tree and paniculate. This is the only unique species, it grows well and quickly, it can reach a length of up to 25 m, the annual growth is up to 1 m, it needs props.

Paniculate inflorescences are flat, with creamy white small flowers along the edge, pleasing to the eye in June - August. Blooms from June to August. Flowering is accompanied by a pleasant honey aroma that attracts butterflies and bees to the garden. Leaves are rich green, on long petioles, round, shiny, numerous. Shoots are copper-brown with peeling bark.

Saplings are used for landscaping small gardens, gazebos, walls and fences. The variety is shade-tolerant, frost-resistant. To preserve its decorative appearance and better growth, the bush is pruned annually. The first flowering begins four years after planting. The intensity of the color depends on the type of soil— the brightest flowers appear on plants planted in an acidic substrate.

The best varieties: Miranda, Cordifolia, Petiolaris

Hydrangea oakleaf — decorative flowering shrub. The plant reaches 1.5-2 m in height, and the diameter of its crown is about 2 m.

The shrub has strong and tough shoots covered with multi-lobed leaves. The leaf blades resemble oak leaves in shape and reach a length of 20 cm. The foliage has a dark green tint, by autumn it changes to bright red or purple. This species blooms from mid-June to mid-September. Small flowers are collected in large paniculate inflorescences, which in some varieties reach a length of 30 cm. Resistant to negative weather conditions.

The best varieties: Snow White Domes, Snow Queen, Harmony, Ruby Slipper, Harmony, Tennessee Clone, Burgundy.

Outdoor cultivation and care:

When is it better to plant hydrangea: spring or autumn?

Gardeners in the middle lane of our country believe that it is possible to plant seedlings in the spring (early May), this will allow the young bush to grow, get stronger and easily endure the coming winter. And in the fall (end of September), so that before the onset of frost, the seedlings have time to take root.

Preparing the soil for planting. At the end of April, we dig up the soil, with the addition of 1 sq. m.— a bucket of peat, coniferous forest litter, humus, river sand, as well as organic fertilizers (1 tbsp. potassium sulfate and superphosphate, Agricola-7). We close up all the fertilizers introduced into the soil with a rake and leave it until planting.

Before planting, we make a depression of 40-50 cm and plant young plants. In this case, we leave the root collar at ground level. Seedlings with a closed root system, with a lump of earth, take root better.Therefore, try to purchase seedlings in containers or pots.

After planting, water the soil around the bush abundantly and mulch with peat or sawdust, at least 5 cm thick, this will preserve moisture. Hydrangea likes moist, compostable or leafy acidic soil, and it also doesn't like drafts, so choose a location that's sheltered from the winds.

I have one huge bush that grows in the sun, its leaves in sunny weather strongly evaporate water, and when there is a lack of water, they begin to fade. I water 3 buckets (30 liters) of water twice a week. Moreover, the water should all go to the root. It is better to water with settled and heated water during the day.

Correct and timely watering will increase the flowering time.

 During the growing season, garden care for hydrangeas consists of:

1. in regular loosening of the soil around the bushes;
2. weeding;
3. mulching the soil;
4. repeated feeding;
5. correct watering;
6. protection from diseases and pests;
7. in preparation for winter, pruning and shelter.

Top dressing - when, what and how much to fertilize the shrub

During the spring-autumn period, we feed the bushes 3-4 times.

Plants are responsive to organic and mineral fertilizers. Contraindicated - chalk, lime, dolomite flour, ash.

First feeding— in spring, for good growth: 1 tbsp. l. urea and potassium sulfate per 10 liters of water. This solution is enough for us for 2 bushes.

Foliar dressing - before budding and during the blooming of 1-2 inflorescence flowers, we spray the plant itself with the "Bud" preparation: 10 g per 10 l of water (1 l of solution per 8 sq. M.)

Second feeding- in June, when buds appear: 1 tbsp. l. nitrophosphate and "Agricola for flowering plants" for 10 liters of water.

Third feeding - for long flowering, when up to 5 flowers open on the inflorescence: 1 tbsp. l. organic fertilizer "Flower" and granular fertilizer "Agricola - Rose" for 10 liters of water. We spend on 2 bushes.

Fourth feeding- at the end of flowering, for the formation of new buds next year: 1 tbsp. l. potassium sulfate and superphosphate, per 10 liters of water. We spend 7 liters of solution per bush.

It should be remembered that excess fertilizer increases the mass of the leaves and reduces the number of inflorescences.

Winter preparation, pruning and shelter

We prepare different types of shrubs in different ways for wintering.

Treelike and panicle hydrangea, does not require reinforced shelter for the winter. It is enough to mulch them well and preserve the root system. They can easily tolerate low temperatures (down to -30 degrees), but they need protection from cold winds. The peculiarity of these varieties is that they have flower ovaries formed on one-year-old sprouts that appear in spring, so their flowering does not depend on wintering. In the fall, we do a strong pruning of shoots.

Large-leaved hydrangeas do not need pruning in the fall. We cut off only weak shoots and all faded inflorescences. If the shoots freeze in winter, then it will no longer bloom. Therefore, she needs good insulation, the same as for roses. The best time for shelter is the end of October. There are no exact dates, it all depends on the weather, the main thing is to be in time before stable frosts.

At the end of summer, we stop watering the bush, thereby giving the green shoots the opportunity to grow stiff faster.

After trying many hiding places, I stopped there. Quickly, accurately, with a minimum of available material. After harvesting the fallen leaves, we do not bend the branches to the ground, but tie them into a bunch.

To protect the roots of plants from freezing, we spud the soil with peat or sawdust at the base of the bush. We cover the tied bundle with a thick layer of dried plants, spruce branches, straw, or brushwood.

From above we wrap the bush in several layers with a covering material: plastic wrap, burlap, roofing felt, a dense spunbond cover (60 g / sq. M.)

It protects well against frost and rodents. Air permeable, does not damp, dries quickly, does not rot. Prevents waterlogging.

In the spring, in this species, we leave the strongest shoots, and cut them so that 5-7 buds remain.

Reproduction of a perennial flower by green cuttings

The hydrangea variety you like is most often propagated by green cuttings. We harvest them during the flowering period of the plant, cutting off the tops of the shoots of the current year. This is the most efficient and convenient way. It can also be propagated by layering, offspring, dividing the bush and very rarely do it by seeds.

Why doesn't hydrangia bloom in the garden and the leaves turn yellow?

Not all gardeners, it turns out, achieve lush flowering. The main reasons why the bush gives leaves, but does not bloom:

• improperly chosen planting site (near large trees; where there is no wind protection);
• insufficient watering;
• incorrect trimming;
• freezing of shoots;
• underdeveloped root system;
• some varieties do not have time to bloom in the short summer season;
• on alkaline soil.

The main reasons why the leaves of a garden hydrangea dry and turn yellow:

• excessive watering;
• lack or excess of lighting;
• lack of fertilizers;
• highly acidic or vice versa alkaline soil pH;
• sudden changes in temperature, drafts;
• various pests and diseases.

At the first signs of a change in the color of the leaves, we urgently take measures to eliminate unfavorable causes.

Plant pests and control

To preserve the beauty of your garden, you need to learn, in a timely manner, to take measures to combat pests and plant diseases.

1. Often the hydrangea is damaged by aphids: we dilute 1 tablet of the Iskra preparation per 10 liters of water, the consumption of 1 liter of solution per 10 square meters. m. You can also fight with Fitoverm or Actellik.
2. The spider mite infects the leaves from the underside, covering them with violent cobwebs, causing them to turn yellow and marbled, then dry out and fall off. Spraying the leaves with thiophos 6 g per 10 liters of water helps.
3. Against powdery mildew we spray with the preparation "Topas" (4 ml) or "Skor", 2 ml per 10 liters of water. We consume 1 liter of solution per 10 sq. m. You can also use a solution of Bordeaux liquid.
4. With very alkaline soil, hydrangea suffers from chlorosis (the leaves turn light green, spots appear on them, and they begin to fall off, and the flower ovaries become smaller). The flower should be fed with iron vitriol, iron chelate or iron sulfate.

That's all for now, my dear flower growers. In this article, I tried to give practical tips and tricks, tested on my own experience. Share your wishes in the comments, your opinion is very important!

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