Hydrangea garden planting and outdoor care in St. Petersburg

hydrangea garden planting and outdoor care in St. PetersburgHydrangea is a beautiful garden flower with fluffy multi-colored caps. They are represented by several types: by the type of shrubs up to 3 m high, small trees and vines, which can braid a tree up to 30 m in height. The hydrangea will bloom from spring to frost, delighting with its globular inflorescences. However, there are species for which this time is shorter.

Hydrangea planting rules

hydrangea garden planting and outdoor care in St. PetersburgYou can plant a hydrangea in early spring or fall. In this case, the first option will be preferable. For hydrangeas, you need to choose the right landing site. She prefers acidic soil with good moisture. With regard to lighting, these flowers can feel comfortable both in the sun and in partial shade.

The whole planting process can be divided into several stages:

  1. It is necessary to dig a hole 40-50 cm deep and 40 cm in diameter. If the hydrangea bushes or outgrowths are small, you can make the hydrangea slightly smaller.hydrangea garden planting and outdoor care in St. Petersburg
  2. Now you need to prepare a soil mixture consisting of fertile soil, humus and peat. It is advisable to add 50 g of mineral fertilizer to it. If possible, such a mixture is left in the pit for 15 to 30 days. If the soil at the planting site is rich and fertile, then the plant can be planted directly into it without prior preparation.
  3. The prepared seedling must be placed in the center of the planting pit so that its root collar is not deeply buried. Around the plant, you should carefully cover it with soil and tamp it so that the roots are well pressed and there is no void around them.hydrangea garden planting and outdoor care in St. Petersburg
  4. The planted bush should be watered abundantly. It is advisable to additionally sprinkle the soil on top with sawdust, bark or peat.hydrangea garden planting and outdoor care in St. Petersburg

After planting a hydrangea bush, it is better to cover it from sunlight for a few days. This will allow the plant to take root faster. Hydrangea can be planted both singly and in groups. In this case, the distance between the bushes should be about 1 meter.

Basic rules for caring for hydrangea

Hydrangea care comes down primarily to proper watering, timely feeding, pruning and loosening. If you do everything right, the bushes will be lush, and the inflorescences will be large and bright.

Watering

hydrangea garden planting and outdoor care in St. PetersburgHydrangea is a moisture-loving plant that requires frequent watering. It should be plentiful, 15 - 20 liters for each adult bush. In hot weather, this should be done once a week. In hot and dry summers, watering can be increased up to twice a week. In this case, you need to focus on the condition of the soil, given how quickly it absorbs moisture and dries out.

For watering, it is best to use settled soft water at room temperature. Periodically, you need to add a little potassium permanganate to it, which will prevent the appearance of rot. Water the hydrangea in the morning or evening, when it is not too hot.

Top dressing

hydrangea garden planting and outdoor care in St. PetersburgFor good development and lush flowering, hydrangea needs to be fed.For this, both organic and mineral fertilizers are suitable. Their use is especially important during periods of intensive growth. You can buy ready-made fertilizers that are rich in magnesium and iron. Feeding in the form of a solution of poultry droppings with water in a ratio of 1:10 in combination with a mineral composition of 20 g of superphosphate, 10 g of nitrate and 10 g of urea has a good composition. You can use any slurry as a fertilizer, just observe the measure, otherwise the buds will be too large, which can cause fragile branches to break.

hydrangea garden planting and outdoor care in St. PetersburgIt is necessary to fertilize hydrangea not only during planting, but periodically as it grows. The first such feeding should be done at the end of May. It should be repeated after two weeks. You can fertilize flowers throughout the summer, but in August it is advisable to stop feeding so that the shoots can become woody for winter.

Mulching

hydrangea garden planting and outdoor care in St. PetersburgThanks to the mulching of the trunk circle, the roots of the hydrangea will be protected from overheating and rapid growth of weeds. You must first make an organic mulch, consisting of wood chips or peat. It should be scattered evenly around the bush. This will help make the soil more acidic, which is what hydrangeas need. This mulch will gradually become part of the soil.

It is best to apply mulch under the bushes in late spring, when the soil is well warmed up. Mulching is also possible in late autumn, when temperatures are below zero. Periodically, the shrubs need to be loosened so that the soil is more moisture permeable.

Pruning

hydrangea garden planting and outdoor care in St. PetersburgPruning is done on plants that are 3 to 4 years old. This should be done in early spring - before sap flow and budding begin. If done too early, the cuttings will be unsuitable for further rooting, and if it is too late, the plant may die. This is why it is important to prune when the buds are just starting to swell.

When pruning in mature plants, cut 3/4 of the height of each shoot with a pruning shear. In this case, 2 - 3 pairs of kidneys should remain on them. Old bushes can be renewed at the root. Everything will depend on the condition of the bush or tree. You need to cut off old or frozen shoots. During pruning, you can form a beautiful small tree with a certain shape. In the first year of the hydrangea's growth, its flowers should be removed. this will encourage more abundant flowering next year.

Preparing hydrangeas for winter

hydrangea garden planting and outdoor care in St. PetersburgHydrangea is a thermophilic plant, so it must be protected in the winter season. Young shoots and insufficiently winter-hardy varieties need special protection. If the bush is very young, you can simply cover it from above with earth, fallen leaves or sawdust. Older plants must be bent to the ground and covered with roofing material or lutrasil. To prevent the wind from blowing it away, you need to press down the covering material with bricks.

Mature bushes require more cover. We must try not to break them. The bush should be tied up, and then covered with spunbond or lutrasil, after which a frame can be built around it from a metal mesh or other materials at hand. It should be about 20-25 cm away from the bush. The free space must be filled with dry foliage. Such an insulated frame will protect the hydrangea well even in severe frosts. You can remove it in the spring, when there is a stable above zero temperature.

Reproduction of hydrangea

Hydrangea is propagated in several ways:

  1. Cuttings. Reproduction in this way is best done in mid-spring or early summer. One-year lateral shoots must be used as blanks. They should be about 10-12 cm long. Cuttings should be cut at right angles. From below they need to remove the leaves.hydrangea garden planting and outdoor care in St. Petersburg To root the cuttings, you need to prepare the soil. For this, a light substrate is used, consisting of fertile soil, peat and sand. hydrangea garden planting and outdoor care in St. PetersburgYou need to plant cuttings in it, placing them at an angle.Each individual plant should be 5 cm apart. It will take about a month to root the shoots.hydrangea garden planting and outdoor care in St. Petersburg
  2. By dividing the bush. It can be propagated both in spring and autumn. To do this, the plant must be dug up and divided into several parts so that each individual bush has a bud of renewal. After that, the plant is simply planted in the prepared places.hydrangea garden planting and outdoor care in St. Petersburg
  3. Layers. For the propagation of hydrangeas by layering, you need to select young shoots, which will not be more than a year old. They should be bent to the ground and dug in so that a small top of 20 cm remains on top. The next year, the shoot will take root and it can be separated from the main bush and planted in another place.hydrangea garden planting and outdoor care in St. Petersburg
  4. Seeds. This is a rather troublesome process, so this breeding method is rarely used. The seeds need to be grown at home. To do this, they are planted in pots and only lightly sprinkled with sand. They need to be watered and fertilized frequently as they grow.hydrangea garden planting and outdoor care in St. Petersburg

Popular types of hydrangea

Before planting a hydrangea, you need to decide on the choice of a suitable type. Each of them has its own growing characteristics that must be taken into account when planting and caring for. The most popular among gardeners: Large-leaved Hydrangea, Panicle Hydrangea, Petiole Hydrangea, Treelike Hydrangea.

Large-leaved hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)

hydrangea garden planting and outdoor care in St. PetersburgIt will delight with flowering in July-August. This hydrangea has bright, dense foliage. The shoots of the current year look herbaceous, which is why the plant has a low cold resistance. Flowers have an umbrella shape. They can have different colors depending on the variety, the intensity of which depends on the acidity of the soil. The more acidic it is, the brighter the hydrangea will be. The height of the bush reaches up to 2 m.

Hydrangea paniculata (Hydrangea paniculata)

hydrangea garden planting and outdoor care in St. PetersburgIt blooms from mid-summer until the onset of cold weather. Inflorescences of this type have a pyramidal shape. They can reach a length of up to 30 cm. Panicle hydrangea grows as a shrub, which can reach a height of 5 m or as a small tree up to 10 m. This species is considered more frost-resistant and unpretentious.

Stalked hydrangea (Hydrangea petiolaris)

hydrangea garden planting and outdoor care in St. PetersburgIt is a shrub vine. It will require an additional support to which it will be attached with air suction cups. In length, it grows up to 25 m. This is a suitable species for planting near arches and arbors. Inflorescences have a corymbose shape up to 25 cm in size.

Hydrangea tree (Hydrangea arborescens)

hydrangea garden planting and outdoor care in St. PetersburgIt grows up to 3 meters in height. The flowers are predominantly white or cream in color. There are several varieties of this species, differing in different colors. In winter, the plant can freeze slightly, so it must be carefully wrapped. In April, the bushes need to be heavily pruned. The flowers grow in large fluffy inflorescences.

Ground cover hydrangea (Hydrangea heteromalla)

hydrangea garden planting and outdoor care in St. PetersburgIt is also called the Bretschneider hydrangea. This species is considered hardy and unpretentious. The bush reaches 2 - 3 m in height. The inflorescences are corymbose. At first they are white, and at the end of flowering they turn pink. Such a hydrangea blooms in the middle of summer.

Recommendations for planting and caring for hydrangea in the garden - video

hydrangea garden planting and outdoor care in St. PetersburgDo 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.

hydrangea garden planting and outdoor care in St. Petersburg

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;

hydrangea garden planting and outdoor care in St. Petersburg

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;

hydrangea garden planting and outdoor care in St. Petersburg

"Anabel"

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

hydrangea garden planting and outdoor care in St. Petersburg

"Grandiflora"

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

hydrangea garden planting and outdoor care in St. Petersburg

"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.

hydrangea garden planting and outdoor care in St. Petersburg

"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;

hydrangea garden planting and outdoor care in St. Petersburg

Vanilla Fries

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

hydrangea garden planting and outdoor care in St. Petersburg

"Limelight"

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

hydrangea garden planting and outdoor care in St. Petersburg

"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).

hydrangea garden planting and outdoor care in St. Petersburg

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.

hydrangea garden planting and outdoor care in St. Petersburg

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 garden planting and outdoor care in St. Petersburg

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.

hydrangea garden planting and outdoor care in St. Petersburg

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.

hydrangea garden planting and outdoor care in St. Petersburg

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 garden planting and outdoor care in St. Petersburg

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 garden planting and outdoor care in St. Petersburg

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 garden planting and outdoor care in St. Petersburg

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.
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 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 garden planting and outdoor care in St. Petersburg

hydrangea garden planting and outdoor care in St. Petersburg

hydrangea garden planting and outdoor care in St. Petersburg

hydrangea garden planting and outdoor care in St. Petersburg

hydrangea garden planting and outdoor care in St. Petersburg

hydrangea garden planting and outdoor care in St. Petersburg

hydrangea garden planting and outdoor care in St. Petersburg

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

Site selection and soil preparation

When to plant a hydrangea? The best time for planting is spring, the moment when the earth 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.

Some types of hydrangeas can be grown in open, sunny areas, but abundant watering is required. It is advisable to protect young shrubs from the bright sun and strong winds. It is not recommended to be placed under trees that strongly absorb water.

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.

Planting hydrangeas outdoors

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

hydrangea garden planting and outdoor care in St. Petersburg

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

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

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

Top dressing and mulching as the basis of care

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

Mulch will decompose over time and become part of the soil, slightly acidifying it. Mulch is best laid in late spring, when the ground is already well warmed up but still damp.

hydrangea garden planting and outdoor care in St. Petersburg watering hydrangea - pictured

So that the shrub grows well and pleases with abundant flowering, the garden hydrangea is fertilized when planting, then in the spring in the third decade of May or in early summer - early June. Use a solution of mullein or chicken droppings diluted 1:10 with water. Do not forget to fertilize with a complex of mineral fertilizers or add at least the most basic components - 20 grams of superphosphate, 10 grams of potassium nitrate and urea each. Subsequent feeding of hydrangea is carried out with an interval of 17-20 days and ends at the end of July, so that the young shoots have time to woody by the winter period.

For strong and flexible shoots, an ornamental shrub is watered with a solution of potassium permanganate of a weak pink color. In addition, garden stores sell special fertilizers for hydrangeas, which include magnesium and iron, which the plant needs.

hydrangea garden planting and outdoor care in St. Petersburg mulching hydrangea with wood chips - pictured

Panicle hydrangea, large-leaved and ground cover are predominantly pinkish, creamy colors that can be changed if desired. The color of the hydrangea is directly related to the acidity of the soil. If the soil is slightly alkaline, then the flowering will be pink and crimson; on acidic soils, the hydrangea blooms with blue flowers.

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

Pruning hydrangeas - continue to groom

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

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

hydrangea garden planting and outdoor care in St. Petersburg autumn pruning hydrangea - pictured

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

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

Gotense: related photos

In our climate, two types of hydrangeas have shown themselves perfectly: tree-like (H. arborescens) with flowering white caps and paniculate (H. paniculata) - with pyramidal inflorescences drooping and turning pink by autumn.

hydrangea garden planting and outdoor care in St. Petersburg

Hydrangeatree-like (Harborescens

hydrangea garden planting and outdoor care in St. Petersburg

Hydrangeapaniculate (Hpaniculata)

Both of them grow in my garden and are invariably the object of admiration of the guests. Hydrangeas love water, slightly acidic soil, grow well in the sun and in partial shade. Decorativeness will depend on the fertility of the soil: the size and number of inflorescences, the height and spreading of the bush. Flowering occurs on the shoots of the current year, even if the bush freezes over during severe frosts, it will still grow and flourish in the same year. Pruning of hydrangeas is always done in the spring, leaving dry inflorescences on the bushes in winter, they cover the leaf buds at the ends of the shoots. In the spring, once every 5–7 years, shrubs can be divided, having received quite a lot of planting material. Hydrangeas are also excellent cuttings and propagate by layering. Mature shrubs build up a fairly heavy mass, especially during the flowering period. At this point, you need to prepare in advance by building a circular support from a thin bar on racks, or buy ready-made metal "one-legged" supports. A garter to a stake is very ineffective: the bush ceases to be spreadingly symmetrical, falls on one side, and flowering caps fall into a heap.

Hydrangeas are good both in solitary plantings and in mixborders with shrub roses, gray spirea, perennials. For wet areas, this is perhaps one of the best shrubs along with black elderberry and turf.
There are other types of hydrangeas, from bush it isLarge-leaved hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla), but it is very unstable in our region, blooms on last year's shoots and does not bloom at all if wintering is unsuccessful. True, there are loyal fans of this magnificent bush and work wonders. Moreover, modern varieties, as the suppliers assure, bloom on young shoots.
Varieties of tree hydrangea:

"Annabelle" with large, up to 20 cm in diameter, white globular inflorescences. Young bushes should be tied up, since under the weight of the inflorescences the shoots are inclined to the very ground. Leaves retain their green color in autumn.

"Sterilis" with exceptionally abundant and long flowering. Inflorescences are dense, hemispherical, branches bend with their weight. They consist of sterile flowers that turn from whitish-green to pure white and do not turn pink. Blooms from July to October.

"Invincibelle Spirit" - 2010 Young inflorescences consist of small, dirty red buds and do not seem to bode well. However, when the buds open, it turns out that the inside of the petals are painted in a bright pink color, which eventually turns into an amazing pale pink with gleams of light green. The inflorescence becomes large, dense, attracting everyone's attention.

Hayes Starburst a new hardy variety from the famous hydrangea "Annabelle". Amazing hydrangea with double-colored double flowers, collected in inflorescences up to 25 cm in diameter. It blooms much longer than "Annabell", due to the appearance of new petals in the center of the flower. Flowering time July-October. The height of the bush is 1.5 m, the width is 1.5 m.
Varieties of panicle hydrangea:

"Grandiflora" - the most beautiful and winter-hardy variety with cone-shaped creamy inflorescences. Flowering lasts at least two months, and during the entire period the flowers change their color several times, acquiring red and brown shades in the fall.

"Pink Diamond" in summer it is decorated with large pinkish inflorescences, which acquire a bright pink color in autumn, retaining their color even in winter.

"Kyushu" - a spectacular shrub with long, loose inflorescences. The flowers are pure white with a pleasant scent.

"Sundae Fraise"(height 100-120 cm). This hydrangea is exceptional for its size, perfect for small gardens. Height 1-1.3 m., Width 1-1.2 m. Its red-burgundy tough shoots perfectly hold numerous brushes of flowers of various colors (starting from white at the beginning of flowering and gradually changing color to pink-lilac).

"Vanille Fraise" (height 150-170 cm). The inflorescences are huge, the flowers are first creamy white, then turn pink, by the end of flowering they become dark red, the shades depend on the place, weather conditions and soil, blooms in July-September, the bush is upright, 150 cm high and wide, requires a sunny or semi-shady place and wet soil.

"Limelight" - differs in dense inflorescences of sterile flowers with a distinct greenish tint, turning pink by autumn. Shrub more than 1-1.5 meters high with a rounded crown. In severe winters, young plants freeze to the level of snow cover; with age, winter hardiness increases. Prefers moist, fertile, light, acidic soils. Does not tolerate lime in the soil. Landing in sunny, wind-protected places. Winter shelter for young plants.

"Great Star" - height 2 m, width can reach 3 m, fast growing. The flowers consist of two types: large ones with elongated "propeller-shaped" petals, about 5 cm in diameter, and small, fertile, white, odorless flowers. Blooms from July to September.

Early Sensation- a special type of hydrangea that blooms even in cold regions. Inflorescences are large racemose composed of pink flowers. Prefers slightly acidic and neutral substrates. For abundant flowering, it is necessary to shorten the shoots by 2/3 annually.

"Magiсal Flame" - an amazingly beautiful variety! The inflorescences are conical, 12x10 cm in size, at first creamy white, then burgundy red and purple-pink at the end of flowering. Sterile flowers 3.2 cm in diameter. The bushes are compact, 90-120 cm high, 130 cm wide. Blossoms in July-August.

Growing hydrangeas in the northwest

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