Types of hydrangea garden planting and outdoor care

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, characterized by 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 Fraze - 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 watering 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 procedure for feeding hydrangeas 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 the 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). In order 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 excessive 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 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 climbing hydrangea, plant a tree-like one along the paths, create a living fence using a paniculata.

Garden hydrangea care: video

Garden hydrangea: photo

Garden hydrangea is not a frequent visitor to our household plots. And it is completely in vain, because hydrangea flowers have a wide color palette, are unusual in their shape and can become a real decoration of a personal plot.

In this article, we will take a short excursion into the past in order to acquaint you with the history of the hydrangea flower, tell you about the types and varieties of hydrangeas, give some recommendations on planting and caring for a garden hydrangea, and, of course, provide an opportunity to enjoy the flowers of a garden hydrangea on Photo.

Hydrangea flowers in the garden

The nature of central Russia is not rich in flowering shrubs. This gap is filled by winter-hardy plants introduced from other places. Some of them (like lilacs, wrinkled roses) are so fond of and widespread in Russian gardens that one gets the feeling that they are our “native” plants. Others are undeservedly ignored and are still quite rare guests in the gardens. These include the flowers of the garden hydrangea, although it is difficult to find a shrub that would differ in such a duration of flowering in the second half of summer.

In addition, among the garden hydrangeas there are species that perfectly tolerate a temperate climate and are distinguished by their unpretentiousness in culture. Therefore, it is difficult to explain our “disfavor”. But the active selection of this culture, which gives us more and more diverse varieties, contributes to the fact that various types and varieties of hydrangeas in the gardens of the middle lane appear more and more often.

Garden hydrangea flowers: historical background

The Europeans got acquainted with the hydrangea at the end of the 18th century, when the participants of the first French round-the-world expedition brought the large-leaved hydrangea from the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. It got its name in honor of the beautiful princess Hortense, sister of Prince K.G. Nassau-Siegen, a member of the expedition. There is also a more romantic version that she was named by the French physician and naturalist F. Commerson in honor of the charming lover Hortense. However, there is also a completely prosaic explanation that the name comes from the Latin word hortensis, which means "from the garden", since the shrub was found in the garden of the governor of the island of Mauritius.

Later, botanists, referring the hydrangea to the genus Hydrangea, gave it the name Hydrangia, however, the old name was preserved in another name for this species - hydrangea. The plant received a new name for its moisture-loving nature. In Greek hydor is "water", angeion is "vessel", which gave Hydrangea.

Some authors associate the appearance of the word "vessel" in the title with the fact that the seed pods of the plant resemble a jug, others with the need to always have a vessel with water for abundant watering.

Types and varieties of hydrangeas in the photo

The genus of hydrangeas contains several dozen species (botanists still have no consensus on the number of species) and belongs to the family of the same name Hydrangeaceae.

Most species are shrubs with large leaves, less often they are small trees or vines.

As you can see in the photo, all types of hydrangea have flowers collected in large corymbose or paniculate inflorescences and are usually located at the ends of the shoots.

In most types of hydrangeas, the inflorescences contain two types of flowers: small, fertile (fertile) flowers and large sterile (sterile) flowers, which are usually located at the edge of the inflorescences. Most species are white or pink in color.

Description of panicle hydrangea and its photo

For gardening in central Russia, panicle and tree hydrangeas are of greatest interest. These hydrangeas are most often found in older gardens.

In recent years, the selection of panicle hydrangea (H. paniculata) has been quite active, and almost every year new varieties appear on the market. In the gardens of the Moscow region, its growth does not exceed 3-3.5 m. The description of the panicle hydrangea is similar to the description of the tree hydrangea, the main difference is in the shape of the inflorescences.

Wide-pyramidal panicle hydrangea inflorescences up to 20-25 cm long consist of small fertile flowers and large sterile ones.

Look above at the photo of panicle hydrangea - the color of the petals is white at first, then they turn pink, and by the end of flowering, greenish tones appear in their range. This sign of color change is more or less characteristic of all varieties. Large elliptical or ovoid leaves, slightly pubescent above and noticeably stronger below.

The species and varieties are distinguished by very long flowering. Early varieties bloom in June, most bloom in July.

But the most late-flowering hydrangea variety "Tardiva" ("Tardiva") should not be started, because it blooms in October, and simply does not have time to prove itself. It is worth noting that the variety Floribunda, which is very widespread in the West, is often found on sale under this name.

Hydrangea paniculata "Grandiflora"

Most often, the old hydrangea variety "Gmndiflom" ("Grandiflora"), or, as it is also called in the West, "Pee Gee" (from the abbreviation of the name Paniculata Grandiflora) is grown in the gardens. Hydrangea paniculata "Grandiflora" has large, dense inflorescences, consisting of sterile flowers.

Hydrangea paniculata "Limelight"

Hydrangea "Limelight" - the first variety with dense inflorescences of sterile flowers with a distinct greenish tint, turning pink by the end of the season.

Hydrangea paniculata "Limelight" reaches a height of 1.6-2 m. A reduced copy - "Little Lime" ("Little Lime") up to 1 m high.

Hydrangea paniculata "Pinky Vinky"

Hydrangea "Pinky Winky", syn. "DVPinky" ("Pinky-Winky"), has conical openwork inflorescences with a large number of sterile flowers that acquire a purple-pink color. Hydrangea paniculata "Pinky Vinki" reaches a height of 1.5-1.8 m.

Hydrangea paniculata "Phantom"

Hydrangea "Phantom" ("Phantom") is a large shrub up to 2.5 m high with a spreading crown and very large pyramidal creamy white inflorescences. By autumn, the inflorescences of hydrangea paniculata "Phantom" evenly turn pink.

Hydrangea paniculata "Vanilla freise"

Variety "Vanille Fraise" ("Vanilla Fraz") has a very dense, large conical inflorescence, quickly acquiring a pleasant strawberry-pink color. A real vanilla strawberry dessert. The bush is up to 2 m high. A reduced copy of the Vanilla Fraise panicle hydrangea variety is the Sundae Fraise variety, reaching a height of 1-1.2 meters.

Varieties of hydrangea paniculata

Now the market offers a large number of varieties of panicle hydrangea, differing in the density and color of the inflorescences, the height of the bushes, and the flowering period.

"Dharuma" ("Daruma") is probably the shortest variety. Small creamy openwork spherical-flattened inflorescences turn dark pink over time. The leaves also take on a reddish tone, complementing the red color of the shoots.

Hydrangea "Diamant Rouge" (Diamond Rouge) is distinguished by large dense inflorescences and very quickly emerging juicy red color. The plant is 1.5-1.8 m high.

Variety "Early Sensation", syn. "Bulk" ("Earle Sensation"), blooms very early in wide-conical openwork inflorescences. Fertile flowers quickly turn purple-pink, harmoniously complementing the dark purple shoots. By the fall, the leaves also take on a purple hue.

Great Star, syn. "Le Vasterival" ("Great Star") - a variety with very large white sterile flowers with elongated petals in the shape of a "propeller", soaring above the bulk of small fertile flowers. The height of the bush is up to 2 m.

"Kiyushu" ("Kiushu") is an old variety up to 2.5 m high, characterized by erect shoots and delicate inflorescences. It was not necessary to catch the described smell.

Hydrangea "White Lady" ("White Lady"). Long openwork inflorescences adorn a few large flowers with jagged edges of the petals. The flowers retain their white color for a long time. The height of the bush is up to 2 m.

The variety "Wim" s Red " ("Weems Red") - a beautifully shaped bush up to 2 m high with large openwork inflorescences covering it from the top to the ground. Blooms in June with white flowers, which then become deep pink and, finally, burgundy red.

Hydrangea tree and her photo

Another beauty, firmly enduring our climate, H. arborescens. This is a short shrub up to 1.5 m high with a neat rounded crown and slightly pubescent shoots. Hydrangea leaves are tree-like, large, ovoid or elliptical, serrated along the edge, with a heart-shaped notch at the base. The leaf is green above, bluish below.

As you can see in the photo, the hydrangea treelike has a corymbose inflorescence, consisting of small white fertile flowers and relatively large sterile ones. Blooms for a long time from the first half of July. In very harsh winters, it can freeze slightly.

Treelike hydrangea varieties: photos and descriptions

As in the case of Paniculata, in the gardens usually there is not a natural species, but a variety of hydrangea tree-like "Annabelle" ("Annabelle"), blooming with large (up to 25 cm in diameter) inflorescences of white sterile flowers.

The forms of this hydrangea "Gmndiflom" ("Grandiflora") and "Sterilis" ("Sterilis") with similar dense hemispherical inflorescences of sterile flowers.

Hayes Starburst, syn. "Double Annabelle" (Hayes Starburst) - the first variety of hydrangea tree-like with double flowers filling rounded inflorescences up to 25 cm in diameter. The flowers are greenish at first, then turn white. The bushes are low, thin shoots often do not withstand the severity of the inflorescences. The height of the bush is 0.8-1.2 m.

Incrediball, syn. Abetwo " ("Incrediboll"), - a variety that strikes the size of globular white inflorescences. The height of the bush is 1.2-1.5 m.

Sort "InvincibelleSpirit", syn. "Invincibelle" (InvincibelSpirit "), conquers with large pure pink inflorescences of sterile flowers. Over time, the flowers fade to a light pink color. The bush is 0.9-1.2 m high.

Variety "White Dome", syn. "Dardom" ("White House"), differs in large corymbose inflorescences with creamy white fertile middle and snow-white sterile marginal flowers. The plant is 1-1.4 m high.

In addition to these two species, other hydrangeas can also find a place in our gardens.

First of all, this is the city of Bretschneider (N. bretschneideri). Some botanists do not distinguish it as a separate species, but consider it a variety of ground cover (H. heteromalla). It is not as decorative as the species described above, but it has high winter hardiness. Reaches a height of 2.5-3 m and forms a lush dense bush with a wide-rounded crown with large dark green leaves. It blooms profusely from the end of July in wide umbellate inflorescences, consisting of small fertile flowers, which are adorned with white large sterile flowers along the edge, acquiring a purple-pink color by the end of flowering. Thanks to the juicy beautiful foliage and delicate dull inflorescences, the shrub is good for creating a background and in informal living hedges.

Hydrangea leaves and their photos

Hydrangea attracts not only with flowers, but also with beautiful juicy foliage. At the same time, there are plants that have especially decorative leaves. In g. Radiant (N.radiate) - sometimes it is described as a type of tree hydrangea - large foliage, dark green above and white-tomentose-pubescent below. If the plant is planted in a windy place, then it will be possible to observe the "overflow" of foliage colors. Blossoms from July with corymbose inflorescences with numerous white marginal sterile flowers. Hardy enough, but the root system should be covered, and the shoots should be bent to the ground. Then, in the event of freezing of the shoots, the plant will quickly recover. The variety "Samantha" ("Samantha") was bred with large leaves and a contrasting silvery reverse side.

Pay special attention to the photo of the leaves of the oak-leaved hydrangea (N. quercifolia). Unlike other species, its leaves are not whole, but lobed, resembling oak leaves, for which it received its specific name. In autumn, they take on a very beautiful reddish-purple color, adding to the charm of the bush. In addition, this species blooms with large beautiful paniculate inflorescences. Many decorative and flowering varieties of this hydrangea have been obtained, but it is not winter-hardy enough in our climate, and it is easier to get by with varieties of paniculata. But the species itself and especially varieties with decorative foliage can be used as decorative deciduous plants, growing them as perennials. In this case, it is enough to cover the root system before winter, and in the spring new shoots with beautiful foliage will grow.

Hydrangea variety "Burgundy" ("Burgundy") is distinguished by a particularly bright purple autumn color of the leaves, while "Little Honey" ("Little Honey") it attracts with golden yellow tones.

Stalked hydrangea and her photo

Having seen petiolate hydrangea, or g. Climbing (H. petiolaris = H. scandens) in the Baltic States, some gardeners try to grow it here too, forgetting that winters are milder in the Baltic States. In our climate, this species can be used either as a ground cover plant, or by removing it from supports before winter. Additional shelter will not hurt either, since in winters with little snow, shoots may suffer.

Look at the photo of petiolate hydrangea - this plant has large, corymbose, loose inflorescences, consisting of fertile flowers with marginal sterile flowers. A mass of aerial roots and suckers is formed on the shoots, with the help of which this hydrangea is able to climb up to 25 m in the south. Due to its large, heart-shaped, dark green leaves, when grown as a ground cover, it forms a dense green “blanket”.

Large-leaved hydrangea and her photo

Of course, the most beautiful and desirable is the large-leaved hydrangea, with which the story began. Unlike other ratenias, it strikes with a variety of colors, and not only in different colors: white, pink, red, purple, blue, violet, but also in their combinations.

As you can see in the photo of large-leaved hydrangea, this variety of colors is added to the variety of flower and inflorescence shapes.

However, its winter hardiness does not correspond to our frosts, and choosing a reliable shelter option is not an easy task. If the shoots are not covered well enough, then they will freeze, if they are covered tightly, but it will be wet, the shoots will trample. Covering too late or opening too early in spring will kill the flower buds. The most reliable option is when the hydrangea is grown in a greenhouse, then planted in open ground, transferred to the greenhouse again in the fall, and removed to the basement for the winter.

In recent years, new "winter-hardy" varieties have appeared, distinguished by remontant flowering.

These are the popular Endless Summer series, abbr. ES (Endless Samme), and Forever & Ever, abbr. FE (Foreve Eve). Sellers made them “hibernating without shelter”, since flower buds do not withstand frost, and shoots often freeze out. The main difference from the old varieties is that they can bloom again on the shoots of the current year. But this is for the 7-8th climatic zone.

If you want to have flowering on the shoots of last year, then the bush must be covered for the winter, and everything that was described above remains true for these varieties. If you still managed to save the shoots, and your hydrangea bloomed, then this does not mean that it will flourish a second time. In our zone, the season is shorter and the sum of positive temperatures is lower, so the plant may not have time to bloom a second time. For this to happen, it is necessary to create a greenhouse over the bush in the spring, so that the plant begins to vegetate earlier; cut off flowering shoots as early as possible; the bush should be planted in a sunny place and watered abundantly; carry out regular feeding and have a "warm" microclimate on your site. In this case, you may be able to achieve re-flowering.

Planting and caring for garden hydrangea

Plants are unpretentious, but it is better to choose open places or partial shade for planting garden hydrangeas (for colored varieties, a little shading is desirable at midday). The place should be well-drained, especially for insufficiently winter-hardy species.

When planting and caring for garden hydrangea, you do not have to worry about the special saturation of the soil with minerals, this plant is not demanding. However, it grows and blooms better on loose fertile moisture-absorbing soil with an acid reaction (pH about 5-6). Therefore, peat is necessarily introduced into the substrate.

Hydrangeas are calcephobes, which should be considered when choosing partner plants and using fertilizers. When the soil is alkalized or lime gets in, chlorosis develops in plants. As the name of the genus suggests, hydrangeas are demanding on soil moisture and prefer abundant watering, especially on hot sunny days.

When caring for garden hydrangea, the soil must be mulched to retain moisture. Planting is mulched before winter to cover the root system. To ensure the lush flowering of hydrangeas in the open field, regular feeding is necessary. In the spring, after pruning, nitrogen fertilizers are applied, later (in May-June) they are fed with a complex fertilizer that does not contain calcium and chlorine, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers are introduced into the budding phase, and at the end of August - potassium sulfate. It is good to use manure infusions with superphosphate as top dressing.

Growing hydrangeas requires pruning in the spring (April-May). The height of the bush can be adjusted to a certain extent by the degree of pruning. Without pruning, the bushes thicken, which is reflected in the abundance of flowering and the size of the inflorescences.

Insufficiently winter hardy species need winter shelter. The most reliable is pot culture, when the plants are harvested in the greenhouse in the fall and then transferred to the basement.

Today, a sufficient number of varieties have been bred so that you can choose a plant for your garden. Hydrangeas are grown not only singly or in groups, but also together with other plants. Due to its late flowering, it is indispensable for creating flower beds that delight us at the end of the season.

A flowering plant such as hydrangea (Hydrangea) is directly related to the hydrangea family. According to various sources, this genus unites 30–80 species of hydrangeas. Such plants are represented by compact trees, lianas and shrubs. Most of the types of hydrangeas grow in South, as well as East Asia (China, Japan), this plant can also be found in North America and the Far East. Such a plant was named after the princess of the Holy Roman Empire. Systematic scientists gave the plant the Latin name Hydrangea, which means "a vessel with water". The fact is that it is very hygrophilous. In Japan, this plant is called "adzisai", which means "flower - purple sun". Despite the large number of species, only garden hydrangea, or large-leaved, having a small size, are grown at home. Other species and varieties are grown exclusively in gardens.

Features of hydrangea

In the wild, hydrangea is represented by three-meter shrubs, not very large trees, as well as lianas, which can climb up tree trunks to a height of thirty meters. Also, such hydrangeas can be deciduous or evergreen (depending on the species). In middle latitudes, deciduous species are most preferred. Most often, such a plant has opposite leaves of a large size, they are oval in shape with a pointed tip at the top. The edge of the leaf blades is most often serrated, and venation is clearly visible on their surface. Hydrangea begins to bloom in the spring, and ends only after the onset of frost in the fall. The flowers are collected in large inflorescences, which can have a corymbose, spherical or paniculate shape. The inflorescences include 2 types of flowers. Some of them are small fertile (fertile), located, as a rule, in the middle of the inflorescence, while others are large sterile (sterile), which are located along the edge of the inflorescences. There are species with only one fertile flowers. Most hydrangeas have white flowers. However, there are species, for example, large-leaved or large-leaved hydrangea, which can have flowers of various colors: cream, white, blue, pink, red and lilac. At the same time, it is interesting that the pH of the soil affects the color of the flower. So, for example, if the substrate is neutral, then the flowers will be cream or beige, if alkaline, then pink or lilac, and on sour - blue, because the soil contains aluminum that is easily absorbed by hydrangea. The fruit of this flower is a box with 2–5 chambers containing small seeds. It happens that a flower belonging to a close genus schizophragmatic is mistakenly called a hydrangea, but you should know that petiolar hydrangea is nothing more than a schizophragma.

Growing hydrangea

How to properly grow hydrangea in the garden? Here are the basic rules:

1. Large-leaved hydrangea can have a different color of flowers. Moreover, their color does not depend on the variety, but on the pH of the soil. So, in acidic soil, the flowers are blue and blue, in neutral soil they are white and beige, and in alkaline soil they are lilac or pink. In order for the bush to be spectacular and colorful, experienced gardeners are advised to change the acidity separately for each flower.
2. This flower is very fond of moisture, in this regard, it must be watered not only abundantly, but also on time.
3. Direct rays of the sun are required. But it should be borne in mind that the flowers can fade under the influence of the scorching rays of the midday sun. In this regard, you need to choose a landing site where there is little shade at noon.
4. Also, the plant must be cut off in time.
5. You cannot apply a lot of organic fertilizers, because flowers may not appear on the overgrown bushes.
6. Hydrangea must be covered well for wintering, even those species that are considered frost-resistant. If any of the bushes freezes, then in most cases it will be able to fully recover during the period of intensive growth.
7. Very resistant to diseases and pests.

Planting hydrangeas

Growing from seeds

Seeds are usually very easy to propagate for species of hydrangea. Also, this breeding method is often used by breeders in their work. It is quite easy to grow such a flower from a seed, but it is a time-consuming method. You need to sow seeds in the autumn. To do this, you need to fill the container with a loose soil mixture rich in nutrients, which can be prepared by combining peat and leaf soil with river sand in a ratio of 2: 4: 1. Seeds sown on the surface of the substrate should be sprinkled with a thin layer of soil, and then watered with a spray bottle.Then the container must be covered from above with a transparent film or glass, while the shelter must be removed several times at knocks in order for the soil to be aired. It should also be taken into account that the soil should be slightly moist all the time. The optimum temperature is from 14 to 20 degrees. After the first seedlings appear, the shelter must be removed permanently. The pick must be done 2 times. The first time in the developmental stage of the cotyledons, and the second - in the first month of spring. At the same time, when diving a plant for the second time, you need to take small pots for each of them (diameter 7 centimeters). After you transplant young plants a second time, you need to start hardening them. To do this, flowers are taken out into the street in the summer and a place is chosen for them, which is protected from direct sunlight, gusts of wind, drafts and precipitation. In the evening, the hydrangeas are returned to the room. For 2 years, the hydrangea must be grown indoors, and in the winter it is kept in a fairly cool and lighted room, and in the summer it is transferred to the street. In this case, it is imperative to cut off all the buds, since they will take a lot of energy from a still young plant.

Hydrangea seedlings

After 2 years, at the very beginning of the spring period (in areas with a cold climate - in the autumn), the grown flowers are transplanted into open soil, immediately to a permanent place. When choosing a suitable place, do not forget that all species are photophilous and need direct sunlight. However, there are several species (groundcover, Sargent, rough and tree) that thrive in partial shade. The soil should be loose, enriched with organic matter, neutral or slightly acidic. Alkaline soil can be acidified by taking high-moor peat or Acid Plus acidifier. It is not recommended to plant trees or shrubs with a superficial root system next to these flowers, since after some time these plants will fight each other for water and nutrients.

The first step is to dig a hole, while its size should be 2 times the volume of the root system of the seedling together with the pulled out lump of earth. Then organic and mineral fertilizers, as well as peat, must be added to the hole, which should be mixed with the ground. Then the sapling taken out together with a lump of earth must be thoroughly shaken off from the soil and the roots should be aligned. Then it is lowered into a hole, which is covered with a mixture of compost and soil. In this case, it is necessary for the root system to rise quite a bit above the soil surface. Then the soil should be compacted, water the bush and fill the area with mulch (bark or needles).

Outdoor Hydrangea Care

Basic rules of care

It is not difficult to care for such a plant grown outdoors, but it must be done correctly. Proper watering is of great importance for the normal development of hydrangea. So, in hot weather it needs to be watered 2 times in 7 days, while 3-5 ten-liter buckets of lukewarm and always settled water should be poured onto 1 adult bush. In the event that there is mulch in the form of peat on the site, then watering can be reduced.

In order for the roots to receive more oxygen, it is necessary to loosen the soil surface around the plant several times a season to a depth of about 5 centimeters. You also need to promptly cut off those stems that have already faded.

Fertilizing hydrangea

In order to achieve the most abundant flowering, you need to feed such a flower at least 2 times a year. This must be done before the plant begins to bloom and after it has faded. At the very beginning of the spring period, a urea solution (2 g per 1 liter of water) is used to feed hydrangeas. In this case, 1 bush will need 30 liters of this solution. When the plant has faded, a complex mineral fertilizer should be used to feed it.During the summer period, experts advise using slurry as top dressing. However, do not overdo it, because overfed hydrangeas have very large inflorescences that can break rather fragile branches. To avoid this, you can tie up a bush.

Pruning hydrangea

Should be cut off those bushes that are older than 3-4 years. Species blooming on the stems of the current year should be cut off at the very beginning of the spring period, before the buds begin to open, and also before the start of sap flow, otherwise the plant may drain out of juice, which will lead to its death. However, after pruning done very early, cuttings should not be rooted. In this regard, pruning should be done at a time when the buds begin to look alive and swell a little. The tree hydrangea is the very first to wake up, so it must be cut off first. Very long stems are cut off at a height of 3-4 buds. After that, the resulting twig can be divided into cuttings. Panicle hydrangea requires more careful pruning. So, last year's stems must be shortened by 1/3 part, however, viable cuttings are obtained from such segments. Large-leaved hydrangea does not need to be heavily pruned. So, in spring, only every 4th stem is cut off, especially if it grows inside the bush. And also it is necessary to remove dried and damaged branches.

Propagation of hydrangea by cuttings

After pruning the hydrangea, you will have a large number of stems that can be cut into cuttings. Each of the cuttings should have 2 nodes. In this case, the cut above the node located at the top should be straight, and under the one below it should be oblique. In this case, 2-3 centimeters should be retreated from the knot, and then a cut should be made. Fill the greenhouse container with a mixture of peat and sand and stick the stalk to a depth of 3 centimeters, while watering it well. After that, cover the greenhouse from above with a plastic wrap "house". The cuttings must be systematically moistened with a spray bottle so that the soil is always slightly moist. After complete rooting, the cuttings should be planted in open soil in a permanent place. They should have time to get stronger before winter.

Hydrangea after flowering

A faded plant must be prepared for wintering. Seedlings that are grown in containers must be moved indoors. For flowers growing in open ground, you need to cut off wilted flowers, because when wet from rain and snow, they will become very heavy and can break branches. And it will also be necessary to spud the base of the bushes high enough, cover the soil surface around them with a layer of mulch, which will help protect the root system from freezing. The most frost-resistant species are ground cover and paniculate. The stems of such plants are completely lignified before the onset of the autumn period, which helps them to more easily endure frosts, even if they are not covered (when grown in areas with mild winters). Also, you can not cover the tree hydrangea for the winter.

Hydrangea wintering

Preparing hydrangeas for winter

A rather warm and snowy winter period allows even species that love warmth (serrated and large-leaved hydrangea) to winter without shelter. However, it should be borne in mind that winter will be frosty or warm, no one knows exactly how and how much snow will fall. It is better to play it safe and, despite the fact that forecasters promise a warm winter, prepare the plants for wintering properly. Because if the forecast of weather forecasters is incorrect, then plants unprepared for wintering may die.

What is the best time to cover this flower and how to do it? As a rule, this procedure is carried out in October, after the first frosts have passed. If the bushes are young, then they should be covered to the top with dry soil. The grown bushes must be pressed to the soil surface and covered with roofing material or lutrasil.They must be fixed with bricks, since such a shelter can be blown away by the wind. More mature bushes will require more energy. The bush must be carefully tied and then covered with spunbond or lutrasil. After that, a metal mesh frame should be created around the bush, which should have a cylindrical shape. In this case, the walls of the structure should be 20-25 centimeters away from the bush, and they should also rise 10 centimeters above it. Empty space in the structure should be filled with dry leaves. In spring (in April) the net with leaves can be removed, but the spunbond is removed only after the threat of frost has passed.

Hydrangea in winter

You yourself can decide whether to cover these flowers for you or not. The options above are ideal for a frosty winter with poor snow cover. In the event that in the place where you live a very mild winter, then covering the hydrangea can be quite easy. And if you have winter-hardy species, then they can not be covered at all. However, if the winters where you live are often frosty, then it is better to take care of a shelter for the hydrangea in the autumn, and then you will definitely be sure that it can survive even severe frosts.

Types of hydrangea photos and names

If you are thinking about decorating your garden with hydrangea, then first of all you should pay attention to the features of the various types of this plant. Then you can choose exactly the types that will best suit your garden. It is also important to know how each species needs to be looked after. For example, a tree-like or large-leaved hydrangea must be prepared for wintering and cut in a slightly different way than panicle hydrangea. If you know a lot about the rules for caring for such plants, then caring for them will not be difficult.

Hydrangea tree (Hydrangea arborescens)

This variety is very popular among gardeners living in mid-latitudes. This plant is presented in the form of shrubs. Its height can vary from 100 to 300 centimeters. Inflorescences grow on the tops of annual stems. When the flowers are just beginning to open, they have a light green color, after their full disclosure, they change their color to cream or white. The most popular varieties are: "Invizible Spirit" - flowers have a pink color; "Sterilis" - inflorescences are white, while this plant blooms very profusely; "Annabelle" and "Grandiflora" - have very large inflorescences, painted in a pure white color (note that panicle hydrangea has varieties with exactly the same names).

Hydrangea paniculata (Hydrangea paniculata)

Under natural conditions, such a plant has the shape of a tree or a shrub, the height of which can vary from 2 to 5 m. This species is considered one of the most popular among gardeners. Without a transplant in the same place, this type of hydrangea is able to grow and develop normally for more than 40 years. The stems of this plant are lignified in a relatively short time, which is why it is considered winter-hardy. The inflorescences grow in the upper parts of the stems of this year, while the flowering is distinguished by its abundance. However, the buds formed in the last days of June open only in August or September. The inflorescences of this type of flowers have a pyramidal shape. When only the flowers begin to open, they have a pale green color, and after full disclosure, they turn white. At the end of the summer period, they turn light pink, and then brick. When the flowering period begins to end, the flowers turn light green again. The most popular varieties are Grandiflora, Quishu, Vanilla Freise and Tardiva.

Large-leaved hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)

Or garden - it is often cultivated in the garden.However, individual varieties can be grown in containers indoors or on the terrace. Dense leaves have a rich green color. This year's stems are herbaceous, which is why the bush is not very cold-resistant. It is believed that inflorescences appear on the stems of last year, since the buds for their growth are laid in the autumn, and they begin to grow in the spring. As a rule, the inflorescences have a viburnum-shaped, umbellate shape, it is also called hemispherical or Japanese. The color of the flowers depends on the pH of the soil. Recently appeared interesting varieties: "Endless Summer" - in acidic soil - blue color, in neutral - lilac; Renata Steinger - blue; "Expression" and "Romance" - have double flowers.

Hydrangea oakleaf (Hydrangea quercifolia)

It has low frost resistance and needs good insulation for the winter. It blooms very luxuriantly and has unusually attractive leaves. It has a height of about 2 m. The length of paniculate inflorescences is from 10 to 30 centimeters. Flowering begins in June – July, while the flowers are white at the beginning, and then turn purple.

Ground cover hydrangea (Hydrangea heteromalla)

Or hydrangea with different pubescence - a winter-hardy species. Under natural conditions, it can reach a height of 200-300 centimeters. Often used to form a standard form. The length of the dark green leaves is about 20 centimeters. Their front side is smooth, and the seamy side has pubescence. Loose corymbose inflorescences are initially white, and then turn pink at the end of flowering. Flowering begins in the last days of June or the first days of July. The most popular ground cover variety Bretschneider, which blooms profusely with rather large inflorescences of a milky white color.

Also, gardeners grow hydrangeas: ash, serrate, radiant, rough, Sargent. They also grow a climbing type of petiolate hydrangea, but as mentioned above, this is not a hydrangea.

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 a different shade. 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. It 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 lighting 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:

• In 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, the transplant is justified if an adult bush needs to be divided into parts and transplanted 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 the sudden 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 a 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 characteristics. Similar requirements for moisture, lighting and soil acidity in astilbe, 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 they can be grown by anyone.