Hydrangea endless summer planting care

Transplant after purchase in open ground

Hydrangea Summer Love (Summer Love) - description

Transplanting hydrangeas is best done on a cool day or just before the rain. The weather should be calm when the sun is not very bright. The best time to plant is April-May or October.

Plant transplant

What is needed for landing

Before planting hydrangeas in open ground, it is necessary to carry out a number of mandatory procedures that will reduce the risk of complications. It will also help to increase the survival rate of the bushes.

Dig up the planting area, remove all weeds and roots from other plants.
If possible, choose the most mature seedlings with closed roots in the nursery, which have been planted in a mixture of peat, sand and sawdust.
Prepare a place for the bush, gradually digging up the soil and adding peat, turf, sand and humus to it in a ratio of 1: 1: 1: 1.
Dig small holes with a diameter and depth of 50 cm, on the bottom of which put gravel, crushed stone or crumbled brick in order to prevent excessive moisture.
Cover the soil with plenty of water.

For your information! Experienced gardeners recommend adding mineral and organic fertilizers to the planted holes before planting, which contribute to the more efficient formation of flower buds.

Choosing the best place

The choice of a place when planting a large-leaved hydrangea of the Endless Summer variety plays a particularly important role. Not only the health and appearance of the shrub itself depend on this, but also the ability to survive in the cold season.

Basic recommendations for choosing:

Lighting. Since any large-leaved hydrangea variety is photophilous, it is necessary to plant the plant in well-sanctified areas. It is also impossible to choose a territory completely without shade, since the shrub will suffer from overdrying. The ideal solution is to plant in the soil near a low tree, the shadow of which covers the flower for 6-8 hours a day.
Temperature. Planting a large-leaved hydrangea is possible only in warmed-up soil. At the same time, the plant also does not tolerate heat and requires timely shelter. The most favorable temperature in spring is 10-15 ° C.
Humidity. Young seedlings should be protected in advance from excessively strong winds or frost. The plant likes well-ventilated places in which the air circulates in a free flow. However, it is not worth planting a hydrangea in a draft; the best option is to plant it near the fence or along the facade.
Priming. The shrubs of the plant germinate well in soil with low to medium acidity (pH 5-5.5). It must be remembered that the soil should not be calcareous, otherwise the root system will often hurt or even die.

Since the color of the flowers also depends on the level of acidity of the soil, special attention should also be paid to this when choosing a place for planting. Therefore, if the inflorescences have grown of a different color than expected, there is no need to panic.

Step-by-step planting process

The next step after preparing and choosing a site is to directly plant the plant in the already prepared soil.

Planting process

To do this, you need to follow the step-by-step recommendations:

Clear the trunk and root system of the seedlings.
Place the roots in the hole, gently spreading them out with your palms.
Make sure that the root collar remains flush with the ground.
Cover the roots with soil and tamp the resulting hill with your hands.
Water each shrub with 18-20 liters of water.
Mulch with sawdust, conifers or pine bark to a height of 7-8 cm.

Note! Immediately after planting, it is recommended to add organic fertilizers and make sure that the seedlings do not bend

Origin and appearance

According to popular belief, the Endless Summer hydrangea was developed in 2003 in Minnesota, USA. In reality, work on selection began much earlier - at the end of the 20th century. It was then, in the winter of 1982, that breeders discovered the relationship between frost and germination of some species.

Origin and appearance

Hydrangea Macrophylla is the official name for the large-leaved hydrangea. The tall species can reach up to 2-3 m in height with a maximum crown width of 100 cm. The plant is characterized by dark green elliptical leaves with a toothed structure, which can grow up to 15 cm in length.

Despite the fact that the homeland of the species is the United States, Endless Summer has become widespread in Russia, which is primarily due to its unpretentiousness to growth conditions and the presence of beautiful inflorescences.

Flowering description

Before the flowering of a large-leaved hydrangea of the type Endless Summer, the petals of the inflorescences are collected in small shields with a diameter of 10 to 15 cm.Around the bud there are large sterile pink flowers, reaching no more than 2-3 cm.

Hydrangea inflorescences are characterized by a large spherical shape, which, after opening the main bud, increase to 20 cm in diameter. Mostly flower hats are composed of light blue, pink or red flowers.

For your information! The color of the inflorescences depends entirely on the acidity of the soil. So, a pH below 7 tends to give a blue tint to the petals, while a pH level is closer to pink. This feature is due to the presence of aluminum ionium elements, which can get into flower pigments. This makes it easy to adjust the color change.

The distinctive features of the species also include the possibility of re-flowering on last year's shoots, which occurs due to the formation of new buds every 40-50 days. In addition, the flowers are resistant to powdery mildew.

How to plant the Eternal Summer hydrangea correctly

Having chosen a suitable place for your seedling that meets all of the above criteria, you need to do the following:

carefully dig up the area on which the hydrangea will grow, removing all weeds from there, if possible;
add organic components to the soil - peat, compost, sod soil, humus;
dig a hole depending on the size of the seedling, however, in any case, it is necessary that the roots of the hydrangea fit freely there, it is highly undesirable to twist and crumple them;
small stones should be poured at the bottom of the seedling pit - this will exclude the possibility of stagnant water, the so-called "drainage" is very important for hydrangeas;
the hole must be properly shed with water in order to plant the bush in wet soil;
after that, you need to place the roots in the pit, gently straightening them, after which they need to be covered with a nutrient mixture, lightly tamped and slightly moistened from above, mulching the soil;
during the first weeks after this, it is imperative to control so that the soil in which the seedling grows does not dry out. Mulching the ground over the roots of the seedling will help keep this risk to a minimum.

How to take care of it properly?

Caring for the Everlasting Summer hydrangea is pretty simple. First of all, the bush must be periodically watered with clean soft water. Especially soil moisture is important for young, recently planted specimens. Mature plants need two buckets of liquid per week.

You need to feed the plant no more than twice a month. It is advisable to alternate mineral compositions with organic ones. Complex preparations should be rich in potassium. Good for hydrangeas and superphosphate. Do not overdo it with fertilizers. Their excess provokes the rapid growth of the bush, which negatively affects the flowering of the culture.

And also you can not fertilize the culture with ash.

Soil additives can influence the color of Endless Summer.For the first time, hydrangea petals turn pink. If you want them to turn blue when they bloom again, after the first wave (when the bush has faded), add ammonium sulfate to the soil.

Another necessary procedure is periodic loosening. It should be combined with weed control. By doing this, you not only improve the aesthetics of the garden, but also rid the bush of "competitors" that take moisture and nutrients from the soil.

For Endless Summer pruning, dry, broken and old stems are pruned in the fall. The rest of the bush is subjected to a small formative pruning. Dried inflorescences are pruned to the first bud. This allows the buds to appear next year. More radical pruning will prevent flower buds from forming.

The main point is the shelter of the hydrangea. Despite the fact that the variety is resistant to low temperatures, it will not work without it. Before the start of frost, it is necessary to put some kind of insulating layer on the ground. You can use plywood, boards or thick cardboard

Then the shoots must be gently tilted to the ground. The bush is covered with breathable material and sprinkled with dry leaves

The structure is fixed with metal arcs. Otherwise, the wind will blow away the foliage even before the snowfall.

With the onset of heat, the shelter must be removed immediately. Otherwise, the bush can rebuke because of the moisture heated by the sun's rays. If night frosts are observed in your area in spring, the shelter can be removed gradually.

Shoots do not need to be forcibly lifted. After a couple of days, they themselves will take the correct position. When the bush recovers from wintering, check for frozen shoots. Despite the shelter, this happens. If damaged areas are found, they must be cut off. You shouldn't feel sorry for them. V this case cropping should be maximum (to the point where the stem is already healthy). Otherwise, the plant may start to rot.

Growing and care

Endless summer loves sunshine - keep this in mind when placing crops on the site. At noon, the plant should be in partial shade to avoid burns on the leaves and inflorescences.

It is necessary to plant large-leaved hydrangea in loose, fertile soil. The approximate depth of the planting hole is 50 cm. Make the same width. Be sure to add a mixture of peat and humus to the dug hole. Place a drainage layer of expanded clay or small pebbles at the bottom. After planting, the plant needs to be watered with water at room temperature.

Moisten the soil under the flower regularly. Use for this purpose settled, even better - rain not cold water. Drip irrigation is ideally recommended.

In order for your hydrangea to bloom profusely, it is important to feed it periodically. This procedure begins in spring, and stops with the onset of autumn.

Top dressing should be carried out every 10-15 days, during the period of active growth of green mass and the appearance of buds. In the spring, complex fertilizers with nitrogen are used, in the summer - mixtures rich in potassium and phosphorus.

The soil around the Endless Summer needs to be weed from time to time. After each watering, the soil is loosened, a little later - mulching with crushed bark or peat in order to preserve moisture in the substrate.

Pruning this variety is needed to maintain a decorative appearance and remove sick, frozen shoots. The flower can be affected by spider mites. During the resting phase - from November to February - Endless Summer is kept in the basement, sometimes watering.

Hydrangea care

After the direct planting of the hydrangea variety Eternal Summer, care and compliance with all preventive measures are required. This will significantly reduce the risk of disease or parasites, and will also delight the gardener with fast growth and lush flowering.

The main recommendations for plant care include watering, feeding, pruning, and many other important procedures.

Watering mode

Since the large-leaved hydrangea Endless Summer is a moisture-loving plant, it needs appropriate care to maintain the necessary soil moisture.

Irrigation water should be soft, without the presence of elements of lime, chlorine or any other chemical impurities. The most suitable option is to use rainwater. A tap water is also suitable, but in this case it is necessary to soak it in the sun in advance.

Note! Regular watering with tap water can lead to the development of chlorosis. To avoid this, 3-5 drops of lemon juice or vinegar 9% should be periodically added to the liquid

The hydrangea watering regime is quite simple: at least two buckets of water under the bush once a week. The lack of moisture is characterized by the following symptoms: sagging, curling and yellowing of the leaves. In some cases, a loss of stem elasticity is possible.

Top dressing

In one season, the plant is fed 3 to 5 times. Fertilization is often introduced in the spring and summer. This will allow the hydrangea to bloom more effectively.

Top dressing

In the spring, fertilizers are applied, which contain nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. In the absence of these microelements, long flowering should not be expected. ECOstyle and Green Bool products, which are sold in almost every flower shop, have proven themselves well. You can also use substances for feeding rhododendrons, azaleas, or prepare your own herbal infusion.

In order for the hydrangea to bloom all summer long, the fertilizer must have a sufficient amount of potassium and nitrogen. In early August, nitrogen supplements are excluded to prepare the shrub for wintering.

Important! It is forbidden to use lime-based preparations at any time of the year, as the plant may die. Therefore, before use, it is important to always read the description and composition of the drugs used.

Features of care during the flowering period

The most important procedure during flowering is soil mulching. For this, it is better to use the bark of pine, conifers or dried leaves. Often, ordinary sawdust or peat is used.

During the flowering period, it is important to water the plant and, if necessary, remove wilted flowers

Features of care during the rest period

After the end of flowering, you can prune and remove dried or weakened shoots. In order to rejuvenate the shrub, the so-called sanitary pruning is performed - cutting all branches by a third using a sharp pruner.

Note! It is better to shorten the growths up to the buds in early spring. In autumn, it is advisable to cut off the prominent shoots on the side branches, which violate the decorative shape of the bush

Also, during the dormant period, you can transplant the plant to a more suitable place for this.

Preparing for winter

Despite the fact that the Eternal Summer hydrangea is a frost-resistant variety and is able to tolerate frost without additional measures, it is better to prepare the plant for winter in advance. If this is not done, flowering will occur much later.

Preparing for winter

Therefore, in order for the bush to please the owners with inflorescences in early spring, it is recommended to cover it even before the first cold weather begins. It is better to use greenhouse film, lutrasil or spunbond as a material. If there is nothing, you can cover the plant with branches and dried leaves. The base of the shrub must be wrapped in peat.

Note! After frost, it is advisable to cut off faded inflorescences and constantly clean them of dried leaves. Due to its distinctive feature, changing the shade of hydrangea inflorescences Endless Summer is an endless source of inspiration for any gardener

The plant is unpretentious in care and easily tolerates frost.Following simple recommendations will make it possible to get a beautiful hydrangea even for a novice gardener

Due to its distinctive feature, the hydrangea inflorescences change shade. Endless Summer is an endless source of inspiration for any gardener. The plant is unpretentious in care and easily tolerates frost. Following simple recommendations will make it possible to get a beautiful hydrangea even for a novice gardener.

Reproduction of hydrangea Eternal summer: the most common ways

Large-leaved hydrangea Eternal summer will be an excellent decoration for any site. Even the most inexperienced gardener will not be difficult to grow such an ornamental plant. However, for this it is necessary to have detailed information about the most basic methods of breeding hydrangeas of this variety. Gardeners most often use propagation by cuttings in summer and winter for breeding, layering, dividing the bush. Reproduction of large-leaved hydrangea Eternal summer by seeds is used extremely rarely, most often by breeders to breed new varieties.

Reproduction of hydrangea Eternal summer by dividing the bush

Hydrangea breeding method Eternal summer by dividing the bush is considered one of the fastest and easiest. If a young ornamental bush grows on your site, you can safely get several healthy cuttings from its rhizome.
It is necessary to divide the hydrangea bush in the spring before the moment of active vegetation.
First of all, it is necessary to water the adult plant well, after which, using a shovel, carefully remove the rhizome from the ground.
Place the shrub on top of the soil.
You can divide the root system of this plant with a shovel or a sharp pruner.
Usually divided into several parts or divisions. However, this must be done correctly.

It is important that each delenka has healthy and lively buds, which will give young shoots in the future.
Long roots can be trimmed slightly, and the same can be done with long shoots.
After full preparation, young delenki are planted in a permanent place and watered abundantly.

Propagation of hydrangea Eternal summer by layering

Alternatively, you can try to breed the hydrangea of this variety using layering.
This method can be used in early May, when the soil is completely warmed up.
On an adult shrub of Eternal Summer hydrangea, you need to choose lateral flexible shoots, which then need to be bent to the ground.
Below, under the bush, carefully loosen the soil and make small grooves or holes up to 15 cm deep.
Bend the layers to the holes and in the place where the branches touch the ground, it is important to remove all the foliage and cut off the bark

This will help start the process of new roots appearing.
Only after this can the layering be sprinkled with soil.
Only the top should remain on the surface, which is recommended to be tied to a peg so that it does not fall.
Water the young plants regularly throughout the season.
It is possible to separate layers from an adult hydrangea bush only next spring.
To do this, the layers from the mother bush are carefully cut off and the young bushes are carefully dug out with a shovel and transplanted to a permanent place.

Propagation of hydrangea Eternal summer by cuttings

Most often, gardeners use hydrangea propagation by cuttings.

Some gardeners use summer cuttings for this, others winter ones.
Reproduction by summer layering is recommended around the end of June or early July.
It is important to properly cut the planting material, since the further growth of the ornamental plant will depend on this.
Cut the cuttings from leafy annual shoots. Many gardeners recommend using side branches for this.
The length of each cutting should be about 12-15 cm and must have a couple of leaves and 2-3 healthy buds.
Cuttings are cut early in the morning, when the branches and shoots of the bush are still filled with juice

Before planting, the cuttings must be moistened to prevent drying out.
It is important to make the lower cut of the cuttings at a slight angle, after that remove all the lower leaves, and leave the upper ones only half.
Pre-planting material is recommended to be treated with a root former to stimulate root growth. You can use, for example, Kornevin. In this solution, the cuttings must be kept for 24 hours.
Next, it is important to take care of the planting site of the cuttings. They can be rooted in a small greenhouse or in an open bed, where you will have to cover each stalk with a plastic bottle.
It is necessary to ventilate and moisten the cuttings regularly. In about a month, new leaves will appear. The shelter can be removed.
For the winter, it is important to cover such seedlings very well, and in the spring they are transplanted for growing. In a permanent place, seedlings of hydrangea Eternal Summer are planted when they reach normal height.

Popular varieties

Treelike culture is one of the most widespread in Russian gardens. The plant adapts well to the climate, changing temperatures and pleases the eye with long flowering. Several varieties planted side by side with different timing of the appearance of inflorescences create the effect of a continuously blooming garden. There are several particularly popular varieties.

Did you know? In the temples of the Japanese city of Kamakura, there are more than 2500 species and varieties of hydrangeas. Tourists from all over the world come here to enjoy the massive flowering of culture.

Lime Ricky

Compact shrub, grows up to 1.2 m. Its shoots are flexible, resist gusts of wind or heavy rain, do not bend or break. The flowering period adorns the Lime Ricky bush with dense, large, up to 25 cm long, dome-shaped inflorescences. The petals are first of a delicate lime shade, which is where the name of the variety came from, and then turn white. The culture develops well in a semi-shady area with drained, moist soil. The soil can be neutral or acidic. Winter hardiness of Lime Rickey is high, it tolerates temperatures of -34 ° С.

Hills of Snow

Large shrub up to 1.5 m high, with a rounded crown. The shoots are strong, capable of carrying heavy inflorescences up to 15 cm in diameter. The name of the variety Hills of Snow is translated from English as "snowy hills". During the flowering period, from July to September inclusive, the bush is covered with greenish-white baskets up to 1.5 cm in diameter, collected in hemispherical inflorescences resembling hills. At their peak, the petals turn dazzling white.

Hills of Snow does not like drought, but is more tolerant of the sun than other varieties. It prefers to grow in moist soils with good drainage. Requires protection from gusty winds. Given the rapid growth (20 cm per year), it needs the attention of a grower to maintain the shape of the crown. Possesses high resistance to low temperatures down to -39 ° С.

White Ball

The shrub reaches 1.5 m in height. Light green shoots grow unevenly, forming a rounded, slightly ragged crown shape. The foliage of the White Ball variety is green with veins and a sharp end of the plate.

According to the description, flowering can last until late autumn, and begins in June. Beautiful, densely packed inflorescences reach 25 cm in diameter. White Ball flowers with snow-white petals bloom both on last year's shoots and on the branches of the current season. It is recommended to plant the variety in sunny areas with shade at noon. The soil is preferably with a slightly acidic reaction, moistened, drained.

Annabelle

A tree up to 1.5 m in height and 3 m in crown diameter. Stems without edge, spreading, gray-green in color. The foliage of the variety is large, up to 15 cm in length, the color is emerald. The bright shade remains until late autumn. In June, the domed crown is covered with large up to 25 cm in circumference inflorescences. They are formed by sterile white flower baskets.

Variety subspecies:

Annabelle Strong - white inflorescences with a pale green tint, up to 30 cm in diameter;
Annabelle Pink - petals ranging from pale pink to bright pink.

The flowering period lasts until September. The plant is frost-resistant, but needs shelter from the wind. It is best to grow the variety in partial shade.

Sterilis

Sterilis is one of the relatively new varieties of the species, the height of the bush is 1.2 m, the width of the crown is 1.5 m. It is distinguished by the rapid growth of shoots, 20 cm per season. The foliage is long, up to 20 cm, the surface is green, the underside of the plate is gray. The edges of the leaf are framed with small teeth. The culture blooms from July to October, hemispherical, dense inflorescences.

Important! Shelter is desirable for the winter, since this variety has low winter hardiness. The petals are painted in a pale green tone; as they develop, they turn white. Inflorescences are formed by sterile baskets

Planting is recommended on fertile, loose soils with a good drainage layer. The plot is closed from drafts, sunny with shading at noon hours

The inflorescences are formed by sterile baskets. Planting is recommended on fertile, loose soils with a good drainage layer. The plot is closed from drafts, sunny with shading at noon hours

The petals are painted in a pale green tone; as they develop, they turn white. The inflorescences are formed by sterile baskets. Planting is recommended on fertile, loose soils with a good drainage layer. The plot is closed from drafts, sunny with shade in the midday hours.

Hydrangea care throughout the season

There are no difficulties in caring for the "Eternal Summer", it is no different from caring for other varieties of hydrangeas. Weeding, watering and loosening, as well as applying complex fertilizers to the soil - and your hydrangea will respond gratefully with growth and flowering.

The most important component of care, given the characteristics of this variety, is pruning and shelter. Of course, you cannot cut this hydrangea shortly, because you will remove it along with the branches and you will not wait for future flowers and decorativeness.

Of course, you need to prune the hydrangea when it has grown enough. There is no need to cut and form the bushes in the first years after planting, let them calmly increase the lashes, on which more and more flower buds will form.

Since you need to preserve all the shoots, pruning your bushes is done as follows:

in the fall, you need to cut out all dry and broken stems to the base, as well as old ones that have already stopped flowering. Do not allow the hydrangea to thicken too much;
the rest of the branches can be slightly shortened using light formative pruning;
closer to the beginning of the frost, the lashes must be carefully laid on the ground, placing any insulation under the bottom - cardboard, plywood, boards;
on top of the lash, you need to cover with some air-permeable materials and cover it with dry foliage;
it is advisable to fix the entire structure with metal arcs so that the wind does not blow off the foliage before the snow falls.

The lashes should not be allowed to dry out, since the sun and moisture, taking into account the shelter in the spring, can destroy flower buds as mercilessly as frost. Therefore, given that the hydrangea is not afraid of frost, the shelter must be removed as soon as it gets warmer.

If where you live, there are sufficiently strong frosts at night, then remove the shelter gradually, but at the moment the sun begins to warm up, both the leaves and the covering material should be removed from the hydrangea.

After that, the scourge does not need to be lifted; in a few days they themselves will come off the ground and take the desired position.

After that, you need to cut out those shoots that still froze, despite all your efforts. Moreover, you need not to pity them and remove them to the very living tissue, otherwise the hydrangea can get sick due to the rotting of the thawing branches.