How to take care of it properly?
Hydrangea care is an important part of its beautiful appearance. It is not so easy to grow this bush, almost all flowering shrubs are quite capricious in relation to environmental conditions. The basic rules of care are in traditional agrotechnical measures, but with the condition of the characteristics of the plant.
Top dressing
They begin to feed the pink hydrangea from the beginning of spring, when the daytime temperature has already reached + 10– + 12 degrees. The shoots of this bush give a serious increase - up to half a meter per season, therefore they require additional nutrition. The ideal top dressing is nitrogen. Dilute 1 tablespoon ammonium nitrate with ten liters of water and pour over the hydrangea. The frequency of such feeding is once every two weeks until the end of June. You can alternate with watering with chicken droppings diluted with water (1: 10).
In the middle of summer, the above-described dressings are carried out every three weeks. It is recommended to add superphosphate, potassium nitrate and urea to them. And also for the flexibility of the shoots, you can occasionally water the pink hydrangea with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
Watering and loosening
Water the pink hydrangea often. It grows quickly and blooms profusely, therefore it requires a lot of moisture. In hot weather, one adult plant will need about 20-25 liters of water at least once every 7 days. In order for moisture to remain in the soil, loosening should be carried out in the near-stem circle of the hydrangea. It is carried out before irrigation with a radius of 0.5 m and a depth of up to 5 cm. During the season, at least three loosening should be carried out.
Pruning
In early spring, the hydrangea should be sanitized pruning. You do not need to cut the bush too much, otherwise you can achieve poor flowering. It is necessary to remove only damaged and old branches and only thin out the rest of the crown a little. Timely pruning will help keep the bush decorative. After the beginning of the growing season, you should not prune the hydrangea, as it may begin to dry out. The exception is fast-growing species with a dense crown.
Wintering
Hortense loves warmth. Therefore, before a long winter, it must be covered with a good layer of mulch (about 20 cm), then spruce branches and a film, if frosts are below -20 degrees - a frequent occurrence in your area. Young plants need to be especially carefully prepared for the winter, since they are the ones that endure the cold worst of all.
In winter and summer
This is another important point to discuss when talking about care and cultivation. Home hydrangea needs winter rest. At this time, the temperature should be no more than +5 degrees. The plant also tolerates indicators of -5 Celsius, that is, you can put the pots on the balcony. This will only benefit the flower. It will rest well and form many kidneys. If you have an unheated, but glazed loggia, then consider that all wintering problems are solved. But on open balconies, the hydrangea will freeze, for this it is poorly adapted.
Here, seasoned gardeners can begin to argue that in the open field it calmly tolerates frosts of -30 degrees. This is true, but there is a large layer of soil, which retains relative warmth under the snow. That is, only the upper crust freezes. But a small pot will freeze completely, and the root system will die.
When is the best time to transplant the hydrangea to another location
Carrying out the procedure, you need to remember that climatic conditions differ from each other in different geographic latitudes. As a result, the time of work will shift in one direction or another. The timing of planting hydrangeas in Central Russia is unlikely to be suitable for the Ural parks.The reason is the discrepancy in the temperature regime of different seasons of the year, as well as their duration. For example, the Siberian spring is fast, hot and impetuous, and in the Moscow region it is unhurried, smooth, lasting from 2 to 3 months.
Did you know? Huge hydrangea inflorescences are located at the tips of the shoots and consist of several hundred small flowers with 4–5 petals.
In outskirts of Moscow
Quite often, winters in the Moscow region are very harsh, when the air temperature drops to -15 ... -20 ° C. But this is offset by long periods of spring and autumn, as well as mild heat and heavy rainfall in summer. Thanks to such climatic conditions, gardeners can transplant any type of hydrangea both at the beginning and at the end of the warm season. It is advisable to build a winter shelter over the transplanted plant in late November or early December.
When a hydrangea variety was transplanted that cannot be cut off during the current period, it is recommended to insulate its aboveground part for the winter. If this is not done, fruit buds may suffer from low temperatures, as a result of which the bush will bloom only after a year. You can use white lutrasil, spunbond, or other non-woven material for protection from the cold. When buying, it is recommended to choose thick agrofibre, with a fiber density of at least 30.0 g / 1 m².
Did you know? To give the snow-white inflorescences of garden hydrangea a blue or blue color, it is worth adding acid to the soil. To do this, the ground in the near-trunk circle is watered with water with the addition of ammonium sulfate or potassium sulfate.
In the Urals and Siberia
In cold regions of the country, it is recommended to replant hydrangea at the beginning of the warm season. In the region of Siberia or the Urals, the shrub will then have time to grow new roots in about 4-6 months. The gardener should take into account that the cold in this area comes early, and the first night frosts may come as early as late August or early September. This means that work on the transplantation of a thermophilic culture must be carried out no later than the first ten days of May. It is optimal if at that moment the soil thaws two bayonets of the shovel into the depth.
In the Far East
The climate in this region is much milder than in northern Siberia, but the winter is just as long and frosty, and the spring is stormy and short, quickly turning into summer. Here, a spring transplant is also preferable, allowing the hydrangea to adapt and grow until winter. If, nevertheless, there is a need to complete this work later, then for this it is better to choose the end of summer: the second half of August or the first ten days of September.
In this case, it is recommended to do a strong pruning at ground level, despite the type of hydrangea, and cover the surface of the soil warmly, under which the root ball is located. Warming is carried out with the onset of stable subzero temperatures. In the Far East, this period falls around the beginning or mid-October.
Important! The gardener should not cover the hydrangea too early for the winter, as this can lead to the formation of fungus and mold on the aboveground part, as well as rotting of the roots. It is best to carry out insulation work when the average daily temperature drops below -10 ° C.
Diseases and pests of garden hydrangea
It can be stated that hydrangea is a plant resistant to various diseases and pests. Nevertheless, it can be amazed by:
- Aphid. It is destroyed with garlic infusion. To make it, you need to insist for 2 days in a bucket of water 200 g of garlic (finely chop). The addition of 40 grams of laundry soap will not interfere with the solution. The plant is sprayed once a week.
- Powdery mildew. This pest can infect the bush if the humidity is high. As soon as it became noticeable, it is worth using special fungicidal agents or Treat the shrub with a solution of soap and copper sulfate.
- Chlorosis.This will be evidenced by the foliage, which from a brightly saturated shade will become lightened. This can happen because there is too much lime or humus in the soil. You can get rid of chlorosis by watering the bush in turn after 3 days with a solution of potassium nitrate and copper sulfate.
Where to plant hydrangea
Choose a planting site for hydrangea, based on its needs.
Plant shrubs in areas that are comfortable for him, namely:
- in partial shade or on sunny plots of the estate (the place is determined depending on the requirements of the variety);
- from the east or south side of the estate, if you choose north or southwest, you should evaluate the intensity of the sun's rays on the site, often the north side is always in the shade;
- in an area with an acidic and moderately humid environment;
- on estates closed from drafts with good moisture permeability;
- on fertilized soils;
- far from garden trees with a large crown, taking moisture from the soil and forming a shade, since the hydrangea dies in the shade and without a moist environment;
- not close to other flower beds, because Hydrángea is a spreading shrub that grows very quickly and displaces flowers planted next to it with a shadow from its stems and inflorescences;
- on spacious garden segments - if there is an open area in the garden of no more than two meters in diameter, then it is better to plant only one hydrangea within it, because its crown can expand by three meters;
- far from moisture-loving plants;
- on hills and hills with a high standing of groundwater in a personal plot;
- on calm areas near buildings and outbuildings, but taking into account a distance of several meters from the roofs in order to prevent snow and frost from falling on the bushes in winter;
- along the perimeter of garden paths at a distance of several meters.
Caring for garden hydrangeas
The capacious concept of "hydrangea garden planting and outdoor care" includes all the subtleties and nuances of a gardener's work on growing this beautiful flower. This is weeding and loosening of the soil, timely watering, fertilizing and mulching.
Top dressing
Hydrangea has a special relationship with fertilizers. For active growth, you need to add a mixture of ammonium and potassium sulfate and superphosphate to the soil. It is not necessary to add organic matter, because hydrangea does not like fresh manure. You need to fertilize hydrangea three times in spring, summer and autumn.
During flowering and dormancy
During the period of active color, care for the hydrangea plant is not difficult. Timely watering, nutrition and enrichment of the roots with oxygen by loosening the soil under the bush will give the flower the strength to delight with its beauty all round summer. To prevent the plant from wasting its juices in vain, pruning of wilted flowers is required. During the dormant period, when the plants are preparing for winter, you need to cut off all dry branches, remove leaves and buds.
Preparing for winter
Flowers that grew in pots need to be brought indoors for the winter. Hydrangeas wintering in the garden also need preparation. It is necessary to mulch and insulate the roots. Paniculate and tree-like specimens, like many bulbous perennials, do not need insulation. Some varieties are not quite adapted to frost, so they need to make special film coatings attached to the frames.
It is impossible to learn everything about hydrangea in one article, but it is not difficult to show how to organize work with planting material, to tell how a hydrangea blooms. If you apply all the knowledge in practice, then you can grow this overseas and already native miracle flower in your garden. Then the beautiful hydrangeas will burst into blue, red, pink and white flames in the garden.
Care features
Growing such a beautiful plant in the open field is an activity for those who do not mind spending time caring for the garden. Hydrangeas need timely watering and feeding. In addition, it must be able to properly prepare it for the Ural winter.
Watering
It is necessary to moisten the soil around the bush regularly, especially at a time when there is no rain for a long time. Experts recommend using water with the addition of a manganese solution for irrigation. It will be enough to add 2 grams per 1 liter of water. This will help make the inflorescences more lush and beautiful.
Fertilizer
To grow a healthy hydrangea in the Urals, you must regularly use top dressing. You can choose both organic and mineral fertilizers. This should be done at least 4 times a year. First of all, it is necessary to "feed" the plant, which has overwintered and is preparing for a new flowering period.
Next, you need to apply fertilizers 2 times a month. Initially, urea, potassium and superphosphate are used. After the buds appear, it is enough to add only potassium and superphosphate. All dosages are indicated on the packages of purchased fertilizers.
At the end of summer, 1 bucket of humus or compost must be added under each bush. It is worth noting that hydrangeas are among those plants that can be fertilized with the most unusual products. For example, use ordinary yogurt or kefir for these purposes. Only in this case they must be diluted with water. It should be used twice as much as a fermented milk product.
Shelter for the winter
Preparing for winter is an equally important procedure, especially if the plant is planted in a region like the Urals. The most "strong" frost-resistant hydrangeas winter even without shelter. However, in the Urals, the temperature can sometimes drop below that to which they are adapted. In extreme cold, the roots die off. To prevent this from happening, the bushes should be covered for this time.
Preparations for winter should begin before the onset of frost. The first thing to do is remove the leaves on all existing shoots. After this, the bush must be well pulled with a rope, and then wrapped with the selected covering material.
Next, the plant must be bent to the ground, and then fixed either with bricks or stones. From above, the hydrangea bush must be sprinkled with sawdust or overlaid with spruce branches. After that, everything must also be covered with roofing material or film.
Some gardeners use a frame as a shelter. In this case, the hydrangea does not need to be tilted to the ground. It is enough just to put a metal frame over it and fill it with either dry leaves, sawdust, or spruce needles. For more confidence, the frame is also covered with a film on top.
As soon as it gets warmer, the bush can be opened slightly. However, it is worth fully disclosing the hydrangea only when there is one hundred percent certainty that the frost season has already ended.
Pruning
Another important point is pruning the hydrangea. This is done so that the bush is healthier and lush. After correct pruning, the plant pleases the eye with a large abundance of inflorescences.
Throughout the season, you need to monitor the shape of the bush. If this is not done, then the plant will look unkempt. In addition, the flowers will become smaller over time. This procedure is best done in early spring.
After wintering, the bushes must be well examined. Among them, you must choose the strongest shoots. There should be about 8-10 of them. All broken and dry shoots must be removed immediately. The same can be done with frozen branches. They should be cut to a healthy fiber.
Some experienced gardeners only leave a couple of buds at the bottom of the bush. In this case, only a few buds will decorate the hydrangea bush.
In addition, the bush as a whole will look more attractive. In addition, it must be remembered that too large inflorescences can break the branches with their weight. To prevent this from happening, you will need to regularly carry out decorative pruning.
You need to take care of the hydrangea in the autumn. At this time, it is necessary to make sanitary pruning of all shoots. Each of them must be cut in half. This will help the plant survive the winter much easier. In addition, in this case, the plant will be easier to cover.
Hydrangea paniculata
Panicle hydrangea has a pyramidal shape of inflorescences. Usually it grows in the form of a bush with straight branchy shoots, less often there is a tree up to 5 m tall. Young shoots are pubescent, reddish-brown. The leaves are velvety, up to 15 cm long, ovoid, dense to the touch, dark green above, lighter below. Inflorescences up to 30 cm long. As a rule, during flowering, their color changes, which makes this type of hydrangea even more attractive. The following varieties and garden forms are especially good.
- Hydrangea paniculata "Grandiflora" is a shrub up to 3 m high. When blooming, large flowers are creamy white, then snow-white, then pink, and greenish-pink in autumn. Inflorescences are broadly pyramidal, up to 30 cm long. It grows quickly - an annual growth of 25 cm. It blooms from July to October.
- Panicle hydrangea "Kiushu" is a shrub up to 3 m high and with the same fan-shaped crown diameter. Shoots are red-brown. The leaves are dark green and the petioles are red. The flowers are white with a pleasant smell, collected in wide inflorescences up to 15 cm long. It blooms from mid-July to mid-October.
- Hydrangea paniculata "Matilda" is a shrub 2 m high and a rounded crown diameter up to 3 m. The leaves are dull green. The flowers are large, creamy white when blooming, then white, then turn pink, and when blooming, they become greenish-red. Collected in inflorescences about 25 cm long. Blooms from July to September.
- Hydrangea paniculata "Pink Diamond" is a shrub 2-3 m high. This variety is very popular in Europe and the USA. The flowers are creamy when blooming, then turn dark pink.
- Panicle hydrangea "Precox" is a shrub up to 3 m high. It is in great demand in Japan (where this variety was bred) and in the USA. Differs in early (June) flowering.
- Hydrangea paniculata "Floribunda" is a shrub up to 3 m high. It is decorated with very large flowers on long stalks, making the inflorescences look airy.
- Panicle hydrangea "Tardiva" is a shrub about 3 m high with cone-shaped creamy-white inflorescences crowning the ends of the shoots. Differs in late flowering (August-September).
- Panicle hydrangea "Unic" is a shrub about 3 m in height and with the same crown diameter. The leaves are green in summer and autumn. Flowers with a pleasant aroma are first white, then pink. Collected in large inflorescences 25 cm long. Blooms profusely from July to September.
Panicle hydrangea, ‘Vanille Fraise’ variety. BuxuskoningHydrangea paniculata, grade 'Pinky Winky'. BuxuskoningHydrangea paniculata, grade 'Limelight'. Buxuskoning
Flower location, light and temperature conditions
For the location of the hydrangea pot, east and west windows are suitable. With direct and prolonged exposure to sunlight on the plant, it becomes stained and does not feel well, which is reflected in its appearance.
Note! The flower can be placed not on the window, but in another place with diffused lighting. Do not forget that the flower comes from the subtropics and loves humid air.
In summer, especially on hot days, the flower needs to be sprayed daily in the morning.
Do not forget that the flower comes from the subtropics and loves moist air. In summer, especially on hot days, the flower should be sprayed daily in the morning.
The plant pot can also be placed in a container of water according to the drainage level. At the same time, the humidity of the surrounding air will increase and the soil in the pot will be moistened.
Hydrangea loves watering and abundant care. She does not tolerate drying out, you need to carefully monitor the moisture content of the soil. But the plant will not grow in the swamp either, so the drainage in the pot should be at least 3 cm so that the roots do not start to rot.
Potted hydrangea in the garden
Important! In the summer, if possible, the pot can be taken out to the balcony, into the garden or planted in open ground, the flower likes fresh air, but without drafts. The plant feels comfortable at room temperature, but does not tolerate heat and sudden temperature changes
The plant feels comfortable at room temperature, but does not tolerate heat and sudden temperature changes.
Hydrangea is a magnificent miracle
In general, large-leaved hydrangea is an undemanding plant. Growing for one season will not create any difficulties at all, even a beginner can handle it. But the long-term maintenance of a beauty will require some effort. This concerns the creation of conditions for wintering, regular watering, pruning and maintenance when extreme weather conditions occur. But for the effort spent, the plant will reward with long, continuous flowering of large, lush and very beautiful inflorescences, the shade of which can be adjusted with your own hands at will. Hydrangea will undoubtedly decorate both the house and the garden.
