Growing hydrangeas in Siberia: tips and tricks for planting and care

Origin story

Hydrangea as a species grew back in the Tertiary period, when most of the northern hemisphere was covered with impenetrable forests. It was not about its cultivation. Excavations in Alaska and in parts of the United States have shown that the flower grew successfully more than 40-70 million years ago.

Hydrangeas come in a wide variety of colors.

Hydrangea came to Europe only at the beginning of the 14th century. Initially, the flower began to grow for the rich and noble segments of the population. It existed in two varieties: white and scarlet.

Today there are more than 70 varieties of hydrangea, it is available for planting in almost any region with fertile soil.

Treelike hydrangea varieties

Bushes very often grow up to three meters high. They have a number of advantages. First of all, they are extremely winter hardy. Even after harsh winters, the bushes thrive and bloom throughout the summer. They try to propagate these types of garden hydrangeas using cuttings, which is quite convenient compared to seeds. On the surface of the shoots, you can notice a light fluff, which gives this plant a sophistication. The inflorescences are usually large and conical in shape. Shrubs of tree hydrangea delight their owner not only throughout the summer, but also until mid-autumn. The best soil for it is slightly acidic soil. Here are the tree hydrangeas:

Quite original and pretty "Invincibelle" has a pink tint. This variety blooms, as a rule, twice a year. In order to stimulate flowering, it is enough to cut it off. Within a month and a half, new shoots can be noticed.
"Grandiflora" is distinguished by its high growth, which sometimes reaches three meters. The inflorescences are painted in a pale green hue, which eventually turns into a deep white.
The extremely popular "annabel" has inflorescences, sometimes 25 centimeters in diameter. Gardeners love to grow this variety because of its fast growth and unpretentiousness.

The section contains photos of tree hydrangea. Photos of plant varieties are of interest to many novice gardeners. As a rule, all varieties begin to be planted in early spring and only rarely in autumn. Before planting, you should carefully check and cut the roots, soak them for a day in a growth accelerator and after planting, pour plenty of water. Organic fertilizers, park soil, sand and humus are added to the pit where the plant will be planted. An adult bush is watered with twenty liters of water and at least twice a week. It should be fed and pruned regularly. It should be borne in mind that the first time feeding is carried out in early spring, and the second - during the formation of buds.

Photos and names of garden hydrangea species are presented in the article. You can learn about caring for this plant from the reviews of experienced gardeners. They argue that hydrangeas are very fond of loose soil, and one of the most important maintenance elements is pruning. It can be sanitary (when broken and dried inflorescences are removed), restoring (pruning is carried out in a radical way, that is, leaving short branches) and forming, during which a spectacular crown is created for the shrub.

Be sure to feed the plants with nitrogenous and potassium fertilizers after the procedure. Pruning is highly discouraged for a plant under three to four years of age.

Despite the excellent winter hardiness, nevertheless, it is recommended to cover the treelike hydrangea for the winter.This applies primarily to those regions where winter frosts begin early, when the plants are not yet ready for them. Coniferous branches are usually used for this purpose. The disadvantages of the tree hydrangea, the photos and names of the varieties of which are presented above, is the tendency to fungal diseases, which can be eliminated with the help of the preparations "Vitaros" and "Fundazol".

How to combine hydrangeas with other plants

In addition to single and group plantings of hydrangea bushes, they can be successfully combined with other plants in the garden landscape. Such combinations can be very varied. The main options for combined planting is a combination with the following crops:

Herbaceous flowering and non-flowering species;
Flowering shrubs;
Large non-flowering varieties.

In landscape design, hydrangea can be successfully combined with small plants. Sometimes it is even planted in the center of the flower bed. But you can create more complex combinations. Low-growing species are used for the following effects:

Supplementing the color range of hydrangea inflorescences;
Framing the composition;
Decoration at the beginning of the season.

For combination with hydrangeas, moisture-loving and shade-tolerant herbaceous perennials are suitable. Non-flowering species that look great when combined with hydrangeas:

Of the flowering species, they are most often planted:

For compositions with other flowering shrubs, use:

Often they create similar compositions with lilac or mock orange, in which different species do not bloom at the same time. This creates the effect of continuous flowering of the composition from late spring to the first frost.

Sometimes the bush is planted near large non-flowering plants. Usually these are conifers, the dark severity of which is appropriate to complement with a bright and colorful contrasting element so that they do not look too gloomy and dry. The hydrangea bush in this combination is a color accent that enlivens the composition and gives it sophistication and extraordinary beauty.

In the article, we examined the best hydrangeas in the landscape design of a summer cottage, and also saw their photos.

Let the fans of languid lush roses and other charming flowers forgive me, but there can be only one more hydrangea better than a hydrangea in a summer cottage. Growing hydrangeas in a garden is an artistic creative process, when you feel like the Creator of the Garden of Eden and the Creator of His Majesty Beauty.

A huge variety of the most unusual in shape and color varieties allows you to create a whole ensemble of a rainbow of bright colors and gentle tints. But closer to practice. Growing this plant is a snap.

Mediterranean garden landscape in the Moscow region

The name of hydrangea is translated from Greek as "a vessel for moisture", the plant received this name for the unusual shape of the seed bolls, as well as for its love for moist nutritious soil.

Diseases

The most common hydrangea diseases include:

Gray rot - often affects young shoots. They are covered with brownish spots, which pass to the inflorescences, forming a gray bloom on them. To prevent the disease, the affected parts of the plant are removed and the bush is treated with Fundazol.
Powdery mildew - the causative agent is a fungus. All parts of the plant are covered with a whitish bloom. Leaves begin to deform and dry, buds and stems stop growing and wither. In this case, all affected branches, leaves and flowers are cut off and treated with "Topaz" or "Vitaros".
Ring spot is a viral infection that cannot be treated. The plant dies. The affected bush is dug up and burned. The cause of the disease is contaminated planting material, poorly processed garden tools.

With the timely prevention of diseases and the rapid start of treatment of the plant, the disease can be defeated, and then the garden beauty will delight with lush flowering all season.

Hydrangea paniculata: planting and care

Paniculata hydrangea is a moisture-loving plant; it even tolerates waterlogged soils. To get a strong, abundantly flowering shrub, you need to keep the soil moist under it within a radius of up to one and a half meters. In dry weather, the plant needs regular watering.

Hydrangea grows best on clayey acidic soils; on soil that has an alkaline reaction, its disease is possible with chlorosis of the leaves. With an insufficient level of acidity, ferrous sulfate and ammonium sulfate, coniferous litter or peat are used for acidification.

It is preferable to plant hydrangeas near hedges or various structures that provide protection from the wind. Choose areas with good lighting and fertile soil. Panicle hydrangea can grow in conditions of increased gas pollution, so it can be planted along the road, grown in urban conditions.

It should be borne in mind that in regions with a harsh climate for the winter, it is advisable to provide hydrangeas with an easy shelter. However, shoots damaged by frost are usually easily restored in summer, and in general the plant has good winter hardiness.

In early spring or even in winter, it is recommended to prune the hydrangea; If pruning is done too late when the dormant period of the plant is over, it can weaken it, leading to disease and lack of flowers. By adjusting the degree of pruning, you can achieve abundant flowering (for this you need to cut off last year's shoots very shortly) or enhance stem growth (in this case, choose a gentle pruning).

The shrub requires regular feeding. Liquid mineral fertilizers are applied every two weeks; organic fertilizers - once a month, a week after mineral feeding. Fertilization is stopped in August. To strengthen the shoots, once a month water the hydrangea with a solution of potassium permanganate (0.5 g is required per bucket of water).

Hydrangea paniculata Tardiva in garden design

Hydrangea paniculata in a Japanese garden in early autumn

Preparation for wintering

In order for the hydrangea bush to survive the winter normally, it must first be prepared. The flowers are placed in a special shelter that is erected in October. Young plants up to three years old will be enough to press to the ground and cover with roofing material, which is fixed with bricks, so that it is not blown away by a strong gust of wind. A metal frame is constructed on top of the material, the walls of which are removed from the stem by 25 centimeters. All free space inside it is filled with dry leaves.

In the southern regions of the country, where there are no harsh winters, you can do without this procedure. But experts still recommend not to neglect it, since hydrangeas are very thermophilic and even slight frosts can lead to their death. As for the cold regions, it is better to grow frost-resistant varieties in them. Common species, even with good shelters, may not survive the coming winter.

4 How to deal with pests and diseases?

In the Siberian climate, hydrangea is affected by:

1. Peronosporosis. This disease can be seen on the leaves - they are covered with oily spots. The stems and the underside of the plant turn yellow. To get rid of such a lesion, you need to apply a solution of copper sulfate and green soap. On a bucket of water, you should take 15 and 150 g of these components, respectively, and spray the hydrangeas.
2. Chlorosis. With such a problem, the leaves lose their color. This happens due to an excess of lime. To get rid of the disease, watering is required with the addition of nitrogenous potassium (40 g per 1 bucket of water).
3. Powdery mildew. This disease most often affects all types of hydrangeas. To get rid of such a problem, spraying with Fundazol should be used (for 10 liters of water, 25-30 g of the substance will be needed). Another way is to dilute 80 g of bordeaux acid in a bucket of liquid.

Among the pests of hydrangea, aphids are the most common. This scourge can be fought with garlic.It is necessary to take 300 g of a vegetable, grind it and fill it with water, then insist for 48 hours and add 50 g of laundry soap to the solution. Spraying with such a preparation should be carried out until the pests completely disappear. Another parasite is the spider mite. To overcome it, it is necessary to prepare a Thiophos solution (7 g of the substance are taken for 10 liters of water).

If you know the frost-resistant varieties of hydrangeas, as well as the rules for planting and caring for them, then you can grow such shrubs even in Siberia.

Care

When caring for a Great Star hydrangea, it is necessary to water, feed, prune, insulate, and prevent various diseases. Such a flower can grow near disadvantaged areas, roads. She will quickly adapt to such conditions. But if it is necessary to achieve lush and abundant flowering from him, then you need to perform a number of simple measures:

1 Watering. This plant, like other types of hydrangea, is very moisture-loving, so the soil around the trunk should always be slightly damp. It should not be allowed to dry out, especially in the heat. Watering once a week. One shrub will need at least 3 buckets. It is recommended to periodically add a small amount of potassium permanganate to the water to prevent various diseases. To keep moisture longer, mulching can be done. To do this, a layer of sawdust or dry leaves can be placed around the stems.
2 Top dressing. It must be done 4 times a season. The first procedure occurs in early spring, when the sap in the stems is just beginning to move. It is recommended to use organic fertilizers. Bird droppings and mullein solution will do. The second feeding is carried out during budding. It is required to make such a solution: for 10 liters of water, 35 g of superphosphate and potassium sulfate, 25 g of urea are required. This is enough for 1 sq. m. The third feeding is carried out in the middle of summer. In this case, it is recommended to use a complex type mineral fertilizer. You will need to dissolve 25-35 g of granules in a bucket of water. For 1 shrub, 3 such volumes are required. The last feeding is done when the plant is getting ready for winter. For this, special formulations that do not contain nitrogen are suitable.
3Crop. In early spring, it is necessary to cut off all inflorescences that have bloomed to the place where a well-developed node with buds is located. Frozen and weakened branches also need to be eliminated. Shoots that are only 1 year old need to be trimmed so that 3-5 buds remain. If the process of juice movement in the plant has already begun, then the procedure should be postponed until the leaves begin to bloom. Pruning is also carried out for rejuvenation, if the shrub has already become old. All branches should be pruned, leaving stumps up to 6 cm high. Next year, many young shoots will appear from them.

Like roses, Great Star hydrangeas also need shelter. Even considering that it is winter-hardy, it will not be able to survive the severe cold snap, which is typical for many regions of Russia. This applies to Siberia and the Urals. Sometimes hydrangea shelter is required in the middle zone of the country in cases where the winter is cold but snowless. The stronger the frosts, the thicker the insulation layer should be. It must be borne in mind that the shoots can also trample if you cover the hydrangea too much. If a shelter is built sooner or later, it will damage the kidneys. It is better to cover the root area with peat, rotted manure and dry leaves. The thickness of the layer should be 20 cm. When the snow falls, a snowdrift should be built near the bush.

It is better to germinate the plant in a greenhouse and then plant it in open ground. In the fall, the plant must be moved back to the greenhouse, and in the winter, it can be left in the basement. This option is also sometimes used.