Hydrangea garden planting and care pruning. Garden hydrangea: features of growing in open ground

Highly beautiful plant! The garden is transformed when garden hydrangea blooms! Landing, care, how difficult are they? This plant has another name - hydrangea macrophylla (hydrangea macrophylla). Gardeners around the world rightly consider it one of the most beautiful flowering plants. Even in the middle of the XX century. all varieties of this species were characterized by low frost resistance: they withstood frosts as low as -10°C. Therefore, lovers of hydrangeas had to be content with their reduced room "copies".

Photo of blooming hydrangea:

Abundant flowering shrubs, photo

For the past 20 years, breeders have been actively working to develop frost-resistant hydrangea varieties that would withstand frosts of -25 ° C or even lower.

Thanks to the efforts of breeders, these magnificent shrubs today delight us with long, abundant flowering in different climatic conditions.

What is hydrangea, what does it look like

Garden hydrangea is a deciduous shrub. The height depends on the variety - from 50 cm to one and a half meters. Its flowers are collected in very large spherical inflorescences, 18-20 cm in diameter.

At the beginning of flowering, the inflorescences often have a barely noticeable light green color. And when flowering is gaining strength, they acquire bright blue, pink, lilac, purple, snow-white shades. Blooms depending on the variety from early June to October.

Hydrangea bush, photo

Among the flowering ornamental shrubs that are used for landscaping gardens, parks and summer cottages, hydrangea is the undisputed leader in the duration of flowering. This period lasts for a plant on average about two months. These are real aristocrats who reign in the gardens all summer. Indifferently pass by this magnificent flowering shrub simply impossible! The variety, the beauty of the shades of its flowers is really amazing.

Planting a garden hydrangea, how to choose the best place

This is a large long-lived shrub that does not tolerate transplantation, so the place for it must be chosen especially carefully.

What does garden hydrangea love? How to grow hydrangea so that it brings joy? Unlike most species, the garden prefers partial shade. The best place for a hydrangea in the garden - one that is illuminated by the sun from morning to noon. It grows well, this shrub develops near the house or small garden buildings that protect it from the hot afternoon sun. In addition, in such a place in winter it will be sheltered from cold winds. It must be borne in mind that the less light enters the area where the plant is planted, the later flowering occurs, the fewer inflorescences will be.

AT landscape design hydrangeas are most often used as tapeworms on small green lawns, and low varieties look very beautiful, elegant as hedge along the curbs. A hedge of bushes looks especially bright, elegant, if you choose varieties with contrasting flowers or different shades of the same tone.

Some large-leaved varieties can be grown not only in open ground in the garden, but also in large pots or tubs on terraces or verandas.

Very often, a plant is planted at the entrance of a house or gazebo, where they look very festive, elegant. It looks great, this shrub also feels great on the shores of small natural or artificial reservoirs, because its decorative effect doubles due to reflection in the water.

When to plant hydrangea

The preferred timing for planting hydrangeas in the garden depends on the region where you live.

Here, in the Kuban, it is better to plant in the fall, around the first half of October. The heat is gone, the seedlings will feel great and have time to take root before the onset of cold weather.

In central Russia, it is preferable to plant it in the spring, around the second half of April, when the earth thaws and warms up well.

In more northern regions best timing for planting will be the month of May, approximately the middle of the month.

When choosing a seedling, pay attention to the root system. It must be well developed. Even better, if you purchase a seedling with a closed root system - the plant will be able to take root well in a new place without experiencing stress.

Seedlings with a closed root system in a nursery

What kind of soil does hydrangea like?

This shrub prefers slightly to medium acid soils. However, on garden plots they are not always found, so before planting a shrub, prepare a special mixture to fill the planting hole from equal parts of leafy and soddy soil, peat and sand. After planting in the soil, the plant must be watered abundantly and, if possible, mulched with compost.

How to water garden hydrangea

This is very moisture-loving plant, not for nothing that in Latin it is called hydrangea.

First of all, young plants (up to 2-3 years) need a lot of water. Frequent, plentiful summer watering of the shrub during this period allows you to maintain a more or less stable temperature on the soil surface of the near-stem circle. In subsequent years, watering the shrub should be sufficient and regular. Moisture deficiency or drought can cause marginal leaf burn, wilting of the entire bush, even its death.

Hydrangea fertilizer, top dressing, than to fertilize

In the spring before the buds appear, like most flowering plants, it requires complex fertilizer, in particular nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, essential trace elements. Fertilizer, top dressing is required if you are counting on a lush, long flowering shrub.

Hydrangea has one feature - during flowering, new plants are laid. flower buds. This means that the plant requires twice as much useful substances which must be given to him during this period. Feed the shrub at this time with phosphorus-potassium fertilizer (superphosphate and potassium sulfate), but you can not add nitrogen. This is necessary for the normal preparation of plants for wintering.

How to care for garden hydrangea? Garden hydrangea will gratefully respond to such care: watering sour milk- whey, kefir, yogurt. Serum can be sprayed a couple of times per season on the leaves. It has already been said above that the plant prefers slightly or medium acid soils. And if the soil in your garden is neutral, then watering with sour dairy products or spraying with whey will respond with more abundant flowering, the bushes will become more magnificent.

What does a hydrangea flower look like, photo

And one more secret - periodically water your pet with a weak solution of potassium permanganate - this will give strength to the plant, flexibility to the branches.

Hydrangea pruning, is it needed?

Unlike other species, large-leaved garden hydrangea does not require pruning, since most varieties of inflorescences form on last year's shoots. That is why it is important to preserve them. The exception is spring sanitary pruning frozen or winter-damaged branches.

Do not forget to carefully cut off the withered inflorescences immediately after the end of flowering. It is better to do this gradually, during the entire flowering period. Don't wait until the flowers are completely dry. This is best done after the inflorescences have completely withered.

Hydrangea care in autumn, preparation for winter

Since it blooms primarily on the last year's shoots, it is important to preserve them from cold or frost. To do this, we recommend covering young plants for the winter.

Firstly, within 2-3 years, the planted shrubs adapt to a new place, get used to the soil, winds, and the amount of sun received.

Secondly, transplanting a bush from a container into open ground is a kind of stress for him. Therefore, it is better to play it safe - to cover the plant for the winter. To do this, first we mulch the ground at the base of the bush with spruce branches or sawdust, and then we cover the branches with a special white agrofibre.

If you purchased a shrub with long branches, you must first gently bend them to the ground, secure with metal studs, and then cover them. Some gardeners use ordinary plastic vegetable boxes to keep young plants from strong wind or lots of snow. Such a simple shelter allows you to save the branches without breakage.

Mature shrubs of new varieties withstand quite low temperatures so it is not necessary to cover them.

Garden hydrangea planting and care have their own characteristics. To admire the beautiful and lush flowering, we will learn how to properly care for this plant.

There are many types and varieties of this ornamental shrub. Most of them prefer to grow in partial shade, but there are those who feel good 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 may have different shade. Height - 2 m. Requires shelter in winter, the maximum tolerates temperatures down to -10 ° C
• Chereshkovaya. Liana variety. It blooms with white-pink inflorescences. Requires support, otherwise it will spread along the ground. A good option for gazebos and arches.
• Treelike. Flowers are snow white. Height - up to 3 m. It looks very impressive, but it freezes in winter. The advantage is that the plant recovers quickly. Requires heavy 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. Bush height - 3-4 m. Unpretentious and frost-resistant variety.

Based on these species, many different varieties each one is beautiful in its own way. Depending on the type of hydrangea, they 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 hue. Soil with a high alkali content gives the flowers a pink or lilac color, acids - blue.

It is very important for a shrub bright lighting, but the scorching sun's rays are detrimental to him, as well as a 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 seedlings with organic matter. They will grow green mass, but are unlikely to bloom.

Landing in open ground

Hydrangea is a demanding flower. Therefore, 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-drained. Acidity can be adjusted independently with the help of special preparations. Depending on the variety, flowers can grow in partial shade or full sun. The best place for planting is light penumbra; plants will not bloom in strong shade.

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. The next layer is poured a little peat.

How and when to plant?

Landing is done in early spring or autumn. It depends on the climate of each region. In cold areas, it is better to plant 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 the spring, then annual shoots should be shortened by at least 3 buds.

In a seedling, it is desirable to slightly shorten the roots. When landing, make sure that root collar was not covered by earth. The planted bush is abundantly watered and mulched with peat. When watering, make sure that a strong stream of water does not wash away the soil near the roots.

As soon as new leaves appear on the plant, this indicates that the process of forming new roots is in full swing.

phantom hydrangea care

Hydrangea Phantom is one of the most beautiful of the paniculate family. It blooms profusely 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" in Latin means "yearning for water." The flower is very moisture-loving, so in no case should the soil dry out. Watering should be regular and plentiful. Once upper layer the soil dries out a little, the plant needs to be watered again. If the ground around the bush is mulched with peat, you can water less often, as 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 - the best time for feeding. In early spring, the plant needs nitrogen fertilizer, during the budding period - 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 and summer, once every 3-4 weeks, you need to loosen the ground to improve aeration.

How to transplant and prune?

The plant tolerates pruning well. If it is not cut, the bush will lose its decorative effect, and flowering will be weak. It is best to do this procedure in the spring, when the buds swell. If the bushes are too old, they can be easily updated by cutting them almost to the root.

All types of hydrangeas can be divided into two groups:

• To the first category includes those species and varieties whose flowers are formed on the shoots of the previous year (petiolate, prickly, large-leaved, serrated). 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 heavy pruning, all shoots should be shortened in early spring to 2-3 pairs of buds.

When the hydrangea is about 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 for 5 years will help to get a beautiful little tree.

Phantom hydrangea should be transplanted only in extreme cases. It grows well in the same place for years. Therefore, a transplant is justified if an adult bush needs to be divided into parts and planted in other places.

Flower care in autumn

Hydrangea Care garden autumn consists in pruning inflorescences, while removing at least 3 buds from the top of the shoot. This must be done so that suddenly falling wet snow does not freeze on them and break fragile branches. The base of the bushes should be high up, and the ground around them should be well mulched. This will protect the surface root system from frost.

How does hydrangea winter?

In conditions middle lane shrub tolerates winter well. But for safety, it is still better to cover it with spruce branches. In the northern regions, the flower is removed for the winter in a room with a positive temperature, since very coldy can destroy him.

Sometimes the bushes are neatly tied, wrapped with spunbond and a mesh frame is built near them. The space between the covering material and the mesh is filled with dry foliage. With the first breath 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 hydrangea cuttings. They are cut in spring from annual green shoots. Cut at a right angle. The length of the cuttings is no more than 12 cm. Leaves are removed from the lower part, treated with preparations to stimulate growth and planted in a greenhouse or boxes.

A good option is to propagate the flower by division. This can be done both in spring and autumn. The bush is carefully dug up and divided into 3-4 parts, so that each has several renewal buds. Blanks are planted in pre-marked places.

Also, without much effort, you can propagate hydrangea by layering. Young shoots are carefully bent to the ground, fixed and dug in with earth, leaving the top (about 20 cm). Already next spring or in autumn, layering with roots can be separated from mother plant and transplant.

Sometimes the shrub is propagated by seeds or grafting, but these are too time-consuming methods. Knowing how garden hydrangea breeds, you can choose in advance suitable way 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 need to buy new plants only in proven nurseries. Other causes of disease are overcrowded plantings, lack of nutrients and high humidity air.

Many fungal diseases can be combated with copper oxychloride.

One of the most common diseases is chlorosis. Due to the 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. You just need to design in advance its location at a decent distance from other plants. Over time, the bushes grow strongly, and they need a lot of space.

A flower can be planted as a soloist in the front garden if it is located on the north side of the house. When choosing companion hydrangeas in a mixborder, you need to take into account their features. Similar requirements for moisture, lighting and soil acidity in astilba, hosta, cuff. If the plot is large, you can plant a composition of several bushes. Their sprawling shape will create an expressive accent in the garden. Often these shrubs are used to limit garden areas.

Hydrangeas go well with different styles garden design, so everyone can grow them.

Hydrangea is a beautiful garden flowers with fluffy multi-colored caps. They are represented by several species: by the type of shrubs up to 3 m high, small trees and vines that can braid a tree up to 30 m in height. Hydrangea will bloom from spring to frost, delighting with its spherical inflorescences. However, there are species in which this time is shorter. - everything about her in the article!

Hydrangea planting rules

Hydrangea can be planted in early spring or autumn. In this case, the first option would be preferable. For hydrangeas, you need to choose the right landing site. It prefers acidic soil with good moisture. As for lighting, these flowers can feel comfortable both in the sun and in partial shade.

The whole landing process can be divided into several stages:

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

Basic rules for caring for hydrangea

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

Watering

Hydrangea is a moisture-loving plant that requires frequent watering. It should be plentiful, 15 - 20 liters for each adult bush. In hot weather, this should be done once a week. In hot and dry summers, you can increase up to two times a week. In this case, you need to focus on the condition of the soil, given how quickly it absorbs moisture and dries.

For irrigation, it is best to use settled soft water. room temperature. Periodically, a little potassium permanganate should be added to it, which will prevent the appearance of rot. Hydrangea should be watered in the morning or evening, when it is still not too hot.

top dressing

For good development and lush flowering hydrangeas need to be fed. Suitable for both organic and mineral fertilizers. It is especially important to use them during the period of intensive growth. You can buy ready-made fertilizers that are rich in magnesium and iron. A good composition is top dressing in the form of a solution of bird droppings with water in a ratio of 1:10 in combination with mineral composition from 20 g, 10 g of saltpeter and 10 g. You can use any slurry as a fertilizer, just follow the measure, otherwise the buds will be too large, because of which fragile branches can break.

It is necessary to fertilize hydrangea not only during planting, but periodically as it grows. The first such top dressing should be carried out at the end of May. It should be repeated after two weeks. You can fertilize flowers throughout the summer, but in August it is advisable to stop feeding so that the shoots can become woody by winter.

Mulching

Thanks to the mulching of the near-stem circle, the roots of the hydrangea will be protected from overheating and the rapid growth of weeds. You must first make an organic mulch consisting of wood chips or. It should be scattered in an even layer around the shrub. This will help make the soil more acidic, which is what hydrangeas need. This mulch will gradually become part of the soil.

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

pruning

Pruning is done on plants that have reached the age of 3 - 4 years. This should be done in early spring - before sap flow and bud break begin. If the procedure is carried out too early, the cut cuttings will be unsuitable for further rooting, and if too late, the plant may die. That is why it is important to prune when the buds just start to swell.

When pruning in adult plants, 3/4 of the height of each shoot should be cut with secateurs. At the same time, 2 - 3 pairs of kidneys should remain on them. Old bushes can be updated at the root. Everything will depend on the condition of the bush or tree. You need to cut off old or frozen shoots. During pruning, you can form a beautiful little tree with a certain shape. In the first year of hydrangea growth, its flowers should be removed, because. this will help more abundant flowering next year.

Preparing hydrangeas for winter

Hydrangea belongs to heat-loving plants, so it must be protected in winter time of the year. Young shoots need special protection and not enough winter-hardy varieties. If the bush is very young, you can simply cover it with earth, fallen leaves or sawdust from above. Older plants must be bent to the ground and covered with roofing material or lutrasil. To prevent the wind from blowing it away, you need to press down the covering material with bricks.

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

Reproduction of hydrangea

Hydrangea is propagated in several ways:

1. cuttings. Reproduction in this way is best done in mid-spring or early summer. As preparations it is necessary to use annual side shoots. They should be about 10-12 cm long. The cuttings should be cut at a right angle. From below, they need to remove the leaves.
   For rooting cuttings, you need to prepare the soil. For this, a light substrate is used, consisting of fertile soil, peat and sand.
   You need to plant cuttings in it, placing them at an angle. Each individual plant should be at a distance of 5 cm from each other. It will take about a month for the shoots to take root.
   
2. The division of the bush. You can breed both in spring and autumn. To do this, the plant must be dug up and divided into several parts so that each individual bush has a renewal bud. After that, the plant is simply planted in prepared places.
   
3. layering. To propagate hydrangeas by layering, you need to select young shoots that will not more than a year. They should be bent to the ground and dug in so that a small top of 20 cm remains on top. The next year, the shoot will take root and it can be separated from the main bush and planted in another place.
   
4. Seeds. This is a rather troublesome process, so this method of reproduction is rarely used. Seeds need to be grown at home. To do this, they are planted in pots and only lightly sprinkled with sand. They need to be watered frequently and fertilized as they grow.
   

Popular types of hydrangea

Before planting a hydrangea, you need to decide on the choice of a suitable species. Each of them has its own growing characteristics, which must be considered when planting and caring. The most popular among gardeners are: Hydrangea large-leaved, Hydrangea paniculata, Hydrangea petiolate, Hydrangea tree.

Large-leaved hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)

It will delight with flowering in July-August. Such a hydrangea has bright dense foliage. The shoots of the current year look grassy, ​​which is why the plant has a low cold resistance. Flowers are umbrella shaped. They can have a different color depending on the variety, the intensity of which depends on the acidity of the soil. The more acidic it is, the brighter the hydrangea will be. The height of the bush reaches up to 2 m.

Hydrangea paniculata (Hydrangea paniculata)

Blooms from mid-summer to the onset of cold weather. Inflorescences of this type have a pyramidal shape. They can reach a length of up to 30 cm. Paniculata hydrangea grows as a shrub that can reach a height of 5 m or as small tree up to 10 m. This species is considered more frost-resistant and unpretentious.

Hydrangea petiolaris (Hydrangea petiolaris)

It is a shrub vine. It will require an additional support, to which it will be attached with air suction cups. In length, it grows up to 25 m. This suitable look for planting near arches and arbors. Inflorescences are corymbose up to 25 cm in size.

Hydrangea tree (Hydrangea arborescens)

It grows up to 3 meters in height. The flowers are predominantly white or cream in color. There are several varieties of this species, differing in different colors. In winter, the plant can freeze slightly, so it must be carefully wrapped. In April, the bushes need to be severely cut. The flowers grow in large fluffy clusters.

Ground cover hydrangea (Hydrangea heteromalla)

It is also called the Bretschneider hydrangea. This species is considered frost-resistant and unpretentious. The bush reaches 2 - 3 m in height. Inflorescences are corymbose here. At first they are white, and at the end of flowering they become pink. Such a hydrangea blooms in mid-summer.

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

Hydrangea - worthy decoration of any garden, its spectacular bushes will close an unsightly structure or fence, and will become the central link of any composition. Hydrangea in the Moscow region is one of the most grateful plants. Minimal care is needed, it does not require shelter for the winter (with the exception of large-leaved), but blooms for about two months.

Planting hydrangeas in open ground

Hydrangea belongs to those cultures proper fit which allows in the future to pay minimal attention to plants. The main thing when planting hydrangeas in the ground is to properly prepare the soil and the planting hole.

Soil for planting hydrangeas

All types of hydrangeas work great on acidic soils, on peat. Therefore, I prepare the soil on the basis of peat, to which I add two buckets of compost, half a glass of kemira and 1 tbsp. superphosphate. If it is possible to collect sphagnum moss and pine needles in the forest, the hydrangea will be grateful. I cut moss and pine needles with scissors 3-5 cm each and mix with the soil.

planting hole for hydrangeas

For planting, I dig a hole 70 * 70 * 70, put drainage at the bottom in the form broken brick, expanded clay or sand with stones. If a ground water are not close, you can do without drainage. If the soil on the site is not peat, then the landing pit is prepared a little bigger size. If there is clay on the site, the boundaries of the pit are laid out over the entire depth with a layer of double roofing material so that the clay does not tighten the peat.

Planting time for hydrangeas

Hydrangea tolerates the transplant so calmly that it can be planted throughout the season until mid-August. You can pamper a hydrangea once organic fertilizer. Mulching will help retain moisture for a long time and nutrients in the soil.

Planting hydrangea seedlings

Hydrangea is planted so that the root neck of the seedling is at the level of the soil, without deepening. Before planting, I soak the seedlings for a day in a solution of sodium humate for a day so that the pot is completely immersed in water. This technique helps plants to absorb water and not lack it during adaptation in a new place.

If the seedlings are packaged, you need to carefully examine the roots, straighten them, cut off dry or rotten ones. In seedlings with a closed root system, the roots must be torn apart by hand or with a chopper, otherwise they may not want to leave the store substrate.

Hydrangea Care

Hydrangea is not demanding in care. Basically, it needs shading from the scorching sun and timely watering.

Hydrangea care after planting

After planting, hydrangeas need abundant watering, and if selected sunny place, you need shading from the sun in the first 2 weeks. To do this, you can install arcs and throw a non-woven fabric over them, leaving the butt on the south side open for ventilation.

Hydrangea care in spring

In the spring I spend mulching with compost with the addition of sphagnum and pine needles. At the end of May, I feed all types of hydrangeas with herbal infusion in a ratio of 1/10, I pre-irrigate with water so as not to burn the roots. I don't do any more dressings.

If the hydrangea develops slowly, you can carry out foliar top dressing on the leaves with the same infusion of the herb. Foliar top dressing is carried out after the root one, so that the roots can provide nutrition for active vegetation.

Hydrangea care in summer

In the heat, the bushes need abundant watering, usually I spend 2 buckets of water per adult bush. A large-leaved hydrangea planted in the sun on hot, sultry days requires watering twice a day.

Hydrangea care in autumn

In the fall, I water with a solution of superphosphate so that the young shoots ripen properly, this is especially important for large-leaved hydrangea.

Hydrangea pruning

Hydrangea pruning is a must. Depending on the purpose of pruning, it can be done in spring, summer, autumn and just before winter. The timing and degree of pruning will depend on the type of hydrangea. For large-leaved, panicled and tree hydrangea There are rules for pruning.

Hydrangea pruning dates

Hydrangea inflorescences are able to persist until frost, so pruning is started either immediately after frost damage, which may already be at the very beginning of autumn, or after flowering, but no later than early October. This is done with paniculate and tree-like hydrangeas, they are pruned in the fall, due to the fact that they bloom once.

Large-leaved hydrangeas bloom continuously throughout the season, starting from mid-June, so they are pruned as the peduncle dries.
In the Moscow region, hydrangeas are pruned after flowering, usually in mid-September.

Proper hydrangea pruning

With pruning, it is better not to delay, the timely removal of inflorescences stimulates the blooming of new lush peduncles. In large-leaved hydrangea, only one inflorescence is cut in front of the second leaf. Such pruning is carried out both in summer and autumn, while maintaining the maximum length of the stem, on which flowering buds of the next year are formed.

Formative pruning is important for paniculate and tree hydrangeas. It can be combined with pruning of inflorescences if it is carried out in late autumn.

Pruning hydrangeas in spring and autumn

Early formative pruning, done immediately after flowering, is not recommended, it can cause active vegetation, which is undesirable before frost. Formative pruning is carried out either in early October in the conditions of the Moscow region, or in late April - early May. During such pruning, small branches are completely removed, as well as branches growing inside the bush. During pruning, make sure that the bush retains a rounded proportional shape. When pruning for lush flowering, only skeletal branches are usually left, the branches of an adult bush can be painlessly shortened by 20 or even 30 cm. The lower branches that touch the ground are also cut off.

Young bushes are cut in the spring to a strong bud, as a rule, these are 3 and 4 buds from the end of the branch.

Sometimes gardeners ask if the inflorescences of paniculate and tree hydrangeas need pruning before winter. Such pruning is really needed, because a significant amount of snow sticks to the left inflorescences, as a result, the branches break and the bush loses its decorative effect.

garden hydrangea often grown in summer cottages. Her varieties differ among themselves in a variety of shapes and tones. This flower has a long flowering period, lasting from July to autumn. Hydrangea belongs to perennials and is often used in landscape design. The article details the hydrangea garden planting and care behind the flower, presented a photo popular types.

Types and varieties of hydrangeas

There are a large number of varieties of this ornamental shrub. Most often, hydrangeas prefer to grow in partial shade, some varieties feel good in sunlit areas. The size and flowering period of the shrub depends on the variety.

The most common types

Large-leaved (Hydrangea macrophylla). This variety blooms in the second half of summer. The flowering period falls on July - August. Inflorescences are lush spherical in shape. Flowers white, pink, blue tint form inflorescences up to 20 cm in diameter. Plant height 2 meters. It should be covered for the winter, since large-leaved hydrangea can tolerate temperatures not lower than -10 degrees.

Petiolate hydrangea (Hydrangea petiolaris). It is a kind of creeper. Flowers are white-pink.

The plant is suitable for decorating arbors, arches. When growing, a support is required, otherwise it will spread along the ground.

Hydrangea tree (Hydrangea petiolaris). This species has many varieties. Bushes are tall, up to 3 m. Sheet plates oval, up to 20 cm long. Flowers are collected in large inflorescences. In winter, this species is subject to freezing, after which it quickly recovers and blooms well. To maintain the bushes in proper form, in April it is required to produce a strong, almost under the root, pruning.

Hydrangea paniculata (Hydrangea paniculata). Shrubs of this variety bloom from mid-summer to late autumn. Inflorescences have a pyramidal shape up to 30 cm long and consist of flowers from pale green to white color. At the end of summer, the flowers change their color to a dull purple. Plant height - from 2 to 5 m, can grow in the form of a small tree up to 1 m. This species is unpretentious in care and resistant to frost.

Landing and care

Landing and care for the plant is carried out according to special rules. It is best to plant hydrangeas in late spring or early autumn:

• The site for landing should be chosen in advance. For growing flowers, acidic, sufficiently moist soil is perfect. You can plant flowers both in a well-lit place and in the shade.
• To plant a hydrangea in a bush in open ground, a depression of about 60 cm should be made, with a diameter of about 0.5 m.
• Between the bushes, a gap of at least 1.5 m should be observed. proper care hydrangea will take large area than when landing.
• It is recommended to fill the recesses with a mixture that will include peat, sand, soil, humus (1:1:2:2), as well as fertilizers.

As a fertilizer, you can use a mixture of:

• 20 g of potassium sulfide;
• 20 grams of urea;
• 60 g of granular superphosphate;
• 10 kg of humus.

Advice! It is forbidden to add lime to the composition of the mixture, since this substance has a detrimental effect on the growth and development of hydrangeas.

When planting, you should carefully monitor that the root neck of the plant is located at ground level. After planting in open ground flower hydrangea should be well watered.

Watering

Soft water is used for watering hydrangeas, the best option- rainwater, since such a liquid does not contain lime in its composition. Water taken from the water supply must be defended before use, and this procedure does not always help fight leaf chlorosis. Each plant should receive at least 2 buckets of water per week. Watering is best done in the morning or evening, when the sun is no longer so bright.

The plant is moisture-loving, so after watering the soil should be mulched so that the soil retains moisture as long as possible. Pine needles, peat or sawdust are suitable for mulching.

What and how to feed hydrangea?

If a special plant was used during planting soil mix, then the hydrangea will not need to be fed for several years. If the soil is not fertile enough, then the inflorescences of the shrub will differ small size. As a top dressing, you can use products produced by an industrial method, these include:

• Aqua;
• Agricola;
• Crystal.

Fertilizer for top dressing can also be made independently.

• 10 g of urea;
• 15 g of superphosphate;
• 15 g of potassium sulfate, all these substances must be dissolved in 15 liters of water.

The second top dressing is carried out after the first buds have appeared. For this, a solution is used:

• 20 g of superphosphates;
• 20 g of potassium sulfide;
• dissolved in 15 liters of water.

Feeding hydrangeas should be carried out 2 times a month. You can apply fertilizer for heather, azaleas, rhododendrons. The use of ash is prohibited. Nitrogen fertilizers should be used with extreme caution.

Attention! Poor winter hardiness of flowers can be provoked by fertilizing with nitrogen substances. Also, overfeeding with nitrogen-containing fertilizers can lead to the appearance of diseases in plants, since the turgor of the stems is weakened.

Watch the video! How to Achieve Gorgeous Hydrangea Blooms

How to cover a hydrangea for the winter?

As a covering material for the winter for hydrangea bushes, you can use spruce branches, dry leaves. From above, the plant is covered with a box or box. A large number of varieties of hydrangeas do not need shelter. However, it is recommended to carefully monitor the descent of snow masses from the roof, since hydrangea shoots are very fragile.

How to change the color of hydrangea?

Hydrangea flowers can change color depending on the acidity of the soil. To obtain blue and blue inflorescences, it is necessary to apply iron salts and alum to the area twice a month. If you add these substances only on one side, you can get a bush that simultaneously consists of blue and pink flowers.

reproduction

Summer residents and amateur gardeners most often use dividing the bush and cuttings to propagate hydrangeas. At large plant dig around 15 cm from the stem. Undermining is best done on moist soil with a pitchfork. After that, the bush is taken out and cut with a knife or shovel.

Harvesting cuttings is best in April-June. To do this, annual shoots are cut at a right angle, which have a length of 10-12 cm. Leaves are removed from the bottom of the cutting and treated with growth stimulants, after which the cutting is planted in a special, fertile soil mixture in a breeding bed in a greenhouse. In the first winter, it is recommended to cover the plant from frost, and cut the flowers.

By dividing the bush

It is recommended to propagate hydrangeas by dividing the bush in spring or autumn months. To do this, the plant is dug up and divided into several parts so that each separated bush has a renewal bud, after which it is planted in a previously prepared place.

layering

For propagation by layering, a shoot that is more than 1 year old is bent to the ground and dug in, leaving only upper part up to 20 cm. spring or autumn next year the rooted shoot is separated from the mother bush and transplanted.

How to prune a hydrangea?

The formation of a hydrangea bush should begin 2-3 years after planting, because without pruning the plant looks ugly. Pruning is recommended in early autumn or in the spring months before the start of sap flow. Each variety of shrub has its own pruning features.

In a tree-like hydrangea, weak and twisted branches, as well as three-year-old shoots, are removed to the base. Young growths are shortened, leaving only a few buds.

At paniculate hydrangea shoots growing inside the crown, as well as young growths, are shortened by 1-3 buds. Some owners summer cottages and gardeners form clearstem tree based on the strongest escape. To do this, it is driven out to 70-100 cm and all shoots located on the side are cut off, after which a spherical crown is formed.

At large-leaved hydrangea pruning of shoots is required in early autumn, as they interfere with sheltering the plant for the winter. In the spring months, frozen and broken shoots are removed for sanitary purposes.

Diseases and pests

The most common disease among all types of hydrangeas is chlorosis. This disease develops due to excess lime or humus in the soil. To eliminate chlorosis, it is required to water the bushes with a solution of potassium nitrate and blue vitriol, it is necessary to carry out this procedure in turn, observing the interval between watering in 3 days. For the treatment of hydrangeas, the drug Brexil, Agricol is used.

Excessive air humidity is the main reason for the appearance of downy mildew in the plant. As a treatment, you can use the treatment of leaves with a solution of copper sulfate with the addition of soap.

Aphids from the foliage of the shrub can be driven away with the help of garlic tincture. For cooking garlic infusion use 200 g of minced garlic added to 1 bucket of water. The solution should be infused for about 2 days, after which 40 g should be added to it. laundry soap. It is recommended to spray the hydrangea with the resulting mixture every 5 to 7 days until the aphids are completely destroyed. You can also use drugs Fitoverm, Aktellik.

Hydrangea, in general, has a fairly stable immunity against viruses and diseases.

landscape design

Hydrangea bushes are suitable for growing individually and in a group. If the entrance to the front garden is located on north side you can safely plant plants. It should also be remembered that over time, hydrangeas will need more space, about 1.5 m.

Plants for mixborders should be selected with the same care requirements. The following varieties are suitable for combination:

• cuffs;
• Black cohosh;
• Astilbes;
• Hosts.

Compositions of hydrangea and giant hosta look very expressive (Andorian, Candy Dish, Impress Wu).

For large areas, it is best to use mixborder compositions that include 3 or more hydrangea bushes in the border. Hydrangeas, with their spreading forms, allow you to create a unique undulating accent in the garden, while perfectly emphasizing the scope of the garden. Hydrangeas can be used in a mixborder as a natural delimitation of the garden area from the recreation area. The bushes have a height that does not interfere with extending the visual projection deep into the garden, while leaving the effect of zoning.

Hydrangeas with their expressive appearance bring joy for many years. These plants are suitable for decorating gardens in various styles. Flowers are unpretentious in care, do not require constant watering and a special place for growing. By planting such a beautiful plant in your garden, you can enjoy its beauty for many years.

Watch the video! Hydrangea: care, planting, pruning