Where to plant hydrangea in the garden. Growing hydrangea in the garden

The garden is transformed when the garden hydrangea blooms. Planting and care, how difficult are they? Very beautiful plant! This plant has another name - macrophylla hydrangea (hydrangea macrophylla). Gardeners all over the world rightly consider it one of the most beautiful flowering plants. These are real aristocrats who reign in the gardens all summer. It is simply impossible to pass by the magnificent flowering hydrangea bush indifferently! The variety and beauty of the shades of its flowers is truly amazing. Back in the middle of the 20th century. All varieties of this species were characterized by low frost resistance: they could withstand frosts only down to -10°C. Therefore, hydrangea lovers had to be content with their smaller indoor “copies”.

Photo of blooming hydrangea:

Abundant flowering of the bush, photo

Over the past 20 years, breeders have been actively working on breeding frost-resistant varieties hydrangeas that could withstand temperatures 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. The 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 gains strength, they acquire bright blue, pink, lilac, purple, and snow-white shades. Depending on the variety, it blooms from early June to October.

Hydrangea bush, photo

Among the blooming ornamental shrubs, which are used for landscaping gardens, parks and summer cottages, hydrangea is the undisputed leader in terms of flowering time. This period lasts for the plant on average about two months.

Planting hydrangeas: how to choose the best place

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

What does garden hydrangea like? How to grow hydrangea so that it brings joy? Unlike most species, the garden one prefers partial shade. The best place for hydrangea in the garden - one that is illuminated by the sun from morning to noon. This shrub grows well and develops near the house or small garden buildings, which 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 taken into account that the less light falls on the area where the plant is planted, the later flowering occurs, the fewer inflorescences there will be.

IN landscape design hydrangeas are most often used as tapeworms on small green lawns, and low varieties look very beautiful and elegant as hedge along the curbs. A hedge of bushes looks especially bright and elegant if you select 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 the plant is planted at the entrance of a house or gazebo, where they look very festive and elegant. This shrub also looks great and feels great on the banks of small natural or artificial reservoirs, since its decorative effect is doubled 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 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 will 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 ground thaws and warms up well.

In more northern regions best timing for planting it 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. It’s 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 the nursery

What kind of soil does hydrangea like?

This shrub prefers slightly to moderately acidic soils. However, on garden plots they are not always found, so before planting the shrub, prepare a special mixture to fill the planting hole from equal parts leaf and turf 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 a very moisture-loving plant, it’s not for nothing that it is called hydrangea in Latin.

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

Hydrangea fertilizer, fertilizing, what to fertilize

In the spring, before the buds appear, like most flowering plants, it requires complex fertilizer, in particular nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, and essential microelements. Fertilizer and fertilizing are required if you expect lush, long flowering bush.

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

How to care for garden hydrangea? Garden hydrangea will respond with gratitude to such care: watering it with sour milk - whey, kefir, yogurt. The serum can be sprayed on the leaves a couple of times a season. It was already mentioned above that the plant prefers slightly or moderately acidic soils. And if the soil in your garden is neutral, then watering with sour dairy products or spraying with whey will result in more abundant flowering and the bushes will become more luxuriant.

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 and flexibility to the branches.

Pruning hydrangea: is it necessary?

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

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

Caring for hydrangea in the fall, preparing for winter

Since it blooms first of all on 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 the new location, get used to the soil, winds, and the amount of sun they receive.

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

If you purchased a bush with long branches, you must first carefully bend them to the ground, secure them with metal pins, and then cover them. Some gardeners use ordinary plastic vegetable boxes to protect young plants from strong winds or large quantity snow. Such a simple shelter allows you to preserve the branches without breaking.

Mature shrubs of new varieties can withstand quite low temperatures, so there is no need to cover them.

It is not easy to resist the enchanting beauty of hydrangea. Lush bushes with large inflorescences of a wide variety of colors decorate the garden until autumn. Most often grown deciduous species plants, but there are also evergreen varieties that, even in winter, will be full of bright leaves against the backdrop of snowdrifts.

flowering shrub It has an easy-going nature and if planted correctly, care will be minimal. How to do this and when to plant hydrangea so that it pleases with its flowering?

Boarding time

Most often they are planted in the ground in the spring, in early May. There is an opinion among flower growers that spring planting allows you to get a stronger and healthier bush. Over the summer it will grow and mature, the branches will become woody and will easily survive the winter.

However, if the seedlings are healthy and have a well-developed root system, they can be planted in the fall. But this should be done no later than September, otherwise the bushes will not have time to take root before the onset of stable frosts.

For planting, it is better to choose seedlings that are at least 3 years old. Younger hydrangea takes root extremely reluctantly and gets sick more often.

Where to plant?

Hydrangea is one of those plants that will grow even better in light shade than in bright sun. The eastern or western side of the site along the house or outbuildings is the most the best option shrub planting. There he will not suffer from scorching sun rays and draft.

What kind of soil does hydrangea like?

The plant has one requirement for the soil: it must be acidic. When a flower is grown in alkaline or neutral soil, it begins to suffer from chlorosis and develops poorly.

Based on this, adding lime to the ground during planting is strictly prohibited.

If the soil on the site is slightly acidic, before planting you can add one of the following components:

• sawdust;
• brown peat;
• coniferous land.

How to plant?

When planting seedlings, it is worth considering that hydrangea grows greatly, so the distance between them must be at least 1 m. Dig a hole up to 50 cm deep and with the same diameter. Add a little humus and sand to this soil and pour it back into the hole, forming a mound in the center. Place the seedling on it, straighten the roots and sprinkle with soil so that the root collar protrudes slightly above the soil surface.

We describe planting and caring for hydrangea in spring and autumn (tree-like, large-leaved (garden), paniculate and petiolate). Consider the location, soil, planting rules and step by step instructions, as well as watering, fertilizing, pruning and preparing for winter (Moscow region, North-West, Urals, Siberia and southern regions).

Planting hydrangea in open ground: location, soil, distance and depth

The plant is heat-loving, fast-growing and needs fertile soil and sufficient moisture.

We describe planting in open ground for any type of hydrangea: oak-leaved, large-leaved (garden), paniculate, serrate, tree-like, petiolate, Sargent and others.

Landing location

Hydrangea (all types) is a light-loving plant; it grows well in sunny and open place, but bright sun and strong wind should be avoided. Therefore, at the peak of the heat, light shading is necessary; she really loves diffused light.

At the same time, the shrub is able to grow well in light partial shade; in this case, it blooms later with fewer flowers. The presence of sunlight in the morning, in the first half of the day, is very important. Therefore, the eastern side is better suited than the western side.

Soil and acidity

Hydrangea grows well on fertile, humus-rich soils. clay soils. It develops worse on red soils, and sandy soils- contraindicated.

The optimal acidity level is pH 5.2-6.0 (slightly acidic soil). The maximum brightness of inflorescences is observed precisely on acidic soil, and on neutral soil they develop slowly and are pale in color.

Alkaline soil leads to chlorosis (yellowing of leaves). When a bush grows on alkaline soil, there is often a lack of iron and magnesium, which is manifested by light and pale color of the leaves.

Therefore, acidify the soil or treat the bush with iron chelate. In past centuries, gardeners buried iron objects (nails, a jar, a horseshoe).

When planting, prepare a special balanced soil mixture with fertilizers.

Soil mixture

Compound: humus, turf land, leaf soil and peat – equal parts or humus, garden soil (chernozem), peat and sand – 2:2:1:1. And also nutrients: 20-25 g (tablespoon + teaspoon) of carbamide (urea), 24-29 g of potassium sulfate (two tablespoons) and 60-70 g of superphosphate (150-250 g of bone meal).

If spruce and pine trees grow nearby, then you can dig up light, loose and slightly acidic soil under them. Some gardeners successfully grow flowers in such soil, even without applying fertilizers during planting.

Complete ban on lime, chalk and wood ash.

Landing distance

Large-leaved - 120-160 cm, and paniculate - 140-240 cm between bushes, and from the nearest large shrubs and trees - 230-300 cm. If you want to plant hydrangea in a row (hedge, “mixborder”), then you can dig a trench wide 90-110 cm.

If you want to achieve earlier flowering, then when planting, dig holes closer to each other (70-80 cm), and after 2-3 years, thin out the bushes if necessary.

Planting pit

Depth – 36-45, width – 51-65 cm. The roots grow mainly in breadth, extending much further than the crown.

Planting depth

The root collar should be located at soil level, a maximum of 2-3 cm lower, otherwise the flower will develop poorly.

Step-by-step instructions for planting hydrangeas

1. Dig a hole the right size 15-30 days before planting.
2. Prepare the soil mixture and fill the planting hole.
3. Dig a hole and place the seedling on a cone of soil mixture required depth and spread out the roots. Gradually fill the hole and compact the soil.
4. Water the bush with 8-12 liters of water and sprinkle with bark, sawdust or peat - 6-8 cm thick and 16-20 cm in diameter.
5. Cover the flower from direct sunlight during the day and strong winds.

When is the best time to plant hydrangea? Spring or autumn?

The best planting time: spring - early May and autumn - September. At the same time, the most favorable period To plant hydrangea in cold climates - only in spring, but in more southern regions it can be planted in spring and autumn.

Caring for hydrangea after planting

Preparing for flowering

For the first two years, cut off the inflorescences at the bud (pea) stage. And then the plant will direct all its forces to the development of the root system and above-ground parts, which will ensure better flowering in subsequent years.

• Watering, fertilizing, pruning and preparing for winter - see the relevant sections.

Caring for garden hydrangea: growing secrets

Caring for a flower consists of watering, fertilizing, pruning and preparing for winter. Spring is the best time to add mulch to the tree trunk for greater moisture retention. Spread sawdust, peat, pine needles or wood chips in a 7-8 cm layer, with a diameter of 24-30 cm.

Top dressing

When planting hydrangeas in a soil mixture with fertilizers, you do not need to feed them for the first two years. General rule fertilize until July with acidic fertilizers (ammonium sulfate, potassium sulfate), and from July to October with potassium-phosphorus fertilizers (bone meal, superphosphate).

The plant's need for nutrients oh so tall, how quickly it grows and blooms powerfully.

1. Complex nutrition for growth. In early - mid-May, feed with complex mineral fertilizer - 25-35 grams per 10 liters of water. Or separately a tablespoon (15 g) of urea + 25-30 g of superphosphate (2 tablespoons) and a tablespoon (15 g) of potassium sulfate.
   Mineral fertilizers can be supplemented with organic fertilizers: infusion of mullein or bird droppings - 1:10. Repeat feeding after 13-16 days.
2. Potassium-phosphorus fertilizer for flowering. 12-16 days before flowering (beginning - mid-June), liquid fertilizing is carried out: dissolve 65-75 g of superphosphate and 41-49 g of potassium sulfate in water and water the bush.
3. During flowering. Repeat the previous feeding at the time of mass flowering to prolong it and ensure the formation of new flower buds.

• It is not recommended to use wood ash for feeding. Fertilizers are well suited for heather species and rhododendron.
• Avoid excess nitrogen, which leads to reduced winter hardiness, poor flowering and promotes the development of rot. Apply only in April - May.
• Important! An excess of fertilizers, especially organic ones (mullein, manure) will bring more harm than a disadvantage.

Watering hydrangea

The flower is moisture-loving and needs regular watering. Drought is contraindicated; lack of sufficient moisture leads to impaired development.

In dry and hot weather, water every 7-8 days with 15-20 liters of water. The usual schedule is 15-25 liters of water every 13-16 days, and if there is a rainy summer, then 4-5 times per season.

Lack of moisture in the fall reduces the winter hardiness of the plant, so if there is little rain in the fall, additional watering is required.

Periodically add 2-3 grams of potassium permanganate to the water for irrigation to prevent the development of rot. Soft water is best for irrigation.

It is better to water in the morning or evening near the tree trunk, when there is no scorching sun. After each watering, it is advisable to loosen the soil 5-6 cm deep around the plant.

Proper pruning of hydrangea: spring and autumn

All species tolerate pruning well and need it, but each has its own characteristics. Pruning in spring can only be done from 3-4 years of age. The most common types of hydrangeas in Russian gardens are divided into two groups according to the type of pruning.

Group No. 1 (large-leaved (garden), prickly, serrated, oak-leaved, Sargent and petiolate hydrangea)

These species bloom on last year's shoots and require sanitary and cosmetic pruning. Optimal time prunings - as soon as the buds have swollen a little, there is no active movement of juices, plus such pruned shoots can be rooted. Let's use the example of garden hydrangea.

Large-leaved hydrangea (macrophila) cannot be pruned, but can only be rejuvenated. Every spring, prune every fourth branch older than 3 years, especially those growing inward, so that the bush does not thicken, as well as dead, weak (thin) or broken stems at the root. This pruning, in addition to giving a more decorative shape, improves flowering.

Spring pruning of garden hydrangea (large-leaved)

Exception: modern varieties from the “Forever and ever”, “You&Me” series, as well as the “MiniPenny” varieties, which bloom on the shoots of the first and previous years. They are pruned depending on the condition of the plant and the past winter.

• Petiolate hydrangea is lightly pruned: long stems are shortened for better branching.

Group No. 2 (tree-like and paniculate)

These species, which bloom on young shoots (current season), are pruned every year before the buds open. Best time: mid-late March (as soon as the snow has melted). Annual formative pruning is required, since if the flower thickens, the inflorescences will become smaller.

1. Hydrangea tree is the first to wake up. The shoots are cut to 2-3 buds from the ground. On a powerful and mature bush, sometimes only one pair of buds is left. To form a decorative shape of the bush, shoots that are weak and growing inward are pruned.
2. Hydrangea paniculata needs more gentle pruning. Last year's shoots are shortened by a third.

Adviсe

• To thin out the bush, remove completely every year old, weak and inward-growing shoots.
• Trim frozen stems to the first living bud.

Bush rejuvenation

It is easy to rejuvenate an old bush using special pruning: cut all shoots at a height of 5-7 cm from ground level (“under the stump”) or to the level of perennial wood. Next spring, young shoots will begin to grow, and the decorative appearance of the bush will be restored.

Should I prune my hydrangea for the winter?

In the fall, faded inflorescences of hydrangeas must be cut off so that the branches do not break under the weight of snow.

Standard form

Hydrangea paniculata can be grown as a tree - a low standard. Select one most developed shoot on a two-year-old plant grown from apical cuttings, and cut off the rest. Then prune this shoot to the strongest bud every year in the spring until it reaches 100 cm in height.

To form a crown in subsequent years, pinch the top of the shoot, and new shoots are removed completely. In the future, weak shoots are cut off annually and only 4-5 strongest branches are left for bushiness.

An example of the standard form of paniculata hydrangea

Caring for hydrangea in autumn and preparing for winter

After flowering, caring for hydrangea in the fall consists of removing faded inflorescences and preparing for winter.

• Tree hydrangea does not need to be covered for the winter; mulching is enough - it has high winter hardiness.
• In the conditions of the Middle Zone, the Moscow region, the North-West, the Urals and Siberia, be sure to cover the hydrangea for the winter, and it is better to dig up large-leaved hydrangea, replant it in pots and bring it into the house.
  Because the this type can be grown in areas where the winter temperature is not lower than -23.5 °C. The exception is some modern winter-hardy varieties mentioned in the “pruning” section.
• In more southern and warmer areas, you can get by with hilling and mulching.

Preparing for winter and covering hydrangeas

Inflorescences appear on last year's shoots (large-leaved hydrangea), and the goal is to completely preserve them from frost and damping off.

Since the leaves and flowers of large-leaved hydrangea are killed by light frosts at night, preparations for winter begin in mid-to-late October (after the first frost).

• Garden paniculata and large-leaved hydrangea must be covered for the winter.

1. To do this, the bush is covered with earth, and the tree trunk circle is mulched with rotted manure, pine needles or peat.
2. Then the stems are bent to the soil and covered with sawdust, spruce branches or dry leaves. And a box (box) is placed on top of the bush.
3. After graduation spring frosts(April) the winter shelter is dismantled and pruning is done.
4. It is better to carefully tie a large bush and make a frame shelter over it (“hut”) 8-12 cm higher than it and pour dry leaves inside it.

Preparing hydrangea for winter

During short-term frosts, it is convenient to cover with lutrasil, white burlap or a double layer of film.

Shelter for large-leaved hydrangea for the winter from a gardener from the Moscow region

1. In the fall, before night frosts arrive, cut off all the leaves from the bush. If you leave them, the flower will begin to rot. Leave only flower buds at the tips of the branches, a maximum of two leaves protecting them.
2. Tie all the branches on the bush, 3-4 pieces of approximately the same size, into separate bundles with elastic material (elastic band, tights, strips of fabric).
3. Bend the bundles as low as possible to the soil and secure with metal brackets (electrodes, thick wire). You need to bend the hydrangea to the ground carefully so as not to damage the shoots. In some varieties they become very lignified and it is better to bend them down gradually, starting with a slight slope.
4. Before the start of cold weather (mid-November), cover the hydrangea with any non-woven material(burlap, agrofibre).
5. Before the onset of severe frosts, remove the cover and cover the flower with dry peat, compost or leaf soil. The base of the bush is less afraid of frost than the fragile tips of the shoots, so it is sprinkled with very little.
6. Place arcs over the plant and pull the covering material again, and place a piece of film on top so that the ends remain open and there is no high humidity inside winter shelter.

Shelter for the winter of young hydrangea

Young seedlings are not pruned, but are simply brought into the house for the winter in pots or covered with earth and additionally covered for the winter with an 11-16 cm layer of peat, dry leaves, pine needles or sawdust.

When can you open hydrangeas after winter?

In spring, you need to remove the winter cover from the hydrangea at the appropriate time to prevent the shoots from damping off.

1. In mid-March, remove the film and covering material, rake out the peat or soil and cover again with burlap.
2. In early April, when the night frosts end and stable warmth sets in, remove the cover from the large-leaved hydrangea completely.

Approximate dates for the Moscow region are indicated.

Winter hardiness of hydrangea

Now large-leaved hydrangea is increasingly grown in conditions middle zone Russia and the Moscow region, the Urals and Siberia. However, not all winter-hardy varieties are able to bloom in any area due to different microclimates.

The plant can withstand temperatures down to -23 °C, and the most winter-hardy are tree, paniculate and ground cover hydrangeas.

The winter hardiness of a plant increases if it receives sufficient quantity water, as well as potassium-phosphorus fertilizing.

Diseases and pests

Hydrangea is very resistant to diseases and pests, but sometimes it is still affected powdery mildew, spider mite and aphids (usually in closed ground).

Why doesn't hydrangea bloom in the garden? What to do?

We will list the most common reasons for the lack of flowering.

1. Deficiency or excess of nutrients, especially nitrogen. With excessive fertilizing, especially with organic fertilizers, flowering is very difficult to achieve. Apply nitrogen only during the active growing season (April - May).
2. Improper pruning or winterization. The plant blooms on last year's shoots (upper buds). They often suffer from winter cold and are sometimes removed if over-pruned. If you have a large-leaved hydrangea, then read how to prune it correctly - the “Pruning” section.
3. Excessive direct sunlight. Diffused light is ideal for hydrangea, but if it grows in a sunny place without shading in the midday heat, flowering deteriorates and is shortened.

How to speed up hydrangea flowering?

To make the bush bloom faster, spray it as soon as the inflorescences become 2-4 cm in diameter twice with an interval of 5-7 days with gibberellins - 50 mg/liter of water. This treatment allows you to bloom 2-4 weeks earlier and get more widespread and decorative flowering.

How to change the color of hydrangea flowers?

The flowers of the plant can change their color depending on the acidity of the soil and the ability to accumulate aluminum.

Water the bush with a solution of potassium alum (100 g/10 liters of water). To change color, you need to carry out 3-4 waterings every 12-15 days. Therefore, they begin to water 50-70 days before flowering.

After this, white or pink flowers(slightly alkaline soil) will turn blue or blue, depending on the concentration. At the same time, alum reduces acidity, so you need to use it carefully. The price of 100 grams of alum is about 30-50 rubles.

• If you want to dry hydrangea inflorescences for the winter, cut them off immediately after all the flowers bloom. Tie into small bundles and hang with flowers down in a dark place to dry.
• Hydrangea can be grown at home as a potted plant. In the fall it sheds its leaves, for the winter it is cut off and moved to a cool place (+4-6), and in late February - early March it is placed in a bright and warm place without direct sunlight. In summer, the flower can be taken out open air and leave until September.
• Experts advise planting ground cover species in the tree trunk: sedum, mossy saxifrage and others.

ADDITIONS TO THE ARTICLE:

We wish that flowers lift your spirits and make you a little happier!

Garden hydrangea is called large-leaved hydrangea. This is the most common type, although many gardeners do not dare to grow it in the gardens of the middle zone. The reasons for this attitude towards garden hydrangea are:

In addition, autumn and spring frosts sometimes flower buds are damaged, and then hydrangeas do not bloom.

Although it should be noted that most hydrangeas tolerate cold winters well under cover.

In recent years, frost-resistant varieties have appeared that can withstand temperatures down to -35 degrees.

Large-leaved hydrangea loves acidic soils. Take a closer look at which plants grow happily on your site, and you will determine the degree of acidity of the fertile layer: pine, spruce, horsetail, strawberries, buttercup, sorrel and sorrel will indicate acidic soil.

This plant with luxurious pyramidal inflorescences is the most unpretentious plant among his sisters.

She feels great in open sunny places, but agrees to grow in slight shade, as long as there is no wind.

It is not particularly demanding on soils: it grows on sandy, well-moistened soils and on clay soils (but provided that high-quality drainage is organized).

Hydrangea paniculata is not very demanding on soil acidity. Only excessively alkaline ones depress it.

Planting hydrangeas

If you received a seedling in late autumn, it will have to winter at home:

• small - on a window with good natural light;
• large - in a frost-free cellar.

The best time to plant hydrangeas is early spring. The planting hole is prepared 2-3 weeks before planting.

Before you begin planting, you must complete the following steps:

• Shorten the roots slightly.
• Trim annual shoots, leaving 3-4 pairs of buds.
• If possible, add one part of peat mixed with rotted pine litter and one part of rotted compost to the planting hole. The first mixture will add airiness to the soil and acidify it, and thanks to the compost, the plant will receive nutrients.
• Water the planted plant generously.
• Mulch the soil around the plant with compost. It is advisable to mix pine litter, pieces of pine bark, and rotted cones into it.

Experienced flower growers assure that with good watering, hydrangeas grow anywhere. But they bloom longer in partial shade: these wonderful flowers do not like either bright sun or dense shade. In addition, the location of the plants must be protected from the wind: the shoots of hydrangeas are fragile and the inflorescences are heavy.

Preparing plants for winter

There are many agricultural techniques that help increase the frost resistance of hydrangeas:

• the soil under the plant should be loose: this contributes to its faster thawing in the spring;
• before wintering, it is necessary to saturate the hydrangea well with water;
• In the fall, it is necessary to apply phosphorus-potassium fertilizers.

Hydrangea paniculata does not require winter shelter. But large-leaved plants need to be securely covered for the winter. How it's done?

But the most important thing is right choice varieties for a given area.

Proper care of hydrangeas

The plant is greatly benefited by monthly watering with a weak solution of potassium permanganate: this procedure has a strengthening effect on hydrangea.

Watering with slurry will also benefit your pet.

In spring and early summer, acidic fertilizers (potassium sulfate, ammonium sulfate) should be applied to the bush. But at the end of summer and autumn, hydrangeas will require phosphorus-potassium fertilizers (superphosphate). Under one adult bush, 2-3 buckets of nutrient solution should be added.

Many gardeners believe that large-leaved (garden) hydrangea does not need to be pruned at all. They only remove old, weakened and damaged branches. Moreover, they do this at any time. But to form a crown of this type, you need to do the following:

• in the first year after planting in the fall, shorten the main growths, leaving one or two strong buds;
• mulch thoroughly with humus;
• in October-November, prune only the weakest ones or those that violate symmetry, because during the growing season several powerful growths and many lateral branches are formed on the main shoots;
• in the second year, after flowering, cut off all generative shoots;
• in the third year (as well as all subsequent years), immediately after the hydrangea has faded, remove all faded shoots to healthy growths located below and cut out all weak branches. If the bush is very thick, you need to cut out a quarter of all old shoots to the base.

Hydrangea paniculata can be pruned in autumn, winter and spring. But you shouldn't do this every year. During pruning, small, weak branches, as well as intersecting or rubbing branches are removed. Strong branches are shortened to 25 cm.

You can form the plant in the form of a tree on a low trunk. To do this, you need to leave the most powerful shoot of a two-year-old bush, completely cutting out the remaining branches.

On next year shorten this shoot to the strongest bud.

Of the shoots that have grown over the year, leave only 2-3. Next year, cut off the shoots that have developed on them into 2-3 eyes. Forming a tree will take you from eight to ten years.

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- a plant of amazing beauty, numbering many species, each of which finds its admirers.

Hydrangea is grown in pots on balconies and used to decorate home and city flower beds.

If you have a space in your home or garden that you want to transform, take a look at this beautiful flowering plant.

Hydrangea paniculata: plant features

Hydrangea paniculata can hardly be called a flower; it is more of a shrub or tree, reaching a height of up to 10 m. It has unusual pyramidal inflorescences about 25-30 cm in length, similar to fluffy panicles.

Hydrangea flowers are sterile, that is, they do not bear fruit. The plant blooms from June to October, changing the color of the inflorescences throughout the season. At first the flowers are creamy white, then pure white, gradually turning into pink. And by the end of flowering, in October, paniculata hydrangea changes its color to reddish with green splashes.

The plant has more than 25 varieties, of which the most common are “Matilda”, “Kiushu”, “Unique” and “Grandiflora”. These varieties have the largest, brightest and most fragrant flowers.

The plant can rightfully be called oriental beauty, since the homeland of paniculata hydrangea is China, Japan and the south of Sakhalin. The flower takes root well in temperate climatic zones, calmly enduring winter cold and summer heat.

Did you know? Hydrangea inflorescences can be used as dried flowers in crafts, ikebana and home decorative compositions. For this inflorescence, you just need to cut it at the stage of flowering when you like the shade of the flowers, and dry them in a suspended state with the cone down. After drying, the inflorescences can be used in winter bouquets.

How to plant hydrangea in open ground

Fans of paniculata hydrangea claim that growing this plant in their own area is quite simple; planting and caring for it do not require special skills. The plant grows quite quickly, inflorescences are born on the shoots already in the year of planting.

Lighting for panicle hydrangea

To plant paniculate hydrangea, you need to choose areas with good light, but it blooms best in partial shade. She also loves the bright sun and grows well under its rays, but then hydrangea flowers lose their unique “chameleon” color, fade and turn pale.

Soil for growing a flower

For good, lush color, planting paniculate hydrangea is recommended on fertile, loamy, red soils. It does not like sandy, calcareous soils and does not do well in neutral ones - the color of the inflorescences fades, and the plant as a whole will be weak.

On acidic soils, hydrangea blooms brightest and best, therefore, if the soil is not acidic enough, you need to add brown peat, sawdust, coniferous soil (spruce or pine compost) when planting the plant. A possible option is to plant hydrangeas in tree trunks. ground cover plants: mossy saxifrage, various sedums.

Important! Ash, lime and chalk are contraindicated for all hydrangeas. Alkaline soil can cause leaf chlorosis in the plant.

What should the humidity be for successful growth?

Hydrangea paniculata loves moisture very much, it can even live in marshy soil. Therefore, for good growth, abundant flowering For normal plant life, it needs to provide moist soil within a radius of about 1.5 meters.

Planting paniculata hydrangea in open ground: description of the process

Planting time determines in what year paniculate hydrangea blooms. If climatic conditions permit, you can plant in early spring(March), then the plant will delight you with its lush color already in the year of planting. In northern regions, it is better to plant when the soil has already warmed up enough (April) so that it takes root well and takes root. It is also possible to plant hydrangea in autumn, but then it will need to be insulated for the winter, and it will bloom the next year.

On permanent place Hydrangea paniculata seedlings are planted at four to five years of age. Root system the plant grows in width much more than the crown, that is, the place for planting must be prepared based on the size of the root and seedling.

Experienced gardeners who know how to plant paniculate hydrangea correctly , It is recommended to make holes measuring 50x50 cm. But sometimes, with highly developed roots, the depth of the planting hole can reach up to 80 cm. The distance between plants is about 2-2.5 m.

Then up to 3 buckets of water are poured into the hole and left overnight so that the moisture is absorbed into the ground. The next morning you need to fill the hole with substrate from fertile soil, peat, humus and sand in the ratio: 2:2:1:1, and also add a mixture of mineral and organic fertilizers(65 g superphosphate + 25 g urea + 25 g potassium sulfate).

Before planting, you need to slightly trim the roots and annual shoots, leaving only 3-5 pairs of buds. Then the seedling is placed in a hole, pressed down with soil, and mulched with a compost layer and peat.

Tips for caring for paniculate hydrangea in open ground

Hydrangea paniculata is completely unpretentious and can grow even in harsh conditions, such as polluted areas near highways. But in order to get a healthy hydrangea in the garden with large flowering pyramids of different shades, you still need to provide the plant with proper care.

Features of watering paniculate hydrangea

The plant loves an abundance of moisture, therefore, the soil around the bush must be constantly moistened. Especially during hot, dry summers, the soil under the hydrangea should not be allowed to dry out.

The plant needs to be watered once a week, very generously, spending up to 30 liters of water per square meter soil around the bush. During rainy periods, watering is reduced. It is recommended to add potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate) to the water when watering. Also, to preserve moisture in the soil, you need to regularly mulch the soil under the bush.

Did you know? The fact that hydrangea is a very moisture-loving plant is indicated by its name alone. Latin name hydrangea hydrangea translated as “water vessel”: hydor – water and aggeion – vessel.

Plant nutrition

Fertilizer for paniculata hydrangea is applied quite often. Such a fast-flowering shrub requires a lot nutritional components. In autumn - mineral fertilizers, in spring - urea solution (20 g per bucket of water, 2 buckets per plant).

At the beginning of the growing season, the plant will benefit from green fertilizer (for example, from young nettles), diluted with water 1:10. For a two-meter hydrangea you need 1 bucket of solution.

In addition, once every two weeks, when watering, add mullein infusion (3 liters of water are poured into a bucket of manure and infused for three days). Before use, 1 liter of infusion must be diluted in a bucket of water.

During the formation of inflorescences, apply twice mineral fertilizer completely with an interval of 14-15 days.

How to prune a hydrangea bush

Care paniculata hydrangea requires regular pruning of the plant. Inflorescences that survive until late autumn are cut off so that the branches do not break under the snow. Regular pruning in the spring, before flowering, also has a beneficial effect on the lush and long-lasting color of hydrangeas.

Weak shoots and those that hinder the growth of the plant as a whole are removed completely. Shoots that have frozen over the winter are pruned back to healthy wood, and they bloom the same year. Select annual shoots, about ten of the strongest ones, cut them down to 3-5 pairs of buds to form a beautiful bush shape. If pruning is late, the plant develops poorly and may not bloom.

Old bushes can also be rejuvenated by pruning them to the stump. This will make it possible to restore the decorative appearance of the bush in the second year and preserve the possibility of further propagation of hydrangea.

How to preserve hydrangea in winter

Although paniculata hydrangea has good resistance to temperature changes and cold, it is better to take care of its successful wintering in advance. To do this, the roots - the most vulnerable part of the plant - should be carefully covered.