How to plant a beautiful hydrangea on your property. Garden hydrangea, planting and care, what she loves How to plant hydrangea in the garden in summer

Blooming hydrangea in the garden at the dacha

In today's material we will talk about how to properly plant and grow hydrangea in a garden at the dacha. I already had information on planting and growing hydrangea, but there are always some nuances that have not been voiced before. This is what happened this time too. Therefore, I invite you to plunge into the world of hydrangea!

Beautiful blooming hydrangea bush

Planting hydrangea

Hydrangea is one of those plants that simply bathes in the sun's rays, so it is recommended to plant it only in well-lit areas.

Yes, there is an opinion that it can grow in partial shade, but what kind of bush will it be? No amount of feeding will help... That's why I I recommend only sunny places.

Thickets of wild hydrangea

When to plant: The optimal time for planting is in early May; you can also plant hydrangea in the fall, in early September.

Blooming hydrangea bushes near the fence

How to plant: It is recommended to dig a planting hole for hydrangea with a square size of 50 by 50 cm and a depth of 60 cm.

If you plan to plant several bushes side by side, then maintain a distance of at least a meter between the holes - let the bush grow.

Relaxation corner at the dacha - a bench among hydrangea bushes

The hole should be filled with a soil mixture of humus, leaf soil, peat and sand in a ratio of 2-2-1-1.

When mixing the soil, add 20 grams of urea, 20 grams of potassium sulfate and 60 grams of granulated superphosphate.

But you can’t mix lime, the plant is not “friendly” with it.

Try to plant the bushes in such a way that the root collar is level with the ground, does not go deep and does not protrude from it.

After planting, make sure that the young plant is not overwhelmed by wind or rain. I usually tie the seedling to a stick for the first season.

If the plant decides to bloom in the first year, then remove the inflorescences, this is the best solution.

All substances should go into the development of roots in the first year, so there is no point in wasting energy on flowers.

Hydrangea bush in a tub - container gardening

Feeding hydrangeas

Please note that if you filled the planting hole according to the instructions above, then you do not need to feed the hydrangea in the first two years. But starting from the third year, fertilizing should be done according to schedule.

Pink hydrangea near the wall of the house

First feeding: produced in early spring, during the awakening of the bush. I give a complex one - minerals and trace elements 30 grams per 10 liters of water.

There are many names, choose in the store at your discretion, there are even special ones for hydrangea - this is generally an ideal option.

You can also do it the old fashioned way - 20-25 grams per 1 square meter. urea, 30-40 gr. superphosphate and 30-35 gr. potassium sulfate.

Blooming hydrangea near the porch at the dacha

Second feeding: produced during the formation of buds. I also give complex fertilizers, but you can also use mineral fertilizers at the rate of 60-80 grams. superphosphate and 40-50 gr. potassium sulfate per square meter of planting.

If you feed your hydrangea, you too will grow such a beauty.

Third and fourth feeding: refers to the number of nourishing ones, they should be carried out using a solution of mullein, or green fertilizer - an infusion of herbs in water. It’s more convenient to infuse herbs, because where can you find these cakes...

Now you won’t even see cows in the fields... Both mullein and green fertilizer are diluted in a ratio of 1 to 10, 10 liters will be just right for an adult bush.

Pink hydrangea bushes

Watering hydrangea

Hydrangea loves moisture and responds well to watering. I water every three days in the heat, two buckets of water per bush.

My soil is loose, the water drains quickly and that’s why I water so often. In general, once a week, two buckets for each adult bush.

If it rains often in the summer, then watering can be reduced to once every two weeks.

How to grow hydrangea in a garden at the dacha

Soil care

It would be useful to regularly loosen the soil around the hydrangea bush. I loosen every time after watering. Use a chopper to a depth of 3-5 cm. This has a very good effect on the condition of the bush. He is literally bursting with life!

Beautiful hydrangeas in pots

Alternatively, you can mulch the hydrangea tree trunk with peat or rotted sawdust. The mulch layer should be 5 centimeters deep. This will retain moisture and prevent the soil from drying out into a crust.

Of course, in this case, loosening is not necessary. The mulch is scattered in the spring and you don’t have to loosen it until the fall. But since I like to tinker with plants, I loosen them and don’t abandon my favorites.

Proper pruning of hydrangeas

In March, and in the Moscow region in April, hydrangeas are pruned. The strongest shoots should be left, from 7 to 15 per bush, but everything is individual.

The larger and older the bush, the more you can leave. Eliminate thin shoots; do not let the bush spray its energy.

The top three buds of the strong shoots that are left should be cut off, this will stimulate the plant to bloom profusely.

Decorating the front garden with hydrangeas

When autumn comes, all inflorescences should be cut off; in winter it is not recommended to leave them on the bush, as snow can break the trunks.

Hydrangeas and daisies in a flowerbed in front of the house

If your bush is already very old, then it can be rejuvenated by radical pruning. I did this with one of my long-lived bushes.

Now it looks like a hedgehog - stumps 5 cm high, with one lower bud. I think the bush will be beautiful this season!

The beauty of pruning a strong mature bush is that it literally immediately produces flowering shoots, and what kind!

Hydrangea in the garden at the dacha

Protecting hydrangea from diseases and pests

In general, hydrangea rarely gets sick; in my memory, my bushes have never suffered from anything. In rare cases, it can be affected by powdery mildew.

If this happens, then spray the victim with a solution of foundationazole - 20 grams per 10 liters of water. Bordeaux mixture is also suitable - take 100 grams of Bordeaux mixture per 10 liters of water.

In conclusion, I suggest you get acquainted with the material.

This plant is quite whimsical, so we share with you the secrets of where and how to plant hydrangea so that you will definitely enjoy its flowering in the future.

Moisture-loving and light-loving hydrangea is incredibly popular among gardeners. Its name is from Latin Hydrangea translated as "vessel of water". In relation to hydrangea, a very rare rule for watering is applied: “it is better to over-water than under-water.” The plant blooms from late summer to late autumn and rarely suffers from diseases and pests.

Pink and blue large-leaved hydrangeas have an amazing ability: depending on the composition of the soil, the shade of their inflorescences also differs. Paniculata and ground cover are resistant to frost, and tree-like ones are more compact compared to their relatives and can withstand frosts down to –40°C.

You can buy hydrangea seedlings in a specialized store or prepare them yourself by cuttings. By the way, mid-July is the most favorable time for this procedure, because... the shoots have not yet become woody. Adult bushes are divided into several parts during transplantation.

Autumn planting of hydrangeas in central Russia is carried out in early September, in the southern region - until the end of autumn. But remember that only plants with a well-developed root system are suitable for the procedure, because otherwise, the bush will not have time to take root before frost. Young plants are best planted in spring.

In autumn, mainly paniculate and tree hydrangeas are planted. Large-leaved - in mid-May. But in the southern regions of Russia you can plant it in September.

Autumn planting of hydrangea - advantages and disadvantages

Planting hydrangeas in open ground in the fall has many advantages over spring activities. Firstly, if the plant takes root well, it may please you with flowering next season. Secondly, all preparatory procedures are much easier to carry out, because the soil has already warmed up a long time ago. This means you will save a lot of time.

In addition, in the fall, hydrangea will suffer less from pests and will need very little nutrition. After all, winter is just around the corner and there is no point for the plant to increase its green mass, the main thing is to take root in a new place.

Among the disadvantages, it is worth noting that hydrangea needs to be properly covered for the winter. If this is not done, the seedling will die during the first frost. Autumn rainy weather can also bring problems, such as exacerbation of fungal diseases. For prevention, it is worth first watering the soil with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

Hydrangea is a poisonous plant, its leaves and flowers can cause stomach upset and allergies, so refrain from planting if you have small children or pets. And carry out all gardening work with the plant with gloves.

Hydrangea loves sun and warmth, so choose a windless place for planting, in an open space or in partial shade with diffused light. It is best to choose a cozy area near the fence or organize a stylish solitaire planting in the middle of the lawn. Hydrangea will also look great in the background of mixborders and alpine slides. It is not recommended to plant it under trees, because... plants will compete for moisture.

Hydrangea does not really like aggressive neighbors, so do not plant it too close to loosestrife, ostrich fern, bulbous ryegrass, etc. Good neighbors for hydrangea: mock orange (garden jasmine), spirea, lilac. But the bush is best formed when planted alone.

For hydrangea, it is important that the soil is light, nutritious, slightly acidified, and quickly absorbs water. If the soil on the site is not very suitable, fill the planting hole with a pre-prepared mixture of leaf or turf soil, humus, high red peat and sand (2: 2: 1: 1). Add 1.5 tbsp to it. urea, 4-5 tbsp. superphosphate and 2 tbsp. potassium sulfate. This way the hydrangea will receive all the substances it needs and begin to develop properly.

In alkaline soil, hydrangea will suffer from chlorosis (yellowing of leaves). And on neutral it grows slower and blooms faded. Therefore, under no circumstances add ash, lime or dolomite flour to the soil.

How to prepare a planting hole for hydrangea

It is worth preparing the planting hole for hydrangea in advance. Some summer residents already in the spring are planning places where the bush will settle. But you can do this 3-4 weeks before planting. The depth and width of the planting hole must correspond to the root system of the seedling. On average - 30-50 cm.

If you are planting several plants, dig holes at a distance of at least 70 cm (for a hedge). For normal planting - at least 1.5-3 m, because After years, the bushes will grow greatly. Fill the hole with the prepared soil mixture, water and leave for 3-4 days for the soil to settle.

Hydrangea - planting and care in open ground

So, it's time to plant hydrangea in open ground. To do this, carefully remove the seedling from the pot along with the earthen lump and place it in the hole. If the seedling is without a pot: straighten the roots and also place it in the center of the hole. Sprinkle with the nutrient mixture so that the root collar is at ground level, compact the soil. After this, water the bush generously (8-12 liters of water) and mulch the soil with pine needles or peat with a layer of 4-7 cm. This way the soil will remain moist longer and weeds will not appear on it.

In order for hydrangea to take root faster, it needs care at first. Water the bush with soft rain or settled tap water. You can slightly acidify it with citric acid (20-25 g per 10 liters of water) or vinegar (1 tablespoon per bucket of water). After each watering, loosen the soil, and to strengthen the shoots and protect against fungal infections, periodically water it with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

When the hydrangea takes root and new shoots appear, prepare the bush for winter. This is especially important for plants from the nursery or non-hardened seedlings. Before covering the hydrangea, remove any remaining leaves and inflorescences from the shoots to prevent them from rotting. If the seedling is 3-4 years old, do a little pruning. You will learn how to prune hydrangea from our material.

To prevent young plants from freezing in winter, after the first small frosts (in the middle zone they usually occur in November), the center of each bush should be filled with pieces of dry sphagnum to a height of 20-30 cm. If there is no sphagnum, cover the bases of the bushes with a layer of sawdust, earth, and leaf humus , chopped tree bark, chopped straw, etc. It would also be a good idea to add mulching material to the tree trunk circles (the larger the mulch particles, the thicker its layer should be). Then tie the plants with twine and wrap them in spunbond, burlap or spruce branches.

In the spring, the layer of winter mulch must be removed so that the hydrangea does not die from damping off, and the tree trunk circle should be sprinkled with a layer of 8-10 cm of fresh mulch. In the first few years, the bush grows green mass, so it is better to remove the inflorescences.

Caring for hydrangea in open ground is not difficult, so take a closer look at this plant and try planting it on your site. In the articles below you will find many secrets and tips that will help you grow healthy flowering bushes.

GROWING HYDRENSA

Even those who do not know the name of this magnificent flowering shrub have probably encountered hydrangea in botanical gardens, dendoparks, cottages, garden plots or indoors in pots.
But flower lovers may not realize that there are more than 70 types of hydrangea that grow in different climatic conditions. They all make up the genus Hydrangea. Each of them requires an individual approach when cultivated. Based on the Hydrangea macrophylla species alone, breeders have created hundreds of varieties, and the number of varieties of all types is difficult to imagine. All of them may also require compliance with some nuances in care that are specific to them.
From the lips of gardeners who have successfully grown hydrangea, diametrically opposed opinions are often heard. Some argue that hydrangea prefers to grow in partial shade and shade, others say that only in direct sunlight does hydrangea bloom most profusely and does not suffer from this at all. Where is the truth? Under what conditions is hydrangea growing most successful?
Photo: Hydrangea paniculata, frost-resistant species.

A BEAUTIFUL LEGEND ABOUT HYDRANGEA

According to Japanese legend, hydrangea is a gift given for loyalty and love.
One day in the garden, a brave warrior who had known battles, victories and glory met a beautiful girl and immediately fell in love with her. But the girl disappeared as suddenly as she appeared. The next day, the guy again came to the garden, located not far from the temple, hoping to meet a beautiful stranger and waited for her! The girl suddenly appeared again, but this time she did not disappear, but spoke to the warrior. They met and fell in love with each other, and the warrior could no longer imagine life without his beloved. Each time she said goodbye to him without leaving the garden, and disappeared as soon as the sun began to set.
A persistent guy, who did not know how to lose and was accustomed to achieving goals, wanted to marry the girl at all costs, but first decided to find out her secret. Having said goodbye and pretending to leave, he hid in the dense thickets and began to observe. He noticed how the girl walked towards the temple and rushed after her. When the beloved had already crossed the threshold, the warrior caught up with her and grabbed her hand. At that moment, the last ray of the sun disappeared over the horizon, and along with it the girl disappeared into the air, becoming just a drawing on the wall. Finally, her lips said: “Farewell, beloved, we will not meet again!” As a memory of myself and our love, I will leave you a flower.” The grief-stricken warrior left the temple and saw that a magnificent bush with soft pink inflorescences, reminiscent of the skin of his beloved, had blossomed on the empty green lawn. It was a hydrangea.

CONDITIONS FOR GROWING HYDRANGEA

Temperature Photo: Large-leaved hydrangea, requires shelter for the winter
Hydrangea, including evergreen species, is a seasonal plant. She needs a period of rest. At this time, its growth partially or completely slows down, it does not form flowering shoots and does not bloom. This fact is also important when growing hydrangeas in apartments or houses. One of the reasons why the plant does not bloom indoors may be precisely the lack of a dormant period with a low temperature of +10-13°.
Hydrangea definitely cannot be classified as a heat-loving or frost-resistant plant, since some species begin to freeze already at -3-5°, while others, for example, paniculate hydrangea, can withstand temperatures down to -40°.
The most popular among ornamental species, large-leaved hydrangea, is the most demanding of temperatures. Even specially bred cold-resistant varieties need to be covered in winter. They can only tolerate temperatures of -8-10°C without harm to their health and can withstand a short-term drop to -20°C in snowless winters. Growing heat-loving hydrangeas is impossible without covering them for the winter. Like roses, long shoots are bent to the ground and covered with spruce branches or covering material.
However, hydrangea also does not like extreme heat, which can cause the plant’s leaves to droop and buds to fall off. The temperature considered comfortable for her is +20-23°.

Lighting
Without exception, all types of hydrangeas love good lighting, although they can grow in partial shade. Despite their love of light, most cannot tolerate direct sunlight. Summer midday sun can be dangerous for the plant; it causes burns on the leaves.
A good option for placing hydrangeas is under the protection of neighboring plants in light shade. Growing hydrangea near buildings is also justified. In this case, the hydrangea should be planted in such a way that it receives maximum morning or evening sunlight, but not midday.
When growing hydrangea on a south-facing window in the summer, it should be shaded; a transparent curtain is suitable for this. When growing hydrangeas in greenhouses in the summer, a special net is stretched over them or the glass is whitened with lime.

Substrate
Successful cultivation of hydrangea is possible in certain soil. For normal growth, good development and abundant flowering, hydrangeas need a rich nutrient substrate, loose enough to avoid stagnation of water, but not sandy. Otherwise, the water will immediately go deeper, bypassing the roots of the plant.
Hydrangeas are pronounced mycotrophic plants. They grow well only in the presence of soil microscopic fungi, which in turn require an acidic reaction of the substrate. Therefore, the acidity of the soil for growing hydrangea must be below 7, optimally pH 5.0 - 5.5.
If you make the substrate yourself, you will need peat, humus (or compost), leaf soil (or forest soil), and sand in a ratio of 2:2:2:1. Ash never added to the soil, it reduces acidity.

HYDRANGEA CARE

Humidity and watering Photo: frost-resistant tree and paniculate hydrangeas

Hydrangea loves moist soil, but, as befits a princess, it is very capricious:
The water should not be too cold;
The water should not be hard, since when watered with such water, the soil may gradually change its acidity (become neutral or alkaline);
Water should not stagnate so as not to cause rotting of the roots;
You need to water only when the sun is not too active (in the evening or in the morning);
When watering, water should not fall on flowers and buds;
Water should not be from the tap; even standing water causes chlorosis of leaves in hydrangea due to the high chlorine content.
Mulching makes caring for hydrangea easier and reduces the frequency of watering. To avoid moisture loss, the soil under the bush is mulched with hay, chopped straw, sawdust or pine needles. Mulching is usually carried out in early spring, after the first fertilizing with fertilizers. Plants planted nearby by covering the soil with leaves to prevent moisture evaporation also help conserve moisture.
Caring for hydrangeas in the fall may include re-mulching. This will retain moisture in the spring when the snow melts.
If hydrangea is grown indoors, watering should be reduced if the air temperature drops.

Fertilizers
Growing hydrangea requires the application of fertilizers; they improve the decorative qualities of the plant and contribute to the formation of beautiful inflorescences. Adult hydrangeas must be fertilized with mineral and organic components. They begin to feed in early spring, but not before the plant begins to vegetate. Complex fertilizers are applied in liquid form by watering the hydrangea with dissolved potassium sulfate and superphosphate. Organic fertilizers are applied a week or a week and a half later.
During the active growth of buds, it is advisable to apply mineral fertilizers again.
You need to be very careful with the introduction of nitrogen and nitrogenous compounds; they can cause the growth of green mass to the detriment of flowering. They are applied mainly in early spring.

We recommend reading : Spiraea: planting, care, propagation, pruning Barberry hedges
Caring for roses on the site snow berries

Pruning hydrangea
When growing hydrangeas, the bush must be pruned. In different types of hydrangeas, flowers can form on different shoots: last year's and this season's. Depending on this, pruning hydrangeas is possible in spring or autumn.
In large-leaved, Sargent and serrate hydrangeas, inflorescences grow on the shoots of the second year. Therefore, when pruned in spring, the bush will not bloom. Pruning of these types of hydrangeas is carried out in the fall, and in the spring they only remove dead or damaged branches and last year’s dry inflorescences.
Drooping (paniculate) and tree hydrangeas form inflorescences at the ends of new shoots. These hydrangeas require spring pruning to stimulate shoot growth and increase the number of inflorescences.

HYDRANGEA REPRODUCTION

Photo: Large-leaved hydrangea, varieties with pink and blue inflorescences

A beautiful plant that has taken root in your garden will definitely want to be propagated. Like all flowering plants, hydrangeas have two main types of reproduction: vegetative (using vegetative organs) and generative (using seeds).
Growing hydrangea from seeds is a very long and labor-intensive method. In addition, many hydrangea seeds do not have time to ripen due to the cool climate. And most importantly, most varietal hydrangeas do not have fertile flowers from which seeds are formed. This happened because, as a result of selection, scientists created more decorative inflorescences with a predominance of sterile flowers. They are brighter, larger, and attract insects and human attention. Generative propagation of hydrangea is mainly carried out by scientists who create new hybrids and varieties.
Vegetative propagation of hydrangea is an easy and quick way to get a seedling. It could be:
Dividing the bush;
Cuttings of annual green shoots ();
Cuttings of lignified shoots (2-3 years old);
Cloning (carried out only in the laboratory).
It is better to divide the bush in the fall, and then plant it in a new place. But you can first plant the hydrangea in a container, and in the spring plant it in open ground.
If, when planting hydrangeas, mineral fertilizers were added to the substrate (and it is advisable to do this), then for the next year or two the hydrangea is not fed, only mulched and organic matter is added to the soil.

Video: Growing hydrangea

PROBLEMS WHEN GROWING HYDRENSA

With proper care, garden hydrangeas rarely get sick. With increased humidity and decreased temperature, they can become infected with fungal infections that mainly affect flowers and leaves. Among fungal diseases, the most common are powdery mildew, downy mildew, and rust fungi.
For preventative purposes, hydrangea can be treated with Bordeaux mixture. But to treat an already diseased plant, a more effective specialized fungicidal drug .
When growing hydrangea in open ground, the plant can be affected by aphids. In this case, you can use traditional methods: treatment with infusion of tobacco or garlic (100 g per 5 liters of water, leave for two days). It is better to add a little soap to such tinctures so that the solution sticks to the leaves. If you don’t want to bother with tinctures, you can use a modern insecticidal preparation.
Slugs and snails can be a real nuisance. The best way to deal with them is mechanical collection and destruction.
When grown indoors, hydrangea is often affected by red spider mite . This pest is very dangerous and is difficult to destroy even with special means. In this case, preventive measures are important: take the hydrangea out into the fresh air, spray it with water, and ventilate the room.
Knowing types and varieties of hydrangea , and following the rules of caring for them, growing hydrangea will be a rewarding experience for you - a garden princess under the name Hydrangea will demonstrate its beauty every year and bring aesthetic pleasure to you and guests at home.

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On the surface lies the fact that hydrangea is one of the most beautiful plants, which is increasingly found not only in the decoration of city park areas, but also in the garden plots of country houses. And if you have already thought about growing a magnificent shrub flower with your own hands, then do not forget that this perennial requires special treatment when planting in open ground in the fall. Our article will discuss when and how best to plant different varieties of hydrangea, the features of care after autumn planting (watering, fertilizing, pruning and covering, diseases and pests), as well as even how to change the color of hydrangea.

The main types of hydrangea are:

There is also petiolate (curly, climbing) hydrangea, but it is grown much less frequently.

Naturally, each variety has a wide selection of varieties.

Video: types and varieties of hydrangeas

When to plant hydrangea in the fall: optimal timing

In the fall, it is recommended to plant only seedlings with a developed root system (and preferably those in pots, that is, with a closed root system); it is better to postpone the planting of very young seedlings to spring, because they may not have time to take root before the weather gets colder.

The approximate time for planting hydrangeas in the middle zone (Moscow region) is the month of September. In Southern Russia, planting seedlings can be postponed until October.

By the way! Large-leaved (the most non-frost-resistant, requiring thorough shelter for the winter) hydrangea is usually planted in the spring. The exception is warm southern regions.

Is it possible to plant in spring?

You can plant hydrangeas in the spring. As a rule, it is in the spring that hydrangeas are planted in cold climates, for example, in Siberia and the Urals. In the same central zone (Moscow region) large leaf hydrangea(which needs to be covered for the winter) it is also recommended to plant in the spring, approximately in the second half of April-May.

Methods for propagating hydrangea

This article will talk about planting in open ground in the fall. ready-made seedlings hydrangeas, but you can grow these beautiful flowers from seeds, however, this is quite difficult and time-consuming to do. Where Propagate hydrangeas faster and more efficiently layering, dividing the bush(used for transplantation) or(most popular way) .

How to plant hydrangea in open ground

In order for planting hydrangea to achieve its results, it is necessary to take a responsible and thoughtful approach to the selection and purchase of a seedling, find a suitable place in the garden, properly fill the planting hole with acidic soil and, finally, plant the seedling itself in open ground.

Selection and purchase of seedlings

Naturally, when choosing a hydrangea seedling, you should carefully examine it before purchasing.

He must be in a pot, the soil in which there should be wet(but not over-watered). The seedling must have developed root system(for example, it can look through the open bottom of the pot), otherwise after autumn planting it simply will not take root. You can understand that hydrangea has been living and developing in this pot for a long time by carefully grasping the seedling and shaking the pot.

Important! You should not buy a seedling that has a rotten smell.

Place in the garden

It is believed that hydrangea is a shade plant, but it will bloom profusely only in a relatively sunny area.

Advice! It is quite acceptable if you plant hydrangea in a place where the sun is only before lunch (until 12-13 o'clock in the afternoon), or only in the morning or evening (for several hours). Hydrangea loves afternoon shade.

Paniculata It's better to plant hydrangea in light shade, in a place that is too sunny it will fade faster. In addition, it is very demanding on watering, and in the bright sun it will be difficult to maintain constant humidity (you will have to water very often).

And here large-leaved hydrangea - present shade plant, it can be planted in partial shade.

Important! If you have a very hot climate with scorching sun, then, of course, you cannot plant hydrangea in an open place; it is better to find a place at least in partial shade.

It is also very important to choose a place well protected from the winds, otherwise, eastern or northern hurricanes will simply break all your hydrangeas.

It is optimal to find a place near the fence, or plant it in the background.

And here It is not necessary to plant under trees, otherwise the plants will not have enough nutrient moisture and they will begin to compete for it with each other.

If you do not want the hydrangea to grow alone, then it will be beautiful to plant it nearby or nearby with garden jasmine (mock orange), spirea or .

Planting pit and soil

The soil for planting hydrangeas requires loose and fertile soil. And most importantly, hydrangea will grow well only on slightly acidic soils (5.2-5.5, maximum up to 6.2 pH). To make the soil more acidic, you will need to create a substrate based on acidic high-moor (brown) peat. Rotted pine sawdust, pine litter or pine bark are also good options. In addition, minerals (60-80 grams) and potassium sulfate (30-40 grams) can be added to the mixture. Don't forget to mix everything thoroughly.

Naturally, the size of the planting hole will depend on the size of the seedling itself, as well as the need to add additional fertilizers and acidifiers.

For example, if you bought very young 1-2 year old seedlings, then for such a hydrangea it will be enough to dig a planting hole measuring 30 by 30 cm, but for adult 3-4 year old seedlings (which will begin to bloom next year) it is optimal to make a hole - 50 by 50 cm.

If you plan to plant several plants, then plant at a distance of at least 1-1.5 meters, because The bushes are growing quite strongly.

Direct landing

Step-by-step instructions for planting hydrangeas in open ground:

Important! Using paniculate hydrangea as an example, there are no particular differences in planting tree-like or large-leaved hydrangeas.

1. Choose the most suitable place in the garden.
2. Dig a planting hole and add the necessary nutritious and acidic substrate to it.
3. Moisten the soil by pouring a bucket of water.
4. Remove the seedling from the pot (after spilling it with water) and place it in the hole. If you have a seedling with an open root system, then you need to place it on a pre-filled small mound, and then straighten the roots.
5. Fill it with soil up to the root collar so that it is at soil level (if you deepen it too much, it may begin to rot) and compact it lightly.
6. Water generously.
7. If the ground settles, you will definitely need to fill it up. In general, it is better to perform the procedure of watering and adding soil at least a couple of times. This will help get rid of air between the roots and the soil.
8. At the end, be sure to mulch (with high-moor peat, conifer bark or coniferous litter) with a layer of 5-8 centimeters, because hydrangea loves moisture, especially if you plant it in the sun.

Video: planting paniculate hydrangea in autumn

Let's repeat! There are no particular differences in planting large-leaved hydrangea from planting paniculata, but there are a couple of author’s nuances that will definitely be of interest to you.

Video: features of planting large-leaved hydrangea

Caring for hydrangea in open ground

Hydrangea is a perennial with special requirements for soil, watering, fertilizing, pruning and covering, and these simply need to be taken into account when properly caring for them after planting.

Features of care after autumn planting

In principle, all care for hydrangea after planting in the fall comes down to watering, if this is, of course, necessary, because autumn means rain, which means high the likelihood of contracting a fungal disease, That's why as a preventive measure recommended a couple of times shed soil in the hydrangea tree trunk light pink solution of potassium permanganate.

By the way! Fertilizing with potassium permanganate tree hydrangea stimulates compaction (become thicker and stronger) of bush shoots.

It will be great if you acidify the soil by spilling it a couple of times with a solution of citric acid, vinegar or another acidifier.

If you decide to plant in the fall large leaf hydrangea, then be sure to be very careful cover it for the winter.

Watering

As for hydrangea, it is better to overwater it than to underfill it, because... This plant is very, very moisture-loving.

If the heat in the summer is 30 degrees, then you need to water the hydrangea every day if possible, pouring 1 bucket of water onto the middle bush. Or at least after 2-3 days, but in this case the portion should be increased to 2-3 buckets, of course, provided that your plant is also mulched.

Top dressing

If you want your hydrangea to always bloom profusely and luxuriantly, it needs regular and good feeding.

In general, the feeding scheme for hydrangea is as follows:

• At the very beginning of growth (awakening) and to gain green mass - mainly nitrogen fertilizers and a little potassium and phosphorus.
• During budding - potassium-phosphorus fertilizers.
• During flowering - again potassium-phosphorus fertilizers.
• After flowering (in autumn) - phosphorus and potassium again.

Advice! If you rarely go to the dacha, then it is optimal to use special complex fertilizers with prolonged action. In other words, in early spring you need to add fertilizer to the hydrangea tree trunk, and the plant will gradually receive nutrition almost throughout the entire season.

There are also special fertilizers for hydrangeas (also suitable for rhododendrons and azaleas).

Acidification

The soil under hydrangeas for their successful cultivation and abundant flowering must always be acidic, which means it must be acidified periodically (once every 2-3 weeks) (otherwise the plant may develop chlorosis).

Here's what you can use to acidify the soil for hydrangeas:

• weakly acidic electrolyte solution (10 ml per 10 liters of water);
• sulfuric acid;
• vinegar (100 grams of 9% vinegar per bucket of water);
• citric acid (20-40 g per 10 liters of water).

Moreover, it is advisable to add to the solution iron chelate or(20-30 grams per 10 liters).

Garter

If you planted a tree hydrangea, then when the flowers begin to gain strength, so that they are not bent down or broken by rain and wind, the plant should be tied up if possible. Moreover, you can do this very effectively, so that the inflorescences form a kind of tent.

Diseases and pests

As a rule, hydrangea is rarely overcome by diseases and pests, but this also happens, so you should know the most typical problems that arise in the process of growing this wonderful flowering shrub.

If you do not properly prepare the soil for planting hydrangeas, or do not periodically acidify it, then over time it will become too alkaline (due to precipitation and watering), and your favorite hydrangeas will certainly develop chlorosis.

You can determine that hydrangea has chlorosis by the leaves - the leaves become light green, spots appear on them, and they begin to fall off, and the flower ovaries become smaller.

To eliminate chlorosis, it is necessary to take measures to treat the flower, namely, the plant requires an increased amount of iron and an acidifier for its absorption. You, of course, can dig nails or cans into the soil in the old-fashioned way, but this can hardly be called a modern solution to the problem. It would be much better to use iron chelate. As soon as you apply a solution prepared with one of the fertilizers, the bush will recover quite quickly.

Advice! Do not forget that it is necessary to acidify the soil, for example, using various acids: citric, acetic, sulfuric.

It’s better to prepare a tank mixture: for 10 liters of water you will need 20-40 grams of citric acid and 20-30 grams.

It happens that on the leaves of hydrangea you may notice powdery mildew. Spraying with a solution will help to cope with it. or

Control other pests such as aphids, spider mites, can be done using insecticides such as Fitoverm, Fufanon or Actellik.

Video: diseases and pests of hydrangea

Trimming

You can prune hydrangeas both in the fall and in the spring; there are no fundamental differences. But often preference is given to autumn pruning (just before frost), because in the spring it can be difficult to catch up before the sap begins to flow, and after that this procedure is very undesirable, or rather, even prohibited. In addition, hydrangea bushes often break badly due to snow, so it is better if they go to winter in a more compact form.

However, even if you cut hydrangeas in the fall, then in the spring or summer (before flowering) you should additionally cut out all thin shoots (less than 1 cm thick).

Shelter for the winter

large-leaved hydrangea is a completely non-frost-resistant shrub, therefore shelter to him simply necessary.

Advice for the future! Even in the last spring month (May) in the middle zone, you cannot completely remove the shelter from large-leaved hydrangeas, because There may still be frosts, the shoots will freeze, and then the hydrangea will not bloom.

But the tree variety does not need shelter.

Paniculata hydrangea also does not require any shelter. But in order for the plant to overwinter better and not be broken by snow masses (even when cut), it should be lightly tied into a bundle.

Although some gardeners still additionally mulch the paniculata variety for the winter.

Thus, if you do not like to bother with covering your plants for the winter, you need a more unpretentious hydrangea, and your choice is a paniculate and tree-like variety.

Why doesn't hydrangea bloom or bloom too much?

Hydrangea begins to bloom, as a rule, only in the 4th year, and from the 5th year - profusely. Therefore, in the first year after planting, it may not bloom (although 3-4-year-old seedlings are usually sold).

It is also worth remembering that for good flowering you definitely need a lot of sun. And in no case should you overfeed the plant with nitrogen in the spring.

Important! Pruning also directly affects flowering. Without it, for example, it is virtually impossible to achieve the chic and friendly flowering of tree hydrangea, which blooms only on the shoots of the current year. But you should understand that this does not apply to all hydrangeas, so it is very important to know the characteristics of your particular variety.

How to change the color of hydrangea: methods

You can adjust the color of hydrangea by changing the acidity of the soil. So, the more sour soil, the more purple or blue the color will be . If acidity is lower then he might be pink or raspberry.

So if you want to turn pink hydrangeas to blue, then you need to acidify the soil (how this can be done is described above in the subparagraph “Acidification”).

Important! However, turning pink hydrangeas into blue ones is not so easy. It often happens that you seem to have acidic soil, but it is precisely mobile aluminum that is missing. Or rather, you need potassium alum solution(30-40 grams per 10 liters, consumption for an adult plant - up to 2-3 liters), or use aluminum sulfate(dig into the soil, up to 500 grams per 1 square meter).

And if you're tired of blue color and wanted pink, then, on the contrary, deoxidize. For example, using traditional deoxidizers such as lime or.

Interesting! You can achieve a riot of color on one bush simply by making the soil more acidic on one side and less acidic on the other.

They even sell special products, after applying which the hydrangea inflorescences change color.

Note! It will not be possible to change the color of an initially white hydrangea (more often than not, tree-like varieties are like this), no matter how much you acidify it.

Video: how to change the color of hydrangea

Thus, in order to properly plant a dazzling hydrangea in the fall, you first need to take into account a number of its inherent features when choosing a seedling, a place in the garden, and suitable soil. Well, now it’s all about skillful care after planting: watering, fertilizing, acidifying, tying, pruning and covering for the winter.

Video: care, planting and pruning hydrangea

The flower received the name “hydrangea” in honor of the princess of the Holy Roman Empire. And the Latin name of the family Hydrangea (Hydrangea) means “vessel of water” in Greek. According to one version, this reflects a special moisture-loving hydrangea, on the other - the shape of the seed pods, reminiscent of a jug.

Photo

When to plant?

The optimal time for planting garden hydrangea is spring, after the threat of overnight freezing of the soil has passed, but before the buds begin to bloom.

In regions with not very severe winters autumn planting is acceptable, but here you need to be in time before the first frost.

Choosing the best location

Hydrangea tolerates some shade well and grows well in penumbra. Like any aristocrat, she does not tolerate exposure to direct sunlight. Choose a slightly shaded area that receives the brightest light in the first half of the day.

Keep in mind that an adult bush, including branches and flowers, occupies approximately 1.5 m in diameter.

The soil for hydrangea should be loose, nutritious in composition, with a predominantly acidic environment. An alkaline environment is absolutely not suitable for hydrangeas - they lime is contraindicated.

The ideal option is mature compost containing many nutrients.

Bad and good neighbors

Not worth it place hydrangea next to plants with a shallow root system, since due to similar environmental requirements they will inhibit each other. Do not plant hydrangea under trees - the powerful roots of the trees take all the moisture from the soil.

Best neighborhood for hydrangea, these are plants with fleshy roots or tubers. It goes very well with hostas, astilbe, and looks beautiful in combination with boxwood.

After the purchase

If you purchased a new pet in a store, most likely it was raised in a greenhouse and therefore somewhat pampered. You need to accustom your princess to her new place of residence. For this upon landing remember:

• if you are not going to plant hydrangea immediately after purchase, then water it generously until planting;
• under no circumstances should you shorten or trim the roots of a plant taken out of a container (although this is often recommended!);
• they also cannot be soaked or shaken off the ground;
• The roots of the plant should not feel a sharp transition from the store-bought substrate to the garden soil, otherwise the growth of the root system will slow down or stop. In the planting hole, mix garden soil with fertilized soil at a distance of at least 25 cm from the plant.

When digging a planting hole, consider the size of the above-ground part of the plant. The volume of the root system should be comparable to the volume of the crown. The rule is simple - dig a hole of such depth and width that the plant can fit in it “upside down”!

the greenhouse capricious, accustomed to drip irrigation and large doses of phytohormones and fertilizers, will have a period of adaptation. You have to gradually “remove” the plant from stimulating nutrition, like a patient from strong painkillers. To do this, be sure to feed the plant once every two weeks for the first two months after planting. mineral and organic fertilizers.

If you planted a young plant grown from a rooted cutting in the first year don't let it bloom, cut off the resulting inflorescences to give the opportunity to lay full-fledged flower buds for the next year.

Seasonal care

Watering. Remember that hydrangea is a “vessel of water”: provide the possibility of abundant irrigation, ideally drip irrigation. Each plant should receive several buckets of water per week, under no circumstances tap water - only rainwater or settled water. To prevent the soil from drying out, mulch the tree trunk circle with peat, pine needles, sawdust and tree bark, spreading the mulch in a layer of 20-25 cm.

Throughout the summer, remove inflorescences that have bloomed and dried out - this will give the plant the opportunity to extend the flowering period. Carry out anti-aging pruning in the spring - remove shoots that have frozen after severe cold, as well as branches that are more than three years old. After the buds awaken, correct the result - cut off the shoots with unopened buds. In order for the bush to be lush, trim the shoots at 4-5 buds.

If you want to rejuvenate an old hydrangea bush, in the fall, completely cut off all the shoots at the root, leaving only a small stump. In spring, a powerful root system will allow you to quickly grow a lush crown.

Feeding. Water two or three times a month with water with organic fertilizer (humus, manure) dissolved in it. Do not overdo it with mineral fertilizers; their excess can have a bad effect on the winter hardiness of the plant. You cannot fertilize with ash.

We talked more about the rules of planting and care in open ground in.

When to replant?

If you want to replant a hydrangea, follow the same rules and recommendations as when you first planted the plant. It is best to do this in early spring or autumn after the flowering period has ended.

If your goal is not just changing the location for a beautiful bush, but, then the optimal technology would be the following:

1. Water the plant generously and allow the moisture to be absorbed.
2. Dig in a circle at a distance of 15 cm from the bush. It is more effective to use a pitchfork for this.
3. Tilt the bush and use a sharp knife or shovel to separate part of it.
4. Disinfect the incision site with ash.
5. Transplant part of the bush into a previously prepared hole in a new location.

Take care of Princess Hydrangea during planting, and this magnificent plant will thank you for your care with a spectacular appearance, becoming a real pearl of your beautiful garden.

Useful video

You can watch a video about planting and care here:

Helpful information

You can read other materials about garden hydrangea.