Hydrangea: types, planting and care

When to plant hydrangea

It is best to do this in the spring: this way the bushes will have enough time to settle down in a new place before winter arrives. Planting hydrangeas begins when the threat of frost has passed. In the regions of the middle zone, the procedure is carried out in the second half of May, in the north - towards the end of May or at the beginning of June.

In the south, plant a hydrangea on flower bed possible at the end of April. In addition, due to the warm climate and the later arrival of autumn frosts, planting flowering shrubs in this region is also possible from September to October.

How to choose a hydrangea seedling

Bushes are often sold without leaves in the spring and it can be difficult to identify the plant variety. In order not to be mistaken and not to buy a pig in a poke, go to nurseries or garden centers for hydrangea.

Decide on the type of hydrangea

There are three main varieties of the plant, which differ in the shape and size of flowers and leaves.

tree hydrangea in gardens occurs most often due to its unpretentiousness. Bushes grow rapidly up to 2 m in height. They are densely leafy and produce many large caps of small flowers in white, cream or pink. This kind of hydrangea endures even severe cold and does not require shelter for the winter.

Large-leaved hydrangea looks like a tree. However, this plant produces lush caps, which consist of larger flowers. In addition, the color palette of this type of hydrangea is richer: in addition to pastel colors, flowers can even be cornflower blue or rich red. Mature bushes sometimes reach 4 m in height. But such a hydrangea releases buds on last year's shoots, so it needs shelter for the winter. Unprotected buds under the influence of cold weather can freeze, which means that flowering can not wait.

Panicled hydrangea grows up to 2 m in height. It differs from other species in character inflorescences: their shape resembles a lush cone, not a hat. Flowers are painted in various shades of white, pink and red. In the south and in the middle lane of the paniculate hydrangea, shelter for the winter is not required, and in the northern regions, bushes can be wrapped with loose non-woven material.

Pay attention to the quality of the seedling

Hydrangea can be sold with a closed or open root system. In the first case, it grows in a container with soil, in the second, the roots of the bush, together with a small amount of earth, are tightly wrapped in a film. But any seedling should be in a moist substrate, as the plant does not tolerate drying out.

Choose specimens with even branches to get a neat bush. They should not be damaged, stains, cracks, traces of mold and fungus. If the plant already has leaves, make sure that they are evenly colored and not dried out, and that there are no pests.

How to prepare a site for planting hydrangeas

These flowers look good both alone and as a hedge. If you plan to plant multiple shrubs, space them at least 70 cm apart.

Decide on a landing site

Hydrangea loves light, so find a sunny spot for it. Light shading is allowed during the midday hours. Bushes are best placed where they will be protected from strong winds, which can break branches and flowers. In addition, drafts sometimes prevent the plant from developing.

Hydrangea should not be planted in lowlands, in areas where groundwater is high or moisture stagnates after snow melts and heavy rainfall.

Make a landing hole

Its depth and diameter should be three times the size of the seedling pot or the volume of the root system.

Fill the hole halfway with a mixture of high-moor peat and garden soil (whatever is left after digging). Add 60 g of superphosphate, 30 g of potassium sulfate and mix the contents of the well thoroughly with a shovel or hands.

How to plant hydrangea

It is best to do this in cloudy weather, so that the bush can more easily survive the stress of the process.

Remove the seedling from the pot or free from the film. Place in the prepared hole so that the root collar (the junction of the roots and stems) is approximately flush with the ground. If necessary, add or, conversely, remove excess soil from the hole. Spread the roots (for a plant with a closed root system, this is not necessary).

Fill all the voids around the seedling with soil, compacting it with your palms. Form a small indentation the diameter of the planting hole around the stem of the hydrangea. It will keep the water from spreading flower bed after watering.

Pour the hydrangea abundantly at the rate of 8-10 liters of water under one bush. When moisture is absorbed, mulch the trunk circle needles, dry high-moor peat or pine bark. To do this, it is enough to pour a layer of 6–8 cm over the surface of the near-stem circle. Such a "blanket" will retain moisture in the soil and protect it from drying out.

How to care for hydrangea after planting

In the first 2-3 years, the bush does not require top dressing if you have filled the planting hole correctly.

Water the hydrangea

Make sure the soil around the plant is always moist and don't let its drying up. The frequency of watering depends on the climate and weather in your area. On average, during the season, you need to pour 10-12 liters of water under a bush weekly, and in dry weather - twice as often. In autumn, the flower bed is moistened only if there is no rain. And with the advent of cold weather, watering is stopped.

Loosen the flower bed

Once every two weeks, loosen the soil around the hydrangea to a depth of about 5 cm. It is convenient to do this after watering with a chopper with small teeth. The procedure will make the soil more loose and airy, which will provide the roots of the plant with access to oxygen.

Cover your hydrangea for the winter

Tree hydrangea will survive the cold without additional protection. Paniculata should be covered for the winter in the northern regions, and large-leaved - in all. About how to do it right read in our material.