Any gardener dreams of a blooming spring garden, for this, many plants are planted since autumn.
Hydrangea is no exception.
To decorate the site with this unusual flower, you need to be able to grow it.
It is quite simple, you just need to know some of the subtleties of the process.
Time for hydrangea planting: why autumn?
Shrubs are planted in spring and autumn. But many gardeners tend to fall hydrangea planting. This gives an undeniable advantage, flowering will begin next spring.
Landing times vary by region. In the southern latitudes, the landing can be postponed to the end of autumn, but in the north it is better not to delay. In autumn, large hydrangea bushes are planted in open ground. Young seedlings are transplanted only in the spring.
Autumn planting requires less time, seedlings take root faster. But recently planted plants require shelter for the winter. It is carried out a month before the alleged frosts.
In autumn, hydrangea care is minimized. Usually she has enough rainwater, so no additional watering is required. To avoid fungal diseases, it is recommended to water the hydrangea with a solution of potassium permanganate. If the weather is wet, then such watering is carried out several times.
Hydrangea planting site
The success of hydrangea cultivation largely depends on the right place. The shrub prefers a cozy and calm place, without drafts. Hydrangea is grown in partial shade, which allows to prolong flowering. When choosing a site for planting hydrangeas in autumn, you need to consider the size of the bush. An adult plant reaches 3.5 meters in height and about 1.5 meters in width.
An important factor in the cultivation of hydrangea is the soil. Shrub prefers light and nutritious mixtures. Soil preparation must be done in advance. Hydrangea is a hygrophilous plant, so the soil must be moisture-absorbing. Enriching too poor in composition land will help the addition of humus, leaf soil, sand and peat to the mixture. So that the substrate for planting has all the necessary nutrients, superphosphate, urea and potassium sulfate are added to it.
Where to get hydrangea seedlings?
You can buy ready-made planting material in any specialized store, but for those who like to grow flowers on their own, you need to know about the hydrangea propagation.
Shrub propagated in several ways:
• cuttings;
• dividing the bush;
• vaccination;
• seeds.
Cuttings of hydrangea
The best time for grafting is mid-July. Cuttings are cut from the side shoots, which are enough on any plant. You need to choose the shoots so that they are not too hard. Hardwood cuttings root worse, but too weak, brittle shoots are not suitable for growing.
The rooting of hydrangea cuttings is carried out in a light and nutritious substrate. Adding sphagnum to the soil will help increase the moisture capacity of the soil. Prepared cuttings are treated with the drug "Kornevin." The container is filled with a substrate, well watered and planted cuttings.
The depth of planting of cuttings is about 2-3 cm, the distance between seedlings is up to 5 cm. Cuttings are planted obliquely. The whole rooting process takes no more than 3-4 weeks. The temperature in the room where the cuttings are located should not exceed 20 degrees.
Bush division
Adult bushes can be propagated by dividing the bush during transplantation. Hydrangea is planted in open ground in the fall, which allows seedlings to take root more quickly. The mother bush is dug up and divided into several parts, each of which should have several replacement buds.
Reproduction by seeds is extremely rare.
How to plant hydrangea in the open ground in autumn + photo
Before planting a seedling, you need to prepare a planting pit. It should correspond to the size of the root system. The depth and width of the hole is about 50 cm. The distance between the plants leaves enough for their development. If a single planting of hydrangea is planned, then it needs about 2.5-3 meters. To form a hedge between shrubs, leave up to 70 cm.
Pre-prepared wells are seasoned with peat, humus and sand. You can also add mineral fertilizers.
Important! Hydrangea does not tolerate lime at all. Therefore, avoid introducing it into the ground for planting.
The seedling is installed in the prepared planting pit, straighten the roots and sprinkle with earth. In this case, the root neck should be at ground level. It cannot be buried. After the autumn planting, hydrangea seedlings are abundantly watered and mulched with peat, needles or sawdust.
Hydrangea: how to prepare for winter?
The process of preparing hydrangea for the winter is not entirely complicated, but rather laborious. All varieties of shrubs relate to frost differently. Particularly frost-resistant varieties do not require shelter, but in the northern regions it is better not to risk it.
• Before the sheltering procedure, all lower leaves must be cut off from the plant. This will accelerate the maturation of the shoots and reduce the effect of low temperatures on them.
• In the fall, pruning hydrangeas. You need to do this from the end of August to October.
• With the onset of stable frosts, the bush needs to be bumped to a height of up to 30 cm.
In Siberia, hydrangea needs more careful care. In the fall, the plant is fed with minerals, and then covered.
• All shoots are bent to the ground, having previously placed a board under them.
• Top of the bush is covered with dry leaves or sawdust.
• Next, wooden shields are installed above the bush and covered with oilcloth.
In this form, hydrangea will perfectly tolerate even the harshest winter.
How to prune hydrangeas in autumn
Hydrangea needs pruning throughout the season so as not to lose its decorative effect. Autumn pruning is different from any other. It is intended to facilitate the wintering of hydrangea. Different varieties of shrubs are cut in their own way. Young shoots of panicled hydrangea shorten up to four kidneys. Adult hydrangea bushes undergo radical pruning. All shoots are cut at ground level.
Pest and hydrangea disease control
After planting or transplanting, hydrangea for a long time adapts to new living conditions. As a rule, this period lasts about 14 days. At this time, the leaves on the plant may blacken and dry. The appearance of hydrangea spoils. Hydrangea can also be affected by fungal diseases and various pests. In the fight against fungi, spraying with copper chloride is used.
Aphid
It’s very easy to spot aphids on hydrangeas. Leaves and inflorescences are deformed, traces of the life of insects are noticeable on them. If the aphids are still not too many, then you can try to get rid of it with soapy water, infusion of garlic, tobacco or celandine. With a massive lesion, the use of insecticides can not be avoided.
Snail defeat
In autumn, these insects burrow into the ground and in the spring harm young shoots and hydrangea buds. In the fight against snails in the fall, special preparations are used that are laid around the plant.
If you dream of blooming hydrangea in the garden, then follow some rules:
• plant hydrangea in autumn in shaded areas;
• do not apply too much fertilizer;
• water abundantly after planting;
• do the correct autumn pruning;
• carry out treatment against pests and diseases;
• Reliably protect hydrangea from frost.
As you can see, hydrangea cultivation does not present any particular difficulties.
