Hydrangea garden - planting and care in the open field in the Urals

The word "hydrangea" comes from two Greek roots - "water" and "vessel". Archaeological excavations prove that the plant adorns the surface of the planet for 70 thousand years. The flower can be grown even in the climatic conditions of the Urals.

Hydrangea garden: planting and care in the open ground in the Urals

The plant has a feature: the petals can change color depending on the quality of the soil. When growing on alkaline soils, the color is pink, and on acid - blue. Thanks to its decorative properties, the plant will become an ornament of a summer cottage. The main thing is to correctly choose the variety and place, observing the care requirements. Climate features

Ural:

• Conditions vary by region. In the north (circumpolar regions), the duration of summer is only 1 month, with an average temperature not exceeding +6 ℃.
• The middle and southern Urals are characterized by a temperate climate. In summer, the average thermometer is in the range of 20-25 ℃ above zero, but can rise to +28 ℃. In winter - up to 20-22 ℃ below zero. Mostly frosts reach -35 ℃.

With minimal care, hydrangea pleases the grower with long flowering

Choosing a winter-hardy variety

Despite the harsh climate, frosty winters and short summers, hydrangea in the Urals can feel comfortable. The main criterion is to choose a winter-hardy variety.

Panicled group

When planting and caring for panicle hydrangea in open ground in the Urals, it is recommended to observe a number of rules. There are several suitable varieties - decorative, but frost-resistant.

Darts Little Dot

The best choice for climatic conditions of the Urals. Description:

• The height of the bush is up to 100 cm. When grown in pots at home, it is much lower.
• The flowers are lush, light pink, collected in inflorescences.
• The flowering period is July-August. In the south of the Urals and at home can capture the first weeks of September.

Vanilla freeze

An unpretentious variety of hydrangea. The height of the bush is up to 2 meters, long flowering is from June to October. The color of the flowers is white.

Kiushu

Suitable for planting in the garden, can grow up to 3 meters, has a lush spreading crown. The flowers are snow-white, closer to autumn, they acquire a barely noticeable pink hue. The variety is not afraid of Ural frosts, but needs abundant irrigation.

Sort Unik

Another hydrangea variety that grows well in the north. The main purpose is the design of hedges.

Panicle hydrangea - a charm for the Ural garden

Tree group

Choosing which hydrangea is best planted in the Urals, tree-like varieties are considered. First of all, Anabel is a large-leaf hydrangea with a bush height of up to 1.5 meters. Its advantages:

• frost resistance;
• decorativeness, lush snow-white flowers are collected in elegant inflorescences;
• long flowering - from July to the end of September;
• life expectancy is up to 40 years.

The name of another suitable variety is Sterilis. This is an unpretentious plant with a high growth rate and inflorescences up to 30 cm in diameter.

Landing

Ural hydrangea is unpretentious in leaving. It is important to choose a suitable place and quality soil.

Site selection and preparation

It prefers a light area, but with a light openwork shadow - direct sunlight can cause burns and adversely affect the color. How to grow hydrangea in a garden in the Urals?

Hydrangea bushes should be protected from the wind, in open areas it grows poorly and practically does not bloom. Therefore, the landing site is made a protected fence or wall of the building.

A competent choice of a place in light partial shade is a guarantee that the plant will take root

Soil requirements

Drought for hydrangea is fatal. She prefers a slightly acidic soil that is unusual for the Urals. Before planting, the soil is prepared by adding peat to the planting pit.

How to plant

There is an algorithm for planting hydrangea in open ground:

1. Prepare a pit with a depth of 30 cm. When planting several bushes, the distance between them should be at least 90 cm.
2. Pip a layer of peat 5 cm into each well.
3. Inspect the seedlings, trim rotted and damaged roots. Shorten healthy roots by 2 cm.
4. Place the seedling in the center of the hole, distribute the roots, sprinkle with earth. Then compact and carefully pour from a watering can with a narrow nose.
5. Mulch with a layer of peat.

Regularity is important in caring for garden hydrangea

Watering

Hydrangea is a moisture-loving crop. Requires regular irrigation. In the first days after planting, it is recommended to water 2-3 times a week, focusing on the drying of the soil. Excessive moisture can cause root rot.

Top dressing

Hydrangea is fed in the spring. The first year bush is fertilized with peat, and to enhance flowering - complexes enriched with nitrogen. After the formation of the buds, basal top dressing with potassium sulfide is introduced.

Pruning

Crop Schedule:

• Spring. Remove branches that have not survived the winter - frozen or affected by diseases. Annual seedlings shorten up to 4 buds.
• Autumn. Dry and diseased branches are cut, dried up - 1/3 of the length.
• Anti-aging. Helps to extend the life of the plant, involves the removal of all branches, except the strongest.

Winter preparations

First, all faded inflorescences are removed from the bush, then sanitary pruning is performed. Each bush is spud - a layer of soil will protect the roots from freezing, then cover with agrofibre or film.

Winter-hardy hydrangeas are suitable for harsh conditions in the Urals

Breeding

There are several ways to reproduce hydrangeas in the Urals.

Seeds

The seed method is not popular, since it takes several years to wait for flowering. Preliminary seed preparation is not required. It is enough to place them in a pot filled with soil mixture for flowering plants. Then pour plenty of water and cover with a film (“greenhouse” effect). 20 days after the appearance of the first shoots, the coating is removed, and the pot is transferred to a bright place.

Cuttings

The easiest way to implement. Cuttings are cut from an adult plant in the second half of summer (during budding). Then the foliage is removed, placed in a growth stimulator. After the appearance of the roots, they land in the ground.

Layering

The method is applicable in the spring. In the mother plant, the bark in the lower part is cut, and then it is dripped. By autumn, layering should take root. Its transplantation as an independent plant is carried out only next spring.

Offspring

One of the options for spring propagation of hydrangea. The mother plant is abundantly irrigated, then a basal offspring with roots is carefully separated from it, which is planted in a new place.

Dividing the bush

The method is rarely used. It is allowed to divide the bush exclusively during transplantation. Flowering in this case can be expected as early as next year.

Delicate inflorescences - an original addition to any landscape composition

Diseases and pests of the Ural hydrangea

Growing shrubs in the Urals will not require special knowledge. It is important to provide the plant with prevention from diseases and pests. The advantage of frost-resistant varieties is that they are resistant to most diseases. Some of them can be dangerous:

• powdery mildew is characterized by the appearance of brown plaque on the foliage;
• brown rot - a white “fluff” forms on the leaves; they gradually rot and fall;
• chlorosis - occurs with iron deficiency, you can recognize it by the light color of the leaves.

To save the plant from diseases, use fungicides (Topaz, Falcon) or copper oxychloride.

The main pests relevant to the climate of the Urals: aphids, spider mites, snails. Insects are collected manually, then burned. Special preparations: Boislimax, Aktara and others.

With proper care, hydrangea garden will decorate the garden for many years

Garden hydrangea is a surprisingly beautiful plant, pleasing the gardener's eye with lush flowering even in harsh climatic conditions and the short, non-hot summer of the Urals. The main thing is to ensure proper care, timely feeding and shelter for the winter.