Hydrangea serrata - growing, planting and care

The shrub is considered one of the most attractive crops to grow in the garden. Bright inflorescences that form a cap will adorn any area. The serrata hydrangea is tall and easy to care for.

Description of serrata hydrangea

Hydrangea serrata Blue Bird has the following characteristics:

• a bush that eventually takes on a spreading shape;
• inflorescences consist of a large number of small buds;
• serrata hydrangea varieties differ in bud size and color.

Growing hydrangea

The culture is famous for its frost resistance, so it can be grown in different regions.

Origin

The culture is native to Japan. At the beginning of the 19th century, hydrangea bushes were brought to other countries to decorate the homes of noble people. We used two types - with white and pink buds. Gradually, the culture gained great popularity. Hybrid varieties with different colors of buds have appeared.

Features of the

Distinctive features:

• leaves are oval, large, light green;
• the young shoot has a light shade, over time it becomes woody and turns brown;
• erect shoots;
• the bush reaches 150 cm in length and 50 cm in width;
• inflorescences form a semicircle, similar to a cap;
• inflorescences look like lace, as small buds merge;
• small buds of light blue, pink, purple, white;
• the root system is developed.

Features of hydrangea bushes

Hydrangea Bluebird belongs to perennials, does not require regular transplantation. Blooms until the end of September. It grows quickly, begins to form buds in the middle of summer.

Advantages and disadvantages

Hydrangea owners highlight the following benefits:

• the culture grows rapidly, the buds are lush and consist of small inflorescences of different shades;
• tolerates diseases well;
• in a hot period it is not demanding for watering.

The disadvantages include:

• a large amount of water for irrigation;
• with prolonged exposure to sunlight, burns appear on the leaves;
• it is necessary to select the correct type of soil.

Winter hardiness

A distinctive feature of the plant is a high level of frost resistance (up to -30 ℃).

Varieties and varieties

Hydrangea serrata is subdivided into varieties. Each variety has its own distinctive features that must be taken into account during cultivation.

Bluebird

Hydrangea Bluebird has characteristics:

• plant height up to 1.5 meters, inflorescences are light blue;
• frost resistance up to -25 ℃;
• oval leaves with a matte finish;
• the inflorescence consists of flat asexual buds and smaller fruiting ones.

The plant prefers partial shade and wet type of soil. Blooms until the end of September.

Description of the Bluebird variety

Koreana

The Koreana variety has an average bush height and has the following characteristics:

• height up to 70 cm;
• variegated buds are most often pink;
• leaves are small, strong shoots with dark bark;
• can withstand frosts down to -15 ℃.

During the flowering period, the buds densely cover the bush, the leaves are practically invisible. Often the panicle is covered with buds of different shades.

Preciosa

Hydrangea Preciosa has distinctive features that set it apart from other varieties. The characteristics of the Preziosa cultivar include:

• the bush grows up to 1.3 meters, but the shoots are not spreading, so the culture looks compact outwardly;
• leaves are bright green in early spring, red in autumn;
• resistance to frost is small, the variety is planted in regions such as the Moscow region;
• the buds change color during the flowering period.

Outdoor Preciosa varieties

Wirl

Hydrangea serratum Veerle grows in shady places. The bush reaches a height of up to 2 meters and has the following features:

• sprawling shoots, the bush can be up to 40 cm wide;
• leaves are large, saturated green;
• blooms with asexual buds of large size, small blue buds are located inside the panicle.

Virle variety

The Virle variety is picky about the type of soil and the amount of nutrients. In the absence of timely fertilizing, the plant grows slowly.

Landing in open ground

Growing Bluebird hydrangea requires compliance with some features that will allow you to get a healthy bush.

Site and soil selection and preparation

It is necessary to plant the plant in mid-late April. During this period, the soil warms up enough and the culture takes root well. Before planting, you need to choose the right site. The plant prefers partial shade, therefore it is recommended to plant a seedling near small fences. It is also necessary to ensure that there are no drafts and closely spaced groundwater.

For the plant to bloom violently, it is necessary to properly prepare the soil. The nutrient mixture for planting should contain the following ingredients:

• peat - 1 part;
• humus - 2 parts;
• sand - 1 part;
• black soil - 2 parts.

The composition is thoroughly mixed and used when planting planting material.

Next to which plants it is better to plant

Hydrangea Bluebird is not picky about neighbors. In the same area with a bush, the following can be grown:

• roses;
• peonies;
• lupine;
• chrysanthemums;
• rhododendron;
• asters;
• fern.

Choosing nearby crops for hydrangeas

It is not recommended to plant in the same area with crops that require a lot of sunlight. The sun's rays can harm the delicate leaves of serrata hydrangea, and Bluebird buds also react negatively to prolonged exposure to sunlight.

How to plant

For planting, you need to make a hole 30 cm deep and 40 cm wide. Fill the planting hole with nutrient mixture. A small tubercle is made in the hole and a seedling is placed. The roots of the seedling are carefully straightened, the hole is filled with soil, leaving the root collar on top. Sprinkle with plenty of water.

Bush planting process

Plant care

For rapid growth, it is important to follow all the rules for caring. In the absence of timely care, the leaves of the plant are small, the buds are formed in small quantities.

Watering

Watering the hydrangea is necessary every day. For a hot period, watering is carried out twice a day - in the morning and in the evening.

Fertilization and feeding

For top dressing, you should use preparations that are designed specifically for this type of crop. Fertilizers are applied after planting so that the bush gains the necessary strength, before flowering and in autumn. You can apply nitrogen fertilizers, which are diluted with water, and applied during watering.

Mulching and loosening

Loosening is carried out if necessary. All weeds are removed and the soil is fluffed up.Then the roots receive the required amount of oxygen. Mulching is carried out with sawdust or coniferous needles. The mulch layer should be at least 6 cm. This will not only reduce the risk of pests, but also retain moisture.

Mulching hydrangea

Pruning

The pruning procedure is carried out in the fall, after the plant has faded. All shoots are cut into 3 buds. All damaged branches are also completely removed.

Bush pruning procedure

Preparing for winter

Hydrangea serrata tolerates low temperatures well; the Bluebird variety does not require special shelter for the winter. For cold regions, the following type of shelter is used:

• bring in nutrients;
• pruning the bush and removing all broken branches;
• shoots are bent to the ground and fastened with special staples;
• the bush is covered with agrofibre and insulated with spruce branches.

Shelter culture for the winter

In severe frosts, the bushes are additionally covered with an old blanket or other warm things.

Reproduction

The plant reproduces in various ways. The gardener selects the most suitable method individually.

Growing from seeds

The method allows you to get a large amount of planting material. For propagation, seed material can be purchased at the store or collected by yourself. To obtain seedlings, perform the following steps:

1. Seeds are planted in March.
2. A nutrient mixture is placed in a container, which consists of peat, deciduous soil and humus in equal proportions.
3. Seeds are placed in the soil to a depth of no more than 1 cm.
4. Sprinkle with a layer of nutrient mixture and watered.
5. Put glass on top and place the container on the windowsill.
6. Every day, open the glass for half an hour and make sure that the soil is moist.

Propagation using seeds

When the leaves appear, the seedlings are planted in separate pots. In the spring, when the soil warms up, the seedlings are planted. If necessary, use a shelter for the night in the form of a can or a plastic bottle.

Cuttings

For propagation by cuttings, a healthy shoot must be used. Cuttings are carried out in the summer. 2 buds are left on the handle, the lower leaves and buds are cut off. The stalk is placed in the Kornevin preparation until the roots appear. After that, the cuttings are planted in the ground. Water the cuttings daily. In autumn, young seedlings are covered with agrofibre and spruce branches. In spring, young bushes are planted in a permanent place of growth.

Propagation by cuttings

Dividing the bush

For reproduction, bushes are used from the age of 3 years. To do this, the bush is dug up and divided into parts. Each part should have a kidney. The bushes are planted and watered regularly.

Reproduction by dividing the bush

Layers

For reproduction, branches from 1 year old are used. The shoot is bent to the soil and fixed with staples. The place of contact is carefully cut with a blade and sprinkled with soil. The procedure is carried out in the fall or spring. Ready seedlings are transplanted to a new growth site after separation from the mother bush.

Breeding method by layering

Diseases and pests, means of combating them

The culture has a high resistance to diseases. Problems may appear:

• Chlorosis - manifests itself as yellow spots on the leaves. For treatment, treatment is carried out with a Bordeaux mixture.
• Powdery mildew - gray bloom and brown spots appear. To eliminate the problem, spraying with copper sulfate is carried out.

Of the pests, the spider mite appears most often. To fight, the bush is treated with thiophos.

The use of serrated hydrangeas in landscaping

Hydrangea is often used to decorate gardens. The culture can be either planted alone in a flower bed or used for landscape compositions.Looks good among crops such as fern, hosta. To obtain a flower arrangement, plants are chosen that begin to bloom in July and continue until late autumn.

Using culture in landscape design

Hydrangea is an attractive crop. The plant is not demanding to care for and blooms all summer. To get a healthy bush, it is enough to observe timely watering and pruning.