Garden hydrangea - 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 has been decorating the surface of the planet for 70 thousand years. The flower can be grown even in the climatic conditions of the Urals.

Garden hydrangea: planting and care in the open field in the Urals

The plant has a peculiarity: the petals can change color depending on the quality of the soil. When grown on alkaline soils, the color is pink, and on acidic soils, blue. Thanks to its decorative properties, the plant will become a decoration of the suburban area. The main thing is to correctly choose the variety and place, observing the requirements for care. 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 higher than +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. In some places, frosts reach -35 ℃.

Note! Hydrangea in the Urals can be grown using frost-resistant varieties. In northern latitudes, the bushes are covered for the winter.

With minimal care, hydrangea pleases the grower with long flowering

Choosing a winter-hardy variety

Garden hydrangea - planting and care in the open field in the Urals

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.

Panicle group

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

Darts Little Dot

The best choice for the 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 it can capture the first weeks of September.

Vanilla Fries

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

Kyushu

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

Variety Unique

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

Hydrangea paniculata - charm for the Ural garden

Tree group

When choosing which hydrangea is better to plant in the Urals, tree-like varieties are considered. First of all, Anabel is a large-leaved 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 span - 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.

Note! Hayes Starburst is able to withstand frosts down to -35 ℃. In the spring it pleases the owner with beautiful green leaves, and in the summer - with a violent flowering.

Landing

Ural hydrangea is unpretentious in care. It is important to choose a suitable location and quality soil.

Site selection and preparation

Garden hydrangea - planting and care in the open field for beginners

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

It is necessary to protect hydrangea bushes from the wind, in open areas it grows poorly and practically does not bloom. Therefore, the landing site is made protected by a fence or a building wall.

Additional Information! Direct sunlight is allowed only in the morning.

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

Ground requirements

Drought is fatal for hydrangeas. She prefers slightly acidic soil, unusual for the Urals. Before planting, the soil is prepared by introducing peat into the planting pit.

How to plant

There is an algorithm for planting hydrangeas in open ground:

Prepare a hole with a depth of 30 cm.When planting several bushes, the distance between them should be at least 90 cm.
Pour a layer of peat 5 cm into each hole.
Inspect the seedlings, cut off rotten and damaged roots. Shorten healthy roots by 2 cm.
Place the seedling in the center of the hole, distribute the roots, sprinkle with earth. Then tamp and gently pour from a narrow-nosed watering can.
Mulch with a layer of peat.

Note! You can plant a hydrangea both in spring and in autumn, but for the Urals, the second option is not welcome - the plant may not have time to take root before the onset of cold weather.

Regularity is important in caring for a garden hydrangea.

Watering

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

Top dressing

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

Note! The frequency of top dressing is twice a season. In the fall, 10 liters of compost are applied under each bush.

Pruning

Trim Schedule:

Spring. They remove branches that have not survived the winter - frozen or affected by diseases. Annual seedlings are shortened to 4 buds.
Autumn. Cut off dry and diseased branches, dried - by 1/3 of the length.
Anti-aging. Helps to extend the life of the plant by removing all but the strongest branches.

Preparing for winter

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

Winter-hardy varieties of hydrangea are suitable for the harsh conditions of the Urals

Reproduction

There are several ways to reproduce hydrangeas in the Urals.

Seeds

Hydrangea Vanilla Fraze - planting and care in the open field

The seed method is not popular, since it takes several years to wait for flowering. No preliminary seed preparation is required. It is enough to place them in a pot filled with soil mixture for flowering plants. Then pour abundantly and cover with foil (greenhouse effect). 20 days after the appearance of the first shoots, the cover is removed, and the pot is transferred to a bright place.

Note! The plant is grown at home for 2 years, only in the third year it is allowed to transplant into the garden.

Cuttings

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

Layers

The method is applicable in the spring.The bark of the mother plant is pruned at the bottom, after which it is added dropwise. By the fall, the cuttings should take root. Transplanting it as an independent plant is carried out only next spring.

Offspring

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

By dividing the bush

The method is rarely used. The division of the bush is allowed only when transplanting. Flowering in this case can be expected next year.

Delicate inflorescences are an original addition to any landscape composition

Diseases and pests of the Ural hydrangea

Growing shrubs in the Urals does 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 a brown bloom on the foliage;
brown rot - a white "fluff" forms on the leaves; they gradually rot and fall off;
chlorosis - occurs with iron deficiency, you can recognize it by the light color of the leaves.

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

The main pests relevant to the climate of the Urals: aphids, spider mites, snails. The insects are harvested by hand and then burned. Special drugs: Boislimax, Aktara and others.

Note! Working with insecticides involves the use of personal protective equipment and strict adherence to instructions.

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

Garden hydrangea is an amazingly beautiful plant that delights the gardener's eye with lush flowering even in harsh climatic conditions and the short, cool summer of the Urals. The main thing is to ensure proper care, timely feeding and shelter for the winter.