How to choose a soil for garden hydrangeas

Properly prepared soil for any plant is of utmost importance. The quality and consistency of the soil in which the plant will have to “live” will affect the abundance of flowering, the branching of the crown and the brightness of the inflorescences.

A bush hydrangea in a garden plot is an island of lush greenery and bright flowers from spring until late autumn. Hydrangea, thanks to its amazing decorativeness and sufficient unpretentiousness, is very popular among amateur gardeners, as well as landscape designers.

Beauty Hydrangea – what she is

Hydrangea is a genus of flowering deciduous and evergreen shrubs of the Hortensia family, represented by about 70-80 species.

Most Hydrangea species grow from 1 to 3 meters tall bushes, but some species are small trees with formal crowns. Observed among hydrangeas and climbing vines that can climb up the trunks of neighboring trees and buildings to a height of 30 meters. Leafy shrubs are predominantly cultivated in European countries.

Hydrangea blooms from mid-spring to late fall. Many species have white flowers. But there are also blue, red, pink, beige and lilac. In multicolored hydrangeas, the color depends on the level of acidity of the soil.

Growing in acidic soil, the petals of the flowers turn blue, in neutral soil they turn yellow, in alkaline soil they turn pink. Hydrangea is able to accumulate aluminum, actively released from acidic soil, which forms compounds that give the flowers a bluish hue.

Soil requirements

Once you have decided on a location for planting Hydrangeas, you should begin to prepare the soil in the area.

Mandatory criteria are:

• nourishment;
• lightness;
• water permeability;
• acidity.

If you fail to provide hydrangea soil with the necessary indicators, it may even die. The flowers will be the first sign of unsuitable soil, and the leaves will curl and fall off next. The florist needs to keep a close eye on any changes in his plant.

Nutrient requirements

Mulching will have a good effect on the development of the bush. Immediately after planting the flower in the prepared soil, it is recommended to cover the top layer of soil with a thin layer of compost, coniferous needles or peat crumbs. Garden soil in many areas is highly fertile, if it does not cultivate plants that actively absorb nutrients, such as corn, sunflowers, potatoes and others.

In preparing the site before the direct planting of hydrangeas, mineral and organic fertilizers are introduced into the soil.

Fertilizers, in addition to nutrition, also regulate the acidity of the soil. Ammonium sulfate, potassium sulfate, iron sulfate, sulfuric acid, which are part of the complex fertilizers, acidify the soil well.

Lightness

The soil for garden hydrangea should be airy, so that the root system does not suffocate in a dense earthy coma consisting of loam or very fat black earth. Too “heavy” garden soil should be softened by adding coarse sand or other fine drainage. Fine expanded clay or leaf soil will effectively perform this role.

Water permeability

An important aspect for achieving greater ornamental value in garden hydrangeas is good water permeability of the soil. Since hydrangeas are highly moisture-loving, it is necessary to ensure that the thickness of the soil is permeable throughout the location of the root system. Hydrangeas are often sold in florist stores as mature seedlings that are four to five years old.

A hole for planting such a bush is prepared with the following dimensions: in width – 50-70 cm, in depth – 35-40 cm. In the hole is placed loosened soil, and after a few days and the bush itself. After planting, the bush is abundantly watered and observe how the water passes through the layers of soil. If the composition of the soil is made correctly, there should be no stagnation of water.

Acidity

Hydrangea likes weak or medium acidic soil, the optimal level is considered to be pH 5.5. Under no circumstances should not lime the soil. Noticing that the acidity decreases, as will be evidenced by the fickleness of the color of the flowers, acidification is recommended.

In specialized stores on sale ready-made organic solutions for the regulation of soil acidity, but at home you can prepare a simple acidifier from organic food acids. Usually use a solution of citric acid in tap water in the proportion of 1 tablespoon of “dry” acid per 10 liters of water. Apple acid, acetic acid and oxalic acid will have equal effect.

Hydrangea soil composition

Garden soil, in which the hydrangea will have to grow, will not suit this plant due to the high presence of humus in it. Moreover, in homestead plots, watering is done with too hard irrigation water.

In order for hydrangeas to live comfortably in the garden, a few simple but very important conditions must be provided for them:

1. Water the bush frequently as soon as the moisture evaporates from the top layer of soil. Water should be soft, not too cold. It is not easy to get adequate water in the garden at a distance from the water mains. Most plants are watered with a hose connected to the main water supply on the property. Such watering is not acceptable for hydrangeas. You can collect rainwater in containers, which is ideal for such a capricious plant.
2. Do not allow high levels of lime in the soil coma. Hydrangea is a fan of acidic soils, which needs an acidity level (pH) of about 5.0 – 5.5. When preparing the soil before planting, you can confidently add peat chips.
3. The soil should be fertile, fresh, airy. Regular application of fertilizers will be the key to the successful development of the hydrangea bush in the garden plot.
4. In too hot summer weather, the soil under the hydrangea in the garden dries up quickly, especially when the bush is not provided with a semi-shaded place. Regulate the soil moisture and provide extra shade to avoid crown burns.

On the plot, where it is planned to plant a hydrangea bush, the soil is recultivated and a sufficient amount of fertilizer is applied to it. Organic substances and mineral compositions, which can be purchased in ready-made form in specialized flower stores, are ideal. Of the minerals, superphosphate will provide a good effect.

In the hole for planting to a depth of 40 cm put a thick layer of drainage. It can be claydite or coarse flint.

Next, put the substrate, which is prepared from the following components:

• chernozem;
• sod soil;
• peat chips;
• foliage humus;
• coarse sand.

All components are mixed in equal parts. The prepared substrate is lowered into the prepared pits with drainage and given a few days to “settle down”, abundantly watering. Just before planting the hydrangea bushes, fertilizers are made, and the level of acidity is checked. If acidity is weak, it can be increased by adding solutions of the preparations Kemira or Asid Plus.

Since hydrangeas are moisture-loving, it is recommended to mulch the root perimeter of the bush with humus, pine needles or peat crumbs. This will not only help retain moisture, but also deliver additional nutrients to the root system. Renew the mulch as it is depleted.

Proper fertilization of the soil

Hydrangeas need a highly nutritious soil, so regular fertilization is paramount for full bush growth.

The first fertilization is done with the arrival of spring. It is important to fertilize before the beginning of active vegetation. The next feeding is made during the formation of buds. Then throughout the summer hydrangea bushes are fertilized twice a month. Once the blooms are gone, the last fertilizing should be done.

Before preparing for winter rest, hydrangea bushes in the garden can be fed with a light solution of urea in the proportion of 20 grams of dry substance per 10 liters of tap water. One adult bush requires about 30 liters of urea solution. On average, it is 3 buckets. After the bushes are mulched with humus and peat and left for the winter.

Diseases due to improper soil care

Loss of hydrangea decorativeness due to improper soil treatment is a dangerous symptom that requires immediate comprehensive measures.

Most often, beginner florists encounter the following problems:

• Yellowing leaves. The yellowing of hydrangea leaf plates indicates too much water accumulation around the root system, which due to insufficient drainage in the lower layers of soil, not visible from the outside, stagnating, causes fermentation. Then, as a consequence, rotting of the root system occurs, and pathogenic substances are dispersed into the above-ground part of the bush by the movement of sap. Following the yellowed leaves, the stems begin to fade. If the cause of the disease is not found out in time and proper treatment is not started, the hydrangea will die without the possibility of recovery. Also the yellowing of the leaves can cause a lack of micronutrients in the soil and its low acidity.
• Falling leaves. As soon as the hydrangea bush begins to curl and shrivel up the leaves, you should adjust the watering. Most likely, the plant does not have enough moisture, the air in the place of its development is too dry, hot, as well as there are drafts. One reason could also be a lack of nutrients to the soil. Regulation of all the care criteria necessary for hydrangea will return it to its former beauty.
• Blackening of the leaves. The soil in which hydrangea grows, with frequent overwatering and stagnant water provokes a wet blackening of the above-ground part of the plant. Also contributing factors to the disease are unstable weather conditions, improperly prepared soil, which can not provide the root system unhindered breathing, causing stagnant water. Combat this unpleasant phenomenon with the help of mulch and balanced fertilizers. Affected parts of the above-ground parts are completely removed, leaving only healthy parts. In this way, it is possible to localize the foci of infection and gradually restore the lost ornamentality.

• Chlorosis. The yellowing of areas of the leaf plates between the veins signals a change in the acidity of the soil with approaching an alkaline reaction. You can restore the necessary level of acidity with improvised means. Some gardeners put large rusty nails on the top soil layer under the bush and spend one or two abundant waterings of the plant for the penetration of iron molecules to the root system. A solution of the che-late form of iron will provide the expected effect. You can buy ready-made preparations “Ferovit” and “Antichloroz”. The solutions of the above-ground parts of the flower, as well as the top layer of soil along the entire perimeter, which occupies the crown above the ground, are treated with these preparations.
• Rust. Disease of bacterial nature. It manifests itself by the appearance of a rapidly expanding reddish plaque on the inner side of the leaf plates. The cause is an overabundance of nitrogen compounds in the soil, usually occurs if the dosage is not observed at the time of fertilizing. Remove the plaque and save the plant from further damage will help to spray the bush with copper chloroxide. The solution can be prepared at home. It will require 20 grams of copper and 5 liters of water. Specialized stores sell preparations “Topaz” and “Falcon”, which are no less effective in coping with the disease.

Pests from the soil

Soil, especially in outdoor garden areas, is most susceptible to infestation by various microorganisms, small mollusks, worms and insects.

Hydrangea leaves can attract the following parasites:

• Garden slugs. These seemingly quite harmless gastropod mollusks can deprive a hydrangea bush of decorativeness in a matter of days. In densely planted areas of the garden, where high humidity is maintained, slugs appear during the warm season. They eat the leaves, leaving huge holes on the leaves, sometimes all around the perimeter of the leaf. It is possible to fight them with the help of a special drug “Molluscocide”, the solution of which is treated the crown and the top layer of soil around the bush.
• Fungal infections. From the soil, hydrangea can be attacked by a huge number of fungal infections. Spores can easily spread throughout the garden plot, and, once in the moist soil, multiply rapidly. Win over fungal diseases is not easy, this requires a comprehensive approach. Identifying the causative agent of infection, you can suppress it with fungicides, available at specialist florist stores.

Most hydrangea florists conclude that almost all failures in growing these exotic plants are caused by the inadequacy of the soil in which they have to develop. By providing the necessary requirements for cultivation, it is possible to achieve excellent results.