Hydrangea – not too capricious in care plant. But it requires growth exactly in open soil. Therefore, you need to take into account when it is better to plant the plant and know some peculiarities of care, which will help to avoid withering or even death of the beautiful flower.
Interesting things about Hydrangeas
Inflorescences can reach up to 20 cm in diameter. They are colored in a wide variety of colors.
It is best to plant a seedling that has already grown a little. You can buy it at any flower store. The most suitable age for planting hydrangeas will be 4-5 years. At this age, the plant takes root well and starts to bloom faster.
Many varieties of hydrangeas are planted in open soil, as it can grow from a plant of 10 meters high. There are also low-growing varieties that are about 2 meters tall.
Preparing the site
Preparation of the planting site hydrangea plays no less important role and should be carried out properly.
The plant has very branched roots, which can be even twice the diameter of the crown.
This should be taken into account when planting other flowers, especially bulbous flowers such as tulips or gladiolus, which require annual digging of the soil.
It is better to choose a looser area for planting hydrangeas, since the roots of the flower are placed shallow. Other than that, other flowers can be planted around the plant that cover the soil.
The planting hole should be wide enough (about 60cm) and about 40cm deep. If more than one shrub will be planted, it is recommended that the distance between the shrubs should be at least 3 meters.
When to plant Hydrangea
Planting is best done in spring and autumn. But in northern regions it will be better to do it all the same in spring, so that the root system had time to get stronger. At this time it is necessary to plant all young and weak seedlings. The warm season will help them to develop well and prepare for the cold winter.
If there is a need to plant the plant faster, you should provide it with a greenhouse in order to protect the hydrangea from night frosts.
The greenhouse can be removed as soon as the weather has stabilized.
The roots themselves should be shortened a little before planting. The shoots should also be trimmed so that 3-4 pairs of buds remain on them. In the spring after planting, Hydrangea should be fertilized with nitrogen fertilizer. Thanks to him, the green mass of the plant will start to grow, which in turn will prepare the hydrangea for flowering.
In autumn, Hydrangea can also be planted in the open ground, but at this time planting or transplanting is recommended only strong seedlings, so that they are ready for winter.
It is best to plant Hydrangeas at home immediately after flowering so that the plant has at least a month to root by frost.
Soil for planting
The soil must be acidic and neutral, yet fertile. Soil that is used for bushes and roses will do. Hydrangea very poorly tolerates limestone soils or soils with a capacity of other alkaline compounds. If you ignore these factors, the plant will not bloom at all or may even die. Consequently, limestone, chalk, or dolomite flour should not be added to the soil near the hydrangea roots.
Brown peat serves as a useful constituent to oxidize the soil. It will also be helpful to add coniferous earth or sawdust when planting. Organic and mineral fertilizers should also be applied at the time of planting, as they are good for the quality of the plant and accelerate its growth. It is worth mentioning that fertilizers stimulate hydrangea flowering. Basically, the first flowering and fruiting of the shrub occurs in the 4th-5th year of the plant’s life.
As already mentioned, the planting hole should be quite large. Hydrangea bushes can grow very quickly, respectively, they need space and suitable care. It is important to root the plant properly, which will help the fertile mixture, which should be filled into the planting hole.
Soil components:
- Mixture of humus (preferably fresh) – 2 parts;
- Leaf soil – 2 parts;
- Substrate fiber-peat – 1 part;
- Medium-grained sand – 1 part.
When planting, the root neck of the seedlings in the hole should be at the same level with the top layer of soil. Plant the plant best in not too hot weather, and even better in cloudy weather. If it is sunny outside, the flower must necessarily be shaded.
It’s important to time your planting of hydrangeas correctly for optimal growth and health. The best time to plant hydrangeas is typically in the early spring, once the danger of frost has passed. This will give the plants plenty of time to take root before summer arrives!