Caring for a luxurious hydrangea (in open ground)

It is believed that garden hydrangea is heat-loving plantThere was a time when, in our climate, it could only be grown in greenhouses. But today, the situation has changed, and you can find bushes that are perfectly suited for growing outdoors. Garden hydrangea: planting and caring for it outdoors requires care and attention.

The large-leaved hydrangea, suitable for growing in the garden, produces enormous blooms. These can even come in unusual colors, such as blue or light blue. It blooms from July to the end of September. However, in cooler climates, the blooming period may be shorter.

All about planting hydrangeas

Garden hydrangea: Planting and caring for it outdoors in spring requires careful selection of the location. It should be sunny but not in direct sunlight. Direct sunlight often damages flowering and makes the flowers smaller. Partial shade also affects flowering, just as direct sunlight does.

It's recommended to add a little clay and peat to the bottom of the hole where the seedlings will be planted. Hydrangeas love moisture, and this trick will help maintain moisture at the roots after watering. However, the plant reacts negatively to excess moisture at the roots. Therefore, as early as September, when temperatures drop and occasional rains begin, it's recommended to cover the plant.

As for the soil, hydrangea can even be called unpretentiousIt will grow on dry sandstone, but you'll provide more comfortable growing conditions for your plant if you plant it in nutritious loam. It's important that the soil is acidic, not neutral or alkaline. It's best to plant hydrangeas in the spring, after the last frost has passed. Water the bush regularly immediately after planting.

How to properly care for hydrangea

Garden hydrangea: planting and care in open ground, and what this plant likes and dislikes will be discussed further. Fertilizing should be done only a few times a year. In early spring, immediately after planting and when the first buds appear (blooming typically begins in July). Any mineral fertilizer is suitable.

Important! Avoid using ash as a potassium fertilizer, which the plant needs in spring. Ash reduces soil acidity. And as we've already established, soil acidity is essential for the proper growth of this shrub and, of course, its flowering.

Weekly watering is sufficient for hydrangeas. However, if it's too hot outside, you can water them twice a week using soft water. Loosen the soil whenever possible and try to maintain moderate moisture under the bush. Once the hydrangea blooms, it will be beautiful and decorative in any weather.

When autumn arrives, watering can be reduced, especially during rainy weather. Furthermore, if rainfall is frequent, the plant should be covered to prevent the soil around the roots from becoming too wet, which can cause root rot.

How pruning is done

Garden hydrangea: planting and care in open ground. Pruning is required every year. This should be done in late September. Trim the tops of the shoots, and carefully gather the bush into a single bundle, covering the base with soil. Cover the bush with plastic wrap and spruce branches. Carefully place the plant in wooden boxes, but do not remove the hydrangeas from the ground.

Young bushes can, in principle, overwinter standing. Winter shelter should be arranged around mid-October, much earlier than for garden rosesOnce the snow melts in spring, you can gradually begin airing the bushes. Then, when the covering is completely removed after the frosts have passed, prune the bushes.

Important! Short pruning is not suitable for hydrangea bushes! This is because it removes a large number of flower buds. Therefore, when pruning, you need to consider the condition of the bush afterward. It's useful for gardeners to know which ones are present. Fertile zodiac signs for sowing in 2015.

Garden hydrangea: planting and caring for it outdoors is far from easy. You'll need to tend to the bushes in spring, summer, and fall. Once the snow melts, hydrangeas covered for the winter will need to be uncovered periodically. So why plant such a capricious plant in your garden? Because hydrangea's vibrant and lush blooms are unmatched by any other shrub or even flower.