A rare front garden does without large-leaved hydrangea. This flowering bush is a true decoration of the garden.

Large leaf hydrangea - description of the plant

Initially, the predecessor of large-leaved hydrangea got into the gardens of Europe straight from Japan, and a little later, thanks to breeders from France, the heroine of the article appeared. This variety is less frost-resistant than other varieties, but it is distinguished by lush flowering and foliage color changing during the season. Throughout the summer, huge leaves remain green, and closer to the end of the warm pore, they begin to twitch with a light red coating.

Inflorescence brushes consist of flowers in diameter exceeding 3 cm, and the inflorescences themselves reach about 18 cm.

Depending on the variety, large-leaved hydrangea can have different shades of colors:

  • white;
  • pink;
  • blue.

The bush blooms quite early, approximately after the May holidays. After the flowering period has passed, the inflorescences do not fly around, and only their color changes to greenish. So such a plant is decorative and can decorate the garden throughout the spring-summer period.

But it is important to remember that you need to buy seedlings from trusted suppliers or in nurseries in order to avoid fraud. Hydrangea is popular and the demand for it is quite high.

Outdoor landing

For a long time, hydrangea was cultivated as a houseplant, but after breeders bred new varieties, it became possible to plant it in open ground.

Site and soil preparation

It is important to properly prepare the soil and the place for planting the plant. Then from the very beginning the shrub will develop correctly, which will strengthen the hydrangea's immune system.

Although the beautiful hydrangea loves bright light, you should not indulge this whim. It is best to equip it in partial shade.

Well, if the base of the plant is shaded, but the crown will be nourished by the sun.

It is important to follow some rules when landing:

  • the bush can not be planted close to trees, as it draws a lot of moisture from the soil;
  • if the hydrangea base is under the sun, then the plant will suffer because the soil is very dry;
  • in the shade of inflorescences become smaller;
  • the flowering period of the bush is shorter in the shade.

The soil should be selected in accordance with the following recommendations:

  1. The soil should be medium or weak acidity. The shrub can "pepper" due to acidity. Depending on what color the petals are painted, you can understand what acidity the soil has. Blue color indicates increased, and pink flowers will tell that alkalinity is too small.
  2. The soil should be soft and saturated with organic fertilizers.

Hydrangea soil mixture recipe:

  • land from last year's rotten foliage - 1 part;
  • fine sand - ½ part;
  • coarse sand - ½ part;
  • humus or compost - 1 part;
  • cow rotted manure - 1 part.

All components must be thoroughly mixed and loosened.

How and when to plant?

It is best to plant hydrangea in late spring, after the frost has passed.

Autumn planting is also possible, but only in areas with warm winters. After a plant is planted in the spring, it manages to get good nutrition over the summer, form a reserve for the winter and grow stronger.

It is best to dig a planting hole for a plant a week before hydrangea is planted. The width of the pit is 50 cm, the depth is 45 cm.

  1. After the pit is dug, it is laid out with a film and a mixture is laid in it, in which the bush will grow.
  2. After laying the soil, it should be shed well and mixed. After watering and evaporation of moisture, it will settle and it will become clear how much land still needs to be added.
  3. Before disembarking, the film together with the soil is removed from the pit.
  4. The bottom is covered with fine sand, then sand of a larger fraction is laid out, then a layer of the prepared mixture and only then can the rhizome be lowered there.
  5. It should be covered with remaining soil. Top soil must be mulched with a layer of mulch in a few centimeters.

Large Hydrangea Care

Although hydrangea is not particularly capricious, it still requires attention.

Watering and feeding

  1. Watering. Since the plant does not like lime, it is better to take soft, ideally rain water for irrigation. To soften water from a water pipe or well, you can add a little juice of lemon or vinegar. Hydrangea is a big fan of water procedures, so you need to make sure that the soil is always moist.
  2. If the weather is dry and sunny, then at dawn or in the evening you can douse branches from a hose.

It is best to feed hydrangea according to the following schedule.

  • in early spring, before the formation of shoots, the earth should be shed with a solution of biofungicides;
  • at the beginning of May organic matter is introduced;
  • in June, fertilizing with minerals follows;
  • organic again is introduced in the summer.

It is important to remember that it is impossible to feed hydrangeas with ash!

Since the color of the flowers can vary depending on the acidity of the soil, using a special technique, you can get flowers of different colors on one branch. To do this, alum and iron salts are introduced from one side of the hydrangea bush, and simple organic matter from the other. The result will be impressive.

Hydrangea pruning nuances

Trimming hydrangea macrophylla should be carried out according to the following rules:

  • only sanitary pruning;
  • in old bushes, only old shoots are trimmed.

If the bush is subjected to regular pruning, then you can not wait for the flowering to begin, since the shoots on which flower stalks develop grow from last year's branches.

It is best to carry out pruning in the autumn months, because diseased branches can serve as a source of the development of pathogenic microflora under winter shelter.

How to care for a plant in autumn, winter?

Care for hydrangea in autumn and winter is as follows:

  • in the early autumn it is worth carrying out sanitary pruning;
  • after that, the rake neatly around the bush removes the old layer of mulch;
  • organic fertilizer applied;
  • a few days later, a layer of coarse sand is laid around the trunk;
  • then a fresh layer of mulch is laid (if sawdust is used, it must be ripened, that is, produced several years ago, otherwise wood resins will damage the soil);
  • then around the trunk you can lay a layer of spruce paws.

It is important to remember that hydrangea, correctly sent to rest, next year will delight flowering throughout the season.

Shelter for large-leaved hydrangea for the winter

Since the variety in question is afraid of frost, it is worthwhile to build a reliable shelter for large-leaved hydrangea for the winter:

  • the branches should be sprayed with a Bordeaux mixture;
  • in the warm days of autumn, water the bush abundantly;
  • before frosts around the plant, an additional layer of earth of about 30 cm is poured over spruce paws;
  • further, the hydrangea branches are bent to the ground and straw or hay is laid on top (it is better not to use fallen leaves, because pathogens can overwinter well in warmth and comfort with it);
  • a cardboard box or wooden box is placed on top of such a structure;
  • a special fabric for preserving plants is strengthened on top.

The nuances of hydrangea care in the Moscow region, Siberia

For hydrangea planting in cold regions, there are some nuances, the observance of which is mandatory:

  • it is better to choose varieties that tolerate frosts well;
  • necessarily a thorough and reliable shelter;
  • top dressing should be varied;
  • you need to trim very carefully.

Protection against diseases and pests

Large-leaved hydrangea is susceptible to attack by harmful microbes, fungi and other diseases. Therefore, at the first signs of the disease, immediate action must be taken.

  • If the leaves begin to lighten, but the veins remain green, then the alkalinity of the soil is increased and the development of chlorosis has begun. An urgent need is to take a series of measures to reduce the acidity of the soil and add iron salts.
  • If a spider web appeared on the leaves on the back side and they began to dry, then this means that the plant devours a spider mite. This happens when the plant lacks moisture. So, it is worthwhile to increase watering, daily spray the plant and carry out a number of procedures for processing the drug against the pest.
  • If oil spots began to appear on the leaves, and after that, the leaves began to turn yellow, then these are signs of the appearance of downy mildew. Biofungicides and preparations with copper will help here.

Large-leaved hydrangea with good care is extremely rare, but if the plant is not followed, then there is a real risk of death!

Large-leaved hydrangea is undoubtedly a true decoration of the garden collection. But before you settle it near your home, you should think about whether there is enough energy and time to carefully carry out procedures that will ensure her comfortable growth.

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