Pruning hydrangeas in the spring. Care for hydrangea

People have known Hortensia for a long time. For a long time the plants developed, some new species began to appear, methods of care were improved, and they themselves acquired completely new properties. Currently, they are among the most common garden ornamental plants. Gortensia is grown mainly in the open ground, in the garden. However, more sensitive to cold, its species are cultivated in greenhouses or in a house in a pot.

Main types of hydrangeas

There are many different varieties (more than 500) of hydrangeas. They differ greatly in their appearance, growth conditions and, of course, the method of care. And that's why you need to know what kind of thing you are dealing with, because the flowering and even the growth of your plant depends on it. Consider the main ones.

Tree-shaped hydrangea

A typical shrub that is characterized by constantly growing zero shoots with white flowers in the form of a ball, so this hydrangea is very often called white bush or white globular, depending on the species chosen.

Swarthy hydrangea

It grows in the form of a multi-barrel or single-barreled tree, so many can confuse it with a tree-shaped hydrangea. The flowers themselves can look a bit like lilacs, but the similarity here is minimal.

Large leaf hydrangea

Here the emphasis is not on large sheets, namely on large flowers, so often the plant is called large-flowered. Sometimes there is also the name "garden hydrangea", because in gardens they are grown most often to create a particularly attractive environment and elegant design of the site.

It is the above hydrangeas that are considered to be the most popular and widespread, so people try to cultivate them most often.

The main secrets of care for hydrangeas in the period from spring to autumn

By itself, care of hydrangeas in the spring is not very difficult, except for the need for pruning these plants are not much different from others. Still, the most demanding species is the large leaf hydrangea, because the process of caring for it includes cleaning the soil of different weeds and old leaves, mulching with peat and loosening. Also, care for hydrangeas in the spring involves fertilizing the soil for cultivation with special mineral fertilizers, which will be able to provide better conditions for growing flowers of this species.

In autumn, the soil should be enriched with special minerals and vitamins, in order to grow the plant was much more comfortable and it had better qualities.

As soon as the snow comes down in the early spring, you can immediately ensure the airing of the plants, and after completely melting the snow you can gradually fully open them so that they are saturated with oxygen and can provide better conditions for further growth and development.

Remember that after opening the plant, you should protect it from sunburn, as they can be disastrous for not yet ready for open land after wintering hydrangeas.

How and when to cover a hydrangea?

Thermophilic hydrangeas (large-leaved, serrate or other species) in snowy, but relatively warm winters easily hibernate without shelter, and even blossom under similar conditions they may well. It's a good idea to winter and at the same time the hydrangeas can blossom if they are bored, bent to the ground and covered with any kind of cloth.

Remember that small plants do not tolerate winter well, so they should be properly prepared to provide better conditions for such a severe season.

Terms of shelter hydrangeas are not so important, for example, in comparison with the rose, but in any case it will not be superfluous to monitor the weather, because you can even cover the hydrangea even after the first frosts.

Pruning hydrangeas in the spring

Hydrangea petiolate in pruning does not need, only dry, diseased or damaged shoots and faded inflorescences are removed. Shrubs and trees hydrangea paniculate look much better, if they cut and form the crown.

When should the pruning of the hydrangea be carried out with a panicle - in the spring or in the autumn? The opinions of experts on this issue do not have unity.

To get a small form of a bush, it must necessarily be pruned hydrangeas in the spring. Truncate shoots to 3 or 4 kidneys. During the year the plant will release many more branches. If the bush is very old, it can be rejuvenated. This is done by trimming all the shoots to the level of a stump or trunk. But in this case, the beautiful form of the bush will only be in the second year. If pruning hydrangeas with a panicle in the spring is not carried out, the plant will look sloppy and may even not blossom.

To form a hydrangea tree, paniculate shoots are not severely cut off, but only plucked. It is recommended to do this in summer, two times per season. The main vertical shoot is plucked in the spring only once, at the beginning of the growing season.

When the main shoot grows to the desired diameter, the crown is laid (at a height of 1-1.5 m). The shoot is cut to 4-5 kidneys, later on, lateral shoots of height and width will be used.

The tree hydrangea grows rapidly. Over the season, its branches can reach 1.5 m. Pruning hydrangeas in the spring is only beneficial. When trimming, leave the hemp 30-40 cm tall.

Large-leaf hydrangea removes weak, damaged or broken branches. You can not trim the tip of the apex - it is from it that the flower spike is formed. Pruning hydrangeas in the spring is not carried out.

Reproduction of a plant

Several methods of multiplying this plant are used.

• One way is to propagate hydrangeas with cuttings in the spring. Cuttings with 4-5 buds are germinated in a solution of "Kornevin". Further, for rooting, they put them in acid loose soil. Saplings should be constantly watered and shade until the first young leaves appear. You can also make a three-liter jar. In the ground, cuttings are best planted no later than June. In a heat, they do not take well. Reproduction of hydrangea by cuttings in spring is possible for all species. But it is especially convenient to cut woody and paniculate, when you want to form a tree or a bush to your liking.
• Some gardeners reproduce hydrangeas by layers, but this method is inefficient.
• Hydrangeas are often propagated by seeds.

Held Transplant hydrangeas in the spring.

A list of the main advantages of hydrangeas

1. A huge variety of species of this plant, so you can pick up any interesting for yourself to create a unique and original flower garden.
2. Many types of hydrangeas can be called winter hardy, so their cultivation can be carried out without using a shelter for the winter period of time.
3. Hydrangeas are practically not affected by various plant diseases and pests, so growing them is a pleasure.
4. Care for hydrangeas is not very difficult, so even a young horticulturist, who does not know all the subtleties and complexities of this process, can cope with it.
5. And, of course, there is a long flowering, thanks to which you can keep the decorativeness of your flower garden for a long time.