Cultivation of ornamental shrubs: hydrangea Grandiflora paniculate

Hortense Grandiflora panicle came to us from Japan and China and is a shrub (sometimes a small tree), reaching five meters in height. The plant has a dense crown, formed by ovoid or elliptical leaves, the size of which reaches 12 cm. The flowers are located in honeycombs in longitudinal panes. If they are fruitful, they are white and small in size. Barren flowers are noticeably larger and are distinguished by the presence of four white petals, which in time become pink.

Hortensia paniculate grandiflora, the photo of which is located above, begins to bloom and bear fruit at about the age of four. This process usually starts in mid-June and lasts until the end of October. Fruits of the plant mature, as a rule, by the beginning of autumn and represent a box, the length of which reaches 3 mm in length and cracked in the upper part. As for the seeds, they are very small and numerous.

Landing

Such a shrub as the hydrangea of Grandiflora panicle is quite demanding on the composition of the soil. Before planting, it is necessary to prepare a special soil mix for it, which includes peat, turf, sand and humus. The proportion should be 2: 2: 1: 1. In addition, in the pit, you first need to add a bit of potassium sulfate, superphosphate and urea. After this, the plant should not be fed for two years. Do not forget that this type of hydrangea does not tolerate lime. Another feature of the shrub at the initial stage of its development is that young plants should be protected from the effects of winds and the midday sun. The root neck should be left at ground level after the soil subsides.

Care

For a plant like hydrangea, the paniculate Grandiflora care is not very difficult. The shrub is moisture-loving, therefore it requires up to two buckets of water per week (in rainy season, this periodicity becomes less frequent). For better development, it is necessary to constantly loosen the soil to a depth of 10 cm. After this, mulch should be carried out with a five-centimeter layer of soil. In the spring the hydrangea of the Grandiflora paniculate is cut off. Depending on its size and age, usually leave six to twelve shoots, each of which must be shortened to 2-5 kidneys. Old plants are generally recommended to be cut off under the base. With regard to fertilizing, it is desirable to produce four times. At the initial stage of vegetation and during budding, a Riga mixture with microelements is used for this. The two remaining top dressings are carried out in the summer. For them, use a weak solution of manganese potassium, which serves to strengthen the shoots.

Preparing for winter

Preparation of shrubs for wintering begins with the removal of faded inflorescence in the fall. Despite the fact that the hydrangea Grandiflora panicle is completely frost-hardy, the whiplash should be covered. If the plant is young, it is done by peat and dry leaves. The thickness of the layer should be at least 10 cm. Approximately two to three years after planting, it is possible to use burlap for warming, which in several layers turns into a trunk. The older the plant becomes, the stronger its frost-resistance increases.