The magic of the hydrangea

• Admin
• February 29, 2024

In our garden kingdom there is only room for one queen and that is the hydrangea. It is the undisputed winner in the ranking of the most wanted garden plants, and everyone strives to have a more beautiful and larger hydrangea than their neighbor's. Let's find out a little more about it.

More than 70 types of hydrangea are known, but now we will talk only about the most common ones:
1. Hydrangea macrophylla. It can be recognized by the large and spherical flowers. You can also meet a model with flat flowers, which have small pimples in the middle. The leaves of this hydrangea are large and shiny, hence the name "macrophylla". The height of the bush reaches up to 150 cm. The resistance of this plant to cold is also remarkable (especially the hybrid varieties) down to -20 degrees. However, if you choose a classic variety, you must protect the buds from cold, because they are not as durable as those of the hybrids and you risk losing the flowers. Another disadvantage of hydrangea macrophylla is that it is not resistant to dry weather and likes shady or semi-shady places (without the hybrid varieties). It needs regular and abundant watering. It also feels best to be planted in drained soil and according to the acidity the hydrangea decides what color to be "dressed". In more acidic soils, it will turn blue or purple, and conversely, if the soil is more calcareous, our hydrangea will take on a more elegant appearance and turn pink or red. The only exception is the white hydrangea, which is not affected by soil or water characteristics. She will always remain white, because she has no pigmentation embedded in her genetically. Hydrangea macrophylla needs pruning only after 5-6 years. However, this process must be carried out extremely carefully and precisely, because you risk losing the beauty of this bush for a whole season. I give you some guidelines if you decide to take on this difficult task yourself. Pruning should happen by August at the latest. Carefully cut off overbloomed flowers, as this happens above the first two buds. If you are going to do the pruning in the spring, you will have to cut all the stems that are frozen. If you are going to beautify your favorite plants in April, then I recommend that you remove 30% of all stems by cutting them to the base. Hydrangea macrophylla can acquire dimensions that you did not expect and if this happens you will have to do the mass pruning, which includes cutting absolutely every branch at a height of 45 cm from the ground. Thus, you will probably lose flowering this year, but you will ensure the beauty and neatness of the bush in the next.
2. Hydrangea paniculata is the next variety we want to pay attention to. This variation is much more cold hardy than macrophylla. It can withstand up to -35 degrees, which makes it one of the most cold-resistant plants known to mankind. It is a natural hybrid obtained by crossing different species in nature. You can recognize it by the big beautiful colors, such as lemon green, cream or light pink or even iridescent several colors...true natural art. Unlike hydrangea macrophylla, this one loves to bask in the sun. It blooms from May to October and can magically change color throughout the period. The most suitable period for pruning is February or March, and here you can afford unintentional mistakes, because this hydrangea blooms on new branches. The rule here is that the more branches you cut, the stronger and bigger the ones you left will be.
3. Hortensia anabel. This is another hybrid variety that we can meet quite often in our everyday life. They are characterized by large white flowers reaching 25-26 cm in diameter. This variety also boasts frost resistance, however, if a late frost occurs, it can damage the new formations.
4. Hydrangea petiolaris is the next representative of this proud family. It is also known as the climbing hydrangea and can reach a height of 6 meters. The sight of a finished adult bush is simply amazing. Provide a tall tree or brick wall for this plant to reach its full potential. Pruning should be done after the big frosts. Hydrangea petiolaris is usually not very resistant to cold weather, but it would easily withstand temperatures down to -15 degrees.

Unfortunately, the care we have to take for our hydrangeas is not limited to pruning. Proper fertilization and watering are crucial to the health of our plants, so let's talk a little about them as well.
1. Fertilization. Feeding hydrangeas is best done in mid-September in order to be able to provide nutrients during the winter. In fact, this action should be carried out several times a year, but the most important is before the winter season. Hydrangea likes acidic soil, so we need to fertilize with iron-rich fertilizer. Other elements it needs to function properly are magnesium, nitrogen, sulfur, potassium, calcium and others. This can happen with mineral fertilizer or natural manure. (I prefer natural) The next fertilization should happen after the snow melts completely, but let's say the beginning of March. The month of May is also a good time to feed our hydrangeas with organic fertilizer. Never fertilize a plant if you notice it is sick because you will stress its already busy system.
2. Watering. Watering hydrangeas (especially younger ones) is really an art and not everyone can do it. You have to be very careful with the amount of water you give your plants because they have shallow root systems and you can kill them with too much water. The surest sign of overwatering rot is the wilted appearance of the flowers and soft stems. If you notice these signs, stop watering and check the soil 3-4 cm below the surface to see if it is wet or not. In some cases, you can help by transplanting the hydrangea into dry soil, but you have to be patient until you see improvement, at least 1-2 weeks.

We will be brief about planting. Hydrangea should be planted in spring or fall. According to the variety, choose a suitable place for the hydrangea and never plant it next to larger plants, because they will "steal the nutrients". Dig a hole that is at least 3-4 times larger and deeper than the root of the plant. Place the young hydrangea inside and fill with compost and peat. This will ensure water drainage. Then water with soft or rain water.