Growing hydrangea paniculata varieties Grandiflora in the garden

Surely every gardener, especially if he has been growing various exotic plants for a long time, has heard of hydrangeas - a very interesting and quite unpretentious tree. It can be successfully grown both in pots and as a decoration of flowerbeds or a garden, and the large species diversity allows you to create the most sophisticated compositions. Here take at least a hydrangea paniculata or specifically Grandiflora variety. Having a lush crown, the plant will look great on any part of your site, especially since the uniqueness of its inflorescences is not similar to any known species.

Description and origin

The mentioned hydrangea variety is one of the most ancient since it was known in East Asia as far back as 1860. In those days, in the wild, such trees could reach up to ten meters in height, but modern specimens grown in our climate are characterized by more modest size.Today Grandiflora is grown as a shrub or small tree, which reaches a height of about two meters (with a crown diameter of three meters). The flowers of the plant are grouped into large pyramidal inflorescences up to 30 cm long. All flowers are mostly sterile, which means that you are unlikely to wait for the fruits from the plant.

At the beginning of flowering, all the flowers are colored creamy white, but over time, their color changes to white first, and then becomes a pale pink shade. But that's not all: with the arrival of autumn, closer to the end of flowering, you will notice greenish-red flowers on your hydrangea Grandiflora.

The leaves are ovate, up to 12 cm in length, slightly pubescent on top and more pubescent in the lower part of the leaf plate (especially along the veins). The first flowering is observed in the fourth or fifth year after planting, and if the flowers are not sterile, then about the same time, fruiting occurs. Flowering plants are quite long: from the second part of June until the end of October. If a fruit-box is formed, then soon it cracks on the top and from it you can get numerous small seeds. The viability of such seeds is quite high and is 95%.

Growing conditions

As with the purposeful cultivation of any other plants in your garden, planting hydrangea Grandiflora, with a description of which you have already read, you need to know about the rules of caring for it. First of all, it is important to take into account such well-known factors as lighting and soil composition.

How to choose lighting

All paniculate hydrangeas (and Grandiflora variety is not an exception) prefer lighted but slightly shaded parts of the garden so that sunlight will fall on them in a scattered form. At the same time, the variety survives well in urban environments, near high-rise buildings or in open areas in parks, but only if it can be ensured that it is regularly and sufficiently watered.It is also worth remembering that hydrangeas do not tolerate strong gusts of wind, so planting next to the fence or other tall shrubs will also be beneficial in this regard.

Soil type

Soil at the place of disembarkation of Grandiflora should be fertile, light and well hydrated with an optimum level of acidity pH 4-6.5. If the latter is not high enough, then iron sulfate can be used as an additive.

Grandiflora Landing

Planting Grandiflora begins with the preparation of the pit and its filling with fertile soil, after which a seedling is placed in it and sprinkled with a layer of soil on top. But this is only a short description of the whole process, and now everything is in order.

Pit preparation

The most suitable time for planting hydrangea Grandiflora on the site is the period from the end of the thawing of the soil until the beginning of the appearance of the first buds on the trees. The planting pit for the described plant should have a depth of at least 40-50 cm with a circumference of 40 cm.However, more specific parameters depend on the height of the shrub and soil fertility in the chosen area. That is, if you have to plant a plant on depleted land, then the seat should be deeper.

In addition, any hole must be additionally filled with a specially prepared soil mixture with the addition of 50 g of mineral fertilizer. Peat, turfy ground, sand and humus mixed with each other in a ratio of 2: 2: 1: 1 are suitable for the role of components of such a substrate. In addition, it is useful to add urea, potassium sulphate and superphosphate to the planting pit, after which you may not worry about feeding the plant for two years. Liming soil when growing Grandiflora categorically contraindicated.

Planting hydrangeas

A hydrangea seedling that you are going to plant on your plot should be dug up with a lump of earth, and shortly before being placed in a new place. All broken roots and branches of a young tree should be pruned with shears.

When the seedling is ready, pour a mound of the previously prepared mixture into the center of the planting hole (it should be flush with the upper edge of the hole) and carefully place the hydrangea root system on it, directing the roots in different directions. If we are talking about hydrangea Grandiflora, then at planting a slight (about 2–3 cm) depth of the root collar into the ground is allowed, otherwise the plant will not fully develop. The soil around the seedling should be tightly tamped so that there is no void left in the root zone.

Upon completion of the planting process, it remains only to water the seedling, sending a stream of water into the hole under the plant. The ground should be saturated with moisture throughout the depth of the pit, that is, up to 40-50 cm.

Care for paniculate hydrangea

If you seriously approach the cultivation of a flower and care for it, difficulties should arise.

Watering rules

Hortensia belongs to those plants that are very fond of moisture, but most of all she needs it during the flowering period. Therefore, at this stage of development, the regularity of irrigation should not be less than once a week, about 1.5-2 buckets of water per bush or tree. At the same time, Grandiflora variety can do without watering for a long time, although such drought tolerance is fraught with a decrease in the quality and quantity of inflorescences on the plant.

Fertilizer

All paniculate hydrangeas respond well to fertilization, so it’s not surprising that when you grow Grandiflora, you will have to feed it periodically.

During the flowering period, an important role is played by mineral compounds, which are introduced once every two weeks, although one should not completely exclude organic matter, the use of which takes place no more than once every four weeks. It is possible to get the optimal effect from dressing only with the gradual application of fertilizers:

• For the first time, the hydrangea is fertilized in early spring using organic compounds (mainly fermented manure diluted in water), but even here you should strictly follow the dosage (1: 3), otherwise the flowers will grow very large and may break the stems due to their weight.
• When buds are formed, the soil is fertilized with a mixture based on potassium sulfate, superphosphate (35 g each) and urea (25 g), calculated for 1 m² of soil.
• The use of mineral compounds in the calculation of 25-30 g for every 10 liters of water will increase the duration of flowering of hydrangeas.

Shrub trimming

It is no secret that the paniculate species is characterized by a rapid growth of the crown with an annual increase in shoots and a decrease in inflorescences. For this reason, experienced gardeners advise cutting the plant heavily. If there is a desire, you can even form a shrub or tree out of it, properly starting to prune the young shoots. So, in order to get a little tree as a result, it is enough to remove the lower shoots and begin to form the crown at the initial stage of growing hydrangea. That is, pruning for hydrangea Grandiflora variety is not only the recommended, but also a mandatory procedure, as it starts the process of forming new inflorescences and branches. To speed up the growth of the bush, it is pruned by about 2-3 buds, performing the procedure before they appear. For lush flowering shrubs better to cut off all the old shoots at the root.

In autumn, the care of Grandiflora provides for pruning of flowering inflorescences, because they spend a lot of nutrients, which leads to early termination of flowering shrubs or trees.

Shelter hydrangea for the winter

Grandiflora, like some other varieties of paniculate hydrangea, belongs to cold-resistant plants, which means that shelter is not required when grown in the southern and middle regions of the country. Nevertheless, if weather forecasters predict a cold and dry winter, then to protect the roots from freezing, it is better to cover the soil around the bush with a layer of humus. When it comes to young specimens, then to protect them use several layers of burlap or dried leaves, creating from them a kind of "fur coat". With age, the resistance of the tree (or bush) to frost only increases, and very soon you will not have to worry about how it will survive the winter.

A little bit about breeding varieties

When growing hydrangea Grandiflora, one of the important aspects of caring for a plant is its reproduction. You can accomplish this task in several ways: by dividing a hive, by grafting, or by using layering (by the way, the last two options are most often used).

In any case, the survival rate of parts of the mother bush on a new site is quite low, which is why experts recommend soaking them for some time in a growth stimulator. The process of reproduction by layering proceeds according to the following scenario: first, a small dimple in the soil must be done around the mother bush, then bend the branch to the ground and sprinkled with a layer of soil, tying its middle part to the support. As soon as the cuttings take root (this happens about a year later), the used twig can be separated from the bush.

As for grafting, the material for it can be harvested in the process of spring and winter pruning. Next, the resulting parts are placed in water for several days, after which the branches are cut into cuttings and treated with a root formation stimulator.

The ideal soil for cuttings consists of sand and peat, and after it takes its place in it (it should not reach the peat layer), you need to cover it with a can or to build a film cover. The cutting is placed in the soil mixture for 2/3 of its length. It is also a prerequisite for the successful implementation of the process is to conduct the entire procedure in the shade with the constant maintenance of the moisture content of the substrate. It is possible to perform transplanting during the whole growing season, but the best time for such an undertaking is spring or autumn.

Possible diseases and pests of the bush

Grandiflora is threatened with diseases such as garden aphid and powdery mildew. In the fight against the latter, the drugs "Fundazol" and "Oksikom" performed well. Regularly using them to process hydrangea at the beginning of flowering, you can protect it from the aforementioned ailments. However, when using insecticides, it is important to clearly follow the instructions for the composition, not exceeding the dosage recommended by the manufacturer.

It is possible to rid the plant of aphids with the help of chemical compounds or by means of independently prepared folk remedies. For example, a good infusion of garlic, which is directly mixed with 5% of a hydrangea, is directly mixed with household soap at a rate of 5: 1 before spraying. With a responsible approach to growing plants in your garden, be it Grandiflora or any other culture, you will have no problems, and all that remains is to admire the lush flowering and the general decorative look of the shrub.