Hydrangea in the Leningrad region: planting and care, varieties for the North-West

Blooming hydrangeas in the Leningrad region have long ceased to be a curiosity, despite the fact that in nature they grow in a warm climate, in the countries of Southeast Asia, South and North America. You can grow a shrub in a harsh region. During a relatively short warm summer, he manages to please those around him with magnificent flowering.

Features of growing hydrangeas in the Leningrad region

Heat-loving hydrangeas (lat. Hydrangea) have a number of features, thanks to which even inexperienced gardeners can cope with growing plants in the Leningrad Region:

1. Hydrangeas do not impose special requirements on the composition of the soil. They feel comfortable on peaty, not too nutrient-rich soils with high acidity. It is these types of soils that are often found on the territory of the Leningrad Region.
2. Hydrangeas are resistant to pests and diseases.
3. Breeders have bred a lot of frost-resistant varieties that are able to winter in the Leningrad region without shelter. And for those varieties that do not tolerate cold so easily, the simplest warming is enough. And even if the hydrangea bushes freeze a little, they are able to quickly recover with the onset of spring.
4. Thanks to the variety of species and varieties, gardeners can form crowns in various ways, grow plants in flower beds and in hedges, as tapeworms.
5. Even in rainy, cool weather, typical for the Leningrad region, hydrangeas bloom for a long time and retain their decorative appearance.

Hydrangea varieties for the Leningrad region

Hydrangea varieties for the North-West are adapted to the climatic features of the Leningrad region. Pay attention to tree and paniculate species.

Treelike

Tree hydrangea has large spherical inflorescences, the size of which can be up to 20 cm in diameter. Shrubs grow up to 1,5 m in height. The following varieties are recommended for planting in the Leningrad Region:

1. Grandiflora (Grandiflora). This is an old variety, known since the middle of the XIX century. In nature, the shrub can be huge, up to 10 m in height. When grown as an ornamental garden plant, it rarely exceeds 3,5 m. But several hundred light cream inflorescences can appear on one bush. The advantages of the Grandiflora variety are resistance to frost and undemanding to growing conditions.

   

2. Annabelle (Annabelle) – sprawling low variety. Able to grow up to 5-6 m in diameter. Inflorescences with good care and fertilization can be gigantic, up to 50 cm in size. The flowers are distinguished by a snow-white tint.

   

Paniculata

Hydrangea paniculata for the Leningrad region perfectly tolerates cold. Its inflorescences have an oblong shape, and the color, depending on the variety, is pink, cream, red. The following varieties are suitable for the northwestern regions:

1. Vanilla Fries (Vanille Fraise) – a popular variety of hydrangeas, very sprawling, with a crown of the correct symmetrical shape. Its distinguishing feature is the change in color of the inflorescences from white at the beginning of the flowering period to pinkish and crimson in the autumn months.

   

2. Laimlayt (Limelight) – a shrub whose flowers have an original shade of lime. When they are in the shade, they look yellowish green, and in the sun they appear bright white. The variety is compact, up to 2 m high, with abundant flowering. The stems of the Limelight hydrangea are so strong that they do not require tying to a support.

   

3. Variety Pinky Winky (Pinky Winky) can winter without covering material, under a layer of mulch. Tall shrubs in summer are covered with cone-shaped inflorescences. At first they are completely painted in white. In autumn, the lower flowers change color to deep purple.

   

When to plant hydrangea in the Leningrad region

Given the climatic features of the Leningrad region, plants are planted in open ground in the spring. As a rule, this procedure is carried out in the middle or at the end of March. By this time, the soil has time to warm up. In addition, the probability of return frosts practically disappears.

Planting hydrangea bushes in the fall is a risky undertaking, since before winter the plant does not have time to take root and get stronger enough to survive the early onset of frost.

Planting and caring for hydrangea in the Leningrad region

When planting hydrangeas, it is important to immediately choose a suitable place for the normal growth and development of the plant, as well as take into account the requirements for the composition of the soil. Otherwise, the shrub may not take root on the site and die.

Selection and preparation of the landing site

In the Leningrad region, hydrangeas should be given well-lit or slightly shaded areas of the garden. Plants need enough heat and sunlight for abundant and bright flowering. In addition, such environmental factors reduce the risk of contracting fungal infections.

The area where the hydrangea grows must be protected from cold wind and drafts.

Optimal conditions for keeping:

1. Sunshine in the morning and partial shade in the afternoon.
2. Draft protection.
3. Moist, acidic soil.
4. The distance between hydrangeas growing in the neighborhood is 1–2 m.

Despite the fact that hydrangeas are moisture-loving, they cannot grow on marshy soils, which are many in the Leningrad region. Excess moisture in the soil leads to disease and root rot.

The soil for growing hydrangeas must contain a sufficient amount of nutrients. The soil mixture can be prepared with your own hands. To do this, mix peat, sand, humus, garden soil in a ratio of 1: 1: 2: 2.

Manure cannot be added to the soil, it can cause root burns. The same applies to fertilizing with nitrogenous fertilizers.

To acidify the soil, you can prepare a solution of citric acid. To do this, dilute 3 tbsp. l. in a bucket of water. Another way is mulching with needles.

How to plant hydrangea in the Leningrad region

The scheme for planting hydrangeas in the Leningrad region is as follows:

1. Dig a hole 50 cm deep and wide.
2. Put drainage in the form of broken brick or rubble at the bottom.
3. Fill the hole a third with soil mixture.
4. Apply fertilizers: superphosphate (70 g), urea (25 g), potassium sulfate (30 g).
5. Place a hydrangea seedling in the hole so that the root neck is not deeply buried.
6. Sprinkle with soil mixture.
7. Pour a bucket of water with a solution of citric acid.
8. Mulch the trunk circle.

Watering and feeding

Hydrangea is watered twice a week, and in hot, dry weather – three times. Use warm settled water. In order for the soil to retain moisture, the tree trunks are loosened, weeded and mulched.

It is necessary to water the culture at the root, without affecting the foliage and flowers.

Plants are fed several times a season:

• before the appearance of the kidneys – mineral and organic fertilizers;
• after the formation of buds – superphosphate;
• in the first days of summer – nitrophoska;
• in September, before wintering – potassium sulfate and superphosphate.

Trimming

Pruning of hydrangeas is carried out to form a crown or for sanitary purposes. In the latter case, diseased, dried, damaged shoots are removed. Such procedures are carried out in spring and autumn, if necessary – in the summer.

Shaping haircut in the Leningrad region is usually scheduled for March or April. In paniculate hydrangeas, the tops of the shoots are shortened by 2-3 buds, in tree-like hydrangeas, by 4.

How to cover a hydrangea for the winter in the Leningrad region

Despite the fact that hybrid varieties are frost-resistant, when growing a crop in the Leningrad region, it is better to cover it for the winter. Perform this procedure as follows:

1. In autumn, the hydrangea is cut, the leaves and flowers are removed.
2. The earth around the hydrangea is cleared of fallen leaves.
3. The soil is mulched.
4. Shoots are collected together, bent to the surface of the earth, fixed. Boards can be placed under them.
5. Covering material is first thrown on top, and then perforated polyethylene.

Reproduction

There are several ways to propagate hydrangeas, each of which can be used when growing plants in the Leningrad region:

1. Division of the bush. Spend in the spring. Adult specimens are dug up and divided into fragments so that each has several renewal buds. The roots and shoots are slightly shortened, soaked in a growth stimulator and planted in new planting pits.
2. Cutting. Propagation material is prepared in the summer, in the Leningrad region this is usually done at the end of June. The upper parts of the shoots about 15 cm long are cut off. On the cuttings leave 2 pairs of upper leaves and buds. Processed in a growth stimulator for half an hour. Then start landing.
3. Layering. Hydrangea is propagated by this method with the onset of spring. They dig up the soil around the bush, make several grooves 5 cm deep. Powerful side shoots are laid in them, fixed and sprinkled, then watered regularly. When young shoots appear, directed vertically, they are spudded, and transplanted in September.

Diseases and pests

Hydrangeas have strong immunity. Diseases are associated with errors in maintenance and the wrong place for growing.

The most dangerous pest for hydrangeas living in the Leningrad region is the gall nematode. These are worms that infect the root system. A sign of infection are reddish galls, similar to blisters and appearing at the base of the shoots and on the roots.

There are no effective ways to control the root-knot nematode

Slugs can be a serious danger to hydrangeas, especially young ones. They eat leaves and tops of shoots. Insects and their eggs are collected by hand and destroyed.

Conclusion

Hydrangeas in the Leningrad region are increasingly becoming an ornament to garden plots. The main secrets in their cultivation are the correct selection of varieties and a suitable place for planting. With regular care and attention to the plant, it pleases with lush, beautiful inflorescences for a long time.