Contents
Perennial ornamental shrub, hydrangea Schloss Wackerbart, is distinguished by an unusually bright color of inflorescences. They are spherical, large, are a real decoration of the garden. Another advantage of this culture is the long flowering from mid-summer until the first frost.
Description of hydrangea Schloss Wackerbarth
This is an ornamental, upright shrub, the shoots of which do not disintegrate. They are green, grassy, become woody only for 2 years after planting, turn gray. Their length does not exceed 1 m 30 cm. In width, the Schloss Wackerbart hydrangea shrub grows up to 1 m.
Inflorescences of spherical shape, large, up to 25 cm in diameter, are formed at the ends of the shoots of the first year
They consist of small flowers (up to 5 cm in diameter) with pointed petals.
At the beginning of flowering, all petals of the Wackerbarth variety are light green in color. Later they become pink with a blue center, which is bordered by yellow, long stamens. In the center of each petal is a lemon-green speck. At the final stage of budding, Wackerbart hydrangea flowers become pale green with a red border around the edges.
The leaves are large, up to 15 cm long, oblong, pointed tip. The edge is serrated, the central vein is clearly visible. Their color takes on all shades of green, depending on the lighting.
Hydrangea fruits are formed in the form of a box containing a large number of small seeds.
Hydrangea Schloss Wackerbart in landscape design
With the help of this ornamental shrub, flower beds, alleys, garden paths are decorated. Hydrangeas are planted in groups of several varieties each.
This plant looks spectacular in group compositions, surrounded by evergreen trees and shrubs.
Also, Schloss Wackerbart hydrangea is planted in greenhouses, singly, as in the photo below, or used as a decorative hedge.
How the hydrangea Schloss Wackerbarth winters
Hydrangea variety Schlosswacker barth requires shelter for the winter. This should be a construction in the form of a hut made of dry branches, thus roses are still covered. You can also spud a shrub, cover it with agrofiber. In this state, Schloss Wackerbart hydrangea will endure quite severe frosts down to -18 ᵒС.
In the warm regions of the country, the Schloss Wackerbart hydrangea is spudded to a height of 30 cm. In areas with little snow, frosty and windy winters, a layer of peat or sawdust is thrown on the bushes.
Before wrapping the flower for the winter, pruning is carried out, only dried inflorescences are removed and all leaves are removed.
Planting and caring for large-leaved hydrangea Schloss Wackerbarth
This plant is hardy, survives in different climatic conditions, is practically not susceptible to diseases. It should be planted in well-drained soil in sunny areas.
Selection and preparation of the landing site
Hydrangea Schloss Wackerbart is a shade-tolerant plant, but for bright, abundant flowering, it is planted in open areas, avoiding the proximity of tall shrubs and trees.
The soil should be loose, nutritious, well fertilized, acidic. If the selected seat does not meet these indicators, it is prepared.
Algorithm of actions:
- Dig and loosen the soil on the landing site.
- Moisten the soil well, apply liquid fertilizers suitable for this particular crop.
- If necessary, acidify the soil by adding a small amount of vinegar or special top dressing.
Rules of landing
First, planting holes are dug 30×30 cm in size. The distance between them should be at least 1 m.
A third of the pit is filled with a nutrient mixture: humus and peat in a 1: 1 ratio. Top dressing is poured with settled or rain water.
Hydrangea root Schloss Wackerbart is placed in the planting hole in the center, the root neck should remain on the surface. The shoots of the rhizome are covered with fluffy light earth, slightly trampled.
After planting, the plant is watered abundantly, the trunk circle is mulched with a thick layer of sawdust
You can replace them with peat. Mulch is left on all summer. Rake occasionally, giving space for the growth of new shoots.
Watering and top dressing
Hydrangea Schloss Wackerbarth is a moisture-loving plant that loves abundant and frequent watering, especially in dry summers.
You will have to moisten the root weekly, for this they use about 1 bucket of water for each bush. If the summer is dry, the number of waterings is increased, if the weather is regularly rainy, it is enough to moisten the soil once a month.
To prevent the appearance of rot on the roots and improve their breathing, the soil is loosened. During the procedure, they deepen by 5-6 cm. During the summer season, it is enough to carry out up to 2-3 loosenings.
Fertilization contributes to abundant flowering and bright color of the buds. The procedure is carried out 4 times, starting in spring.
Schloss Wackerbarth hydrangea fertilizing schedule:
- In the spring, after the snow has melted, during the period of active growth of shoots, 30 g of potassium sulfate and 25 g of carbamide (urea) are added under the root.
- A week before the expected flowering period, during the period of bud formation, a solution of 50 g of potassium sulfate and 70 g of phosphate fertilizer is applied under the root.
- The last two feedings are carried out until mid-August. The process uses the previous composition of a mixture of potassium phosphate and superphosphate.
From the second half of August, fertilizers are not used, and the number of irrigations is also reduced. This contributes to the laying of buds next year.
Pruning hydrangea large-leaved Schloss Wackerbarth
The shrub is pruned in early spring and autumn, before shelter. Remove faded and dried buds. Shoots that did not have ovaries are shortened by half.
In the spring, dry, old, missing stems are removed; in the fall, the branches on which the buds have faded are cut off to the first healthy bud.
Preparation for winter
In the autumn, before the onset of the first cold weather, they begin to prepare the Schloss Wackerbart hydrangea for winter. First, remove all the lower leaves, leaving only the apical ones. This will speed up the process of lignification of the shoots, enhance their protection from the cold.
In the southern regions, Schloss Wackerbart bushes are highly spudded. Often this is enough for the flower to overwinter. But the Schloss Wackerbart hydrangea of the first year is still recommended to be insulated using one of the methods proposed below.
In the northern regions, the near-stem circle of the plant is covered with spruce branches. The shoots are bent to the ground, fastened with brackets. Peat is poured into the center of the bush, and the top is covered with a spruce forest. This whole structure is wrapped with roofing material, then it is fixed along the edges with bricks or boards.
Old lignified plants do not tilt, they are completely wrapped with agrofibre, tied with a rope
From above, wire frames are installed like a hut. Then the whole structure is covered with a thick layer of dry leaves.
Reproduction
Cuttings are an easy way to get a young Schloss Wackerbart plant. The best time for the procedure is the period before flowering. It is important to choose a time when the shoots have not yet become woody, but buds have already begun to form at their ends.
The upper part of the shoot is cut at an angle of 45 ᵒ, leaving only a couple of leaves. If buds are born at the ends of the branches, they are removed. The resulting cuttings are soaked in a growth accelerator, spreading it according to the instructions.
After soaking, the lower cut of the cutting is treated with dry Kornevin.
The soil is prepared for rooting: sand and peat in a ratio of 1: 2. The soil mixture is thoroughly mixed, watered.
Schloss Wackerbart hydrangea cuttings are deepened by 2-3 cm. A distance of at least 5 cm is observed between plants. Then the cuttings are sprayed from a spray bottle, covered with a film. The container with plants is cleaned in a dark, warm place. In hot weather, water daily.
In a month, the hydrangea cuttings will take root. The signal for this will be the appearance of new, green leaves.
As soon as the cuttings take root, the covering film is removed.
Young Schloss Wackerbart hydrangeas are seated, each should have its own pot, a mixture of garden soil with peat and sand is used as soil
Grown up hydrangeas are grown in partial shade, regularly watered 2-3 times a week. The flower is transferred to a permanent place in the spring. Pre-hardened seedlings, taking out for an hour, to fresh air.
Large-leaved hydrangeas such as Schloss Wackerbarth are also propagated by shoots. You can carry out the procedure in spring or autumn. For planting take only healthy, lignified shoots.
To do this, the bush is dug up very carefully so as not to damage the rhizome. Then the coppice shoot is separated. Separated branches are transplanted to an adjacent bed. Care for them in the same way as for the mother plant.
Diseases and pests
Hydrangea Schloss Wackerbart is not susceptible to diseases and attacks of harmful insects. But with poor care, the flower may suffer.
Diseases:
- chlorosis – occurs when there is an excess of lime in the soil;
- leaf scorch – appear if the hydrangea is constantly in direct sunlight;
- wet black leaves appear with an excess of moisture;
- leaf curl occurs after the use of herbicides.
Fungal diseases may also appear: powdery mildew, white rot, gray rot, rust.
The fungus multiplies if the hydrangea is grown in closed flower beds with high humidity or next to diseased plants.
If the Schloss Wackerbarth hydrangea grows in the garden, it can be affected by harmful insects. Some of them crawl from nearby plants.
For the Schloss Wackerbart hydrangea, aphids, spider mites, garden slug, gall nematode are dangerous. It is important to regularly inspect the leaves and shoots of the plant. At the first sign of the appearance of harmful insects, treat the shrub with chemicals.
Conclusion
Hydrangea Schloss Wackerbarth is one of the most beautiful plants of its kind. Bright large buds will decorate any garden and flower garden. The culture is quite unpretentious, it requires minimal care. Diseases and pests rarely attack ornamental shrubs.