Contents
- Description of hydrangea serrata
- What is the difference between serrated hydrangeas and large-leaved hydrangeas
- Varieties of hydrangea serrata
- Hydrangea in landscape design
- Frost resistance of hydrangea serrata
- Care and cultivation of serrated hydrangea
- Reproduction
- Diseases and pests
- Conclusion
- Reviews about hydrangea serrata
Hydrangea serrata is a kind of garden culture. It is especially popular with domestic gardeners. And this is not surprising, because the plant has a lot of advantages, among which, in particular, a crown convenient for formation, cold resistance, high phytoimmunity, and unpretentiousness. With elementary care, the bushes grow rapidly and annually delight the summer resident with lush beautiful flowers of delicate shades.
Description of hydrangea serrata
Serrata hydrangea (hydrangea serrata) is a deciduous shrub with a dense crown. The root system is fibrous, sprawling, up to 40 cm deep. Thanks to this feature, the plant quickly responds to both fertilization and soil pollution. The leaf plates are green, oval in shape, pointed at the end. Their length is 10-12 cm. There are notches along the edges, like a saw.
Most varieties of sawtooth hydrangea bloom from July to September. However, in regions with a cool climate, budding may be reduced until August. The diameter of the inflorescences varies between 8-15 cm.
Hydrangea serrata is a heat-loving plant native to Asia.
What is the difference between serrated hydrangeas and large-leaved hydrangeas
The difference between these species lies in the shape of the inflorescences. In large-leaved hydrangea, they are usually spherical and consist entirely of sterile flowers. Serrate has corymbose inflorescences. In their center is a large number of small flowers capable of cross-pollination. Along the edges are larger, four-leaved sterile flowers that do not have reproductive organs.
Varieties of hydrangea serrata
There are many serrated types of hydrangea. Which one is better, it is impossible to say for sure. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Only by studying the descriptions of the most popular types, you can understand which option is the most suitable.
bluebird
Its distinguishing feature is large inflorescences. The flowers included in their composition have a different color. The brightest are those in the middle. They are pink-purple, with blue stamens. The shade of large flowers along the edges varies from pale pink or light purple to deep blue, purple. Throughout the flowering period, the inflorescences gradually change shade. Bluebird bushes bloom at any age. They reach a height of 1,5 m.
Hydrangea serrata Bluebird exudes a honey aroma when flowering.
Koreana
This is another undersized bush, whose height does not exceed 150 cm. The color of the inflorescences varies from snow-white to blue. It depends on the acidity of the soil. The more acidic it is, the more blue pigment will be. Koreana does not tolerate drought well and needs regular watering.
Hydrangea Koreana is one of the most popular varieties of serrate hydrangea.
Precious
The bush grows up to 250 cm in height. It has expressive flowers, unusual leaf plates. In spring and summer they are green, however, in autumn they acquire a burgundy hue. Preciosa inflorescences are no less bright. At the beginning of flowering they are creamy green, then deep pink and crimson before the end of flowering.
Preciosa is a tall shrub that needs regular pruning.
Golden Sunlight
This is a dwarf plant, the height of which does not exceed 1 m. Its distinguishing feature is large pointed leaves of a yellow hue, which turn green over time. Small flowers located in the center are dark pink, and large flowers located along the edge are pale pink. Of all types of serrated hydrangea, this is the least frost-resistant.
Golden Sunlight is a dwarf serrated hydrangea shrub that can be grown in bulk pots.
Vierle
It is a low plant about 1 m high. The shade of its inflorescences varies from lilac-blue to pink. Leaf blades are green in spring and summer, but by autumn they turn burgundy or purple. Vierle does not survive in wetlands. For proper growth and development of the plant, you need to regularly feed. Just like the Golden Sunlight, it is not hardy and needs shelter for the winter.
When growing Vierle serrated hydrangea, it is important not to overdo it with watering.
Avelrose
The bush, whose height does not exceed 1 m, has a huge number of pink inflorescences (they can be bright or dark). A characteristic feature of this plant is the presence of purple-green leaf plates, which turn purple with the end of summer. On acidic soils, Avelrose inflorescences take on a blue tint. The plant feels comfortable both in the shade and in the sunlight. Does not tolerate excess moisture.
The shade of the inflorescences of the serrated Avelrose species depends on the acidity of the soil
Hydrangea in landscape design
Serrated hydrangea has no flaws, which is why designers love it so much. Due to the huge variety of color palette and the shape of inflorescences, these plants play the role of a bright accent in landscape compositions. Leaf plates do not look quite ordinary and thus emphasize the beauty of the bushes.
Since the hydrangea has a long flowering period, hedges are often made from it, they are planted along the fence and near the walls of houses.
Low-growing varieties are grown in pots.
Often, hydrangea compositions are placed in separate groups. However, they also combine well with other ornamental plants. Hydrangea looks good next to birch, maple, acacia and lilac, as well as willow, bird cherry, barberry, jasmine. Also suitable for her are dahlias, roses, peonies, stars, rhododendrum, azalea, astilbes,
Frost resistance of hydrangea serrata
Winter hardiness of serrated hydrangea depends on the variety. Here are the indicators that the most popular types can withstand:
- Bluebird – 20 ° C,
- Koreana — 25 °C;
- Preciosa — 20 °C;
- Golden Sunlight – 16 ° C;
- Vierle — 18 °C;
- Avelrose — 23 °C.
Care and cultivation of serrated hydrangea
In order for the plant to grow and develop properly, it must be treated with special attention. First of all, you need to choose the right place for planting, root the seedling. In the future, after this, one should not forget about constant care. Without it, the hydrangea stops blooming and begins to hurt, gradually die.
Selection and preparation of the landing site
The serrated variety of hydrangea does not tolerate direct sunlight. Under them, her petals become too pale. However, serrate hydrangea is not suitable for full shade either. Excessive darkening can cause the bushes to stop blooming. The best option is partial shade. Hydrangea should be planted in places protected from strong winds. Landing close to the building is undesirable, since in this case freezing is possible in winter.
A few days before planting, the site is dug up. The soil overgrown with weeds can be pre-treated with herbicides in 2 weeks. Sawtooth hydrangeas love light, acidic soil rich in humus. They do not tolerate the high content of lime and ash in the earth, as it reduces the acidity.
In cases where the soil is heavy and has a poor composition, a ready-made substrate is bought in advance for planting in a garden store. Some summer residents make it on their own. To do this, crushed high-moor peat, turf, humus, black soil and sand are mixed in equal proportions.
Rules of landing
A pit for planting is made in advance. Its size must fully correspond to the size of the root system of the plant. The optimal distance between the pits is 1,5 m.
The procedure for planting a serrated variety of hydrangea is simple. Water is poured into the hole and a seedling is placed. Then it is covered with earth or a pre-prepared substrate. The earth near the planted plant is lightly tamped and watered. At the end, a layer of mulch about 10 cm thick is laid out. For this, needles or sawdust are used.
A serrated variety of hydrangea is recommended to be planted in spring or autumn.
Watering and top dressing
Most serrated hydrangea varieties need regular watering. It is especially important to carry out this procedure during heat and drought. Plants are watered as the soil dries under the root. Water should be at room temperature. If it is too cold, it needs to be warmed up. Chlorinated liquid should settle for some time. The use of rainwater is encouraged.
Under the bushes, you need to fertilize twice a year, first before and then after flowering. At the beginning of spring, 20 g of urea is dissolved in a bucket of water and the hydrangea is poured with the resulting liquid. For each bush spend 3 buckets of solution. After flowering, the hydrangea is fed with complex mineral fertilizers.
How to prune a sawtooth hydrangea
The most suitable time for pruning the plant is March. Shoots are cut in such a way that 6-12 of the most powerful remain. The surviving branches are shortened by several buds (up to 5). Pruning a serrated hydrangea in the fall involves removing fading inflorescences.
Radical pruning is needed only for old bushes. They are shortened in such a way that stumps up to 8 cm high remain above the ground. It is not dangerous and even useful. After such pruning, new young shoots grow, which bloom profusely.
Preparing for winter hydrangea serrata
In autumn, the bushes need to be treated with chemicals against insect pests and all kinds of infections. When all foliage falls from the bush, and it becomes completely naked, it should be sprayed with a 3% solution of Bordeaux mixture. If you need a transplant of serrated hydrangea, then this can be done in the fall.
Most serrated varieties have very good frost resistance, but despite this, they still need shelter for the winter. First you need to add superphosphate and potassium salt to the well. Then you should tie the shoots into a bundle and slightly bend them to the ground. Finally, cover the plant with two layers of spunbond. The procedure is best done before the frosts begin.
Reproduction
The serrate type of hydrangea can be propagated by seeds, division, layering or cuttings. The last method is the most popular. Cuttings are usually cut from young shoots of young bushes. Traditionally, the middle part of the shoots is used, on which there are no flowering tops and lower leaves.
In order for the roots to grow faster, the cutting is placed in water with a root former (any). If this is not available, honey is added to the water (1 tsp per 250 ml). The cuttings are planted under cover, and in the spring, already rooted plants are transplanted to a permanent place.
For reproduction by layering, an adult bush is chosen. With the onset of spring, before bud break, its lower branches are pressed down to the ground, pinned, and the contact point is sprinkled with soil. By autumn, these branches will take root. New plants are transplanted to a permanent place in the spring.
Propagation by seeds is usually practiced by breeders during their experiments. Copies grown from seed material often do not adopt parental qualities.
Cuttings are a reliable and effective way to propagate a serrated hydrangea species.
Diseases and pests
Excess calcium in the soil is fraught with the development of chlorosis of serrated leaves. If the green mass began to turn yellow or turn pale, it is necessary to use a foliar fertilizer, which includes iron. It is important to acidify the soil by adding peat, crushed bark or ammonium sulfate to it.
One of the most spread pests is the aphid. The main signs of its presence are damage to young leaves, the development of fungal diseases. If the number of aphids is small, it is destroyed by natural enemies – lacewing and ladybug. You can fight a major invasion with a homemade decoction. They do it like this: 1 kg of raw or 200 g of fresh nettle leaves, chamomile flowers or dandelion roots is poured with boiling water and allowed to brew for 24 hours. If this does not help, use an insecticide.
Conclusion
Hydrangea serrate is an ornamental shrub with openwork flowers, which often becomes the main decoration of the garden. The plant is completely unpretentious to the conditions of growth and care. Even inexperienced summer residents can cope with this. If you follow the elementary rules of agricultural technology, the plant will delight with its beauty for many years.
Reviews about hydrangea serrata
