Contents
Hydrangea Bella Anna is a member of the Hortensia family. Became known to gardeners in Our Country since 2012. The variety was bred in the Eastern countries, then gradually spread throughout the world.
Description of hydrangea Bella Anna
This variety has a tree-like form. The height of an adult plant does not exceed 140 cm, and the crown diameter is 130-150 cm.
The shrub has straight and strong branches of a green-brown color. During the flowering period, the shoots bend slightly under the weight of the inflorescences.
The flowers are large, from 15 to 20 cm in diameter, crimson inflorescences. They are formed only on young shoots. The flowers are small, but correctly shaped: each of them consists of 5 rounded petals with slightly pointed ends.
The decorative effect of the hydrangea persists throughout the entire flowering period, as the petals fade in the sun, the hue changes from raspberry to pale pink
The leaf plates of the variety are light green in color, round-ovate in shape. On examination, veins can be seen. As the length of daylight hours decreases, the color of the leaves changes to yellow. The roots of hydrangea Bella Anna are close to the surface.
The advantages of the variety include an attractive appearance and the ability to change the shade of flowers in different soils. Among the shortcomings of Bella Anna hydrangea, the need to choose soil and the plant’s love for watering are distinguished.
Hydrangea Bella Anna in landscape design
Since the shrub is low, it is rarely used as a hedge. More often, they prefer to plant it on the lawn or near the arbors in order to create mixed compositions.
Hydrangea pink Bella Anna, although she loves the sun’s rays, grows well in partial shade. If you create diffuse lighting for it, then this will be the optimal condition. Landscape designers use this feature by placing shrubs near fences or at home.
More modest cultures will become good neighbors for hydrangeas: mordovnik, aconite or perennial hosta
Winter hardiness of hydrangea Bella Anna
Hydrangea can be grown in regions where in winter the air temperature does not fall below -34 ° C. If there is a risk of abnormal cooling, then it is advisable to cover the shrub with improvised means.
Planting and caring for hydrangea Bella Anna
To obtain large and long-flowering plants, it is necessary to adhere to the rules of planting and caring for the variety. Hydrangea Bella Anna blooms for 2-3 years after transferring the seedling to open ground. Depending on the composition of the soil and care, inflorescences may appear on young shoots the next year after planting. The optimal time for the procedure is spring: when the snow melts, the soil warms up, and the spring frosts stop.
Selection and preparation of the landing site
The place should be well lit or be in partial shade. Bella Anna hydrangeas should not be placed under trees, as they will compete with each other for moisture.
The variety is demanding on the composition of the soil: it does not tolerate alkaline soils very well. Large inflorescences can be seen if Bella Anna hydrangea is planted in an area with an acidic substrate (pH no more than 6).
If the soil on the site does not meet the requirements, then the plant will either not take root, or its inflorescences will be small, quickly fading, of a soft shade.
To determine the acidity, you should purchase a litmus indicator at a flower shop.
If, as a result of the test, it was found that the acidity does not meet the requirements, this can be changed using improvised means.
To increase the pH, it is recommended to use a solution of manganese or citric acid. To do this, dissolve 1 g of the product in 1 liter of water. As an alternative, a substrate from coniferous stands can be used as an oxidizing agent.
The soil for planting should contain earth, compost, peat and sand in a ratio of 2:2:1:1. Mineral and organic fertilizers should be applied to depleted soil.
If it is impossible to prepare the site on your own, you can use ready-made soil from a flower shop
Rules of landing
If more than one shrub is planned to be placed on the site, then planting pits should be dug while maintaining a distance of 1 m. If the seedling is not large, then the size of the hole should be 40x40x40cm. When the plant is large, the hole should be widened so that the root system is completely straightened when planting.
Fill the hole with soil, then carefully shed and mulch. This will allow the soil to remain moist and the shrub to take root faster.
If the seedling has a closed root system, then there are no special requirements for planting: you can move it throughout the summer season.
When the roots of hydrangea Alla Bella are exposed, the shrub should be transferred to open ground immediately after purchase. If this is not possible, then the root system of the plant is wrapped with a damp cloth or placed in a plastic bag.
During planting, you should carefully pull the seedling out of the container and, without damaging the roots, place it in a hole, cover it with earth from above and lightly tamp it, then carefully water the seedling.
You should not save on watering: hydrangea is very demanding on moisture, so 1-2 buckets should be poured under each seedling
Watering and top dressing
When caring for hydrangeas, do not allow the soil to dry out. In dry months, it is recommended to increase the frequency of watering. After moistening the soil, it should be mulched.
In the spring, when shoots are actively growing, and in summer, during flowering, it is important to provide Bella Anna hydrangea with fertilizers of mineral and organic origin. For this, it is recommended to use complex tools. During the growing season, 10 g of fertilizer is dissolved in 20 liters of water for top dressing. At least 3 buckets of solution should be poured under each bush.
In summer or autumn, it is recommended to irrigate the Bella Anna hydrangea with the Lauren complex, diluting 10 ml of the drug in 1 liter of water.
Hydrangea pruning Bella Anna
The recommended time for the procedure is spring, although gardeners carry it out in the autumn. The purpose of pruning is to remove weak and damaged shoots. The oldest branches are cut to the ground.
If the shrub is cut short, then next year the flowers will be large and few, and if only the tops are removed, the plant will delight with small inflorescences
Preparation for winter
In September, watering should be completely stopped. The older the plant, the more frost-resistant it is, so adult shrubs do not need shelter. Young specimens within 2-3 years after planting need protection from wind and low temperatures: they are hidden under spruce branches or covering material. The trunk circle should be covered with mulch, and later with snow.
Reproduction
The most common way to get several Bella Anna hydrangea shrubs is cuttings. The process is carried out in mid-July. To do this, side shoots are cut and planted in a nutrient mixture consisting of peat and sand in a ratio of 2: 1.
To speed up the process, before planting, the stalk is treated with a Zircon growth stimulator, or sprinkled with Kornevin. A new root system is formed in the plant 3 weeks after planting.
The cuttings in the container must be placed at a slight slope, make sure that the soil is moistened
Adult shrubs are propagated by division: they are dug up and divided into two equal parts. In order for the hydrangea Bella Anna to take root, it is necessary to keep at least 3 buds on it.
The most time-consuming method of reproduction is seed. The seed is placed in a weak acidic substrate and the soil is sprayed with water from a spray bottle until the first shoots appear. Usually this period is 30 days.
Diseases and pests
Hydrangea Bella Anna has good immunity, but can get sick if it grows near water bodies, due to disruption of the drainage system.
Excessive soil moisture is one of the reasons for the appearance of gray rot. As a therapeutic measure, the hydrangea should be irrigated with a solution of Fundazol, after cutting out the affected branches. Treatment with the drug is carried out twice with an interval of 2 days.
To prevent the development of gray rot, it is important to control the operation of the drainage system and avoid waterlogging the ground.
Common pests for Bella Anna hydrangeas are snails. They destroy young leaf plates and buds.
To destroy the snails, you should scatter the preparation Thunderstorm around the bush
To neutralize the spider mite, whose activity leads to the drying of the leaf plate, it is recommended to use Fitoverm. It also fights aphids and thrips.
Conclusion
Hydrangea Bella Anna is one of the tree-like varieties of the Hortensia family. The plant is frost-resistant, moisture-loving, has good immunity. The main purpose of the flower is to decorate the garden plot.
Hydrangea reviews Bella Anna
