One of the most popular ornamental shrubs is still hydrangea. The love of gardeners is primarily due to the stunningly lush flowering, huge leaves (up to 30 cm in length) and the relative unpretentiousness in care. Most species still prefer a warm climate, which makes it difficult to grow shrubs, for example, in the middle lane or in the Urals. However, the Anabel variety - hydrangea is quite frost-resistant. Her cultivation is not a lot of trouble.
Grade description
When compared with other varieties and varieties, Anabel has perhaps the most sprawling bush of a spherical shape. A lot of shoots are formed, which creates the impression of splendor. The height varies depending on natural conditions and can reach 1-1.5 m, and up to 3 m wide. Hydrangea flowers are small, only 2 cm in diameter. But the whole point is that they are collected in spectacular spherical inflorescences, which can be up to 30 cm in volume. Flowering begins in mid or late June and lasts until September. Anabel is a long-lived hydrangea, and one bush can please you for decades, which is also an indisputable plus.
This variety is very versatile in terms of landscape design. A place for hydrangea can be found in any area. It goes well with conifers, irises, roses. If you wish, you can even make a real living wall out of it, which will be covered year after year with fragrant white flowers.
There is another variety of this variety - this is hydrangea Pink Anabel. It differs not only in a pink shade of flowers, but also in stronger and more resistant to wind shoots, increased frost resistance. The care is the same as for Anabel hydrangea with white flowers.
How to choose a place to land?
To begin with, it is worth noting that the planting of Anabel hydrangea or any other variety should be carried out in spring (in May) or in autumn (in September), and the first option is preferable. Buy seedlings in specialized stores, pay attention to the root system. Hydrangea at the time of planting may have buds, but should not bloom. The optimal age of the seedlings is 2-3 years.
Pick up a place for shrubs, covered from drafts, in partial shade, where the direct rays of the sun are only a few hours a day. There should not be too large trees nearby, as they will pick up moisture.
Tree hydrangea Anabel is not very demanding on soils, but still prefers acidic and with good water permeability, drained.
Preparing the landing site
Once the landing site is selected, you need to dig a hole. The size depends on the seedling, approximately 50 x 50 cm and the same depth. Hydrangea has a superficial root system. If you are doing a group planting, then the distance between the seedlings should be about two meters.
It is recommended to pour several buckets of water (4-5) into the prepared pit and leave it overnight to absorb. Further, a small drainage layer is poured to the bottom, and then prepared nutrient soil (sheet soil, peat, humus and sand in equal amounts). In no case do not add lime and wood ash, hydrangea tree-like Anabel does not like this.
In a well-moistened soil, lower the seedling and sprinkle it so that the root neck is at the level of the soil. The earth must be compacted tightly and watered again. After this roundabout soil must be mulched. Use peat, sawdust, pine needles or spruce branches, as well as foliage. If you have a lawn, then you can apply grass, which is in sufficient quantity after mowing it. Mulching protects the hydrangea roots from overheating and limits the growth of weeds, moreover, the organic matter rotes and acidifies the soil over time, which is very useful for the plant.
Hydrangea Anabel: care
Shrub grows fast enough. Hydrangea care consists in timely watering, loosening and mulching the soil, pruning.
The plant is very hygrophilous; slightly wilted leaves will indicate that it lacks water. The best watering option is 1-2 times a week, 3-4 buckets for each bush. It is desirable that it be gradual and slow, for example, a drip irrigation system. The frequency of watering can be reduced to one in 10 days, if the soil is mulched. This is best done in the spring and several times during the summer, without forgetting to slightly loosen the soil in a circle around the trunk.
Anabel is a hydrangea who loves top dressing, they are necessary for her for a long and plentiful flowering. The first time fertilizers are applied the next spring after planting. For one square meter, the following top dressing is recommended:
- 40 g of superphosphate;
- 20 g of urea;
- 30 g of potassium sulfate.
You can use ready - made complex fertilizers, such as "Kemira-flowers", while strictly following the instructions. At the moment when Anabel hydrangea is picking up buds, a second top dressing is performed (50 g of superphosphate and 30 g of potassium sulfate). In addition, it is recommended to water the shrub 2-3 times during the summer with a weak (light pink) potassium permanganate solution.
Anabel - hydrangea is quite resistant to various diseases, but sometimes it can be damaged by spider mites, downy mildew, leaf or aphid chlorosis . All cases require treatment with special drugs.
Hydrangea bush formation
Only shrubs older than five years are subject to pruning, until this time they do not need to be touched. The best time is early spring. Adult shoots are cut by 10-20 cm, and annuals can be shortened by 1/3 of the length. Broken, old and often growing branches are subject to removal. It is not worth trimming weak bushes, since spring is a time of active sap flow, and a painful plant can die.
Hydrangea propagation
Hydrangea Anabel is very successfully propagated by the vegetative method - cuttings and layering. In the first case, young shoots are used. Cuttings with a length of 10-15 cm should be cut during the flowering of hydrangea. Then slightly dry the slice, treat it with “Kornevin” and root in light fertile soil. For the formation of roots, cuttings need high humidity and a temperature of 20-25 degrees. In the second case, a strong and healthy escape is instilled in the fall. Next spring, he will give roots and form a separate bush.