Hydrangeas are shrubby flowers with excellent decorative properties for which they are valued in landscape design. The historical homeland of culture is Asia and South America, and it was brought to Europe at the beginning of the 14th century. To date, breeders have bred more than 80 plant species, but the most popular is Bluebird serrate hydrangea. Bushes of this flower have a fluffy crown, so they not only look great on their own, but also well suited for creating hedges.
General information
Hydrangea serrata Bluebird (description will be given later) is widespread in Japan. In this country, flowers are used for landscaping and landscaping, as well as for decorating gardens and park areas. Bushes can grow to a height of one meter or more, and the width of their crown is oftenexceeds one and a half meters, which is why they resemble large green balls.
Many gardeners like this variety for its bright bud shades, decorative appearance and ease of care. Hydrangea serrate Bluebird (the photo of the plant is striking in its beauty) is unpretentious, so it adapts well to almost any climatic conditions on various types of soil. The inflorescences of this variety are truly unique. In the center are small buds, which can be pink or bright red with blue stamens, and flowers are located along the edges, reaching a diameter of three centimeters. At the same time, it is noteworthy that the color of the petals can change depending on the level of soil acidity, which is often used in the design of the land.
Distinguishing Features
Let's take a closer look at them. Hydrangea serrata Bluebird differs from its counterparts in many ways. Among the main differences, breeders distinguish the following:
- Spreading bushes with a lush green crown and large leaves.
- Love the abundance of sunshine and moisture.
- Stronger woody trunk.
- Powerful and well-developed root system, which is located at a relatively shallow depth, thanks to which top dressing gives results very quickly.
In addition to all of the above, this variety has a longer and more active flowering period. With proper care, you can enjoy the incredible beauty of the bush withmid-summer to autumn. It is also worth noting the winter hardiness of Bluebird serrate hydrangea. The plant is able to withstand twenty-degree frosts, so it adapts well in many regions of our country.
Fit features
This aspect should be given special attention. As mentioned earlier, Bluebird serrate hydrangea (Bluebird) refers to plants that love warmth and sunlight, so when planting them in open ground, it is very important to choose the right place. It is best to plant shrubs near buildings or trees that can provide shade for them. However, within a radius of three meters from the hydrangea there should not be other plants that will take moisture and nutrients from the soil, which will negatively affect the growth and development of the flower.
It is best to transplant seedlings to open ground in the middle or late spring, so that they can take root normally and get stronger in a new place before the onset of cold weather. The width of the hole should be about half a meter, and the depth - 60 cm. Between the bushes you need to retreat at least one and a half meters so that each of them feels comfortable. Hydrangea serrata Bluebird adapts well to any type of soil, but the ideal option for growing will be a substrate, for the preparation of which two parts of leafy soil and humus and one part of sand and peat are taken. You can also add a little urea to the mixture, as well as organic and complex fertilizers.
Hub maintenance
Let's take a closer look at this aspect. Many gardeners are of the opinion that one of the most unpretentious ornamental shrubs is Bluebird serrate hydrangea. Both planting and caring for the plant are very simple and will not cause much trouble. When growing them, it should be remembered that shrubs love heat and moisture, so they should be provided with regular watering, and they need to be warmed for the winter. In addition, periodically loosen the ground to provide the root system with oxygen, as well as remove weeds.
Experienced gardeners recommend following these rules:
- Watering must be done every day, and if the summer turned out to be too hot and dry, then you can increase them up to 2-3 times. The topsoil must always remain moist.
- Despite the fact that the hydrangea loves heat, it is nevertheless very important for it to provide shade, since direct sunlight will quickly dry the soil and leave burns on the leaves.
- Top dressing should be done in three stages: during transplantation to open ground, during the active growing season and at the beginning of flowering. For this, nitrogen-containing and complex mineral fertilizers are used, which are diluted in water according to the instructions and added to the soil.
That, in fact, is all you need to know about plant care. The recommendations listed above will be enough for Bluebird serrate hydrangea to grow well and always delight you with its beauty.
Rejuvenation
So what about thisneed to know? Pruning when growing and caring for hydrangea is not just a preventive measure necessary to give the shrub an aesthetic and more attractive appearance. Rejuvenation is a mandatory measure that must be carried out annually. It is recommended to shorten old and remove weak shoots in early or mid-autumn, when the plant hibernates. Pruning is useful in that it allows you to reduce the amount of moisture evaporated from the flower, which has a positive effect on its he alth and increases resistance to various diseases and harmful insects.
Preparing for wintering
What is the peculiarity of this process? As shrubs mature, their resistance to low temperatures gradually increases. Mature plants tolerate 20-degree frosts without problems. However, in order for the hydrangea to overwinter normally, it is imperative to rejuvenate and feed it in the fall.
The following measures will help prevent freezing and death of bushes:
- Hilling up and covering flowers with transparent garden film.
- Tie branches together and insulate any coniferous tree with spruce branches.
- If you live in a region with a harsh climate and frosty winters, then the hydrangea branches should be pressed to the ground, fixed with staples and covered with warm clothes.
- Some gardeners cover the hydrangea with bricks and cover it with old clothes. In such a shelter, plants can withstand even thirty-degree frosts.
If youtake good care of the hydrangea, then with the first spring warmth it will come to life after hibernation and begin to bloom.
Diseases and pests
Serrated hydrangea is highly resistant to various diseases and harmful insects, therefore, as a rule, no problems arise when breeding it. The most common ailments that affect bushes are powdery mildew and chlorosis. To combat these diseases, plants are sprayed with a solution of copper sulfate. To protect the hydrangea from pests, it is periodically treated with insecticides.
What do breeders say about the variety?
If you want to decorate your backyard, then one of the best plants for this, of course, will be Bluebird serrated hydrangea. Reviews of experienced gardeners note the decorativeness and unpretentiousness of the plant. Caring for it does not require any special knowledge and skills, so everyone can handle growing it. At the same time, shrubs look beautiful not only on their own, but also as part of compositions, which allows them to be successfully used in landscape design.
