The original Little Lyme hydrangea flowers can decorate any garden and city park, because this compact dwarf shrub not only blooms, but also withers very beautifully in autumn. It is used in group and individual plantings, decorated with borders and gazebos, and also due to its low growth, it is grown in pots on balconies and loggias. This variety is very famous and beloved by gardeners around the world, because it has everything perfectly: both airy inflorescences and leaves changing their color by autumn.

Description of hydrangeas Little Lyme

Panicle hydrangea Little Lime or Hydrangea paniculata Little Lime is a stunted shrub that grows up to a meter in height and about 120 cm in diameter in adulthood. The shoots of this variety are erect, very strong. The leaves are large, matte, they are painted green and have serrated edges. Upon the arrival of autumn, the foliage acquires a purple color, which is an individual feature of this variety.

Little Lyme hydrangea begins to bloom in July, and the flowering period may continue until the first frosts appear. Its inflorescences in the form of brooms, similar to hemispheres, consist of many small flowers. Moreover, they are of two types: infertile and fertile.

Did you know? In honor of the Princess of the Roman Empire, who had the name Hortense and received the name ethat beautiful flower.

Those flowers from which seeds are formed are hidden in the midst of panicles. They have a more pronounced aroma to attract pollinating insects, but in size they are much smaller than barren, protruding forward.

The color of the inflorescences varies depending on the flowering phase. At the very beginning, they are light green, then they become lemon and cream, closer to the end of flowering they get a snow-white color, and then they turn pink.

The dry inflorescences of Little Lyme are also very beautiful, purple or raspberry. To the touch, they resemble parchment paper. They are often used in the preparation of floral arrangements of dried flowers. It is worth noting that the color of flowers, this variety of hydrangea will change only if it is planted in a sunny place.

What awards did Little Lyme hydrangea receive?

This variety was created in the Netherlands as a shrub with very powerful shoots that can hold heavy and large inflorescences without additional support. For this he was loved by both amateur gardeners and professional landscape designers.

The beautiful Little Lime received a well-deserved award from the Pennsylvania Society of Gardeners in 2006., and two years later in the UK she was noted by members of the Royal Society of Gardeners. And also the highest award was the composition of the beautiful airy inflorescences of this plant at an exhibition in Philadelphia.

What are the differences between Limelight and Little Lime

Panicle hydrangea Little Lime is a hybrid of a similar plant called Limelight (or Lime Light). These two bushes differ only in height., because the original plant can grow up to 3 m, and its miniature hybrid, as a rule, does not reach a meter.

The rest is these hydrangea varieties are almost identical, and they have no other significant differences. Both varieties are widely used in landscape design, only Little Lime, like all litles, more often sits in the foreground, due to their miniature growth. But a higher grade Limelight is planted behind him. They can be combined with each other, creating multi-stage compositions.

Hydrangea planting

In order for young bushes to take root well in a new place, they need to be planted correctly. First, the most suitable place is selected, the soil mixture is prepared, and then the planting itself is carried out directly.

Landing time

You need to plant Little Lime in early spring before the start of active growth. But in regions where the climate is relatively warm, young bushes can be planted in the fall. It is necessary to choose a dry, moderately sunny day, and it is advisable to plant the bushes early in the morning or in the evening.

Seat and Seedling Selection

A place for growing hydrangeas Little Lyme should be located on the south side, but protected from direct sunlight. The best option is a small penumbra, so that the young branches do not burn, and the tree can grow and develop normally.

This type of hydrangea is very tolerant to the composition of the soil, the main thing is that it is not alkaline and does not contain lime. Saplings can be bought in a specialized store or in a nursery, as well as grow independently from seeds, cuttings or layering. The main thing is that they are healthy and strong.

Soil preparation

Before planting hydrangea, it is necessary to dig a plot on which it will grow, so that the soil is saturated with oxygen and better allows water to pass through.

This variety grows better on acidic or neutral soils.therefore, to fill the well, it is advisable to prepare a mixture of sand, peat and sheet land, with the addition of mineral fertilizers. You can make it even simpler - buy a ready-made substrate, which contains everything you need for the development of young plants, in a specialized store.

Important! When planting hydrangea, the root neck must be left undisturbed with soil, otherwise the plant may die.

Landing algorithm

To plant Little Lyme panicle hydrangea in open ground, you must follow this algorithm:

1. Dig holes about 30 cm deep and the same in diameter.
2. Trim all the roots a little to make them grow better.
3. Shorten the shoots, leaving no more than 2-3 pairs of good buds on each of them.
4. Pour half of the previously prepared soil mixture into the pit.
5. Place the seedling on top, carefully distributing the rhizome.
6. Add the rest of the fertile mixture on top, rinse a little and water well.
7. Mulch the near-stem circle with a thick layer of peat so that moisture is better retained, and the plant takes root more quickly in a new place.

At first it is necessary to water the bushes as often as possible, but not to allow waterlogging so that their root systems begin to grow as soon as possible.

Care

Panicle hydrangea Little Lyme refers to those plants, which are not difficult to care for. It is only necessary to water on time, preventing the soil from drying out, fertilize, cut and prepare for wintering.

Watering and spraying

This hydrangea variety needs weekly watering. It is necessary to take two buckets of settled or rain water and pour under each bush. If it is not hot outside and it rains, the amount of water for irrigation or their frequency can be reduced.

Periodically, you need to water the bushes with a weak solution of citric acid in order to maintain optimal soil acidity. On very hot days with low humidity, it is advisable to spray hydrangeas with water so that they do not suffer from a lack of moisture.

Fertilizer

Application of fertilizing under hydrangea bushes should be carried out so that flowering is plentiful and long.

It is carried out according to such a scheme:

• in early spring, make a complex of minerals for flowering plants according to the instructions;
• at the beginning of flowering, nitrogen fertilizers are needed;
• at the end of August, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers are added.

Also, for good growth and flowering, organic fertilizing is necessary, which is added to the soil in the form of solutions once every three years.

Pruning

Trimming hydrangea Little Lime for crown formation is desirable in October-November, but it is possible in the spring in March-April. All shoots are shortened, about 30 cm from each, so that next year they can grow even denser and bloom more abundantly. For the same purpose, the central shoots are removed.

In the spring, after melting snow, it is imperative to cut off all damaged and frozen parts of the plant. And in the fall, you can conduct anti-aging pruning, and remove all very old shoots, as well as those that are too thick bush.

You also need to cut off all the small flowering shoots, so that large ones get more useful substances necessary for flowering. If you want the bush to become a tree, you can cut all the shoots, leaving only one in the center. In this case, the branches will be formed only at the top.

Winter preparations

Adult bushes do not need to be covered, because this variety of hydrangea is resistant to frost, but young seedlings under the age of three are better protected from winter weather conditions. The branches need to be connected so that they are not damaged by wind or snow, and then covered with a spanbond.

Breeding

Propagation of hydrangeas Little Lyme can be done in three ways, which have their own advantages and disadvantages. You can choose any of them that is most suitable in each specific situation. As a rule, this variety is propagated by seeds, layering or cuttings.

Important! All parts of hydrangea are poisonous due to the cyanogenic elements contained in them, so they can not be eaten.

Seeds

Seed propagation is practiced very rarely, because this method is quite time-consuming and lengthy. Wait for flowering plants for at least 4 years. In addition, when grown in this way, hydrangea does not retain its varietal characteristics, so it can be very different from the Little Lyme variety.

Sowing seeds in the soil can be in spring and autumn. During spring sowing, they must be stratified for a month at a temperature of +3 ... + 4 ° C. Sow in rows, between which there should be a distance of about 10 cm.

Cuttings

Cuttings can be cut both from green and from lignified shoots. If you decide to take planting material from old branches, this can be done during spring pruning, when the buds begin to swell. Each handle must have at least two nodes. From below, it is necessary to make a cut immediately under the kidney at an acute angle, and from above - just above the upper kidney.

Cuttings are planted in the soil, which consists of peat and sand in equal amounts, or in a substrate purchased in a store. They need to be buried in the soil no more than 3 cm, and be sure the lower kidney must be underground. From above you need to cover the planted cuttings with film, glass, or you can make small greenhouses using large plastic bottles.

The main requirement is to constantly maintain soil moisture. If it is respected, the first sheets will appear in a month. At this time, it will be possible to remove the cover, and in a year the young seedlings will be ready for planting in a permanent place. For irrigation of cuttings it is allowed to use only warm, settled water. In order to accelerate root formation, it is possible to dissolve Kornevin powder in it in the quantity specified in the instructions.

Layering

To make layering, you need to bend healthy strong shoots to the ground, slightly cut them, fix and sprinkle with earth. About a year later, these parts of the plant will take root well, and they can be separated from the bushes and transplanted using the same technique as when planting purchased seedlings.

Hydrangea diseases and pests

Panicle hydrangea Little Lime is very rarely affected by disease. They arise only if the plant does not receive the necessary care.

If the bushes are not enough for normal development, the following problems may appear:

• brown leaves - the result of excess moisture;
• drying leaves - lack of moisture;
• brown spots - burns from too bright sunlight.

Did you know? The name Hydrangea literally translates as water in a vessel, which very accurately describes the hydrangea's love for regular watering.

These problems are eliminated very simply by adjusting the watering schedule, as well as shading the bushes to protect them from direct sunlight.

But insect pests often settle on inflorescences and leaves, and if they are not noticed in time and spread is prevented, they can damage parts of the plant, and in the most difficult situations even lead to its death.

Most often, this variety suffers from attacks by aphids, weevils, snails and bugs.. If the leaves and flowers began to curl and fall, this may indicate their appearance. To combat these pests, you can spray the plants with a 10% solution of laundry soap or insecticidal preparations purchased in a store for gardeners.

If you want your garden to be blooming and vibrant until the deepest autumn, you should take a closer look at Little Lyme hydrangea. A feature of this variety is not only a change in the color of the inflorescences, but also a beautiful appearance of the leaves and an unusual wilting, which looks very attractive. In addition, this hydrangea is unpretentious in care, tolerates a decrease in temperature, and its shoots are very strong and durable.