Among the abundance of ornamental plants, hydrangea is considered one of the most spectacular species. This ornamental shrub can be called the most unpretentious, while its graceful inflorescences will decorate almost any flower bed. The article considers in detail hydrangea oak-leaved, as one of the most popular species, and also provides a description, technology for planting and growing a plant.

Botanical description of the species

Hydrangea oak-leaved (Hydrangea quercifolia) is a long-standing decorative representative of the flora from the homonymous family of Hydrangeaceae. The natural habitat of the species is considered to be North America, on other continents the plant is found exclusively in artificial conditions.

This ornamental shrub grows to a height of 2 m, while the crown diameter can reach 1.5–2 m. The plant consists of powerful and dense shoots, green or brown-green.

The name was given to the species for a reason, its main distinguishing feature are large leaves with a five-blade structure, which outlines resemble oak tree foliageand. The edges of the leaves are sharp, covered with small pointed teeth. Young leaves are dotted with short but numerous white hairs. As the leaf blade grows, the pubescence disappears, remaining only on an insignificant part.

Did you know? North America is considered to be the center of origin of all hydrangeas; here this species arose during natural hybridization about 40–70 thousand years ago. In Europe, the plant was imported in 1820 from Japan.

As the growing season, large peduncles are formed, up to 20 cm long. They are covered with small flowers, up to 3 cm in diameter, their color can be either white or combine all kinds of tones. Individual flowers form panicle inflorescence of a conical shape. Hydrangea blooms are observed from the first half of June until the beginning of September.

This species is winter hardy; in the middle climatic zone, the shrub is able to withstand frosts down to –29 ° С. That is why it grows well in the suburbs and in all regions of the Moscow region. At the same time, oak-leaved hydrangea is also unpretentious, therefore, the annual growth of a young shrub on almost any type of soil is about 30-50 cm.

Landscape design application

Hydrangea is considered one of the most versatile decorative cultures in modern landscape design. The double-leafed species looks quite organically both as a monoculture and in group plantings.

Most often, bushes are used for landscaping the lower tier of tree-like vegetation, creating hedges or decorating areas near various garden buildings. Bushes are also successfully grown on artificial or natural slopes.

The most successful partners in hydrangea plantings are:

• lily;
• peonies;
• low varieties of roses;
• stonecrops;
• asters
• lilac;
• derain;
• spirea;
• rhododendron;
• Weigela
• heather;
• cypress;
• barberry;
• mahonia.

Popular varieties of oak hydrangea

The popularity of hydrangea among gardeners is quite high, which is why today there is a huge number of so-called "oak-leaved" varieties. However, among them, only a few who enjoy the greatest decorativeness enjoy special love.

Harmony

The variety Harmony or Harmonity is distinguished by rather large inflorescences of white hues, reaching a length of 30 cm. The average height of this plant is about 150 cm, the crown is quite thick and moderately sprawling. The plant is characterized by increased resistance to all kinds of specific fungi and bacteria. The variety tolerates partial shade and low temperatures.

Amethyst

Hydrangea Amethyst can be called the best plant for shady gardens, the variety grows well under the cover of tree vegetation, in the foreground or in the lower tier. Moreover, the bush is compact, its average height is about 70 cm, the width of the crown is in the range of 60–70 cm.

Inflorescences consist of individual flowers of lime-green color, which are gradually covered with raspberry stains. Over time, the basic shade changes to turquoise or green-turquoise.

Snowflake

Among all kinds of plant varieties, Snowflake can be called one of the most compact. The bush is round in shape, up to 40 cm high and no more than 35 cm in diameter. Large cone-shaped inflorescences are considered one of the hallmarks of the variety. They consist of small snow-white flowers, which are brightly shown against the background of a graceful green crown of a bush.

Snow queen

Snow Queen or Snow Queen is a fast-growing and sprawling bush up to 2 m high. The flowers have all kinds of white shades, gather in panicled inflorescences 10 cm long. The leaves are a saturated green shade that transforms into orange as the growing season. burgundy and red tones.

Burgundy

This variety is classified as a large, fast-growing shrub, with an average height of about 2 m. Burgundy (Burgundy) is quite exotic leaf color. In the summer, all kinds of green tones predominate, which, as the vegetation grows in autumn, shades from purple-violet to orange-red. Inflorescences are composed of small white flowers, at the end of flowering they become pink or pale pink.

Sykes Dwarf

This plant, first of all, is known to gardeners due to the rather high decorativeness of both inflorescences and foliage. Sykes Dwarf (Sike's Dwarf) forms panicle inflorescences up to 30 cm long, consisting of small snow-white flowers. Foliage in summer and spring has a saturated green color, in autumn its color becomes brighter, all kinds of red shades.

Landing

Despite its unpretentiousness, hydrangea requires compliance with a specific planting procedure. Only this will enable the sapling to root perfectly, and also form a large bush, and is also the main condition for the long and abundant flowering of large inflorescences.

Seat selection

Hydrangea grows well in the shade, partial shade and in the open sun, but it is demanding on moisture and soil composition. The bushes do not tolerate increased moisture, so they are planted on a plain or hill, in open, but protected from drafts, parts of the site.

Regarding the substrate, it is best to plant well-fertilized sandy-loamy or loamy soils with a pH in the range of 4.5–6.

Landing time

Planting hydrangeas is carried out in the spring - this is a mandatory requirement. In the case of autumn planting, young plants do not form a full-fledged root system, so they can freeze out after the first cold weather. Perform the procedure at the beginning of the season, the first half of May is best suited for this.

Soil preparation

The formation of the landing site begins about 2 weeks before the planting of seedlings. First, the site must be cleaned of the remains of weeds and debris, and then it is good to plow to a depth of at least 30 cm. After this, the soil needs to be fertilized, for this about 5 kg of compost, humus or rotted manure should be applied to 1 m².

If necessary, the soil should also be acidified, for this the soil needs to be watered with a weak acid solution. Prepare it from 2 tbsp. l citric acid or 100 ml of vinegar (9%) and 10 liters of water, the flow rate of the liquid should be about 10 l / m². After this, the soil should again be plowed well.

Landing algorithm

The basic technique for planting young plants is similar to the same procedure for other varieties of ornamental plants.

The manipulation is based on uniform agricultural principles and provides for the following sequential steps:

1. Dig a 50 × 40 cm hole (depth / diameter) in the soil.
2. Place a drainage layer of fine gravel, gravel or broken brick about 10 cm thick at the bottom of the pit.
3. Fill a third of the planting hole with a mixture of equal parts of garden soil and peat, and then add 50 g of nitroammophoska.
4. Plant a seedling in the soil, while the root neck should go deep no more than 2-3 cm.
5. Fill all the voids between the root system and the soil, and then water the plant well (5 l of water / bush).

Care

The oak hydrangea does not require complex care. However, not only decorativeness depends on this, but also the longevity of the bush. That is why when growing a crop, it is necessary to water and hydrangea in a timely manner and properly, to feed, trim and, if necessary, prepare for wintering.

Watering

This flower is classified as a moisture-loving plant, therefore, throughout the entire growing season, the soil in the flower bed should be slightly moist. Drying of the substrate has a detrimental effect on the flowering and development of hydrangea. Water the plant about every 2-3 days, for this use about 3 liters of water per bush, warmed up to room temperature.

Important! To reduce the frequency of irrigation, it is recommended to mulch the soil with sawdust, pine needles, shredded hay or straw with a layer of at least 10 cm.

Top dressing

In order for hydrangea to grow well and delight with elegant inflorescences, the bush needs to be fed periodically, while both organic and mineral mixtures are important. In the early spring (April) organic fertilizing is applied, peat, humus or compost (5 kg / m²) is used for this. Around mid-May, a mixture of 20 g of superphosphate, 10 g of urea and 10 g of potassium nitrate is added under each bush.

Mineral fertilizers close up every 2 weeks, until the end of July.

Pruning

Pruning is carried out 1 time per season, before budding. During the procedure, all dry, broken and weak branches are subject to removal. The largest shoots are also cut off, up to 2-3 buds. This makes it possible to rejuvenate the crown and activate flowering, which is especially important for mature plants. In summer, old inflorescences are additionally removed (after flowering), this helps to preserve the decorativeness of the flowerbed throughout the growing season.

Wintering Methods

Almost any kind of hydrangea, including the deciduous, tolerates seasonal cold to –30 ° C. But, in order to avoid freezing of young shoots and freezing of seedlings, the plant must be prepared for wintering. There are several ways to preserve the bush until the new season - in the natural environment and in the so-called closed ground.

In a pot

Hydrangea is one of the few garden species that is able to grow and develop perfectly in garden containers. This makes it possible in the Moscow Region and colder regions to protect the young plant from freezing. The transplant is carried out in the first year after planting a seedling, approximately in the first half of October. The plant is removed from the garden along with a root layer of soil so that a lump of land completely fills the garden tank.

Contain the plant in a pot in a well-lit place, providing moderate watering. By about mid-December, the bush will lose all the foliage, after which it will be moved to a dark and cool place (no more than +10 ... + 15 ° С). In this case, before spring, it is necessary to reduce the frequency of watering - to one procedure in two weeks.

In mid-April, the bush should be awakened; for this, the container should be placed on a well-lit window sill and the seedling should be at least + 20 ° C.

During this period, it is also required to intensify watering, and once a week for the procedure, it is necessary to use solutions of any complex mineral fertilizer. Subsequently, the seedling is transferred to open soil, tentatively in May.

To save the transplanted plant from the destructive effect of the transplant, you must:

• provide the bush with regular watering;
• mulch the trunk circle;
• Be sure to generously feed every 2 weeks;
• delay pruning until next season.

Shelter in the open ground

Well-rooted bushes protect against winter colds right on the bed. Perform this procedure in the second half of autumn, after the foliage completely falls off the bush.

This agricultural technique provides for the following steps:

1. Tie the branches together, dividing them into 3-4 groups.
2. Bend the connected shoots to the soil, and secure them with a wire to the ground.
3. Cover the branches with spunbond or burlap, on top of which should be laid coniferous spruce branches, hay or straw with a layer of at least 10 cm.

Shelter should be removed only after raising the average daily air temperature to +10 ... + 15 ° С. This will avoid overcooling the bush during spring frosts.

Breeding

Oak-leaf hydrangea lends itself perfectly to reproduction, young sprouts are highly viable, which allows turning just one plant into a real flower garden in just a few years. In this case, the procedure can equally effectively be carried out both by the vegetative (parts of the bush) and the generative method (by seeds).

Seeds

Hydrangea seeds are used infrequently, This is a fairly complex method that requires patience and individual skills. In addition, the germination of seeds often does not exceed 40%, while it is not possible to preserve all varietal characters of the mother plant. This, in the final result, complicates the procedure and leads to degeneration of the shrub.

However only seed propagation makes it possible to grow a new variety, with individual qualities, therefore it is used for breeding purposes. They begin this procedure in the second half of February, early sowing helps to grow full-fledged seedlings suitable for transplanting into open soil already in late spring.

The procedure includes the following steps:

1. Tightly fill any garden containers with soil. Suitable for this is both a special substrate from flower shops, and a mixture of equal parts of garden soil, peat (or humus) and sand.
2. Spread the seeds evenly over the entire surface of the soil, and then water. Sunflower seeds do not need to be “wrapped” with soil, as this will negatively affect their germination.
3. Cover the container with glass or transparent polyethylene. Before the appearance of two leaves, the seeds are germinated under cover in a well-lit and warm place, periodically moistening the substrate.
4. After the seedlings reach about 7-10 cm in height, it can be transplanted into separate pots. To dive into the open soil, seedlings become ready around mid-May.

Cuttings

Cuttings are one of the most effective and popular hydrangea propagation methods. It allows you to guaranteedly receive several viable seedlings that are identical to the mother plant.

However, this method is considered the most time-consuming of all, it is necessary not only to select the cuttings in the desired phase of the growing season, but also to create special conditions for their rooting. Cuttings begin in early spring, before the appearance of buds (end of March).

Perform it as follows:

1. Cut the cuttings from the apical shoots (about 10 cm long). They do this so that at least 3 internodes remain on each fragment.
2. Treat the cut sites with any growth stimulator (heteroauxin, Kornevin, etc.).
3. Fill the garden containers with a substrate prepared from equal parts of peat and sand, and then place cuttings in it at a distance of at least 10 cm. Fragments of shoots are rooted at a temperature of +20 ... + 25 ° C, and the soil must be watered daily to humidity was 75–85%.
4. After about 4 weeks, the cuttings will form roots, after which they can be transplanted into separate containers. Plants become ready for transfer to open soil around the middle of May.

Layering

Propagation by layering can be called the simplest method of obtaining daughter plants. It does not require specific knowledge and skills, while being almost 100% effective. This method has no significant minuses, with the exception of reducing the decorativeness of the bush after pruning the shoots (in some cases).

To get cuttings from cuttings, in early spring (before budding) or in autumn (early October), you should:

1. On the largest lower branch, make several oblique cuts directed towards the soil.
2. Install a pointed match in each cut.
3. Dig a small trench about 5 cm deep and dig a shoot into it.

Each layer forms cuttings for about a year, after which a small sprout will appear in the places of the cuts. The resulting seedlings after the formation of three pairs of leaves are divided and transplanted to a permanent place. Mid-May is best suited for this, but the procedure can also be performed in the fall, no later than mid-October.

Dividing the bush

Division of the bush is especially popular among experienced growersgrowing hydrangea for many years. It allows you to rejuvenate old bushes, while at the same time get from them at least two or three full-fledged seedlings that can bloom in a year. However, the procedure requires a certain amount of experience from the gardener, since with inept separation the bush may die.

Did you know? Hydrangea got its modern name in the second half of the 18th century thanks to the well-known French botanist Fliber Commerson. It was chosen for a reason, since "Hydrangea" at that time was one of the most popular female names.

Perform the division in the spring, before the appearance of the kidneys, according to the following algorithm:

1. Gently scrub the bush with the root system.
2. Divide the rhizome of the plant into 2-3 parts so that on each divide there remains a viable part of the root with at least 2 shoots.
3. Treat the rhizome slices with crushed charcoal or any complex fungicide.
4. Shorten the shoots on each divide to 3 knots, and then plant each fragment of the bush in a new place.

Diseases and Pests

Hydrangea is rarely affected by all kinds of infections and pests, but if gardeners do not observe planting and growing techniques, most gardeners face this problem. The fight should begin immediately, otherwise there is a high probability of death of the affected bush.

The most dangerous infections of hydrangea dubifolia:

Of the pests, bushes most often affect nematodes and spider mites. To eliminate them, in the first case, use the drugs "Phosphamide", "Mercaptophos" or "Lindane." In the second, they use Fitoverm, Akarin, Fufanon, etc.

Slugs are not uncommon, eating the foliage, they reduce the decorativeness of hydrangea, which leads to inhibition of flowering. Against slugs, the Thunderstorm drug is considered the most effective.

Leafy hydrangea is an example of an almost perfect ornamental shrub. All kinds of species are unpretentious, and also allow you to perfectly decorate any site. However, in order to grow a truly aesthetic plant with many inflorescences, when cultivating the species, one should strictly adhere to the basics of planting agricultural technology, as well as specific care.