Contents:
- How to care for hydrangea?
- Cutting garden hydrangea
- Cutting bouquet hydrangea
- Trimming shrub hydrangea
How to care for hydrangea?
Hydrangea requires appropriate site conditions for the proper development of leaves and inflorescences. The main factor influencing the condition of the plant is the acidic substrate.It can be done with peat mixed with bark, mother soil or a special substrate for all acidophilic plants. It is important not to expose it to full sun - it is enoughsemi-shaded position so that the leaves do not darken and dry out
If we want the plant to be lush and have a lot of large inflorescences, we must ensure proper and regular fertilization of it. It can be one that is used for both rhododendrons and hydrangeas.
Watering should be regular, butwe cannot overflow - this may result in an increased risk of fungal diseasesOnly during drought and hot weather it is worth ensuring watering at noon and in the evening, if there's such possibility. Try not to sprinkle the leaves and not to direct the stream of water there - when exposed to intense sunlight, sunburn may occur.
Cutting garden hydrangea
Garden hydrangea is one of the most popular, willingly cultivated and cared for in gardens and allotments. In this case, the spring cutting mainly comes down to the sanitary one - we remove damaged or frozen twigs. In summer and early autumn, we also cut dry flowers, which can be used as a raw material for dry bouquets for vases or wreaths.
Late autumn faded flowers should not be removed, because in winter they are an unusual decoration. Garden hydrangeas develop flower buds in the previous season. They should be covered and the shape corrected as soon as they fade. When we remove the hydrangea cover,look at the condition of the buds and decide if a sanitary cut is necessaryUsually plant buds have scales that protect the delicate young leaves and flower buds, but the garden hydrangea does not.
Scissor secateurs for cutting fresh branches and young shoots up to 2.4 cm in diameter, suitable for right- and left-handed people.It has a rotating handle, which is recommended especially for long-term work - the handle design allows you to use all fingers at the same time, andthe unique PowerGear lever mechanism increases the cutting force 3 times compared to other standard mechanismsThis effectively reduces the effort required while working. In addition, the ground and hardened steel blade remains sharp for longer and is ready for further work when cutting hydrangeas or other plants.
These blades are highly corrosion resistant and the PTFE coating reduces friction resulting in a better and more durable cut. A great help is the light structure and the handle made of FiberComp ™ material, which makes the tool adapt to the natural shape of the hand. The design is extremely well thought out, also for people whostruggle with carpal tunnel syndromeThe SoftGrip handle with a 3D structure provides a secure grip and the blade lock protects against self-opening and allows for safe storage without the possibility of injury .
Fiskars P921 one-hand secateurs - front part
Fiskars P921 one-hand secateurs - back section
Garden hydrangea when pruning - sanitary pruning is the most important step. You should prune withered leaves and check which shoots are frozen or completely dry. A decision must be made on how to cut to increase flowering for the current season. Dry and dead shoots only burden the plant and do not allow for proper development.
If there are new and vibrant buds that appear on strong shoots, do not cut them and leave them. Only those that look shabby and weakened should be removed by cutting them off at the ends of the shoots. In this way, we radiate the plant and allow it to strengthen naturally.Each time before the fall / winter cover of the plant, I select dry grass and place it right at the base of the hydrangea. This allows for the preservation of humidity and helps in low temperatures, when winter is not too full of snow.
Cut off any dry leaves that were left over from a possible previous year's pruning.
Cutting garden hydrangea - Fiskars P 921 one-hand pruner
Cutting garden hydrangea - Fiskars P921 one-hand pruner
Cutting bouquet hydrangea
Bouquet hydrangea blooms on the shoots that form in a given year. Therefore, pruning boils down to giving shape and density, and sanitary cutting of dried or broken twigs.Young bouquet hydrangea in the first year after planting should be cut low so that it thickens beautifully from below and does not grow shapeless. We leave only 2-3 pairs of buds, and remove the rest. Every year we cut it higher, deciding - depending on how dense and tall we want the bush - the number of buds left.
For example, a bouquet hydrangea 'Limelight' in the first spring can be trimmed at a height of about 25 cm so that it thickens from the bottom. In subsequent years, trim the outer shoots 10 cm higher than last year's cut, leaving only 1-2 pairs of buds. We always try to trim the inner shoots higher to give the plant a nice, conical and symmetrical shape. It is best to choose a pruner for this task with a comfortable handle and intended for dry and quite resistant branches and shoots.
Anvil secateurs P941
This is a great product that is designed to cut hard and dry branches up to 26 mm in diameter.Has a unique systemPowerGear ™ , which increases the cutting force three times and allows for extremely comfortable work.These blades are highly resistant to corrosion and the PTFE coating reduces friction resulting in a better and more durable cut.
The lightweight construction and the FiberComp ™ handle make the tool adapt to the natural shape of the hand. The design is extremely well thought out, also for people who struggle with carpal tunnel syndrome. The SoftGrip handle with a 3D structure ensures a secure grip and the blade lock prevents it from opening automatically and allows for safe storage without the possibility of injury.
One-hand secateurs Fiskars P941
Trimming shrub hydrangea
Shrub hydrangea is best pruned each year in March, while the leaves do not develop. Like the bouquet hydrangea - it blooms on this year's shoots. The most advantageous cut is 15-30 cm above the ground. In this way, we will be sure that the plant will receive a dense habit and a beautiful bush will develop. Only in summer, at the turn of August, we cut out the faded inflorescences, cleaning the plant.
