The Endless Summer variety hydrangea first appeared in England and France, where it was planted in aristocratic gardens. This culture is unpretentious in care, which is why it is very popular. This article will discuss the main characteristics of this variety, as well as a detailed description of planting and care.
Grade description
The Endless Summer variety got its name due to the fact that it is able to bloom 2 times a year. A variety of Hydrangea Macrophylla Endless Summer is able to bloom in different shades of buds.
Description of this grade:
- shrubs grow to 1.5 m;
- leaves are simple, egg-shaped, saturated green tint;
- inflorescences of the umbrella structure, reach a diameter of 10 cm;
- the flowers are large, their width is about 3 cm;
- life expectancy, with proper care, no more than 40 years.
Their color changes depending on the acidity of the soil:
- if the pH is below 6, then the buds will be blue;
- at pH above 6, the inflorescences have a pink tint.
Landscape design application
Due to the strong growth rate, the large-leaf hydrangea of the Endless Summer variety is actively used in landscape design. It is often planted as a decorative background for lower shrubs. A leaf plate of a saturated green hue is able to beautifully shade light flowers that grow nearby. If you do not want to create an eternal green corridor along the garden, then you do not need to plant plants along the paths.
The advantage of hydrangea is that its flowers quickly dry in the open, so they can stand for a long time and not lose their beauty. Some gardeners grow this variety with endless flowering in containers. Thanks to this, you can decorate the veranda or courtyard.
Did you know? After excavations in North America, scientists concluded that hydrangea grew more than 40 thousand years ago.
Landing
Endless Summer large-leaved hydrangea has several advantages over other varieties:
- resistance to frost: plants can survive a cold snap up to -30 ° C;
- flowering observed in spring and summer, so this period is 3 months longer than other varieties.
Planting hydrangeas should be carried out in the right place and under certain conditions. If you carry out the procedure, adhering to all the recommendations, then by the next year you can enjoy the beautiful flowering bushes.
Important! Basic rule: at noon hydrangea should be in the shade for 2–3 hours. If this is not done, then the bushes will quickly dry out.
Seat selection
It is very important to choose the right place for landing. If you will plant planting material in the northern part of the site, then you need to do this in open areas. Plants should receive enough solar heat and light.
Planting on the south side of the garden requires protecting the bushes from direct sunlight. The soil for planting should be nutritious, but with an average level of acid and alkali (from 5 to 7.5). The distance between the bushes should be such that they do not touch each other.
Soil preparation
The soil should be moist, but not much, so a month before the proposed planting (it can be carried out in spring and autumn) dig a plot and fertilize (humus or peat). 4 buckets of nutrients are scattered per 1 m². After that, water the soil, at the rate of 50 liters per 1 m².
Mark the area you need a week before planting. Wells measuring 50 × 50 cm are dug at a distance of 2 m from each other. If groundwater comes closer than 2 m to the ground, a drainage system must be installed. For this, expanded clay or crushed stone is used. The drainage layer should be about 20 cm.
Landing process
Landing technology is as follows:
- Sprinkle the drainage layer with nutrient soil. To do this, mix garden soil with peat (in a 2: 1 ratio) and add 100 g of superphosphate.
- Place a seedling inside the hole and distribute the roots.
- Dig a metal rod nearby 30 cm long above the seedling. Tie a plant to it.
- Sprinkle the hole with earth and pour 30 liters of water.
- Tamp the soil so that voids do not form in the root system.
- Mulch with a 20-cm layer of humus or peat.
Care
During the cultivation of hydrangeas of the Endless Summer variety, it is necessary to properly care for it. You will need to timely fertilize, water the bushes and prepare them for winter. Do not forget about loosening the soil and removing weeds along with the roots. Such simple actions will not only improve the appearance of the plant, but also protect against diseases and pests.
Did you know? The world annually celebrates Hydrangea Day. It falls on January 5th.
Watering
Shrubs should be watered sparingly. If the soil is excessively moist, the number of flower ovaries will decrease on the plants.
Determine the required amount of water based on the type of soil:
- no more than 20 liters of water per 1 m² are poured into clay lands;
- in the sand - at least 30 liters of water per 1 m²;
- in loamy - about 25 liters per 1 m², given that it retains moisture well.
If you have planted a large number of hydrangeas, it is best to irrigate the area with a hose in which many holes have been made. You can also install drip irrigation to evenly distribute moisture.
Fertilizing and fertilizers
Top dressing is introduced in late spring and early summer. To stimulate flower activity phosphorus will be required. For each bush make 70 g of this substance. In order to provoke abundant flowering, you need add potassium nitrate. 50 g of fertilizer are applied per plant.
Pruning
Cut only those bushes, whose age is more than 3 years. In the autumn, old and damaged shoots are removed, due to which the growth of young branches is activated. No need to cut off faded flowers, because they protect plants from freezing. They need to be removed in the spring so that new buds are formed.
Winter insulation
Despite the fact that hydrangea of the Endless Summer variety belongs to winter-hardy crops, plants need to be sheltered for the winter. If this is not done, then it will be difficult for the shrubs to recover after the cold season.
They protect hydrangea at the end of October, long before the onset of the first frost. To do this, use a shelter in the form of a plastic film. You can also cover branches closer to the ground with fallen leaves or carry out hilling with peat.
Diseases and pests
Hydrangea cultivar Endless summer is often affected by leaf chlorosis. This disease manifests itself in the form of yellowing of leaves, resulting in decreased photosynthesis activity. The treatment consists in spraying the bushes with a solution of copper sulfate (40 g per 10 liters of water).
Important! Chlorosis of leaves provokes the use of alkaline water. To make it soft, you need to add potassium nitrate (10 g per 10 liters of water).
On endless Summer bushes, you can also see signs of downy mildew. Symptoms of this disease manifest as white or gray-violet plaque on the leaves. An effective remedy against the disease is Fitosporin (50 g per 10 liters of water), which are sprayed 2 times a month.
Of the pests, frequent damage to hydrangea by a spider mite is noted. Aktellik spraying (20 g per 8 l of water) will help to get rid of it. So, now you know what the large-leaved hydrangea of the Endless Summer variety looks like. To grow it, just follow the simple rules for planting and care. If all the actions are performed correctly, then the beauty of your site will not leave anyone indifferent.
