Description of hydrangea variety Early Blue, its planting and care, propagation

Let's talk about a flowering shrub called Hydrangea variety Early Blue (popularly called Early Blue). This plant can decorate any area. Also, this perennial species was bred by breeders quite recently - in 2006. Due to its relative “youth,” the perennial shrub has not yet become widespread. Below we present detailed information about this ornamental shrub.

Characteristics of hydrangea Early Blue

Large-leaved hydrangea with a lush crown is a real decoration of a blooming garden. The height and diameter of the crop reaches 1.2 meters. The plant can live on average up to twenty years. The flowering of the bush begins from shoots that were formed last year, as well as from young shoots of this spring.

Ball-shaped, large inflorescences are formed on the branches, reaching a diameter of up to thirty centimeters. The buds have an unusual color: from bluish to pink. The plant blooms for a long period - from mid-summer to early autumn. Hydrangea has large, shiny, smooth, dark green leaves with jagged edges.

The use of Early Blue hydrangea in landscape design

Hydrangea is actively used by gardeners and landscape designers. Hydrangea Early Blue feels great in both group and single compositions. The plant is also used to decorate rocky gardens.

Perennial shrubs are perfect neighbors:

• with all varieties of hydrangea;
• rhododendron;
• conifers;
• holly;
• various deciduous shrubs;
• low-growing herbaceous plants.

Due to the developed root system of the Early Blue hydrangea, gardeners and designers plant it in large tubs, grow it indoors, and when spring comes, they safely plant it in open ground.

Frost resistance of hydrangea Early Blue

This variety has average winter hardiness. The shrub prefers a warm climate, in which it can easily survive the winter without shelter.In colder regions of the Russian Federation, hydrangeas need to be covered before the first frost.

Gardeners cover the shrub with special agrofibre or spruce branches. In this case, it is necessary to tie the shoots of the bush into a single bale. Young planting material is covered with sawdust or fallen leaves. A mature plant is carefully bent to the soil.

Planting technology and agricultural technology for caring for large-leaved Early Blue hydrangea

Planting of shrubs is carried out in the standard way. Further care of the plant does not require much effort if certain agrotechnical nuances are observed.

Selecting a location and preparing the soil for planting

The plant likes to grow in illuminated areas, but it should not be left in the scorching rays of the sun. Therefore, a semi-shaded area is suitable for perennial shrubs. The soil should be semi-acidic or acidic, but under no circumstances should limestone soil be used.

Before planting, the area is dug up, adding into the holes: river sand, leaf soil, peat and humus. To give the buds a pinkish tint, gardeners additionally add potassium alum to the soil once every seven days. But do not overdo it, otherwise you can damage the culture.

Requirements for planting hydrangeas

To plant hydrangea, follow this simple algorithm:

1. Before planting, prepare holes, the depth and width of which will be 40 centimeters.
2. Place expanded clay or drainage on the bottom of the hole. This advice is relevant for clayey, heavy soil.
3. Fill the holes with the substrate we talked about in the previous section.
4. Also, to increase the acidity of the soil, place spruce needles on the bottom.
5. Before planting, place the seedlings in a container of water and leave in this position for several hours.
6. Place the plant exactly in the center of the hole, without deepening the horse's neck.Spread the roots and cover with substrate.
7. Compact the area around the trunk circle.
8. Fill the bush with a bucket of water.

The plant requires supervision for the first few weeks. Water on time, preventing the soil from drying out. Otherwise, the plant may wither and die.

Watering and fertilizing

If it is important for the gardener that the plant produces as many lush buds as possible, the hydrangea needs to be watered regularly. Focus on the weather and monitor the condition of the soil. Rain or settled water is excellent for irrigation. Add citric acid to hard tap water. To prevent rotting and fungal infection, it is advisable to add potassium permanganate to the water during the first watering.

Feeding the plant deserves special attention. For the first time, fertilizing containing nitrogen compounds should be applied in the spring. The second time nutrients need to be introduced into the soil during the growing season, and the third feeding is carried out in early autumn.

Formation of the crown of Hydrangea largeleaf Early Blue

Hydrangea does not need pruning until it is three years old. You just need to remove the dried branches. When the bush grows, you need to prune the plant even before the first buds appear. At the same time, old inflorescences are removed. It is recommended to begin crown formation in early spring and before the start of active sap flow.

Preparing the plant for wintering

Early Blue hydrangea should be prepared by spraying the plant with Bordeaux mixture. Due to this, the bush will not wither away while under cover. Complete the preparation according to the instructions:

1. Fill the tree trunk area with peat and place spruce branches on top.
2. Bend tall shoots to the soil, securing the cuttings with pins.
3. Lay agrofibre over the branches and sprinkle with compost.
4. To provide the shrub with additional protection from snow, use roofing felt.

If hydrangea branches are rigid and massive, do not bend them to the soil. Just group and tie them, placing them with spruce branches. After this, wrap the bundle using agrofibre or film. This will allow the plant buds to survive particularly severe frosts.

Methods of propagation of hydrangea Early Blue

To propagate the Airlie Blue shrub, the following methods are used: root layering, cuttings and bush division. Gardeners prefer to propagate this plant more often using layering. For this method, follow a simple algorithm:

1. Bend the fragile shoot of the plant to the ground.
2. Pin him.
3. Water the shoot.

So, after some time, a new root system will form in this place, which will allow the hydrangea to be transplanted to the desired location.

Using cuttings, it is convenient to root planting material that was obtained during spring pruning. To propagate hydrangea by cuttings, do the following:

1. Select shoots that are ten to twelve centimeters long.
2. Place the material in a special container - even a simple 200 milliliter plastic cup will do for this.
3. Water and care for the seedling for 3-4 months.
4. After this period, you will find roots, which will be a signal that the plant is ready to be transplanted into open ground.
5. Replant the plant with the onset of spring.

The method of dividing hydrangea is rarely used due to the high risks for the mother bush. So, if you accidentally damage the root system of the main plant, it may wither.

Protection from diseases and pests

This perennial can suffer from the following number of diseases:

1. Rust – a sign of damage is an orange coating. This disease can lead to the death of the bush. To prevent this, treat the hydrangea with a fungicide solution.
2. Gray rot - affects soft tissues. As a result, gray fluff appears. As a rule, this disease is difficult to cure, and the plant often needs to be destroyed.
3. White rot - which leads to damage to the roots and wilting of the plant. If left untreated, the bush will die.
4. Downy mildew - which leads to yellow-green stains on the outside of the leaves, and a purple plate on the back. A fungicide is used for treatment.
5. Chlorosis – which occurs if the plant does not receive enough iron. Treatment and prevention are carried out by introducing fertilizers containing this element.

As for pests, hydrangea rarely becomes the object of their close attention. Most often people are interested in the plant: scale insects, aphids and mites. Fungicides are used to eliminate these pests.