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Hydrangea Dolly attracts the hearts of gardeners with its beauty and unpretentiousness. Having seen its lush flowering, it is difficult to resist the temptation to purchase a seedling and plant it on your site. If you follow the rules of agricultural technology, the shrub will not cause much trouble, and will delight you with flowers for a long time.
Description of hydrangea variety Dolly
Hydrangea paniculata Dolly is a deciduous shrub with a compact and lush crown, the diameter of which reaches 1.2 m. The height of an adult plant is no more than 1.5 m, the leaves are green and oval.
Hydrangea Dolly blooms for a long time - from early July to October.
The inflorescences are cone-shaped, up to 30 cm long, consisting of many white fragrant flowers, which by autumn acquire a pink and then red tint. Powerful shoots do not bend under the weight of flower caps; they are covered with grayish bark.
Hydrangea Dolly in landscape design
Hydrangea Dolly fits perfectly into a variety of garden design styles.Its white and pink inflorescences are well set off by the greenery of coniferous shrubs and trees. Hydrangea is planted at the entrance to the front garden, along garden paths, in the most visible place in the recreation area, near the benches in the garden. Single and group plantings look beautiful; the number of bushes depends on the size of the plot.
In the mixborder next to the Dolly hydrangea, plants are placed that have similar requirements for soil, watering, fertilizing and lighting. Cuffs, hostas and astilbes will be good neighbors for her.
Winter hardiness of hydrangea Dolly
Paniculata hydrangea Dolly occupies a leading position in frost resistance; it is suitable for growing in 3-4 climatic zones. Adult bushes tolerate frosts down to -29 °C; they winter best under snow cover. This variety blooms on the current year's shoots. For successful wintering, it is enough to mulch the root system and prune the inflorescences in the fall so that the snow stuck to them does not break off the branches.
Planting and caring for Dolly hydrangea
If paniculate hydrangeas are already growing in the garden, the time to plant a new Dolly variety is very easy to determine. When the buds bloom on the bushes in the spring and leaves appear, it means it’s time to plant the plant in open ground.
Hydrangea Dolly, although unpretentious, requires a special soil composition, special fertilizers, and regular watering. Withered inflorescences are cut off annually, one-year-old shoots are shortened for better branching.
Selection and preparation of a landing site
For the normal growth and development of the shrub, the correct choice of planting site is important. In the Southern regions, paniculate hydrangea Dolly is best planted in partial shade, where during the midday heat it will be protected from the sun's rays by trees, buildings or a fence.
If the soil on the site is fertile, prepare a hole about 30x30 cm for a small seedling. Since the plant will grow in one place for a long time, a nutrient mixture is added when planting.
Landing rules
Dolly hydrangea is planted in the garden only after the threat of return frosts has passed. Before planting, the container plant is soaked in water.
Process description:
- Hydrangea Dolly is a moisture-loving plant, but does not tolerate stagnation of water at the roots, so if the soil is heavy, drainage is poured into the bottom of the hole.
Use expanded clay, broken brick or pebbles
- A layer of sand, pine litter and acidic peat are poured over the drainage.
- Add 60-70 g of superphosphate, 2 tbsp. l. potassium sulfate, 1 tbsp. l. urea, a handful of rotted horse manure.
Fertilizers are added according to the instructions on the package
- Pour the soil selected from there into the hole and mix it with litter, peat, and fertilizers. Well watered.
- The seedling is taken out of the container along with a lump of earth; the roots should be light; dark and rotten roots should be trimmed.
- Place the seedling in a hole and cover the roots with soil and acidic peat.
The root neck of hydrangea can be slightly deepened
- Press the soil around the plant, water and mulch with pine litter in a layer of 6-8 cm, retreating from the trunk by 3-4 cm.
For better survival, Dolly hydrangea seedlings can be watered with any growth and root formation stimulator.
Watering and fertilizing
Hydrangea Dolly loves water, but excessive watering can lead to rotting of the root system and death of the plant. The bush should be watered regularly, but in moderation.
Dolly hydrangea needs acidic soil. Seasonal precipitation washes out the nutrients stored in the planting hole and reduces acidity.The plant needs regular acidification of the soil for normal growth. There is no need to fertilize the seedling in the year of planting if the hole has been well filled. In the future, fertilizers intended for hydrangeas are used for feeding.
Pruning Hydrangea Dolly
Dolly panicle hydrangea can be pruned in the fall or spring. It is preferable to carry out this procedure in the second half of October, because if spring pruning is untimely, the plants “cry” and sap flows out of the branches.
First, thin branches are cut, then all the rest are shortened. The cut is made at the top branch, leaving 1-2 or 3-4 buds if you need to get a taller bush.
They finish pruning the bushes in the first half of November. If you cut branches in early autumn, when it is still warm, young shoots will begin to grow that will not be able to survive the winter.
Preparing for winter
They begin to prepare the bush for wintering at the end of August - they apply potassium-phosphorus fertilizers so that the shoots have time to ripen before the onset of cold weather. If in winter the air temperature does not drop below -29 °C, an adult Dolly hydrangea is not covered. In late autumn, moisture-recharging irrigation is carried out, and the tree trunk circle is covered with mulch. Only young seedlings are covered with spruce branches or non-woven material stretched over a frame to protect them from the cold.
Comment! In case of severe frosts or overfeeding with nitrogen fertilizers, the upper part of the shoots freezes; it is cut off to healthy tissue before the start of the growing season.
Reproduction
Hydrangea Dolly reproduces well vegetatively.Strong green branches are suitable for obtaining cuttings; they are cut into several parts, leaving two internodes on each piece. The leaf blades are shortened by half to reduce moisture evaporation.
The lower cut of the cutting is made oblique to increase the area of contact with the soil
Description of planting cuttings:
- Drainage material is poured into the pot, then light soil mixed with sand.
Make a drainage layer approximately 1.5-2 cm high
- The prepared cuttings are dipped in water, then in Kornevin. Stick it into the soil at an angle of 45° and water it with water.
- After planting the cuttings, sprinkle the soil in the pot with 2 cm of sand to reduce moisture evaporation.
- Cover the plant with a cut plastic bottle or jar on top.
A mini-greenhouse made from a jar helps retain moisture and heat
For successful root formation, you need a temperature of +20...+22 °C and a bright place without sun. The rooting process will take about three weeks. Once a day, open the cap on the bottle to ventilate and keep an eye on the soil; it should always be slightly damp.
There is no need to rush to transplant the rooted cuttings into open ground. In the first year, it should winter in a bright room, for example, on a frost-free veranda with a temperature of +3...+5 °C. Only next year can a well-developed, strong cutting of Dolly hydrangea be planted in open ground. It is better to keep a weak plant in a container for another year.
Diseases and pests
Unfortunately, hydrangeas are affected by diseases and pests. The incidence of disease is affected by air temperature, dense plantings, and improper feeding.
In conditions of high humidity, common fungal diseases develop:
- Powdery mildew. Initially, yellow spots appear on the leaves, which darken over time, and a white powdery coating is visible on the back of the leaf blades.
- Septoria. The leaves are covered with small, irregularly shaped spots, in place of which holes then form. Gradually the spots merge, the leaf dries out and falls off.
- Gray rot. Brown spots covered with gray moss form on the shoots. The rot then spreads to the leaves, buds and flowers.
At the first signs of fungal diseases, plants are treated with fungicides. Severely affected shoots are cut off and destroyed.
For preventive spraying use fungicide "Skor"
Another threat to hydrangeas is a variety of viral infections; they manifest themselves in the form of various patterns on the leaves. There are no medications for this disease; affected plants are burned.
Insects are carriers of viruses. Therefore, it is necessary to destroy aphids and other pests on the leaves of Dolly hydrangea using insecticides. The tick loves to settle on bushes. Its presence can be determined by small yellow dots on the leaves. When neglected, a cobweb is visible on the back of the leaf plates. Acaricides are used to control ticks.
If not properly cared for, Dolly hydrangea suffers from chlorosis. A sign of this disease is yellow leaves with bright green veins. Chlorosis develops due to iron deficiency. The reason for the lack of this element in the diet may be poor soil or insufficient soil acidity. In the latter case, the plant loses its ability to absorb nutrients.
Conclusion
Hydrangea Dolly is a beautiful and undemanding ornamental shrub. It is important to choose the right place when planting a seedling. Further care consists of watering, fertilizing, pruning, protection from pests and diseases. If in winter the air temperature drops below -29 °C, it is advisable to build an air-dry shelter for the hydrangea from non-woven material on a frame.
