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Hydrangea Pink Annabelle is a young variety of tree hydrangea, characterized by hardiness and resistance to winter frosts. It looks like a large bush up to 1.5 m in height and almost 1 m in width. At first it blooms in different shades of pink, but by mid-summer it “determines” its color – light or dark pink.
Pink Annabelle is one of the hardiest hydrangea varieties.
Description of Hydrangea tree Pink Annabel
Tree hydrangea (hydrangea arborescens pink annabelle) is a new variety of the Annabelle hydrangea species. It is considered the most durable, unlike its predecessors. Height and width are approximately 90-120 cm. Strong shoots do not press to the ground, despite the heavy, massive buds.
The inflorescences consist of a large number of flowers, externally spherical in shape, pink in color. At the beginning of flowering, the upper petals are pale pink, and closer to the base they are dark pink.Over time, the gradient effect disappears, leaving a light or dark color of the inflorescences.
Flowering is long, from about the beginning of summer until frost.
Hydrangea Pink Anabel in landscape design
Tree hydrangea Pink Annabelle, as seen in the photo below, is widely used in landscape design.
Hydrangea is planted on the site in recreational areas, along with the lawn or perennial plantings, in the garden and front gardens
Use tree hydrangea separately or arrange group plantings with other species of this plant.
Winter hardiness of hydrangea variety Pink Anabel
Most types of hydrangea require greenhouse conditions for the winter period, which include insulating the soil, covering the bush with several layers of polyethylene, etc. However, with tree varieties everything is simpler; they tolerate winter well. Only minor hilling is required, as well as pruning of faded inflorescences. The latter is done for the reason that the shoots may break under the weight of snow. On the other hand, if the grower is ready to regularly shake off the accumulating snow on the plant, then there is no need to trim the inflorescences. Moreover, thanks to their integrity, the buds located inside the bush will be better preserved.
Non-woody shoots require special attention; they should be cut off, as they will not survive the winter.
Planting and caring for tree hydrangea Pink Annabel
In general, the tree hydrangea variety Pink Anabel does not require intricate planting and care techniques. She prefers moisture, does not like scorching sun rays, and tolerates wintering well. Regular watering, insulating the roots for the winter, and feeding the soil will ensure colorful flowering of hydrangeas for many years.
Selection and preparation of a landing site
The landing site is of great importance.With the right choice, the plant will delight the grower for many years. The main thing is that the selected landscape is protected from strong gusts of wind and drafts.
Hydrangea can be planted next to a high fence or ornamental trees; they will serve as protection from drafts. In addition, the species does not like direct scorching sun, although it needs a sufficient amount of it. All the same trees will help protect the plant from direct sunlight.
However, hydrangea is moisture-loving, which means it will not like trees with a large root system that will “steal” water from it. Dry soil can cause it to simply not bloom. However, if the grower can provide the hydrangea with enough moisture, then foreign roots are not a problem. And yet, “ornamental” trees are a more profitable choice.
Pink Annabelle is planted near a fence or in the shade of trees
Landing rules
Tree hydrangea Pink Anabel is recommended to be planted in spring or autumn, in May or September. The weather during these periods is quite warm, without the scorching sun. In spring, pay attention to the appearance of hydrangea seedlings. The buds should be formed, but not yet open.
To plant hydrangeas, dig holes twice the size of the root system and loosen the soil around them. The prepared holes are first watered and waited for excess moisture to be absorbed into the ground. Then tree hydrangea seedlings are planted so that the root collar is subsequently underground and does not peek out to the surface. The hole is filled with soil, which can be pre-mixed with peat to increase the acidity of the soil.
The type of roots matters, whether they were in a container, bag or naked. The first ones are straightened out well, because they could have become intertwined. Bare roots are planted before buds open or after leaf fall. When the plant is covered with soil, it is patted down so that the roots come into contact with the ground.
Watering and fertilizing
Hydrangea loves moisture, so it will have to be watered regularly. It is noteworthy that it is worth irrigating the plant from above; the water will wash away excess dust, refreshing the appearance of the hydrangea. In addition, if there is a danger of aphids, regular “washing” of the plant will help to knock down the pest and press it to the damp ground.
Fertilizing is carried out in spring or summer using mineral fertilizers. During flowering periods, it is worth giving preference to organic species. The soil is fertilized with humus, mixed with peat, and sprinkled with leaf soil.
Pruning hydrangea variety Pink Anabel
Pruning hydrangeas is mostly needed to give them the desired shape. In the process, faded buds, dried flowers, and old shoots are removed.
Sometimes it is recommended to prune before wintering, remove non-woody shoots, because they will not tolerate the cold, and also remove the inflorescences so that the stems do not break under the weight of the snow falling on them. However, you can leave the latter, just regularly brush off the snow from them. This way the hydrangea buds located inside the bush will be preserved much better.
In general, pruning is carried out as with most plants.
Trim dry buds and shoots to live buds. Gardeners disagree on whether it is necessary to remove faded inflorescences.Some leave them to protect the buds from the cold, others cut off the inflorescences to avoid damage to the plant due to the heaviness under the snow cap.
Preparing for winter
Preparing for winter will not require a waste of energy, because this variety of tree hydrangea is resistant to frost. Most other species are wrapped up for the winter and greenhouse conditions are created. In the case of tree hydrangea, only the roots can be insulated by so-called mulching. A small area of the earth around the trunk is sprinkled with sawdust, dry leaves, bark and wood chips, as well as gravel, crushed stone and other decorative materials. This is necessary to prevent the evaporation of moisture from the soil, the appearance of pests, and hypothermia. At the same time, organic mulching enriches the soil, improving its structure.
In general, the plant can be tied up so that it does not bend under the snow, which must be regularly brushed off the hydrangea.
Reproduction
The best and fastest way to propagate tree hydrangea is cuttings, i.e. using separate stems. It is noteworthy that they will have the genetic information of the main plant, so you can’t expect any differences or “surprises” in its germination.
Cuttings are done in the summer with green stems, which is considered the most optimal choice. The procedure is carried out in mid-July, early in the morning, so that the plant is filled with moisture, preferably from new fresh growths.
They cut closer to the base, at the bud itself, leaving one or two leaves, which are cut in half. If the shoot has a bud, it is cut off.
The cuttings are placed in a jar with a volume of 200-300 ml and left in the shade until roots appear
Flower growers advise adding 1 tsp to the water. honey, it will contribute to thickening at the end of the cutting, from which roots will grow.
When the tree hydrangea cuttings take root, they are transplanted into small containers with peat mixed with sand in a ratio of 2 to 1. The soil is pre-moistened and then watered once a week if the air humidity is not too high. In August, the plants show the first roots, but it is too early to plant them. For the winter, greenhouse conditions are created and only in the spring are the cuttings taken out into the garden beds.
Diseases and pests
Tree hydrangea is one of the most disease-resistant plants. She does not suffer from strange and difficult to remove ailments, but is susceptible to common aphids.
The pest is easy to combat with ordinary water, which is sprayed onto the entire plant, knocking down the insects
They also use laundry soap, which needs to be rubbed in 1 liter of water in an amount of 100 g. You can replace it with tar soap, which will be no less effective. Soap is dissolved in water, poured into a spray bottle and sprayed on flowers, foliage and stems. You can cultivate the soil around the plant.
A painful appearance indicates some deficiencies in care:
- “rusting” foliage indicates that there is too much water or the plant is “stuffy”;
- leaves drying out from the tips indicate that there is little moisture, so it would not be superfluous to water the plant not only near the soil, but also to spray it entirely;
- “burns” on the foliage indicate that the plant requires more shade; they overheat in the sun.
Conclusion
Hydrangea Pink Annabelle stands out for its beauty.It not only decorates any area, but also does not require complex care procedures. Tree hydrangea will “forgive” beginners the first awkward attempts at care, so it is considered a good choice.
Reviews of hydrangea Pink Annabelle
Hydrangea Pink Annabelle is gradually winning the hearts of many gardeners, both beginners and experienced.
