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One of the inexpensive but very effective solutions in landscape design is the use of various types of hydrangea as ornamental plants. Unlike roses or peonies, which are more expensive and difficult to cultivate, this crop has a number of positive qualities. Hydrangea Magical Starlight is one example of such a relatively simple and inexpensive plant that can decorate any garden.
Description of hydrangea Magic Starlight
Hydrangea paniculata magical starlight (aka Hydrangea paniculata magical starlight) is a typical representative of the Saxifraga family. This plant has a height of about 1.7 m, and it can be cultivated both in the form of a shrub and in the form of a tree. Hydrangea paniculata Magical Starlight is shown in the photo below:
A distinctive feature of this variety is its almost spherical crown, which, with minimal care, can maintain its shape for many years.
The bush does not fall apart and does not require any supports or garters. Young shoots are red; with age they become woody, turning brown. The leaves of the plant are large, green in color, have an elliptical shape and a rough structure.
Panicle-type inflorescences reach a size of 20 cm. The flowers they contain are of two types: sterile and fertile. There are a few more of the latter.
Sterile flowers are located unevenly in the inflorescence, they are larger than fertile ones and have a characteristic appearance: they consist of four elongated sepals
They are especially decorative and have a star-shaped shape, from which the name of the variety comes. Flowering is long, begins in mid-June and ends in the third decade of September.
Hydrangea Magical Starlight in landscape design
Due to its spectacular appearance, Magical Starlight hydrangea is widely used in the design of personal plots. The plant is used as:
- A single object located at a considerable distance from other crops. You can use both the bush and standard form.
- Group plantings, as the central component of a flower bed.
- In the form of a hedge element.
- As part of group planting of plants of the same type.
In any form, the Magical Starlight hydrangea will look impressive thanks to the decorative nature of its inflorescences
Winter hardiness of hydrangea Magical Starlight
The plant tolerates harsh winters well. Hydrangea Magical Starlight belongs to the fifth frost resistance zone.This means that the wood and buds can withstand frosts of -29 °C without shelter. It is believed that resistance to cold increases with age. Bushes that are more than 10 years old are classified in the fourth frost resistance zone (-35 °C).
Unlike other types of hydrangea, young specimens are also able to withstand cold winters without additional shelter. The only part of the crop that is vulnerable to frost is its root system.
Planting and caring for hydrangea Magical Starlight
Growing this variety is not difficult. Hydrangea Magical Starlight is not capricious and does not require any special care. It is believed that this variety will be an ideal option for planting in the countryside, since the time spent on maintaining it in a healthy state is relatively short.
Selection and preparation of a landing site
You can use a plot with soil of any fertility, since Magical Starlight hydrangea is not demanding on soil quality. The only condition is the presence of sun and the absence of cold wind. It is permissible to grow the plant in partial shade.
Planting is carried out in holes measuring 50 by 50 cm, 50-60 cm deep. A layer of drainage and fertile substrate is placed at the bottom. You can use humus or compost instead. The thickness of the fertile layer must be at least 15 cm.
Landing rules
A mound is made at the bottom of the hole on which the seedling is placed. Its height should be such that the root collar is slightly above ground level. The roots are spread along the slopes of the mound.
The hole is filled with soil, lightly compacted and watered.
Water consumption during planting is 10-20 liters per bush.
Watering and fertilizing
Hydrangea Magical Starlight is watered once every two weeks, with up to 20 liters of water poured under each bush. It is recommended to increase the frequency of watering to once every 7-10 days in the first month of flowering.
Feeding is applied four times per season:
- At the beginning of the season, before the buds open. Use organic fertilizers: rotted manure or compost.
- With the beginning of budding. Fertilizing is done with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers.
- After flowering begins. The composition is similar to the previous one.
- Before wintering plants. Apply complex fertilizer for hydrangeas.
All fertilizing is applied using the root method and is combined with watering.
Pruning hydrangea Magical Starlight
Pruning is carried out at the beginning of the season; it consists of shortening all shoots to such an extent that no more than 3 buds remain on them. To increase the density of the crown, pruning can be done not annually, but once every two years.
Rejuvenation of Magical Starlight hydrangea bushes is carried out once every 5-7 years. In this case, all branches are cut down to the level of one bud.
Preparing for winter
Hydrangea Magical Starlight does not need any specific preparation for winter. Even the current year's shoots can withstand frosts down to -29 °C without shelter. The only problem is the overwintering of the root system of young plants, since it is located relatively close to the ground (at a depth of no more than 25 cm).
In order to preserve the roots of young specimens of the Magical Starlight hydrangea, the bushes should be hilled
The hilling height is about 50 cm.An alternative is to mulch the soil with sawdust or straw; its algorithm was described earlier.
Reproduction
To propagate Magical Starlight hydrangea, you can use any of the following methods: seeds, layering or cuttings. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages. Seed propagation, like many ornamental garden crops, is rarely used. The reason lies, first of all, in the long time it takes to obtain mature plants capable of flowering.
The most popular propagation is from cuttings. Young shoots of the current year, cut at the end of autumn, are used as such. They must contain at least 6 buds. The cuttings are treated with a rooting agent and placed in water for several hours, after which they are planted in a loose substrate. Its base can be different (peat, leaf soil, etc.), but it always contains sand in an amount from 30% to 50% of the volume.
Before rooting, the cuttings must be placed in mini-greenhouses, wrapping the container with them in a plastic bag or covering them with a plastic bottle
The soil should be constantly moistened, preventing it from drying out. Young Magical Starlight hydrangeas need to be ventilated every day.
Usually rooting occurs after 3-4 months. After this, the greenhouses are removed, and the young plants are installed in a warm and sunny place. Sprouted and strengthened seedlings are planted in open ground at the end of the summer of next year.
Diseases and pests
Diseases and pests of Magical Starlight hydrangea are standard for ornamental garden crops.Most often, the plant is affected by fungal infections, and also suffers from aphids, spider mites and root-knot nematodes.
The immune system of hydrangea is quite strong, and diseases and pests rarely attack it. However, preventive measures, traditionally carried out at the beginning of the season, will not be superfluous.
Protection against fungi involves treating plant branches in early spring with copper sulfate or Bordeaux mixture. About a week after this treatment, the Magical Starlight hydrangea should be sprayed with insecticides. As such, it is recommended to use the drugs Actellik, Fitoverm and Fufanon.
Conclusion
Hydrangea Magical Starlight is one of the few ornamental plants that requires virtually no care. Relatively compact crowns of bushes and trunks do not require pruning for a long time. The use of hydrangea Magical Starlight in landscape design is quite diverse; the plant can be used as a universal plant: from a component of flower beds to a hedge. The frost resistance of the variety is high, even young shoots can tolerate temperatures down to -29 °C.
