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Transplanting hydrangeas to another place in the fall is considered a responsible undertaking. Therefore, you should not start it without first studying the nuances of the procedure. The difficulty is that mature bushes do not always tolerate transplantation well. Even if up to this point they had developed perfectly and seemed absolutely healthy and unpretentious. Gardeners recommend replanting relatively young plants, since they are easier to adapt to changes. However, strict adherence to the transplantation rules will allow you to easily change the place of growth, even for a relatively mature perennial.
Hydrangea is very impressive if you choose the right place for planting.
Is it possible to replant hydrangea in the fall?
Experienced gardeners recommend scheduling replanting in the fall. Hydrangea should not be disturbed during the flowering period. At this time, the plant is very vulnerable; any mistake can lead to its death.In spring, the process of preparing the bush for flowering begins, so it is better to replant the flower in late spring or early autumn.
You need to move the perennial in the spring before the buds begin to bloom, but in early spring the ground may not be thawed well. Therefore, the autumn procedure is preferable. The flowering of the bush ends at the end of summer, it will be easier for it to adapt to a new place. It is recommended to replant hydrangea in September. In summer it is better not to touch the flower. It will drop its buds and inflorescences, and the next season will completely refuse to please its owner with its splendor.
Why do you need to replant hydrangea?
The plant grows every year, this is a natural biological process. After a few years, the bush begins to experience a lack of nutrition and light. As a result, the flowers become smaller and the hydrangea takes on a more faded appearance. This usually happens after 5-10 years, depending on the plant variety. He needs a transplant. Sometimes there are other reasons unrelated to the development of the bush. For example, it is necessary to make room for other purposes, or the hydrangea does not fit into the intended composition.
You always want to preserve such beauty on your site, so you need to replant the plant on time
Timing for transplanting hydrangeas in autumn
Autumn is chosen by gardeners as the best time for the procedure. It is recommended to replant hydrangeas in October to give the bush time to take root. In addition, it will not have time to grow new shoots, which will freeze during the first frost. The timing varies slightly by region. In the middle zone, the optimal time is the end of August or the beginning of September, in the south – mid-October. The easiest way is to focus on the timing of the initial planting of the plant.
Where winter comes early and suddenly, it is not worth the risk. It is better to postpone the procedure until spring, especially for certain species. For example, replanting large-leaved hydrangea in the fall is not recommended.
How to transplant hydrangea to another place in the fall
The most important conditions are preliminary preparation of the plant and a new place for it. It is important to choose the right place. Hydrangea is not very happy about frequent transplants, so the bush must grow in one place for at least 5 years. During this time it will definitely grow. If you plan to plant several plants, you should carefully determine the distance between them so that in the future they do not interfere with each other.
All steps for replanting a bush must be carried out carefully
Selection and preparation of a landing site
Several factors play a role for the plant:
- Place. Hydrangea needs to receive direct sunlight until lunchtime and then be in the shade. Depriving a plant of light all day means reducing the abundance of flowering. This is especially true for paniculate hydrangea; large-leaved hydrangea can withstand partial shade well. The bush also requires reliable protection from drafts or direct wind. The optimal solution would be to plant the plant near a fence or fence, in the background of a composition or an alpine slide. You should not place bushes close to garden paths; maintain a distance of at least 1 m.
- The soil. If the area is loamy, that's good. It’s even better when the soil reaction is acidic or neutral. It is not recommended to plant hydrangea in black soil, calcareous or manure-humus soil. Such soil needs to be acidified using natural ingredients - shavings, bark, leaf humus. They are added during digging.
With a slightly alkaline reaction, the buds acquire a pink color. If it is sour, they turn blue. A neutral reaction stimulates the appearance of white or cream inflorescences.
Having fulfilled these simple conditions, you can be sure of the correct choice of place on the site for your favorite hydrangea.
Preparing hydrangea for transplantation
Before starting the procedure, the plant must be prepared. This will help him cope with the whole process more easily. You should dig a ring hole in advance at a distance of 35-40 cm from the trunk. The width and depth of the furrow is 25 cm, the easiest way to measure the values is with a shovel bayonet. Fill the trench with mature compost and moisten it periodically. When the perennial has lateral roots in the compost, you can begin replanting:
- Tie the branches with a rope so that they do not interfere with the procedure.
- Dig the bush along the outer edge of the ring furrow.
- Carefully remove from the ground along with the new roots, being careful not to damage them.
If you decide to replant a tree-like hydrangea in the fall, you must first remove all faded inflorescences from it.
The gardener needs to balance the parts of the plant so that the rooting process goes quickly
While the root growth process is taking place, you can prepare a planting hole. Gardeners recommend doing this 2 weeks before transplanting.
Rules for transplanting hydrangeas in autumn
First of all, you need to prepare a planting hole. It should be in the form of a cube with sides of 50 cm.When replanting several bushes, the distance between them should be at least 1 m. A day before the start of the event, pour water into the hole and wait until the moisture is completely absorbed. Then pour hydrangea soil onto the bottom in a layer 20 cm thick. Its composition includes certain components, taken in equal parts:
- leaf soil;
- coniferous land;
- high peat;
- sand;
- humus.
Mix the entire mixture and place it in a layer on the bottom of the planting hole. Add potassium sulfate and superphosphate (1 tablespoon each) to the prepared mixture. Do not add ash, dolomite flour or lime. They will deoxidize the soil, but this is not necessary for hydrangea.
Preparing the pit should be done in advance
Install the bush, being careful not to damage the lump of earth. Add the required amount of soil on top and sides. The root collar should not be buried; it should remain at ground level.
After finishing the work, water the hydrangea well and mulch it with sawdust or conifer bark in a layer of at least 5 cm.
Lightly shade the plant for 2 weeks. Spunbond and gauze frame are suitable.
To make the process clearer, you should watch the video:
In order for the transplanted hydrangea bush to grow well, you need to cut off all the inflorescences next spring.
How to feed hydrangea in the fall after transplanting
After transplantation, the plant will need a complex of potassium and phosphorus. Nitrogen fertilizing is not needed in the fall. You can purchase a special fertilizer for hydrangeas and apply it according to the instructions. The second option is to feed the bush with superphosphate mixed with potassium sulfate. Additionally, treat the perennial with Bordeaux mixture (1%) to protect it from pests and diseases.
Care after landing
In order for hydrangea to take root well and develop, at first it is necessary to carefully monitor the soil moisture. Regular watering is needed; in the first 2 weeks, growth and root formation stimulants (Epin, Heteroauxin) can be added to the water. It is important to avoid overfilling. Regular loosening of the soil will help maintain the required degree of moisture.
Feeding is carried out once a week, after planting in a new place. A potassium-phosphorus complex is required; it is best to take a ready-made mineral fertilizer for hydrangeas.
The plant does not require pruning if it was properly shortened when transplanted.
If you transplanted paniculate hydrangea in the fall, then you need to prepare the bush for wintering. To do this, in the southern regions it is enough to remove all the leaves and hill up the trunk. For colder regions, additional shelter will be needed so that the bush can easily withstand frost. Cover the small plant with peat, then cover it with film. Tie a taller bush, tilt it towards the ground, tie it to boards that are laid on the ground. Cover the hydrangea with sawdust or spruce branches, and lay lutrasil or spunbond on top.
A well-made shelter will allow the plant to survive even severe frosts.
Conclusion
Transplanting hydrangeas to another place in the fall can be done without any special costs on the part of the gardener. It is important to follow the recommendations of specialists, as well as take the advice of experienced gardeners who love this type of plant.
