Content
Paniculata hydrangea is an excellent option for decorating recreation areas, garden areas and parks. Pink Lady is a popular variety that stands out for its lush white-pink inflorescences. With proper planting and care, you can grow a shrub with excellent decorative properties.
Botanical description
Panicle hydrangea Pink Lady was bred by Dutch breeder Pieter Zweinenburg. Work on the variety was carried out in the 70s and 80s of the 20th century. The variety was highly praised by the Royal Horticultural Society of Great Britain. Pink Lady is recognized as one of the most popular varieties of paniculate hydrangea.
Description of hydrangea Pink Lady:
- fan-shaped shrub 1.5-2 m high;
- large, cone-shaped inflorescences, 25-30 cm long;
- The leaves are oval-shaped, bright green, serrated along the edges.
Due to powerful shoots, the bushes retain their shape when flowering. The leaves are located along the entire length of the branches. Flowering begins in mid-July and ends in September.
At the beginning of flowering, the bushes consist of small white flowers that have an elegant and airy appearance. As the flowers bloom, the panicles become denser.
Pink Lady hydrangea flowers consist of 4 petals and have a round shape.As the season progresses, the petals turn a soft pink color.
If you follow the rules of planting and care, the paniculate hydrangea Pink Lady grows in one place for several decades. The shrub is used for designing single plantings, mixborders and hedges.
Hydrangea looks impressive against the background of a green lawn. In mixed plantings it is planted next to other ornamental shrubs.
Planting hydrangea
The plant must be planted in a prepared place. A substrate is pre-prepared, taking into account the characteristics of the soil. When choosing a site, take into account its illumination and the presence of protection from the wind.
Preparatory stage
Paniculata Pink Lady hydrangea is best planted on the south side of the site. In hot regions, the shrub is placed in partial shade. With constant exposure to the sun, the decorative properties of the inflorescences are lost.
When planted next to a fence or building, the shrub will receive the necessary partial shade and protection from the wind. It is placed away from fruit trees, which take many useful substances from the soil.
Abundant flowering is ensured by planting the plant in fertile loamy soil. Heavy clay soils are fertilized with humus. Nutrients are quickly washed out of sandy soil, so peat and compost are added to it.
Hydrangea is demanding on soil acidity. The shrub develops well in neutral and slightly acidic substrate. When digging up soil, you should avoid using chalk, dolomite flour, lime and ash.
Work order
Panicle hydrangea is transferred to open ground in early spring before sap flow begins. Work can be postponed until autumn.Then the bushes are planted in September or October after leaf fall.
Seedlings of the Pink Lady variety are purchased from nurseries or from trusted suppliers. Typically, planting material is sold in containers with a closed root system. A healthy plant has no signs of rotting, dark spots, cracks or other defects.
Sequence of planting work:
- At the selected location, dig a hole with a diameter of 30 cm and a depth of 40 cm.
- The substrate for the Pink Lady variety is obtained by mixing fertile soil, peat and humus. To deoxidize the soil, pine litter is added.
- Then the hole is filled with substrate and left for 1-2 weeks. When the soil settles, they begin to prepare the seedlings for planting.
- The roots of the plant are pruned. The use of a growth stimulator helps to improve the survival rate of seedlings. The roots of the plant are dipped in the solution for 2 hours.
- The hydrangea is planted in a permanent place, the roots are straightened and covered with soil.
- Plants are watered abundantly with soft water.
After planting, caring for Pink Lady paniculate hydrangea includes regular watering. To protect from the sun in hot weather, plants are covered with paper caps.
Hydrangea care
The Pink Lady variety is provided with constant care. This includes watering, fertilizing, and pruning the bush. To protect shrubs from diseases and pests, special preparations are used. In cold regions, hydrangea is prepared for winter.
Watering
According to the description, Pink Lady hydrangea is moisture-loving. The development of the bush and the formation of inflorescences depend on the supply of moisture.
On average, Pink Lady is watered every week. Watering rate is up to 10 liters for each bush. It is important not to let the soil dry out. During drought, moisture is added more often, up to 2-3 times a week.
To water hydrangeas, use warm, settled water. The procedure is carried out in the morning or evening.Water should not get on shoots, leaves and inflorescences.
To prevent the roots of the bush from being exposed when watering, the soil is mulched with peat or humus. Mulching helps retain moisture in the soil.
Feeding
Another condition necessary for abundant flowering of hydrangea is the supply of nutrients. To feed the Pink Lady variety, both organic and mineral complexes are used. It is best to alternate different types of fertilizing.
Paniculata hydrangea Pink Lady is fed according to the following scheme:
- in spring before buds open;
- when the first buds appear;
- in midsummer;
- in the fall after flowering has completed.
The first feeding is carried out using organic fertilizers. To do this, prepare a solution of slurry in a ratio of 1:15. The resulting fertilizer is watered at the roots of the bushes.
In summer, hydrangea is fed with mineral complexes. The fertilizer is prepared independently by dissolving 35 g of ammonium nitrate, 20 g of superphosphate and potassium salt in 10 liters of water.
There are ready-made mineral complexes designed specifically for hydrangea. Such preparations come in the form of granules or suspensions. Fertilizers are dissolved in water, after which watering is performed.
In autumn, 50 g of superphosphate and potassium salt are added to the soil under the Pink Lady bushes. Substances containing nitrogen are not used in the autumn.
Trimming
To obtain large inflorescences, hydrangeas are pruned. In the spring, before sap flow begins, the shoots are shortened, leaving 6-8 buds.
Be sure to remove weak, broken and diseased shoots. In total, it is enough to leave 5-10 powerful branches per bush.
Short pruning helps to rejuvenate an old bush. All branches are cut at the root, leaving 10-12 cm above the ground above the ground. Next year new shoots will appear.
In summer, Pink Lady hydrangea is not pruned. It is enough to remove dry inflorescences to stimulate the formation of new buds.
Protection from diseases and pests
In cold and wet weather, paniculate hydrangea is susceptible to fungal diseases. Most often, the shrub suffers from powdery mildew. The lesion has the appearance of a whitish coating that appears on shoots and leaves.
For powdery mildew, use the fungicide Topaz, Quadris or Fundazol. A solution is prepared based on the drug, which is sprayed on the bushes. Treatment is carried out in the morning or evening.
The insecticides Actofit, Fitoverm, Trichopolum are used against aphids. The solution is used to treat the hydrangea leaf by leaf.
To prevent the spread of pests, folk remedies are used. The bush is sprayed with an infusion of garlic or onion peels. Such preparations are completely safe for plants and humans, therefore they are used at any stage of the growing season.
Shelter for the winter
The Pink Lady variety is characterized by increased winter hardiness. The shrub tolerates frosts down to – 29 °C. In the middle zone and southern regions, hydrangea overwinters without shelter.
In cold winters in the absence of snow cover, the roots of the shrub are mulched with humus and dry leaves. The optimal mulch thickness is from 20 to 30 cm.
Young plants are insulated using burlap or agrofibre. Additionally, a snowdrift is thrown over the bushes.
Reviews from gardeners
Conclusion
Hydrangea Pink Lady has received recognition all over the world. It is used to decorate gardens and parks. The shrub is valued for its decorative properties, easy care and hardiness. Hydrangea is regularly cared for to ensure long-term flowering of the shrub.
