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Each owner of a country house tries to decorate his landscape with lush flower beds or separately located ornamental plants. Of all the variety of crops, professional designers and just amateur gardeners often use hydrangea. This genus of flowering plants includes more than 70 different species and varieties. They all differ in the shape of the bush and inflorescence, and the color of the petals. Most types of hydrangea grow in warm countries of Asia and South America, and only a few of them are adapted to the conditions of Russia. Adapted species include Hydrangea paniculata 'Weems Red'. The plant of this variety is unpretentious and has a chic appearance, thanks to which it is widely popular. For those who are not yet familiar with Wims Red, we will try to provide the most detailed and up-to-date information about this plant in the article.
General information about the plant
The splendor of hydrangea has surprised and delighted people for a long time. Thus, for the first time, the English botanist D. Banks, back in 1789, brought a magnificent hydrangea seedling from a trip to China. Due to its beauty, the plant quickly gained popularity.Starting in 1900, breeders took up the crop, and after 60 years the world saw approximately 100 different varieties of hydrangea.
Russian farmers today have a unique opportunity to grow excellent hydrangeas of 6 different types in their gardens. Among them, it is worth noting ground cover, tree and petiole hydrangea. Hydrangea paniculata is especially revered by gardeners. It is a slender, lush and rather tall bush that looks excellent in composition with other plants or as an independent unit of landscape design.
For abundant flowering, the Wims Red paniculate plant requires certain conditions related to the composition of the soil and placement on the site. If you do not comply with certain requirements, you may not wait for flowering or destroy the seedling altogether.
The beauty of Wim's Red
Hydrangea paniculata "Weems Red" was obtained by a German breeder several years ago and literally immediately gained recognition throughout the world. This deciduous shrub blooms profusely and for a very long time. The pyramid-shaped inflorescences are large, up to 35 cm high. As flowering progresses, the color of the Weems Red buds changes: at the initial stage of dissolution, the paniculate buds are white, then it becomes pink and as a result the buds acquire a rich burgundy color. Below you can see in the photo of the paniculate hydrangea “Weems Red” the color variety of inflorescences. Already faded buds also have natural beauty. Florists use them to create their works.
The long flowering period of paniculate hydrangea occurs from July to September. In warm autumn conditions, “Weems Red” can delight with its buds until October.This fact is an important advantage due to which the variety is widely popular.
As a result of flowering, a capsule is formed on the shoots of the Wims Red paniculata shrub. It is divided into several parts and contains many small seeds that can be used for propagation.
From the photo and description of the “Weems Red” hydrangea it is easy to understand that its bushes are very lush, beautiful, and leafy. The height and diameter of adult plants can reach 2 m. The annual growth of green shoots is 20-25 cm. Young bushes are not pruned for 3-4 years after planting. After the first age pruning, it is recommended to prune the bush annually.
The beauty and charm of hydrangea is provided not only by flowers, but also by leaves. They are very dense, oppositely located. They are distinguished by their dark green color and strong veins. The shape of hydrangea leaves is ovoid.
The shoots of the paniculate plant are hard and elastic, and may have sparse branches. The color of the skin on the shoots is brown-red, which gives them a decorative appearance. Under the weight of large buds, some shoots bend, as a result of which the bush takes on a spherical shape.
Choosing a place to grow
Paniculata hydrangea is very moisture-loving. Its closely spaced branched roots are not able to independently obtain moisture from the depths, so the plant needs regular and abundant watering.
Hydrangea is heat-loving, but at the same time tolerant of a lack of sunlight. It can be grown in sunny and shaded areas of the land.Strong northern winds can cause some damage to the plant, so when choosing a place for planting, you need to provide for the presence of a natural barrier on the north side.
Hydrangea paniculata "Weems Red" is picky about the soil. To grow it, it is preferable to choose loose, fertile soil with a high organic content. Soil acidity can be high or neutral. The color of the buds, in particular, depends on this indicator:
- On acidic soils, the flowers have a richly bright color.
- On soils with neutral acidity, the buds become pale.
Paniculata hydrangea cannot grow safely in calcareous and sandy soils. This type of soil must be acidified to the optimum level before planting. Ferrous sulfate, colloidal sulfur, fresh manure and sphagnum moss can be used as an oxidizing agent.
Landing "Weems Red"
Hydrangea should be planted in early spring. It is recommended to prepare the soil for the plant in advance: 2-3 weeks before planting the seedling, mix turf soil, peat, sand and foliage in equal proportions. The planting hole should be at least 50 cm in diameter and 40-45 cm deep. The planting hole should be filled with prepared fertile soil.
During the planting process, special attention should be paid to removing the root system of the plant:
- Pour fertile loose soil into the bottom of the planting hole in a layer of 10 cm.
- Form a small mound in the center of the hole.
- Straighten the roots over the surface of the mound.
- Fill the hole with fertile soil so that the root collar remains above the surface of the earth.
- Compact the soil and water the hydrangea.
- Mulch the tree trunk circle with peat or straw.
The landing process is quite simple and straightforward. But for novice gardeners, the following video lesson may also be useful, which perfectly demonstrates the process of planting a paniculate hydrangea seedling:
A clear example and numerous comments will allow inexperienced farmers to avoid mistakes.
Seedling care
Planting hydrangea is quite simple, but caring for the crop requires special attention:
Plant nutrition
Having planted the Whims Red paniculata hydrangea in early spring, already at the end of May it will be necessary to think about feeding it. It is recommended to use potassium sulfate or ammonium sulfate as fertilizers. These physiologically acidic fertilizers should be used before mid-summer. In the future, they must be replaced with superphosphate.
“Weems Red” can also be fertilized with natural, organic fertilizers, for example, manure infusion, a solution of bird droppings. The effectiveness of whey has also been proven in practice. When watering hydrangeas with whey, lactic acid bacteria are activated, which acidify the soil, promote the decomposition of organic matter, and produce heat. It has been proven that under the influence of whey, hydrangeas quickly grow green, bloom profusely and rarely get sick.
Shrub pruning
Experts recommend pruning hydrangea bushes annually, starting at the age of 3 years. This helps to increase the abundance and duration of flowering, and improve the health of the plant as a whole. At the stages of mature vegetation, pruning can be used to remove 2/3 of the shoot.
The bush should be pruned in early spring before buds appear or in the fall after the leaves have completely dropped. Cut shoots can be used to propagate hydrangeas. Shrub cuttings take root well and are able to quickly form a lush paniculate bush.
Diseases and pests
Chlorosis is the most common disease of paniculate hydrangea. It occurs against the background of an alkaline soil environment. You can fight chlorosis with iron chelate. This highly effective microfertilizer is used once a week for foliar feeding. The "Weems Red" paniculate hydrangea reacts quickly to such treatment, restoring the color of its leaves.
Hydrangea paniculata "Weems Red" can be affected by various diseases and pests. Powdery mildew, anthracnose and other infectious and fungal diseases can cause harm to the plant. Fungicides should be used to control them. Aphids, Colorado potato beetles and spider mites are also not averse to feasting on the succulent leaves of the paniculate bush. You can fight them with various special drugs, for example “Aktara”.
To control pests and diseases, preventative treatments should be paid attention to regularly. Only in this case will it be possible to preserve the beauty and health of the beautiful paniculate hydrangea “Weems Red”.
Sheltering seedlings for the winter
Hydrangea "Weems Red", in comparison with other varieties of the crop, has a high level of frost resistance, however, when grown in the central and northern regions of Russia, it is recommended to reliably cover the plant to prevent freezing. So, in the period before the onset of frost, it is necessary to observe the regime of watering and loosening the soil. With the arrival of cold weather, hydrangea should be covered with leaves, spruce branches, and burlap.
We can talk a lot about the beautiful paniculate hydrangea, but in order to truly enjoy its beauty, you need to grow a bush on your site, feel its alluring aroma and appreciate with your own eyes the stunning appearance of the flowers. We gave recommendations on how to plant the plant correctly and how to care for it. By following our advice, everyone will be able to grow a beautiful paniculate hydrangea in their garden.
Should the whey be diluted with water or watered in its pure form?