Hydrangeas are colorful flowering shrubs that are surprisingly hardy and easy to care for. The large umbels of flowers blend harmoniously into almost any garden, regardless of whether it is designed in a natural or modern way. Depending on the species, it blooms from late spring until well into autumn and enchants the park during the winter months with the morbid charm of its frost-covered umbels.
Panicle hydrangeas are more suitable as hedges than the more sensitive farmer's hydrangeas
Which species are suitable as hedge plants?
Even if the somewhat more sensitive peasant hydrangeas form dense hedges in France and mild regions of England, you should only plant these species as hedges in mild regions in Germany. In addition, peasant hydrangeas should be pruned as little as possible so as not to endanger the abundance of flowers.
Panicle hydrangeas are more suitable for hedge planting, as they get along well with almost all locations. Even in full sun, this hydrangea will thrive. Another advantage of the panicle hydrangea is its tolerance to pruning. In contrast to other varieties, this hydrangea forms the flowers on one-year-old wood and therefore tolerates a spring cut.
installation of the hedge
The best time to plant the hydrangea is spring, as soon as the ground frosts are no longer to be expected. Since plants have very individual soil requirements, soil preparation is of crucial importance:
- Dig planting holes one meter apart, which should be at least twice as large as the root ball.
- Remove stones and roots from the topsoil and loosen the bottom of the planting hole well.
- Since hydrangeas are very sensitive to waterlogging, fill the pit with a drainage layer of gravel, coarse sand or granulate.
- Mix the soil with leaf or coniferous compost and apply in a thin layer over the drainage.
- Unpot plants and submerge in a bucket filled with water until no more air rises.
- Soak bare-root shrubs in water for at least 2 hours.
- Place the hydrangea in the planting hole at ground level and fill it with substrate.
- Carefully step on the soil and water the hydrangea well. As a result, even the smallest cavities between the roots are filled with soil and the hydrangea grows quickly.
maintenance of the hedge
A hydrangea hedge is very easy to care for and requires little work. Mulching the soil under the shrubs not only suppresses weeds, it also reduces watering.
- Water fully whenever the top inches of soil feel dry. In the summer months this may be necessary on a daily basis.
- A special hydrangea fertilizer is used to fertilize, which contains all the nutrients that the hydrangea needs. To prevent yellowing of the foliage due to chlorosis, the fertilizer should contain iron.
- The pruning can be done in late autumn or spring, as the plant flowers on one-year-old wood.
- In harsh areas, a light winter protection is recommended.
tips
We recommend placing the plants in special hydrangea or ericaceous soil. The composition of this substrate is optimally tailored to the special soil requirements of the hydrangea.