The hydrangea trunk is a particularly attractive element of garden design. Growing the hydrangea as a stem is not that difficult if you pay attention to a few points. Alternatively, there are hydrangeas in specialist shops that have already been grown on the trunk, which only have to be cut regularly to keep their attractive shape.

In order to raise a hydrangea to a standard, it must be pruned regularly

What is a trunk?

Normally, hydrangeas grow rather broad and bushy and therefore require a relatively large amount of space in the flower bed. The lowest twigs of the trunk are cut off, so that a trunk with a richly branched crown forms like a tree. For this it is necessary to cut the hydrangea again and again.

Purchased hydrangea stems are sometimes grafted onto stems. This technique is not easy with hydrangeas and should therefore be left to a specialist.

The spring cut

In March, the crown of the hydrangea trunk is thinned out. This stimulates the hydrangea to sprout again and promotes an abundance of flowers. Make sure the crown is built up evenly:

  • Consistently cut out crossings.
  • Cut off weak shoots.
  • Shorten the shoots to one eye.
  • Also remove faded and frozen branches.

The high trunk now has a clear structure, which consists exclusively of strong branches.

Cut throughout the year

In order for the hydrangea to continue to grow as a stem, all lower-growing branches must be removed during the entire growing season. Cut these off right at the trunk with a very sharp cutting tool.

fertilizing and watering

Standard hydrangeas need a lot of water and often have to be watered twice on hot days. For an abundance of flowers, it is advisable to supply the hydrangea with a special hydrangea fertilizer every two weeks.

get colors

To ensure that the standard hydrangea does not lose its beautiful color, you should check the pH of the soil regularly.

  • Red hydrangeas need a slightly basic substrate. Liming is required for acidic soils.
  • A pink standard hydrangea thrives in almost any soil.
  • Blue hydrangeas need acidic substrate to absorb the aluminum contained in the soil. Place these high trunks in special hydrangea or rhododendron soil. However, if the flower color fades, you can add some hydrangea blue to the fertilizer.

tips and tricks

Since hydrangeas are frequently pruned on the trunk, you should choose a pruning group 2 variety that will flower on this year's wood.

Category:

Vegetable garden