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Many would like to plant a beautiful shrub on their site, but most of them take up a lot of space. The breeders managed to solve this problem - a low hydrangea variety was created. It is about such a shrub that we will talk.
The characteristic features of this plant
People who first saw the blooming Sunday Fries hydrangea are struck by its unusual appearance: in the process of growth, the shrub takes the form of a neat ball, which is decorated with large white-pink inflorescences. This plant has proven itself well both in country landscape design and in the creation of hedges. The shrub grows well in partial shade and shade. Like all members of the family, it does not tolerate drought. Grows best in acidic soils.
Description of the variety
For the first time hydrangea Sunday Fries saw the world in 2010. It was presented by the French breeder Jean Reno. Beautiful colors, small size of the bush immediately attracted the attention of gardeners. The bush rarely exceeds 1 meter in height. In diameter, hydrangea also grows up to 1 meter. It grows in a neat ball that requires little or no formation. The characteristics of the variety indicate that it tolerates frosts down to -20 ° C.
Hydrangea Sunday Fries
The flowers are large, about 2.5 cm in diameter, collected in a pyramidal brush. At the beginning of flowering, they are white, but gradually become pink in color. The plant blooms from June to October.
The crown of the shrub is dark green. The leaves reach 12 cm in length, resemble an ellipse in shape. The branches are long, burgundy.
Planting: how to plant a plant
The shrub is rarely propagated by seeds. Seeds sprout poorly, it takes a long time to get a full-fledged bush. It is for this reason that the hydrangea is bred by cuttings, layering or dividing the bush.
Planting is best done in spring. Over the summer, the seedling will take root and gain strength for the coming winter. According to the description, the hydrangea Sundae Fraise prefers to grow in partial shade. For planting in open ground, it is better to choose four-year-old seedlings.
The first step is to prepare the ground. A hole is prepared up to half a meter deep and 50-70 cm wide. One third of it is filled with a composition of garden soil, peat, humus and sand. All components are taken in equal proportions. The well is well watered.
Landing hole, need to be watered
Before planting, the seedling can be soaked in a solution of a root-forming agent (Zircon or Kornerost). During planting, the roots are straightened. The root collar should be above the ground. When the neck is deepened, the plant will develop poorly. After distributing the roots over the surface of the soil in the hole, they are carefully sprinkled with earth and watered abundantly. After that, the land around the seedling is mulched with straw, peat or sawdust.
Hydrangea care
When caring for a hydrangea paniculata Sunday Fries, be sure to keep the soil around the plant moist. It is better to water with settled, warm water. You can add 10 grams of apple cider vinegar or citric acid to the water to acidify the soil during watering. Irrigation area - 1.5 m near the bush.At least 5 liters of water should be poured onto one bush.
The next day after watering, it is better to loosen the soil. This will provide oxygen to the roots. After loosening, the earth is necessarily mulched.
The next item is feeding. Twice a month, hydrangeas are fed with organic and mineral fertilizers, alternating between them.
Since the branches of the shrub are thin and can break off under the weight of the brush of flowers, the plant should be supported. In autumn, the faded inflorescences are removed. In the spring, pruning of dry, damaged branches is carried out.
Formative pruning is done in the spring. During it, all unnecessary shoots are cut out. The remaining stems are cut to 2-4 pairs of buds. Anti-aging pruning is carried out on old bushes. Several young shoots are left during this procedure. They should be shortened by ¾ of the length.
Pruning hydrangea
The shrub has high frost resistance, but, despite this, it is recommended to cover the plant for the winter. Hydrangea branches are quite flexible. They are tied, bent to the ground and fixed. After that, sprinkle with fallen leaves. To prevent the covering material from being blown away by the wind, the covered hydrangea is covered with foil or slate on top.
Diseases and pests
Hortense Fries suffers from the same diseases as other members of this species. Diseases dangerous to the plant include:
- Downy mildew. Its appearance can be identified by oily spots on the leaves. For treatment and prevention, the following drugs are used: copper sulfate, Boxwood, Quadris and others.
- Chlorosis. Blanching of the leaves is observed, this happens when planted on alkaline soils. Spraying and watering with a solution of potassium nitrate or iron chelate will solve this problem.
- Gray rot. The first symptom is that the leaves of the plant are covered with brown spots. For treatment, they are treated with the same drugs as for powdery mildew.
- Ring spot. Spots appear on the leaves that look like rings. This is a viral disease and cannot be treated. The plant is dug up and destroyed.
Of the pests on hydrangeas, insects mainly appear that damage the leaves. It can be spider mites, leaf rollers, aphids. To remove these insects from the bush, Iskra, Fitoverm, Aktelik and Aktar are used.
Use in decorating flower beds and flower beds
This short shrub will brighten up any shaded area. It grows well on the north side of the site. In comparison with other ornamental plants, panicle hydrangea is not picky about its habitat.
If you follow the recommendations for cultivation and care, the Sunday Fries variety will become an excellent decorative decoration for any garden for a long time.
