Content
Self-cultivation of hydrangeas, both by seed and by cuttings, takes quite a lot of time. However, there is a quicker way to grow this magnificent plant in your garden. Under certain conditions, you can plant a garden hydrangea by dividing a bush quite quickly, without spending significant effort.
Is it possible to propagate a hydrangea by dividing a bush
Hydrangea is a wonderful perennial shrub that can decorate any garden plot. Of course, many growers would like to propagate it on their own so as not to spend money on expensive seedlings. This can be easily done by dividing an adult bush.
Hydrangea is the real queen of the garden
This method is applicable for a large number of perennial shrubs, including hydrangeas that have a bush shape. Unlike cuttings, this process takes much less time, allowing you to get clones of the mother plant in a short time.
Pros and cons of hydrangea propagation by dividing the bush
The vegetative propagation method of hydrangea by dividing the bush into separate parts is widely used in ornamental gardening. The positive aspects of this method are the following factors:
- The new plant is completely identical to the parent plant, all species and varietal characteristics are preserved.
- The separated parts of the plant in many cases begin to bloom as early as the next year after planting.
- High percentage of rooting divisions.
- The simplicity of the way.
- You can combine dividing a bush with a plant transplant or replacing the soil in a container.
The division method also has disadvantages. Here is some of them:
- The number of divisions is limited by the number of renewal buds on the rhizome.
- The hydrangea bush must be mature and have a large number of shoots.
- Digging and dividing the bush requires considerable physical effort.
- Work can only be done for a short period of time per year.
- The resulting cuttings must be immediately planted in a new place.
Despite all the disadvantages, propagating hydrangeas by dividing a bush is a quick and effective way to breed the desired variety. It is especially convenient to use it when planting potted plants that need periodic soil replacement. In this case, the works can be combined.
You can share not only garden hydrangeas, but also potted ones.
In addition, by adjusting the artificial microclimate, it is possible to significantly increase the periods of the year during which division can be carried out.
When to plant a hydrangea by dividing a bush
One of the necessary conditions for dividing the bush and transplanting its parts to a new place is a dormant period. This is a short period of time when the plant has not yet entered the growing season or has already finished it, while the ambient temperature has positive values. Such conditions are observed in spring and autumn.
How to split a hydrangea bush in spring
The work on dividing the hydrangea bush in the spring should be started after the soil has completely thawed, the temperature indicators will confidently begin to stay above zero, while the plant itself will not yet notice signs of the beginning of the growing season - swelling of the buds.In different regions, this time can differ significantly due to the peculiarities of the climate; in Central Russia it is approximately the middle or end of April.
It takes a lot of effort to dig up a hydrangea bush.
In order to properly divide the hydrangea bush, it is dug in from all sides and carefully removed from the ground. After carrying out all the preparatory measures, it is carefully cut into several independent parts, each of which should have its own root system and several renewal shoots. Then they are seated in pre-prepared separate planting pits.
How to split a hydrangea bush in fall
In the fall, it is recommended to divide the bushes of a tree or any other hydrangea only in warm climates. If the weather conditions are not entirely suitable, then there is a high probability that the plant will not have time to acclimatize in a new place and will die with the onset of cold weather. If the region has a warm winter, then the division of hydrangea bushes can be started after the shrub has completely faded. At the same time, before the onset of cold weather, there should be enough time so that the delenki have time to take root in new places. The procedure for dividing a hydrangea bush itself does not differ from the spring one.
At the same time, you can carry out the procedure with shrubs growing in winter gardens, closed greenhouses and other rooms with artificial climate control.
How to propagate a hydrangea by dividing a bush
Before dividing the bush, the horse zone of the hydrangeas must be shed with water. This will make it easier to remove the plant both from the open field and from the container. After that, the soil from the roots is removed by the pressure of water from the hose. After cleaning, it is advisable to rinse the root system with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Such a preventive measure will protect plants from infections that can be introduced when separating the rhizome.
Separation of the root is done with a sharp knife or pruning shears.
Further work order:
- From the bush, gradually, with the help of a knife, separate parts containing shoots with their own root system are separated.
- The central part of the bush, extending from a powerful treelike root, is left untouched. It will remain an independent division and will be planted entirely.
- Roots that are too long must be pruned.
- After separation, all large cuts and chips must be cauterized with brilliant green or sprinkled with crushed charcoal powder.
- Delenki are planted in planting pits and covered with a mixture of peat and raised soil, and then watered abundantly.
- The planted plants are cut off, leaving 2-3 growth buds on the shoots.
In more detail, the process of reproduction by dividing a bush of a large-leaved hydrangea grown in a potted way can be seen in the video:
Care of the hydrangea bush after dividing
The first time after planting hydrangea seedlings requires increased care. The root zone should be regularly moistened, but not flooded. You need to focus on the amount of precipitation, if there is enough of it, then excessive moisture can only damage the hydrangeas. It is better to mulch the top layer of the soil with the bark of coniferous trees or their fallen needles, this retains moisture in the soil and helps to maintain its acidity. Fresh spruce sawdust can be used as mulch. In the first few weeks, before the planted cuttings take root, it is better to shade them with special screens, not allowing direct sunlight to hit them.
After planting, the root zone must be mulched.
This is especially true of large-leaved hydrangea, because of its thermophilicity, many growers grow it exclusively as a pot plant.
Experienced gardening tips
In order for the reproduction of hydrangea by dividing the bush to be successful, you can use the tips offered by experienced flower growers. Here is some of them:
- By dividing the bush, you can propagate the bushes of hydrangea paniculata when creating hedges, since all future plants will not only be of the same variety, but also of approximately the same size.
- You can divide small-sized bushes of hydrangeas with your hands, if you have enough physical strength. In this case, you need to be careful not to injure yourself or the plant.
- It is convenient to use a garden pruner to separate the root. Before work, its cutting edges must be treated with any alcohol-containing liquid so as not to cause infection.
- If you need a small number of divisions, then the hydrangea bush does not need to be completely dug out. It is enough to dig out only a part of the root system, making a dig on one side. After that, carefully separate the required amount of overgrowth, sprinkle the cuts with charcoal and re-fill the root zone of the shrub. Delenki must be dropped off immediately.
All received delenki must be planted immediately
- Planting holes for planting hydrangea parcels must be dug in advance. Their size should exceed the size of the root system of the seedling by about 3 times, usually they dig a hole with a diameter of 0.5 m and the same depth. At the bottom, it is necessary to lay a drainage layer of crushed stone or broken brick. Hydrangea is very fond of moisture, but stagnation of water in the roots should not be allowed.
A drainage layer must be laid in the planting holes. - The root collar of seedlings is not buried when planting. Otherwise, the hydrangea may never bloom. It is recommended to plant it at the same level at which the mother plant grew before dividing.
- The hydrangea bush can be divided in place without removing it completely from the ground. To do this, the mother plant is gradually dug around, cutting off or pinching off the divisions from the side parts.
This method is used if the bush to be divided is of considerable size.
- Dividing up mature shrubs is a great way to rejuvenate them. This procedure perfectly stimulates the plant to form new shoots.
- The soil with which the root system of the hydrangea deline is poured should have a weak acidic reaction. You can check it before planting using indicator strips or a special device (PH-meter). The optimum value of the acidity level is 5. If the pH value is greater than this value, then peat must be added to the soil composition.
Hydrangeas need slightly acidic soil
- In the area intended for planting hydrangeas, dolomite flour or lime should not be used, since these substances alkalize the soil.
- Water the planted hydrangea cuttings should be regularly and abundantly. At the same time, it is important to use only settled water, preferably rainwater, adding a little lemon juice to it before watering. It is not recommended to use artesian and tap water. The salts contained in it deoxidize the soil, and this contributes to the appearance of various diseases on the hydrangeas.
- Often, after dividing the bush and planting, the hydrangea does not show signs of life for quite a long time. This situation happens if the bush is old enough, and when removing it from the ground and subsequent transplantation, it was necessary to severely chop its roots. Such hydrangeas can "get sick" the whole season, young shoots appear on them only next spring. Therefore, you should not rush to draw conclusions and take drastic measures.
Conclusion
It is possible to plant a garden hydrangea by dividing a bush simply and quickly, this method has proven itself perfectly, first of all, because the percentage of rooting of divisions is very high. In addition, the method has a number of other advantages: simplicity, quick results, complete identity of the new plants and the mother bush. It is only important to comply with the required deadlines and correctly perform all the work, in this case the result is likely to be positive.
