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Hydrangea Bombshell is an unpretentious perennial shrub, which, among other varieties, is distinguished by abundant long flowering and high winter hardiness. Low maintenance requirements and resistance to low temperatures have made this variety very popular, it is ideal for those who do not have time to work in the garden for a long time. You can grow shrubs in almost all regions of the country.
Description of hydrangea Bombshell
Hydrangea Bombshell (Latin Hydrangeapaniculata bombshell) is a relatively young compact variety of Dutch origin. The shrub reaches a height of 70-90 cm, while the diameter of an adult bush is on average 100-120 cm. The variety is highly branched, but at the same time has a neat spherical shape. The shoots of the shrub are rather thin, painted in red-brown tones. The leaves are dark green, large, slightly serrated at the edges. They resemble an egg in shape.
The Bombshell variety blooms continuously from July until the very frost. The flowers are white at first, but closer to autumn, the petals acquire a pinkish tint. Their diameter is only 2-3 cm, however, the flowers fold into rather large pyramidal inflorescences - each of them reaches a length of 12-14 cm.
Flowers in inflorescences are arranged quite tightly
Hydrangea Bombshell in landscape design
In landscape design, panicle hydrangea bombshell is used both in specimen plantings and in group plantings. Most often, the plant is used to create low borders and shrub groups. The combination of this hydrangea variety with conifers and trees is considered especially successful. Also, the shrub looks beautiful together with hosts, cuffs and astilba.
You can plant the Bombshell hydrangea along with thuja and Chinese miscanthus, forming a contrasting composition
Bombshell hydrangea winter hardiness
The winter hardiness of the Bombshell hydrangea is quite high - the plant is able to withstand temperatures up to -34-35 ° C without shelter. Nevertheless, in especially harsh winters with little snow, immature shoots can freeze slightly.
Young seedlings should be sheltered for the winter, since they are not yet able to withstand severe frosts. The first three years after planting in open ground, they are huddled, mulched and covered with snow.
Planting and caring for Bombshell hydrangea
In order for the hydrangea seedlings to quickly get used to the new place, it is recommended to plant them in the spring. The exact timing depends on local climatic conditions, planting can begin immediately after the threat of return frost has passed.
Selection and preparation of the landing site
Bombshell hydrangea prefers open, sunny areas, but the bush should not be under the scorching sun all the time. It is also not recommended to plant a shrub in the shade, in this case the flowers remain pale throughout the entire flowering. The Bombshell variety develops quite well in conditions of moderate shade.
As for the composition of the soil, moist, drained areas are best suited for hydrangeas of almost all varieties. The Bombshell variety does not impose special requirements on the quality of the soil, but the potential of the shrub is most fully revealed on fertile soils of an acidic and slightly acidic reaction. You can plant the plant on loamy and peaty soils, however, areas with a high lime content for hydrangeas are contraindicated.
Landing rules
The Bombshell variety is planted in a hole about 70 cm deep.The diameter of the planting hole should be 60-70 cm.Immediately before planting, fertilizers are placed on the bottom of the excavated depression: peat, sand, humus and fertile soil in a ratio of 2: 1: 1: 2.
After that, the seedling is lowered into the pit, gently spreading its root system. The roots are covered with soil, but so that the neck rises slightly above ground level. The planting process ends with abundant watering - for each plant there is about 1 bucket of water.
It is not recommended to pour wood ash into the planting pit as fertilizer.
Watering and feeding
Hydrangea Bombshell does not tolerate excessive moisture in the soil, but severe drought also negatively affects the development of the shrub. Watering is carried out taking into account the prevailing weather conditions and the condition of the soil; it should not crack or look swampy.
Bombshell hydrangea is fed on average 3-4 times a year. It is recommended to adhere to the following scheme:
- In the spring, organic fertilizers with a high nitrogen content are applied to the soil, such subcrustations help the plant gain green mass.
- When the hydrangea begins to form buds, the bush is fed with urea, superphosphate and potassium salt.
- In July, the Bombshell variety is fed with complex mineral fertilizers.
- In the fall, the soil is fertilized with compounds with a high content of phosphorus and potassium.
Pruning hydrangea Bombshell
The Bombshell variety is pruned in early spring, even before the sap begins to flow. In order to stimulate the abundant flowering of hydrangeas, it is recommended to cut out all weak, cracked and dried out shoots. Curved branches are also removed.
The optimal pruning scheme assumes that in the end only 10-12 of the strongest branches should remain. Old inflorescences are cut to the first strong buds.
Preparing for winter
Adult plants do not need shelter for the winter, but young hydrangea bushes need to be insulated in the fall. To do this, it is enough to spud the near-stem circle of seedlings with dry soil and mulch it with a thick layer of fallen leaves. In winter, snow is raked to the plants, which will serve as additional protection against frost.
Reproduction
The Bombshell variety is most conveniently propagated by cuttings. The whole process looks like this:
- In spring or summer, cuttings are cut from the shrub. Each of them must contain at least 2 buds.
- The upper leaves are shortened by half, and the lower end of the cutting is corrected by cutting diagonally, so it will be more convenient to bury it in the ground.
- After that, the harvested planting material is dipped into a container with water until the cuttings begin to form roots. Then they are transferred to wet sand with peat.
- Containers with seedlings are removed to the greenhouse, periodically watered and covered. For the next summer, the hydrangea can be transplanted into open ground.
Bombshell hydrangea seedlings must be ventilated at least once a week for about an hour
Diseases and pests
The Bombshell variety is extremely rare, and this happens mainly due to errors in agricultural technology: abundant watering, lack of fertilizing, the wrong type of soil for planting, etc.Despite the fact that the shrub is unpretentious, a complete lack of care for it can weaken the plant and make it vulnerable to various diseases:
- Chlorosis. The disease manifests itself in the form of yellowing of the leaves, usually caused by a lack of iron in the soil. At the first signs of the disease, a solution of ferrous sulfate is introduced under the hydrangea bushes.
- Powdery mildew. Symptoms of the disease - grayish spots appear on the leaf plates. Hydrangea is treated by spraying plantings with "Fundazol" or Bordeaux liquid.
- Gray rot. The first sign of the disease is that brownish spots form on the leaves of the hydrangea. Treatment is carried out using treatments "Pure color" or "Fast".
Of the pests, only nematodes, aphids and leafworms can pose a serious threat to shrubs, however, any industrial insecticide can easily deal with them.
Conclusion
Hydrangea Bombshell is one of the most beautiful varieties, characterized by unusually lush and extended flowering. Excellent winter hardiness allows you to grow it in almost all regions of the country, and the unpretentiousness of the shrub has won him great popularity. Due to its ease of maintenance, Bombshell is ideal for beginner gardeners and those who do not have time to take care of plants for a long time.
