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Each owner of a country house tries to decorate his landscape with lush flower beds or separately located ornamental plants. From all the variety of cultures, professional designers and simply amateur gardeners often use hydrangea. This genus of flowering plants includes over 70 different species and varieties. All of them differ in the shape of the bush and inflorescence, the color of the petals. Most hydrangea species grow in warm countries of Asia and South America, and only some of them are adapted to the conditions of Russia. Among the adapted species is the panicle hydrangea "Vims red". The plant of this variety is unpretentious and has a chic appearance, thanks to which it is widely popular. For those who are not yet familiar with "Weems Red", we will try to provide in the article the most detailed and up-to-date information about this plant.
General information about the plant
The splendor of the hydrangea has surprised and delighted people for a long time. So, for the first time the English botanist D. Banks back in 1789 from a trip to China brought a magnificent hydrangea seedling. Due to its beauty, the plant quickly gained popularity. Since 1900, breeders have taken up the culture, and after 60 years the world has seen about 100 different varieties of hydrangea.
Russian farmers today have a unique opportunity to grow 6 different types of excellent hydrangea in their gardens. Among them, it is worth noting the ground cover, tree and petiole hydrangea. The panicle hydrangea is especially revered by gardeners. It is a slender, lush and rather tall bush that looks great in a composition with other plants or as an independent landscape design unit.
For abundant flowering, the paniculate plant "Weems Red" requires certain conditions related to the composition of the soil and placement on the site. If you do not comply with certain requirements, then you can not wait for flowering or destroy the seedling altogether.
The beauty of Wim's Red
Hydrangea paniculata "Weems red" was obtained by a German breeder several years ago and literally immediately gained recognition all over the world. This deciduous shrub blooms for a very long time. Pyramidal inflorescences are large, up to 35 cm high. As the flowering progresses, the color of the Weems Red buds changes: at the initial stage of dissolution, the paniculate buds are white, then it turns pink, and as a result, the buds acquire a deep burgundy color. Below you can see the color variety of inflorescences in the photo of the Weems Red panicle hydrangea. Already faded buds also have natural beauty. They are used by florists in the creation of their works.
The long flowering period of paniculate hydrangea occurs from July to September. In the warm autumn conditions, "Weems Red" can delight with its buds until October. This fact is an important advantage due to which the variety is widely popular.
As a result of flowering, a box is formed on the shoots of the Weems Red panicled shrub. It is divided into several parts and contains many small seeds that can be used to breed a crop.
From the photo and description of the Weems Red hydrangea, it is easy to understand that its bushes are very lush, beautiful, leafy. The height and diameter of mature plants can reach 2 m. The annual growth of green shoots is 20-25 cm. Young bushes are not pruned for 3-4 years after planting. After the first pruning age, it is recommended to prune the shrub annually.
The beauty and charm of hydrangeas are provided not only by the flowers, but also by the leaves. They are very dense, oppositely located. They are distinguished by a dark green color, strong veins. The hydrangea leaves are ovoid.
The shoots of the paniculate plant are tough and resilient, and may have sparse branching. The color of the skin on the shoots is brown-red, which gives them a decorative appearance. Under the weight of large buds, some shoots bend, as a result of which the bush acquires a spherical shape.
Choosing a place for growing
Panicle hydrangea is very hygrophilous. Its closely spaced branched roots are not able to get moisture from the depth on their own, so the plant needs regular and abundant watering.
Hydrangea is thermophilic, but tolerant of lack of sunlight. It can be grown in sunny and shaded areas. Strong northerly winds can cause certain damage to the plant, therefore, when choosing a place for planting, it is necessary to provide for the presence of a natural barrier on the north side.
Hydrangea paniculata "Weems red" is whimsical to the soil. For its cultivation, it is preferable to choose a loose, fertile soil with a high organic content. The acidity of the soil can be high or neutral. The color of the buds, in particular, depends on this indicator:
- On acidic soils, flowers have a rich, bright color.
- On soils with neutral acidity, the buds become pale.
Panicle hydrangea cannot thrive on calcareous and sandy soils. This type of soil must be acidified to the optimal level before planting the plant. Ferrous sulfate, colloidal sulfur, fresh manure and sphagnum moss can be used as oxidizing agents.
Landing "Weems Red"
Planting hydrangeas should be done in early spring. It is recommended to prepare the soil for the plant in advance: 2-3 weeks before planting the seedling, mix turf, peat, sand and foliage in equal proportions. The planting hole should be at least 50 cm in diameter and 40-45 cm deep. The planting hole should be filled with prepared fertile soil.
During the planting process, special attention should be paid to the root system of the plant:
- Pour fertile loose soil at the bottom of the planting pit, with a layer of 10 cm.
- Form a small mound in the center of the pit.
- Straighten the roots along the surface of the mound.
- Fill the hole with fertile soil so that the root neck remains above the ground.
- Compact the soil and water the hydrangea.
- Mulch the trunk circle with peat or straw.
The planting process is quite simple and straightforward. But for novice gardeners, the following video lesson may also be useful, which perfectly demonstrates the process of planting a panicle hydrangea seedling:
An illustrative example and numerous comments will allow inexperienced farmers to avoid mistakes.
Seedling care
Planting a hydrangea is quite simple, but caring for the crop requires special attention:
Plant feeding
Having planted the panicle hydrangea "Weems Red" in early spring, already at the end of May it will be necessary to think about feeding it. It is recommended to use potassium sulfate or ammonium sulfate as fertilizers. This physiologically acidic fertilizer should be used until mid-summer.In the future, they must be replaced with superphosphate.
You can also fertilize "Weems Red" with natural, organic fertilizing, for example, manure infusion, solution of poultry droppings. In practice, the effectiveness of whey has also been proven. When watering hydrangeas with serum, lactic acid bacteria are activated, which acidify the soil, promote the decomposition of organic matter, and generate heat. It has been proven that under the influence of whey, hydrangeas quickly grow green, bloom profusely and rarely get sick.
Shrub pruning
Experts recommend pruning the hydrangea shrub annually, starting at the age of 3 years. This helps to increase the abundance and duration of flowering, and improve the health of the plant as a whole. In the stages of mature vegetation, pruning can be used to remove 2/3 of the shoot.
The bush should be cut in early spring before the buds appear or in the fall after the leaves are completely shed. Cut shoots can be used to breed hydrangeas. Shrub cuttings root well and are able to quickly form a lush paniculate bush.
Diseases and pests
Chlorosis is the most common disease of paniculate hydrangea. It occurs against the background of an alkaline soil environment. You can fight chlorosis with iron chelate. This highly effective micronutrient fertilizer is used once a week for foliar feeding. The panicle hydrangea "Weems Red" reacts quickly to such treatment, restoring the color of its leaves.
Hydrangea paniculata "Weems red" can be affected by various diseases and pests. Powdery mildew, anthracnose and other infectious, fungal ailments can harm the plant. Fungicides should be used to control them. Aphids, Colorado potato beetle and spider mites are also not averse to feasting on the succulent leaves of the paniculate bush. You can fight them with various special drugs, for example, "Aktara".
For pest and disease control, regular attention should be paid to preventive treatments. Only in this case it will be possible to preserve the beauty and health of the beautiful panicle hydrangea "Weems Red".
Shelter seedlings for the winter
Hydrangea "Weems Red", in comparison with other varieties of crops, has a high level of frost resistance, however, when grown in the central and northern regions of Russia, it is recommended to reliably cover the plant in order to prevent freezing. So, in the period before the onset of frost, it is necessary to observe the regime of watering and loosening the soil. With the arrival of cold weather, the hydrangea should be covered with foliage, spruce branches, burlap.
You can talk a lot and for a long time about a beautiful panicle hydrangea, but in order to truly enjoy its beauty, you need to grow a bush on your site, feel its alluring aroma and appreciate with your own eyes the stunning look of flowers. We gave recommendations on how to properly plant a plant and how to care for it. Following our advice, everyone will be able to grow a beautiful panicle hydrangea in their garden.
