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Amazingly delicate hydrangea Angel Blanche can transform even the most modest garden area. The main feature of the shrub, with its contours resembling a fountain of flowers, is the gradual change of its inflorescences of shades: from white to pink, and then to red.
Description of hydrangea Angel Blanche
"Angels Blush" translated from English means "the blush of angels." And indeed, the pale pink inflorescences in their appearance resemble the flushed cheeks of an innocent girl.
The full name of the culture is Hydrangea paniculata Angels Blush. With proper care, a multi-stem shrub can reach 3 m in height and increase in volume up to 2 meters, while maintaining the correct rectangular shape.
The shoots of the culture are upright with a reddish tint of the bark. They are characterized by fast growth and medium thickness. The leaf plates, pointed at the ends, have the shape of an ellipse 10-12 cm long. The color of the leaves is bright green.
The inflorescences are cone-shaped, collected in fluffy panicles up to 23-25 cm long. The flowering period begins in July with a white-cream hue, which gradually changes to pink and by the last month of flowering (October) - to dark red.
Flowering lasts from late July to November
Hydrangea paniculata Angel Blanche in landscape design
Hydrangea organically looks both in single and in group plantings. With her, they often create separate landscape compositions. The crop's flexibility for shaping and pruning allows the designer to play with the size of the shrub and its shape.
Inflorescences are great for cutting
An upright plant is often used as a flowering hedge to divide the garden into zones. In a single planting, Angel Blanche hydrangea is planted on lawns, depending on the preferences of this species for lighting.
Designers use panicle hydrangea to create gardens in Russian and English style. In the first case, planting occurs next to the trees, in the second - inside a landscape composition with the same color during the flowering period.
Almost all types of hydrangea are sensitive to soil composition. In slightly alkaline soil, the inflorescences acquire pink tones, in soil with high acidity - blue tones.
Hydrangea Angel Blanche is often placed in the center of the composition, planting grassy crops along the edges. Also, this shrub is often placed at the entrance to a garden or plot.
Unpretentious care and an interesting appearance make the shrub popular with landscape designers who combine Angel Blanche with conifers, boxwood, incense, juniper.
Ephedra acidify the soil, so planting next to them is very beneficial for any type of hydrangea. The combination of dark greens of conifers and pale pink inflorescences looks very harmonious.
Badan blooms earlier than hydrangea (from April to May), however, in summer, its leaves acquire a reddish tint, which is perfectly combined with pink-red hydrangea inflorescences.
A popular combination of Angel Blanche and juniper.Both plants are often used to create original hedges. The moisture-loving culture allows it to be planted near artificial or natural reservoirs.
Flowering begins first with white, then pink flowers, and by autumn they turn dark red
Hydrangea is often used to create a natural landscape garden style. This is possible thanks to the culture's ability to tolerate shade well. Angel Blanche, planted in random order, makes the design of the site less monotonous and boring.
The color of the inflorescences depends on the acidity of the soil.
Winter hardiness of hydrangea paniculata Angels Blush
Hydrangea of this species is highly winter-hardy, so it can be safely planted even in the middle lane. The culture is able to withstand low temperatures down to - 25-30 ° C.
In harsh winters, young plants require shelter. Otherwise, the shoots may freeze.
Planting and caring for hydrangea paniculata Angel Blanche
Hydrangea Angel Blanche can decorate any corner of the garden with its appearance. However, before planting, it is necessary to take into account the requirements for the shrub, both to the landing site and to the composition of the soil.
Selection and preparation of the landing site
The area for the panicle hydrangea should be well lit. Although the best shrub blooms in partial shade. Therefore, a location close to a fence or near trees is ideal for planting. As far as direct sunlight is concerned, they will not harm the plant, and yet can affect the brightness of the chameleon color of the inflorescences.
The lush bloom of Angel Blanche hydrangea will provide fertile red earth loam. But on sandy soil and calcareous soil, the plant weakens. The shrub shows the most beautiful shade of inflorescences on acidic soils, therefore, if necessary, coniferous compost, sawdust or brown peat are added to the soil.
Landing rules
The landing time determines the year of flowering of the Angel Blanche hydrangea. In the southern regions, the planting of crops is carried out in March. In this case, the shrub pleases with lush flowering in the middle of summer. In the northern regions, plants are planted in April. By this time, the soil warms up enough and the hydrangea takes root well and has time to take root.
The best time to plant is early spring and autumn (September)
The hydrangea is transplanted to a permanent place at the age of at least 4-5 years. Since by this time the root system of the bush is growing significantly, the place is chosen based on its parameters.
Step-by-step landing algorithm:
- Make a planting hole 50 cm deep, and with a highly developed root system - 80 × 80.
- Pour at least 3 buckets of water into the hole and leave for 6-8 hours so that the water is absorbed and the soil is moistened to the maximum.
- Make a substrate from peat, compost, fertile soil and sand in a ratio of 2: 1: 2: 1.
- Add to the mixture top dressing in the form of superphosphate (65 g), potassium sulfate (25 g) and urea (25 g).
- Immediately before planting, it is necessary to cut the roots and shoots of one year of life, leaving no more than 5 pairs of buds on each.
- Plant a shrub in a hole, carefully spreading the roots and cover everything with a substrate.
- Mulch the soil in the plant's trunk circle.
Watering and feeding
A plant of this species requires intensive watering and soil moisture. Under normal climatic conditions, the shrub is watered once every 6-7 days. The amount of water required is 22-25 liters per 1 bush. In a particularly dry period, the volume is increased to 30 liters. The moistened soil should be at least 1.5 meters around the crop.
The plant loves moist soil and frequent watering.
Since Angel Blanche is a fast-growing species, it requires appropriate feeding.In the spring, nitrogen-rich green fertilizers are used, which affect the growth rate and future foliage of the bush. Also at this time, the plant is actively watered with mullein infusion, nettle decoction. Mineral fertilizers are applied 2 times a month during the formation of inflorescences. In the fall, mineral complexes are introduced that help the culture to endure the winter.
Pruning
Shrub pruning has several functions:
- Stimulates growth.
- Eliminates weak and sick shoots.
- Corrects the outer contours of the bush, forms the crown.
Stimulating pruning is done in the spring before flowering. If done correctly, then it has a beneficial effect on the duration of the flowering period and the number of inflorescences.
Sanitary pruning is done in the fall at the end of flowering and immediately after winter. Its main goal is to remove diseased and frozen branches, to heal the plant.
Pruning stimulates hydrangea growth and further forms an even crown
Preparing for winter
Despite the hardiness in the middle lane and in the northern regions with hydrangea Angel Blanche, preparatory work is carried out before the start of the cold period.
Immediately after pruning, the soil in the near-trunk circle is cleaned of leaves, branches and insects that have left for the winter. Moisture watering is carried out, after which the soil is mulched. Compost, peat, sawdust, spruce or rotted manure are used as mulch. The thickness of the mulching layer should not be less than 20 cm.
Reproduction
Hydrangea Angel Blanche propagates in 2 ways: by layering and cuttings. The workpieces for the latter are the shoots left after pruning.
Hydrangea is propagated by cuttings, dividing the bush, seeds or grafting
Cuttings are cut in the first decade of the summer month, when the shoots contain a large amount of moisture and are easier to tolerate outside interference. Each 10 cm long stalk should have 3 to 5 buds. The planting material is soaked in a growth stimulator for at least 2 days.
It is more difficult to propagate hydrangea by layering. Young lateral shoots are bent from the main shrub, pressed to the ground (without breaking) and the ends of the shoots are tied to special pegs. Some of the "earthy" branches are sprinkled with a substrate from compost and fertile soil. Over time, the branches develop their own root system and can be transplanted.
Diseases and pests
Hydrangea Angel Blanche has good immunity to diseases and pests. The most common problem on this shrub species is powdery mildew. The best way to combat it is Bordeaux liquid made from copper sulfate and slaked lime.
Bordeaux liquid is used against powdery mildew
As for pests, hydrangea is most often attacked by aphids. You can cope with this problem with a folk remedy - a tincture of garlic (250 g of chopped cloves per 10 liters of water mixed with 50 g of grated laundry soap).
Garlic tincture works great against aphids on hydrangeas
Conclusion
Hydrangea Angel Blanche is an amazingly beautiful shrub that is often used to create landscape design compositions. Planting and caring for the crop is simple, but we must not forget about a number of nuances that accompany the agricultural technology of this plant.
Reviews of hydrangea Angel Blanche
On the net you can find many reviews about hydrangea. Users share their characteristics of their favorite species, as well as the features of caring for them.
