Hydrangea Dolly - description, planting and care

Hydrangea is a shrub plant named after a beautiful Roman princess. Translated from the Latin language means "a vessel with water", and this name speaks of the characteristics of the flower as well as possible, because he really loves moisture very much. Hydrangea Dolly (dolly) is a rather interesting representative of these plants, we will consider it in this article.

Dolly panicle hydrangea: variety description

Hydrangea Dolly dolly: photo of the variety

This flower first appeared in Asia and America. At the moment, it is distributed all over the world and has about 30 different species. The most famous and popular among gardeners in our country, probably for their unpretentiousness and resistance to harsh climatic conditions, consider climbing hydrangea, large-leaved hydrangea and panicle hydrangea.

The plant got its name from hydrangea and dolly for its similarity to lianas. During flowering, it is covered with loose whitish inflorescences. The paniculate species demonstrates on its bushes inflorescences in the form of panicles, and the large-leaved one has spherical inflorescences on its bush.

On the territory of Russia, you can often find deciduous hydrangeas, and the subtropics boast evergreen bushes. Plants belonging to this genus can have different inflorescences, leaves, the height and length of the shoots are also different, and the color range of flowers and shades is incredibly extensive. Bushes can not only differ from each other in colors, but even on the same bush you can find flowers of different shades.

The plant is unpretentious and caring for it is quite simple, so even a novice gardener can cope with growing Hydrangea. All this is due to the fact that breeders, despite the already large number of varieties, continue to delight us with more and more new varieties, each time improving the characteristics, making them more and more beautiful and unpretentious.
Just one of these varieties is the Dolly panicle hydrangea, which can become an adornment of any garden and a favorite of gardeners.

Hydrangea Dolly: main characteristics

Dolly panicle hydrangea: photo of the variety

Hydrangea Dolly is a compact shrub that blooms from mid-summer to mid-autumn.

The bush has spreading forms and reaches one and a half meters in height. Inflorescences in the form of a cone-shaped panicle, about 30 centimeters long. At the beginning of flowering, the flowers are painted in white, and later they acquire pink hues. The bush is enveloped in green leaves, which makes the bush even more attractive. Flowers emit an aroma filled with tenderness, softness, which not all Hydrangea varieties can boast of. Demonstration of their plant begins in the first year of life in the garden, thanks to gardeners for their attention and care. Dolly can be grown in almost every corner of the country, as it is highly resistant to frost and feels comfortable down to -35 degrees.
Dolly loves open, sunny areas, but will be able to grow in shaded areas. The plant is not tolerant of full shade, there it will not be able to develop well and should not be planted near trees, since their powerful roots will take all the water for themselves.

Hydrangea Dolly: planting and care

When choosing a planting site, it is important to consider that Dolly hydrangeas do not tolerate calcareous soils.Having planted a plant on such a site, you will not be able to enjoy flowering. Planting is done in spring or autumn. In the latter case, this is possible only in the southern regions, since the flowers growing in the north must have time to adapt to the onset of frost.

The landing hole must be prepared in advance. Its dimensions should be about 35 centimeters. It is fertilized with peat, humus, leafy soil and sand. Since Dolly bushes prefer acidic soils, where the pH is at least 5.0, additional oxidation is often required. Pine bark, 70 g is suitable for this. phosphate, 2 tbsp. l. potassium and urea 1 tbsp. l.
Two weeks after preparation, the seedling is planted in the garden. The bush is placed in the hole so that the root collar remains at ground level. Falling asleep a bush with prepared soil in advance, it is necessary to tamp it in layers in order to prevent voids. After planting, the seedling must be watered abundantly, the soil must be covered with a layer of mulch from peat or spruce bark.

Rules for planting panicle hydrangea

Hydrangea Dolly: what does it look like?

Further care does not require special skills and anyone can cope with it. The panicle hydrangea must be fed, watered abundantly and pruned. Organic and mineral fertilizers are perfect for feeding Dolly's panicle hydrangea. These are mullein, potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus. The first time fertilization is applied at the beginning of the first summer month, the second time after 14 days. The second top dressing will promote abundant and long-lasting flowering. Subsequent dressings are performed as needed, but in no case should they contain nitrogen.

It is important to remember that hydrangea is not tolerant of dry soil, so watering should be done so that the soil is always moist, but at the same time do not allow moisture to stagnate. To keep the soil moist for a longer time, limit weed growth and add additional nutrients to the soil, mulching the trunk circle will help.

Dolly panicle hydrangea must be cut regularly, without such events, the plant will take on a neglected look, the flowering will no longer be so abundant, and the flowers themselves will become small in size. The first time pruning is carried out at the beginning of spring, before the shoots begin to actively grow. This procedure will serve as a stimulant for the growth of the root system of a young bush, as well as the development of new shoots and foliage of the Dolly hydrangea.

Formative pruning is carried out three years after planting the plant in open ground, in the first year, attention will be required to skeletal branches. If Dolly's hydrangea is already an adult, then rejuvenating pruning is performed, which is performed at a height of 70 centimeters from the ground. In the fall, it is necessary to clear the bush of old inflorescences, thin and weak shoots that cannot please with flowering.

Pruning hydrangea Dolly

The inflorescences should not remain on the hydrangea in the winter, as they serve as an additional load for the branches, which will be covered with snow in winter. This can cause branches to break off, which means that various diseases can develop. Before the first frosts begin, the bushes must be watered and sprinkled abundantly, this will protect the root system from freezing.

Hydrangea Dolly: variety breeding

Dolly panicle hydrangea: photo of the variety

You can propagate Dolly hydrangea using cuttings or layering. Can be used for planting shoots that are cut in the spring.

It's important to knowthat using cuttings for planting, they must have 4 buds, otherwise reproduction will become impossible.

The selected shoots are placed for two days in a weakly concentrated solution of Kornevin, after which they are planted in previously prepared containers with fertile soil.If it is decided to plant in open ground, then it is necessary to choose a site in the shade as a temporary placement and transplant the young plant in partial shade or to an open place after the first leaves appear.

Young plants must be protected for the winter by covering them with special materials. Inflorescences begin to form already in the first year of life, but it is recommended to remove them, giving the plant the opportunity to gain strength and develop all systems well. A hardened plant will be able to decorate a garden plot with its flowering for a longer time. It is necessary to determine the place where the bush will grow constantly in the first three years.

Diseases and pests: control methods

Dolly panicle hydrangea can be attacked by harmful insects and various diseases. If signs of this are found, measures must be taken immediately so as not to deprive the plant of its beauty. If you run the bushes, then Dolly may die altogether.

Most often, the bushes are susceptible to fungal diseases. When a white bloom is found on the leaves, we can say that the plant was struck by powdery mildew. Brown spots indicate gray rot. As soon as such signs were found, it is necessary to immediately treat the bush with fungicides or Bordeaux liquid.

Hydrangea Dolly can be attacked by aphids, this is a harmful insect to which the plant is especially susceptible. Insecticides will help to cope with it.
If it is warm outside and there is no rain, then you can treat the bushes with garlic infusion. It is prepared from 50 grams of garlic, 2 liters of water and 10 grams of laundry soap. The heads of garlic are crushed, poured and infused for two days. Next, crushed soap is added, it helps the product stay on the leaves. Further processing is carried out.

Dolly hydrangea for garden decoration

Dolly panicle hydrangea: photo of the variety

Dolly panicle hydrangea is a beautiful compact shrub that can take pride of place in garden design. He can accompany coniferous shrubs such as fir or juniper.
They can become excellent neighbors in a flower bed for lilacs, mock orange. When these flowers begin to fade, Dolly will begin to show all the beauty of her flowers, which will allow the flower bed to bloom from mid-spring to late autumn.
As a single bush, he can decorate the garden no less, transform the site and make it unusual.