Hydrangea Little Lime
Content:
Hydrangea is a fairly popular ornamental plant with large inflorescences of completely different sizes and numerous shades. It's time for hydrangeas to bloom - mid-summer. Among the undersized species of this plant, the Little Lime variety of panicle hydrangea is noted as the most popular. Due to its small size, this type of hydrangea can be grown in small gardens, in front gardens. This article provides a detailed description and indicates the main characteristics of the Little Lime hydrangea, touches upon the requirements for growing this plant, and also describes how to prune shrubs.
Hydrangea Little Lime: variety description
Panicle hydrangea Little Lime: photo of the variety
The Little Lime panicle hydrangea is a small shrub, the height of the Little Lime hydrangea is a maximum of 75 centimeters, while the diameter can reach 1.5 meters. Due to its size, as already mentioned, it can be grown without problems even in small house plots.
Recently, Little Lime has been increasingly used to decorate park areas in cities. The magnificent beauty and decorativeness of this variety were not spared by landscape designers either; they found the use of hydrangeas in the design of flower arrangements. Little Lime grows remarkably well in tubs as well as containers. Miniature shrubs are great for a decorative living fence.
Little Lime has dark green velvety foliage that has an egg shape and denticles. At the end of summer - beginning of autumn, the foliage becomes purple in color. A distinctive feature of the variety is that with the approach of autumn, its crown takes on a burgundy color.
This variety blooms with quite abundant, large, rounded inflorescences on top. In July, greenish inflorescences begin to bloom, then they turn creamy, and at the end of their flowering (about November), the inflorescences turn pink. It is worth paying attention to the fact that if the bush is not planted in a sunny place, then there may not be a transformation of the color palette of the hydrangea.
The Little Lime panicle hydrangea is resistant to temperature changes and is noted for its winter hardiness. This variety can withstand the thermometer mark, which has dropped to -34 degrees. It is recommended to cover young shrubs, and with age, wrapping will not be necessary.
Hydrangea Little Lime: planting
Panicle hydrangea Little Lime: photo of the variety
When choosing a location to grow Little Lime hydrangeas, lean towards the southern part, which has a little shading. Avoid direct sunlight, drafts and strong gusty winds.
The Little Lime panicle hydrangea prefers sufficient moisture, hence, make sure that this is not a place under the trees - since the roots of trees take moisture not only from the soil, but also from the flowers. It is also worth noting that shrubs should not be planted next to buildings, since in the winter-spring period, when icicles form, falling they can damage the plant.
When choosing a soil, stop at a mixture of peat with sand, and add humus with leafy soil to it, if desired - Little Lime, like all other varieties, will be grateful to you for this. They don't like hydrangeas if there is lime in the soil. The plant is hygrophilous, so timely abundant watering should be organized.
Typically, the ideal time to plant hydrangeas is in spring. Plants are planted, observing an interval of at least one meter between each other. The root collar should not be buried.For planting, holes are dug, the depth and width of which are about 32 centimeters - the root system of hydrangeas is usually branched, but not deep. A mixture of peat with humus is poured into the prepared pits, and after planting, the plant is watered abundantly.
Hydrangea Little Lime responds positively to feeding, this process begins around May. As a fertilizer, I most often use liquid manure. At least 15 days should pass between fertilizers. Thanks to top dressing, you can easily achieve more flowering. When growing, it is recommended to mulch the near-trunk areas after each digging with sawdust, peat - this is done to maintain the water balance. After a couple of years, mulching can no longer be done, since the plant has already grown enough and is able to independently maintain the required level of moisture in the soil. With the approach of winter, it is worth spilling a plant with a ridge height of up to 30 centimeters.
As stated earlier, Little Lime panicle hydrangea prefers good hydration. It is enough to water the plant once a week with 20 liters of water. The frequency and abundance of watering depends on the precipitation, if there is abundant precipitation, it is worth revising the schedule and amount of watering, and perhaps even completely eliminating it, until the good weather improves. Please note that if you want the shoots of the hydrangea to be stronger and stronger, you should water the plant with a solution of potassium permanganate.
When growing the Little Lime panicle hydrangea, do not forget about such important agrotechnical manipulations as loosening the earth, which should be carried out to a 6-centimeter depth, and remove weeds in a timely manner - it reacts extremely unfavorably to the plant.
Little lime panicle hydrangea care
Panicle hydrangea Little Lime: photo of the variety
In order for the Little Lime paniculate hydrangea to give a different shape - in the form of a small tree or a miniature bush - the hydrangea must be cut off. The beauty and decorativeness of a plant directly depends on the size of its inflorescences. While the size of the inflorescences is a consequence of a timely and correctly cut plant.
Inflorescences are maximally located on the side of the bushes. By cutting off the main shoots, we provide additional stimulation of lateral growth. As a consequence of this pruning process, there is an annual increase in flowering of Little Lime hydrangeas.
When pruning, be sure to remove any damaged, unhealthy, or weakened branches. Healthy shoots must be cut to the level of three buds. During the flowering period, small inflorescences should be removed - this is done so that all nutrients and forces go into larger and stronger inflorescences.
Pruning is a must and very important grooming process. Excluding it, your hydrangea inflorescences will be small. Shoots will become weaker every year, and the number of inflorescences will decrease.
Growing hydrangea of the Little Lime variety, observing all the recommendations specified in this article, simple rules of care - then the Little Lime panicle hydrangea will delight any site with its magnificent beauty.