Hydrangea Pink Lady

Hydrangea paniculata is considered the best option for decorating parks, backyard areas and recreation areas. The Pink Lady panicle hydrangea variety is a fairly well-known and favorite variety among gardeners and landscape designers. Its voluminous and lush flowers with a pink-white color catch the eye of anyone. The plant has excellent decorative characteristics that can be achieved with proper care and cultivation in general.

Hydrangea Pink Lady: variety description

Hydrangea Pink Lady: photo of the variety

Hydrangea Pink Lady appeared thanks to a breeder from Holland - P. Zweinenburg. The breeding time for this variety is the eighties of the 20th century. Among gardeners, this plant has won a high quality rating, and the variety is also considered one of the most popular and sought-after hydrangea subspecies.
The height of the Pink Lady hydrangea can reach up to two meters. The shrub itself is fan-shaped, while its flowers are endowed with a conical shape, plus they are quite large, reaching a length of 28 centimeters on average. The foliage of the bush has the shape of an oval of a bright, rich green hue, with denticles at the edges. Leaves are located along the entire length of the stems. The shrub has quite powerful and strong shoots, due to which it does not lose its shape during the flowering period. And this period begins in the middle of summer and ends in the month of September. At the very beginning of the flowering period, the brushes of the plant consist of small white flowers, quite airy and interesting. But in the process of blooming, the panicles become denser. The inflorescences of this variety themselves are formed of four petals and endowed with a circle shape. During flowering, the flowers form a light pink hue.

If all the conditions and rules for planting and further care of this plant are met, then the Pink Lady hydrangea can grow on one site for several decades. This hydrangea is actively used to decorate single plantings, as well as hedges. It looks very harmonious and stunning against the green background of the lawn. It can be used in group planting together with other garden shrubs.

Hydrangea Pink Lady: planting and care

Panicle hydrangea Pink Lady: photo of the variety

Initially, before planting Pink Lady hydrangeas, you should pre-select and prepare a site for growing further. The most important thing when choosing to look at the absence of gusty winds and the availability of sufficient lighting. Also, the substrate is prepared in advance, taking into account all the features of the soil.
This type of hydrangea is preferable to be planted on the plot on the south side. But it is worth noting that a very long exposure to direct sunlight on the plant can adversely affect the decorative features of the flowers of the shrub. Therefore, in the southern regions of the country, the Pink Lady hydrangea is placed when landing on a site with light shade. This can be a place close to structures or fences, in addition, it will not help to shelter this hydrangea from strong winds. But it is not recommended to plant a shrub next to large fruit trees, since they are able to take from the soil all the nutrients and trace elements necessary for the growth and development of hydrangeas. A good difference between this hydrangea variety is its good unpretentiousness to the ground. If you want to achieve abundant and lush flowering, then this hydrangea variety will be better grown on loamy fertile soil.In rather heavy and loamy soils, humus is required, and sandy soils are fertilized with compost and peat, since nutrients can be washed out of it at a fairly rapid pace. The only thing this plant is very demanding about is the acidic environment. Hydrangea has a remarkable development in slightly acidic and neutral soil. When digging up the soil, do not use lime, wood ash, chalk and dolomite flour.
This variety is planted in an open space in early spring, even before the period of sap flow, or in the fall after leaf fall, around September-October. Seedlings of this shrub are bought in specialized nurseries or from trusted gardeners and farmers. The seedling must be free of dark spots, cracks, traces of rot and other defects and damage.

Planting the Pink Lady panicle hydrangea is performed according to the following algorithm:

• In the selected area, dig a hole for the seedling, with an approximate depth of 40 centimeters and a diameter of approximately 30 centimeters (so that the roots of the seedling are freely placed in the hole).
• The soil for a young plant is prepared in advance. For this, peat, fertile soil and humus are mixed. To slightly deacidify the soil, add needles.
• This mixture is poured into a hole and left for 1.5-2 weeks. After the soil settles a little, the seedling itself is prepared for planting.
• The roots of a young bush are slightly cut off. Further, the root system is soaked for a couple of hours in a growth stimulator for quick and easy adaptation to a new place.
• A seedling of a Pink Lady hydrangea is placed in a hole, carefully straightened all the roots and sprinkled with soil.
• After planting, the seedling must be watered abundantly with water.
• After planting, the young plant should be constantly watered, and to protect it from the scorching sun, you can use paper caps that cover the plant.

Care measures for the panicle hydrangea variety

Hydrangea Pink Lady pink lady: photo of the variety

This hydrangea variety requires regular grooming activities such as fertilizing, watering, pruning and shaping. To protect the plant from the attack of harmful insects and infection with various diseases, special means are used. And in regions with a cold climate, plants are insulated in advance for the winter.

• Watering. This hydrangea variety is considered to be quite demanding on moisture. The level of development and growth of hydrangea, as well as the formation of beautiful inflorescences, directly depends on its presence and receipt. Watering is carried out for this plant once a week, and water goes to each bush up to 10 liters, approximately. The main rule in watering is to prevent the soil from drying out under the bushes. If it is hot, dry weather outside, then the watering procedure is increased in quantity, up to 2-3 per week. Moreover, watering this shrub is required with settled warm water. It will be best to water in the morning and evening hours. Water the plant very carefully so that the water does not get on the foliage, flowers and shoots. Since the roots of the plant are located quite close to the surface of the earth, you need to carefully watch when watering so that they are not exposed. In order for this trouble to happen, the soil should be mulched with a layer of humus or peat, and this mulch can also help to retain moisture in the ground.
• Top dressing. Another equally important rule for obtaining excellent and abundant flowering is to feed the plant with useful substances and trace elements. Various mineral complexes and organic fertilizers serve as top dressing for this shrub. The best option would be to alternate between different types of dressings. To apply top dressing, use the following scheme: for the first time, top dressing is applied in the spring, until the buds open; the second time - during the formation of the first buds; the third - in the middle of the summer season; the next - after the end of the flowering period, in the autumn. For the first time, organic matter is used as a top dressing. This requires preparing a mixture of liquid manure, in a ratio of one to fifteen. The resulting solution is poured under the root of the bush. In the summer, top dressing is carried out with mineral compositions.To do this, make such a solution: for 10 liters of water there are 20 grams of superphosphate, potassium salt, 35 grams of ammonium nitrate. You can purchase ready-made mineral mixtures made for hydrangeas in a specialized store, they are sold in the form of suspensions or granules. They need to be dissolved in water before watering directly. In the autumn period, potassium salt and 50 grams of superphosphate serve as top dressing. Nitrogen-containing fertilizers are not allowed in the autumn season.
• Pruning. In order for your bush to form large and lush flowers, you need to complete the pruning procedure. In the spring, it is required to reduce the shoots, leaving about 6-8 buds, but this must be done before the start of sap flow. Damaged, weak and diseased shoots are removed without fail. For one bush, it will be enough to leave up to 10 strong branches. To slightly rejuvenate the shrub, a short pruning should be done. This is done like this: all the stems are completely cut at the root, leaving only up to 12 centimeters from the surface of the soil. The next year, new, young shoots will form. In the summer, pruning of the plant is not carried out. You just need to remove the dried inflorescences so that new buds can form.
• Protection measures against harmful insects and diseases. In cold and humid weather, hydrangea can become infected with fungal diseases, often powdery mildew. It manifests itself as a light bloom on foliage and shoots. In the fight against this ailment, fungicides are used, such as Fundazol or Topaz. The bushes are sprayed with a solution of these drugs, and this is done in the morning or evening. The most dangerous and common harmful insect for this shrub is aphid. This small insect sucks the sap from the plant and is also a carrier of dangerous diseases. To combat it, use the method of spraying the bush with insecticides, such as Fitoverma. But the best way to control pests and diseases is preventive measures. For this, various folk remedies are actively used, since they are completely safe for both plants and humans, and at any stage of cultivation. An example would be an infusion of garlic or onion skins.
• Shelter for the winter. This type of ornamental shrub has a high level of resistance to cold, it can survive frosts at -28 degrees. Therefore, in the southern regions and in central Russia, the plant does not require shelter for the winter. In a rather cold winter period, if there is no snow, the root system of the plant is mulched with fallen leaves and humus, the layer should be about 25-30 centimeters of this mulch. Young bushes are insulated with agrofibre or burlap, plus a snow cover is also sprinkled on them.

Panicle hydrangea Pink Lady: reviews of gardeners

This hydrangea variety is rightfully considered one of the most popular hydrangeas in all countries of the world. It is actively used in decorating parks and gardens. This variety was appreciated excellently by a huge number of gardeners, due to its unpretentiousness in care, level of endurance and decorative characteristics. But in order to admire these beautiful flowers for longer, you need to properly and efficiently care for such a shrub.

- Personally, I cannot imagine my garden without hydrangeas. I have many different varieties of them, but I consider Pink Lady to be one of the best. I am delighted with her graceful inflorescences. I do pruning to a bush, up to 1.5 meters. Initially, I acquired two seedlings of this variety, and then with the help of cuttings I received three more pieces. True, to get good flowering you need constant care, in the form of watering and organic fertilizing, but it's worth it.
Svetlana, Orenburg

- Several years ago I decided to try to grow this variety, with its flowers of a pale pink hue. I bought a young bush in the nursery, and in the fall I planted it next to the house.When watering regularly, the bush grew quite well and delighted with its flowering. Now every year it pleases the eye.
Maria, Volgograd

- I have been growing this hydrangea for more than three years. It does not cease annually to delight its lush and beautiful flowering. Last year, I pruned the shrub to a minimum, because of this, the flowers were not large enough, but the shrub was 1.5 meters high. I realized that the most important thing for this bush is sufficient lighting. Now I want to propagate this plant and create a hedge.
Elena, Mozhaisk.