Hydrangea Annabelle is one of the most popular varieties of hydrangea. It is unpretentious in cultivation and care, decorative and frost-resistant variety. It is popular with gardeners due to the compact size of the bush and huge inflorescences in the form of caps. It is very easy to care for hydrangea, the main thing is to remember a few simple rules and stick to them. Hydrangea arborescens Annabelle is an old, but, nevertheless, one of the most popular varieties of tree hydrangea. The variety was found in 1746 in the village of Anna (Ohio, USA), from there it got to the nursery "Gulf Stream" and spread throughout the world. Location: Heat-loving, demanding of moisture. It grows well in semi-shaded places, but more lush flowering is observed only in full sun. Can tolerate short drought. Needs a place protected from the wind. Soil: does not tolerate lime. Grows well on humus-rich, alluvial and red soils with moderate humidity in places with high annual precipitation. On podzolized and clay soils that dry out in summer, it significantly lags behind in growth and suffers from drought. Can tolerate alkaline soil. Planting: the optimal age for planting is 2-3 years. Planting is best done in spring or autumn. The size of the planting hole on light cultivated soils is 40x40x50 cm, on loamy cultivated soils - 50x50x60 cm, on heavy clay soils - 60x60x70 cm. It is recommended to place drainage in the form of gravel, broken brick in a layer of 5-10 cm at the bottom of the hole. Fertile soil is poured on top of the drainage in a layer of 10-15 cm. The roots are straightened over the entire area of ​​the hole, and the root collar is placed at soil level. Water consumption after planting per plant on sandy loam soil is 20-25 l, medium loamy 15-20 l, heavy loamy 10-15 l. In dry and windy weather, it is recommended to spray the plant immediately after planting. Care: It is recommended to loosen the soil around the bush to a depth of 5 cm at least 2 times a year. Watering should be done at least 5 times a season. To increase the strength of the shoots, you can water along the crown and under the root with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Top dressing with manure or mineral fertilizers is carried out at the beginning of growth, during the formation of buds, and also 1-2 times in the summer. Pruning: Pruning is carried out annually in late March - early April, completely pruning the plant to the base, starting from the age of 4. Cut shoots can be used as cuttings. Reproduction: easily propagated by green cuttings and dividing the bush. Rooting of cuttings is 100% without treatment. Propagated well by layering. Cuttings are best prepared during the flowering period, for this, the tops of the shoots of the current year are cut off. In early April, dig a hole 60-70 cm deep and 50 cm in diameter. Then place the cutting in it and fill it with a pre-prepared mixture. Soil mixture: humus, black soil, peat and sand in a ratio of 2:2:1:1. Also add 20 g of urea, 30 g of potassium sulfate and 30 g of superphosphate. Repeat similar feeding after 2 years. Pests: aphids (pelargonium, greenhouse, bean), greenhouse thrips, spittlebug, spider mite, green wood bug, berry bug, meadow bug, shiny leaf beetle, nettle leaf weevil, cutworms (caterpillars of moths), golden rose chafer, hairy deer, marsh long-legged mosquito, earwig, gall nematode. Diseases: Tracheomycotic wilt, White sclerotial rot, Gray mold, Common (European) cancer, Tubercular bark necrosis, Powdery mildew, Phyllosticta, septoria, ring and ascochyta spot. Use: Looks impressive in single and group plantings. Looks most impressive in single planting, when the bush is visible from all sides. Used to create edges in woody and shrubby compositions, as well as to create living unformed hedges. Recommended for growing in household plots. Growing features: A mandatory condition for the Annabelle hydrangea is annual and strong pruning. If this is not done, the inflorescences will become much smaller. Pruning is carried out annually in late March - early April, complete pruning of the plant to the ground, starting from the age of 4. Cut shoots can be used as cuttings. Place and soil: light-loving, does not tolerate shading. Loves moist, rich, acidified soils, does not tolerate stagnant moisture and calcareous soils. Hydrangea - size is important!? Hydrangea - inflorescences the size of a football Lush flowering of hydrangea all the secrets in the video How to grow hydrangeas with huge inflorescences. Hydrangea arborescens Strong Annabelle