What to plant next to a hydrangea?

A beautiful flower garden is not only a successful selection of plants in color, shape and size, but also the ability to combine within one flower bed those crops that have a beneficial effect on each other. Hydrangea is a very beautiful flower, but in order to grow it, it is necessary to create optimal conditions for growth and development, as well as select suitable neighbors for this culture.

Hydrangea is a shrub or tree that blooms in different shades. This plant is very attractive and adorns any garden and surrounding area. It also has another name - Hydrangea. Hydrangea appeared in Europe in the 16th century, and at that time there were only white and red shrubs.

Like many beautiful crops, hydrangea needs special growing conditions for good growth and development.

• The presence of the open sun. In the morning and in the evening, the culture loves the sun's rays, and during the day it needs shade to maintain its appearance. If you plant shrubs on the southern side of the site, then there should be trees or any other elevation nearby, which in the daytime will give a partial shade of a hydrangea.
• Lack of drafts. Hydrangea is classified as a delicate crop that does not like drafts and does not grow well in areas where winds often blow. If it is not possible to choose a quiet space, it is necessary to create an artificial barrier that will block the gusts of wind.
• Fertile soil. For good growth and lush flowering, the culture needs to prepare a soft and fertile soil. In acidic and clayey soils, it is important to add the necessary substances to reduce acidity, as well as add fertilizers, making the soil nutritious.
• Timely watering. Hydrangea is a moisture-loving plant, therefore it is important to ensure stable watering of the crop. You need to add liquid 1-2 times a week, young bushes can be watered more often if it is very hot outside. The water should be warm and can be left in the sun or heated in other ways.
• Lack of groundwater. Hydrangea grows well where there is no groundwater or puddles. The water in such sources has a low temperature, which adversely affects the normal growth of the culture. It is best to plant bushes on hills and hills in order to minimize habitat conditions that are unpleasant for them.

Once a suitable landing site has been chosen, it is necessary to take care of the neighbors who will surround the culture. Not every plant gets along with panicle hydrangea, therefore it is important to know what can be placed nearby and what will harm the queen of the garden. The neighbors of the hydrangea should be smaller and have a small root system that is not able to take all the "food" of the shrub.

Conifers have excellent compatibility with hydrangea, thanks to their simple care and minimal requirements for watering, feeding and light, they do not compete with the queen of the garden, at the same time they perfectly set off and serve as a wonderful background. It is best to plant thuja, juniper and dwarf pines. Conifers should be placed on the south side of the flower bed so that the shadow on the flowers falls only at lunchtime, and during the rest of the hours the area with hydrangeas receives maximum sunlight. The optimal distance between the garden crop and conifers is 1.5 meters.

Neighborhood with an ordinary spruce will not be the most suitable, since it is a tall and spreading tree that grows quite quickly. The lack of light will oppress the hydrangea, and it will not be able to become a beautiful and lush plant.

Spirea is a beautiful garden flower that blooms in spring and lasts until mid-summer. Hydrangea goes well with this plant, since it is taller, which means that it will have enough sunlight, and the conditions for their growth are very similar. Hydrangea blooms from the second half of summer to autumn; together with the spirea in the flower garden, it creates a constantly blooming flower bed that pleases the eye throughout the warm season.

Another good companion for hydrangea in flower beds is astilba. This culture prefers the same growing conditions, in addition, it easily tolerates darkening and will not suffer from a lack of sunlight if it is shaded by hydrangea. Both cultures can bloom for a long time, adorning the surroundings with beautiful flowers. The shade of the inflorescences can vary depending on how acidic the soil is. If the soil is acidic, then the color of the petals will turn bright purple, if alkali is added to the soil, then the color will change to light pink.

To diversify a flower bed with hydrangeas, you can plant decorative cereals next to them. Due to the beautiful appearance of the foliage and stems, they complement the main plant, while completely not interfering with its full growth and development. Cereals can exist in any conditions, there are no special requirements for them, the main thing is that the soil is not flooded too much, there is no swampiness. Flowering in cereals is almost invisible, so it will not interfere, shade or overlap the color of the hydrangea.

The following types of crops can be planted near the hydrangea:

• gray fescue;
• bulbous ryegrass;
• soddy pike;
• millet;
• miscanthus, etc.

Hydrangea and rose bushes have many fans, so many want to have both plants in their garden. A combination of these crops is possible, but it is important to create suitable conditions for each of them. Roses and hydrangea are quite tall shrubs, so they cannot be placed very close, otherwise one plant will shade and clog the other. Watering and feeding conditions also differ. To ensure good growth and vigorous flowering, it is necessary to clearly know when and how to water both crops, what top dressing to apply and when.

If a rose and a hydrangea are planted at a sufficient distance, give them good access to the sun, ensure timely watering and the availability of the necessary fertilizers, then both plants will delight with lush greenery and beautiful flowers for a long time.

One of the more interesting plants that goes well with hydrangea is the hosta. This is a culture that prefers exactly the same growing conditions as hydrangea, therefore it will not experience any problems being with it. The hosta grows well in the shade, so shading by the main plant will not be a problem for her.

Thanks to the drop-shaped leaves of the hosts, the flowerbed takes on an original appearance, and the unusual colors guarantee an abundance of colors. Hosta and hydrangea go well with each other and look great together in the garden.

In addition to the above crops, there are also other plants that can be placed near and near the hydrangea. Fruit trees are good companions of hydrangea. Neighborhood with an apple tree will bring the desired shade at midday and protection from drafts, the main thing is to plant a tree on the south side of the bush. The optimal distance of any trees from hydrangeas is 1.5 meters or more.

A good companion for hydrangea is lilac, these crops are very similar in size and type of flowering, only the latter blooms in spring, and hydrangea in summer. This combination allows you to get an ever-flowering garden. You can pick up varieties that are similar in color or, conversely, those that contrast with each other.

In addition, there are a number of other crops that get along well with hydrangea, these include:

• jasmine;
• peonies;
• lavender;
• lilies;
• clematis;
• rhododendron;
• phlox;
• irises, but only a year after planting the hydrangea, so that the soil is not waterlogged;
• currants and turf, but at a certain distance so that one culture does not clog the other;
• tanning skumpia, planted near the hydrangea, differs in the color of the foliage, serves as an excellent background and allows you to diversify the garden.

All low-growing flowers that are suitable for the growing conditions of hydrangea will be good neighbors for it. A riot of colors, a variety of foliage, inflorescences, plant sizes allow you to create an original and unusual flower bed. The neighborhood with shrubs is also appropriate, but here it is important to create some kind of space for each of the plants so that they do not compete for moisture, light and fertilizers. Low-growing trees can also be placed near hydrangeas, the neighborhood with an apple tree, birch and similar crops will only benefit the flower in question, the main thing is that each representative of the flora is planted in its place.

Crops that prevent hydrangeas from getting enough light, water and nutrients are undesirable for planting near it. The most unsuitable crops are listed below.

• Tall trees that strongly shade the territory, preventing the hydrangea from developing normally, in addition, they have huge roots that take nutrients and moisture from the adjacent territories.
• Crops growing in acidic and highly alkaline soil. These conditions are completely unsuitable for hydrangeas.
• Plants that need daily watering, which creates stagnation of moisture in the soil, which is completely unsuitable for hydrangea.
• Acacia - This tree secretes substances that are detrimental to the normal growth and development of hydrangeas.
• The presence of onions, garlic and any of their types is unacceptable for hydrangea, since these crops are toxic to it.

Any crop that can compete with the hydrangea for suitable living conditions will be an unwanted neighbor, especially if it is planted too close to the bush. Subject to all standards of care and location of neighboring plants, you can get a beautiful and lush blooming garden. If these conditions are violated, then all plants will be small and faded.

Hydrangeas of all types have similar grooming preferences, so they can be planted next to each other without any problems. Due to the presence of a large number of varieties that differ in the size of the bushes, the color of the inflorescences and the timing of flowering, you can create a garden that will delight you with a riot of colors throughout the warm season.

In order for the plants to feel good, it is necessary to leave a distance of at least 1.5 meters between them, and even more for bushes with bulk. Different varieties have different frost resistance, therefore it is important to know which bushes to cover for the winter, and which ones will withstand temperatures up to -10-15 ℃.