Your yard, garden, or borders will stand out with large, blooming hydrangea plants. Large and spherical, hydrangea flowers bloom in the summer in deep pink, blue, or purple hues, and hardy hydrangea shrubs can keep their blooms far into the fall. A healthy hydrangea bush spreads 3 to 5 feet across and produces several blooms throughout the course of its protracted flowering season. Visit Spring Hill Nurseries to browse our selection of hydrangea shrubs and add these perennials to your garden right away!
Placement of hydrangeas might be a little challenging. While some hydrangea species prefer full sun, others prefer a more gloomy setting. While panicle and climbing hydrangeas may tolerate the intense afternoon sun, not all hydrangeas thrive in it. In full sun, panicle hydrangeas really flourish. In hotter climates, macrophylla and serrata won’t just wilt; they’ll burn up in full sun, so give those hydrangeas some afternoon shade. Although oakleaf can tolerate direct sunlight, they also need some afternoon shade in warmer climes. There are many different varieties of hydrangeas, so read the instructions on your particular plants.
With the proper care, hydrangeas are perennial plants that will bloom every year! To give your hydrangeas the best chance of living a long and fulfilling life, plant them in a well-drained, mostly sunny area. For the first year or two after planting, these plants require a lot of water. Additionally, they can benefit from a light fertilizer twice a year, once in the spring when the buds begin to put forth new growth and once in the summer. After the middle of August, hydrangeas shouldn’t be fertilized. This enables all new growth to harden off prior to the arrival of cooler weather. A little winterization in the fall will enable them to recover more quickly and effectively than before.
In the fall, mulch your hydrangea plants’ roots with bark, leaves, pine needles, or straw to a depth of at least 18 inches before the first frost. You can actually cover a portion of the canes with macrophylla and serrata kinds as well. By safeguarding the flower buds that have developed during the summer, this insulation will assist ensure blossoms the following year. In the spring, be sure to carefully remove the mulch covering the canes.
Hydrangeas are frequently eaten by deer, especially in the winter. Deer will graze all varieties of hydrangea, and depending on other food sources nearby, they may do a fair amount of harm. Deer are known to browse on oakleaf and arborescens hydrangea in particular. Therefore, it is better to cover the hydrangea’s accessible areas in wire or a deer cage. Try using a commercial deer repellent if that doesn’t deter your deer.
The hydrangea variety determines the trimming schedule! Certain hydrangeas, such as oakleaf, bigleaf, and climber varieties, require quick pruning after flowering. Hydrangeas with smooth or pinnate leaves can be clipped before spring.
Make sure to prune before autumn for kinds that need to be clipped right away after flowering because flower buds actually grow in the late summer and bloom the following season. In the spring, after the plant has fully flushed out, any dead wood should be removed. Before pruning, ensure sure there is no new growth visible on the cane. You don’t need to deadhead a hydrangea, so leave the blossoms on the branches you aren’t pruning back. Don’t overprune the wood; these plants prefer aged wood to fresh growth. Although fantastic new breeding has produced macrophylla and serrata cultivars that do bloom on new wood, the overall pruning recommendation for these hydrangeas remains the same: prune lightly.
When the plant is dormant and before fresh flower buds have grown in the late winter, you should clip smooth and panicle hydrangeas. You can prune to shape the plant and get rid of crossed branches and aged wood. On “new wood,” panicle and smooth hydrangea blossoms bloom.
What occurs if hydrangeas are not pruned? If you don’t prune your plants, you might have smaller blooms, but it won’t do any harm to the plant. The majority of hydrangeas are content to grow unpruned and will still bloom each year.
Hydrangeas are not deer resistant and animals don’t particularly like them, but if food is scarce enough, deer will undoubtedly turn to eating your hydrangeas. Typically, winter is when that occurs.
On aged wood, hydrangeas such as mophead, serrata, climbing, and oakleaf bloom. Winter damage may heal before the hydrangeas bloom because many other types have flowers that bloom on fresh wood. You do not, however, want deer to view your yard as a smorgasbord. They are creatures of habit, and they frequently revisit settings that have provided simple meals in the past. We advise using a wire cage in the winter for short hydrangeas. Try applying deer repellent to the reachable branches of taller hydrangeas.
Some hydrangeas actually change color—mostly the macrophylla and serrata varieties! The pH of the soil will have an impact on the blossom color in some varieties of these pink-to-blue hydrangeas, such as Tellers Blue or Twist n Shout hydrangeas. In extremely acidic soils, these flowers turn more blue, while in slightly acidic to slightly alkaline soils, they turn purple to pink.
You must increase the soil’s pH in order to make the hydrangea flowers more pink by making the soil more alkaline and less acidic. Try putting some lime in the soil to give the blossoms a more pink appearance. Magnesium will also be added to the soil by dolomitic limestone. Wood ash will help increase soil pH, but it should only be used sparingly because too much might burn the foliage of your hydrangeas.
Although hydrangeas with a bluer color are frequently connected with lower soil pH, low pH won’t automatically turn your hydrangeas blue. Hydrangeas need aluminum to change from pink to blue, thus an acidifier lacking aluminum may not have the same result. Availability of aluminum in the soil varies, but it is generally rather common, thus search for amendments that contain aluminum. Aluminum ions are trapped with other components in excessively alkaline soils and do not reach your plant. The aluminum ions can be released and taken up by the plant by lowering pH, which results in the blue color.
When ought I to purchase hydrangeas?
During the growth season, nurseries will have potted hydrangeas for sale. If at all possible, purchase your plant when it is in bloom to ensure that you have the flower kind and color that you desire. To see the hydrangea’s roots, you should be able to lift or slide (lay the plant on its side) it out of its container. White roots with brownish tips represent healthy roots. Don’t buy it if the soil smells like sewer gas and the roots are discolored. That plant has root issues, and after it is planted, it might not survive.
Can you send a hydrangea plant?
With a deliciously lush hydrangea flower delivery from Proflowers, you may enhance a special event or make an average day extraordinary. From our online collection of bouquets made to fit a range of occasions, we make it simple to choose the ideal hydrangea bouquet. To choose your ideal arrangement, delivery date, and location, all you need to do is go online. Send flowers the same day. Your hydrangea bouquet will be carefully packaged by our florist staff to ensure maximum freshness and beauty upon arrival.
Find the ideal floral arrangement for any occasion by shopping All Flowers. Although hydrangeas are beautiful, perhaps your recipient has a particular flower. For instance, a delivery of roses will make anyone smile! Proflowers is certain to have whatever bouquet or flower arrangement you’re looking for!
Which hydrangea is the finest to grow?
Best Hydrangea Varieties: Top 10 from Reliable Winners
- H. paniculata ‘Limelight’.
- H. paniculata, or little lime.
- Amazing H. arborescens
- Hydrangea with Fire Light Panicle.
- Bobo H.
- H. Pinky Winky
- Spirit of Invincibelle II H.
- Quick Fire Little H.
When should hydrangeas be planted?
Planting hydrangeas is a present you can give yourself. These lovely flowering plants are a great addition to any environment thanks to their profusion of vibrant blossoms.
How to Choose Hydrangeas
The hydrangea plant comes in a variety of varieties. Although one is a vine called climbing hydrangea, the most grow as shrubs. The most popular hydrangea varieties in zones 6 through 9 may be mophead and lacecap varieties, which can serve a variety of purposes in the landscape.
Choose panicle, smooth, or oakleaf hydrangeas to grow as a hedge; these varieties also have attractive fall foliage.
Choose an oakleaf hydrangea or a climbing variety if you intend to cultivate hydrangeas in complete shade.
The panicle hydrangea, which can be grown as a tree, is the variety you want if you’re growing hydrangeas in colder climates because it has the most winter hardiness.
Where to Plant Hydrangeas
Light and moisture are the most crucial elements to consider when deciding where to plant hydrangeas. Plant them in the South where they’ll get early sun and afternoon shade. You can grow the wildly popular French (also known as bigleaf) hydrangea or panicle hydrangea under these circumstances. These identical varieties of hydrangeas can withstand full-day sun in northern regions.
The root term “hydra” (as in hydration) in the name “hydrangea” provides a hint as to how much water these plants require. Make sure the location you choose is near a water source. Also be aware that French hydrangeas typically require the most water to flourish.
What Kind of Soil to Use for Hydrangeas
Concentrate on enhancing the native soil if you want to cultivate hydrangeas in planting beds. Mixing equal portions of Miracle-Gro Garden Soil for Trees and Shrubs and existing soil is one quick and easy way to do so. You can also plant hydrangeas in containers in warmer climates (zones 7 and higher), where winters are often not too harsh. Use Miracle-Gro Moisture Control Potting Mix to fill pots to provide the ideal habitat for them.
It is important to note that the pH of the soil, which indicates how alkaline or acidic the soil is, affects how the blossom color of lacecap and mophead hydrangeas changes. In alkaline soil, flowers bloom pink to red, while in acidic soil, they turn lavender to blue.
When to Plant Hydrangeas
The ideal time to plant hydrangeas is typically when you see them on sale at neighborhood garden centers. By region, this timing will change. For instance, hydrangeas should be planted in the early spring or early fall in regions with freezing winters and snow (as soon as summer heat breaks). The planting window for hydrangeas is longer in warmer climates with moderate winters, lasting from fall until early April.
Planting Hydrangeas In-Ground
The type of hydrangea you are growing will determine how far apart you should space your plants. The plant tag should ideally be examined. Keep in mind that hydrangeas grown in the shade typically develop slightly larger and wider leaves. Dig a hole that is twice as wide as the container the hydrangea arrived in when planting it. Fill the hole with the 50-50 soil mixture mentioned above after setting the plant in the hole so that the root ball is at the same level as it was in the container. After planting, thoroughly water.
Planting Hydrangeas in Containers
Verify once again that plants are planted at the same depth as they were growing when planting hydrangeas in containers. The size of the container you should choose will depend on how big your hydrangea will get. It’s generally okay to begin with a pot that is 2 inches bigger than the one the plant is currently in.
Watering Hydrangeas
After planting, give the plant plenty of water, making sure to moisten the soil around the root ball. You might not need to water the hydrangeas again until growth picks again if they are dormant (without leaves).
In soil that is consistently moist, hydrangeas flourish. At least once per week, check the soil. It’s time to water when the top inch of soil is dry. Except in times of drought, hydrangeas can usually thrive on rainfall after they are established.
Mulching Hydrangeas
After hydrangeas are planted, mulch the area surrounding the plants (but not on top of them) with a 2- to 3-inch layer. Mulch inhibits weed development and sunlight availability, helping to keep soil moist and prevent weed growth. Pick the mulch that complements your landscape the best, whether it’s Scotts bagged mulch, chopped leaves, pine straw, or another locally accessible material.
Feeding Hydrangeas
When hydrangeas first start to grow in the spring and again right before the summer, fertilize them. After August, especially in areas with chilly winters, refrain from feeding hydrangeas. It is best to use a slow-release plant food. Try Miracle-Gro Shake ‘n Feed Flowering Trees & Shrubs Plant Food, which provides nutrition for up to 3 months, for the greatest results.
Pruning Hydrangeas
The sort of hydrangea you are growing will determine when to prune it. You should prune plants as soon as flowering is ended because French and oakleaf hydrangeas both produce flowers on old wood (stems from the previous year). Hydrangeas, both smooth and panicle, bloom on new growth, so you can clip stems in late winter or early spring. In general, hydrangeas shouldn’t require much pruning beyond removing dead or broken wood as long as you give them enough space to spread and grow to their full size.
Protecting Hydrangeas in Winter
In order to assist safeguard flower buds that have already grown for the following year, many gardeners in cooler regions create a burlap screen around oakleaf and French hydrangeas. Making sure the hydrangea you’re growing is hardy in your gardening zone, though, is the most crucial component of winter protection.
Using Hydrangeas in Your Landscape
The garden can use hydrangeas for a variety of purposes. Plant hydrangeas as a foundation planting around a house or as a privacy hedge. Potted hydrangeas can add beauty to a deck or entry garden, and a single hydrangea can serve as the garden’s focal point. Additionally, hydrangeas blend in well with diverse borders of perennials and shrubs and offer a natural-looking element to a woodland scene.
Wedding bouquets and vase fillers both love using fresh hydrangea flowers. Most experts advise waiting to allow flowers age and dry naturally on the plant if you want to dry hydrangea blooms. Harvest when you favor the color stage.
Ready to begin hydrangea cultivation? To learn more about a product, to buy it online, or to locate a retailer near you, click on any of the product links above.
How late may hydrangeas be planted?
When may I put a hydrangea in a planter outside? Anytime of the year is suitable for planting a potted hydrangea in the ground. The ideal seasons are, however, spring or autumn. Plant either in early fall when the soil will still be warm and before the frosts or after the spring frosts have passed.