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.
When should hydrangeas be planted?
Learning the fundamentals of how to plant hydrangeas can help you save time and money, just like with most other items in your garden. You’ll improve your chances of enjoying big, vibrant hydrangea flowers for years to come by picking the appropriate site, getting the soil just right, and planting correctly.
When should I plant hydrangeas?
The best time to grow hydrangeas is in the fall, followed by early spring. The goal is to provide the shrub lots of time to develop a strong root system before it blooms. Early in the day or late in the day are the ideal times to plant. The day’s cooler hours provide relief from heat exhaustion. Water new plants frequently until they get established.
Locations to plant hydrangeas
The first step is knowing where to grow hydrangea plants. Hydrangeas are frequently grown in beds adjacent to houses or fences. This is so because hydrangeas prefer the mild early sun to the hot afternoon sun. A protected area with sunny mornings and shaded afternoons is the ideal spot to plant hydrangeas. This is frequently found on the north or south side of a house. Avoid planting underneath trees since it could cause competition for nutrients and water. Flowers and leaves can both be destroyed by strong winds.
hydrangea-friendly soil
The soil needs to be rich in organic matter for hydrangeas to thrive. Drainage is important. Although hydrangeas prefer damp soil, they cannot stand standing water. Root rot can be brought on by wet, poorly draining soils. Your hydrangeas could pass away in a matter of weeks. Consider adding a lot of compost to your heavy soil before planting to increase the soil’s quality.
Methods for planting hydrangeas
Simply dig planting holes that are 2 feet wider than the root ball for planting hydrangeas. So that your plant lies level with or just higher than the surrounding soil, match the depth of the hole to the size of the root ball. You can improve water drainage away from the plant’s base by making a small mound.
The best way to grow hydrangeas
Simple propagation methods can multiply a single hydrangea into several more. The optimal time to layer bigleaf and panicle hydrangeas is in the early to mid-summer. You only need to:
- Close to your hydrangea plant, make a tiny trench.
- Bend a branch such that the middle of the branch meets the earth in the trench (six to 12 inches of branch should extend past the trench).
- Where the branch meets the trench soil, make scuff marks on the bark.
- After the trench is filled, cover it with a paver, brick, or stone.
- The branch can be transplanted to a different area once it has established its own root system over time.
Hydrangeas with smooth or oakleaf leaves produce new growth from underground stems. Simply separate the baby plant from the main plant by digging it up. After then, it can be moved to a new spot.
How do I plant a hydrangea in a pot?
If you’ve ever received a hydrangea in a foil-wrapped pot, you likely loved it for a few of weeks before seeing it sadly wilt. You might conclude from it that hydrangeas are poor container plants.
Most hydrangeas that are given in pots as gifts do poorly because they are kept indoors for too long. Others perish because they were grown in a greenhouse and are not cold hardy in your region of the country, even if they are planted outside.
However, hydrangeas can make wonderful potted plants if you choose wisely. What you should know is as follows.
Potted Hydrangea
You can utilize hydrangeas in containers in your garden on stands, decks, or patios. This plant looks classy perched atop an antique column.
- Choose a location for the hydrangeas first. You may move them around, which is one of the benefits of growing them in pots. This also makes it simpler to provide hydrangeas with the ideal growing circumstances because many of them like morning sun and afternoon shade. Additionally, you can arrange them to beautify a patio or other area for a celebration or special event.
- If your pots won’t stay in the same spot all the time, search for containers with wheels on the bottom or think about durable, rolling plant stands. Don’t forget that after adding dirt and plants, containers can become rather heavy, and soaking them can make them even heavier.
- For your hydrangea, pick a large container with a diameter of at least 18 to 20 inches. The plant commonly wilts in small pots like the one your gift hydrangea arrived in since they typically dry out too quickly. Drill drainage holes into the bottom of your container if there aren’t any already. Rotting can result from water that accumulates around the roots.
- Next, pick a variety that is advised for your area. (This is a general guideline for growing any plant well.) To choose the best types for your yard, read plant tags or conduct online study. Some hydrangea varieties can grow in USDA zones 3 and 9, while the majority are hardy in zones 4 to 8.
- Although using miniature hydrangeas in pots isn’t required, you might wish to if you have a small yard. Not only do hydrangeas grow tall, but they also become bushy. If not, prepare to prune your plants as they develop. Be careful when conducting your research; see if your variety blooms on new or old wood. You’ll lose the flowers for the following year if you prune at the incorrect time of year.
- Use high-quality potting soil that contains organic materials rather than regular garden soil. If you want the hydrangea to continue growing, don’t plant it higher or deeper than it was in the pot it came in. Make sure there is space below the pot’s rim so you can water.
- To get rid of air pockets, gently compact the dirt close to the roots.
- Water your hydrangea well whenever the top inch or so of the potting soil feels dry. But being underwater is preferable to being overwatered. When they are thirsty, hydrangeas may wilt to let you know. However, this can stress them out, so check them every other day or so. You’ll eventually get a sense for how frequently to water. In times of drought or extreme heat, you might need to increase your watering.
- Although hydrangeas don’t require a lot of fertilizer, you can feed your plants once or twice a year with a commercially available composted manure, a 10-10-10 granular fertilizer, or a slow-release balanced fertilizer. If you reside in a warm environment, wait until after July or August to fertilize. Gardeners in the north can get away with applying fertilizer just once, in June or July. Feeding hydrangeas later, when they should be starting to go dormant for the winter, promotes fragile, fresh growth.
- If your plant already appears to be ill or unhealthy, don’t fertilize it—you’ll just increase its stress. Try to solve the issue instead.
Can a hydrangea be grown from a flower?
Selecting a stem for cutting is the first stage in the process of rerooting hydrangea cuttings. For hydrangea propagation in the early fall, pick a stem that is at least 6 inches (15 cm) long, has no flowers, and is fresh growth. The stem of a new growth will be greener than an old growth. Be mindful that the entire shrub may be made up of new growth if you live in a colder region where the hydrangea dies back to the ground.
Take a sharp pair of shears and cut the stem off just below a leaf node after choosing a stem to propagate the hydrangea. A set of leaves will develop at a leaf node. The hydrangea cutting should have at least one more set of leaves above the chosen leaf node and be at least 4 inches (10 cm) long. Cut the cutting off the stem.
The cutting should then be stripped of all but the top set of leaves. There should only be two leaves left on the cutting. Crosswise divide the two remaining leaves (not lengthwise).
Use rooting hormone to coat the cutting’s tip, if it is available. Hydrangea shrubs can still be effectively propagated without rooting hormone, however it will boost your chances.
Place the clipping now in wet potting soil. Ensure that the plastic bag does not touch the hydrangea cutting’s leaves as you cover the pot with it.
Place the pot in a shaded area away from the sun. Every few days, check the hydrangea cutting to make sure the soil is staying damp. The cutting will be rooted and your hydrangea propagation will be finished in two to four weeks.
That is all there is to know about hydrangea propagation. You can begin propagating hydrangeas for your yard or for friends and family with a little care and work.