Hydrangeas are adored by southern gardeners. There is a hydrangea variety and style for every location, whether it is large or little, pink or blue, bigleaf or panicle. Gardeners may start to question when it is too late to grow hydrangeas in the South as they anticipate the upcoming flowering season and decide what to put in the garden (and when!). Continue reading to learn the answer to that question, some recommendations for planting hydrangeas, and a few other tips to keep in mind so that the plants take root successfully and develop healthily in your garden.
First hydrangea planting advice? Before the first frost, sow your seeds. Hydrangeas do best when planted in the spring or fall since they thrive in more temperate climates than they do in extremely hot or cold ones. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System claims that “The optimal time to plant is in the fall because the plant has many months to develop a new root system before blooming. The next ideal planting time is early spring. If planting in the summer or for any new plants in a raised planting, more care should be taken to water them.”
It’s time to get your hands dirty after scheduling hydrangea planting on your calendar. According to the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, “The planting hole should only be as deep as the root ball of the plant and 2 feet broad. Instead of digging individual planting holes in dense soil, think about creating a planting bed. Compost should be added to any hydrangea planting to form a mound. This elevated planting enables greater root drainage.” In order to maintain your hydrangeas happy and healthy throughout the year, it’s crucial to keep them adequately watered in well-draining soil during colder months.
What month 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.
Can hydrangeas be grown in South Carolina?
A more recent kind of hydrangea called Endless Summer keeps blooming throughout the spring and summer.
In South Carolina, where traditional bigleaf hydrangeas adorn landscapes from the mountains to the ocean, hydrangeas are quite popular.
Bigleaf hydrangea is one of the few flowering plants that has a summer impact (Hydrangea macrophylla). This most conventional of hydrangeas holds special meaning for me because of childhood recollections of family members’ gardens. They were easily passed down and shared with friends and neighbors since they were simple to root and transplant.
Another rare flower color that hydrangeas provide is blue. Bigleaf hydrangeas, including the mophead and lacecap varieties, can have flowers that range in hue from deep blue to greenish white to hot pink. It’s not uncommon for a gardener to get a piece of a plant with blue flowers as a gift, only to discover that it blooms pink in their own garden. The hydrangea’s relationship to the soil it is placed in is the main cause of that. When there is enough aluminum present in the soil, hydrangeas that thrive in acidic soils (pH 5 to 5.5) produce blue blossoms. The key ingredient in creating blue flower color is aluminum, but hydrangeas are unable to absorb it at higher soil pHs. Therefore, the flowers will tend toward pink in less acidic soil (pH of 6 or above) or when aluminum is deficient.
Lime or other nutrients in excess, notably phosphorus, can prevent the uptake of aluminum, resulting in pink flowers as opposed to blue ones. A soil test can help you discover the reason why your hydrangeas are flowering blue, pink, or anywhere in between.
If you want pink blooms, apply lime as recommended by the findings of your soil test. If your soil does not naturally generate blue flowers, your soil report might advise adding aluminum sulfate, a granular substance that lowers pH and supplies aluminum for blue flower production. Applying too much aluminum sulfate can harm many plants since it is poisonous at high concentrations.
The main worry I hear from hydrangea growers is failure to bloom, which is second only to flower color. The traditional kinds, which have a single spring bloom, flower on “old wood, indicating that the previous year’s late summer and fall are when their flower buds develop. The spring show is diminished or eliminated by heavy pruning done between fall and spring that removes those buds.
Plants can lose their buds if there is a late freeze when they start to leaf out. When a late freeze is predicted, you can try to protect them by covering them with burlap or a cloth sheet. Although it is not a guarantee, it is still better than nothing.
However, by carefully regulating your pruning, you can safeguard developing buds. Remove dead stems and blooms for dormant pruning in the early spring, just as the buds are starting to swell. In order to preserve the potential flowers they hold, cut off any branches or branch tips that don’t have swollen buds. Just after the blossoms have faded, trim the plant if you need to lessen its size.
The most recent remontant hydrangea varieties, such as Endless Summer and Penny Mac, flower on a “and are more tolerant new wood. New buds will grow in their place for a later bloom even if you clip off spring flower buds or lose them to cold.
There are countless types and variations of hydrangeas, including those with the classic mophead appearance and lacecap hydrangeas like Blue Bird. The native oakleaf hydrangea of the Southeast blends well into a more natural scene. The cultivars Snow Queen and Alice are well-liked.
In order to defend themselves from the strong summer heat, hydrangeas want moist but well-drained soil, with early sun and afternoon shade. Once a week or when the first signs of wilting are noticed, water the soil beneath bushes early in the morning or using drip irrigation. As new growth starts to appear in the spring, give them a general-purpose, slow-release fertilizer, and then add additional nitrogen as required. Fertilize not after July.
Don’t forget to cut some flowers for inside enjoyment. To extend the exhibition, build dried arrangements after hanging them upside down to dry inside.
Can I currently plant hydrangeas?
Hydrangeas can be planted at any time, but spring and fall are the ideal seasons. They will require a lot of care to survive if you plant in the middle of the summer. Put and Grow. Once you’ve selected the right location (preferably one with soil that drains well), dig a hole that is twice as wide as the hydrangea’s container.
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.
Where to plant hydrangeas:
- A location with morning sun and afternoon shade is ideal. They’ll take more sun if you reside further north (possibly full sun all day).
- Think about the mature size and give it lots of room to expand.
- Pick a location with great drainage. If necessary, add compost to the soil.
- Plants won’t thrive if they are planted too close to a tree because of root competition and a lack of sunshine.
- Planting should not be done in open locations where strong winds could snap stems.
How to plant hydrangeas:
- By amending your soil with up to 15% organic matter and an all-purpose slow-release fertilizer, you may give your plant a good start (use half of what is recommended).
- Plant a little higher than you did while you were in the nursery container.
- In order to give the roots plenty of freedom to expand, the planting hole should be two to three times broader than the root ball.
- Before planting, gently untie the roots from their pots.
- Add the modified dirt back in and thoroughly water it.
- Planting in groups requires a minimum distance of 3 feet (more, if planting larger varieties).
Planting hydrangeas in pots:
- Put potting soil in a bag rather than garden dirt.
- Slow-release fertilizer should be added.
- For watering, leave 1 to 2 inches between the soil’s top and the pot’s rim.
- Make sure the pot includes space for the plant to grow and drainage holes.
Can you grow hydrangeas in the South?
There are more than 70 different species of hydrangea in the world, and some are particularly suited to practically every garden and temperature, even the south.
According to Southern Living, the Oakleaf Hydrangea variant of Hydrangea quercifolia, a native of the low country, is the best variety to grow in southern states. They are a plant that even the most inexperienced gardeners can easily grow because they can withstand the harsher temperatures and sunlight typical of the deep south. In fact, the summer heat is when they develop and look their best.
The specialists at Miracle-Gro claim that the lovely blossoms are one of just two hydrangea species that are indigenous to the United States. These lovely plants have white florets in the summer that become light pink in the fall. In the fall, their foliage also changes into eye-catching orange and burgundy leaves, and as winter approaches, the blossoms take on a more golden hue.
They are a well-liked choice for companion planting. The species thrives especially well when grown among other southern favorites including camellias, red maples, and magnolias. They also have a lengthy bloom season, so they will look stunning in your garden all through the summer and fall.
By selecting from a range of kinds present within the species, you may personalize your landscape. Hydrangeas with “Snowflake” Oakleaf are very beautiful. They pile fresher white flowers on top of older ones that turn pinker, giving the arrangement an eye-catching layered appearance. The “Harmony” variety, which is also well-liked and renowned for its lush appearance The clusters of those blooms can reach a length of 12 inches.
Stock up on these plants the next time you visit your neighborhood nursery—they’re a lovely way to expand your garden and honor your area.
Can hydrangeas survive in the shade?
In dappled shade that is neither very sunny nor overly dark, wet, well-drained soil is excellent for hydrangeas. Avoid sites that face south, especially if the soil is quite dry. Grow the climbing hydrangea on a north-facing wall or in a highly shaded area. Hydrangea petiolaris subsp. anomala.
Can hydrangeas be planted in February?
The optimal time to transplant hydrangeas is right after the autumn dormancy of the plants. This indicates that all of the flowers have withered away and that most or all of the leaves have fallen.
- The optimum time to move hydrangea shrubs in colder locations is in November, when the bushes are dormant but the ground is not completely frozen.
- You can transplant hydrangeas in warmer regions where the ground doesn’t freeze between December and February.
While these are the ideal times to move hydrangea bushes, you may actually do so at any time of the year as long as it is not the hottest part of the year.
Do my hydrangeas need to be protected from frost?
Here is professional guidance on how to put hydrangeas to bed for the winter season from guest bloggers Megan Nichols and Jessie Jacobson of Tonkadale Greenhouse in Minnetonka, Minnesota. (They may have more hydrangea trees and shrubs in their zip code than almost anywhere else in the United States, so they are aware!)
The temperature has dropped, and autumnal symbols can be seen everywhere. The garden needs to be put to bed soon. Hydrangeas reward us with large, stunning, and prodigious blooms all season long. You may say that they are givers. It’s time to return the favor now. It’s time to tuck the hydrangeas in with kisses and wishes for sweaty dreams.
Here in Minnesota, our moods can fluctuate as drastically as the unpredictably harsh winter weather extremes, snowfall, and freeze/thaw cycles. Despite the fact that many hydrangeas are regarded as hardy, all of this can confuse them. To survive the winter and come back bigger and better the next year, they require some care. Although hydrangeas cultivated in warmer areas don’t need as much post-season primping as those grown in our zone, there isn’t a single thing that wouldn’t appreciate a little tender loving care right now.
Utilize these suggestions to get the most out of your hydrangeas so that you can be the one to present at this time next season!
(Is pruning in order? No and yes. Here is our recommendation for which hydrangeas should be pruned right away and which should wait until spring.)
Don’t Stop Watering
Make a commitment! I shall water my hydrangeas till the earth freezes solid, you declare while raising your right hand. really good Hydrangeas are thirsty plants by nature, so it’s essential to give them regular, deep watering. We don’t need to get all linguistically nerdy right now, but their name literally means “hydration.” Winter’s cool, dry winds completely drain the moisture from the vegetation, and hydrangeas don’t use lip balm. It need not be heated in order to be dry!
If a freeze is not a concern where you live, water deeply but sparingly during the winter depending on how much rain you get.
This is how: Making a small hole in the side of a 5-gallon bucket, filling it with water, and placing it at the base of the plant while it slowly drips out of the bucket is one method. Another option is to lay your hose at the base of the plant for about an hour with the water turned on to a gentle drip.
Give Them One Last Hearty Meal
Composting your hydrangea beds in the fall will give them a boost for the upcoming growing season. Everyone feels better after a full night’s sleep and a filling breakfast. This also applies to hydrangeas. After a lengthy winter’s hibernation, they will be ravenous for some nice compost. Compost can decompose during the winter if it is used now, making nutrients easily accessible in spring. A few inches of compost is advisable even in regions without a deep cold. Only compost is being discussed here! Don’t give your hydrangeas fertilizers that are high in nitrogen because this can encourage them to produce new foliage growth.
This is how: Before laying down mulch in colder climates, top dress the area with compost, well-aged manure, or other organic material after the ground has frozen. This organic fertilizer, which is rich in nutrients, will decompose over the winter, making nutrients available to the plant in the spring. Apply compost in the late fall or early winter in zones that are warmer.
Mulch Matters
Mulching helps keep moisture in and weeds out in warmer climates while shielding the crown and roots of your hydrangeas from harsh winter temperatures in colder climates. Snow serves as a natural insulator if everything goes as it should. Plants suffer during strange winters with little snowfall and extreme temperature changes. Apply a thick layer of mulch around the plant’s base to offer hydrangeas the best chance of flourishing. While decorative mulch is useful, straw, marsh hay, or dead leaves are suggested instead.
This is how: Apply a 6–8 layer of mulch once the ground has frozen (or late fall or early winter in zones with milder winters). This shields plants from the heave-ho of springtime freeze/thaw cycles, which can yank them out of the ground. Inviting mice to make this their snug winter home, causing rotting and illness, or tricking the plant into believing it’s time to bud, are all consequences of mulching too early. Be patient; you don’t have to do things early simply because your neighbors are.
Keep Them Cozy
The amount of winter cold determines whether or not hydrangeas require protection. Winter protection is not required in zone 7 if the air temperature stays above zero degrees. Wrap or totally cover barely hardy hydrangeas in chilly areas. This is crucial for plants that bloom on old wood, such hydrangeas with mop heads and large leaves (Hydrangea macrophylla). The most recent types of mop head/big leaf hydrangeas, however, bloom on both fresh and old wood, so it’s important to keep that in mind. In their favor and ours! Hardier hydrangea varieties like the paniculata and arborescens don’t often require additional winter care, although really low temperatures might cause its limbs to die back. Consider covering if a colder than usual winter is forecast.
This is how: Wrap plants loosely in a few layers of burlap, making sure to tie it off with strong twine. Making a mulch mountain and covering the majority of the plant is an additional choice. Smaller, newly planted specimens respond well to this technique.
There’s Still Time To Plant!
The first three varieties of hydrangeas can be grown here in Zone 4; oak leaf hydrangeas can also be grown in warmer climates (zones 5 to 9). The optimal time to plant shrubs is in the fall. Just make sure to do all of the aforementioned things, including watering and mulching.
Here are some of our favorites that you can plant now for stunning blooms the following spring.
Panicle Hydrangeas
These late blooming hydrangeas, sometimes known as PeeGee hydrangeas (summer into early fall). They are covered in elongated, conical flower heads that emerge white or green and blush into pinks and peaches as the season goes on.