You asked, I listened! Every year when my yard is in bloom, I get hundreds of questions about how to grow hydrangeas. Today, I’ve rounded up all the tips and tricks to help you grow the hydrangeas of your dreams!
Hydrangeas are such a showy flowering shrub, known for their stunning blooms and ability to brighten up any garden or landscape. I’ve always thought they add a touch of elegance and old-fashioned charm to my outdoor space. They happen to be one of my favorite flowers (if you couldn’t tell) and they cover the entire perimeter of my house and garden. I love that they come back bigger and better every year!
Tips for growing hydrangeas
1. How much sunlight do hydrangeas need?
Hydrangeas vary in the amount of sun and shade they prefer, depending on the variety. Full sun (at least 6 hours a day) with afternoon shade worked best for ours. Too much sunlight can cause the delicate blooms of some hydrangeas to fade. Understanding the specific sunlight requirements of your chosen variety of hydrangea is vital!! Don’t be afraid to ask at your local garden center and monitor the light conditions of the area you’re planting them in before you do. Plant hydrangeas in fall or spring.
2. How to grow large hydrangeas
As you can see from my photos, my hydrangeas are EXPLOITING! I think I can boil it down to three things:
- Correct distance. Spacing your hydrangeas when planting is essential to avoid crowding, which can stunt their growth. We left about 5 feet between each of our hydrangeas (center to center).
- Spring pruning. Regularly remove dead or weak stems and prune lightly in early spring to promote new growth and help the plant bloom.
- Hydrangea cages. I can’t begin to tell you what a difference this has made. We purchased heavy duty metal cages for our hydrangeas Margaret Valley Embellishment and it is the reason hydrangeas stand so tall. Before the cages, the heads of hydrangeas would get so heavy that they would partially fall off during the season (at which point no amount of twine tying can help). The cages were the best investment: we put them in the hydrangeas in the spring when they were cut and now they stay there all year: zero maintenance and the hydrangeas grow around the cages which support them perfectly in the summer. We have two different sizes of hydrangea cages: large (2.5 ft high x 3.5 ft wide) and small (2.5 ft high x 1.75 ft wide).
3. How much water and fertilizer do hydrangeas need?
If I had a dollar for how many times I’ve been asked about the correct water for hydrangeas…! Arguably, it is the most important thing to have a proper grip. Hydrangeas have moderate water needs (“hydra” means water) and require consistent moisture (not waterlogged). Regular steady watering, especially during dry hot periods, is essential. Water deeply to encourage deep root growth and consider using mulch to conserve moisture and control weeds. Fertilize hydrangeas once a year with a 15-30-15 formula or similar in the spring to help promote healthy, vibrant blooms!
4. How do you take care of hydrangeas in winter?
Winter care for hydrangeas really depends on the variety. Some types, like cord and ribbon hydrangeas, bloom on old wood (last year’s growth), while others, like smooth hydrangea (which includes the Incrediball variety we have), bloom on new wood (this year’s growth). .
To determine when to prune, determine your hydrangea’s bloom pattern. If it blooms on old wood, wait to prune it until it blooms in the summer. For varieties that bloom on new wood, prune in late winter or early spring before new growth appears. Since ours is the last, we cut them to the ground every fall and watch them magically grow in the spring.
5. What is the best variety of hydrangeas to grow?
Hydrangeas come in a variety of colors, sizes and shapes! I have planted many of these over the years, but none have competed with the Incrediball variety that we now have EVERYWHERE! They are more robust than the Annabelle variety and produce stunning large white flowers. I found this interesting article describing a number of beautiful varieties that you may wish to read.
In addition to the Incrediball hydrangeas, we also have two grafted strawberries and cream hydrangeas in our front yard that I also recommend: their blooms start out creamy white and turn a stunning shade of rosy pink during the summer.
Popular types of hydrangea include:
- Bigleaf (moffle and ribbon) – hydrangea macrophylla they are the ones that can change color from pink to blue or vice versa.
- Oak leaf
- Panicle (spotlight)
- Smooth: This is the type I have at home (Incrediball) and you can learn more about them here.
6. How to cut (and dry) hydrangeas
So, you’ve grown the most beautiful hydrangeas in your yard – now what? By all means, leave them on the bush to be admired, but I like to cut them and keep a fresh jar full around my house. Although when they start to wilt, I have the perfect hack to revive them too! Checkout: How to Revive Wilted Hydrangeas!
As if we all needed more reasons to love hydrangeas, they can be dried and preserved year-round. The easiest way to dry your hydrangeas is to remove the lower leaves and place the stems in a vase filled with water. As the water evaporates, the hydrangeas will gradually dry out! You can also hang them upside down in a cool, dry place to air dry.
7. Can you change colors on your hydrangeas?
YES! But not all varieties can do this. The variety we planted, Incrediball, only produces white flowers that turn green later in the summer.
Changing the color of your hydrangeas is possible for some varieties and the color is determined by the pH of the soil. The pH level affects the availability of aluminum in the soil, which in turn affects the color of the hydrangea flowers. You can control the color by changing the pH (see below). Anyone else feel like they are in science class or is it just me?!
Here are some methods to change the color of hydrangeas:
- Acidic soil for blue: To encourage blue to bloom, you need to create an acidic soil with a pH between 5.2 and 5.5. You can achieve this by adding sulfur or aluminum sulfate to the soil.
- Alkaline soil for roses: To promote pink flowers, you need to create an alkaline soil with a pH between 6.0 and 6.2. You can achieve this by applying garden lime or dolomite lime to the soil.
- How to Check Soil pH: It is important to check the pH of your soil before trying to change the color of hydrangeas. Soil pH test kits are available at garden centers or even online. By knowing your soil pH, you can determine the necessary adjustments to achieve your desired hydrangea color! And feel like a total wizard in the process…
To learn more visit here!
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