Hydrangeas are very popular summer flowers in the garden. They are easy to care for, impress with beautiful blooms in attractive colors and bring the charm of a country idyll. Here are a few tips on planting, caring for, fertilizing and pruning hydrangeas, along with advice on how to influence the flower color.
Keeping Hydrangeas Healthy in the Garden
The variety of hydrangeas is enormous. Common types include mophead hydrangeas, panicle hydrangeas, lacecap hydrangeas, oakleaf hydrangeas and velvet hydrangeas. They differ in flower shape and care requirements, so keep this in mind when choosing plants. For successful hydrangeas in the garden, location is important. Most species grow best in partial shade, preferably in a sheltered spot. The soil should be loose and rich in humus. Watering is especially important: hydrangeas should never dry out and need plenty of moisture.
Hydrangeas in the Garden: Fertilizing, Pruning and Wintering
Fertilizing strengthens hydrangeas and is usually done in spring and again in early summer, between May and July. Choose a solid fertilizer with a low phosphorus content. If you do not have a special hydrangea fertilizer, fertilizer for azaleas and rhododendrons is also suitable.
How you prune hydrangeas depends on the variety. For mophead and lacecap hydrangeas, remove only frozen shoots in spring and avoid heavy pruning, because these types form the buds for the next year in autumn. Panicle hydrangeas, smooth hydrangeas and oakleaf hydrangeas tolerate stronger pruning, usually in autumn or late winter. Cut too little rather than too much; otherwise you risk having no flowers in spring.
Hydrangeas are robust plants, especially panicle hydrangeas. Even so, light winter protection can be useful. Cover the root area with branches or a thick layer of mulch before hard frost arrives.
Blue Hydrangea Color
Hydrangeas have an impressive feature: depending on the soil’s pH value, their flower color can change. In acidic soil, some hydrangeas bloom blue; in neutral soil they tend to bloom pink. If you want to encourage blue flowers, add two tablespoons of aluminum sulfate to the watering can and apply it before the buds open in spring.
As cut flowers, hydrangeas bring beautiful color into the house. When the blooming season is over, you can hang the stems upside down and dry them. The dried flower heads make attractive decorations and are especially popular in autumn arrangements.
miranda_shida
Yolande A. Bow
Lincoln Matheson
Anna Lohan
