Ultimate Guide to Hydrangeas: Planting, Care, and Maintenance

As the summer season reaches its peak, gardeners everywhere are turning their attention to one of the most highly-anticipated flowering shrubs: hydrangeas. These beautiful and diverse shrubs are loved for their showy blooms, which come in a variety of stunning colors. Hydrangeas are known for their rapid growth, with larger varieties reaching heights of up to 15 feet. Thriving in growing zones 3 to 9, hydrangeas are low-maintenance plants that, with proper care, will return year after year.

To ensure your hydrangeas thrive, we reached out to gardening experts for their tips on planting, pruning, propagating, and caring for these striking shrubs. Kip McConnell from the Southern Living Plant Collection, Adrienne Roethling from the Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden, and Melinda Myers, a gardening expert, shared their insights on how to care for hydrangeas.

Planting hydrangeas in early spring or fall when temperatures are mild is key. Make sure to select a location with the appropriate sun or shade exposure for the variety you’re growing. Dig a hole twice the width of the pot, roughen the sides, and set the plant in at the same depth as in the nursery pot, backfilling and watering thoroughly.

Proper care for hydrangeas includes meeting their light, soil, water, temperature, and fertilizer needs. Hydrangeas have different light requirements depending on the species and variety, with many thriving in full sun to partial shade. They prefer well-drained soil with organic matter and regular watering. Fertilize with a general all-purpose fertilizer twice a year and adjust the soil pH to influence flower color.

Pruning hydrangeas depends on whether they bloom on old wood or new wood. Old wood varieties should be pruned in the summer after blooming, while new wood varieties benefit from late winter or early spring pruning. Propagating hydrangeas is done by taking cuttings of branches without flower buds and rooting them in well-draining soil.

Common problems with hydrangeas include powdery mildew, bacterial leaf spot, aphids, and beetles. These issues can be prevented and treated with proper care and maintenance. Winter care is important for hydrangeas, with watering well before the ground freezes and applying compost for nutrients. Protecting vulnerable roots with mulch and covering branches in case of snow or ice is also recommended.

Changing the color of hydrangeas can be achieved by adjusting the soil pH. Testing the pH and adding sulfur or aluminum sulfate for blue blooms or lime for pink blooms can influence the flower color. Harvesting hydrangeas for flower arrangements should be done when the flower head is open and fully developed. Monthly care requirements for hydrangeas vary, from pruning and fertilizing to keeping pests away and maintaining proper soil moisture.

With the expert tips and advice provided, you can ensure your hydrangeas thrive and bloom beautifully year after year. So, get ready to enjoy the stunning beauty of hydrangeas in your garden this summer!