Best Time to Fertilize Hydrangeas

  

My brother gave me a beautiful hydrangea plant last year and I took the steps to learn as much as I could about how to care for and when to fertilize.

The best time to fertilize a hydrangea is seasonally.  Late winter or early spring when new growth appears. Then again in May or when summer begins again in July to help the hydrangea flowers continue to bloom throughout the summer months.

 

Here is a photo of the hydrangea that I planted in the ground last year.  You can see that there is new growth.  So, I fertilized it with Espoma organic soil acidifier because it would turn my hydrangeas blue. 

 

You can also fertilize your hydrangeas with spent coffee grounds.  So pour yourself a cup of coffee and save the grounds for your hydrangeas.  I lightly sprinkle the coffee grounds on the soil around my hydrangeas plants.

Hydrangea Fungal Disease Prevention

Hydrangeas are easy to grow however you do need to take steps to prevent fungal disease. Here are some garden tips on how to take care of your hydrangea and prevent Fungal Disease.

This past spring my brother gave me a beautiful hydrangea.  It was very healthy with large blooms.  When the blooms were spent I did prune to remove the old blooms and fertilized the plant to encourage new growth.

Everything was great until it rained for three days and then the temperature dropped and the cool damp weather caused my hydrangea to develop brown spots on the leaves and stems. 

Two days ago

 

it rained overnight, followed by cloudy cool weather. Then a day of heat an humidity and the fungus spread. 

The brown spots were an indication that my hydrangea was infected with the fungal disease Botrytis blight.  

 

Had I realized that the change of weather could make my hydrangea suspected of fungus I would have brought my container-grown hydrangea indoors and set it in my controlled temperature room that has a grow light.  However, I did not so the hydrangea suffered when the temperature changed. (hard rain, cool temperatures’ then high humidity all in 4 days)

I spoke to the garden center where the hydrangea plant was purchased and they told me that you can prevent this fungal disease by watering the hydrangea at the roots and not watering the flowers or the leaves. 

Also, you must make sure there is good air circulation so don’t plant/grow your hydrangea close to other plants, a wooden fence, or a wall.

 

Since I am growing my hydrangea in a container I did prune to remove the leaves that showed signs of fungal disease.  I also set the plant on a cement pedestal that would allow the hydrangea to have excellent airflow.

 

I shopped for a full-spectrum organic product that would treat common garden diseases, blight, black spots, powdery mildew, and peach leaf curl.  That way I could use the fungicide on other plants. 

 

I bought Bonide Captain Jack's Copper Fungicide, a 32 oz Ready-to-Use Spray for Organic Gardening, and Controls Common Diseases.  The product is ready to use, but you do have to shake well before spraying on the stems and top and bottom of the leaves.  Best to spray when rain is not forecasted.  Directions recommend repeat spraying in 14 days. 

Tips for Growing Hydrangea

Hydrangea is an old-fashioned flowering shrub that is eye appealing when grown as a single accent plant or as a border hedge.  

The flowers are large and are made up of tiny clusters of flowers.  These flowers have no fragrance but the scent does not matter because the entire hydrangea plant is beautiful.   

There are many types of Hydrangea shrubs as well as flower colors; white, blue, pink, and a lavender color that is gorgeous.  Choose the hydrangea flower that will compliment your yard and garden color scheme and you will enjoy a long-lived flower from mid-summer through fall. 

Growing Tips

When it comes to determining the soil for a hydrangea you will need to test the PH.  The Nikko blue flower needs acidic soil and the pink flowering hydrangea needs alkaline soil.  Since it is imperative to provide these flowers with the right soil I think it is best to choose one variety of hydrangeas. 

The best time to plant a hydrangea is in the spring after the threat of frost has passed, but that is not to say that you cannot plant one during the growing season.  If you intend on planting in the summer then provide the hydrangea with tender loving care; keep the soil evenly moist and plant on the north side of your home or under a shade tree. Hydrangeas are sensitive to heat and drought and will show stress with wilted leaves and flowers. 

Plant the hydrangea in well-drained soil that is amended with organic matter.  Choose a growing site that has morning sun and afternoon shade followed by late in the day part sun. 

 

Water well after the hydrangea is planted; keep the soil around the hydrangea evenly moist but not wet from spring to fall frost.  

I water my hydrangeas twice a day with a weeper hose.  I set it up on a timer for 7am to 9am.  Deep watering will benefit the hydrangea.  

Caring for Hydrangea

Apply organic mulch; wood chips shredded bark or pine needles around the hydrangea to help keep the roots cool and to retain moisture. 

Fertilize annually in June for beautiful blooms.

Tips:

The hydrangea flowers are long-lived and they can be cut for a bouquet or to be used in a dried floral arrangement. 

Leave the dried hydrangea flowers throughout the winter months and they will add interest to your garden.  Here is one of my photographs:

Dried Hydrangea flowers in November

Hydrangeas are not drought tolerant the plant will become stressed if the soil is dry. Both leaves and flowers will wilt.