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.

Signs of Iron Deficiency in Plants

Today while out in the garden I noticed that many of my plant's leaves were yellow.  When I looked closer I saw that the yellow leaves had dark green veins.  I suspect that my plants have an iron deficiency, also called chlorosis.  I suspected that the fertilizer that I used in early spring had washed away due to the heavy rains we had in May.

I picked up some miracle grow liquefied that was ready to use at the garden store and attached it to my garden hose and sprayed the flower garden beds.  The liquid fertilizer contained iron and zinc and if my diagnosis of the plants is correct then the leaves should turn green after the fertilizer treatment. 

For best results fertilize your plant, flowers, and vegetables every two weeks with the liquid feed.

Note: When leaves turn yellow and have dark veins is also an indication that the plant is suffering from stress and or a virus.  

Photo Attribution: http://www.colostate.edu/Dept/CoopExt/Adams/gh/cbmv.html

Transplanting Perennials During Growing Season

When it comes to planting and transplanting perennials I prefer to plant in the fall or spring months. The weather is more suitable in the spring, cooler days and the rainy season provides the hydration that newly planted perennials need to develop a strong root and to grow into healthy plants.  That is not to say that you cannot transplant or plant in the summer.  It can be done but the summer plants need tender loving care.  

Today I received word that all of my foundation plants needed to be moved; Hosta garden with fern and toad lilies.  My black-eyed Susan and my rose garden also need to be moved 10 feet away from my home's foundation. In the front I have my Liriope border grass also needs to be transplanted, presently it is growing next to the sidewalk and is in the line of fire from construction workers. 

My yard and garden have been set for the last several years and now I need to transplant 30 hosta, 12 ferns, 24 liriope, 12 toad lilies, 6 roses and a 10 x21 square feet wildflower garden and all plantings must be completed by the end of June or they will be trampled by excavating equipment and foot traffic.

The first thing that I did was look over my preexisting garden to see if there was any room for perennial transplants.  There was enough room in the back garden to transplant the wildflowers.   

The hostas would be moved into a garden that will encircle an oak tree. Rose bushes will be planted in clay pots and the border grass will be given to my neighbor so they can plant along their walkway.

Planting:

When it comes to planting in the summer I prefer to transplant in the late afternoon or on a cloudy day.  This will reduce transplant shock. 
  

I also think it is a good idea to plan to transplant on a day when rain is in the forecast.  Tonight there is a 40% chance of rain so I am transplanting perennials.

TLC

A perennial that is planted during the summer months requires tender loving care.   I recommend planting in well-drained soil that has been amended with compost.  Break up the clumps of soil so that the soil is loose and mix with all-purpose of continuous-release plant food.  

 After perennials have been planted apply 3 to 4 inches of organic mulch.  This mulch will aid in keeping the roots cool and retain moisture. 

Set up a soaking hose to keep the soil evenly moist.  A faucet timer is helpful as transplants in summer need a lot of hydration.  I water for 1 hour in the morning and 1 hour in the late afternoon. (soaking hose is s a  slow drip and will keep the roots of your plants hydrated

Check the soil around the perennials daily to make sure it is evenly moist.  


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