How to Plant and Grow Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas are a well established, if a little old fashioned part of gardening culture within Northern climates. Plants are relatively hardy, will tolerate a wider range of conditions and provide ample flowing over an extended period making a specimen suitable for most gardens and situations.

Were and How to Plant a Hydrangea

Fortunately Hydrangeas are one of the garden’s less fussy occupants from a siting perspective. Typically Hydrangeas enjoy partial shade and a moist soil, thus allowing the gardener to plant a profuse flowing plant in less than optimal conditions. Thus considered one should, however, avoid total shade and ‚”boggy” conditions which will stunt flowering. Generally a rich soil is beneficial and as such one may consider adding extra organic material into a bed before planting.

Colour is also an issue for many would-be Hydrangea owners. In some instances such as those plants which exhibit white flowers siting and soil is irrelevant, at least with regard to colour. However many gardeners look forward to either a vivid blue or pink display. In order to achieve optimum results one should consider that an acidic soil is required for blue flowering varieties whilst an alkaline soil will benefit pink flowering varieties. In general siting a plant in the appropriate situation in the first place will give better results than trying to modify the soil in retrospect.

Hydrangeas are generally hardy and will tolerate the average winter, this said extreme cold winds or a severe winter may damage bud production and leaf growth, ultimately leading to a poor flowering year. As such it is recommended that completely exposed sites be avoided.

Maintaining and Pruning a Hydrangea

In general Hydrangeas should be pruned back harshly in the spring, after the frosts have passed but before growth begins in earnest again. Pruning will stop the plant from becoming straggly and top heavy over time, as well as encouraging denser flowing. Pruning should not take place in the autumn; this is not only for the plant’s benefit but one should consider that the dead ‚”mop heads” of the Hydrangea are aesthetically pleasing during the winter especially in icy or frosty conditions.

Hydrangeas will grow vigorously, however in order to do so plants are both thirsty and hungry. Specimens should be watered regularly during the summer even if planted in the ground. Regular feeding with a general purpose shrub feed is also recommended; alternately a slow release fertiliser may be added to the bed so as to save time. Improving the soil with organic material early during the spring may also be beneficial in retaining nutrients in the soil and generally making for a richer growing medium.

For many the pleasure of the Hydrangea is its deep blue flowers, assuming a blue variety is chosen. In order to grow blue flowers the plant makes use of aluminium in the soil; in general the depth of colour can be increased by adding materials which acidify the soil. To do this a specialist aluminium compound may be bought from a garden centre; an alternative approach is to dig in coffee grounds and spent tea leaves into the soil.