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The Best Info on How to Grow Hydrangeas
So the question is, how on Earth can you have a blog called The Homespun Hydrangea and not share some tips on growing hydrangeas? Well, you can’t. So let’s talk all about how to grow hydrangeas!
Here comes the warm weather after a very long winter. The last week or so has been crazy at The Hydrangea House, as we have been getting caught up on yard work that should’ve been done about 5 years ago.
Early spring and even early summer is always a great time to check on our landscaping and do any needed pruning and sprucing up. I decided our hydrangea shrubs were a great place to start.
Maybe it is the arrival of spring, maybe it is this new supplement I am taking, I don’t know but I have been hitting the landscaping hard.
Included in this new landscaping plan is more hydrangeas in the back yard, because up until this point my landscaping was sorta like a mullet: business in the front and party in the back. I have had it.
So the backyard is getting some love with a variety of hydrangeas as the focal point. Now that you know how wacko things have been, here are 7 tips for how to grow hydrangeas so you can try these beautiful blooms too!
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17 Tips on How to Grow Hydrangeas in Your Yard:
What kind of soil do hydrangeas like?
1. Give them yummy soil.
I have heard that you can get more colorful and vibrant hydrangeas if you give them nutrient rich soil. Mix some organic matter into your soil before planting to enrich it.
The mixing will also help loosen up the soil, which makes it easier for the roots to spread out and get cozy. Soil should overall be loose, well drained, and never muddy or clay like.
2. Check the pH levels of the soil.
The pH of the soil when it comes to hydrangeas is important. Checking the soil pH level may be a good idea because a level that is too high or too low can affect the plant. A simple soil test can help you determine if your soil is right for growing. If not, don’t worry. There are steps you can take to amend the soil as seen below!
3. Amend the soil.
To make your hydrangeas super happy, consider amending the soil. This means adding organic matter such as compost to the soil. This will help enrich it and add some much needed nutrients.
How deep should you plant hydrangea flowers?
4. Plant at the appropriate depth/width.
This is an important tip to remember when considering how to grow hydrangeas.
You should dig a hole that is slightly deeper/longer than the root ball of the plant. The width of the hole should be 2-3 times as wide as the root ball. Don’t skimp!
Do you want to be crammed into a bed you don’t fit into? Nope. So don’t do it to your hydrangeas. Give them lots of room to spread out.
How much sun do hydrangeas need?
5. They love morning sun.
Who doesn’t? Plant your hydrangeas where they will get morning sun and afternoon shade. This seems to be the combo they prefer, however they should still do well in an area that has partial shade or even full sun.
While they don’t require much shade, a little in the afternoon certainly helps.
Hydrangeas do not care for super hot weather, so keep this in mind when you plant. Some afternoon shade relief is important.
If you are in the United States, be sure you know your planting zone, colder climates and those with cold winters may need to rethink their planting strategy.
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6. Don’t crowd them.
See the theme here? Hydrangeas love their space. While you might want a nice and full flower garden, you need to let it happen naturally. Your plants should be spaced at least 3 square feet apart.
Don’t crowd them together or they could harm each other. This is one of my favorite tips for how to grow hydrangeas.
Do you need to fertilize hydrangeas?
7. Fertilizer isn’t necessary.
Whaaaaat? No fertilizer? Nope. When you give hydrangeas fertilizer, it actually encourages leaf growth at the expense of your blooms. That isn’t what you want.
Instead, stir in plenty of organic matter into the soil to feed the plant and don’t worry about chemical feeds. If you really wish to give them a fertilizer boost, do so when the weather is cooler such as early fall or late spring.
8. How much water do hydrangeas need?
Hydrangeas do love to drink however, so be sure they are getting at least 1 inch of water per week applied directly at the base of the plant.
A layer of mulch around the base can help the roots retain moisture between watering.
Keep an eye on the soil, and make sure the plant is enjoying moist soil at all times. They love plenty of water. The best time to water hydrangeas is first thing in the morning before the sun is too hot. This allows the plant to absorb most of the water.
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RELATED: Are you short on space? SeeHowto Grow Hydrangeas in Containers. It is easier than you may think. Find this info here.
9. Prune as needed.
Pruning can help encourage growth and the best way to do this is to cut back the old and damaged stems down to the base.
While with most plants you deadhead them when blooms are spent, you shouldn’t do that with hydrangeas. Leave the flower heads in place. Removing old wood to make room for new wood and new growth is key.
Only prune when the plant is dormant typically at the very start or very end of the growing season.
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10. Know your hydrangea variety.
If you want to know how to grow hydrangeas, you have to know what variety you are working with and its needs. It is important to know what hydrangea variety you have chosen so you know how to prune it and offer over all care.
Pruning may vary based on the type. Some varieties are best when pruned early spring. The Oakleaf Hydrangea is the perfect example of this.
The Panicle Hydrangea on the other hand likes to be pruned in late winter and early spring. Knowing your hydrangea plants by name and variety can help you prune correctly.
Here are the various hydrangea varieties and species of hydrangeas you have to choose from. Many of these are available in North America at your local greenhouse or gardening center. You can even find them on Amazon.
It seems as though new varieties are popping up all the time, giving you many options! With so many types of hydrangeas, you might have a hard time deciding. Here are a few to choose from:
- Oakleaf Hydrangea: This variety has oakleaf shaped leaves and is a common variety.
- Panicle Hydrangeas: This variety blooms gorgeous, large white flower clusters that turn into pink blooms later in the season.
- Hydrangea Vine: This variety isn’t a hydrangea bush, but actually a climbing vine. It is great for trellises or vertical garden spaces.
- Endless Summer Hydrangea: This variety if known for blooming all summer long, just as the name implies. The flower buds on this variety are very hardy.
- Mophead Hydrangeas: This variety is a hydrangea shrub that grows with bright pink flowers that may even turn blue in late summer or early autumn.
- French Hydrangea: This species is native to Japan and much like the Mophead variety, flowerheads grow in blue and pink.
- Snow Queen Hydrangea: If you enjoy white hydrangeas, this variety if for you. The snow white flowers are beautiful.
- Mountain Hydrangeas: This variety starts off light pink bloom color and changes to a dark red or even burgundy. The blooms are smaller and more petal like.
- Little Lime Hydrangeas: This variety if known for its soft green color. The blooms may turn to white as they mature.
- Smooth Hydrangea: This common hydrangea has a small to medium size white bloom.
- Bigleaf Hydrangea: This variety can be identified by its heart shape leaves. Often purple, this variety loves a little shade.
11. Experiment with hydrangea colors.
In recent years, changing the color of hydrangea blooms has become a hot topic! Did you know that hydrangeas not only come in all sorts of colors, but you can actually change the flower color of your hydrangea blooms? Achieving this color change can be fun and easy.
Adding sulfur or aluminum sulfate to your soil to alter the colors of your hydrangea blooms. Here is a handy chart to show you how to change the pH level of the soil to adjust the hydrangea color.
- 5.0-5.5= Blue flowers
- 6.0-6.5= Pink and purple flowers
- 5.5-6.5= Purple and blue and even pink flowers
Adding coffee grounds to the soil can make your hydrangeas turn blue as well. If the hydrangea variety is typically pink or white, adding coffee grounds can help change the color quickly and easily! Keep this in mind when adding compost that contains coffee grounds around your soil.
12. Offer winter protection.
If you live in a cold climate with long winters, you want to be sure you offer your hydrangeas plenty of winter protection. An easy way to do this is apply mulch over the plant to keep warmth in.
Remove all dead stems and dead wood, and remove any debris from around the plant. A nice, heavy layer of mulch (even mulched leaves) is a great way to keep the plant safe.
13. Be on the lookout for hydrangea disease and know how to treat it.
Some of the common disease hydrangeas suffer from include powdery mildew, botrytis blight, dead stems, and leaf spot.
Most of these are caused by bacteria or fungal infections. They can easily be spotted by noting the foliage condition.
You may notice discoloration or spotting on the leaves first. Some diseases are caused by insects.
You may notice the presence of these diseases by the appearance of bumps or blisters on the foliage. Once you know how to spot these diseases, you can best treat and even prevent them.
14. Keep pruning shears clean and sterile.
By keeping your sheers clean and sterile you can prevent passing disease along when pruning and removing dead stems and dead wood.
This doesn’t have to be complicated, just wipe clean with sap and warm water after use and store in a clean, dry area.
15. Keep the area around the hydrangeas free from weeds, as this will help deter pests.
Not only does it deter pests from settling in, but the presence of weeds also means your hydrangeas aren’t accessing all the nutrients they need. Weeds can cause issues with the plant roots, making them compete for food.
16. Try natural pest repellants.
You can also use natural pest repellants to keep pests at bay. There are many home remedies on the internet that include everyday kitchen ingredients to keep pests off plants.
17. Invest in a fungicide if needed.
For fungal issues, there are various over the counter fungicides you can take advantage of to treat the issue.
Always be swift about removing infected plant foliage as soon as you see it so disease doesn’t spread. Many of the diseases mentioned above can be easily treated with a topical fungicide.
Want to know what insects are great for your garden? Butterflies! Check out my easy butterfly feeder tutorial here!
So there you have them, my 17 tips on how to grow hydrangeas in your yard so you can enjoy these gorgeous blooms all season long too! If you should decide to plant any, take a pic and share it on our Facebook page! We would love to see it!
Happy Gardening!
