Find out how to grow hydrangea, and this Insta-friendly delight will charm you with its long-lasting display. Garden design.
These beautiful blooms come in every color imaginable, from bubblegum pink and zingy lime to soft shades of delicate blush pink and milky white. Then, in autumn, the paper leaves fade to soft vintage tones painted with bronze and gold.
From where to plant them to the best fertilizer, here’s everything you need to know about growing and caring for hydrangeas.
How do I grow hydrangeas?
If you’re considering growing hydrangeas in your garden, follow these top tips recommended by plant buyer Nigel Lawton here. Dobby’s Garden Centers.
- The best time to plant your hydrangea Garden landscaping During spring or autumn when the soil is warm and moist. Although summer planting is possible, it needs to be watered more frequently to prevent it from drying out.
- It is especially important to keep the soil consistently moist during the first growing season when the plants are establishing themselves.
- Apply annually Green grass In the spring, compost, leaf mold or well-rotted compost helps retain moisture and provides nutrients to support healthy growth.
Nigel Lawton is a passionate and highly experienced gardener with a lifelong dedication to horticulture. His love of plants began straight after leaving high school, when he went to study horticulture college for three years, and laid the foundation for a career that has now spanned over 26 years at garden centers across the UK.
How do I care for hydrangea?
Hydrangeas are very robust and self-supporting, there are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to caring for them, according to Chris Wood, head florist. Waitrose Gardens:
- Water them regularly: Hydrangeas are “notoriously thirsty,” so make sure you are Water the plants Spray at least three to four times per week in sunny weather and from the base rather than foliar spraying. Monitor the humidity level to ensure the plant does not dry out.
- Light: “Hydrangeas prefer partial shade rather than direct sunlight. They thrive in places that don’t get too much sun or shade, so definitely avoid a south-facing position in the garden.”
- Clay: Make sure the soil is rich, moist and free draining.
- Manure: “Apply a balanced slow-release fertilizer in early spring, but avoid a high-nitrogen-based fertilizer that will encourage leaf growth rather than bloom. It’s best to use one with added magnesium and iron, which promote strong plant growth and vibrant flower color.”
- Mulching: To reduce moisture loss, apply organic matter on a regular basis – especially in hot weather.
- Land Preparation: “Blue-flowered cultivars will remain blue when grown in more acidic soil (PH 4.5-5). To enhance the red and pink colors, apply a limestone or chalky soil dressing during the winter. White and green hydrangeas will remain white and green regardless of soil pH.”
Chris Wood, Waitrose Head Florist, who has worked for Waitrose for 14 years and more than 30 years in the horticulture industry and holds a National Diploma in Horticulture.
What type of hydrangea should I grow?
There is a type of hydrangea for every garden. What most people think of when it comes to choosing hydrangeas are the mop-head and lace-cap varieties. According to you, in different shades of blue and pink Soil typeCovered with saucer-sized blooms, these beautiful shrubs are usually spectacular.
But recently, more sophisticated laces have become fashionable at present Garden trends. ‘Annabelle’ is an of-the-moment variety – its graceful, arching branches are covered in bright white pompom blooms that look like snowballs. It is the perfect choice if you want to add a touch of splendor to your garden with a burst of flowers.
“Hydrangea paniculata is another favourite, known for its large cone-shaped flower heads in soft shades of white, cream and pink,” adds Nigel Lawton.
You can now also find a greater selection of compact and mini varieties, which are perfect for containers and add a contemporary note to balconies and Consider a patioEspecially when clipped into shape. Some have honey- or jasmine-like scented flowers.
Where to buy hydrangeas
Hydrangea aborescens ‘Annabelle’
Creamy white in summer and pale lime in fall, ‘Annabel’ is one of the prettiest hydrangea varieties around.
Hydrangea ‘Hot Chocolate’
This variety blooms pinkish-mauve regardless of soil type, and has beautiful chocolate-colored leaves before flowering.
Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Blue Danube’
Indigo-blue in acidic soil and hot pink in alkaline soil, this gorgeous variety flowers in July and August.
Where do I plant hydrangea?
Hydrangeas can grow in the shadeBut as Nigel Lawton explains, “They do best in moist, free-draining soil and partial shade, not too much sun and not too much shade.”
“It’s best to avoid south-facing locations, especially if the soil is very dry, as too much direct sunlight can lead to wilting and scorched flowers,” he adds. “While they thrive in partial shade, they can tolerate more sun if the soil is kept consistently moist.”
If it’s too late and yours is already planted in a sun trap, cover it with an umbrella during a hot session to provide temporary relief from the sun. Alternatively, if it is in a container, move it to the shade when the temperature rises.
How do I get my hydrangea to flower?
A lack of blooms on your hydrangeas could be due to a few things. Most types of hydrangea flower on ‘old wood’ (branches that previously produced flowers). Cold weather damages new buds, leading to a lack of flowers.
If you have a hydrangea that isn’t blooming, you may have cut it back too hard a year ago. Often, hydrangeas that do not produce flowers are pruned in early summer and late winter.
If they are cut back too much, you can wait a whole year before they bloom again. To avoid this, prune back stems in early spring, before new growth occurs. If in doubt, always check the pruning information for the variety you are growing.
Alternatively, it can be down in the soil, as hydrangeas need phosphorus to bloom. adding Bone meal (available on Amazon) A great way to increase phosphorus levels in the soil.
For vibrant flowers and healthy growth, feed your plants regularly with hydrangea feed (Like this Vitax feed from Amazon) which is specially formulated for the job. If your hydrangea is planted in a pot, you will need to do this once a week in the spring and summer when it is packing on growth.
Do hydrangeas grow well in pots?
More and more varieties of hydrangea are being sold specifically for growing in containers, so they may be a good choice for you. Garden Planting Ideas. Small, compact varieties, such as ‘Little Lime’, will do well and can be clipped into a standard lollipop shape.
Choose pots that are the right size to allow for growth and use a good quality potting mix that is two parts John Innes No. 3 (Available on Amazon) And one part peat-free All-purpose compost (available at Vicks). Water in the well.
Organic mulch will help retain moisture as your plant settles into its new home. Water and feed regularly during spring and summer.
Do hydrangeas come back every year?
Hydrangeas are reliable shrubs you can count on year after year, making them a good choice for a A low maintenance garden.
However, growing them in very dry soil and full sun can burn their leaves and result in a lack of flowers. Spring new growth is damaged by frost, so if this happens, spray just above the first healthy pair of buds behind the damaged shoot.
But usually, they return every season to delight you again and again.
“Whether planted in borders, containers or as part of a shade garden scheme, hydrangeas can make a real statement throughout summer and into autumn,” concludes Nigel Lawton.
Looking for more ways to transform your garden? Learn about this hassle-free Types of ornamental grasses Or browse this Vegetable garden ideas.
The original version of this article previously appeared on Gardeningetc, a sister website to Homebuilding and Renovating.
