Hydrangeas showcase beautiful blue, pink, or white flowers in the summer.
Sterile flowers last for a long time (often holding up for months), gradually fading in color.
Hydrangeas are good-looking as single plants massed or in tubs on the patio.
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Grow quickly and easily in rich, porous soil.
Hydrangeas are not known to be invasive plants.
It is best to grow hydrangeas in an area that receives morning sun and afternoon shade.
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Florists control the flower color ofpotted hydrangeasby controlling the soil mix.
Blue-flowered florists' plants may show pink blossoms when planted in less acidic soil.
Flower-color treatment is not effective unless started well ahead of bloom time.
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Water
Give hydrangeas a deep soak once or twice a week so that it reaches the roots.
It is essential to water regularly during the first few years after planting.
Different varieties, like Bigleaf hydrangeas, may need more water.
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Hydrangeas also need protection from harsh weather conditions like high winds or storms.
H. anomala:Climbing Hydrangea.
Climbs high (as far as 60 ft.) by clinging aerial rootletsshrubby and sprawling without support.
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Green, three to six-inch-long leaves have a rounded heart shape.
Mature plants develop short, flowering branches with flat, white, eight-inch wide flower clusters.
It becomes woody with age.
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Prune out overly vigorous growth only after the vine is well established and climbing.
Rejuvenate by cutting back to the framework late in the dormant season.
H. arborescens:Smooth Hydrangea.
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Zones U.S. 3-9 Native from New York to Iowa, south to Florida, and Louisiana.
Upright, dense growth is five feet tall and wide.
Oval, grayish green, three to six-inch leaves with white, pink, or green flowers.
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In basic species, most flowers in a cluster are fertile.
The few sterile ones are not plentiful enough for a full lace-cap effect.
‘Grandiflora’ is another four-footer, and its flower clusters are six inches across.
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Prune in late winter.
Hard pruning produces bigger flowers.
H. macrophylla (H. hortensia, H. opuloides):French Hydrangea, Big Leaf Hydrangea.
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Symmetrical, rounded habit, grows to three to six feet high (or more) and wide.
Protect in colder zones by mounding soil or leaves over the base of plants.
Prune immediately after bloom.
Pruning
To know how to prune hydrangeas, you must first know its variety.
Varieties that bloom on new growth can wait until fall for pruning or early spring before flowering begins.
After flowers fade, prune by cutting back dead wood this helps encourage new growth.
Propagating Hydrangeas
Propagating hydrangeas is easy to achieve by using cuttings.
you’re free to remove this burlap once new buds form.
A second way to protect hydrangeas is by mulching around the roots.
Use wood chips or leaves around the base of the plant to help protect it from temperature changes.
Common pests include aphids, red spider mites, and Japanese beetles.
Treat this with insecticidal soap.
Also, hydrangeas are susceptible to powdery mildew, leaf spot, and wilting.
Sunlight should also be balanced carefully, with direct sun and shade in the afternoon.
If one of these late frosts gets on the new hydrangea buds, it can prevent it from flowering.
In this case, keep shrubs covered.
Common Problems With Hydrangeas
Curling Leaves
Curling leaves does not always signify a problem.
Hydrangeas will instinctively curl leaves when trying to protect themselves from extremely high temperatures.
This wilting should return to healthier-looking leaves in the evening after the sun goes down.
Not enough water is also sometimes why leaves might curl on hydrangea plants.
If the top few inches of soil are dry, it is time to water your plants.
Leaves Turning Yellow
Yellow leaves indicate that something about your hydrangea care is out of balance.
If the roots are soaked, try drying them out.
If the base is too dry, adding water and fertilizer might help revive them.
Leaves Turning Brown
Brown leaves signify that there is an imbalance in soil composition.
Often this means that you fertilized too much, so correct this by watering and ideally removing excess nutrients.
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.Hydrangea.
North Carolina Cooperative Extension.Hydrangea.
