Growing Hydrangeas

Growing Hydrangeas      

With immense billowy blossoms, hydrangeas flaunt an old-fashioned southern charm that is hard to resist.  Most of us fondly remember our grandmother’s hydrangeas and the good news is that we can now grow hydrangeas they never even dreamed of.
 
There are Mopheads, which is a Macrophylla or big leaf hydrangea.  There are also delicate lacecaps that have flat heads dotted with color and ringed with four-petaled florets, and panicle hydrangeas with white cone-shaped flowers.  We can’t leave out the oakleaf hydrangeas as well.  All of these indeed have been improved upon over the years it’s hard to choose a favorite.  Some even promise blooms all summer!
 
Here are some tips for growing the perfect hydrangeas in your yard:
 
~All hydrangeas will bloom and grow well in morning sun and afternoon shade.  Filtered shade is also acceptable as long as they are protected from the intense sun during the heat of the day.  Less than 2 hours of sun is not recommended for them to bloom well.
 
~The colors of some H. macrophylla flowers are affected by the relative availability of aluminum in the soil. Acidic soils with a pH of less than 5.5 produce blue flowers, so applying aluminum sulfate, starting in January, will normally give you the blue to purple color.  Soils with a pH greater than 5.5 produce pink flowers, so apply Lime to keep them pink. White flowers are not affected by pH.
 
~Most hydrangeas thrive in rich, porous, somewhat moist soils. Add compost to enrich poor soil.
 
~ Space multiple hydrangeas about 3 to 4 feet apart.
  
~ Dig a hole as deep as the root ball and twice as wide.
 
~ Set the plant in the hole, then backfill with the compost, gently filling around the root ball.
 
~Water deeply with root stimulator.
 
~ For the first year or two after planting and during any drought, be sure your hydrangeas get plenty of water. Leaves will wilt if the soil is too dry. ~HAPPY GARDENING!!
 

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