Hydrangeas
Hardiness Zones: 4-9
Plant Height: 3 – 18 feet
Plant Width: 3-18 feet
Light: Partial – Full Shade
Hydrangea are shade-loving plants that offer huge bouquets of clustered flowers. They are available in various arrangements and bloom from summer through fall. The different varieties of hydrangea differ in size, flower color, and blooming time. These plants thrive in fertile, moist, well-drained soil in partial to full shade.
TIPS FOR PLANTING & GROWING HYDRANGEA
- Consider the location of you hydrangea prior to planting, you want to choose a spot where it can reach it’s full size without pruning. The averaged sized hydrangea will reach 4 ft x 4 ft.
- Plant in well-drained soil, heavy soil can cause damage and you will want to add roughage (such as mulch).
- Do not over water, over watering can lead to root rot.
- Plant at the same depth the hydrangea was planted in the pot as you do not want to plant too deep.
- The best time to plant is in early summer or late fall.
- To transplant a hydrangea, do so when it has become dormant and no longer has any leaves (late fall or winter).
- Do not plant under a tree as the root system from the tree’s are often to aggressive and are grown to the rich moist soil hydrangeas love.
- If you are seeking blue hydrangea flowers, check the pH level of your soil it should be in the 5.2-5.5 range. If your soil’s level is above this level you can apply aluminum sulfate in the spring to lower it to the range needed. The change in flower color is a direct result of the higher aluminum content and lower pH level in the soil.
- Do not trim or prune hydrangeas in the fall unless you are removing spent flowers. Most hydrangeas bloom on old stems and removing these can remove next years flowers. The pest time to prune a hydrangea is when new growth has begun, in which you should remove any dead branches. This could be very late Spring.
- In Michigan hydrangeas will benefit from winter protection or sheltered placement. Without protection most hydrangeas will not survive the winter if placed in an open area.