Tips for growing Hydrangea

Hydrangea is one of my favorite shrubs. They are a classic flower that makes me think of my childhood wandering around my grandmother’s house. Different types of hydrangea come in various colors including red, pink, blue, purple and white. I list helpful products below as affiliate links.

Part of the reason hydrangea is so fun is this flower has a unique characteristic of turning color based on the pH of the soil. More specifically, the number of aluminum ions determine what color the flower is going to turn.

Some hydrangeas are plain white. But, others are either pink or blue. If you have this variety of hydrangea, an acidic soil produces blue shades of the flower, while basic soils produce pink and reds.

Unlike many spring flowers, hydrangeas produce their blooms in mid-summer to fall adding that rare touch of color to your yard. Here are a few tips to help you with this magnificent shrub:

Tips for Hydrangeas

Planting

Hydrangeas like rich, porous, and moist soils. Add compost or peat to help your soil.
Plant in a place that has full sun in the morning with some afternoon shade.
It is best to plant hydrangeas in spring or fall.
Space multiple hydrangeas about 3 to 10 feet apart to make a flowering hedge.

Care

Water regularly. If the leaves start to wilt, it is too dry.
Fertilize with a 10-10-10 fertilizer once or twice per summer
Add an acidic, or basic fertilizer to change the colors of the flowers
- For an acidic fertilizer (Blue flowers) try this: https://amzn.to/2WmezDc
- For a basic fertilizer (Pink flowers) try this: https://amzn.to/2EpcR9R
Cover the base of the hydrangea with a foot and a half of straw or mulch in the winter
Prune dead leaves, sticks and twigs.
Prune flowers that are going to seed.

Buying Hydrangea

Did you know you can get Hydrangea on Amazon??? You bet you can. Here are a couple I love: