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No flower captures the essence of summer quite like a hydrangea. Keep reading to learn how to create beautiful landscaping with hydrangeas and the tips you need to care for them.
Hydrangeas, with their timeless beauty and abundant blooms, are the perfect choice for adding elegance and color to any summer garden. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a beginner, this guide will show you how to create stunning landscaping with hydrangeas and give you the tips you need to keep them looking beautiful.
Types of hydrangeas
To choose the correct hydrangea for your garden, you need to understand a bit about the common types of hydrangeas.
- Hydrangea macrophylla (bigleaf hydrangea): Known for its large, round flower heads, Bigleaf hydrangeas are typically hardy in USDA zones 5-9. Certain varieties can even survive down to zone 3. They come in two flower forms: mophead and lacecap. Endless Summer hydrangeas are a popular bigleaf hydrangea cultivar.
- Hydrangea paniculata (panicle hydrangea): This type features cone-shaped flower clusters and is more cold-hardy, thriving in USDA zones 3-8. Panicle hydrangeas are known for their ability to withstand harsher climates and for their late-summer blooms. One of the most popular varieties of panicle hydrangeas is Limelight.
- Hydrangea arborescens (smooth hydrangea): With its large, white blooms, the smooth hydrangea is hardy in USDA zones 3-8. It is well-known for the popular Annabelle variety and can tolerate colder climates well.
- Hydrangea quercifolia (oakleaf hydrangea): Recognizable by its oak-shaped leaves and beautiful fall foliage, the oakleaf hydrangea is hardy in USDA zones 5-9. Oakleaf hydrangeas are native to the Southeastern US so, adding oakleaf hydrangeas to your garden is a great way to incorporate native plants in your landscape.
Basic hydrangea care
Basic hydrangea care involves a few simple yet essential steps to ensure they thrive in your garden.
How to plant hydrangeas
Start by planting them in well-draining soil enriched with organic matter or commercial fertilizer. This is my favorite fertilizer.
Sunlight requirements
You generally want to choose a location that receives morning sun and afternoon shade. However, this can differ, depending upon your climate. In warmer climates, like here in South Carolina, hydrangeas should not be planted in full sun – dappled, partial sun is perfect for them. In cooler climates, like the Northeast, hydrangeas can tolerate full sun.
Watering needs
Hydrangeas also need regular watering, especially during dry periods. You want to keep the soil consistently moist, but not waterlogged. If you live in the hotter end of their range, you should set up irrigation to ensure they receive the proper amount of water each day during the height of summer.
Pruning hydrangeas
When to prune hydrangeas depends upon the variety. Hydrangeas that bloom on old wood should be pruned immediately after their blooms have faded. Hydrangeas that bloom on new wood should be pruned in the spring.
Fertilizing hydrangeas
Additionally, applying a balanced fertilizer in the spring will promote healthy growth and vibrant flowers. You should wait until your area’s last frost date has passed before fertilizing.
Common hydrangea care questions
Here are the answers to the most common questions about hydrangea care.
Why are my hydrangeas not blooming?
The most common reason your hydrangea is not blooming is because you pruned it at the wrong time. If you prune a hydrangea that blooms on old wood in the spring, you will cut off its summer flower buds. A late season frost can also damage new flower buds, reducing the number of summer blooms.
If your hydrangea does not receive the proper amount of sunlight, it will not bloom well.
Another reason your hydrangea may not be blooming is because you used a fertilizer with too much nitrogen. Fertilizers with more nitrogen than phosphorus will stimulate the plant to produce more foliage rather than flowers.
How to change the color of my hydrangeas?
You cannot change the color of every hydrangea. However, many bigleaf hydrangeas will change color based upon soil acidity. You can use a simple soil pH meter to test your soil’s acidity. Adding lime to the soil will increase its pH, turning flowers pink, while adding acidifier will decrease the pH, turning flowers blue.
What pairs well with hydrangeas?
Since hydrangeas lose their leaves in the winter, pairing them with an evergreen, like a boxwood border, is a great way to maintain year-round interest in your garden.
Plant spring bulbs, like tulips, around hydrangeas for a pop of spring color in your garden bed before your hydrangeas begin flowering.
Hydrangeas also pair beautifully with roses because their bloom times overlap and their colors compliment each other nicely. I’m a big fan of hydrangeas and roses! This is how I’ve paired my Endless Summer hydrangeas with my climbing roses.
For a shady garden, feathery plumes of astilbe or ferns will complement the large, summer hydrangea blooms perfectly.
Hydrangea garden inspiration
Here are some beautiful hydrangea garden ideas to inspire your own landscaping design!
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