Difference between revisions of "Grow Hydrangeas"
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== Steps == | == Steps == | ||
=== Planting Hydrangeas=== | === Planting Hydrangeas=== | ||
| − | #Choose a hydrangea variety. In order to figure out what type of hydrangea to plant, you'll need to figure out which variety is best for your gardening zone. Start by looking at a planting zone hardiness map<ref>http://www.naturehills.com/plant-zone-map</ref> to determine the number of your zone. There are hundreds of varieties of hydrangeas to choose from. If this is your first time planting these beautiful flowers, you may want to choose from among these common varieties that are known to be hardy and produce long-lasting blooms.<ref>http://www.bhg.com/gardening/trees-shrubs-vines/shrubs/hydrangea-guide/</ref> | + | #Choose a hydrangea variety. In order to figure out what type of hydrangea to plant, you'll need to figure out which variety is best for your gardening zone. Start by looking at a planting zone hardiness map<ref name="rf1">http://www.naturehills.com/plant-zone-map</ref> to determine the number of your zone. There are hundreds of varieties of hydrangeas to choose from. If this is your first time planting these beautiful flowers, you may want to choose from among these common varieties that are known to be hardy and produce long-lasting blooms.<ref name="rf2">http://www.bhg.com/gardening/trees-shrubs-vines/shrubs/hydrangea-guide/</ref> |
| − | #*Mophead and lacecap hydrangeas, or "bigleaf" hydrangeas, grow well in zone 8, which has a warm climate. They don't do as well in colder regions unless you take measures to protect them from frost.<ref>http://www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com/what_grows_where.html</ref>. Look for the "Endless Summer" mop-head variety at your local nursery - it's a type of mophead hydrangea that blooms more than once over the summer. This type of hydrangea produces large balls of pink or blue blossoms that deepen in color over the course of the season. | + | #*Mophead and lacecap hydrangeas, or "bigleaf" hydrangeas, grow well in zone 8, which has a warm climate. They don't do as well in colder regions unless you take measures to protect them from frost.<ref name="rf3">http://www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com/what_grows_where.html</ref>. Look for the "Endless Summer" mop-head variety at your local nursery - it's a type of mophead hydrangea that blooms more than once over the summer. This type of hydrangea produces large balls of pink or blue blossoms that deepen in color over the course of the season. |
| − | #*The oakleaf hydrangea grows well in places with very hot summers without too much moisture. It is hardy through zone 4b/5a. <ref | + | #*The oakleaf hydrangea grows well in places with very hot summers without too much moisture. It is hardy through zone 4b/5a. <ref name="rf3" /> This type of hydrangea has white blossoms. |
#*Annabelle hydrangeas are more cold hardy than mophead or oakleaf hydrangeas, can still grow in zone 3. This type of hydrangea has white blossoms that turn light green later in the season. | #*Annabelle hydrangeas are more cold hardy than mophead or oakleaf hydrangeas, can still grow in zone 3. This type of hydrangea has white blossoms that turn light green later in the season. | ||
| − | #*Peegee hydrangeas can grow hardy even further north than Annabelles - all the way up to zone 3a. They are also able to grow in southern zones. They have white blossoms.<ref | + | #*Peegee hydrangeas can grow hardy even further north than Annabelles - all the way up to zone 3a. They are also able to grow in southern zones. They have white blossoms.<ref name="rf3" /> |
| − | #Plan to plant in the spring or fall. Planting in one of these milder seasons will give the hydrangeas time to acclimate to the soil conditions and take root before the weather gets more extreme. Look for hydrangea plants in your nursery in early spring or early fall.<ref>http://www.almanac.com/plant/hydrangea</ref> | + | #Plan to plant in the spring or fall. Planting in one of these milder seasons will give the hydrangeas time to acclimate to the soil conditions and take root before the weather gets more extreme. Look for hydrangea plants in your nursery in early spring or early fall.<ref name="rf4">http://www.almanac.com/plant/hydrangea</ref> |
| − | #Find a good planting spot. Hydrangeas are easy to grow either in planting beds or in large pots. Whichever method you choose, you'll need a spot that gets full sun in the morning and partial shade in the afternoon. Bigleaf hydrangeas will grow in complete partial shade, so choose this variety if you have a shady yard.<ref | + | #Find a good planting spot. Hydrangeas are easy to grow either in planting beds or in large pots. Whichever method you choose, you'll need a spot that gets full sun in the morning and partial shade in the afternoon. Bigleaf hydrangeas will grow in complete partial shade, so choose this variety if you have a shady yard.<ref name="rf4" /> |
#Enrich the soil with compost. Hydrangeas need rich, well-drained soil that is kept moist. If you're working with dry or depleted soil, get it ready for hydrangeas by working in some compost. If your soil tends to hold water, you can add peat to help with drainage. | #Enrich the soil with compost. Hydrangeas need rich, well-drained soil that is kept moist. If you're working with dry or depleted soil, get it ready for hydrangeas by working in some compost. If your soil tends to hold water, you can add peat to help with drainage. | ||
#Dig a wide hole in the soil. The hold you dig should be as deep as the root ball on the hydrangea plant, and at least twice as wide. Use a spade or shovel to dig a big hole to accommodate the plant's roots. If you're planting more than one hydrangea, they should be spaced {{convert|5|-|7|ft|m|1}} apart, since the plants can grow to get very large. | #Dig a wide hole in the soil. The hold you dig should be as deep as the root ball on the hydrangea plant, and at least twice as wide. Use a spade or shovel to dig a big hole to accommodate the plant's roots. If you're planting more than one hydrangea, they should be spaced {{convert|5|-|7|ft|m|1}} apart, since the plants can grow to get very large. | ||
| − | #*Check the instructions that came with your particular hydrangea variety. Some hydrangeas can be planted closer together, while others may need to be planted at least {{convert|10|ft|m|1}} apart.<ref | + | #*Check the instructions that came with your particular hydrangea variety. Some hydrangeas can be planted closer together, while others may need to be planted at least {{convert|10|ft|m|1}} apart.<ref name="rf4" /> |
#Plant the hydrangea. It's important to make sure the roots of the hydrangea get watered at the time of planting, so start by setting the hydrangea's root ball in the hole you dug. Fill the hole with a few inches of water and let it drain thoroughly, then fill the hole with soil and water it once more. Pat it down around the base of the hydrangea. | #Plant the hydrangea. It's important to make sure the roots of the hydrangea get watered at the time of planting, so start by setting the hydrangea's root ball in the hole you dug. Fill the hole with a few inches of water and let it drain thoroughly, then fill the hole with soil and water it once more. Pat it down around the base of the hydrangea. | ||
#* Planting hydrangeas too deeply can cause the roots to fail. If not planted deep enough, your hydrangeas could fall over in heavy rain or strong wind. | #* Planting hydrangeas too deeply can cause the roots to fail. If not planted deep enough, your hydrangeas could fall over in heavy rain or strong wind. | ||
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#Prune only when necessary. New hydrangeas do not need to be pruned; if you do so, you may not get new blossoms the following spring. If you have older hydrangeas that have gotten quite large and need to be cut back, make sure you prune at the right time of year according to the variety of hydrangea you planted. | #Prune only when necessary. New hydrangeas do not need to be pruned; if you do so, you may not get new blossoms the following spring. If you have older hydrangeas that have gotten quite large and need to be cut back, make sure you prune at the right time of year according to the variety of hydrangea you planted. | ||
#*Bigleaf hydrangea varieties should be pruned after the blossoms have faded in the late spring. | #*Bigleaf hydrangea varieties should be pruned after the blossoms have faded in the late spring. | ||
| − | #*Oakleaf and other hydrangeas that bloom on the current season's wood should be pruned while the plant is still dormant, in late winter before the blooms emerge.<ref | + | #*Oakleaf and other hydrangeas that bloom on the current season's wood should be pruned while the plant is still dormant, in late winter before the blooms emerge.<ref name="rf4" /> |
#[[Prepare Hydrangeas for Winter | Protect hydrangeas over the winter]]. Cover them with mulch, straw, or pine needles to a depth of at least {{convert|18|in|cm|1}}. If you have smaller bushes, you can cover the entire plant for the winter. Remove the cover in early spring, after the last frost. | #[[Prepare Hydrangeas for Winter | Protect hydrangeas over the winter]]. Cover them with mulch, straw, or pine needles to a depth of at least {{convert|18|in|cm|1}}. If you have smaller bushes, you can cover the entire plant for the winter. Remove the cover in early spring, after the last frost. | ||
#Change the color of hydrangeas. The color of hydrangeas depends on the pH of the soil in which they are planted. If you have pink or blue hydrangeas, it's possible to change their color by changing the soil's pH. This can take weeks or months, so be patient! | #Change the color of hydrangeas. The color of hydrangeas depends on the pH of the soil in which they are planted. If you have pink or blue hydrangeas, it's possible to change their color by changing the soil's pH. This can take weeks or months, so be patient! | ||
#*To change flowers from pink to blue, lower the soil's pH by adding sulfur or peat moss. | #*To change flowers from pink to blue, lower the soil's pH by adding sulfur or peat moss. | ||
| − | #*To change flowers from blue to pink (which is more difficult than changing from pink to blue), add limestone to the soil to raise the soil's pH.<ref | + | #*To change flowers from blue to pink (which is more difficult than changing from pink to blue), add limestone to the soil to raise the soil's pH.<ref name="rf4" /> |
#*White hydrangea blossoms don't change color. | #*White hydrangea blossoms don't change color. | ||
=== Cutting and Drying Hydrangeas=== | === Cutting and Drying Hydrangeas=== | ||
