Posted by Fast Growing Trees | Posted in Plant Care | Posted on 07-03-2012
Tags: fast growing shrubs, Flower, flowering shrubs, Garden, garden plants, gardening, Gardens, greenwood nursery, Home and Garden, landscape plants, online garden center, online nursery, Plant, plant nursery, plants
Hydrangea bushes are flowering shrubs that will add summer color in your garden. These old fashioned flowering shrubs grow and bloom the best in morning sun with afternoon shade. Depending on the hydrangea bush that you select, you may be able to determine the blooming color. They will not perform well in heavy shade. The Pee Gee Hydrangea bush variety is the only hydrangea shrub hardy enough to grow in full sun.
These plants prefer plenty of moisture and should be monitored for additional watering over the first and second year after planting and especially during droughts.
Hydrangeas enjoy a regular fertilizing schedule. A good slow (timed) release applied 1-2 times a year will keep them happy. In zones 6-8, fertilize in May and July. For zones 5 and further north, one good fertilizing in June will work due to the shorter growing season. Follow the directions on the fertilizer label. Don’t apply fertilize if the plant is wilted or looks otherwise not happy. Take care of the problem and then apply fertilize.
The different varieties of hydrangeas require specific pruning times or blooms for the following year may be lost. Regardless of the variety always remove any dead or broken stems/branches. As the plants age and become mature, prune out about 1/3 of the stems/branches back to ground level. This will keep the shrubs looking healthy.
Pruning hydrangea shrubs:
Oakleaf Varieties: Plant 3-4 feet apart. Prune back to about 18-24 inches tall. This plant blooms on new wood and can be pruned back during fall/winter or anytime except during spring when it is preparing to bloom. In the north, it may die back to the ground each year producing new growth each spring.
Limelight, Pee Gee and other Paniculatas: Blooms during mid/late summer and can be pruned during fall/winter or early spring. (Blooms on new wood) As the plant ages, Paniculata blooms often turn a pinkish shade.
Forever Pink, Nikko Blue and other macrophyllas: Prune these varieties in summer (after blooming), but before August. By August, they may have already set their buds for blooming the following year much like azaleas and rhododendrons. They bloom on the old wood, which means the new growth produced after they have completed their blooming in late spring/early summer.
Climbing Hydrangea: Plant growth will be improved by adding organic matter such as aged manure/compost to the soil. Not a fast grower and takes several years to establish after planting. Because it is a vine type plant, other than pruning out any dead branches that are reachable, not much is required to keep it looking good.
Changing hydrangea bloom color:
A lot of people send in questions on how to change the bloom color of their hydrangea plants. A white blooming hydrangea will not change to pink or blue no matter what is done to the soil. Although as the white bloomer ages, often the blooms will take on a pinkish shade.
In warmer climates, a red hydrangea doesn’t usually produce a true red color.
For Pink blooms: A pH of 6.0 to 6.2 is needed. Add dolomite lime several times a year. Recommended: High Phosphorus fertilizer (ratio close to 25/10/10). This will help to limit the amount of aluminum being absorbed by the plant.
For Blue blooms: A pH of 5.2 to 5.5 is need here. I have read that a solution of ½ oz (1 Tbsp) aluminum sulfate per gallon of water applied to plants which are at least 2-3 years old throughout the growing season will produce blue blooms. Water well before applying the solution and do be cautious in applying as too much can burn the roots. Use a low Phosphorus fertilizer such as a ratio of 25/5/30. Bone should be avoided when attempting to change the color to blue. A natural way to encourage the color change to blue is to apply organic matter to the soil such as coffee grounds, fruit/vegetable peels, grass clippings and other items you would normally add to compost.
The pH of the water should not be any higher than 5.6. Also, planting the hydrangeas next to a concrete foundation or walkway will affect the color and raise the pH with lime seeping out into the soil.
Hydrangea shrubs are popular flowering shrubs with a wonderful selection of sizes. The City Line Hydrangeas are petite growing shrubs perfect for small yards and small gardens, especially in condo yards. Larger growing hydrangeas such as Oakleaf Hydrangeas, Pee Gee Hydrangeas and Nikko Blue Hydrangeas are great for foundation plantings and for planting flowering hedges.
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Cheryl Jones writes articles on plants, plant care, gardening tips and landscaping ideas. Her website, Greenwood Nursery, offers a great selection of plants including hydrangeas.
