A low-maintenance summer staple, hydrangeas are shrubs most recognized by their vibrant blooms. Often planted in early spring, these plants average around 2-feet of growth each year and will return every summer once planted.
Creating the Right Environment
The type of care a hydrangea needs depends on the variety of the plant and can often be found on the hydrangea’s care tag! Typically, they prefer moist, well-drained soil and watering every one to two days. It’s important to make sure the soil around the hydrangea isn’t too heavy as this can lead to root rot. It’s best to water early in the morning so the leaves and roots can dry throughout the day before the sun sets. If it rains, wait a day or two to water to ensure the soil isn’t too soggy. Hydrangeas also prefer moderate to warm temperatures, but they are able to withstand low temperatures in the winter. To further protect your plants, you can wrap them in burlap and remove the covering once buds begin to swell in the spring for additional cold weather support.
Routine Maintenance
It’s best to fertilize hydrangeas in the spring so they’re ready to bloom around late June or early July. The best fertilizer to use is 10-10-10 NPK fertilizer, which is made up of a balance of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. This is an organic, slow-release fertilizer that will help the hydrangeas grow strong roots. You can also use fertilizer that is made specifically for flowering shrubs. It’s important to make sure you’re not giving your plants too much support. If the soil you’re using is already rich in nutrients, using additional fertilizer may cause less flowers to bloom.
When it comes to pruning your hydrangeas, first check to see if your plant’s buds are set on new or old wood. If they’re setting on the current year’s stems, they set on new wood. If they are setting on last year’s stems, they set on old wood. Old wood hydrangeas are reset by pruning when they’re over five years old. When it’s time to prune this variety, cut the hydrangea down by a third after it’s done blooming in the summer but before fall sets in. New wood hydrangeas can be reset by pruning every year. Do this by cutting them down to the ground in the fall, late winter or early spring so they’re ready to bloom in the summer.
Bountiful Blooms
St. Louis sits within a 6b to 7a growing zone, meaning we have a medium length growing season and our annual minimum temperature is around -5 degrees fahrenheit. These four varieties of hydrangeas are built to withstand Missouri’s variable weather conditions.
Annabelle (hydrangea arborescens): A deciduous shrub that thrives in partial shade and a medium amount of watering, this new wood hydrangea will grow 3-4 feet high and 4-6 feet wide.
Incrediball Blush (hydrangea arborescens): Another deciduous shrub that grows on new wood, the Incrediball Blush hydrangea prefers partial shade and medium watering to reach its standard 4-5 feet wide growth.
‘Bailmer’ Endless Summer (hydrangea macrophylla): This big leaf hydrangea requires partial shade and a medium amount of water. Growing on old wood, this plant will grow and spread 3-4 feet.
‘P11HM-11’ Bloomstruck (hydrangea macrophylla): Another big leaf hydrangea, this variety also prefers partial shade and a medium amount of water. The plant’s buds grow on old wood and will grow 3-4 feet in height and 4-5 feet in width.
