5 Things You’re Doing Wrong When It Comes To Growing Hydrangeas
Hydrangeas Are Gorgeous And Not Too Hard To Take Care Of
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Hydrangeas are incredibly eye-catching and relatively easy to care for, making them a highly sought-after flower.
The big, beautiful blooms that are the hydrangea’s signature look resemble soft, fluffy pompoms that make a statement and cause your yard to stand out.
While They’re Easy To Grow, You Could Be Making Some Mistakes With Them
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Although they can be super easy to grow, that doesn’t mean you’re exempt from making mistakes that might hinder their growth, no matter your skill level.
Here Are 5 Things You Might Be Doing Wrong
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If your hydrangeas aren’t blossoming to their fullest potential, here are five things you might be doing wrong.
Over-Fertilizing
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While fertilizers provide crops with the proper nutrients to grow tall and strong, too much of it can actually slow down hydrangeas’ growth or even cause them to stop producing blooms altogether.
So if your hydrangeas aren’t blooming, don’t randomly dump a bunch of fertilizer on them and hope for the best. Instead, wait for the first signs of spring to add fertilizer. And then, one more time around midsummer.
Overwatering
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The most basic rule of gardening is that plants need water to survive, and that doesn’t exclude hydrangeas. But if you’re drenching them in hopes that they’ll bloom, don’t press your luck.
Like most plants, hydrangeas prefer moist, well-drained soil. Unfortunately, once you start overwatering, it won’t be long before they suffer from root rot. To check when your hydrangeas need a good soak, stick your fingers into the soil. If the dirt is dry, give them a drink. If it’s still moist, water them another day.
Not Planting in Well-Drained Soil
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Well-drained soil is best for hydrangeas. It offers the ideal drainage and amount of nutrients needed for hydrangeas to prosper. However, when the soil is too heavy, water collects at the surface and takes a long time to drain, causing the roots to rot.
Heavy clay and sandy soils do not work well for this flower. But if it’s all you have to work with, you can add gypsum or peat moss to clay soil, which helps with drainage and water retention.
Too Much Sunlight
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If your hydrangeas are looking droopy or faded, this could be because they’re getting too much sunlight. The flowering shrub favors the morning sun and afternoon shade. However, depending on the type of hydrangea you have and the area you’re in, some can tolerate full-on sunlight.
But if they’re looking a little lackluster, the culprit is probably the sun. Restrict sun exposure by transferring them to a place with more shade or simply water them more frequently when the sun is out.
Pruning During The Wrong Time Of Year
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Hydrangeas should be pruned in late spring if they’re the type that grows on old wood. Any earlier, and you risk cutting off next season’s blooms. For hydrangeas that bloom on new wood, pruning in the fall won’t destroy future blooms because next year’s flower buds haven’t formed yet.
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