Garden tip in May - Plant and care for hydrangeas the right way and enjoy them for years!

Hydrangeas are one of the most popular ornamental shrubs in Germany - French hydrangeas in particular are often planted in private gardens or on balconies. We give you tips for finding the perfect location, for planting and for proper care.

 

Location: Where does the hydrangea fare best?

 

The ideal hydrangea location is semi-shaded with protection from wind and frost. You’ll find many of  the hydrangea already forming buds in autumn, and the buds must not be allowed to freeze in the winter. Taking protective measures against the cold through the use of fleece or jute is advisable.

 

Planting: What should be taken into consideration?

 

Before planting, the bale should be placed in a pot of water for about ten minutes until the roots have fully absorbed the water. The hole in which the hydrangea is planted needs to be twice the size of the pot or bale itself. We recommend putting a layer of high-quality substrate or rhododendron soil into the planting hole. The plant is then inserted and the sides loosely filled with soil. At the end you should water thoroughly one more time, and don’t forget to make sure that the plant has sufficient water on the following days too.

 

Care: How do hydrangeas keep healthy and beautiful over time?

 

It’s particularly important not to fertilize hydrangeas directly after planting, but to wait for the right time. This is from the end of March to the beginning of April and a second time from the end of June to the beginning of July.

For thinning purposes, it makes sense to cut the hydrangeas while the plant is in bloom - and why not place the blossoming offcuts directly in a vase and enjoy the beauty indoors as well!

 

After the third year, hydrangeas are to be cut regularly, according to the variety as follows:

In Hydrangea macrophylla, serrata, quercifolia, petiolaris, an old shoot is removed from the stem. This creates space and light for new shoots.

Everbloom hydrangeas are pruned in such a way that the shoots are trimmed back by about a third from the first year in spring, while from the third year one shoot is removed from the base every twelve months.

The Hydrangea paniculata and arborescens varieties tolerate heavy pruning in spring, to about 50-80 centimetres.

 

We wish you success and plenty of joy with your hydrangeas!