Wednesday, April 29, 2009

IS it a good idea to trim hydrangea back in before spring?

IS so, how do you know when?





and how much?





why is this for anyone who can explain good?





I understand the leaves grow off of new wood? or old wood?





and why would pruning them back be good for them?





Thanks for your answers!

IS it a good idea to trim hydrangea back in before spring?
The pink and blue hydrangeas bloom on old wood, that is wood that has grown the previous season. If you cut them off in the late winter or spring, you will not have any blooms this year.





Annabelle and some of the white hydrangeas bloom on new or old wood, and can actually be cut to the ground and will come back and bloom each year. Check the variety of your hyudrangeas and then google them to see what pruning if any should be done.





I cut back Annabelle, leave the oak leaf hydrangea unpruned except for the old flower heads, and never prune my pink and blue ones except to cut out dead wood when they are all leafed out.
Reply:Hydrangeas look untidy after flowering but the dead heads should be left on until about March, this protects the old stems for the following year, cut them down to near ground level in March and keep them well watered in dry weather, the new stems grow from the root clump, pruning them back gets rid of all the old wood stems which would rot and encourage disease.
Reply:Leave them as they are. The old blooms (which should still be there, serve to protect the new, developing buds.
Reply:It depends on how big you want your hydrangea bushes to be next year. When I had them, I always trimmed them back to about 1-foot canes in winter. The next spring, they would come back and only be about 3 feet tall. My neighbor for the last few years never cuts his in winter. So, his hydrangea bush is about 6 feet tall.





Do cut off the dead heads (dead flowers) whenever they occur.





Winter is the time for pruning plants that need it. This includes roses, grapevines, and any trees or woody shrubs. In late fall and early winter, the colder temperatures and shorter days trigger plants and trees to send all of the plant's nutrients to the root system, where they'll be safe underground during the winter. So, cutting branches in winter doesn't negatively affect the plant/tree as much as in spring or summer, where removing a branch removes a lot of the tree/plant's nutrients.





In the spring, when it warms up and the days get longer, the nutrients come back out of the root system, and only get directed to the existing branches and developing buds. This causes the new growth to be more vigorous and healthy than if you didn't do any pruning.
Reply:first,find out which kind you have.... cutting at the wrong timeon the wrong one can leave you with no blooms...look here...





http://www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com





to find yours.. then look for the pruning info there, too...
Reply:no, do not trim
Reply:I trimmed all my Hydrangeas in the fall.You can trim now though.


I'm in North Carolina, so they will leaf in a few weeks.Trim them back to about 12" on medium plants, 18" on larger ones.Thin the branches, as they crowd easily.


They are very hardy, so you can't make a mistake on older established plants. Good Luck





You can trim anything except Azaleas.Trim them only after they flower.


Any ideas on how to make a Hydrangea bloom?

It is in part sun/ part shade. It looks happy where it is. The foliage looks very healthy but, no blooms.. How do I make it bloom?

Any ideas on how to make a Hydrangea bloom?
You could try some Miracle Gro Quickstart.





I had the same problem, but mine was facing west and got way too much sun and the leaves almost burned. I am told you need to plant them facing north. Just need sun but it sounds like you have planted it just in the right spot. If it was blooming when you got it, it may be finished blooming for awhile; therefore, the Miracle Gro Quick Start suggestion.





Good luck. I adore hydrangeas.
Reply:Most common reasons a hydrangea won't bloom





Pruning at the wrong time during the season and eliminating the flower buds. My advice is to not prune your hydrangeas other than simple removal of spent flowers which will be pruned off just below the flower itself at the next lower set of buds. You may prune the tops of your hydrangeas after the active growth begins in spring and it is obvious what is dead and what is not. Be careful because even now I am still speculating that certain buds are dead only to notice a few weeks later that the bud I thought was dead is now a stem in active growth. Remember that paniculatas and arborescens can be pruned as they flower off of new growth. There are also some varieties of macrophylla that bloom off of new wood and can be pruned in late season. Those varieties are: 'All Summer Beauty', 'Penny Mac'; and 'Endless Summer'. It is these hydrangeas that are confusing everybody as to what, when and where to prune or not prune. Don't put yourself in a situation where you are forced to prune. Be patient in the spring and wait for all buds to return before pruning the tips.





Too cold of a climate for successful hydrangea flowering. If you are in zone 5 you will not have luck with 95% of the available mopheads on the market. If your neighbors do not have hydrangeas, other than pee gees or annabelles, you are more than likely in too cold of an area for successful bud return. What confuses things is that the climate seems to be changing and zone lines may shift from year to year. We also are experiencing el nino every 7 years or so and this is causing variations in our winters from mild one year to severe the next year. While the hydrangeas will grow like crazy and give you lots of great foliage, the buds will always burn in a normal zone 5 winter.





Planted in heavy shade. Too much shade can be a cause of non flowering simply because of the lack of energy from the sun. You will notice less flowers gradually as the years go on. Transplant to a sunnier location.





Severe dry spells the season before can and does cause the hydrange to not flower. This can be avoided by choosing a location that is not too sunny and by adding some sort of irrigation system





Use of a high Nitrogen fertilizer will promote lush new growth at the expense of flower production. Use a balanced (10-10-10) slow release, granular fertilizer %26amp; don't over do it.
Reply:If it is a fully grown plant (there for a few years), it probably needs a sunnier spot to be able to bloom.





The other thing I can think of is, many species of young plants just need to grow up more before blooming.





But I have found hydrangeas (even young ones!) very eager to bloom, so I am a bit puzzled by yours. I think the shadiness must be the problem.
Reply:Hydrangeas require full sun and adequate moisture for best bloom. If you are meeting these needs, the only other obvious cause for lack of bloom is improperly timed pruning. Prune the plants immediately after bloom, so that new growth will be able to develop flower buds in the fall. Pruning in the spring or early summer removes the fall developed flower buds, preventing bloom for that year.





Bigleaf hydrangea responds to several light applications of fertilizer during the growing season. A general-purpose fertilizer, such as 8-8-8 or 10-10-10 applied at a rate of one pound (2 cups) per 100 square feet in March, May and July is suggested. It is not necessary to remove the mulch when fertilizing, but water soon after application to help dissolve the fertilizer and send it into the soil.


Will a Hydrangea survive In a whiskey barrel in Wisconsin Winter?

It's a foot deep in soil, but the barrel is above ground. Can or would I need to put hay or clippings around to insulate?


We tend to get lots of snow and negative single digits for temps.





Any input welcome.

Will a Hydrangea survive In a whiskey barrel in Wisconsin Winter?
No I don't think they will survive. The barrel is going to fill up with moisture and freeze solid. I would take the barrel and put it in a unheated garage or barn. Or plant the hydrangas for the winter, cover them with leaves or straw and then dig them up in the spring. You have to protect the root system.
Reply:Protecting the roots is the right idea. If it's a hardy plant it should survive so long as you keep it watered. Water freezes at 32 degrees, and doesn't get any colder, it just evaporates. Mulch and water should do the trick. I grow all sorts of things in pots. Things that survive in the ground survive in pots so long as they're kept moist.
Reply:Hydrangea can not live in single digit temps, much less NEGATIVE single digits!!





If you put the barrel in a garage, you MIGHT be able to over-winter.





Good Luck!!
Reply:I live in Wisconsin too and haven't had any luck at all trying to winter over Hydrangeas. Sorry.


How long can I keep a hydrangea flower completely submerged in water?

It's been in the water for about a day now and the bloom is looking fresh and firm. When should I start to worry about this pretty flower beginning to rot?

How long can I keep a hydrangea flower completely submerged in water?
Not sure I know why you are keeping it submerged in water?





Is this a new fad.





If you want to keep it, try the flower drying technique

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How do I get Hydrangea bushes to produce purple flowers like on cape cod?

I live just north of cape cod. My hydrangeas already produce blue flowers.

How do I get Hydrangea bushes to produce purple flowers like on cape cod?
My parents (on Cape Cod) stick long nails in the ground near the roots to turn them purple. Cheaper than acid fertilizer!
Reply:acid soil, this is advice from my gardening guru mother
Reply:Hydrangea are fun plants..you can make them go pink by fertilizing with Acid Fertilizer, or make them go Blue by adding Lime around their roots (ground under bush). Have at it.
Reply:there are many different varieties and colors of hydrangea. most fall into pinkish, blueish, or white. soil PH greatly affects them. among other things, lime to raise PH, sulfur to lower it. you can even put one on one side and one on the other and have more than one color on the same plant. experiment, have fun with it.
Reply:I think it needs an acid soil. I'd try Mir-Acid (its an acid form of the fertilizer Miricle Grow.)


When do you trim an Hydrangea and how close to the ground?

I have had this fairly large plant for several years and trimmed it a bit last year. This year, it has so many blossoms that they are pulling the branches down. What was the right way to do it?

When do you trim an Hydrangea and how close to the ground?
I prune abut 500mm. from the ground level of outer


branches. Inner branches 100mm. lower.


You can also take some cuttings and create a


new plant and then take the risk of pruning hard.
Reply:I cut mine to the ground every other year or so, and trim some in other years.





Don't trim it now, but you can take some blooms inside for bouquets.
Reply:we allways cut them down to the ground each winter


How do I get my lace hydrangea to flower?

It flowered some when I bought it 10 years ago. I then planted it where it got quite a bit of sun; it got huge in size and it's leaves were beautiful but didn't flower. I split it in two last summer and relocated one to a site that gets morning sunlight and the other gets sunlight through midday but neither are flowering. A garden store told me to apply super phosphate and it would force it to flower; I did but it still hasn't flowered. Both plants are thriving in their new locations but they are flowerless.

How do I get my lace hydrangea to flower?
Some varieties don't bloom year after year. The Mophead (rounded) varieties are notorious for not blooming year after year.


Also, a lack of blooms could be due to pruning at the wrong time.


Or...sometimes hydrangea will leaf out early in the spring during a warm spell and then get caught in a late spring freeze. If the new growth came only from the ground, then types of hydrange that blooms only on old wood will not bloom this year. In frost zones, winter protection %26amp; planting in an area away from drying winter winds helps.





The smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens), bloom on new wood. Others, like some mopheads and many big-leaf hydrangeas (H. macrophylla) bloom on old wood, so any late-season (or fall or winter) pruning you do erases next year's flowers. The safest time to prune is right after flowering. Cut the spent blooms to the ground; then prune out any old, dead or weak shoots.





That advice about phosphate encouraging flowering is correct. It's ideal to use a fertilizer low in Nitrogen and with a Phosphorus content over 30. (An N-P-K ratio of 10-40-10 is ideal) %26amp; fertilize them regularly. Organic soil enriched with compost is best. If you're using store-bought fertilizers %26amp; you don't want to fuss with a scheduled feeding of fertilizer, you can also use a slow-release fertilizer like osmacote or use manure around your plants. Water on a consistent basis. Morning sun and afternoon shade is ideal. Too much shade will retard the development of flowers. Full sun can scorch the leaves so part sun to shade is best.





Here's the "official" care instructions for your lace cap hydrangea:


http://www.robertsonsflowers.com/Ask_the...


"Lace caps need a bit more sun than most Hydrangeas. Cut off old blooms when the blooms are faded. Don't cut the old wood however. Most Hydrangeas bloom on old wood from the previous year. Don't over fertilize. Use a time release plant food like Osmocote granular type. Just give it the right sun exposure, no hot noon summer sun they are best in morning and late afternoon sun. That is why the plant tags usually say "partial shade". Plant outside after May 15th (frost date) and it will come back every year."





Here's a forum discussing why Hydrangeas weren't blooming:


http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/...





Good luck! Hope this helps.
Reply:some variety hydrangea only bloom on new wood (growth from this season) %26amp; other vareities only bloom on old wood (last years growth)


Are you pruning it? If so, then I guess you have the kind that only bloom on old wood, let it grow. If you've never pruned it, next spring wait for the growth to start then give it a good pruning to encourage a lot of growth.


Definetly keep up with the fertilizing, they like acid soil so use a fert. for Acid Loving Plants, like Mir-Acid, or Holly-tone
Reply:I had a similar problem with my hydrangeas....they didn't flower at all after moving for a year. Thankfully though they did the following year and have ever since. Some hydrangeas prefer a light sun/part shade and acidic soil. I have one in the shade and two in the sun and they're doing great now with lots of blooms. Pruning them could be the cause, or too cold of a climate or if they're planted in heavy shade and also bad dry spells will cause the hydrangeas not to blooom and they should be watered everyday......twice in really hot weather. Osmocote or any 10-10-10 fertilizer is also good for them. Good luck!
Reply:YOu should check the soil. If not cut the bush real y short and it will flower amazingly well in 2 years. Do it in Cycles
Reply:If you don't have alot of natural iron in you soil you will need give it iron suppliments.





Do you fertilize the bed every month? I would try that...go to a nursery and buy the good stuff..not HOME Depot or LOWES..nothing against then but you need a nursery to help you pick what is right for your area soil.





If all else fails and you need a quick fix. Peters 20/20 or Miracle Grow once a week ..but note they are high in salt and should not be your only fertilizer.


Should i cut the flowers off my hydrangea?

my two blue hydrangeas are ailing due to a lack of water. they had lots of pretty flowers but they are turning brown. i now have a watering schedule but don't know how or when to cut the damanged ones or proper pruning for them. most of this years blooms appear to be on last years growth. is this the norm? Thanks!

Should i cut the flowers off my hydrangea?
If you prune them now they will not bloom next year. they are temperamental,, you can clip the flowers but you only prune them in late summer when they begin to die down.
Reply:thanks too all of you, this old dog is certainly learning new tricks when it comes to plants, something i never took time for in my younger days(regrettably). i have MANY more questions and look forward to your answers. Report It

Reply:It all depends upon what kind of hydreangea you have. Some bloom on old wood and some on new.





You can clip off the old blooms, but don't prune until right after the blooming stops for the year. If you prune too late in the fall you will cut off next year's buds and you won't have a Spring bloom.
Reply:Cutting off the spent or dried up flowers in called 'deadheading' in the landscape trade. It is done to make the plants look better, it is a good idea to remove them. At the same time you can cut them back so they will regrow to the height you want them.





Yes many bloom on last years growth.
Reply:I read the answers with interest. I LOVE hydrangeas and have several in my yard at the Oregon coast. I bury old rusty nails near the roots of some to get different colors. I've never had a problem growing them....they survive like weeds here. But as a side note....did you know that you can cut a bloom, dry it and the color will stay for years in that dried bloom? They make wonderful arrangements. Good luck with your hydrangeas.
Reply:Like the others, I think you should cut the dead blooms, but wait until later to prune. Water and feed!





I have a great idea for spent hydrangea blooms. At least I think it is great. I have used them for the "bow" on a natural Winter wreath before. Attach natural foliage, like pine or ceder to a straw wreath. Instead of using ribbons and bows, I used a large, dried hydrangea bloom and some wild berries. I cannot tell you what the berries are called, but they grow on ditch banks and hedgerows everywhere. The berries are tiny and purple, and they grow in clusters like grapes. Spray paint the blooms and the berries gold. Attach the bloom in the center of the wreath where the bow would go. Drape the berries underneath where the ribbon would be.





For color, I recommend artificial red berries. I used wild red berries once, and I found them all over the house for months!

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How far away from each other should I plant my Hydrangea plants?

I have about 10 feet of space to work with.I'm trying to figure how many plants to get. And how do I get them blue/purple?

How far away from each other should I plant my Hydrangea plants?
Hydrangea: Mopheads, with large ball like blooms. The lacecaps are quite different - each flat flower-head has an outer ring of large flowers surrounding a central group of much smaller ones. Blue flowers only appear under acid conditions - in order to 'blue' Hydrangeas in alkaline soils it is necessary to apply blueing powder (which can be obtained from any good garden centres) every 7-14 days. Hydrangea bushes grow approx. 5 ft x 5 ft. Good soil, plenty of water, protect in winter from against heavy frosts.
Reply:You have to buy them either blue, pink, or white; plant 4 ft. apart; plant azaleas or impatiens between.
Reply:4-6 feet is the proper spacing for hydrangeas. Crowding them may result in disease and a lack of blooms.


How do i get rid of black ants on my hydrangea bushes?

Any way to get rid of them without harming my bushes. the bulbs are starting to come out and there full of black ants.

How do i get rid of black ants on my hydrangea bushes?
get a bottle of "ortho" bug-b-gone concentrate and a tank sprayer, follow directions on the bottle
Reply:Maybe the ants are harvesting from aphids. Kill the aphids with soapy water.
Reply:burn them
Reply:yep, washing up liquid works a treat on killing ants - not sure what it does to hydrangea though!


Is there a symbolic meaning or representation to the hydrangea plant?

every winter I find dried hydrangeas in my yard even though I have scoured the neighborhood and can't find any in the summer. I also seem to find hydrangeas bushes or blosoms in most unusual places. Usually places that are associated with a decision I have to make or a conflict I feel.

Is there a symbolic meaning or representation to the hydrangea plant?
This is the meaning that I found off of a wedding website.


Hydrangea: meaning: Devotion. Colors: blue, mauve, pink, red, white Season: Summer to Fall
Reply:I have a hydrangea, and I've always liked them so I was really surprised to see some of these harsh answers from various websites:


------------------------


Understanding


Thank you for understanding


frigidity, heartlessness


Boastfulness


Devotion








Hydrangea: For a period of time, it was very much in vogue for noble human maidens to wear long, trailing pastel-colored gowns and to react to all courting with as much indifference as possible. The cool pastel colors of the hydrangea plant's blossoms probably played a role when poets in the Turamzzyrian Empire designated hydrangea as a symbol of heartlessness.





------------------


I think that although they also seem to mean "boastful, frigid, and heartless," the sentiments of "devotion" and "understanding" hardly describe how beautiful these flowers are. I also think that they should also be symbolic of "sensitivity" or "insightfulness" because the color of their blooms are so easily affected by the acidity/ alkalinity of the soil.


How can I make my Hydrangea turn blue?

I have heard that you can put different things into the soil of Hydrangeas and they change colors. If that is true what do you put in the soil?

How can I make my Hydrangea turn blue?
It is dependent on the pH of your soil. Hydrangea's will bloom pink when the pH is above 7....blue if it is below 6.5. You can add soil sulfur to your soil to bring the pH down or coffee grounds mixed in the soil will also help. Good luck.
Reply:There are varieties of white hydrangea that don't change no matter what you put in the soil. Report It

Reply:Yes, steel nails worked for me. I did it thinking "sure" but the next season they were a beautiful blue. That was several years ago %26amp; I haven't added anymore nails. I probably used 1/2 pound stuck them right in the ground around the roots %26amp; tapped them in with a hammer until the head was just buried.
Reply:I'm not sure what you put in, but I know it does have to do with the PH and Acidity. Check with the local garden center.
Reply:1.Spray Paint


2.Food dye the water you use to water it


3.Bury some smurfs around it.
Reply:If you live in the south, they mostly will be blue. If you live in the north, they mostly will be pink. PH is the key.


More acid, more blue, say 6.5 or lower should do it.
Reply:I think you need ericaceous soil. It should be available from any garden centre.

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Will Hydrangea survive in a pot?

I got a hydrangea for Valentines Day, It was blooming. I repotted it in a bigger pot and it bloomed again. I can't plant outside. Any suggestions on how to keep it alive over the winter?

Will Hydrangea survive in a pot?
Depends on where you live. Look, all the botanical houses have a hothouse where the hydrangeas grow in a pot. Make it big enough and water it as it seems to need a lot of water.





Try a corner of your sitting room near the windows where they get light and some warmth.





Go get a gardening book and see how it survives your climate. I live where my hydrangeas are in pots, outdoors, the whole year round. They're lovely!
Reply:I have had mine for about that long and put it in the pot and set it outside under a robellini palm. Seems to be doing fine. Will bring it back in when the weather turns colder.


Why do my hydrangea plants have brown spots on their leaves?

I just put them in the ground at the beginning of the season, and they have not produced any flowers either. Where I am located, there has certainly been enough rain. Thanks for any input!

Why do my hydrangea plants have brown spots on their leaves?
Is your soil alkaline or acid? Hydrangeas like acidic soil. Apply some colloidal phosphate %26amp; lava sand. Also, If your water has much chlorine it will cause browning.
Reply:you might of watered them to much or to little
Reply:Sometimes it takes a whole year before a plant produces a flower sometimes 2yrs.Good Luck


Why did my hydrangea blossoms start out blue, then turn green?

The "green problem" will overtake plants of either low or high PH... it's unkown why. It is a temporary problem.


The other users here are not 100 % correct and are missing the problem. Green blooms are a different situation over the normal blue and pinks... green is not a normal bloom.


Green color is not related directly to the PH... yes- the pinks and blues are.... It is yet unknown what causes Hydrangeas to turn green and it is considered to be a sympton to one or more problems.


It is proven to be temporary however.





It is suggested that adding boosters of your choice to the soil will encourage the green to "bloom out" and the plant to return to it's normal state or to what state you have encouraged.





There is a short blog here regrading this very problem.... http://www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com/gree...





I have two booklets regarding Hydrangea and they basically say the same thing in more technical terms.





(I have 17 hydrangeas on the property--- and it happens every once in a while here and there).





I noticed that the plants always are in very good health aside from the green dull color.


Good luck.

Why did my hydrangea blossoms start out blue, then turn green?
it means you have a high amount of acid in your soil. that also means that if you would like you can make them purple, by sticking a few older copper pennies in the ground by the root of the plant. its a very neat trick and your hydrangeas will be different from the rest of the neighborhood.
Reply:They simply turn green as they fade.They will go from green to brownish.Remove the flower head to promote new growth.
Reply:the acidity in the the soil causes the change in the color.
Reply:I'm not all that familiar with hydrangea. I just planted my first one this season, but I think it has something to do with the acidity of the soil.





According to this article all you have to do is add Aluminum Sulfate to your soil:





"Q: How can I keep the "blue" in my hydrangeas? What about fertilizing them?


Soils that contain aluminum and have a low acidity, a pH of 5.2 to 5.5, tend to produce hydrangeas that are bluish to purple. If the blue color seems to be fading from your hydrangeas, add aluminum sulfate, found at your home and garden stores, to the soil around your plants. The presence of aluminum in the soil is what makes them blue. By adding aluminum sulfate, you are lowering the pH of the soil, making the aluminum available to the plant...





Mix one tablespoon of aluminum sulfate per gallon of water needed and apply to plants during the growing season. This can be started as early as the first week in February, but it should not be too late to start the process now. Apply to plants that are already moist to avoid burning the roots.





A light, half-dose of an azalea-camellia fertilizer, applied a few times during the growing season will help keep your hydrangeas healthy, while at the same time help the soil maintain a lower pH"


Hydrangea bush, pink and blue has extended branches that have bulbs growing on them...?

I would like to know what the taller branches are with the fruit shaped pods on them? The leaves on the bush parts containing current hydrangea blooms, and the leaves on the taller branches with the large pods look similar to each other, if not the same...is this another bloom season? or do i look deeper for a graft? help! thank you

Hydrangea bush, pink and blue has extended branches that have bulbs growing on them...?
I'm confused about your question, not sure what you are describing.





Do you think that you may have lacecap hydrangeas? Maybe you are describing that flower. Look at this link and see if it matches your plant. If so, then you have lacecape type hydrangeas and that is what the flower looks like. It is supposed to grow this way.





http://www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com/lace...





Does this help you?
Reply:not another bloom season... not a graft.... the leaves should look EXACTLY the same if they're on the same plant..... I think you have something else grow along with your hydrangea..... get under there and track the extended branch back to the soil..... see if it's not a separate plant..... a taller branch with a fruit shaped pod makes me think Iris.... but their leaves are obviously not like hydras.... is it possible the long branches are some that didn't do well in cold temps this spring and have 'died' with buds on them that are now turned black?..... if you track back and find that they ARE part of the bush, then that's my best guess.............if that's what you find, then you can prune off those long stems, they'll not bloom... where they do have leaves, full open leaves, don't cut behind them, but do leave them.... that's next year's blooms............before too long, there will be a new shoot come off the side of that branch....

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** Can someone please help me with my Hydrangea?**?

I planted a "Never ending summer" hydrangea about a month and a half ago and it suffered from lack of rain. When we came back from vacation, it was dry and brown with just a few green tips on the stems, just below what used to be the flower heads. Is my hydrangea fried or is there hope for it? Should I prune it back? Or dig it up and start with another one? And is this the right time of year to get another one or should I wait? If so, when should I get one?? I live in SE Pennsylvania, just 20 miles NE of Philadelphia-- I forget what "zone" that is.





MANY thanks for your help!





So many questions...

** Can someone please help me with my Hydrangea?**?
Your about in zone 7.


I don't think the others who left advice here read the question well enough. This plant isn't just wilting as Hydrangea do normally... Rather, it is near death.





Sure, Hydrangea can be trimmed after bloom but I would not suggest it for a plant trying to establish itself after nearly dying out.





It's a newly planted plant... therefore it's stalks are already pretty limited. Cutting them back won't support root growth during the growning season.





This is a recently planted hydrangea, not a previously established plant. If there is no green on the plant as described above, then it needs whatever leaves are left to support root growth for the rest of the summer season... Sure, if by mid August you get some leaves and life- go ahed and fertilze it. Right now, as described you just need to water it and hope it shows signs of recovery.


Look out for fungus.
Reply:Trimming it back is pointless. If you do, it will live but next year is awash. Just water it until you get it going again.


This way next year youll have a decent plant. Following the advice to trim it will limit not only the loss of this year but also extend that loss to most of next year.





If this was an established - big bush, then I would trim it.





That guy Jason F is correct.
Reply:The best home for an hydrangea is to be placed in the morning sun but with afternoon shade. I don't know where your Endless Summer hydrangea is located, but if you can get it into the shade, and (as it's name states), HYDRATE it with plenty of water everyday, you may just save it's life and bring it back from the brink of death.





You can cut it back, or leave it...but the best thing for it is water, water, water. I've see hydrangea grow right out of a pond before..they like water that much!





If you prefer to start again with a new one, make sure it gets morning sun and afternoon shade, and that it is in the ground long enough to root well before late autumn, and your first frost.





Endless Summer usually takes a year or two to get going really well, but they are well worth the wait!!!
Reply:You can prune it back to the part that is still green if you like - or cut it all the way down to the ground and keep it watered. The top of these plants are very easy to wilt - even an established plant may seem very wilted in the heat of the day, the bounce back in the evening. If the roots were established you should see new growth in a short time. Plant shrubs at the end of summer so they can settle in before the winter, Planting in the heat of the summer puts a lot of stress on the plant - buy it having to work on roots and bloom at the same time. Hope this helped!
Reply:It may have a little life in it yet. Try adding a little root stimulator, you can find this at any good garden center. You mix it with water and follow directions on the bottle. It is fine to do this now. You don't get as cold there as we do here and we fall plant in MN all the time. It is still early enough to get a root system going before fall sets in. Hydrangea flowers die back at some point anyway. The bushes take a while to establish but are normally very hardy and it should help to cut the dead part back. This would only strengthen the roots. I am hoping there is a little life left in them since you said there was some green in the stems yet. Best of luck with this and if it doesn't come back in the spring, then dig it up and plant a new one and use some of that root stimulator I mentioned earlier. A bottle is good for a few new plants.
Reply:Keep the plant, do as the others have said...water, prune only after flowering has ceased, use the root acelerator (you may want to check the roots to make sure nothing ate them) but also use Miracid for the correct Ph of the soil this is most important for the overall health of the hydrangea. When in doubt go to a local plant nursery and ask one of the professionals.....sometimes they will actually come and check it out for ya for free. Good luck.
Reply:I think you have a wait and see situation.





Here is more information from:


http://www.robertsonsflowers.com/Ask_the...





"Lace caps need a bit more sun than most Hydrangeas. Cut off old blooms when the blooms are faded. Don't cut the old wood however. Most Hydrangeas bloom on old wood from the previous year. Don't over fertilize. Use a time release plant food like Osmocote granular type. Just give it the right sun exposure, no hot noon summer sun they are best in morning and late afternoon sun. That is why the plant tags usually say "partial shade". Plant outside after May 15th (frost date) and it will come back every year."


Hydrangea experts . . . Can my little bush, when pruned become one of those upstanding, one trunked hydrangea?

tree? I love the look of them. My little bush has about 5 woody base branches and it produces lots of blooms, but it droops all over the place and looks sad. I am planning for next season as I live in the North.

Hydrangea experts . . . Can my little bush, when pruned become one of those upstanding, one trunked hydrangea?
The hydrangea that is grown like a tree is Hydrangea paniculata. There are four or five species that are grown (up north), but only the one that can be trained like a tree.





If yours is in fact a paniculata (PeeGee), you can train it yourself. Start with a 3-4' stake, put it into the ground as close to the center of the shrub that you can. Tape one trunk to the stake using masking tape. Cut out two or three of the remaining branches to the ground. Don't allow any new 'suckers' to develop. You can do this all this fall. In the spring remove about half of the side branches from the one you've attached to the stake. Continue to train the main branch to develop height. In the fall (2008) remove the rest of the branches that you're not training. A few years after that you should have a very tree-like hydrangea.





You may have to leave the stake in, until the trunk develops adequate girth to support the weight of the branching at the top. Every fall, remove about 1/3 of the length of the branches of the 'tree like' top, to keep it compact and lighter, again, until the trunk develops some strength.





Good luck


I hope that this helps
Reply:I saw a question about trimming your little bush and it got my interest. If the woody droops all over the place and looks sad that can't be good.


I guess I misunderstood the question. lol
Reply:I think the tree form Hydrangeas are grafted onto the trunk. I'm sure you could cut all but one of the base branches %26amp; trim at the desired height. I think you'll be stuck with a lot of pinching to keep the others back %26amp; growth off the trunk.


Have you tried a support ring? Like for Peoany. You could also try trimming it during the season to keep the branches from getting too long %26amp; heavy.


Where can I find pictures online of hydrangea beds?

We are transplanting 4 Hydrangeas and are trying to get ideas of plants that will go well with them. Every pic online Ive found is of a flower I want to see different bed ideas...thanks!

Where can I find pictures online of hydrangea beds?
Pictures:





http://www.americanhydrangeasociety.org/...





http://www.americanhydrangeasociety.org/...





http://www.americanhydrangeasociety.org/...





http://www.americanhydrangeasociety.org/...





http://www.americanhydrangeasociety.org/...
Reply:the others are so efficient...with their references





I was just going to suggest you look at


'Fine Gardening' magazine it is by Taunton Press


always has lots of good pictures and ideas about designing beds and such.


http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/


it is a really good site


I can't seem to throw out my old magazines though
Reply:Here's some:


http://www.carlsondesignbuild.com/galler...


http://aboutbritain.com/HodnetHallGarden...


http://www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com/anna...


http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup/...


http://www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com/inde...


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrangea


http://images.marthastewart.com/images/c...


"Endless Summer" Hydrangea:


http://www.endlesssummerhydrangea.com/im...


Many different varieties of Hydrangea together:


http://www.ppdl.purdue.edu/PPDL/images/h...





Mixed flower beds: Gallery (scroll down the left side to Hydrangea 'Lemon Wave' %26amp; friends)


http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view...





http://www.beyondblossoms.com/blog/2007/...





http://www.boston.com/news/globe/magazin...





http://www.pixelmama.com/garden/shadebed...





http://millvillagebungalow.blogspot.com/...





Hydrangea %26amp; Hosta:


http://garden.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Hydran...





Annabelle hydrangea with red Lillies:


http://guildwoodgardens.blogspot.com/200...


Snowy white Annabelle hydrangea in summer show off the purple berries of American Beautyberry in fall:


http://www.caes.uga.edu/campus/griffin/g...


Purple shows up well with a white Hydrangea background:


http://gardener.blogg.se/images/2007_071...





"Endless Summer" with other plants:


http://knechts.net/uploaded_images/ESumm...


http://www.math.umn.edu/~white/personal/...


http://www.theplantscapes.com/images/pg2...








Good Luck! Hope this is helpful.
Reply:Google hydrangeas under images, you'll be surprised at the results you get!


How quickly quicly does climbing Hydrangea climb a wall?

and any postives or negatives regarding this and how would it go with English Ivy growing underneath it for evergreen coverage in winter?





And does it attract a lot of bugs?





Thanks for your answers!

How quickly quicly does climbing Hydrangea climb a wall?
It grows quickly. I wouldn't mix it with ivy because they are both self clinging and it would probably ruin your wall. There are two negatives I can think of. One is that you can't cut off the dead heads higher up the wall unless you climb a ladder and the other is that it sheds white stuff after flowering and then, of course, it sheds its leaves. Mine has been in for ten years on the apex end and is right up to the chimney.
Reply:Depends on how high the wall is.
Reply:its a ever green and yes grows like ivy fast so try keep it to the level you wont it
Reply:just a thought - how far up the wall does it have to go to change from a lowdrangea to a drangea to a hydrangea?

bucked teeth

How quickly will climbing hydrangea grow on a wall and what are ways to stimulate this growth?

Thanks for your answers!

How quickly will climbing hydrangea grow on a wall and what are ways to stimulate this growth?
Growth rate is dependent on the aspect,the soil fertility,the exposure and drainage among others.


Hydrangea petiolaris is best suited to a shady position,if you have an established plant feeding with a seaweed based liquid food will help growth.Should you be considering planting,open the soil by adding coarse gravel to improve drainage,incorporate compost into the soil and keep well watered until the plant is established.
Reply:Hydrangea petiolaris is quite a slow grower and will probably outlive you. It thrives any soil. An application of fertilizer and an occasional mulch will keep it healthy but won't make it grow any faster.


The good news is that it requires little pruning ----just remove the dead heads off the flowers ----- and attracts birds which like to nest in the thick branches.


Good choice.
Reply:The clue is in the word Hydrangea. They like plenty of water (hydra). Mine has started flowering today in the Midlands. I don't think you will need to encourage it much, they are quite prolific.


How quickly does climbing hydrangea grow on a wall and how does it compare to Silver Fleece Vine?

I like the way this vine looks, however, i am wondering if it will take too much time to establish nicely and what it looks like in the winter time.





Does anyone else know when this vine blooms also, and for how long?





Another option I was thinking of using Silver Fleece vine, but I have heard it really goes crazy in just one year. How long and when does this vine bloom?





also, how does it look in the winter?





Thanks for your answers!

How quickly does climbing hydrangea grow on a wall and how does it compare to Silver Fleece Vine?
Climbing hydrangea is a slow starter, it generally takes a couple of years to become established then takes off quite nicely. The flowers can be 6 to 10 inches in diameter and they generally appear in late June.


It is a lovely wall plant and the stems look quite architectural in the winter.


It is a top plant for a shady situation.





Silver Fleece Vine I believe is the same plant as Russian Vine, also know as Mile a Minute. That name should give you an idea of how quickly it establishes. I would advise strongly against planting this anywhere, it is a terrible weed and only looks presentable whilst it is in flower, the rest of the time it is a dreadful mess and will successfully resist all attempts to keep it tidy.
Reply:IT ONLY TAKES 4 MONTHS AND LOOK VERY VERY BAD IN WINTER.
Reply:Hydrangea Petiolaris grows without support, is slow, has reasonably nice flowers and is a good choice.


Neverheard of Silver Fleece Vine but if it is as previous answer suggests Russian Vine then it needs a lot of support to sustain the tons of vegetation produced.


Try Cotoneaster Horizontalis --------- RHS Gold Medal winner, self supporting, flowers, berries, shape ---what more is there ?


Cheers


How much should a hydrangea stem be cut for winter?

should it be cut all the way or part of the way?

How much should a hydrangea stem be cut for winter?
It depends on what type you have.


A common Hydrangea is the PeeGee. This flowers on new wood, so you should prune after blooming is done or first thing in the spring, to the ground. Otherwise next year you'll have old wood and new growth together, a real mess.


Another common type is oak leaf or big leaf Hydrangea. These flowers are from last years buds, so only prune after blooming, or you won't get flowers next year.


A newly popular one, which is from Minnesota, my neck of the woods, is called Endless Summer. It flowers from both old and new wood, so you can do just about anything you want. It will give you different colors depending on what you add to it's soil, eg. aluminum sulphate, lime, particular fertilizer. It's gorgeous. Find out which type you have and go from there.
Reply:Hydrangea doesn't have to be pruned. If you just want a smaller bush it should be pruned right after it blooms. On most hydrangeas the flowers grow on the old wood. The only thing you should cut on it this time of year are any dead branches. If you cut it back next year only cut about a third of it off.
Reply:Just lop off the dead flower heads once they ARE dead. If you cut it to the ground you will probably have little or no flower production the next year as they plant will spend most of its energy regrowing the plant stalks and stems.


Why is my newly transplanted hydrangea wilted?

I just purchased an Annabelle hydrangea %26amp; transplanted it into a larger pot. The next day the entire plant is wilted looking. The flower heads are very bowed. It has plenty of moisture. Help??

Why is my newly transplanted hydrangea wilted?
First, make sure it isn't standing in water; too much water is often as bad as too little. Also, be sure that it is in a warm area, and has plenty of light, but NOT direct sunlight for two or three days. Other than that, many plants react very negatively to being transplanted, especially at first; if you had to remove any soil from the root ball, that may also be responsible for the drooping, as the tiniest root hairs may have been damaged or destroyed in the process.
Reply:Make sure there is enough potting soil to pack the plant in firmly. I did that with some pansies and forgot to put enough soil in to keep it firmly against the pot. Sometimes if you put the plant in a pot that is too big, it will wilt. Hydrangeas also don't like full sun, they are a partial to full shade type plant.
Reply:Make sure you have it in full shade and check deep into the soil for moisture. Hydrangeas love acidic food. It might be in shock.
Reply:it is just in transplant shock and it should perk up in a few days also make sure you give it enough water .
Reply:It may just be the shock of the transplant. Just keep it well hydrated and it should perk up in a few days to a week.

Kung Fu school

Hydrangea bush, pink and blue has extended branches that have bulbs growing on them...?

I would like to know what the taller branches are with the fruit shaped pods on them? The leaves on the bush parts containing current hydrangea blooms, and the leaves on the taller branches with the large pods look similar to each other, if not the same...is this another bloom season? or do i look deeper for a graft? help! thank you

Hydrangea bush, pink and blue has extended branches that have bulbs growing on them...?
I'm confused about your question, not sure what you are describing.





Do you think that you may have lacecap hydrangeas? Maybe you are describing that flower. Look at this link and see if it matches your plant. If so, then you have lacecape type hydrangeas and that is what the flower looks like. It is supposed to grow this way.





http://www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com/lace...





Does this help you?
Reply:not another bloom season... not a graft.... the leaves should look EXACTLY the same if they're on the same plant..... I think you have something else grow along with your hydrangea..... get under there and track the extended branch back to the soil..... see if it's not a separate plant..... a taller branch with a fruit shaped pod makes me think Iris.... but their leaves are obviously not like hydras.... is it possible the long branches are some that didn't do well in cold temps this spring and have 'died' with buds on them that are now turned black?..... if you track back and find that they ARE part of the bush, then that's my best guess.............if that's what you find, then you can prune off those long stems, they'll not bloom... where they do have leaves, full open leaves, don't cut behind them, but do leave them.... that's next year's blooms............before too long, there will be a new shoot come off the side of that branch....


How to make my hydrangea flowers turn blue?

I moved to a new house and there are older hydrangeas in the front yard. They are just now starting to bloom and Id like for the flowers to be blue. What do I use? And how often?

How to make my hydrangea flowers turn blue?
there is an acid based product on the market that you water the plants with to make the soil more acidic which will change the color of your hydrangeas
Reply:Depending upon the hydrangea, if it is a re-blooming hydrangea such as endless summer - picture here http://www.naturehills.com/product/endle... and the blooms are pink you can put down aluminum sulfate in the soil to change the blooms to blue. Unfortunately the bloom on the plant now will remain pink but new buds turning to blooms will be blue. Be careful to follow the packages instructions. I have 7 hydrangeas and just yesterday I put down some aluminum sulfate.
Reply:nothing you can do for this year.... if the flowers show up to be pink, you can start to change the soil pH with aluminum sulphate over the next year or two and it might work....





read here for complete directions...





http://www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com/





on the left side down a ways.......color change.....
Reply:The old gardeners used to plant rusty nails near the pants roots. This puts the nutrients into the ground to make the flowers turn blue. You can try it and see if it makes a difference, what have you got to lose?
Reply:Here is a good website all about hydrangea:


http://www.usna.usda.gov/Gardens/faqs/hy...
Reply:Acidify the soil.........in years past we used aluminum sulfate fertilizer.





Are you sure they are the right hydrangeas?
Reply:You can buy a special formula at your garden store to do this, I think if you ask they will advise you.
Reply:Aluminum sulfate and use miracid
Reply:my dad put like rusty nails and stuff in the bottom of the soil and that seems to work for him :)


Is there absolutely any way to grow a hydrangea in Phoenix Arizona?

I love hydrangeas but have only been able to visit them in the northwest. Any ideas for how I could grow my own in Phoenix?

Is there absolutely any way to grow a hydrangea in Phoenix Arizona?
Try a sun screen.. Can buy them at any hardware.. Grew alot of plants that were from back east.. I grew them over in mesa...Put some stakes in and put the shade screen over them..Boy I do remember that old sun out there spent 25 years there.. moved out in 2000...Had 90% of my garden covered... Your friend here in Tennessee...ROB GOOD LUCK!
Reply:Growing Hydrangeas


Growing hydrangeas is very easy to do. They require very little care, as long as the proper conditions are given. Hydrangeas need full to partial sun in order to grow. Good drainage is needed to help prevent root rot, and hydrangeas will thrive in a variety of soil and water conditions. Once established, hydrangeas are fairly drought resistant.


Hydrangeas are hardy in zones five through nine. When growing hydrangeas, it is important to note that the plants should not be pruned back very far in the winter, as they will bloom on older wood stems. The easiest way to propagate hydrangeas in a garden is by division. Dividing one larger plant into several small plants should be done every few years or so, to ensure that the plants get enough room to grow.





The most important thing to note when growing hydrangeas is the ability some have to change bloom color based on the pH level of the soil. The bloom will be blue in more acidic soil, and a lovely pink in soil that has a higher alkaline content. Adding lime will make the flowers pink, while adding aluminum sulfate will turn the blooms blue.
Reply:XOXO is right.





I am familiar with the problem you're having. The entense heat.





The best way, is to plant them in an area, where there are larger, taller plants around them so they can be in the shade during the hottest part of the day. Also, water, water, water.





You could build a little green house and install one of those tiny air conditioners to keep them from cooking in the Arizona heat.





I live in Dallas. It has reached a temperature of 104 every day, this past week. I understand.





Half of all my flowers have been baked to a nice crispy crunch.





Son of a biscuit eater! Your and my water bills are over the top, trying to keep our flowers alive.





Good luck!!! I know what you mean.
Reply:Maybe you could buy potting soil and grow it in a big pot. Maybe dig a hole and put potting soil in it when it takes root in the pot you can trans plant it.They love our southern soil and our climate.I don't know what Arizona soil is like..but I know you have the heat.
Reply:Tons of water...Hydrangea (water plant).





Hope that helps.
Reply:I have no idea but guess what!!HANNAH MONTANA!! she is such an insperation, i love her!!!!!


Why is my endless summer hydrangea is wilting ?

I just planted an endless summer hydrangea last sat.Their aren't any blooms just buds.Now the leaves have turned brown and have wilted.Where I have planted it gets morning sun and is in the shade from 3:00 p.m.on.I'm watering almost daily.Any tips would be appreciated

Why is my endless summer hydrangea is wilting ?
tho the hydrangea plant loves a lot of water the plant will suffer if the soil is constantly very wet..it may cause the roots to rot particularly if the plant was recently planted or moved due to root damage also if the sun it gets in the morning is very strong it may account for the for some of the wilting in the leaf. i would suggest letting the soil dry a little and then lightly feeding with something like miracle grow
Reply:morning sun, shade from three oclock? ... nine hours?... that's full sun.... noon sun is terrible on hydras... they're sunburned!... morning sun meansbefore eleven am, and after that, they are in shade... that still means they're in sun from six to eleven, which is a whole lot of sun even then!... get them some shade!!....





stop watering to fix the wilt.... the wilt is the plant trying to hide it's leaves from the sun...... water to keep the soil MOIST, not soggy.... shade the plant somehow or move it....
Reply:Hydrangeas do not like sun and they don't like getting there leaves wet. Bottom water and move it to a shady area like the north side of your home.

pulling teeth

Does anyone know how to care for a "Climbing Hydrangea"?

I live in zone 5 and was wandering about the care of a "Climbing Hydrangea"? I have it planted in full sun.....I know that it is a slow grower....this is the plants second year. It is growing, but I'm just not satisfied with how it is looking. Any tips or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Does anyone know how to care for a "Climbing Hydrangea"?
Hardiness: A reliable performer in USDA Hardiness Zones 4-7.





Exposure: Full sun to partial shade.





Soil: Adaptable to a wide range of soils but thrives in moist well drained soils with supplemental organic matter.





Special Qualities: A picturesque, none aggressive vine with large lacy white flowers in early summer. Its glossy heart shaped leaves are very attractive.





Landscape use: This vine adheres by root-like tendrils making it an excellent vine for growing on brick walls or up tall, high limbed trees





Check the link below for more info, including a forum on Dave's Garden for others trying to grow them. Good luck!!
Reply:They really do best not planted in full sun. And patience they are a slow grower.It took mine 5 yers before it really started to get some height. Fertilize monthly and keep it well watered


How much does each hydrangea stem usually cost?

I want my centerpieces to have about three hydrangeas and when I went to the LA Flower Marker I found white hydrangea bunches for about $6 but colored hydrangeas (pink and purple) for about $12. Each bunch was about 4-5 stems, so for white hydrangeas it averages to $1.50-$2 and colored for $3-$3.50 per stem. Is this right? I was looking into having a florist arrange 3 hydrangeas and 6 roses in vases that i have botten (rose Im sure are cheaper around $1.00-$1.50 per stem). They said it would be $35-$40 isnt this way too much, I understand labor cost but are they totally ripping me off or is this how much it will cost? I would think as florist they would even get flowers even cheaper since they buy by bulk right? I am totally wrong by asking them to do it for at least $25-$30?

How much does each hydrangea stem usually cost?
See if you can get a florist that works from home? I did that and got great centerpieces for about $60 total cost.. I did however, bring my own containers...I got married in Las Vegas and brought home the buckets from each casino and had arrangements in those.. My guests took everything home ! Which is something you can do as well.. Instead of renting containers.. Then guests can take the whole arrangement home ! good luck
Reply:No, I think you are totally right. I mean labor is something to consider but it just sounds like they are totally just trying to get more money. If I were you I would insist on them lowering their prices or just find a florist who would do it for cheaper. Don't get defeated just keep trying!
Reply:average cost is between 3 and 8 dollars each


Surface for climbing hydrangea?

I want to plant a climbing hydrangea out front. I have vinyl siding. Can it climb it? I have Boston Ivy climbing out back and it doesn't seem to harm the vinyl. Do they climb the same way?

Surface for climbing hydrangea?
Hydrangea Petiolaris,the climbing form climbs by the aid of adhesive tendrils,which adhere best to a slightly rough surface such as brickwork or untreated timber.


It's likely to find difficulty in clinging to the glossy surface of vinyl,perhaps use a wooden trellis slightly clear of the siding,which the hydrangea would conceal.


If my boyfriend cut down my hydrangea plant with the lawn mower, will it grow again next year?

I got a potted hydrangea last year and planted it in the back yard at the end of summer. It had grown back again this year and had nice green leaves. Alas, my doofus boyfriend thought it was a weed and cut it with the lawn mower! Will it grow back again next year - or is it doomed at this point?

If my boyfriend cut down my hydrangea plant with the lawn mower, will it grow again next year?
Yes, it should return. Buy a root stimulator (Miracle Grow makes a good one). It will make it grow faster. Do this every seven days, no more. Your hydrangea will return. That is one of my favorite plants.





It is not doomed. Never, never give up on a really pretty plant. It will grow back this year, but just not produce blooms until next year. Just keep it fairly well protected in the winter, and it will come back in the Spring.
Reply:yes it will grow back, he did not did up the root.
Reply:It is hard to say. It is very possible that it will grow back. The roots are quite big and deep in hydrangeas, so I would say probably it will. When I bought my house there were huge hydrangeas out front overgrown. I pulled them all out, and began planting other things. We had missed some of the root, and it grew back. As long as the root is in tact, it should be fine.
Reply:It should. It is a woody perannial with strong roots. Do water the roots if it gets really dry.
Reply:It should grow back. Continue to water it just like normal. Don't let your boyfriend mow anymore :)
Reply:It should grow back just fine. It was in the ground long enough to get some good roots established. You won't get any blooms this year though. I actually cut mine back on purpose sometimes if they are getting out of control.
Reply:Yes. Keep it watered, though. I put a small white plastic fence on four sides of some plants that had a very good start before the Grandson mowed them (mine were one of the peony plants and one of the vines with a 'trunk'.
Reply:Get rid of him!!
Reply:I wish I had an answer for this one, but I haven't a clue. The only thing I can suggest is to have hope and continue to water it and see if it begins to grow again. My husband had a bad habit of weed whacking my plants to death until I took him on a personal tour of my garden. Sometimes you just have to point out the obvious ;) Good luck
Reply:have him buy you a new hydrangea, the first one has suffered enough

Fitness Shoes

What can be the blueest mophead Hydrangea?

I'm looking for the perfect (blue!) S. California hydrangea, really, but I'm mostly looking for a stronger blue as my soil doesn't seem to have much aluminum or my regular fertilizer is binding it out somehow.





Right now I'm growing: 'Ami Paquier', which never goes past lavender; 'Dooley' and 'Penny Mac', both of which will go pale blue ('Penny Mac' blooms are willing to switch mid-growth, making odd color mixes); and H. m. nigra which will daintily picotee sharply blue.





'Penny Mac' never stops blooming except in February, but doesn't keep color so I am constantly having to prune old heads off. 'Dooley' doesn't seem to like my lack of humidity, and is growing very small. H. m. nigra has beautiful black stems and takes walkway abuse well, but is highly succeptible to powdery mildew. 'Ami Paquier' blooms very early, keeps color, and is mildew-proof.





Anyone have dry-hot weather experience with 'Endless Summer' or 'Enziadom'? Are they good blues here?

What can be the blueest mophead Hydrangea?
I'm in Ohio %26amp; yes the Endless Summer can be a very deep blue if the soil is acid enough. Add Holytone %26amp;/or Aluminum Sulfate help to acidify soil.


I don't think our hot %26amp; dry is anything like your hot %26amp; dry, so I don't know how it would perform for you.


We bought a house this past summer with Hydrangea plants outside?

We have a Hydrangea plant in the front garden. This summer it was beautiful and lush with a lot of blooms. Now that it is winter, it looks terrible!!! Should I dig it up and throw it away or will it return to the beautiful plant this spring? It is really ugly......

We bought a house this past summer with Hydrangea plants outside?
That is the way it is suppose to look at this time of year. When cold weather comes, they drop their leaves. Hydrangea's are a perennial, meaning they return to grow and bloom year after year. It will be back to normal next spring. Hope this answers your question.


http://gardening.about.com/od/treesshrub...





$Billy Ray$
Reply:It is a deciduous plant, that means that it sheds it's leaves in the winter. Let it be until early spring, then you can clean up its shape and fertilize and water it and hopefully it will be just as pretty again when we survive this thing called winter. Right now you could rake up and get rid of dead leaves.
Reply:Hydrangeas are my favorite flower! Just leave it as it is, and next summer, your plant will be even more beautiful than last!
Reply:A hydrangea is a deciduous plant, it looses its leaves in the winter. You should not do any pruning on it as most hydrangeas bloom on OLD wood, that is wood produced this past year, and if you prune it, you won't have any blooms next year. Only some of the white hydrangeas like Annabelle bloom on new wood, and they can be cut to the ground, and there are a few new varieties of the blue ones that bloom on new wood, but if your plants have been there a long time it is probable that they are not one of the new types. It should come back next spring and be fine, if there is any dead you can cut it out then.
Reply:Hydrangea Care


Hydrangea plant care is often given a lot in the summer months, when the plant is in full bloom, and then forgotten about in the winter. This is unfortunate, as mid winter is an important time to care for a hydrangea. Proper mid winter hydrangea care will ensure a full, robust plant with lots of flowers for the following growing season.





The first part of hydrangea plant care is pruning. When pruning the plant in the winter, any stems that flowers the previous season should be pruned back. Unflowered stems should not be pruned, as these will provide the flowers for the next year. Any dead stems or weak parts of the plant should also be pruned back at this time.





The most interesting part of hydrangea plant care is the ability to change the color of the blooms, simply by changing the pH level of the soil. If the blooms are blue, adding some lime to decrease the acidity of the soil will change the flowers to pink. Pink blooms can be turned blue by adding aluminum sulfate. Hydrangeas use a lot of water, and should be watered regularly during times of drought.














More information about hydrangea care can be found on the Internet. Local nurseries and garden centers will also be able to provide maintenance tips. Libraries will often times have books featuring hydrangea plant care. Wherever the hydrangea plant care is found, it is important to ensure the validity of the source.


How to deadhead a potted hydrangea (macrophylla)?

I have a store-bought macrophylla hydrangea (which I love!) and most of the blooms have died as summer is winding down. I've read that I am supposed to deadhead the spent blooms, but I'm not sure where exactly to cut. If I cut under a pair or two of leaves below the flowering part, won't I be left with a bunch of cut stems on my plant? Will they ever grow from those stems again or should I just cut the stems completely from the bottom? But then I wouldn't be left with much of a plant at all! There are a few new stems that haven't flowered yet this year but still, that isn't much if that's all that's left. I am new to growing hydrangeas and would appreciate any help anyone has to offer. Thanks!

How to deadhead a potted hydrangea (macrophylla)?
Dead flowerheads of mophead hydrangeas can be removed after flowering, but it is better to leave them on the plant over winter as they will provide some frost protection for the rather tender growth buds below them. Instead, remove the dead flowerheads in early spring, cutting back to the first strong, healthy pair of buds lower down the stem. You will know the buds I am shore,





If there is any frost damage in spring, prune back damaged shoots to just above the first undamaged pair of buds on live, healthy wood. Also remove any weak, straggly stems.
Reply:Yes, you would be left with a bunch of stems. But this would happen to one that is planted outdoors, too. I have a florist friend who says these potted plants may not grow outside.





Once you cut the stems, keep watering like always. Make sure you fertilize every other week, and give it part sun/part shade. Don't give it hot, afternoon sun. Good luck!
Reply:You don't need to deadhead a hydrangea. You can leave the flowers on -- they look very nice when dried. I did nothing to my hydrangea last year and this year it has more blooms than ever... My hydrangea is not potted, and it's probably approx. 20 years old, but I don't think it makes a difference. Just leave the stems, flowers, etc. If you deadhead the hydrangea you will be missing 1/2 of it's charm.


How do I care for my Hydrangea bushes?

I just planted 2 Hydrangea bushes.


The flowers are in full bloom now.


Do I pick them to prompt further growth?


Is there anything special that I should do to care for them?


I used a good soil (Miracle Grow) and dug to the recommended depth that the nursery told me.





I have been watering once daily. Is this too much?





Please help. I have such a black thumb but I'm giving my yard my best attempt this year.


Best answer - 10 pts! Thanks!!

How do I care for my Hydrangea bushes?
Mom,


Hydreangeas are indeed thirsty little guys. But you don't need to overdo it; three times a week should be sufficient until they get established, as they like water, but don't want to be soggy either.


There's no real need to cut them back right now, unless you want to prune them into a more desireable shape. Many of the new hydrangeas bloom on both new and old wood----meaning that they will continue to bloom throughout the summer.


You did indeed use a good soil to plant in. But Mom---this is very important---please tell me you didn't plant them in full sun; hydrangeas are shade to partial shade plants!
Reply:Don't over water them. The soil should be moist but not soggy or drenched.





Clip flowers when they start to wilt or look "spent".





You can prune back after growing season or in early spring before growing season.





You can propagate more from cuttings.





Oh -- don't over fertilize either, this can "burn" your plants.





Tough plants have fun. Remember the color of the flowers are dependent upon the pH of the soil.

adult teeth

How do I save a hydrangea?

I planted this hydrangea in a large pot, it wilted the next day, totally drooped over. So we replanted it under a shade tree next to some other hydranges, it is still wilted. Can I save it and how??

How do I save a hydrangea?
Hi:


I am a landscaper and designer. Hydrangeas need the right soil to properly grow. They do like some acid in the soil. They can take sun, but if it is hot in your location, the Hydrangea can very well be under shock. Loosen the dirt and add some organic mushroom compost to the soil. This is an organic fertilizer that will last up to one year. Make sure you are watering properly. If you weather is humid and hot, the Hydrangeas need water. It sounds like your plant is in shock. When growing this plant specimens, it is good to know if you have acid in your soil.





I will link you to the variety of more plant section of my website. There is a page on Hydrangeas. I will also link you to the site map, as this page has everything that is on the website. There are many articles, tips and techniques that may give you some additional information. I hope some of this information helps. Good luck, and have a great day!


Kimberly





http://www.landscape-solutions-for-you.c...





http://www.landscape-solutions-for-you.c...
Reply:Hydrangea's are tough to grow especially is your planting it where there is alot of sun and high temps. They dry out very fast.. Hit them with some some miracle grow and plant food for a couple of days.. They'll come back.
Reply:clip it down keep it moist-its in shock it will grow


Is it a chinese snowball viburnum or a peegee hydrangea?

My mother gave me what she said was a peegee hydrangea but i think its actually a chinese snoball viburnum...is it possible to confuse the two?

Is it a chinese snowball viburnum or a peegee hydrangea?
Hi:





The Pee Gee Hydrangea has beautiful white clusters of flowers that usually blooms in mid July. It does well in zones three through eight. It is also more cold hardy then other Hydrangeas. The flowers last through the end of the summer. Some of the clusters can be up to eight inches wide.





The Snowball Viburnum does well in zones five through eight. The Snowball will bloom in the summer months and also have clusters flowers. The flowers on the Viburnum are smaller then the Hydrangeas. The Viburnum also has fruit in late summer and the fruit will appear deep red until the cooler temperatures set in. The birds love this fruit.





Each of these are similar with the flower color, and their leaf structure is simliar also. The Pee Gee is a bigger specimen and can reach up to 20 feet tall if not pruned.





I hope this has help some identifying your plant specimen.





I will link you to the site map of my website. This page has everything that is on the website. Browse through and see if you can get any other information that may be helpful to you. Have a great day!


Kimberly





http://www.landscape-solutions-for-you.c...
Reply:The snowball viburnum will bloom in late spring and the peegee hydrangea will bloom in late summer. Depending on when it blooms, you'll be able to tell what it is hopefully. The peegee's inflourescence is more cone shaped, whereas the snowball's is more rounded.
Reply:Don't question your mother.


Peegee sounds way cooler anyway.


Why is my hydrangea not blooming this season?

Last year I got a hydrangea and it bloomed very nicely all season long. I fertilized it according to directions, and it almost doubled in size, has really nice leaves, but there are no blooms...any suggestions/answers?

Why is my hydrangea not blooming this season?
Some varieties don't bloom year after year. The Mophead (rounded) varieties are notorious for not blooming year after year.


Also, a lack of blooms could be due to pruning at the wrong time.


Or...sometimes hydrangea will leaf out early in the spring during a warm spell and then get caught in a late spring freeze. If the new growth came only from the ground, then types of hydrange that blooms only on old wood will not bloom this year. In frost zones, winter protection %26amp; planting in an area away from drying winter winds helps.





The smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens), bloom on new wood. Others, like some mopheads and many big-leaf hydrangeas (H. macrophylla) bloom on old wood, so any late-season (or fall or winter) pruning you do erases next year's flowers. The safest time to prune is right after flowering. Cut the spent blooms to the ground; then prune out any old, dead or weak shoots.





Phosphate encourages flowering. It's ideal to use a fertilizer low in Nitrogen and with a Phosphorus content over 30. (An N-P-K ratio of 10-40-10 is ideal) %26amp; fertilize them regularly. Organic soil enriched with compost is best. If you're using store-bought fertilizers %26amp; you don't want to fuss with a scheduled feeding of fertilizer, you can also use a slow-release fertilizer like osmacote or use manure around your plants. Water on a consistent basis. Morning sun and afternoon shade is ideal. Too much shade will retard the development of flowers. Full sun can scorch the leaves so part sun to shade is best.





Here's a forum discussing why Hydrangeas weren't blooming:


http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/...


Good luck! Hope this helps.
Reply:You're welcome! I'm glad this info was helpful. Maybe you can plant it in a more protected area, or use a protective shield around it when you see a frost coming after the warm spell. I bent old gutter guards into a circle around mine %26amp; used leaf mulch as a blanket inside the enclosure. Report It

Reply:they need to be fed, check with your local nursery and they will tell you exactly what you need. it depends on the zone, type of dirt, and weather
Reply:Give it time and alittle t.l.c it will bloom a little later because of plant jet lag due to green house effect,meaning it was raised in green house until you bought ok.


What is the white stuff on my hydrangea?

I have two hydrangea bushes with white, almost looks like bird poop, on the underside of the leaves and some on the stems.


I wasn't sure if it was a fungus and what to do about it.


I don't want my bushes to be damaged.

What is the white stuff on my hydrangea?
Could be spittlebugs - they leave a white foamy stuff, but don't do harm. Or butterfly/moth larvae. Keep an eye on it and if it doesn't seem to be hurting the plant (lots of leaves curling up, stems dying) I'd leave it alone.
Reply:Here is a list of Hydrangea diseases


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_hyd...


If you dont see it on this list your probably safe.
Reply:There is a certain butterfly that has larva shaped like and looking like bird poop--so the birds won't eat them. Maybe that's it. Check and see if it's actually a living creature. What tipped me off is that it is on the stems as well as the leaves.
Reply:You must have very perverse neighbours then.
Reply:It sounds like powdery mildew. Only water in the morning so the leaves have time to dry out before dark - when mildew can form.
Reply:What is the white stuff on my hydrangea? ="HYDRANGRA WHITE STUFF"

Teeth Cleaning

How can I tell the difference between american bittersweet and a climbing hydrangea?

I have a climbing vine on an arbor in my yard. It was planted by the previous owners. I though it was bittersweet , but my neighbor said it was a climbing hydrangea. From the pictures I found online they both look incredibly similar, and if it is a male bittersweet it will not produce the telltale berries. How can I tell what kind of plant it is?

How can I tell the difference between american bittersweet and a climbing hydrangea?
Bittersweet - alternate leaf pattern


Hydrangea - opposite leaf pattern





American Bittersweet (Celastrus scandens) will produce leaves along the branch in an alternate fashion. One leaf on one side of the branch, move along the branch some distance and you'll find another leaf on the other side of the branch.





Climbing Hydrangea (Hydrangea anomela) produces leaves in pairs directly across from each other (opposite).
Reply:Do you live in the Northeast (i.e. New England)? If not then I doubt seriously that it's native bittersweet. It is an endangered and rare plant.





I have some on my back porch. It has green leaves and red, hard berries. The berries start out looking like they are orange but this is just a shell which drops off.





Good luck
Reply:YOU can't .............but I can !! HAHAHAHAHAHA


If I buy a potted blue hydrangea, can I keep it alive in a pot, or must it be planted?

I saw a beautiful potted blue hydrangea, and was wondering if I bought it, could I keep it alive in a pot, or must it be planted? If it can be kept alive in a pot, how? I live in an apartment (with a cat) and very little light. Do they need to be outside/inside? When it is winter, do they die, or will they come back?


Thanks!

If I buy a potted blue hydrangea, can I keep it alive in a pot, or must it be planted?
you can keep it in the pot. i suggest getting a new plater for it that is a few inches larger than what the store sold it in.


they tend to get root bound in the pot... when you replant them give the roots a lil kneeding and pulling to loosen the roots up. put it in the new pot and put potting soil in the pot up to the top of the plant.


water it and presto new home happy plant.
Reply:I've had great luck planting them outside, they are close to the house, and are doing great. We are in upstate New York and it gets quit cold her, but they have survived for 10 years.


The one thing that I saw in an other posting is the color, ours do change color depending on the acidity of the soil. A friend of mine, to keep hers blue pours all her pickle juice on the when ever she finishes a jar. It seems to work great.
Reply:Pretty much any non-tropical plant is going to be happier outside so if you have a balcony or patio, that's the place to put it. That said, if you don't, Hydrangeas adapt quite easily to many light conditions and some varieties even tolerate full shade. As long as it is near a window, I'm sure it will be okay. I've never tried to keep one indoors so I don't know how they do over winter at indoor temperatures. As an outdoor plant, they are best if cut back to about 18" above the soil in the winter once the leaves fall off. Too severe a cutback and you won't get any blooms the following spring... too little a cutback and you will end up with a really gangly looking plant with flimsy stems.





As a final note, Hydrangeas are unique in that they can be pink, white or blue or all three at once. The colour of the blossoms is determined by the pH of the soil. If your soil is acidic (%26lt;6.2pH) the blossoms will be toward the pink end of things. If your soil is pH neutral (around 7) the blossoms will be white and if your soil is alkaline (%26gt;7.8pH) then your blossoms are going to be blue.





To make your soil more acidic, grab some needles that have fallen around the base of a coniferous tree (Pine, Fir, Hemlock, Spruce, etc) and add the decomposing needles to your soil and water it in. If you want to make your soil more alkaline, find someone with a bag of lime (the white powder people spread on lawns or draw lines on sports fields with) and add SMALL amounts of it to the soil. This will help keep that really deep blue colour if that's what you like. Most potting soil naturally goes more acidic with repeated waterings as water keeps soil microbes alive and decomposing the organic humus in the soil--the waste byproduct coming off the microbes is acidic and accumulates over time.
Reply:I'm not a green thumb but I can tell you from personal experience that every year I had to run out and buy a new one but the year before last, I planted it in a pot and put it in the shade under a huge tree in the back yard. I must say, I was so excited when it came back last Spring. Today, I noticed that it is already showing green sprigs on the stems. (It looks dead when it is dorment)





PS: It is truly maintenance free exept you may have to fertilize to keep your blooms a bursting with color.
Reply:these are OK to keep inside for a short while, when the blooms fade then it is better to plant it out in a sunny place, it will grow for many years that way.





When all the leaves come off then it is time to trim it, you can cut it down to the first set of buds this will make it more bushy next year. keep feeding it every 3 months with a general fertilizer


good luck - you will have many good years from this plant and when in flower you can cut them and take them inside in a vase
Reply:if you keep replanting it, they grow to be a very large bush fast.


Help me get rid of my Hydrangea?

OK keep in mind when answering this question I am 5'3 and not that big, I am strong and will do what I need to do, but I am by no means a man. I have Hydrangea planted by my house it is about 7 ft long by about 5 ft wide. I do not want them there. I did not plant them, they were there when I bought the house.





Today I spent 2 hours digging at the roots with a shovel and wedging them and getting them up, it was extremely difficult. I will do what I have to do to get rid of them but if anyone has a better idea I would so appreciate it! Some of the roots are about 3 inches around so a tiller is out of the question. Thanks in advance.

Help me get rid of my Hydrangea?
I feel your pain. Try taking an axe to the roots. Move the dirt away from the roots and go at it girl.





Get a chainsaw if you really want to do some damage.
Reply:Once you have cut the tops off to the ground you can drill holes in the trunk and fill them with table salt and this will make sure that nothing comes back. After that if you can wait a while the roots will rot and will be easier to remove. Otherwise get a hatchet or saw and cut them as far back as you can.


Where is the best place to plant a hydrangea?

My husband bought a hydrangea plant for me, but it does not have a description of the kind, and where to plant. Part of our garden does have shade and part does not.

Where is the best place to plant a hydrangea?
If in doubt, plant in partial shade. One thing to know about Hydrangeas, is that they like water! Sometimes you have to water everyday depending on the heat. You can also change the color of the flower depending on the pH of your soil. For a blue flower, pH of the soil below 5.5. For pink or red flowers, have a pH of the soil at 7.0 or higer. You can find some fertilizers the adjust the pH of the soil, like some types of Miracle Grow. For some more info . . . http://www.cambrianursery.com/hydrangea....
Reply:I AM A LOVER OF THE HYDRANGEA. HYDRANGEA PLANTS DO NOT LIKE DIRECT SUN AT ALL THEY WILL NOT THRIVE WELL OR BLOOMING TIME WILL BE SHORT. YOU ALSO NEED TO APPLY A PRODUCT CALLED 7 (SEVEN) TO PROTECT IT FROM THE BUGS THAT LOVE TO MUNCH ON THE FOLIAGE. USE MIRACLE GRO TO ASSIST WITH CONSISTANT BLOOMING AND FOR COLOR.
Reply:On the north side of a house is the best place...they will grow in other places, but they don't like bright hot sun. They like to stay cool, moist and shady to grow the best. I have to move one at my house as we speak. Plant in an area where you have a lot of room for it because over the years it will get bushier and bigger.
Reply:Hydrangeas are my favorites . I don't know what zone you are in but generally most hydrangeas like at least partial shade . It's hot where I live so I would plant in the fall to give it the best start , before it gets hot . Why not take it to a nusery near you and have them identify it and get planting and care instructions.
Reply:Mine is in full sun.

dermatitis

How do I care for an indoor hydrangea plant?

We received a 10 inch potted hydrangea. The balls of blossoms at the top are now dried out, but don't fall off. The skimpy leaves on the stalks come out and then die within a couple of weeks. I water once a week and it gets some sun each day. Do I cut the blossoms off? Any tips? I like the plant.

How do I care for an indoor hydrangea plant?
Yes hydrangea are beautiful. I work in a greenhouse. What i did to mine was, i brought it in this fall cut back maybe 1/4 of the plant depending on how big it is. This is important because they naturally loose their leave over the colder months - so this step saves cleaning them up over n over all winter long. Sun is good place it somewhere it can get 4 hrs or more a day. It will look sad for a while- but it bounces back fast. Mine had almost no leaves at all. Now its full again. It will NOT bloom again until it can be outside in direct sunlight. So aafter u r clear of frost repot it in new soil maybe a bigger pot and put it out for the summer. Dont forget to fert. all summer every two weeks for best blooms. Hope this helps. Good luck.
Reply:They r cool plants. One bad thing is the bloom only lasts maybe 2 days. Most of the time the flower will fall off and leave a bud case. These are OK to clip off. These plants need direct sunlight to re-bloom. It may not bud again till you take it outdoors.