During a fall color trip back East a few years ago we kept seeing what looked like the hydrangeas we grew at home in northern Calif., but different! After asking around we found out what we were falling in love with was a paniculata hydrangea named Strawberry Vanilla. A few months later a friend bought one for my birthday! While… Read more →
Hydrangeas are tricky to prune. Old style mop head hydrangeas bloom on old wood, so if you cut them way back after blooming, you are likely cutting off next year’s blossoms! The newer mop head varieties, such as Blushing Bride or Endless Summer, bloom on new wood so you can trim them back a little further and still see blooms… Read more →
Early this summer I attended a wonderful Master Gardener workshop on growing hydrangeas. The teacher, Carlyss, a very knowledgeable gardener who specializes in hydrangeas invited those of us who attended her class to tour her garden this July. She grows nearly 250 hydrangeas on acres of garden surrounding her home. They grow under large old oak trees, and, in the… Read more →
The hydrangeas are blooming and brightening the shady spots in the garden! Of the 16 we have all but two are blooming now. I did a few experiments when I pruned last year. I pruned this Endless Summer quite a bit because of frost damage and it bloomed even more than usual but with very small flowers…which I love! The… Read more →
If you want blue hydrangeas next July, now is the time to add the proper fertilizer to turn the soil acid. The simple way is to look for plant food at the nursery that is made specifically for turning your hydrangeas blue: Acid soil produces a low PH soil and blue flowers, while a raising the soil PH with lime… Read more →
July and August are the time to cut hydrangea blossoms to hang and dry. If you pick them too young they wilt and die…if you want until now they will dry and make beautiful bouquets this winter! They will hold their color quite well if you wait until they begin to age. Or, if you prefer a different color Beverly’s… Read more →
July is the perfect month to take cuttings of your favorite hydrangeas so you can have more to grow and give away! The stems should “snap” when you bend them. Not bend like rubber….too soft and young….not be hard and woody….too old….but a nice “snap” is just right! Pick a stem that hasn’t flowered this year if you can, with… Read more →
Hydrangeas are absolutely, hands down, my favorite garden plant. One or two make a full bouquet, they require little care, attract few bugs and, with plenty of water they grow and adorn your garden beautifully year after year. I have 15 plants and I’d love more! This time of year in Northern Calif. we often have sudden, scorching days….that’s a… Read more →