Dear Roger: I need your help. My mother passed last week, and I received three beautiful hydrangeas from florists. I want so much for these plants to survive for her memory. Could you please tell me the best way to plant, and do I need to cut the blooms?- Susan, Fayetteville
Dear Susan: First, try to put them where they will get shade in the afternoon. Morning sun is ideal.
Plant now. That will be rough on the plant, because of the heat, but plant anyway. Plants left in pots will be root- bound and may deteriorate by the time cool weather arrives in September or October.
Loosen the roots around the edges of the pot.
Do this lightly and with care to do the least damage possible to the roots. Hydrangeas are sensitive to root damage.
Roots that have curved around inside the pot may have formed an impenetrable barrier that will keep the plant from developing a large, healthy roots system.
If the plant is root-bound or pot-bound, make a few vertical cuts along the outside of the root ball and loosen the roots slightly. This will allow the plant to quickly create a strong root system. They can be grown in full sun but will need much more water for several years until they are fully established. Even then, they will wilt on hot afternoons.
Do not plant too deeply. Plant at the same depth the plant was growing in the pot.
Allow enough space for each plant to grow 5 feet wide.
Our well-drained soil is perfect for hydrangeas, though a good mulch will help greatly.
Heavy clay soils can lead to root rot, so choose soil with good drainage or create a raised bed of soil with good drainage if your are planting over hard clay, which is rare in the Fayetteville area.
Mulch with composted leaves, wood chips, bark or other composted material. Pine needles, composted or not, in a thick layer, will do the job well and look great.
Hydrangeas need little or no fertilizer. But establishment may be faster with a few half-strength applications of soluble fertilizer, such as Miracle-Gro, spaced a month apart for the first year.
Acidic fertilizers and decaying pine needles produce acid soil, which turns hydrangeas blue. Applications of lime will turn the soil alkaline, causing the plants to produce pink flowers.
Make sure you plant where you can water. The plant will need extra water for the first year or two, at least. Water twice weekly until fall, then weekly.
Winter watering usually is not necessary. But sometimes, in a long, warm, dry spell, watering is needed even in the coldest months when the plants are still developing their root systems.
If you plant under trees, more water and fertilizer will be needed for the plant to succeed. The root system will be penetrated by tree roots that will take much of the water and fertility that enter the root zone. Be careful not to put too much fertilizer on hydrangeas. They are sensitive to fertilizer salts and are easily killed by fertilizer.
When you do fertilize, water first. And water thoroughly so that you are certain the root zone is moist. The water again immediately after fertilizing.
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