How to grow Hydrangea
Hydrangeas are beloved flowering shrubs known for their large, showy flower clusters that bloom in stunning shades of blue, pink, purple, or white. Gardeners cherish them for their long flowering season, dramatic garden presence, and ability to thrive in shade where many plants struggle.
At a glance
🌱 Grow your Hydrangea with GardenDex
- Reminders to water it, timed to your weather and whether it's in a pot
- Frost and disease alerts for your garden, the night before
- Follow it from seed to harvest, and see what your garden grew in $
- Point your camera at any plant or bug to identify it
🗓️ When to plant
Plant in early spring after the last frost or in early autumn, giving roots time to establish before winter.
🌰 How to plant
- Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep.
- Place the hydrangea in the hole and backfill with soil amended with compost or peat moss.
- Water thoroughly to settle the soil and eliminate air pockets.
- Mulch around the base with 5–7 cm (2–3 in) of organic mulch, keeping it away from the stem.
💧 Care
- Prune in late winter or early spring before new growth appears, removing dead wood and shaping as desired.
- Feed monthly during the growing season with a balanced or high-potassium fertilizer to encourage flowering.
- Deadhead spent flower clusters to promote new blooms, but leave them on the plant in autumn for winter interest.
- Adjust soil pH by adding sulfur (to lower pH and deepen blue) or lime (to raise pH and enhance pink) as needed.
- Ensure good air circulation to prevent powdery mildew, especially in humid climates.
🧺 Harvest
Cut flower clusters when they're fully open or slightly past peak bloom; condition stems in cool water for several hours before arranging. Flowers can also be dried by hanging stems upside down in a cool, dark place for 2–3 weeks.
🐛 Common problems
Powdery mildew: Improve air circulation, reduce overhead watering, and spray with fungicide if needed.
Leaf spot: Remove affected leaves, avoid wetting foliage, and apply a copper-based fungicide.
Spider mites: Spray foliage with water to increase humidity, or use insecticidal soap in severe cases.
Bud blast (no flowers): Ensure consistent moisture and protect from hard late-spring frosts that kill emerging buds.
🤝 Companion plants
💚 Good neighbours: Hostas, Ferns, Astilbe, Liriope
⚠️ Keep apart from: Shallow-rooted competitors like tree roo, Dry-loving plants
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General guidance; local conditions vary. All care guides · Privacy