Hydrangeas have always been an amazing flower to me. I don’t really remember knowing the name of any other flower during my youth except maybe roses. I remember sitting on the lawn furniture in my Grandma’s back yard and seeing the blue, pink and purple flowers all on the same bush, some even on the same stem. The blooms were always as big as my head. I was perplexed. How did my Grandma make those flowers do that? Then one afternoon she sat down beside me on the porch swing and began explaining the hydrangea to me.

As Grandma explained it, the soil has the greatest effect on the blooms. A soil that contains a large amount of lime causes the blooms to be pink. If the soil has more acid in it then the blooms are blue. She also explained how to water the plants. Her plants seemed to always be thirsty so she watered every day unless it rained. I remember how she would take the leftovers from lunch and dinner and place it around the bottom on the plants. I know now that is composting. We do that a little different now. We have our compost piles or areas that we leave to age for a while before using them. Grandma just worked the food right into the soil around the plants.

As I grew older and began planting my own gardens, I knew that hydrangeas would be a big part of that garden. I took some plants from my Grandma’s garden to start my own and followed her suggestions.

I took the plants and planted them about 3 feet apart in a heavily composted soil that I had ready to plant. I installed a drip watering system so the plants would get plenty of water because they would get about 6 hours of morning sun per day. I checked the drainage of the soil and made sure it was adequate. After planting the hydrangeas I added lime to the soil in one of my beds so I would have blue blooms there. I added aluminum sulfate to another bed so I would have pink blooms. In another bed I went crazy and added both. My blooms in that bed are purple. I then added a good mulch to help prevent the soil from drying out too quickly.

My hydrangea garden is now several years old. I go out everyday and sit on my garden bench or my porch swing and admire the head size blooms of the vibrantly colored hydrangeas. It takes me back to my younger years and makes me thankful for a Grandma who taught me to love gardening and the simpler things in life.

By: Denisa Faustner
Denisa Faustner is an expert author and owner of LawnFurnitureStore.com, an online resource for lawn furniture, porch swings, garden benches and much more.

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With hydrangea planting, you first need to choose what type of hydrangeas you wish to plant. There are many different varieties, all of which grow to different heights, work better in some areas, than in others, and require different levels of care.

For the most part, you will find hydrangeas very large and beautiful plants. With hydrangea planting determine the area you wish to plant, this will help you in determining the specific plant you want in regards to height. You can expect a hydrangea to grow anywhere from four to twelve feet tall, so you want to take this into consideration when planting.

Furthermore, choosing the site is probably the hardest thing about hydrangea planting. You have to be really careful of where you choose to plant your hydrangea. First, consider the amount of sunlight the area gets, as well as when it gets the most sunlight. Most hydrangeas thrive in areas that receive partial to full sunlight. Performance is at its best when the plant receives full sun in the morning hours and shade during the afternoon areas.

Next, look for an area in which the plant will be protected from wind. In an area that experiences high wind the foilage will dry out and cause extensive stress on the hydrangea. Because hydrangea planting is one of the easiest and requires the less fuss, you can relax knowing the the plant can grow in many different types of soil. However, you do want to check the soil and make certain it remains moist and is prime for a plant. You will have no problems in growing the plant itself in soil with lower pH levels, however, you will find that the soil itself can have a direct impact on the bloom color.

Hydrangea Planting - When To Plant

The most beneficial time of the year to plant hydrangeas is during the early months in the fall season. You should case out the area you wish to plant and make sure you place compost in the soil mixture. Know the size of your root ball, this will help in determining the width of the hole you need to dig. You should dig a hole that is about twenty-four inches wider than that of the root measurement.

Hydrangea Planting - Care

Hydrangeas require relatively little fuss. You may need to prune the plant lightly to ensure a healthy plant. Fertilization is recommended on a twice yearly basis, once in the latter part of the fall season and once during the early part of spring. It is recommended when fertlizing, that you use a slow release compound. Be sure you do not over fertilize the plant or you may find that you have beautiful foilage, but little to no flowering.

By: Lee Dobbins
Lee Dobbins write for Backyard Garden and Patio where you can get more guides on planting different types of flowers.

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