Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: Planting Hydrangeas
• Part 2 of 3: Caring for Hydrangeas
• Part 3 of 3: Cutting and Drying Hydrangeas
• Tips
• Warnings
• What do you need

From mid-summer to early fall, you don't have to walk far to see the beautiful hydrangea bushes growing in flower gardens, hedges and front gardens. On the tops of these perennial plants, large inflorescences appear and last until autumn, consisting of small flowers painted in different shades of pink, blue, purple, as well as white or a combination of different colors. Read here on how to plant, care for and dry hydrangeas to enjoy their beauty all year round.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Planting Hydrangeas

1. 1 Choosing a variety of hydrangea. In order to figure out which hydrangea to plant, you need to find out which ones are suitable for your garden plot. Start with a map of hardiness zones to determine your zone number. You can choose from hundreds of varieties of hydrangeas. If this is your first time planting this beautiful plant, it may make sense to start with common varieties that are known for their hardiness and long flowering time.
   • Hydrangeas with spherical inflorescences and hydrangeas with flat inflorescences (the so-called "lace cap"), or "large-leaved" hydrangeas grow well in zone 8 with a warm climate. In colder regions, they won't feel as good if you don't take steps to protect them from frost.Look for the "Endless Summer" ball hydrangea variety in your local nursery - this hydrangea can bloom several times during the summer. This variety blooms in large globular blue or pink inflorescences, the color of which becomes more intense over time.
   • Oak-leaved hydrangea grows well in areas with very hot and dry summers. It is hardy in zones 4b / 5a. This type of hydrangea has white inflorescences.
   • "Annabelle" hydrangeas are more frost-hardy than globular or oak-leaved hydrangeas, they can grow in zone 3. These hydrangeas have white flowers that turn light green at the end of the season.
   • Panicle hydrangeas can grow in even colder climates than "Annabelle" in zone 3a. They can grow in warmer regions, though. The flowers of paniculate hydrangeas are white.
2. 2 Plan to plant in spring or fall. Planting in one of these milder periods will give the hydrangeas time to adjust to the composition of the soil and take root before the weather gets harsher. Look for hydrangea seedlings in nurseries in early spring or early fall.
3. 3 Find a good landing site. Hydrangeas grow well both in flower beds and in large pots. Whichever method of planting you choose, the place must be chosen so that the plant receives maximum sun in the morning, and in the afternoon it would be in partial shade. Large-leaved hydrangeas prefer partial shade throughout the day, so feel free to choose this variety if you have a shady garden.
4. 4 Fertilize the soil with compost. Hydrangeas require rich, well-drained, moist soil. If your soil is dry or depleted, you can improve it by adding compost. If you have heavy, water-intensive soil, you can add peat to it to improve drainage.
5. 5 Dig a large hole in the ground. The planting hole should be as deep as the root ball of the seedling and twice as wide. Use a shovel to dig a large hole for the roots of the plant. If you plant more than one plant, then the distance between them should be 1.5 - 2 meters, because, growing, the plants become quite large.
   • Follow the recommendations for the specific hydrangea species. Some hydrangeas can grow side by side, while others need to be at least 3 meters apart.
6. 6 Plant a hydrangea. Make sure the roots of the hydrangea are moist during planting, so start by placing the root ball of the plant in the hole you dug. Fill the hole with water a few centimeters and let it soak. Then fill the hole with soil and water it again. Compact the soil around the base of the plant.
   • Planting hydrangeas too deep can cause root death. If the plant is not planted deeply enough, your hydrangeas may suffer from heavy rain or wind.

Part 2 of 3: Caring for Hydrangeas

1. 1 Keep the soil moist. Hydrangeas will start to wilt if the soil gets too dry, so be sure to water them every day, or every other day, especially during the hot summer months. Water the hydrangeas at the base and around the roots, never spray the flowers, as this can cause burns in the sun.
2. 2 Only trim if necessary. Young hydrangeas do not need to be pruned; if you do, you may not receive new flowers next year. If you have old, overgrown hydrangea bushes that need to be pruned, do so at the most appropriate time of the year as recommended for the varieties of hydrangeas you are growing.
   • Large-leaved hydrangeas should be pruned in late spring after the flowers have fallen off.
   • Oak-leaved and other hydrangeas that bloom on the shoots of the current year need to be pruned while the plant is dormant, at the end of winter, before buds begin to appear.
3. 3 Protection of hydrangeas in winter. Lay a layer of mulch, straw or pine needles at least 45 centimeters thick around the plant.If your shrubs are small, you can cover the entire plant. Remove the shelter in early spring when the frost ends.
4. 4 Discoloration of hydrangeas. The color of hydrangeas depends on the pH of the soil in which they grow. If you have pink or blue hydrangeas, you can change their color by changing the pH of the soil. This can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months, so be patient!
   • To change the color from pink to blue, you need to lower the pH by adding sulfur or high-moor peat.
   • To change the color from blue to pink (more difficult than the previous option), add lime to the soil to raise the pH.
   • White hydrangea does not change color.

Part 3 of 3: Cutting and Drying Hydrangeas

1. 1 Cut the hydrangea flowers when they are fully ripe. Wait until the color reaches its maximum brightness, and the flowers become denser and less juicy. These flowers will dry better later. Use garden shears or another tool to cut the buds.
2. 2 Dry the hydrangeas to preserve them. Hydrangeas keep well dried. Their color remains bright for a long time, and they retain their shape for years before decaying. To dry hydrangeas, use one of the following methods:
   • Hang them upside down. Stick the buds in a doorway in a dry, dark room. Leave them hanging like this until they are completely dry, then you can rearrange them in a vase.
   • Dry them in water. Place the buds in a vase filled with water a few inches. Let the flowers dry slowly as the water evaporates.
   • Use silica gel. Place the inflorescences in a container and fill it to the top with silica gel. After a week or two, the flowers will be completely dry and their color will be perfect.

Tips

• If you live in northern areas, plant your hydrangeas so they get plenty of sun all day. These perennials can withstand more hours of direct sun each day in colder climates.
• If you are replanting hydrangeas from one place to another, it is best to do so in the fall, when the plant is dormant. Try to dig up a plant with as many roots as possible.
• It is best to plant hydrangeas in early summer or fall and place them in well-lit areas with little shade.
• When the hydrangea flowers begin to fall off, prune the buds to encourage re-blooming.

Warnings

• Hydrangeas will not grow well and will not bloom if you plant them in an area that is too dark and receive little or no light.
• Prevent the soil around the newly planted plant from drying out. Check and water your plants regularly if the weather gets dry and hot.
• When planting hydrangeas, wait until the threat of frost has passed. Also, do not plant them on hot summer days.
• Do not overflow hydrangeas. Excessive moisture can cause root rot or loss of flowers.

What do you need

• Hydrangea plants
• Shovel
• Mulch
• Gardening scissors