12 hydrangea tips for a blooming garden

Hydrangeas enchant every garden with their lush floral splendour in the most beautiful colours from white to pink to strong blue. The robust shrubs are true quick-change artists, which present themselves in different colour nuances depending on the soil conditions and provide dreamlike garden moments from June to autumn.

Once you have succumbed to the fascination of this versatile plant, you would like to decorate your whole garden with it. With the right care tips and a little gardening skill, hydrangeas can also be propagated wonderfully and grown into magnificent specimens. Here you will learn the most important basics for successful hydrangea care.

Planting hydrangeas correctly

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Hydrangeas thrive best in a semi-shaded to shady location with humus, permeable and slightly acidic soil. When planting, the planting hole should be twice as large as the root ball and filled with special rhododendron soil. The best time to plant is in spring or autumn, and care should be taken to keep a sufficient distance of about one metre from other plants.

After planting, the hydrangea must be watered thoroughly, and a mulch layer of bark mulch or foliage will help retain moisture in the soil. In the first few weeks after planting, regular watering is particularly important so that the roots can develop well. Annual fertilisation in spring with a special hydrangea fertiliser supports healthy growth and lush flowering.

The best locations for hydrangeas

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Hydrangeas thrive best in semi-shaded to shady places in the garden, where they are protected from the blazing midday sun. The ideal location offers loose, humus and permeable soil, which should always be slightly moist. Locations under large trees or on the north and east sides of buildings, where the plants can benefit from the morning sun, are particularly suitable.

The wind protection of the site also plays an important role, as strong winds can damage the delicate flowers. The soil should be slightly acidic, with a pH between 5.0 and 6.5. When planting, it is important to ensure sufficient distance from other plants, as hydrangeas require a lot of space with their spreading roots and lush leaf development.

Hydrangea varieties for every garden

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Hydrangeas are true quick-change artists and inspire with their variety of colours from white to pink and red to blue and violet. The robust farmhouse hydrangeas are perfect for beginners, while the elegant panicle hydrangeas with their cone-shaped flowers also cut a fine figure in small gardens. Plate hydrangeas captivate with their flat flower plates and the climbing hydrangea transforms bare walls into blooming works of art.

For shady locations, the oak leaf hydrangeas with their attractive autumn colours are particularly recommended, while the velvet hydrangea with its velvety leaves also thrives in sunny places. The endless summer hydrangeas, which keep producing new flowers from June until the first frost, are also particularly popular. Due to the large variety of varieties, there is a suitable hydrangea for every garden and location.

Soil conditions for healthy hydrangeas

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Hydrangeas thrive best in loose, humus-rich and nutrient-rich soil with good water storage capacity. The pH value should be between 5.0 and 6.5, depending on the variety, although blue-flowered species require particularly acidic soil. Optimal drainage is important, as waterlogging can lead to root rot. The addition of compost, leaf soil and bark humus significantly improves the soil structure.

Regular soil loosening and a mulch layer of organic material promote soil moisture and microclimate. The soil should be enriched with a special hydrangea fertiliser in spring to provide sufficient nutrients for flower formation. If the soil is too alkaline, the pH value can be lowered by adding rhododendron soil or special hydrangea soil, which is particularly important for the colour expression.

Pruning and caring for hydrangeas

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Hydrangeas are easy-care flowering shrubs that delight with magnificent flower balls in spring and summer. Depending on the variety, the flowers can appear in white, pink, red or various shades of blue. Important for healthy growth are a semi-shady location, regular watering and a slightly acidic, humus-rich soil. The plants do not tolerate waterlogging and should not dry out, especially in the main growth phase.

The right pruning is crucial for lush flowering next year. In the case of farmhouse hydrangeas, faded inflorescences are cut back to the first strong bud in early spring. Panicle hydrangeas, on the other hand, can be greatly shortened in late winter, as they bloom on this year’s wood. Pruning old and weak shoots ensures compact growth and promotes the formation of new, strong flower shoots.

Successfully overwintering hydrangeas

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Hydrangeas should be cut back before the first frost and protected with brushwood or fleece. The plants in containers are best placed in a cool but frost-free place such as a garage or basement and watered sparingly so that the roots do not dry out.

It is particularly important to protect the sensitive buds that form in autumn for the next year. For outdoor plants, the base is heaped with leaves or mulch and the above-ground parts are loosely wrapped with jute bags or fleece. On sunny winter days, the cover should be ventilated to prevent mold growth.

Dyeing blue hydrangeas

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To obtain blue hydrangeas, the pH of the soil must be between 4.0 and 4.5 in the acidic range. This is achieved by regular watering with aluminium sulphate solution or special hydrangea blue. Coffee grounds, rhododendron soil or coniferous earth can also acidify the soil. Treatment should begin as early as spring and continue throughout the flowering period.

However, the blue colouring only works for pink or purple varieties of farmhouse hydrangea. White hydrangeas cannot be recoloured. It is also important to have an adequate water supply, as hydrangeas need a lot of moisture. If the soil is too dry, the plants will not be able to absorb the colouring substances sufficiently. The success of blue coloration usually only becomes apparent after a few weeks of regular treatment.

Detecting diseases in hydrangeas

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Hydrangeas can be attacked by various fungal diseases such as powdery mildew, leaf spots, or gray mold. The symptoms usually manifest themselves as brown or black spots on the leaves, wilted shoots or slimy coatings. Pests such as aphids or spider mites can also weaken the plants and lead to crippled leaves or poor growth.

To prevent diseases, it is important to take optimal care of hydrangeas. This includes a suitable location with sufficient air circulation, correct irrigation without waterlogging and needs-based fertilisation. At the first signs of disease, infested plant parts should be removed immediately and disposed of properly. In severe cases, special pesticides can be used.

Propagating hydrangeas made easy

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Hydrangeas can be propagated in different ways. The easiest way to propagate is to take cuttings that are cut from healthy, non-flowering shoots in spring or summer. The cuttings, which are about 10-15 cm long, are freed from the lower leaves and placed in a mixture of potting soil and sand. With even moisture and a warm, bright location without direct sun, the cuttings will root within a few weeks.

Another option is to lower shoots close to the ground. A healthy twig is carefully bent to the ground and fixed with a wire hanger after the bark has been lightly scratched. The area is covered with soil and kept moist. After a few months, roots will have formed, and the new offshoot can be separated from the mother plant.