The most popular hydrangea is the mophead or Lacecap hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla). This variety has large, rounded flower heads that mature from white to pink and then blue. The leaves are dark green and glossy, with a serrated edge.
How To Plant A Hydrangea
Here is the complete process explained in detail on how to plant a hydrangea:
1. Dig a hole 2 to 3 times as wide and deep as the root ball, with sloped sides.
The most important step in planting is to make sure you dig a big enough hole. The hole should be wider than the root ball and deep enough so that the top of the root ball is level with or just slightly above ground level. If you don’t dig a big enough hole, your plant will sit too deep in the ground and not get enough water and nutrients, causing it to die. This is especially important when planting large trees, which can take several years to develop a strong root system and need plenty of space for their roots to grow.
You can use a shovel or digging fork for this step, but if you’re working in hard soil it may be easier to use a power tiller or rented auger (a long drill bit that makes holes for planting). Make sure you remove any rocks or debris from around the edges of the hole before making your final depth measurement – do not leave rocks sitting on top of your root ball!
2. Check that all parts are included in the packaging:
Make sure you have all parts included in your packaging before starting this step! Most plants come with instructions detailing what is included, but if yours doesn’t check with your nursery worker before continuing! In particular, make sure you have all these things:
A good handful of soil (not potting mix)
A stake (if needed)
Soil amendments like compost or fertilizer
Any stakes or supports
Plastic ties (if needed)
Extra soil if needed
Anything else listed on your plant tag as being included
3. Remove plastic wrapping from roots:
Carefully unwrap the plastic covering over your plant’s roots without damaging them. Be careful not to damage any leaves either! You’ll want to keep these intact so they can continue taking up water after transplanting into your garden bed. If there are any wires holding down parts of the plant like branches or canes, cut them with wire cutters before removing them from around the roots.
Do not pull them off by hand – this could cause damage! Your nursery worker should also give you instructions on how best to handle each type of plant they sell. For example some plants may need their leaves tied together with string while others might need their stems wrapped in newspaper while they’re being repotted because they don’t like having their leaves disturbed during transplanting. It’s always best to follow these directions rather than guessing yourself – doing it incorrectly could cause serious damage! If you do accidentally break off any leaves at this stage don’t worry about it too much – new ones will grow back within a few weeks once transplanted into your garden bed!
4 . Dig out an area next to where you plan on planting:
Use digging tools such as shovels and spades to excavate an area next to where you’re going to place your new tree/plant/flower etc., leaving about 6 inches between where it was originally planted and where it will be placed now that it has been repotted/transplanted into its new home outside (see below). You’ll want this space between so that there’s room for water runoff when watering later on – otherwise part of what gets watered ends up running right back towards itself instead of flowing away towards other plants nearby!
5 . Place potting mix into bottom of hole:
Once excavation is complete, fill bottom half of prepared hole with good quality potting mix until even with surrounding soil surface (make sure no large clumps fall through!). Fill remainder of hole with native soil mixed 50-50 with organic matter such as composted manure, peat moss etc..
6 . Place tree/plant/flower etc into center of prepared hole:
Next place plant carefully into prepared hole ensuring its position is centered accordingto label instructions & stake if necessary
Step 7:
7 . Fill remainder of prepared hole w/ native soil mixed 50-50 w/ organic matter such as composted manure , peat moss etc.: Add more organic matter mixture until potting mix level has been reached & gently firm around base
8 . Water thoroughly :
Water thoroughly until water flows freely from drainage holes
9 . Mulch & stake if necessary :
Mulch surrounding area w / straw mulch & stake tree trunk
10 . Water thoroughly again :
Water thoroughly one last time
Tips for How To Plant A Hydrangea
Here are 5 things to take care of with respect to how to plant a hydrangea:
1. Choose a sunny spot for your hydrangea. If you live in an area where it is very hot, then choose a place that gets a lot of shade.
2. Make sure you choose the right soil for your hydrangea. The soil should be loose and well drained, but not too sandy or too heavy. You can add compost to the soil if it needs to be amended.
Hydrangeas like to grow in moist soil, so make sure that you water them regularly and deeply.
You can mulch around your hydrangea to keep the roots cool and moist during the summer months and help prevent weeds from growing as well!
3. Hydrangeas don’t need much fertilizer because they are not heavy feeders like most plants are, but you can apply some compost tea in the spring if you want to give them a little boost!
4. When pruning your hydrangea, always cut back the stems by at least half so that new growth will come out quickly! This will ensure that your plant stays healthy and beautiful year after year!
Interesting Facts About Hydrangea
Here are 5 things you should know about hydrangea:
1. Hydrangea are deciduous shrubs that have a variety of flower colors and leaf shapes, depending on the species. Their flowers range in color from white to pink to blue to lavender.
2. Hydrangea are native to Japan, China and Korea and were introduced into the United States by French botanist Andre Michaux in 1785. They’re named after the Greek word “hydor” which means water and “angeion” which means vessel because they hold water in their leaves.
3. The hydrangea is considered a weed by some because it grows quickly and easily from cuttings or seed, often forming thick stands along roadsides or in abandoned fields. In fact, I had a patch of them growing in my backyard when I bought my house back in 2007 – they were all over the place! Luckily, I love them so much that I didn’t mind having them around at all!
4. There are more than 150 species of hydrangeas in existence today with many varieties available for sale at nurseries across North America – some with double blooms! Some varieties include: oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia), lacecap hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla), panicled hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata) and smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens).
5. People use hydrangeas for more than just their beauty – here are 10 other uses for them:
FAQs
A. The best place to plant a hydrangea is in soil that drains well and has good moisture retention. Hydrangeas like a pH between 6.0 and 7.5, so it’s important to test the soil before planting your hydrangea. If your soil is not within that range, you can add organic matter or lime to adjust the pH level.
Q. What is the best way to prune my hydrangea?
A. The best way to prune your hydrangea depends on what type of hydrangea you have (i.e., lacecap, oakleaf, etc.). For more information on how to prune these varieties, check out our “Pruning Hydrangeas” article here:
Q: Can I use my hydrangea as a hedge?
A: Yes! Hydrangeas are great for hedges because they grow quickly and easily! For more information on how to plant a hedge using hydrangeas, check out this article here: Hydrangeas are easy to plant in the ground and will do best in full sun.
To plant them, dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and just deep enough so the top of the root ball is level with the soil surface. If you’re planting more than one hydrangea, space them at least 3 feet apart to give them room to grow. Place your hydrangea in the hole and backfill with soil, firming around the plant base as you go along. Water thoroughly after planting to help settle the roots into their new home.
How do you care for a hydrangea?
Hydrangeas are fairly low maintenance plants once established, but they can be susceptible to fungal diseases such as powdery mildew and rust if not properly cared for. To prevent these fungal diseases from forming, keep your hydrangea out of direct sunlight during hot weather; too much sun can cause leaves to wilt or turn brown prematurely. Also make sure that your hydrangea has plenty of water throughout summer months; make sure that it doesn’t dry out completely between waterings and make sure that it drains well (this means good drainage in general). If you live in an area where you may get heavy rain or snowfall during winter months,
Hydrangeas like well-drained, acidic soil that is rich in organic matter. Work compost into the soil prior to planting. Dig a hole twice as big as the root ball and mix compost into the soil at least 4 inches below where you will plant the hydrangea. Plant your hydrangea with its root ball at ground level or slightly higher, depending on how fast it grows.
How do you prune hydrangeas?
Prune hydrangeas after they bloom for best results. Pruning before blooming can cause flowers to be less abundant or not bloom at all. Pruning after blooming helps promote new growth and more flowers next year. Prune after blooming in late summer or early fall when leaves are dry and plants are dormant (no green leaves). Hydrangeas have opposite branching patterns, so prune one side of the plant at a time by cutting off branches back to a lateral branch or bud that is facing outward from the plant.
Remove old stems completely rather than just shortening them back to an outward facing bud because this encourages new growth from buds that are facing outward from the plant instead of toward it which makes for weaker stems and more disease susceptibility. Remove dead wood only if branches are dead, diseased or damaged beyond repair. Always cut back to a lateral branch or bud rather than removing whole branches because this promotes new growth from outward facing buds rather than inward facing buds which makes for weak stems and
Hydrangeas are best planted in the fall or early spring. They should be planted as soon as possible after they arrive, but not later than mid-October. Hydrangeas do not transplant well and this is especially true of hydrangeas.
How much will it cost?
You can purchase a beautiful hydrangea for about $20, depending on the size and variety. I have seen them for as little as $10, but that was just a small plant. It is important to note that hydrangeas are usually sold bare root which means you don’t get any soil with them. You will need to purchase a bag of potting mix or use your own compost instead. Soil can run anywhere from $5 – $15 depending on where you buy it. If you want to save money by using your own soil, I recommend buying some Miracle Grow Moisture Control Potting Mix at Home Depot or Lowe’s ($13).
This will give you the right amount of water retention and drainage while also providing good drainage so that your roots don’t rot over time. Note: if you have clay soil, add some sand and perlite to improve drainage before adding Miracle Gro potting mix because it can take a long time for water to drain through clay soil (see my post on how to improve clay soil).