Success With Hydrangeas Blog

The recent warm spring temps seem to be waking up the garden and gardeners. When it comes to hydrangea spring chores, however, there are things you should do. Most importantly, there are things you should NOT do. TOOLS Clean up your tools, especially anything you use for cutting (loppers, pruning shears, snips, handsaws, etc.). Wash…

Despite the warmer temps we are having, my Connecticut garden is still snow- and ice-covered: way too early to start any spring chores. But it’s not too early to dream about what’s to come. And the breeders and growers are obliging us with many new hydrangeas for 2025 to drool over. BIG LEAF (MACROPHYLLA) HYDRANGEAS…

January 2025 was the warmest January on record globally despite having the coldest January in New England since 2014. Our string of consecutive days and nights in the single digits spells doom for big leaf hydrangeas (macrophylla) that flower only on old wood. It will even be a challenge for mountain hydrangeas (serrata) and their…

It seems January is for cleaning out, cleaning up, and organizing. Far be it from me to buck the trend. So…I thought I would join the crowd and clean up the subscriber list for my award-winning blog.   HISTORY OF THIS BLOG I have been writing this blog since April of 2018 and hopefully, you…

THE MOST IMPORTANT ACTION YOU CAN TAKE RIGHT NOW The most important thing you can do right now to prepare your hydrangea for winter is to be sure your plant is well hydrated as it goes into its winter dormancy. You might be tempted to do a little pruning and maybe some fertilizing, but I…

Many of you have probably seen bits and pieces about hydrangeas and fall activity. In fact, I have been sourced on several of those articles. Fall officially arrived last week and that is the starting bell to consider what you need to do with your hydrangeas.  SOME EARLIER POSTS ON HYDRANGEAS AND FALL ACTIVITY You…

There are hydrangeas galore in 2024, the best flowering season I can ever remember (and that takes in more than 20 years!). Anywhere you drive, you will see them in all their glory. Hydrangea hysteria is over – at least for now. WHAT IF YOUR HYDRANGEA ISN’T DOING WELL If your hydrangea isn’t doing well,…

Be On The Lookout for leaf scorch on hydrangeas. In the familiar lingo of crime show dramas, I am posting a “BOLO.” To those of you who follow other entertainment, BOLO is an acronym for “Be On The Lookout.”  IT TOOK ME BY SURPRISE No one was more surprised than me to see this condition…

I am delighted to tell you that I am part of a Hydrangea Giveaway in May named “Total Eclipse of the Yard.” WHAT’S IN THE GIVEAWAY Enter for a chance to win two 2-gallon First Editions Shrubs & Trees Eclipse® Bigleaf Hydrangeas. The giveaway also includes one 2 cubic foot bag of Black Gold® Natural…

Now is the time to get ready for hydrangea bouquets. Between the mild winter and gradual spring warming, just about all of my big leaf hydrangeas are beginning to show their flowers. If you live in warmer parts of the country (vs. Connecticut where I am), yours are well ahead of this timing. So now…