Hydrangea macrophylla (Bigleaf)
HYDRANGEA SPRING CHORES – DO THIS, NOT THAT
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…
Read MoreNEW HYDRANGEAS FOR 2025
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…
Read MoreHYDRANGEAS GALORE IN 2024!
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,…
Read MoreLEAF SCORCH ON HYDRANGEAS
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…
Read MoreTIME FOR HYDRANGEA BOUQUETS
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…
Read MoreAUTUMN HYDRANGEA CARE
For gardeners in the Northern hemisphere, we are coming into the home stretch for considering autumn hydrangea care. Where I garden in US Zone 5b, we are almost out of time by mid-August. But if you garden where it is warmer, you have a few more weeks. Here’s what to keep in mind.
Read MoreHYDRANGEAS AS CUT FLOWERS
Right about now, you are probably cutting hydrangea flowers for bouquets. Except that your beautiful flowers droop in the vase within a few hours of being cut. ARGHH@!! So what’s a hydrangea-lover to do? Let me share what I learned a while back about hydrangeas as cut flowers.
Read MoreWILL YOUR BIG LEAF HYDRANGEAS BLOOM THIS SUMMER?
Big leaf hydrangeas (macrophyllas) had a hard time this past winter in the northeast U.S. and elsewhere. The big question is: will your big leaf hydrangeas bloom this summer before the first frost of autumn knocks them back?
Read MorePREPARING HYDRANGEAS FOR WINTER
We have had a few nights where the temps have dipped into the high 30s, a sobering reminder that it’s time for preparing hydrangeas for winter. Specifically, it’s time to wrap susceptible bigleaf (macrophylla) and mountain (serrata) hydrangeas. Those that aren’t planted in protected locations as I described in my other blog posts, HERE and HERE need…
Read MoreCONTAINERIZED HYDRANGEAS AND WINTER
If you live in the northern hemisphere it’s time to think about bringing in your containerized hydrangeas for winter. Here’s what you need to do and when.
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