How to Care for Hydrangeas

Hydrangea plants thrive in many different locations due to the number of types of plants available. These plants come in four different groups: the Mopheads and Lacecaps, Annabelle, Oak Leaf and PeeGee. Each group has its own type of bloom, but all of them do well with lots of sun.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Give your hydrangeas morning exposure to the sun. Allow for shade in the afternoon or keep them in the sun all day as long as you water them frequently.
2. Fertilize your hydrangeas once or twice a year. Apply fertilizer only once in the middle of summer if you live in cooler climates. Fertilize once at the beginning of summer and once toward the end if your climate is hot. For best results, use a slow-releasing fertilizer.
3. Prune your hydrangeas in the spring. Cut back old branches and stems, but avoid the plant's new growth. Clip half of the stems of your hydrangea in the summer.
4. Protect your hydrangeas in inclement weather. Cover them when the temperature is going to drop below 25 degrees F.

Tips & Warnings

• Add aluminum sulfate to your soil to make your hydrangeas bloom blue flowers. Add lime for pink blooms.
• Prune hydrangeas in the Annabelle family like you prune a hedge.
• Hydrangeas in the PeeGee family are hardy and require several hours of sunlight every day.
• Don't apply fertilizer to sick hydrangeas. Cure the plant first or the fertilizer adds to its stress.

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