Things You'll Need:
- Mulch or straw Sulfur or lime Fertilizer Soil testing kit (optional)
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Step 1
Test your soil. You can use a soil testing kit purchased from a local home improvement store or nursery or check with your local cooperative extension. Many offer free soil testing.
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Step 2
Amend the soil as needed by adding either sulfur to increase the acidity of the soil or lime to decrease it. Simply work the amendments into the soil surrounding the hydrangea plant using a rake or hoe.
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Step 3
Mulch the hydrangea heavily. Add several inches of mulch all around the base of the hydrangea, extending out to the edges of the branches. The mulch will help protect the hydrangea in winter and retain moisture in summer.
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Step 4
Prune only dead and damaged branches. Many varieties of hydrangea bloom only on areas where previous growth occurred. Pruning these areas will prevent any new flowers from forming.
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Step 5
Remove dead or wilted flowers regularly. Put the hydrangea's energy toward producing new blooms. The sooner old blooms are removed, the sooner the plant can fill out with fresh, new blooms.
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Step 6
Fertilize your hydrangea plant twice per blooming season. A slow-release fertilizer designed for hydrangeas is best, but organic fertilizers will also do the job. Fertilize once in the spring, just as the growing season starts, and once mid-way through.
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Step 7
Cover hydrangeas during freezing weather. Drape burlap, bed sheets or winter covers designed for plants over hydrangeas if exceptionally cold weather hits. Since flower buds start forming in late fall, they can be damaged during harsh winters, leaving you with a plant that cannot bloom in the spring.
