How to Care for Oakleaf Hydrangeas
Unlike the familiar pink- and blue-flowered hydrangeas from China and Japan, the oakleaf hydrangea is native to the southeastern United States. This deciduous shrub reaches 4 to 6 feet tall and wide and is named for its handsome, jagged leaves, which are large, long and deeply lobed - somewhat the same shape as oak leaves. They turn from deep green in summer to shades of purple, burgundy, red or orange in the fall. Large, cone-shaped clusters of white flowers emerge in late spring, changing to pink and then tan into summer and fall. This distinguished plant is quite easy to care for. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Plant oakleaf hydrangeas in partial shade. If they are put in a proper location, they will usually grow well with little additional care. An ideal site, such as the north side or east side of a building, receives four to six hours of sun in the morning and shade for the rest of the day. In cooler climates, these plants can handle full sun. They will not flower well in the deep shade under trees.
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Water your plants once a week if there has been less than 1 inch of rain. Hydrangeas like lots of moisture but the soil must be well-drained; they do not like to sit in water. Oakleaf hydrangeas can tolerate drier conditions than other hydrangeas but are fussier about wet locations. If they are put in soggy soil that doesn't drain well, they can rot.
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Keep in mind the mature size of these shrubs when you plant them. Don't choose a spot where you'll be forced to prune them every year to keep them within bounds. This is more work for you and ultimately not good for the plant. Prune dead or diseased branches. When shrubs become mature and crowded, you may want to cut one-third of the oldest stems down to the base of the plant.
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If pruning is necessary, do it in midsummer. Oakleaf hydrangeas bloom on old wood. The buds for one summer's flowers were set in late summer and fall the year before. Pruning any time from August through the following spring means you are cutting off next year's buds. A good rule is to prune your oakleaf hydrangea while it is in bloom.
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Fertilizer is generally not necessary and may discourage flowering. A layer of mulch over the plant's roots will help keep the soil moist and keep weeds down.
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