How to Plant Climbing Hydrangea
Climbing hydrangea covers trellis and other supports with large, green leaves and puffballs of pink or blue blossoms. Hydrangea thrives in areas that have mild winters with minimal freezing, and is often associated with southern U.S. gardens. Planting your hydrangea correctly is the surest way to ensure the plant thrives year after year, producing as many delicate blooms as possible. Hydrangea is usually planted from nursery plants, and first-year care is important to its survival. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Prepare a garden bed for planting in an area that receives about four hours of morning or early afternoon sun. Lay a 2-inch to 4-inch layer of compost over the planting area and apply a starter fertilizer at the rate recommended on the label. Till these in to the planting area to a 6-inch to 8-inch depth.
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Tap the side of the nursery pot to loosen the root ball. Grasp the hydrangea near the soil surface in one hand and pull the pot off with the other.
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Inspect the root ball, checking to see if the roots are fairly loose in the soil or if they are tightly compacted. Make two to four slices into the side of the root ball with a sharp knife if they are tightly compacted.
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Dig a planting hole as deep as the root ball and slightly wider. Set the hydrangea in the hole so it is at the same level it was at in its nursery pot. Fill in the hole with the removed soil. Firm the soil around the hydrangea stem with your hands.
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Water immediately after planting. Provide water until puddles begin to form on the soil around the plant. This collapses any air pockets in the soil around the hydrangea's roots.
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Lay a 2-inch layer of organic mulch on the soil around the plant. Mulching preserves soil moisture, keeps the soil cool and prevents weeds.
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Water as needed to keep the soil moist but not soggy. Stick your finger into the soil and water when the top 4 inches of soil begin to feel dry.
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Fertilize hydrangea every other month from March to July. Use a 10-10-10 analysis fertilizer at the rate recommended on the fertilizer package.
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Tips & Warnings
Install a trellis behind the hydrangea at planting or plant it near a fence or other structure it can easily climb.
Replace the mulch around the hydrangea each year, as it will break down into the soil over time. This is a good thing, as it adds nutrients and aids the drainage of the soil as it decomposes.
Too much sunlight causes hydrangea to wilt. Their large leaves quickly lose water during hot, sunny weather. Always plant where there is enough shade for the plant to rest on hot days.
References
- Photo Credit hydrangea image by L. Shat from Fotolia.com
