They look beautiful, but they also have certain requirements: if you want to plant hydrangeas in the garden, you have to pay attention to a few things.
Hydrangeas (Hydrangea) are among the most popular plants in the garden. This is mainly due to their beautiful flowers, which are a great eye-catcher on the property in different colors. And the great thing about this plant: it is basically very easy to care for. All you have to do is provide them with enough water and cut them back regularly and they will feel right at home in your garden.
However, so that you can enjoy the full bloom and he althy plants, you should consider a few points when planting. This is how you create a good basis for beautiful and he althy plants.
Location, soil conditions & planting time
» Location:
First you have to find a suitable place for the hydrangeas. There are commercially available varieties for sunny as well as partially shaded or even shady areas. In any case, a bright and sheltered place is important, because in winter the buds can easily freeze. You should not necessarily place the plants in the blazing sun. Partial shade is generally ideal.
When choosing the location, you should also pay attention to the other plants in the area, from which the hydrangeas can definitely benefit. You can combine hydrangeas well with large perennials such as larkspur or monkshood - then the hydrangeas will have a lot of flowers and especially long ones. The hydrangea is also well accommodated under a deep-rooted tree, because here the leaves of the tree protect against heavy rain, wind and the blazing midday sun.
» Soil condition:
The soil should be acidic, rich in nutrients and nicely drained. Calcareous soils are therefore not well suited. In addition, the subsoil should always be damp, but you should definitely avoid waterlogging, which is why a loose soil is recommended. If the subsoil is not very rich in humus, you can add some peat or rhododendron soil.
The condition of the soil also has an influence on the color of the flowers. If you plant pink varieties in acidic soil, they canchange the color of hydrangeas over time - from pink to blue. If you want to enhance this effect, you can also use special rhododendron soil, blue dyes or aluminum sulphate.
For hydrangeas it is also important that they have plenty of room to expand and that their roots can grow far down. So if you plant several specimens, you must ensure that there is sufficient spacing.
» planting time:
You can put container plants in your garden all year round. If you do this in the summer, you have to remember that you will have to water a lot. Spring is best for planting, but not for hydrangeas that have already been planted, as late frosts could still cause problems. If you want to plant an early pot hydrangea in the garden, you must choose a time when there is no longer any danger of frost.
» Recommended reading: Overwintering hydrangeas in tubs - Here's how it's done
How to plant hydrangeas
➥ Step 1:
Before planting, place the pot in water for about 10 minutes. In the meantime, you can dig a hole in the bed about twice the size of the pot.
➥ Step 2:
After the water bath, take the hydrangea out of the pot and place it in the hole you dug. Then fill the hole back up with soil and press the soil firmly.
➥ Step 3:
Now you have to give the plant plenty of water. Rainwater is very suitable for this because it contains no lime. Important: Since the hydrangea needs a lot of water, you will have to water it in the coming weeks, even if it rains.
» Reading tip: Hydrangea care - 4 little care tips