Most common mistakes when growing garden hydrangeas – part one

Common Mistakes in Growing Bigleaf Hydrangeas: How to Avoid Them

As a gardening couple with over a decade of experience, we’ve made plenty of mistakes in our garden—but also learned from them and deepened our passion for plants. One of our favorite species, which has become a true highlight of our garden, is Hydrangea macrophylla, also known as bigleaf hydrangea. At first, it gave us a lot of trouble, but over time we learned how to care for it properly.

Why Are Hydrangeas So Popular?

Hydrangeas, including bigleaf hydrangeas, aren’t just beautiful—they’re also relatively easy to grow if you know a few basic rules. Their lush flowers and the variety of types, like Hydrangea serrata (mountain hydrangea) or Hydrangea paniculata (panicle hydrangea), catch the eye of every gardening enthusiast. However, like with any hobby, mistakes happen in hydrangea cultivation too. Interestingly, last year we discovered that proper pruning is crucial for their health and beauty.

Common Mistakes in Growing Hydrangeas

Here’s a list of the most frequent mistakes that can cause problems with hydrangeas—and tips on how to avoid them:

• Incorrect watering: Hydrangeas need regular watering but dislike waterlogging. It’s best to water early in the morning or late afternoon to minimize evaporation.

• Wrong planting location: Hydrangeas grow best in partial shade. Too much sun can scorch the leaves, which happened to us one summer when we planted them in full sun.

• Improper pruning: If you wonder when to prune hydrangeas, remember that spring is the best time. I recall once pruning too late, resulting in no flowers for the entire year.

• Incorrect fertilizing: Hydrangeas require fertilizers rich in phosphorus and potassium. We realized this when our plants stopped flowering and instead grew excessively leafy, indicating too much nitrogen.

How to Care for Hydrangeas in Autumn?

Autumn is a key time to prepare hydrangeas for winter. Fall care for hydrangeas is a topic often discussed among gardeners. In our garden, we noticed hydrangeas survive winter best when we mulch their roots with leaves or bark before frost. My neighbor has a different approach—he swears by wrapping plants in horticultural fleece. It’s fascinating how different methods can achieve similar results!

Practical Autumn Tips

• Mulching: Use bark or leaves to protect the roots from freezing.

• Wind protection: Plant hydrangeas in sheltered spots to reduce wind damage.

• Winter prep: Make sure plants are well watered before the first frosts.

Pruning Hydrangeas: When and How?

Some varieties, like peegee hydrangea or climbing hydrangea, are more demanding when it comes to pruning. It’s always good to know when to prune hydrangeas so they don’t lose their charm next season. For bigleaf hydrangeas, pruning should take place in spring when the plant starts growing actively. Once, when trying to rejuvenate our shrubs, we pruned too drastically—this taught us patience and precision!

Hydrangea macrophylla: How to Achieve Beautiful Blooms?

For hydrangeas, especially Hydrangea macrophylla, proper care is the key to stunning blooms. Wondering how to care for this special species to enjoy its flowers?

Our care secrets include:

• Regular watering, especially on hot days.

• Protecting from direct sunlight by placing plants in partial shade.

• Using fertilizers with a higher content of phosphorus and potassium.

A neat trick for Hydrangea macrophylla: acidic soil encourages blue flower coloration, which looks spectacular in the garden. Knowing how to care for hydrangeas and when to prune them can be essential for every gardener.

In Conclusion

Isn’t it fascinating how diverse hydrangeas are? We encourage you to experiment and share your experiences with fellow gardening enthusiasts. Our journey with hydrangeas taught us more than we expected. Are you ready to dive into the world of these captivating plants and discover what they can offer you? Remember—every challenge is a new lesson and a chance to grow!