00:00Whether you have one or 100 hydrangeas in your landscape, a bit of spring maintenance will go a long way
00:07to produce healthy plants filled with beautiful blooms year after year.
00:11Hello fellow gardeners, my name is Amy from Gardening Know How and we are going to talk spring care of
00:17my favorite flowering shrub.
00:19Grab your garden gloves and a few other supplies while you follow our top 5 tips for happy hydrangeas.
00:27All types of hydrangeas would benefit from several applications of fertilizer per season, starting early in the spring once new
00:34growth begins to emerge.
00:35A general all-purpose fertilizer works well, but I prefer to use a granular organic fertilizer, specifically for acid loving
00:43plants, as it breaks down slowly, providing an even feed.
00:48Following the application instructions on the bag, broadcast the fertilizer within the drip line of the plant, scratching or raking
00:55the fertilizer into the top inch of the soil, then water in as directed.
01:10Once the new growth begins to emerge, you may want to adjust the bloom color of your mop head or
01:15lace cap hydrangeas.
01:16A soil acidifier, such as aluminum sulfate, will turn blue hydrangeas darker and turn pink hydrangeas to more of a
01:24purple hue.
01:24The addition of lime to the soil will lighten the pink color of hydrangeas and possibly revert blue varieties back
01:31to pink, so be sure to choose the correct amendment depending on the desired flower color.
01:36Apply the product as directed on the package early in the spring once new growth emerges.
01:41A second application can be given one to two months later.
01:45While there are around five main types of hydrangeas available on the market, these additional soil amendments will only modify
01:52the flower color on macrophylla and serrata species of hydrangeas.
02:01In spring, there are only a few hydrangea types that require trimming to keep the plant neat and tidy, plus
02:07trimming will produce a fuller and healthier shrub.
02:10Panicle types known for their large cone-shaped flowers, usually in white fading to shades of pink, would benefit from
02:16the top one-third to one-half of the shrub cut off.
02:19The best time to prune is in early to mid-spring, once the first new green growth emerges.
02:25They bloom on new growth, assuring you flowers this season, even if you make a few mistake cuts.
02:30However, I do recommend cutting right above a set of buds.
02:34The other hydrangea type that would benefit from spring pruning is hydrangea arborescens, commonly known as the smooth hydrangea.
02:42You may be familiar with varieties such as Annabelle or Incrediball.
02:45This species can be pruned hard, down to one foot tall.
02:49Pruning in early spring can help prevent a top-heavy plant that may flop to the ground by mid-summer.
02:55As for oak leaf hydrangea types, these can be left alone completely, as they bloom on old wood and have
03:01an attractive large spreading habit that is desired in the landscape.
03:05Mop head types, the hydrangeas with rounded, ball-shaped flowers, commonly found in shades of pink and blue, are a
03:11bit more complicated.
03:12Mostly, they bloom on buds formed the previous season, but some newer varieties will bloom on both old wood and
03:19new growth.
03:20So, cutting any of these branches off in early spring will remove the flower buds for the first set of
03:25blooms.
03:26If you do need to tidy up this species of hydrangea, you can cut above the top-most set of
03:32healthy buds.
03:32Some branches that are a few years old that will not produce bloom can be removed completely.
03:38These branches that can and should be removed will be very woody, possibly hollow-stemmed, and lighter in color.
03:45But, just as with the oak leaf types, this type of hydrangea does not require pruning at all.
03:56The last step for spring hydrangea care is to apply a layer of mulch.
04:00Mulching will reduce weeds, retain moisture, and provide a fresh, clean look to your beds.
04:06After the leaf buds begin to open, apply a 2-inch layer of mulch.
04:10I prefer to use pine bark mulch in my area, but shredded mulch, compost, or pine needles are other good
04:16choices depending on availability in your region.
04:26Our fifth and final tip is optional.
04:29Whether your plant is getting a bit too much sun, or if the shrub has overgrown its spot, you may
04:34want to consider transplanting it to a new area.
04:37Early spring is an excellent time to move your plant before the heat of the summer arrives.
04:41Be sure to dig a hole in the new location first, and if the plant is too big and cumbersome,
04:47you may want to prune it back a bit before moving.
04:49If needed, amend the soil in the new planting bed with compost or peat moss, depending on your soil composition.
04:56Be sure to water thoroughly after planting, repeating frequently while the roots establish in its new environment.
05:09Thank you for joining us on this journey through our top 5 tips for happy hydrangeas.
05:14Until next time, happy gardening!
05:19Thank you!
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