Like all flowering shrubs, garden hydrangeas only develop lush flowers if they receive the right nutrition in addition to water and light. Even though hydrangeas are basically quite easy to care for, they still punish care mistakes with poor growth and a lack of flowering.
How do I properly care for garden hydrangeas?
Caring for garden hydrangeas requires regular watering, special fertilizer and careful pruning. For a he althy plant and abundant flowering, you should water your hydrangeas in the morning or evening, use special hydrangea fertilizers or fertilizers for rhododendrons and azaleas, and only remove old inflorescences in spring.
How should I water garden hydrangeas?
Garden hydrangeas do not have very deep roots and therefore rely on enough water near the surface. Hydrangeas originally come from river floodplains, which are evenly supplied with water and are characterized by constantly high humidity. Regular and abundant watering is particularly important in the first year. Well-grown plants can survive short droughts without major damage.
How often and with what should garden hydrangeas be fertilized?
There are special hydrangea fertilizers on the market, but fertilizers for rhododendrons and azaleas are also good for supplying garden hydrangeas with nutrients. However, most universal fertilizers, such as blue grain, have too high a phosphorus content and are therefore less suitable for hydrangeas.
When and how are garden hydrangeas cut?
Garden hydrangeas bloom on the previous year's wood and must therefore not be cut back. In spring, only remove the old inflorescences.
Can I cultivate garden hydrangeas in a container?
Yes, although the planter should be at least two-thirds the diameter of the plant. Potted hydrangeas must also not dry out.
What diseases can occur in the garden hydrangea?
Fungal and viral diseases such as gray mold, powdery mildew or leaf spot disease, usually caused by care errors, occur quite frequently in garden hydrangeas.
The garden hydrangea gets yellow leaves, how to remedy this?
If the foliage of the garden hydrangea gradually turns yellow and only the leaf veins remain green, this is chlorosis. This is a nutrient deficiency, with iron, manganese or magnesium usually missing. The causes are often insufficient fertilization, too high a pH value in the soil or waterlogging or soil that is too dry. Add humus to the soil and fertilize specifically.
Why doesn't the garden hydrangea bloom?
If the garden hydrangea does not want to bloom, the cause is either incorrect pruning or the flower buds that were already formed the previous year froze in the late frosts of early spring.
Which pests particularly often cause problems for garden hydrangeas?
Hardenseas can be attacked by aphids, spider mites and thrips. Voles, caterpillars or the black weevil often cause problems for planted specimens.
Are garden hydrangeas hardy?
Garden hydrangeas themselves are not endangered by low temperatures below zero. However, there is a risk that the flower buds that were already formed the previous year will be damaged by frost. Winter protection (e.g. with leaves or bark mulch) is therefore advisable.
Tips & Tricks
It is best to water your garden hydrangeas in the morning and/or evening and not in the midday sun, because the water droplets on the leaves act like burning glasses.
