When do hydrangeas bloom in ct

Continue to water hydrangea until the ground freezes. Fertilization and Soil pH A slow-release fertilizer can be applied late spring and mid-summer but not after August 15th. Most hydrangea do well in a slightly acidic soil. It is this lower pH in the 4. In order to have pink blossoms the soil pH must be raised to 6. A soil test will provide the amendment information necessary to enact those changes. If the soil pH is too high, hydrangeas may develop iron deficiency.

This is indicated when younger leaves exhibit yellowing between the veins. If older leaves are yellowing, nitrogen deficiency is likely. A short term solution without lowering the soil pH is to add iron to the soil in the form of iron chelate.

For a more long term solution, lower the soil pH using an aluminum sulfate or sulfur product. For either approach, follow product label instructions carefully. Care and Maintenance One of the most common issues with hydrangea is the failure to produce blooms.

Flower buds may begin to break dormancy during a late winter or early spring warm period and subsequent freezing temperatures can kill them. To protect hydrangea that bloom on old wood from this problem, surround the plant with a cylindrical wire mesh enclosure and fill loosely with leaves or mulch. Add additional material as it settles. Remove mulch after the danger of a killing frost has passed. Once the flowers fade and the danger of frost is past, it can be planted outside in a sheltered location.

These hydrangeas usually H. The flower buds may not survive the winter. To boost the chances of successful overwintering try the following: around the July 4th, prune to 3 to 5 inches above the ground. The plant will produce new growth with dormant terminal flower buds. Add additional material if it settles during the winter. Remove the protection when the crocuses flower in the spring but protect on cold nights.

The best time to transplant hydrangea is when they are dormant after all leaves have been shed. Dig up as much of the root ball as possible. Water thoroughly after transplanting and then regularly during the first two summers.

It is best to water deeply less often than to water daily. Propagation Stem Cuttings The best time to start stem cuttings is early summer. Remove all but the top leaves. Cut larger to leaves to about half of their size cut perpendicular to the mid-vein to reduce the demands for water while the plant is rooting see illustration on below left.

Dip the cuttings in a rooting hormone and place them in a moist mixture of half peat or potting soil and half fine-grade perlite, vermiculite, or sand. Water the cuttings by misting with a spray bottle. Keep the soil moist but not soggy. A good way to retain moisture during the rooting process is to enclose the cuttings in plastic see illustration on below right. Stakes can be used to prevent the plastic from touching the leaves.

New growth should appear in about 2 weeks. If you are in a northern state Zones 4 — 5b , your hydrangeas can handle up to 6 hours of sun in the morning, but as you get further south you should allow for more shade on your plants. In the southern-most regions Zones 8 — 9 , we recommend a maximum of 2 hours of morning sun. Too much sun exposure can cause your hydrangea shrubs to burn on its leaves and blooms.

Also, be sure to put your fingers in the soil to see if it needs watering. We do recommend a soak versus light watering each day, but you should be sure that the soil is always moist — not wet — by sticking your fingers in the dirt. If it is dry, give it a good soaking. If it is wet, do not add water. For more information on where to plant and how to water, please click here.

Do these hydrangea plants survive in containers? Our garden gets really hot, so I think a container would be a better option. Do I follow the same care instructions watering, fertilizing, etc. Hydrangea shrubs are perfect as potted plants and give you the ability to move the hydrangeas to different locations and create a focal point in your living space. The care instructions are mainly the same, with a few notable differences.

For a complete look at container care, click here. What type of fertilizer do you recommend? I know that hydrangea bushes do best with certain kinds of fertilizer because of their big blooms, but am not sure what to buy! We recommend a granular, slow-release fertilizer with a NPK ratio of If you cannot find that specific ratio, ask your local nursery for a fertilizer with a high concentration of phosphorus, as that encourages the bloom growth.

For more information, please click here I bought these plants because I wanted big, beautiful blue hydrangea bush in my garden. I got big blooms, but they are PINK! What did I do wrong? The pH level of your soil determines hydrangea colors. If you have a pink hydrangea and you want a blue hydrangea, no problem! Hydrangeas are popular shrubs featuring orb-shaped clusters of flowers that usually bloom in shades of blue, purple and pink during summer and into fall.

With the weather finally warming up, now is the perfect time to begin summer gardening — and Illinoisans are likely to see hydrangeas flourishing in any number of gardens. But with more than 70 species of hydrangeas varying widely in needs, bloom patterns, pruning schedules and appearance, savvy gardeners should read up on best practices to help hydrangeas thrive. Extensive guides from The Morton Arboretum and Chicago Botanic Garden provide local expertise and a wealth of information.

Ask yourself a few questions: What do you want this plant to do? Are you looking to create privacy from your neighbors, or do you want to make a focal point? How much space is available in your yard? When any tree or shrub grows, it will get wider and taller, so be strategic about where you want your plants before you start digging. The Chicago area is generally 6a or 5b. Another factor to consider: Hydrangeas are mildly poisonous to dogs and cats, although animals would need to eat a large amount of the plant to suffer severe symptoms.

Every kind of plant is specifically suited to certain kinds of soil. If your soil is sticky clay, you will need a different plant than you would for something more sandy.

Most spring-blooming bushes should be pruned two to three weeks after they finish flowering. This can be difficult, because many popular hydrangeas are sold under trademarks, rather than the formal names of the cultivated varieties, which would indicate the species. Oakleaf hydrangea Hydrangea quercifolia flowers on old wood. So does bigleaf hydrangea Hydrangea macrophylla , which has large globe-shaped flower heads that can be blue in acidic soil. Because it is not quite hardy here and its flower buds often do not survive cold winters, bigleaf hydrangea can fail to bloom and be a disappointment to Chicago gardeners.

To add to the confusion, some newer cultivars have been bred to bloom on both old and new wood. Other popular hydrangea species bloom on new wood. They include smooth hydrangea Hydrangea arborescens , including the popular Annabelle cultivar, and panicle hydrangea Hydrangea paniculata , including the Limelight cultivar.