The Complete Guide to Caring for Your Garden – Tree Finch

Hydrangeas are an absolute garden favourite, no wonder given the splendor of their flowers! In order for them to germinate vigorously and flower profusely year after year, they need a little attention. Depending on the variety, correct pruning is particularly important! But fertilization, soil care and winter protection also play an important role. Here you will get a complete care guide so that nothing goes wrong.

1. The beginning: what do hydrangeas basically need?

Before going into details: hydrangeas love soil rich in humus, slightly acidic, well moist but not waterlogged. They prefer partially shaded or sunny locations, with some varieties such as viburnum hydrangea Annabelle It tolerates even more sun well.

Good care includes regular watering during dry periods, especially for potted plants, as well as nutrient-rich soil that does not dry out. It is equally important to pay attention to pruning and fertilizing, depending on the respective variety.

2. Fertilize the hydrangeas

In order for your hydrangea to develop its full splendor, it needs nutrients. The right fertilizer not only strengthens the flowers, but also their healthy growth.

It is best to carry out the first fertilization between the end of March and mid-April as soon as the plant awakens from hibernation and shows the first signs of life. For very vigorous or abundant flowering varieties, a second dose at the beginning of June may be useful. Subsequently it is not necessary to carry out further fertilization, otherwise the shoots will not fully mature until winter and will be at risk of frost.

Suitable is more special Fertilizer for hydrangeaswhich contains a balanced ratio of nitrogen, potassium and the smallest possible amount of phosphorus. Alternatively, you can also work organically: compost and well-seasoned cattle manure are classic sources of nutrients. You can also use home remedies such as coffee grounds, horn shavings or nettle manure, especially if you want to garden more naturally.

coffee grounds For example, it not only supplies nitrogen, but also slightly lowers the pH value in the soil. This can also help the grower’s hydrangeas achieve the desired blue flower color, provided other conditions are also right. We have collected some tips for fertilizing with coffee grounds for you here!

Be sure to never apply fertilizer directly to the root collar, but rather distribute it evenly around the plant. With liquid fertilizers, fertilization is carried out using irrigation water; you need to make sure that the soil is sufficiently moist so that no roots are «burned».

3. Trimming hydrangeas: how to do it correctly (depending on the variety!)

For many people, pruning is the great mystery of hydrangea care, but it’s not that complicated if you know which group your variety belongs to. And this is exactly the key!

1. Understanding cutting units: the key point when cutting hydrangeas

There are basically two groups:

Group 1: These include classic farmer’s hydrangeas, plate hydrangeas and oakleaf hydrangeas. These form their flower buds the previous year. This means: Anyone who cuts back radically in spring will unintentionally remove flowers for the summer. The cut must therefore be done very carefully. It is better to remove only the old inflorescences and any dried shoots. Some new varieties now also produce flowers on young wood, which can then be cut back slightly.

Group 2: These hydrangeas, like panicle hydrangeas such as the popular ‘Limelight’, flower on shoots grown in the current year. They can be reduced. More vigorous pruning can then be carried out every few years. This promotes strong new shoots with large flowers. This also applies to other wild forms such as velvet hydrangea and climbing hydrangea. Group 2 also includes snowball hydrangeas such as the popular ‘Annabelle’; They benefit from vigorous pruning in early spring so they grow compact and don’t fall apart. The cut can be made up to knee height.

2. Group 1 hydrangeas: cut carefully

For these varieties it is necessary to use scissors on frost-free days, from late February to mid-March at the latest. Ideally, choose a time when severe frosts are no longer expected. A short-lived light night frost is usually not a problem, but a cold snap soon after cutting can damage young shoots or flower heads.

The cut itself is more of a «care cut»: dead branches, damaged wood and old inflorescences are removed, always above the first pair of well-developed shoots. This means: look for the first pair of strong shoots on the bud and place the scissors about half a centimeter above it. In this way the pair of shoots is preserved and can germinate in spring.

Additionally, you can remove older shoots in the lower ground-level area to rejuvenate the plant. But this is only necessary every few years and not necessarily every spring.

3. Group 2 hydrangeas: strong pruning is desirable

These varieties thank for bold pruning with strong shoots and huge flower balls. In late winter or early spring, even around February or March, cut off all shoots except 1 or 2 pairs of eyes.

What does this mean exactly? The pairs of eyes are the points on the bud where small opposite buds are seen. These shoots will produce new shoots with flowers in spring. Then, starting from the floor, count one or two of these pairs upwards and make the cut there. In practice, this usually means cutting to a height of around 15-30 centimetres.

This heavy pruning causes the plant to grow more compact and strong and results in large, uniform flowers, ideal for varieties such as Annabella OR Flip.

4. Special cases and modern varieties (e.g. «Endless Summer»)

These so-called reblooming hydrangeas, like the ‘Endless Summer’ series, bloom on both old and new shoots. This makes them particularly easy to care for and flexible in terms of cutting. In spring you can remove dead or weak shoots near the ground and, if necessary, shorten healthy ones slightly to maintain shape. Slightly more severe pruning is also possible without having to completely give up the flowers. But: If left uncut, these varieties often lose their shape.

5. Avoid common mistakes

One of the most common mistakes is pruning in the fall. Many hobby gardeners want to remove dead heads or shape the plant. But especially with farmer’s hydrangeas, destroy the buds planted for next year. Better: in autumn just leave the inflorescences lit, which also protect a little from frost.

Swapping the cutting unit is also often a cause of frustration. If you cut the farmer’s hydrangea like a panicle hydrangea, you will wait in vain for flowers. Conversely, too timid an approach with panicle hydrangeas can lead to weaker flowers because the plant spreads its strength over too many old shoots.

And finally: pruning too early in case of danger of frost can damage young shoots or delay sprouting. If in doubt, it is better to wait a few more days until the weather is more stable.

4. Mulching: The underrated trick to healthy roots

Mulch is more than just decoration: it retains moisture in the soil, protects against temperature changes and improves the soil structure in the long term. This is worth its weight in gold, especially for hydrangeas that don’t like dry feet.

For example, you can use bark mulch, preferably well rotted, so that it does not remove too much nitrogen from the soil. Leaf compost or slightly dried grass clippings are also great materials. It is important not to put the mulch directly on the trunk, but to leave about 5-10 cm of space all around, otherwise there is a risk of rot.

In spring, a layer of mulch 3-5 cm thick is usually sufficient. In hot summers, you can add additional water to better retain moisture in the soil.

5. Winter protection for hydrangeas

While robust panicle hydrangeas or Annabelle they usually do not require any special protection Countryside hydrangeas more sensitive to frost with their delicate shoots. A strong late frost in spring can ruin the entire flowering here.

If your hydrangea is located in a place exposed to drafts or frost, it is worth covering it with leaves, brushwood or a special garden fleece. Particularly effective is the accumulation of leaves around the base of the root and wrapping the above-ground shoots with loose fleece.

TO Container plants you should insulate the pot, e.g. B. with jute bags, coconut mats or bubble wrap and move it as close as possible to a protected house wall. Place the pot or bucket on wood or Styrofoam so that the cold does not penetrate underneath. If you want to provide additional insulation, cover the surface of the earth with bushes or leaves. The same thing applies here too: it is better to leave the inflorescences lit, they work as small protective shields against the snow and the cold. Hydrangeas also need winter a little water. Water sparingly on frost-free days so that the root ball does not dry out, but absolutely avoid water stagnation.

Conclusion: hydrangea care is not that difficult

We hope this article shows you: cutting and caring for hydrangeas is definitely doable if you have the necessary knowledge. 🙂

Happy gardening!