Hydrangeas typically flower in beautiful shades of pink, blue, lilac and white from the mid-spring right through to the late summer or even the autumn in some cases. However, while some gardeners may have begun to notice beautiful blooms emerging in their gardens, others may be left scratching their heads.
According to Amy, an expert from Gardening Know How, there is a common reason why your hydrangea “just refuses to bloom”.
She explained that planting your hydrangea in the wrong part of your garden could be detrimental. Just like fertile soil and the right amount of water, how much sunlight your hydrangea receives could play a huge role.
“Many hydrangeas are shade lovers but this does not mean full shade,” explained Amy.
So while it is good to make sure your hydrangea is not burning in full sunlight, you also must ensure you haven’t planted them in an area that doesn’t get much sun at all.
“Some types, especially mopheads and varieties like Annabelle, do prefer part shade,” said Amy.
“Other types such as panicle and oakleaf can take a bit more sun, even hot afternoon sun as long as enough water is provided.”
When it comes to sunshine, the gardening expert says the sweet spot is to ensure your hydrangea gets morning sun and shade in the afternoon.
She added: “All hydrangeas do need a bare minimum of four hours of sun per day to perform their best.”
With the right combination of soil, water and sunlight you will be well on your way to healthy hydrangea.
Gardening expert David Becker of The Farm at Green Village shared his hydrangea-boosting tips with Martha Stewart and revealed that a little bit of fertiliser can go a long way to helping your flowers emerge “bigger and better”.
David explained that just a little fertiliser can go a long way if you are hoping to see your hydrangeas reach their full potential. He recommends what he describes as “a bloom booster” fertiliser, using high levels of phosphate.
However, his recommendation also comes with a warning. Too much of the wrong fertiliser could actually have the opposite impact on your plants and cause them more harm than good.
