In the garden trade, the hydrangea is usually offered as a small, flowering stick in a container. Plants grown in pots should preferably be planted in the spring. But even in summer or early autumn, the romantic garden beauty still has enough time to take root.
Plant your hydrangea in a shady or partially shaded spot that is sheltered from the wind
The right place
Hydrangeas prefer semi-shady or shady locations. They should also be sheltered from the wind, as the large and sometimes very heavy flower umbels could be severely affected by gusts of wind.
Plant hydrangeas
Once the right place has been found, it is time to insert the hydrangea. To do this, proceed as follows:
Preparation of the plant
Before planting the hydrangea, place the pot with the root ball in a water bath for at least 10 minutes. This allows the roots to soak up moisture.
Dig a planting hole
During this time, dig the planting pit. It should be about twice as wide and deep as the planter. Also loosen up the edges and the bottom of the planting hole to avoid waterlogging. In areas with heavily compacted soil, fill in a drainage layer of gravel and coarse sand.
The special soil requirements of the hydrangea
The hydrangea is considered a difficult garden beauty because it changes its shape depending on the pH of the soil. It is therefore advisable to know the pH value of the garden soil and, if necessary, to take appropriate measures to improve it.
- Red and pink flowering hydrangeas prefer alkaline soils.
- White and soft pink hydrangeas keep their tint in neutral earth.
- Blue hydrangeas will only keep their color if the soil has a pH below 4.5.
Inserting the hydrangea
- Carefully remove the flower pot so as not to damage the roots.
- Cut open very narrow-fitting planters if necessary.
- Plant the plant so deep that the top of the pot is level with the ground.
If you plant the hydrangea too deep, the roots get too little air and begin to rot. If set too high, the growth of the hydrangea is slowed down.
- Fill the planting hole loosely with soil and press it down lightly. Stepping up is unnecessary and can damage the sensitive root system.
- Then water the hydrangea thoroughly.
tips and tricks
Hydrangeas feel extremely comfortable in special hydrangea or rhododendron soil. This special substrate is loose, stores a lot of moisture and thus fulfills all soil requirements of the hydrangea.