The hydrangea, also called hydrangea or water shrub, enchants the garden with its romantic-looking flower balls. If you offer the hydrangea the optimal living conditions, the small flower stock that you once bought and lovingly used will develop into an attractive flowering bush with nostalgic charm. In this article you will find out what you need to consider when planting the hydrangea.

When is the best planting time?

If possible, plant the hydrangea in the fall. The soil is usually a little wetter at this time of the year than in spring or summer and the moisture-loving plant finds the optimum conditions.

Late spring is also a good time to plant the shrub. However, it is essential to wait for the ice saints so that no more ground frosts are to be expected.

Container plants can be used all year round. However, in the first few weeks and months you will have to put up with an increased level of care, as the hydrangea has to be watered regularly.

Which location does the hydrangea prefer?

The water shrub prefers sunny to semi-shady locations. In order for the hydrangea to produce many flowers, it should be exposed to the sun for about six hours a day. Make sure that the flowering shrub is not in the blazing sun all day during the hot summer months, as the hydrangea evaporates a lot of moisture over its large leaf surface and then lets the flowers and leaves droop.

Give the hydrangea a spot that is more sheltered from the wind so that the large flower balls are not torn apart by gusts of wind.

Which substrate does the flowering shrub prefer?

The hydrangea is wrongly considered to be demanding in terms of soil conditions. Although the small shrub loves nutritious, deep and slightly acidic soil, it thrives even in poor sandy soil with appropriate care. The hydrangea only tolerates very dry locations and calcareous soil poorly.

Humous or clay soils, on the other hand, are ideal because these soils store moisture very well. With clay soils, however, you should make sure that the soil is not too compacted. If Hydrangea does not find ideal soil in your garden, you can improve the subsoil with rhododendron soil, mature leaf compost or peat.

How is the hydrangea planted?

Dig out the planting hole about twice as big as the root ball. This allows you to spread the roots out in the planting hole and not have to squeeze them together. Loosen the surrounding soil well so that the plant can grow in quickly.

It is advisable to place the water shrub in a container filled with water for a few minutes before planting. As a result, the root ball soaks up moisture and the plant can store enough water. Do not plant the hydrangea below ground level so that the roots get enough air and develop quickly.

What distance to other plants should be maintained?

The planting distance depends on which hydrangea species you have chosen and whether Hydrangea adorns the garden as a flowering hedge or as an attractive solitary shrub. In general, a planting distance of at least 80 to 150 centimeters is recommended.

Can hydrangeas be transplanted?

If the hydrangea has to move in the garden, you should move the plant in autumn or, alternatively, in late spring if possible. Hydrangeas form very deep roots with many fine root fibers that should not be damaged too much. Therefore, dig up the roots in a wide area around the plant in order to get the complete root ball if possible.

When transplanting, proceed in the same way as with newly purchased hydrangeas. However, make sure that the planting hole is large enough to hold the entire root ball so that the root system does not have to be squeezed in.

Good and bad neighbors

Blooming hydrangea and rose bushes are a sight to behold. Both plants get along very well and form harmonious plant communities. Hydrangea does not appreciate the close proximity to lavender, which is often placed around roses to repel lice.

Hydrangeas form an attractive community with bamboo, grasses and foliage plants, which also love partial shade. The hydrangea also feels at home in the vicinity of magnificent spars, hostas or autumn anemones.

Can hydrangeas be self-propagated?

Since the colorful flowers of the hydrangea are usually only pseudo-flowers, propagation by seeds is often difficult for the layman. It is easier to breed from cuttings, which are relatively easy to achieve.

To do this, cut off young shoots without buds from the flowering small shrubs in spring or early summer. You can root the sprouts either in pots with potting soil or in water. After about two weeks, the first roots form and the cuttings grown in the water glass can be transplanted into soil.

Some hydrangea species form shoots on the sides that you can cut off and use directly. The following applies to all young plants: In the first winter, the small plants should be brought indoors in order to overwinter in a frost-free place.

When does the hydrangea bloom?

The main flowering period for hydrangeas is from June to September. Depending on the species, it then has spherical flower balls, flat umbels or inflorescences that look like elongated panicles.

tips and tricks

Soil conditions and location not only play a role in good growth. If an originally pink flowering hydrangea is planted in soil with a pH between 4.0 and 4.5, the flower color will change and the hydrangea will develop rich blue flowers.

Category:

Vegetable garden