How do take care of hydrangea bushes?

To take care of a hydrangea bush, choose a variety suitable to the climate zone, plant the bush in an area with lots of space, give the soil lots of drainage, add organic material to the soil and fertilize once a year. Water the plants regularly and add mulch in the fall.

To get a hydrangea bush to thrive, use the following steps:

1. Choose an area with plenty of space

To avoid pruning the plant, choose an area of the garden with plenty of space for the plant to grow. Ideally, the plant should have around 3 to 10 feet of space to grow. Avoid planting hydrangeas near trees; this causes too much competition for nutrients, water and sunlight.

2. Choose the right variety

There are several different varieties of hydrangeas. Some do better in the cold than others, and some require less sun. Choose a variety that is well suited to the garden conditions and climate zone.

3. Amend the soil

Hydrangeas prefer rich, moist and porous soil. Add compost to the soil before planting and make sure it has plenty of drainage.

4. Water the bush

Keep the soil slightly moist for the first 2 or 3 years. However, do not let the soil get too soggy, as this can cause the roots to rot.

5. Fertilize the soil

Add fertilizer to the soil once per year before August. Slow-release fertilizers or organic compost are good fertilizer options.

6. Add mulch to the soil

Add mulch to the soil in the fall. Bark mulch, leaves, straw and pine needles are suitable options.