Complete novice needs help: HYDRANGEAS

[pinkgin85]

I recently got my driveway done and now have two flowerbeds on the sides, and I've always wanted to plan hydrangeas.

Firstly, is that a good choice? Any other easy plants or flowers I could plant?

Secondly, where can I find them? How do I plant them? I have zilch knowledge of gardening but want to learn!

Hydrangeas are amazing and very low maintenance. If you neglect them and don't water them they still don't die!

I bought mine in Homebase.

garden centre to buy some?

Sunny or shady, what kind of soil?

We have 2 we do nothing special for & they bloom hugely every year. One is fertilised with mostly vole bodies.

Lidl is a great place to pick up hydrangeas.

You can get them everywhere – garden centre, or online: Crocus is good.

Check what shade/sun levels you have. Plant them with a bit of space, they like some air (and also leave room for them to grow, they get big!). And do you want pink or blue ones? There’s stuff you can put in the soil to make them the right colour, but it relies on never watering with tap water.

@roses2

Hydrangeas are amazing and very low maintenance. If you neglect them and don't water them they still don't die!

I bought mine in Homebase.

I didn’t find this at all, if I don’t keep mine watered they don’t flower and dry up very quick. I’d say don’t plant them there if they are in full sun unless you are really on it with watering. I think they do better with some shade, at least mine do!

Oh I just got a lovely one from b&q today

They need lots of water I find - clue is in the name I guess!

They are gorgeous though, we’ve got lace caps, a snowball and a lovely retro blue one like my granny had in the 70s

Don’t plant hydrangeas if that’s a really sunny spot. Any hydrangea I’ve had has preferred part sun part shade, sometimes more shade than sun depending on the variety. And even then I’ve found that they always need a decent amount of watering. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love them, but they’re now zero maintenance, if that’s what you’re after.

We've got free-draining sandy soil round here, and hydrangeas don't do very well at all. So perhaps it depends on your local soil and climate.

Hydrangeas love water. They do not like too much sun and dry soil.

Mine I got scorched and shrivelled from the "sad plant corner" at the garden centre. Its in a semi shaded spot. Gets morning sun but shade after about 11am. Its now 3 foot high and covered in buds.

Only trim it back in spring as the frost's can can them if you do it too early. The old flower heads are left on all winter to protect them.

Other than a not very scientific spring haircut and lots of water they're a doddle!

Oh and I'm on heavy clay soil

They are very easy. They are happy in shade, but grow equally well in sun. They flop if they get too dry, especially when they are flowering, but they soon perk up when you water them. When once they start flowering they keep going until the first frosts. Leave the flower heads on the plants to protect the new shoots from spring frosts, you can cut the dead heads off in March or April.
Nothing seems to eat them!
They make good cut flowers, you can also dry the flowers, they look good in winter.
I bought a couple of bright pink mophead ones in Lidl for £5. They seem to be the easiest type to grow and are readily available in supermarkets,B&Q, etc. Garden centres cost more, but you'll have more choice.
Perennial geraniums are easy and make good ground cover plants round your hydrangeas which saves you weeding.

They like clay soil especially. I like hydrangea paniculata and also the white h. Annabelle. En masse they would look stunning.