Hydrangea Macrophylla Planting Instructions

Where to Plant

• Hydrangea macrophylla plants are a little picky about where they want to grow, so choose the location of new plantings carefully. Hydrangea macrophylla thrives best in morning sun and afternoon shade, so choose a partially shaded area of the lawn to place the shrubs. You also want to be sure to place hydrangea macrophylla in rich, moist soil, so choose an area of the lawn that gets plenty of water from rain and sprinklers.

Fertilizing

• Hydrangea macrophylla plants should be regularly fertilized in order to stay healthy and happy. Regular spring and summer fertilization (generally May and August) gives plants plenty of nutrients, keeping the soil rich. Choose a slow-release fertilizer, spreading it in a circle around the plant (don't touch the trunk). Wilted, brown hydrangea macrophylla should not be fertilized.

Planting Instructions

• Ready-to-plant hydrangea macrophylla will come in large root balls from the nursery. The hole you will dig to plant the hydrangea macrophylla should be twice as wide and deep as the root ball itself.

  Loosen up the soil in the hole, spread a 1-inch layer of compost over the surface and place the root ball inside. The root ball should be as deep into the ground as it was in its original pot, so notice the depth when you remove the ball for planting. Refill the hole around the roots, gently pack down the soil and water the area thoroughly. It's best to plant hydrangea macrophylla in early fall.

Customizing

• A versatile landscaping shrub, hydrangea macrophylla grows beautiful blossoms of varying color. To create new colors for your plants, simply change the pH balance of the soil. A little aluminum sulfate in the soil will turn flowers bluer in color, while lime will make them pink in hue. Color-changing soil additives need to be added two to three times during the growing season to have full effect.

  Create larger hydrangea macrophylla blossoms by pruning the plant, reducing the shrub to half its original stems. You can achieve smaller, more plentiful blossoms by pinching off tips of new growth before they begin to bud.