Hydrangea Care
Watering
- For the first year or two after planting and during any drought, be sure hydrangeas get plenty of water.
- Water at a rate of 1 inch per week throughout the growing season. It’s better to deeply water 3 times a week than sprinkle water in a shallow manner. This encourages root growth.
- Bigleaf and smooth hydrangeas require more water, but all varieties benefit from consistent moisture.
- Leaves will wilt if the soil is too dry, and flowering will be hampered by a lack of water.
- Use a soaker hose to water deeply and keep moisture off the flowers and leaves.
- It’s best to water in the morning to prepare hydrangeas for the the heat of the day and to avoid disease.
- Add organic mulch underneath your hydrangeas to help keep the soil moist and cool, add nutrients over time, and improve soil texture.
Fertilizing
If your soil is rich, you may not need to fertilize hydrangeas. Too much fertilizer encourages leafy growth at the expense of blooms. The best way to determine your fertility needs is by using a soil test.
Apply fertilizer based on your specific hydrangeas. Each variety has different needs and will benefit from different application timing.
- Bigleaf hydrangeas can benefit from several light fertilizer applications in March, May and June.
- Oakleaf and panicle hydrangeas do best with two applications in April and June.
- Smooth hydrangea plants only need fertilization once, in late winter.
Winter protection
- In the fall, cover plants to a depth of at least 18 inches with bark mulch, leaves, pine needles, or straw in the fall. If at all possible, cover the entire plant, tip included, by making cages out of snow fencing or chicken wire, and loosely filling the cages with leaves. (Do not use maple leaves, as they tend to mat when wet and can suffocate the plant.)
How to Change the Color of Hydrangea Flowers
It is possible to change the flowers’ colors, but not instantly. Color correction takes weeks—even months. Wait until the plant is at least 2 years old to give it time to recover from the shock of its original planting. Also note that it’s easier to change blue flowers to pink than pink to blue.
It’s not every hydrangea that changes color. The color of some Bigleaf hydrangeas (H. macrophylla)—especially Mophead and Lacecap types—and H. serrata cultivars change color based on the soil pH.
Acidic soils with a pH of less than 5.5 produce blue flowers; soils with a pH greater than 5.5 produce pink flowers. White flowers are not affected by pH.
See How to Change the Color of Hydrangea Flowers for more information.

How to Prune a Hydrangea
Many of our readers’ questions involve pruning hydrangeas. And no wonder—it’s confusing, and all depends on the variety of hydrangea. Luckily, as long as you know which type you’ve got, it’s easy to figure out what sort of pruning technique to employ.
Learn the essentials below, then read more about how to prune hydrangea varieties here.
Hydrangea Type |
When to Prune |
Where Flowers Appear |
---|
Bigleaf (H. macrophylla) |
Summer, after flowering |
On old growth |
Oakleaf (H. quercifolia) |
Summer, after flowering |
On old growth |
Panicle (H. paniculata) |
Late winter, before spring growth |
On new growth |
Smooth (H. arborescens) |
Late winter, before spring growth |
On new growth |
Mountain (H. serrata) |
Summer, after flowering |
On old growth |
Climbing (H. anomala subsp. petiolaris) |
Summer, after flowering |
On old growth |
Pruning Common Hydrangeas
The most common garden hydrangea shrub is the Bigleaf variety, Hydrangea macrophylla. (See more below.)
Bigleaf (H. macrophylla), Oakleaf (H. quercifolia), Mountain (H. serrata), and Climbing hydrangeas (H. anomala subsp. petiolaris) are pruned AFTER the flowers fade in the summer. These varieties bloom on the previous season’s stems (“old wood”).
- Flower buds actually form in the late summer and flower afterwards the following season, so avoid pruning after August 1.
- Only cut away dead wood in the fall or very early spring.
- To prune, cut one or two of the oldest stems down to the base to encourage branching and fullness.
- If the plant is old, neglected, or damaged, prune all the stems down to the base. You’ll lose the flowers for the upcoming season, but also rejuvenate the plant for future years.
- It’s best not to deadhead (remove faded blooms) on the big Mopheads; leave them over the winter and cut them back in early spring (to the first healthy pair of buds). It’s fine to deadhead the Lacecaps; cut down to the second pair of leaves below the flower head.
- When growing H. macrophylla (and H. serrata) varieties in Zones 4 and 5, do not prune unless absolutely necessary, and then do so immediately after blooming. Otherwise, remove only dead stem in the spring.
Other Hydrangeas
Panicle (H. paniculata) and Smooth (H. arborescens) hydrangeas are pruned BEFORE flower buds are formed. These varieties bloom on the current season’s stems (“new wood”).
- Prune in the late winter when the plant is dormant. This means that if the buds are killed during the winter, the plant will produce new buds in the spring which will produce blooms.
- In general, prune only dead branches, and do not prune to “shape” the bush.
Read more about how to prune hydrangea types.
Reader Comments
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Which one to plant?
I live in MS and I am wanting to plant these in front of my new lake house. I am not sure when to plant or which ones to purchase to plant. Please help.
Hydrangea in the pot over the winter - PS
Thanks for your advice. Could I leave it in the large pot it's now in while keeping it on my sunny deck here in Williamsburg? I could bring it inside on cold nights and put it back out during the day. Seems a lot of work I know, but I would hate to lose the plant. I am a bit concerned it might not survive in the garage.
Hydrangea
Yes, you could bring it inside on cold nights and leave it out during the day. Keep in mind that in can be stressful on a plant to experience drastic temperature changes (cold to hot and hot to cold), so when you bring it inside keep it in a cool room.
Hydrangea in pot over the winter??
I took a beautiul hydrangea from VA to OH from my parent's yard after they passed away. It grew to be a huge plant but only bloomed once in 5 years. I learned the wrong zone may have been the cause. Now I am back in VA with the plant. The deer ate the plant down to the ground and now I have it in a pot on my deck. Once established again, can I overwinter it in my garage and bring it out each year? We are not allowed to keep fencing up around shrubs (against condo rules), so I fear trying to keep it in the ground. We are deer heaven here in Williamsburg. It is a cherished plant for me and I would hate to lose it. THANKS!
You can try overwintering it
You can try overwintering it in a garage. But a hydrangea that thrived in a winter environment might not thrive in a garage. Give it moisture throughout the season (it would get it outdoors; don’t deprive it). Or could you cover it with, say a wooden “sandwich board”? You see these protecting foundation plants from time to time—something that would deter deer. There are several reasons for lack of bloom, often too much or too little sun. We hope this helps.
Type of Hydrangea
I am moving into a home that has been in our family for at least 150 years. Early pictures of the house show hydrangeas planted all the way around the house. At present there is one plant left. It has large leaves and a huge mop head of dark blue flowers. Any idea what variety it is? Where I could find more like it or would my best bet be to start new plants from a cutting? If rooting, what is the process? I have seen my mother and grandmother take a cutting or just a leaf and grow a new plant.
mystery hydrangea
There is no way for us to know the particular variety of your hydrangea nor where to find one like it. Perhaps you will find notes or the like somewhere in the house! As for getting a match, there are hundreds to choose from these days and it’s likely that no one observing the property would know if you get “modern” replacements. But ask a local nursery person; they may know the heirloom varieties.
If you want more of the plant you have, here’s how to root it:
You can also try the ground layer method:
1. Select a branch (or several) close to the ground . Do not cut the branch off the mother plant.
2. Gently bend the branch down to touch the ground. Along the 5 to 6 inches of the branch where the branch, with at least one leaf node, will touch the ground, remove the leaves. Scrape a little of the bark off the underside of the branch in this area. Make sure at least one leaf node will be under the ground.
3. Dig a little trench about 2 inches deep and lower the branch into it and cover generously with soil (use potting soil if desired).
4. Put a brick or stone on the buried portion of branch so that it will stay under the soil. This also helps to hold the moisture around the branch.
5. Keep the buried branch wet but not soaked. When roots form, cut the branch from the mother plant and lift it to plant it in the garden.
We hope this helps!
type of hydrangea
Hello! I moved into a new house 2 years ago, so I inherited several plants from the previous owner. I am still learning about types of flowers and their care. I have a white hydrangea that grows on the old stems. According to the above, a smooth hydrangea should grow from new stems. Do you know what type mine may be then?
I have never pruned it and it has bloomed for the 2 summers I've lived here. Should I be pruning it?
Thank you.
Hydrangea Varieties
If your hydrangea has flowers similar to those of a smooth hydrangea, but doesn’t bloom on new stems, you likely have a bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla). This variety is capable of blooming on old and new stems. Pruning should be done after flowers fade. See our page on pruning different hydrangea varieties for more information.
what should i do about my potted hydrangeas that are wilted?
Hello, I got 4 different color hydrangeas from Kroger's grocery store. Ones, in a pot I bought got to get the others ones too. Just haven't yet. Well, I got two for 99cents cuz they were wilting and one blossom back up the other hasn't actually I got all the wilting buds off. Then one of mine that was 9.99 it fully wilted its no longer full it drooped completely. The soils are fully moistened im afraid they won't come back but hey I'm new to this. I wanted to start gardening but cannot transfer them to the ground yet. Not til me and my boyfriend move to a new place. Don't want the new tenants to enjoy my with cuz I've done that before and lost a lot of plants. Please someone help???
Potted florist Hydrangea
Potted florist hydrangea from a grocery store are not recommended for planting outdoors in the ground. They are not as hardy as the nursery cultivars.
However, you can still bring the pots outside until frost. When it comes to potted plants, keep them moist but don’t overwater which can lead to droopiness. If the soil is wet, let it dry out a bit before watering again. Also, weather that’s too hot can lead to droopiness so move the plants to a shaded area. If the plant remains wilted, it may have root rot and will not recover.
Usually, florist hydrangeas are considered short-term gift plants to be enjoyed and discarded. They are grown in a greenhouse for big showy flowers and the controlled forcing of flowers weakens the plant itself. If you wish to grow hydrangea outdoors, it’s best to purchase plants that are grown by a nursery for that purpose.
Hydrangeas
My plant is about 5 years old and no blooms how do I get it to bloom sgain
hydrangeas not blooming
Did you prune the hydrangea properly? When you prune depends on the type of hydrangea. Did you have a freeze back in the spring this year? This is another common reason for lack of blooms. Hope this advice helps!
Excellent website..... love azaleas
This is a beauty..... very informative!
Thanks!
Planting Hydrangeas hedge
I am in the foothills outside Asheville N.C. and want to plant a hydrangeas hedge about 50' long. The ground slopes down and away from the hedge down to a creek. It will have good morning sun and shaded afternoons. What type Hydrangea should I use and how do I go about planting the hedge? When, how, etc. Thanks from a newbie to plants.
tom
Planting a Hydrangea Hedge
The location you’ve picked out sounds like a great spot for a hydrangea hedge. The nearby creek should keep the ground moist but well-drained, while the mix of sun and shade will prevent the plants from being burned. The area around Asheville, NC, is a mix of Hardiness Zones 6 and 7, which means that most hydrangeas should do well for you. If you get a lot of sub-zero temperatures in winter, you may want to play it safe and choose a more cold-hardy variety, such as H. paniculata or H. arborescens. If your winter temperatures typically stay above zero, then you can safely add H. quercifolia and H. macrophylla to the mix. At this point, it mostly comes down to choosing which flower colors and style you like the best.
In regards to planting, it’s best to plant hydrangeas in the spring or fall. For directions on how to plant the shrubs, see the Planting section, above. Finally, you may wish to consult your local cooperative extension service, who can give you advice tailored more to your circumstances. Happy planting!
Are hydrangea deer resistant
Do deer stay away from this plant? Or would I be planting a lovely treat for them?
Deer-Resistant Hydrangeas?
Deer have been known to eat almost anything (or taste it at least once), so there is a risk that hydrangeas could be damaged. Some gardeners report that their hydrangeas get eaten to the ground by deer, while others see no damage at all. It will really depend on how hungry the deer is and if there’s anything tastier in the area. So, to answer your questions: No, deer do not stay away from hydrangeas, but they typically favor other garden plants over hydrangeas. Here’s a list of deer-resistant plants: http://www.almanac.com/content/deer-resistant-plants
Growth of plant
Good Morning. I have 2 plants that are about 5-6 years old,that were the same size and planted at the same time. They are approx. 3 feet apart. For the last 3-4 year one of them grows very well while the other does not grow much at all. Right now one is about 20"tall and 17" wide, full of blooms and healthy. The other is about 8" tall and 6" wide with a couple of small blooms. Any ideas as to why there is so much difference between the two plants? Thank You
hydrageans that do not bloom
I also have four hydrageans plants next to one another. I've had them for four years. We live in the Phila. area. Only one of them blooms, but only two flowers. I've heard that this plant blooms better when plant by itself. Any truth on this and what am I doing wrong? All were bought at garden centers.
Hydrangea Macrophylla Paris Rapa - Please Help
We have two of these in the front of our house next to one another. Both are two tears old. One blooms with quite a few flowers and the other is taller ( leafier) with healthy looking leaves and had one weak bloom which died off quickly, and nothing else. Same soil. Thanks
PLEASE HELP...??
My hydrangea (oak leaf, just planted this spring) accidentally got run over by the lawn mower, sliced it right to the ground. I'm sick about it. If I were to leave it (the roots) in the ground, is there any chance it will live to be a viable shrub? Should I dig it up a start over with a new plant?
Hydrangea
Hi Nick,
Hydrangea are hearty plants that will grow back when cut (even to the ground) during dormancy. However, a young, recently planted hydrangea like yours will not have as strong of a root system developed yet as a several year old plant would. Try waiting a while to see what happens during this summer: The plant might bounce back and start growing new shoots! If by next spring it’s still not doing well, plant another in its place. Good luck!
Hydrangea growth
I planted 5 hydrangea (mophead) last summer and they have not gotten any bigger than they were when I planted them. They died back over the winter and then came back, but have not continued to grow (they did bloom). They are in a shady spot of the yard and they have bloomed. Too much shade? Can they be transplanted?
Hydrangea Growth
Hi Karen,
Hydrangeas like some, but not full shade; it sounds like they could not be getting enough sun. You can transplant them, but wait until the fall to do it. Once all of the blooms have died and almost all of the leaves have dropped, transplant the hydrangeas into a slightly sunnier location with well-draining soil. Layer some compost around the base to give them an extra boost in the spring.
White blooms
I have a Harlequin macrophylla hydrangea that last year and this year had a few solid white blooms on one branch instead of the bicolor bloom that is normally seen. Is this a frequent occurrence? If the branch is rooted is it likely to continue to produce white blooms?
white hydrangea
When hydrangea flowers begin with a color and fade to white, it’s usually an older bloom and past its prime for pollination. However, you’re saying the flower was white from the very beginning? Our guess is that your plant was hybridized using a white blooming hydrangea with a pink/blue blooming hydrangea, and some of the plant is showing its original white. In this case, yes, it will stay white. White flowers can not be changed.
No blooms
My hydrangea never seem to bloom. We have healthy green leaves, but no flowers. We have one plant in the front of the house and one in the back. One gets full sun in the morning, one in the afternoon. Same problem with both plants :-(
hydrangeas have healthy foliage but no blooms
Do you know if you have lace cap or mophead hydrageas? The lace cap produce “flowers” that consist of teeny, tiny flowers surrounded (more or less) by substantially larger, usually four-petal flowers. Mopheads have the large balls of same-size flowers. If that’s not what you’re dealing with, we can only suggest this: It could be as simple as too much shade or too much sun. It could be too much fertilizer, esp high nitrogen fertilizer, which will result in beautiful foliage but few if any flowers. It could be too much moisture—or too little moisture. And, how is the pH of the soil?? Have they got enough compost? Also, the blooming of hydrangeas is affected by how they have been pruned, which depends on the type of hydrangea. Some bloom on second-year wood, others on the current year’s growth.
hydrangea
Lots of blooms, But they are all Bright Green. Is that the nature of the beast? I have never seen one like this I live in British Columbia. It is planted with a group of Hostas.Any suggestions to turn this to Blue?
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