Martha Stewart Hydrangeas
If you are looking for a low-maintenance shrub that will still look stunning, consider a variety of Martha Stewart hydrangeas. These shrubs require very little water and are relatively trouble-free. They do need to be protected from hot afternoon sun, but they are very low-maintenance plants. Read on to discover how to grow this popular plant. You will be glad you did!
You can change the colour of your hydrangeas by raising or lowering the soil’s pH level. You can do this by adding lime or bluing agents made from aluminum sulphate or other acidic organic matter. While these methods are widely accepted, Bolduan’s method involves using the acidity from apples to modify soil pH. This method is not recommended for most climate zones, but it does work well in milder regions.
The best time to plant hydrangeas is late summer and early autumn. After the flowers have faded, they can be refreshed by deadheading. You can also fertilize the plants again in the spring or early summer. During hot weather, the foliage may need extra watering. During this time, you should water the hydrangeas regularly. During winter months, you can add a layer of mulch to protect them.
If you have a sunny location, you can grow hydrangeas anywhere. Climbing hydrangeas do best in partial shade to full sun. They do well in USDA plant hardiness zones four through eight. To plant a climbing hydrangea, make sure you dig a hole two feet from the base of the tree, loosen the soil to six inches deeper than the pot’s height, and add a time-release fertilizer.
The pH level of the soil is important for hydrangeas. Acidic soils produce deep blue flowers, while alkaline soils produce bright pinks. To determine your soil’s pH level, purchase a pH-testing kit at a local nursery. If your soil pH is too high or too low, add peat moss, sulfur, or lime before planting the plants.
After planting your hydrangeas, ensure that you plant a tree in the shade. This will provide both the plants with shade and branches to create a beautiful arrangement. If you don’t have a shaded area, consider planting an Autumn Revelation maple instead. It will provide the same benefits as the hydrangeas but with more branches and blossoms. Then cover them with shade cloth (75 percent).
For a beautiful display of flowers, prune your hydrangeas regularly. Pruning your hydrangeas will create a long-lasting flower display. Hydrangeas should be pruned when their flowers have faded. To achieve a long-lasting bloom, prune off one-third of the older stems to promote new growth. Once a plant reaches maturity, it will start to grow again.
In 1991, Martha Stewart discovered hydrangeas at a San Francisco Flower Mart. They were almost out of style, and a chance meeting with Stewart made them an instant success. The owner of Green Valley Growers, Jerry Bolduan, didn’t know Stewart was a shopper, but a fellow employee told him to pay attention to the lady. Stewart wrote an exquisite spread about his hydrangeas and the plant has become an icon for the garden. The hydrangeas range from delicate lacecaps to big, puffy balls of color.
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