I would like to know how to care for my vintagehydrangea?
Because hydrangeas are broken up by different species such as macrophylla, serrata and paniculata etc? and each has slightly different cultural requirements, I have listed them separately below.
Macrophylla
Often referred to as mopheads this species of hydrangea contain some lacecaps as well. In the northern part of the U.S. where the seasons are shorter and the summers not quite as hot, a lot of varieties will tolerate lots of sun with many varieties doing rather well in the full sun. I always recommend using an irrigation system of some sort. This will make the difference between hydrangeas that struggle during mid summer and hydrangeas that are lush and produce many flowers year after year. The ideal situation for a hydrangea is in full morning sun and some degree of afternoon shade. It is almost a catch 22 as the more sun a hydrangea is exposed to, the better it flowers and overwinters. On the other side of the coin, the sunnier the spot, the quicker the flowers fade. A happy medium must be met for optmum performance while prolonging the flower life. I am really being very technical and straying from these guidelines a bit will still get you excellent results. Avoid deep shade anywhere in the country as this will cause a declining number of flowers over the years to the point where you may get a few to none at all. There is simply not enough energy from the sun to produce enough stored energy for flower production. I suggest 3 hours of direct sunlight per day as a minimum. For southern gardens The afternoon shade becomes necessary. Even the toughest, sun tolerant macrophylla hydrangea will not withstand the intense heat of a hot Atlanta afternoon. A location which is bright and emits filtered all day sun through tall shade trees is acceptable in the south. This will also work in the north as long as the location is truly bright. Avoid open field winds (north or south) as high winds beat up hydrangeas and always seem to give bad results. Also avoid salt spray. If you are on or near the ocean, salt spray will burn your hydrangeas in no time. Just back from the spray of the ocean is ideal for hydrangeas due to the high moisture content in the air.
Paniculata grandiflora or Pee Gee hydrangea and hydrangea arborescens
Generally, pee gees and arborescens can tolerate much more sun than macrophyllas and serratas. In the north full sun is actually advised for best results. In the south light afternoon shade Is strongly suggested. The fertilizing is the same as above. A slow release feed that is even such as 10-10-10 is fine. The irrigation requirements for pee gees will not be as demanding as it is for the other species of hydrangea. While you will still need to baby your newly planted pee gee or arborescens, once established the more mature shrub will only need extra water in times of drought and intense heat. Soil requirements are the same for all hydrangeas. Ocean air can burn the foliage and flowers if overexposed. I don't have the magic number as far as distance goes but I do know that many of the waterfront homes in my area can't plant on the ocean side of the house with any real success.
Serrata
This species of hydrangea can't tolerate intense afternoon sun. If watered correctly you can get away with more sun but only in the north. Serrata will burn to a crisp in the southern gardens when exposed to afternoon sun. All of the above requirements apply to serrata.
Quercifolia (oakleaf)
Oakleafs do well in the north in either full sun or part shade. My understanding is that they tolerate the heat of the south very well. Since they are native to the southeastern U.S. I guess that only makes sence. Much like the pee gee and arborescens, the oakleaf does not require as much irrigation as the macrophyllas and serratas do. I have read many articles about the shade tolerance of quercifolia however, my own experience is that deep shade leads to less and smaller flowers. The happy medium is full morning sun and some degree of afternoon shade.
Involucrata and aspera
Treat the soft and tender leaves of involucrata and aspera as you would serrata. All cultural requirements are the same as serrata.
Anomala petiolaris (The climber)
Plant your climber on a wall or fence where it will receive morning sun and afternoon shade. Filtered sun light all day is fine. While this species tolerates a fair amount of sun, it will burn in intense afternoon sun. An east facing wall is ideal. The irrigation requirements are not as demanding as other hydrangeas except for right after planting.
The following guidelines are true for all hydrangeas
1. Hydrangeas of any species should be planted in the spring time after the fear of last frost or in the fall well before the night time temperatures flirt with 32 degrees. If planting in the fall you should avoid high doses of fertilizer as you do not want soft growth while entering into winter. You are best off using a water soluble fertilizer at ? strength and only apply it twice after fall planting. Planting of hydrangeas should be done 45-60 days before the first expected freeze.
2. The soil should be rich in organic matter and drain well. Avoid planting in highly sandy soils and heavy clay soil. Amend the sandy soil with aged compost and only plant on or near clay if the water will drain away.
3. Feed your hydrangeas! Hydrangeas are greedy plants and do best when fed enough during the early to middle part of the growing season. I suggest a slow release fertilizer such as Osmocote slow release with minors. An N-P-K ratio of 10-10-10 is fine. This feed can be purchased through my website or at home depot for roughly $5.00 per pound. Aged manure is excellent for adjusting your soil but has a very small kick as far as the N-P-K requirements are concerned. Using aged manure (fresh manure will burn plants) in combination with a slow release fertilizer is ideal if your soil is poor to begin with.
4. I can't state enough the importance of regular irrigation both after planting and 5 years later even after the hydrangea is established. Newly planted hydrangeas should be watered well once a day if planted in a shadier spot and twice a day if planted in more sun for the first two to three weeks. Really babying them pays off. Established plants really shine if pampered with regular irrigation. I have my display garden on a daily watering cycle for the first half of the growing season and every third day after the heat of August has passed. I stop irrigating and let nature take over in early September.
Reply:Hydrangeas like full sun, weekly watering, and feeding in the fall. If your hydrangea starts looking pale, you can feed it plant food with iron, and that will make the colors brilliant again.
Reply:Congratulations on your choice.
Go to this website:http://www.helpfulgardener.com/hydrangea...
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