Anyway one of the things they planted was "Nikko Blue Hydrangeas", 3 of them. I really am not good with plants and I've been going on line trying to understand how the heck to care for these plants, especially pruning them.
If there's anyone out here reading this that know's how to care for these plants.......please answer my question. But do it in such a way as ofI was 5 years old, so I can really understand it. If I knew someone that had a hydrangea it would be alot easier for me to just watch and see what there doing as for prunning ect. But unfortunatly I don't.
Thank you for any and all help. I'll be gratefull. I know these are beautiful plants and worth the time and effort!
Please I don't have a green thumb and need to know?
All of the previous answers provide good, sound advice.
I can add just a few things
In my experience Hydrangeas like fertile, well drained soil. They will grow in heavy soil, but not as well.
You don't say what part of the country you are in, but if you are in the warmer portions of the country you should not plant hydrangeas in full sun. They prefer partially shaded areas, and like constant watering. When they are in dry soil they wither and blooms fade quickly.
You can change the color of the blooms using fertilizer. Making the soil acidic produces blue flowers while making it base produces pink flowers. You can even produce different color blooms on the same plant by applying different fertilizers to each side of the plant.
In addition to a beautiful and colorful show while blooming another thing I really like about hydrangeas is how easy the flowers are to dry and use a s a colorful display inside all winter. My wife picks the hardest blooms just at the end of their blooming cycle and air drys them. They turn a beautiful soft pink-lavender and brighten any room all winter.
You have made a great plant choice.
Reply:Hi - can you be more specific about what is wrong with your hydrangea? They are actually really easy plants to care for. They like a slow release fertilizer and at least half of the day in sunshine. 100% shade could cause some damage.
Reply:The basic rule of thumb with pruning is to prune right after flowering. Since Nikko Blues flower in later summer, prune in August.
Prune by cutting back flowering stems to a pair of healthy buds, they will be opposite one another on the stem. In winter or early spring before leaf out, prune out weak or winter-damaged stems to the ground or to where they attach to stronger stems. Be careful not to overprune in this winter pruning least you remove too much good wood that wants to flower come summer. This is a sanitary prune, to remove old, dead, weak stuff.
Reply:You should study pruning techniques - get some books at the library - because there is really no way anyone can tell you how to prune in the format we have here. Nikko Blue blooms on last year's growth. There is no need to prune it for size unless it gets out of control, which it shouldn't. Some experts suggest leaving the flowers on until spring, thinking that this helps to protect the tender buds over the winter. Others advocate pruning the old flowers off once they have bloomed. Whichever way you go, this is really all you should have to do. Just make sure you don't cut into anything that looks like a bud and you should be all right.
Reply:I have had a beautiful hydrangea growing at my back door, for like 8 years (a guess) I have never pruned it, it just keeps on growing and flowering and I leave it alone. It did take it a few years to get established and start blooming but It is very happy where it is.
Reply:I have some very beautiful hydrangeas, blue. My experience has been that these plants are self aligning as to uniformity and have never needed to prune them, they are now several years old. Have you considered justing leaving them to see if they get out of hand. They are quite a large bush and if that is the problem perhaps a minature variety is available.
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