Planting Hydrangeas in Fall
One of the best times to plant hydrangeas is in the fall - this gives time for the roots to get established before any harsh weather sets in.
My gardeners and outdoor grounds crew have been planting a lot of hydrangeas over the last week - outside my peafowl pen and horse paddock, and around my half-acre vegetable garden. Hydrangeas are popular ornamental plants grown for their large flower heads, which are excellent in cut arrangements and for drying. These flowering plants are from the First Editions and Endless Summer Collections by Bailey Nurseries. There is still time to get plants in the ground this weekend - happy gardening.
Enjoy these photos.
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- My farm sits on 153 acres of gardens, pastures, and woodlands. I am constantly thinking of places to add beautiful and interesting plants. This walkway between the fenced areas will look great with a row of hydrangeas.
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- Before planting, one foot wide strips of sod are removed from the fenced area surrounding my large vegetable garden.
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- The Little Hottie® panicle hydrangeas are lined up perfectly and spaced evenly. These plants are about two feet apart, which will allow branches to grow together and create a nice hedge.
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- Hydrangea leaves are opposite, simple, stalked, pinnate, and four to eight inches long.
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- Chhiring digs a hole appropriately sized for the potted plant. The rule of thumb in gardening is to make a hole two to three times wider than the original pot and slightly deeper.
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- Chhiring sprinkles fertilizer into the hole and mixes it with the existing and surrounding soil.
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- Miracle-Gro Shake ‘n Feed provides food for up to three months and is specially formulated to help plants maintain lush foliage and colorful blooms.
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- As with any plant, the root ball is teased on all the sides and the bottom to stimulate growth.
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- In the ground, the plant should sit at the same depth it was in the pot.
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- Now that it is fall, these hydrangeas flowers are beginning to fade, but they’re all in excellent condition and ready to be planted.
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- This plant is given a thorough watering before it is backfilled.
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- Along the fence on the south side of the garden I planted White Diamonds hydrangeas. White Diamonds® is an exceptional midsize hydrangea with glistening open white panicles that fade to parchment and pink.
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- I decided to put these BloomStruck® Bigleaf Hydrangeas outside the peafowl and goose enclosure. Two other sides of this large pen are already planted with the same variety.
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- These mophead blooms measure three to five inches across. They bloom in rose-pink or violet blue, depending on pH of the soil.
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- Hydrangeas are long-lived, and extremely vigorous specimens that offer lavish and varied blooms. They thrive best in partial shade with four to six hours of direct sunlight daily.
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- The Endless Summer Original Hydrangea is a popular, cold-hardy shrub known for its vibrant blooms that can also change color based on soil pH. A selection of these is across from the bird pen.
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- Here, these newly planted hydrangeas are given another good drink of water. I always say, “if you drank today, so should your plants.”
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- It’s always important to do research before planting. Make sure to consider the plant’s mature size and light needs when selecting a space. And remember, perennials grow slowly the first year, faster the second year, and then usually reach full size in the third year. There’s still time to plant your garden!
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