Is It Appropriate To Put Azaleas In Between Hydrangeas?

Azaleas and hydrangeas are two popular flowering shrubs known for their beautiful and vibrant blooms. They share many of the same growing conditions but start flowering slightly earlier than hydrangeas. Azaleas can be planted alongside hydrangeas to create a thick border of showy shrubs in your garden. French hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla) are excellent companion plants for azaleas to create a thick border of showy shrubs in your garden.

Azaleas and rhododendrons are compatible with each other because they all have the same growing conditions, like some shade, slightly acidic well-draining soil. Azaleas and rhododendrons bloom in the spring, providing a long season of flowers in your garden. Azaleas need acidic soil with a pH of 4.5 to 6.0, so planting them together in the same soil will result in a longer bloom season for both plants.

To properly space and site both types of plants, it is essential to plant them in half peat and half native soil. Azaleas should be spaced about 3 to 4 feet apart, depending on the variety, while larger hydrangeas may require 4 to 6 feet of space between them.

In summary, hydrangeas and azaleas are two popular flowering shrubs with distinct differences. Azaleas and hydrangeas share similar growing conditions, but they need different soil types and spacing to thrive. Proper spacing and planting can enhance the beauty and longevity of these plants in your garden.

Are coffee grounds bad for hydrangeas?

Coffee is acidic and beneficial for acid-loving plants like hydrangeas and roses, but should be used in moderation. Coffee grounds repel slugs and can be used around hostas, but results are not guaranteed. Caffeine in coffee grounds may restrict growth of certain plants, such as tomatoes, and inhibit seedling germination. Most caffeine is transferred to the drink during brewing, but some may remain, affecting the growth of certain plants.

Where is the best place to plant azaleas?

Rhododendrons and Azaleas thrive in partial shade or filtered sunlight, with at least four hours of direct sunlight per day. They prefer acidic soil with a pH range of 4. 5 to 6. 0, well-draining, and rich in organic matter. Adding peat moss, compost, or well-aged manure can improve drainage and fertility. Avoid planting in heavy clay soil, as it can lead to poor drainage and root rot. If you have alkaline soil, grow Rhododendrons as container plants, as reducing soil pH is difficult. Rhododendrons thrive in moist, non-waterlogged soils, and do not tolerate drought or wet soils.

What is the best landscaping with hydrangeas?

Hydrangeas are a beautiful garden plant that can be complemented by various plants such as annuals, ornamental grasses, hostas, ferns, evergreens, and small-to-medium-sized trees. To create a dreamy summer entry, water them at the base or roots with drip irrigation or soaker hoses. Overhead watering can cause diseases like Cercospora leaf spot. To achieve a bold, blue hue, work coffee grounds into the soil around your hydrangeas in late fall, months ahead of the blooming season. Repeat this application two to three times a year. This will help achieve your garden goals and ensure your hydrangeas thrive in the long run.

What is the best ground cover for hydrangeas?

This guide explores the world of hydrangeas, a popular garden plant known for its vibrant colors and diverse textures. It provides insights into successful hydrangea companion planting, focusing on the right plants for different garden conditions. Blue Fescue, an ornamental grass with striking blue foliage, is an excellent choice for adding color contrast at the base of hydrangeas. The guide also provides insights into creating a visually appealing and ecologically balanced garden.

What is the best plant to go with hydrangeas?

Astilbe, a low-maintenance plant, pairs well with hydrangeas that prefer shade due to their feathery plumes and fern-like foliage. They are easy to grow, low-maintenance, and deer and rabbit resistant. Astilbe, like hydrangeas, brightens up gardens with limited sun. It grows to 6 to 24 inches tall and 6 to 60 inches wide, and requires partial to full sun and loamy, moist soil. Anise hyssop, also known as hummingbird mint, pairs well with hydrangeas due to its attractive pollinators and deterrent properties. Its tall, sturdy stems and dense spikes of small, tubular, bright blue flowers make it one of the hardiest and longest-blooming flowering plants.

What not to plant next to hydrangeas?

Lavender, a Mediterranean plant, is sensitive to soil moisture, humidity, and sun, preferring dry, rocky, sandy conditions. Its unhappy condition can cause it to turn yellow, brown, and snap off its stem. Daffodils can be toxic to other plants due to their secreted substance. Marigolds, while a great companion plant for many herbs and vegetables, do not like hydrangeas. They prefer sun and prefer their feet in drier conditions, and if placed in moist ground, they will droop, turn yellow, and eventually die.

What is best to put around hydrangeas?

Mulching is essential for protecting and insulate hydrangeas during colder days and nights, keeping moisture in and weeds out. Even snow acts as a natural insulator for hydrangeas. Applying chunky mulch around the base of the plant gives them the best chance at success. Decorative mulch, straw, marsh hay, or fallen leaves are helpful. In colder climates, marginally hardy hydrangeas, such as the mop head/big leaf hydrangea variety, can be wrapped or completely covered.

Hardier hydrangeas don’t need extra winter protection, but extreme cold can cause die-back of branches. If a colder than normal winter is predicted, consider covering them. For more information on hydrangeas and other outdoor plants, visit Joe’s Market Basket or call them at their locations in Edwardsville, Godfrey, Troy, O’Fallon, and St. Peters, Missouri.

Are egg shells good for hydrangeas?

Egg shells can be used as a natural fertilizer for vegetables, roses, hydrangeas, spider plants, ferns, and ivy. They can be crushed and sprinkled over containers or garden borders during winter months, or added directly into planting holes. This homemade fertiliser is beneficial for growing vegetables like tomato, pepper, aubergine, roses, hydrangeas, spider plants, ferns, and ivy. A calcium solution can be made by finely crushing egg shells, transforming them into water-soluble calcium that can be easily absorbed by the plant’s root system.

Egg shells can also serve as a pest deterrent, acting as shards of glass around plants where critters gather. They are also believed to deter cabbage white butterflies and cats from using garden beds as litter trays. Overall, egg shells offer a versatile and effective solution for maintaining healthy and thriving plants.

How to make a hydrangea blue?

Coffee grounds can be used to change the color of hydrangeas, but it’s best to use aluminum sulfate for a proven flower color change. Crushed eggshells may work, but they should be used with a proven method of raising the pH, like applying garden lime. Vinegar can be added to watering cans to change soil acidity and turn hydrangeas blue, but it’s not a long-term solution and can be harmful to local wildlife.

What to put around azaleas?

To grow azaleas, plant them in areas with partial sun or eastern or northern facing views. Improve poor soil by adding compost, oak leaves, or pine bark. Loosen the roots before planting and set them slightly above grade. Soak the soil after planting and cover the surrounding ground with bark mulch. Keep young roots damp but not soggy. Regular watering is crucial in the first two to three years, especially in dry autumns.

Soak azaleas just before the ground freezes, especially evergreen varieties that lose moisture through leaves all winter. If planting a borderline-hardy variety or in windy sites, erect burlap barriers to protect them from cold, drying winds.

What to arrange with hydrangeas?

Frances Schultz prefers garden arrangements with a mix of intentional and unfinished flowers. In St. Simons Island, Judy and Jack Powell’s home features a potting shed filled with hydrangeas, snap dragons, belles of Ireland, lotus, and curly willow. In Heather Dewberry Stoller’s dining room, Jimmie Henslee arranged three jars of hydrangeas, clematis, dusty miller, and other flowers, dressing the dining table with white ceramic birds and dolphins. These arrangements are part of a midsummer’s eve celebration from Susan Sully’s book, Southern Hospitality at Home: The Art of Gracious Living.