Over Hydrangeas, What Can Grow?

Hydrangeas are easy-to-grow shrubs with various varieties and colors of blooms. They prefer full sun to part shade locations, but can only handle hot, full sunshine if the soil is consistently moist. To grow hydrangeas, dig in additional compost and cow manure at planting and add water-retaining crystals to the soil as you backfill. Ferns are also a great companion plant for hydrangeas, preferring partial shade and rich, moist soils.

To choose the best hydrangea companion plants, consider Hostas, Daylilies, Gardenia, Coneflower, Pieris japonica, and Conifers. Hydrangeas thrive in fairly moist soil, so bulk up light soil with moisture-retaining organic matter like well-rotted manure. They grow on most soils and thrive on heavy clay, making them ideal for new-build gardens and wet, compacted soils.

To grow hydrangeas as a hedge, choose panicle, smooth, or oakleaf hydrangea, which also offers good fall leaf color. Ohio gardeners can select hydrangeas based on their ability to attract pollinators, plant maintenance needs, and site requirements. Hydrangeas can be grown in large pots or planters with good drainage, and it is essential to fill the pot or planter with water.

In summary, hydrangeas are easy-to-grow shrubs with various varieties and colors of blooms. To ensure successful growth, choose the right plants, such as Hostas, Daylilies, Gardenia, Coneflower, Pieris japonica, and Conifers, and follow the RHS expert guide on choosing, planting, feeding, pruning, and propagating plants.

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 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 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 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 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.

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.

Should I put coffee grounds around my hydrangeas?

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.

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.

What is the best way to cover hydrangeas?

A DIY hydrangea winter protection cage can be created using chicken wire and stakes. The cage is built larger than the plant and filled with leaves, straw, and pine needles to prevent damage to the sleeping buds. Insulating the cage may be done using bubble wrap or other materials, and the internal packing materials will settle during winter. A cover is often used to protect the cage from heavy snow and rain. A slightly larger piece of Styrofoam can be used, fitted above the cage with a slight overlap, and secured to the chicken wire with twisties or bungee cords.

Plywood or scrap lumber can also be used for the cover. If heavy materials are too heavy, an extra supply of bagged leaves can be kept for occasional toppings. This winter preparation method ensures the safety and health of your hydrangea plant.

Will hydrangeas multiply?

Hydrangeas, commonly sold as well-developed plants in pots, can be propagated for a fraction of the cost of nursery hydrangeas, which can cost between $25 to $50. By taking stem cuttings and rooting them, you can potentially save hundreds of dollars on propagation. Hydrangeas are particularly suitable for this method, as they grow quickly and can become mature flowering shrubs within a year. They provide a lush feel to your yard and are synonymous with summer on the East Coast, evoking an elegant, laid-back energy. With a little effort, you can fill your green space with these stunning, multi-flowered blooms in shades of pink, white, red, purple, and blue.