When To Fertilize Hydrangeas And How Often?

When planting a hydrangea, there is no need to add additional fertilizer as the soil it grows in usually contains sufficient slow-release fertilizer. To ensure healthy growth and beautiful blooms, start fertilizing your hydrangeas in the spring when soil temperatures begin to rise. Fast-release fertilizers can be applied monthly from spring onwards until flowering. Choose a balanced slow-release fertilizer with a ratio of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) that is just before or right as they are coming out of dormancy in late winter or early spring.

For optimal growth, bloom production, and quality, fertilize three times: in early spring when plants are just leafing out, in early May to boost their flower production for summer, and in late June/early July to help your plants finish the summer strong. All these types should be fertilized at least once a season in late winter or early spring, certainly by the time new growth begins to show. Hydrangeas can get their annual feeding (if at all) next spring.

The best fertilizer for hydrangeas is rose food or any granulated fertilizer. If using a slow-release fertilizer, apply it twice annually – once in spring and then again in the summer. This method should only be used twice a year, once in April and once in May. When it comes to brightening the pink flowers on your hydrangeas, lightly dress them with fast-release fertilizer in March, May, and July.

Hydrantians only need fertilizer a few times a year, so use this guide to help you choose the best fertilizer for your hydrangeas. The simplest practice is a single annual fertilizer application just after spring pruning time, typically mid-April, early May.

What is the best time to fertilize hydrangeas?

It is recommended that fertilization of hydrangea shrubs be conducted during the early spring season, coinciding with the initial emergence of foliage. One straightforward method for providing plants with an early-season boost is the addition of compost around their base.

Is 20-20-20 fertilizer good for hydrangeas?

Liquid fertilizers like Miracle Gro should be applied to the plant three or four times per year, starting in late April and ending in mid-July. Stake type fertilizers can be used according to the package’s directions, and organic fertilizers like manure can also be used. The plant grows best in acidic soil, which is most of the soil, rainwater, and groundwater in southeastern Wisconsin is basic or alkaline. To ensure the plant’s growth, amend the soil to make it more acidic and increase the amount of organic matter.

Over time, supplement the soil’s acidity with soil sulfur, aluminum sulfate, or cotton seed meal. Mulch is also important for acid-loving plants, with a 3-4″ thickness of bark or needle mulch surrounding the plant.

To protect the hydrangea from rabbits and cold, tie up the plant, encircle it with a cylinder of hardware cloth 18-24″ high, work the bottom into the soil, fill with straw or loosely packed leaves, and remove it in mid-April. If this is not possible, mulch in fall with 4″ of compost or mulch.

Do hydrangeas like coffee grounds?

To change the color of hydrangeas, start by adding coffee grounds to the soil around them in late fall. Work the grounds into the soil to eliminate any off-putting smell and do this two to three times per year. It will take time to turn hydrangeas blue, especially for new baby hydrangeas that may not bloom for a couple of years. Start adding coffee grounds months before the blooming season begins, ideally in late fall. Repeat the process with your regular fertilizing schedule. With a little caffeine and patience, your hydrangeas should reward your efforts with bold blue globes in the spring.

How do you get endless summer hydrangeas to rebloom?

To achieve the promised endless blooms of hydrangeas, maintain soil moisture and fertilize once in spring or early summer. Overwatering and over-fertilization can decrease bloom production. Pruning to the base may take time for new growth to appear. ‘Endless Summer’ doesn’t need to be cut back to its base, as it blooms on both old and new growth. In hot climates, provide a few hours of morning sun and ensure afternoon shade, while full sun is good in colder climates. However, late spring frosts and cool summer temperatures can hinder flower production, making ‘Endless Summer’ not the panacea Northerners were hoping for.

How to make hydrangeas pink naturally?

The optimal pH range for pink hydrangeas is approximately six, which is less acidic and more alkaline. To reduce the acidity of the soil, it is recommended to spread wood ashes or limestone over the surface and incorporate them into the soil using a hoe or tiller. Oakleaf and panicle hydrangeas, which produce white flowers that gradually transition to pink and red hues as the season progresses, are particularly well-suited for cultivation.

Should I cut dead blooms off endless summer hydrangea?

The practice of deadheading not only facilitates the emergence of new flowers, which may exhibit striking ball blooms and vibrant autumn colors, but also encourages the plant’s overall health and growth.

How to turn hydrangeas blue quickly?

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.

Will vinegar turn hydrangeas pink?

The application of distilled white vinegar has been demonstrated to effectively reduce soil pH levels and induce the characteristic pink hue observed in hydrangea flowers.

What is the best fertilizer for endless summer hydrangeas?

Hydrangea bushes thrive with a granular, slow-release fertilizer with a NPK ratio of 10-30-10. If the specific ratio isn’t available, consult a local nursery for a fertilizer with a high phosphorus concentration. If you want a big, beautiful blue hydrangea bush, adjust the pH level of your soil to create an acidic soil situation. To encourage blue blooms in alkaline soils, add aluminum sulfate, composted oak leaves, pine needles, or coffee grounds. This will help create an acidic soil environment that encourages bloom growth.

What to fertilize hydrangeas with?

Organic, slow-release fertilizers for roses and hydrangeas are suitable for increasing the size and quantity of their blooms. Rose fertilizers, such as 15-10-10 or 10-5-5, provide the necessary nutrients for healthy growth, while hydrangeas require balanced fertilizers with a 10-10-10 ratio for healthy growth.

Growers often ask if they need to purchase different types of fertilizer for multiple hydrangea types. The answer is no, as the same type of fertilizer can be used for all types. However, adjustments may be needed if enhancing or changing the color of specific hydrangea blooms.

However, some types of fertilizer can cause harm, and Natalie Carmolli of Proven Winners® ColorChoice® Flowering Shrubs advises against using acidic fertilizers.