I don't have a green thumb. Hydrangeas?

steph196

We are finishing up the landscaping in our front yard and I have a perfect spot for 2-3 hydrangeas. I do not have a green thumb, so is it crazy to try to plant them? I have heard they aren't the easiest plants to take care of.

nitaw

Be sure to amend the soil, I don't think they do well in heavy clay. For the most part, they aren't hard to take care of. What I've found is that the do NOT do well in full afternoon sun. I made the mistake of planting a variety that could take full sun and put it in my front yard. My front yard gets full afternoon sun and it's a southwestern exposure. My hydrangea died on me because it had been fried to a crisp. Also, be sure to water it if you don't get enough rain. The plant will let you know when it needs water because it will look droopy.

I had a beautiful, established hydrangea at my old house, and outside of watering it, that was all I ever did.

cubbymedium

nitaw:

Be sure to amend the soil, I don't think they do well in heavy clay. For the most part, they aren't hard to take care of. What I've found is that the do NOT do well in full afternoon sun. I made the mistake of planting a variety that could take full sun and put it in my front yard. My front yard gets full afternoon sun and it's a southwestern exposure. My hydrangea died on me because it had been fried to a crisp. Also, be sure to water it if you don't get enough rain. The plant will let you know when it needs water because it will look droopy.

I had a beautiful, established hydrangea at my old house, and outside of watering it, that was all I ever did.

I agree with making sure it doesn't get dried out. It was really hot and dry for about 2 weeks last summer, and it fried a lot of my blooms. As for amending the soil, I can't speak from experience about how/what to do because the plant was already here when we bought the house. 

kylara111

Hydrangeas do best in shade.  Plant them in sun and they're going to look wilted and possibly die if you really don't have a green thumb to coddle them.  As the PP said, they like well drained soil and they are very thirsty when its very hot. 

I'm surprised that you've heard that they're hard to care for.  There are hydrangeas in front of one house in my neighborhood that are completely neglected and they look beautiful all summer nonetheless.  If you plant them in the right spot and water them well, they are a piece of cake especially once they become established. 

steph196

Great! Thanks ladies! I have a shady spot (they will get just a teeny bit of morning sun) that I think will work well. I am crossing my fingers that they work for me! My husband does all of the yard work and he told me that if I want hydrangeas, than I have to take care of them!

sammy1856

I've had good success with my hydrangeas that only get am sun.  They have full shade in the afternoon.  They get watered through the sprinkler system, I've read blogs about the right time to cut them back that will also help them reach their peak.

FoxinFiji

steph196:

Great! Thanks ladies! I have a shady spot (they will get just a teeny bit of morning sun) that I think will work well. I am crossing my fingers that they work for me! My husband does all of the yard work and he told me that if I want hydrangeas, than I have to take care of them!

That should work well.  In full shade they have less blooms than partial shade but that's beyond your control. 

hollymichael

I have found hydrangeas to be pretty easy. I really don't do much at all other than to make sure they get plenty of water. Also, they wilt when they need water so it is easy to tell when you need to water them.