Annual Reminder to Fertilize Your Hydrangeas
Want your hydrangeas to look like mine in the picture below? Then read on!
Want bigger, brighter hydrangea blooms this summer? It’s all about when and how you fertilize and knowing your variety.
Let’s break it down by variety:
- Bigleaf (Mophead or Lacecap) – These are color-shifters. Acidic soil (low pH) + aluminum sulfate = stunning blue blooms. Alkaline soil = pink blooms. I use JR Peter’s Jack’s Classic Hydrangea Blue available at Walmart using this affiliate link. It contains the nutrients your plant needs and the aluminum sulfate to make the flowers blue.
- Panicle – Cone-shaped flowers, super hardy. Loves a balanced or rose fertilizer in early spring. Jack’s Classic All Purpose is available at Walmart using this affiliate link.
- Smooth & Oakleaf – White blooms that age beautifully. Keep it simple with compost or slow-release granular fertilizer in spring.
Fertilize your hydrangeas first in early spring as leaves emerge, and then a light boost in early summer. Stop fertilizing by July. You don’t want to encourage new tender growth that won’t survive winter.
Test your soil pH first for those color-changing blooms. Water the ground before applying a liquid-application fertilizer. Water thoroughly after if you are using granular.
