‘Peegee Standard’.
Hydrangeas require a well drained but moist soil in order to look their best and prevent the big leaves and huge flowers from wilting. Too much hot sun will dry them out and too much shade will prevent them from flowering.
Story and photos by Lisa Kackenhoff
shy away from planting them with thoughts of “they’re gorgeous, but too tender for the prairies” and “too fussy and time consum- ing”. Well gardeners, these statements are far from the truth! Hydrangeas planted in the right location burst forth, laden with spectacular blooms and little effort. The re- wards far outweigh the input required. Such a showy and colourful plant deserves much more prominence in our flowerbeds. The name Hydrangea comes from the
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Greek meaning “water vessel”. This is a clue as to the right location to plant. Hydrangeas require a well drained but moist soil in order to look their best and prevent the big leaves and huge flowers from wilting. Hydrangeas should be planted in the semi-shade or all day dappled sunlight. Too much hot sun will dry them out and too much shade will prevent them from flowering. Choose a lo- cation on the east side with good morning sunshine that lasts until one or two o’clock, followed by afternoon shade, or choose a site that gets sufficient diffused sunlight through the protection of larger trees. To avoid competition for nutrients, stay at least six feet away from the trunks of the trees. Hydrangeas have a very fine root system
that needs to stretch out, so proper planting preparation is a must. This requires digging out any old, compacted soil and replacing it with a compost rich soil that has been light- ened with vermiculite or horticultural sand. Dig the hole two to three times the diameter of the root ball to allow the roots to grow without obstruction. Most hydrangeas re-
12 • Spring 2012
ydrangeas are always attractive ad- ditions to your home landscape. Many Manitoba gardeners tend to
quire a lot of water but do not like stand- ing in water. The lightening of the soil will allow for positive drainage by taking excess water away from the plant. Adding Myke Tree and Shrub growth supplement (it contains mycorrhizae that increases root development and reduces transplant shock) and a half cup of bone meal, which should be spread over the bottom and sides of the planting hole, will nourish your new plant for the season. It is important to plant at the same height as the root ball and not any deeper. Do not stuff your plant into the hole. Place the root ball in gently and firmly pack with the light soil mix. For healthy, strong blooms next season you need only add bone meal or any other flowering shrub fertilizer around the base of the plant along with a couple of handfuls of rich compost lightly tilled in at the base. Hydrangea paniculata
Hydrangea paniculata is the hardiest
of hydrangea varieties, surviving in a wide range of planting situations. These va- rieties can tolerate the most sun and are the most drought tolerant. Large conical shaped flowers overtake the plant from late July until late fall and have been known to continue right to snowfall. Flower colour can range from white to a tinge of light lime when blooms first open. As the flowers age, colour changes to a pink tone, that can be anywhere on the spectrum from a light blush to a dark vibrant shade, depending on variety.
This plant blooms on current year’s
growth. Prune back hard at the end of April to increase flower size and production. ‘Peegee’: mature height up to 8 -12’, flower colour is white fading to blush pink
‘Pinky Winky’.
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