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Landscape Design

How do I 'create' sunlight ?

mrgreenjeans_md7

16 years ago

I've got a hydrangea planted in a bed on the side of my house that doesn't get enough sunlight for the hydrangea to flower. Is there a way I can "create" or divert sunlight into the bed ? I realize that I could move the hydrangea but I'd like to avoid that if possible.

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Comments (6)

Brent_In_NoVA
16 years ago
What is the source of the shade? Trees or a structure? What type of hydrangea? I have grown Hydrangea serrata and Hydrangea macrophylla on the north side of my house where they get very little sun and both have flowered. I am sure there is a Hydrangea forum here where people could give you more detailed growing advice.

- Brent
bahia
16 years ago
If it is on the northside of the house, not much you can do. If it is overhung by trees, it would require thinning. Sometimes you might also find that you have certain spots in the garden that are otherwise shady but receive bounced light reflected off your own house's or neighbor's windows, that will give extra illumination at certain times of the day. Certainly it will be easier to just move the shrub to a location with more light.
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mrgreenjeans_md7
Original Author
16 years ago
The source of the shade is the house itself. The shrub is planted on the northside.
duluthinbloomz4
16 years ago
Since moving the house or setting up an intricate system of reflecting mirrors isn't an option, I'd throw in the towel and move the shrub. Hydrangeas do need sun to generate blooms and to maintain the overall vigor of the plant.

The size of your plant would determine the level of difficulty in moving it, of course, and I can't say when the best time to do this would be, but check out the Hydrangea Forum if transplanting is the decision you come to.
mjsee
16 years ago
Yup, move the plant. You might want to wait until this fall...it will be happier. It's getting a wee bit late to move stuff in zone 7...unless you are going to be home ALL summer to provide supplemental water.

When you do move it, move it to a spot that gets several hours of morning sun and then is shaded in the afternoon. Your hydrangea will thank you.

melanie
karinl
16 years ago
I have a north side garden and it gets some sun in morning and evening. Can you clear anything to get more of that sun in to the plant? If not, why don't you want to move it? If it is because you need some shrub there, you can probably (a) find one that will thrive there or (b) just consider the hydrangea a foliage plant. Plus, check that you are pruning correctly to enable it to bloom. If you are pruning off new growth then chances are you are pruning off flowers.

KarinL

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