Question for Hayseed man (need hydrangeas for dummies advice)

16 years ago

In my search of the web for help with my various hydrangeas, I stumbled upon many posts by Hayseed man that were full of info - I'm hoping he is willing to send a little more to a fellow Nutmegger...

I rescued a Glowing Embers from the clearance rack at the local garden center last fall because I was fascinated by the claims of reddish blooms. It looked pretty sad but I stuck it into the ground in a nearly full sun location to see what might happen. This Spring I was thrilled to see lush green leaves appear but it's now Labor Day and not a bloom to be seen yet. What I need to know is how to prepare it for winter to encourage blooms next year. Do I fertilize it? Move it to different location? I've been reading a lot of conflicting info and I'm not sure what to do - any help at all would be appreciated.

Thanks!

J

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Comments (4)

hayseedman
16 years ago
I don't do anything really special with mine. I try to keep them adequately fertilized all summer so I don't really need to do much of that. If yours have nice, healthy looking foliage, then I would think they would do just fine.

Just about right now you'll start to see the terminal buds and a few buds in the topmost leaf axils and even a few at the crown start to swell up. They'll start out almost invisible and by the winter they'll be the size of a pea. These are the buds that you'll need to get through your winter and spring.

Everything I know about overwintering is in a thread I started called Overwintering .... If you don't do something like I do then you might see your top growth killed back each winter, taking the buds you need for the flowers.

I think the easiest route is to pop the plant out of the ground, put it on an unopened plastic garbage bag and tie the opposite corners together. Punch some drainage holes in the bottom. This'll contain the root ball. Then bind up the top growth with another bag used like a rope to make it more manageable.

Then do something roughly equivalent to laying it down on the ground and, while still giving it the ability to breathe, cover it with some boards or something and then a foot or so of pine needles or dry leaves.

Take it out late in the Spring when it looks like you might have the possibility to not have another frost. Be sure to cover it back up when it looks like it could frost.

Good luck.

Even though Glowing Embers is a great red, the best reds will sometimes make the best blues, and I think it is a great blue one.

Hay
0
ego45
16 years ago
"Even though Glowing Embers is a great red, the best reds will sometimes make the best blues, and I think it is a great blue one."

It's equaly great as a red

as a blue

and as a purple

Very well worth to to overwinter.
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irishstjean
Original Author
16 years ago
Thank you Thank you Thank you for the pics and advice! Are these types happiest in full sun or more shade - I've read differing opinions...

Also, do you have a preferred fertilizer?

Last of all, something (I suspect a rampant deer population) is eating the tops off of my endless summer plants for about the last month. I read that these were deer resistant plants - do I have the wrong info, wrong animal or very hungry adaptable deer in our yard? I haven't ever tried a deer repellant...

Thanks again!
0
ego45
16 years ago
Deers and hydrangeas are not compatible.
You could enjoy one or another, but not both.
Your choice. Unfortunately.
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Question for Hayseed man (need hydrangeas for dummies advice)

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hayseedman

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Question for Hayseed man (need hydrangeas for dummies advice)

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