{"id":12826,"date":"2024-05-02T13:25:28","date_gmt":"2024-05-02T17:25:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.meadowsfarms.com\/?p=12826"},"modified":"2024-11-13T15:55:00","modified_gmt":"2024-11-13T20:55:00","slug":"hydrangea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.meadowsfarms.com\/blog\/hydrangea\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Hydrangea Varieties to Grow in Virginia"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Gone are the days when Hydrangeas were merely reliable background players in the garden. Then in 2003, a Midwestern plant breeder introduced Endless Summer, transforming them from summer stalwarts into botanical superstars. This game-changing variety offers spectacular blue-to-pink blooms that persist for an astounding six months in mild climates, thriving everywhere from Minneapolis to Houston.<\/p>\n<p>Yet what makes Hydrangeas truly remarkable is their steadfast nature. These adaptable shrubs flourish in both shade and sun, while their bold foliage and long-lasting blooms provide essential structure to any garden design. As summer fades, their flowers and leaves don&#8217;t simply wither \u2013 they mature into rich, rosy hues, offering one of autumn&#8217;s most elegant displays.<\/p>\n<h2>How to Care For Hydrangeas<\/h2>\n<p>These beloved shrubs bloom in delicate clusters from July through September, with forms ranging from compact bushes to small trees. While their papery flowers bring classic charm to any garden, timing is everything with Hydrangeas. Most Hydrangea macrophylla set their buds on old wood, meaning winter protection can make the difference between a modest showing and a magnificent display \u2013 particularly in regions prone to early or late frosts. Here are some tips to help your hydrangeas flourish:<\/p>\n<h3>Light\/Watering<\/h3>\n<p>Most varieties thrive in full sun in the North, but in the South require afternoon shade. Moist soils that do not dry out are best; do not plant in hot, dry, exposed sites. Mulch to conserve moisture and buffer soil temperatures.<\/p>\n<h3>Fertilizer\/Soil and pH<\/h3>\n<p>Fertilize once in spring with a formulation for acid-loving plants. Soils should be moist but well-drained, and rich in organic matter. In some varieties, flower color is determined by the pH of the soil.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>At low pH (acid soils) flowers will be blue<\/li>\n<li>At mid pH, flowers will be lavender to mauve<\/li>\n<li>At higher pH, flowers will be pink.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The pH determines the availability of aluminum in the soil. Since phosphorus ties up aluminum in soils, using a fertilizer low in this nutrient will aid in attaining blue flowers. If pink flowers are desired and your soil is acid, simply add lime to raise the pH and use a balanced fertilizer. Aluminum sulfate will lower pH if blue flowers are desired.<\/p>\n<h3>Pests\/Diseases<\/h3>\n<p>Hydrangeas face few serious threats. Occasionally <a href=\"https:\/\/www.meadowsfarms.com\/blog\/what-is-the-powdery-white-substance-on-my-plant\/\">powdery mildew<\/a> will infect the foliage, especially in humid areas with poor air circulation. If this is the case, you can treat it with an appropriate fungicide if the problem is serious, and be sure to rake up and destroy all fallen foliage in the autumn.<\/p>\n<h3>Pruning &amp; Deadheading<\/h3>\n<p>The pruning of Hydrangea shrubs can be tricky, as it varies by variety. Here&#8217;s a good rule of thumb:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Old Wood Hydrangea<\/strong> varieties produce flowers on stems from previous years. Prune these soon after bloom in late summer before buds are set for next season as spring pruning would remove next year\u2019s flowers.<\/p>\n<p>Whereas, <strong>New Wood Hydrangea<\/strong> varieties produce flowers on new growth from the current season. Prune these in late winter or early spring to encourage new growth.<\/p>\n<p>Regularly <strong>deadheading<\/strong> the blooms of both old and new wood bushes helps encourage repeat bloom on the current year\u2019s growth.<\/p>\n<h3>Transplanting<\/h3>\n<p>Young plants may be transplanted when dormant in early spring. It is difficult to move larger tree-form varieties once established, but it can be done. Prune top growth after transplanting to reduce water loss.<\/p>\n<h2>Your Handy Hydrangea Care Calendar<\/h2>\n<h3>Early Spring<\/h3>\n<p>Prune old wood, as well as tree forms of hydrangeas now, removing lower suckers and up to half of the older top growth. Prune out any deadwood from all varieties. Check soil pH and adjust up or down as needed for your desired flower color. Complete any transplanting before leaves unfurl.<\/p>\n<h3>Mid-Spring<\/h3>\n<p>Mulch plants after the soil has warmed for the season. This will help to conserve moisture and buffer soil temperatures. Watch for powdery mildew and treat as needed.<\/p>\n<h3>Summer<\/h3>\n<p>As soon as blooms fade, remove old flowering stems from old wood varieties. Continuously deadhead your blooms as needed.<\/p>\n<h3>Fall\/Winter<\/h3>\n<p>Remove and destroy any fallen foliage infected by powdery mildew to prevent spreading. If desired, wrap old wood varieties with burlap or other material to help flower buds overwinter.<\/p>\n<h2>Hydrangea Varieties Available at Meadows Farms<\/h2>\n<p>Remember, the hydrangeas listed below are just a selection of the varieties that Meadows Farms carries. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.meadowsfarms.com\/hours-locations\/\">Please call your local Meadows Farms<\/a>\u00a0for other varieties or special requests.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Gone are the days when Hydrangeas were merely reliable background players in the garden. Then in 2003, a Midwestern plant breeder introduced Endless Summer, transforming them from summer stalwarts into botanical superstars. This game-changing variety offers spectacular blue-to-pink blooms that persist for an astounding six months in mild climates, thriving everywhere from Minneapolis to Houston&#8230;. <a class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.meadowsfarms.com\/blog\/hydrangea\/\">Read More <i class=\"fas fa-angle-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12849,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[36,24,196],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>The Best Hydrangea Varieties to Grow in Virginia (+ Care Tips)<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Meet the most popular hydrangea varieties for Virginia, plus easy care tips from the experts at Meadows Farm!\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.meadowsfarms.com\/blog\/hydrangea\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Best Hydrangea Varieties to Grow in Virginia (+ Care Tips)\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Meet the most popular hydrangea varieties for Virginia, plus easy care tips from the experts at Meadows Farm!\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.meadowsfarms.com\/blog\/hydrangea\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Meadows Farms Nurseries and Landscaping\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-05-02T17:25:28+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-11-13T20:55:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" 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