Blooming Success Easy Growing Tips for the Garden Spring is full of possibilities! We love the fresh start this season gives us. It’s a chance to get back out and enjoy your yard and garden. It’s a fresh start for your Endless Summer® Hydrangeas, too. Here are a few tips to get the growing season off and blooming:
Spring is a Great Time to Feed. Applying a good quality, slow-release fertilizer ONCE in spring or early summer should suffice for all but the most demanding locations. Look for a fertilizer product with an NPK ratio of around 1030-10. The middle number (the phosphorus) should be higher than the other two numbers. Many times the products are called bloom enhancers or boosters. Remember, more is not better! If you over-feed your Hydrangeas, the effect is more dark green leaf production with fewer flower buds. If you live in the North (zone 4) we recommend that you stop fertilizing after August 15th, as plants need to slow down and acclimate for winter.
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endless BLOOM | Spring 2011
Watering - Don’t overdo it.
Shape Up with Pruning
The amount you water is one more factor you can regulate to ensure beautiful blooms. Although hydrangeas are named after Hydra, Greek for water, your hydrangeas will form large leaves, lots of green growth and few flower buds if over-watered. It’s normal for plants to wilt for a short time in the heat of the day. You’re better off to water well and less often, than giving a little all the time. Think long drinks every couple of days rather than giving little sips all the time.
Spring pruning is all about cleaning up the plant to make it look good. If you live in the North, don’t be in a hurry to uncover your hydrangeas. Be sure to wait until the average last frost date. Then, take out a good, sharp pruner and cut out the dead stems from the base of the plant.
Be on the lookout for excess watering sources. Be sure that your sprinkling system or downspouts from your gutters aren’t giving the plants a double dose of water.
Click here to check out our pruning video for a demonstration.