When should hydrangeas be pruned in Australia?
Pruning can be done anytime after flowering finishes, although you can leave it until mid-winter if this suits. Only trim back the stems that flowered, making the cuts just above a plump pair of buds. When pruning a hydrangea, it’s best to take off no more than one-third of the plant at any one time.
What is the best care for hydrangeas?
Hydrangea Care Tips
- Water at a rate of 1 inch per week throughout the growing season.
- Add mulch underneath your hydrangeas to help keep the soil moist and cool.
- Apply fertilizer based on your specific hydrangeas.
- Protect against pests and disease by choosing cultivars with resistant traits.
Is Seasol good for hydrangeas?
Feed with a complete fertiliser at the beginning of winter. Apply Seasol and Powerfeed regularly to keep plants healthy and performing at their best.
Should I cut back hydrangea in autumn?
If they are pruned in autumn, after flowering, the buds can freeze, killing the stems and their buds. Leaving the old flowers on the plant over winter, until the worst frosts are over, will help protect the stems and their new buds.
Why is my hydrangea dying?
The reason for a hydrangea dying is most often due to not enough moisture in the soil. Hydrangeas require the soil to be consistently moist and will droop or die because of drought. Hydrangeas can die due to frost damage, drought, transplant shock and because of too much sun.
How do you look after hydrangeas in Australia?
Plant in a position in sun or dappled shade that offers protection from the hottest sun. Prune hard in late winter to remove any old or dead wood. Grow Hydrangea macrophylla cultivars to suit the soil pH colour can be changed by dressing with aluminium sulphate for blue blooms and with lime for red blooms.
Should I cut off dead hydrangea blooms?
You should deadhead throughout the blooming season to keep your hydrangeas looking their beast and encourage new flower growth. However, stop deadheading hydrangea shrubs in mid to late fall, leaving any spent blooms in place.
What is the best fertilizer for hydrangeas Australia?
A good all purpose 12-4-8 or 10-10-10 composition will provide all the fertilizing hydrangeas need. Either a chemical source or organic matter can be used successfully. Applying a once a year slow-release chemical formulated for shrubs and trees is the simplest solution to hydrangea care and feeding.
How do you get hydrangeas to bloom more?
How to Get More Smooth Hydrangea Flowers:
- Plant smooth hydrangeas in full sun if the soil stays moist.
- Water them during times of drought, especially during the heat of summer.
- Amend the soil with organic matter (such as compost).
- Prune stems back in early spring, just before new growth emerges.
How do you prune hydrangeas in Australia?
Go down the stem, beyond two healthy buds and prune them off. Next, I work my way all over the bush, always looking for a strong pair of buds. Prune about a third of the stems a little harder down the stem to get good foliage and big flowers in summer.