Hydrangea

Charlie Mondahl

Our front garden is exposed, sunny PM and the soil is disgustingly clay, we want to plant a purple Hydrangea alongside some successful shrub roses, which one? How should I prepare the hole, which growing media should I use and can I plant it now?

Dovefromabove

Hi Charlie

I'm afraid that hydrangeas don't like full sun, they prefer dappled shade or only sunshine in the later part of the day.  It's always going to struggle and look poor in a sunny spot

Dovefromabove

Ah, just noticed that your post says it's 'sunny PM' which might be ok - how much sun in the afternoon does it get?

Charlie Mondahl

Full on from 1400hrs.

Dovefromabove

Hmmm - in summer that's a lot of sun/heat - I think that'd be too sunny - others may say differently

Lyn

Don't like to contradict there but I have hydrangeas in all corners of the garden they do equally as well on all sides. 

Some are in full sun all day long, others don't see a bit of it, only the early sunrise.

The potted ones I gave Hosta last week just sit out in full sun all day, they dry out, they freeze and three years later they are still ok, pot bound and all.

kathy 6

Don't forget to check the ph of your soil Charlie the purply blues are likely to turn pink if the soil isn't on the acidic side 

Dovefromabove

Lyn,  contradict away but don't forget you're in one of the wettest parts of the country - I'm sure that enables hydrangeas to cope with longer periods of sunshine 

kathy 6

I spotted one at a local GC the other day with variegated foliage never seen that before Hydrangea Macrophylla 'Tricolor' came home and googled it, flowers not that impressive but lovely foliage