Holding Hydrangeas until Fall

14 years ago

Hello Everyone

On a whim, I picked up 2 hydrangeas from a clearance rack; I think they are Merritts. With the oppressive heat, my yard is solid and no new plantings are going to happen in the near future. So, I need to provide some TLC to these adoptees until Fall. I have removed the dead flowers and there are new leaves sprouting along the stems (a good sign right?). I can see surface roots, so I need to move quickly.

I'm planning to line a milkcrate with landscaping fabric and pot them with potting mix. Other than liberal watering through the rest of the summer, is there anything else I should do?

Thanks in advance for your help.

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Comments (6)

luis_pr
14 years ago
Wind tends to dry out the potting soil quickly so I suggest looking for a location that is not windy, with dappled sun or afternoon shade. Also, depending on how much time you have until the end of summer, you may want to amend the potting mix now and then so it will not turn too alkaline. Use as much mulch as you can even if it is a sliver.
cearbhaill (zone 6b Eastern Kentucky)
14 years ago
Are there really no other containers you might use that would hold moisture better? Every nursery in the world has old plastic pots to give away and the area around big box dumpsters is also good pickins if you don't have a stash of your own.
Keeping them well watered in the heat is going to be your issue and plastic pots would make that much easier.
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mzdee
Original Author
14 years ago
Thank you! I'll keep these tips in mind. I do have dappled shade and that is where I'm placing them. I will layer some newspaper and top with mulch.

I do have tons of plastic pots but none larger than the ones that they are in now. I've made quite an investment in amending parts of my backyard and adding plants this summer. I just can't bring myself to buy one more pot. My goal is to have as much as possible in the ground by Fall.
Thanks again. You have been very helpful.
ditas
14 years ago
I've potted & held a few (what I called garden Diva Hs) over our trying winters & they did well. For now 'til start of hard frost Luis' advice is excellent!

In our zone 4b-5 I double potted w/ mulch in between pots, wrapped w/ burlap set in protected area (mine is a 3X6 folding playpen wrapped w/ landscaping fab) & covered w/ collected dry leaves.

For winter holdings my nursery has an area where they lay marginal bloomer Hs on their sides covered w/ landscaping fab & dumped w/ leaf mulch thickly ~ they work well!

Good luck ~ in Zone7 you should have no problem ~ watering is a key!!!
whaas_5a
14 years ago
Why not throw them in the ground for now in a shaded spot? It will save you SOOO much time in watering.
mzdee
Original Author
14 years ago
whass
I would love to put them in the ground. Temps just broke the hundred mark today. It has been brutal. I couldn't get anything through my soil in this weather. I'm "blessed" with clay. And with the brutal summer temps, digging ain't gonna happen. I'm amending one area at a time. So, got my spots picked out. Layering with leaves, compost, mulch and we'll see whats there in the Fall. Has worked nicely on other areas of the yard. Thanks for the advice though!