How much sun is too much for mophead hydrangeas in 6b?

8 years ago

Hi all,

I have a landscaping bed that sits in an interior corner of my foundation (central KY, 6b). The back wall faces southeast, and the side wall faces Northeast. This area get's full morning sun, and then about noon it starts to get full shade from the northeast wall. It might be 2 o'clock before the area is in total shade. Is this enough shade for mophead hydrangeas?

I want to put some mopheads in somewhere, and I had originally planned to put them in the back of the house on a northwest wall. However, it would only get late afternoon sun and I hear that hydrangeas are best when they get morning sun.

Thanks

Featured Answer

NHBabs z4b-5a NH

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

Peat moss isn’t a good amendment in a garden regardless. Amending a planting hole, especially in clay soil leads to problems with water movement, often creating a bathtub effect where water doesn’t drain out of the planting hole and leads to root rot. So either plant in native soil (easiest and well supported by research) and put amendments such as mulch or compost on the surface or take the time to amend the entire bed and raise the level a bit so it drains reasonably. If you plant it a bit high in native soil and then mulch well so the root ball is well covered but not against the trunk, that will allow it to put roots into native soil or the mulch, whichever it prefers.

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Comments (6)

Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
8 years ago
It would definitely survive, but will likely wilt toward mid-day. Try it and see! Well watered and mulched and it should look better.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
8 years ago
many plants that are said to need shade ... do very well ... when the shade is during the heat of the day ...

its usually about transpiration ... giving off more water than it can take in.. usually during the heat of the day ...

the bottom line.. is that you are just going to have to try things.. in your version of shade ..

ken
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NHBabs z4b-5a NH
8 years ago
There is a reasonable chance it will be fine there, especially as Dave says with mulch and keeping an eye on water.
cvw_ky
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks all. I guess I will try it and see. If it doesn't work out, I'll just try them somewhere else.

The local nursery suggested I mix in some peat moss to help the hydrangeas deal with the heavy clay soil in our area. Is that correct? Peat holds moisture, but so does heavy clay. Seems like I hear most people suggesting to mix in compost or pine bark to help drain moisture instead of hold onto it.
lisanti07028
8 years ago
Peat moss is more trouble than it's worth, IMO. A thick layer of mulch will do more good,