Since Endless Summer® Hydrangeas bloom on last year's growth (“old wood”) as well as the current season's growth (“new wood”), you will get the most flowers by protecting the flower buds on the old wood. To do this, do NOT prune or cut back your shrubs after August 1st.
Unlike other hydrangeas, your Endless Summer will bloom on both old and new wood (branches that grew last year and new branches from this year). Another unique feature is that this hydrangea will continue to set buds and bloom throughout the season; deadheading the spent flowers will encourage this.
"Bigleaf hydrangeas, such as endless summer, should be deadheaded when the first set of flowers sprout from last year's growth in the spring," says Meyers. This eliminates the faded flowers before the next flush appears.
Hydrangea blossoms are at their best when they are well watered and well fed. Mulch also provides an evaporation barrier. Keeping your soil moist in the heat of the summer, which is also the flowering season for hydrangeas, will help to maintain the healthiest version of your plant.
There are a few main reasons that you may not see blooms on your hydrangea bushes: sun exposure, over-watering and over-fertilizing. Endless Summer® hydrangeas prefer morning sun and afternoon dappled shade. If they are planted in full sun, it may be too hot and intense for the blooms to produce.
Yes, you can use many types of all-purpose balanced Miracle-Gro on Endless Summer hydrangeas.
The Endless Summer hydrangea thrives in partial shade and needs well-drained soil with consistent moisture. It does need some sunlight for photosynthesis and flowering potential, but overly hot direct sunlight can scorch the leaves.
“You're looking for a slow-release granular fertilizer that is labeled 'bloom boost,'” says Endless Summer expert Ryan McEnaney from Bailey Nurseries. Bloom boost fertilizers such as Flower-tone ($10, Ace Hardware) have a higher level of phosphorus, the nutrient that promotes flower formation.
Endless Summer Hydrangeas thrive in partial shade, or roughly four hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight per day. It's best if they receive sun in the morning and shade in the afternoon.
Provide a layer of organic mulch to help retain moisture, add nutrients to the soil, and protect the plant in the cold winter months. Plant is a full sun to partial shade location, though this plant does best in partial shade. Water frequently, at least once per week. But ensure the soil does not stay wet.
To stimulate hydrangeas to bloom, it is important to provide the plants with plenty of sunlight and water. Make sure that the soil is well-draining and fertilize regularly in spring and summer.
Just remember that Endless Summer is unique in that it can bloom on new and old wood, so any time you snip off a fresh green tip, you are likely removing flower buds and decreasing flowering potential.
They don't grow too slowly or too quickly, and typically reach their mature size in 3 to 5 years. These hydrangeas produce large blooms lasting up to 8 weeks during the summer months. With proper care and maintenance, they will continue to bloom for many years after reaching maturity.
Endless Summer hydrangeas are hardy to USDA cold hardiness zone 4 and need no winter protection when grown in the garden. The exception is when the plants are container grown. To prepare your container-grown Endless Summer hydrangea for overwintering, stop fertilizing them around the end of July or early August.
Change Your Hydrangea's Color
'Endless Summer' Color Me Pink and Color Me Blue products (available at garden centers and from naturehills.com) supply pelletized lime and sulfur respectively. Depending on the size of your plant and your soil conditions, you may need to apply it several times at 60-day intervals.
Overwatering is the major cause of plant decline as it literally suffocates and rots the root system. Also, know that macrophylla prefer shade to part shade – early morning sun, dappled afternoon shade. Picking the right location is best. Practice Pruning Patience: Macrophylla are very late to leaf out in the spring.
Endless Summer hydrangeas should be planted in a place that receives morning sun and dappled afternoon shade. "The amount of sun they can tolerate depends on the zone," says Mcenaney. "Endless Summer hydrangeas that are planted in zone 4 can tolerate more afternoon sun than those planted in zone 9."
Most of the varieties in Endless Summer will reach 3-4′ wide at maturity. I would give them at last two feet away from the foundation. Or even a little more if you don't want them touching the house. Summer Crush is the most compact, so you can plant that one a little closer.
Simply add the Color Me Blue™ soil sulphur pellets to your soil around your plants, and enjoy the blue blooms! For established hydrangeas, apply 6 scoops (1/2 cup) of Color Me Blue™ soil sulphur evenly around the roots of your hydrangeas and water well.
If you are looking for an all-around great option for hydrangeas and other flowers then I recommend the Miracle-Gro All Purpose Plant Food. This fertilizer instantly feeds providing bigger, better fruit. You can apply it every two weeks with a garden feeder.
Hydrangeas grow best if they are fertilized once or twice in the summer. Although some authorities recommend special fertilizer mixes to get the maximum results, hydrangeas do amazingly well with a more relaxed approach. Either chemical fertilizers or organic matter can be used successfully.
Endless Summer is a series of 5 hydrangeas that were bred for outstanding qualities such as compact size, dense form, phenomenal color, and a long bloom period as well as the ability to bloom on both old and new wood.
Best Fertilizer For Hydrangeas
Organic, slow-release fertilizers for roses (such as a 15-10-10, or 10-5-5 formula) work well on hydrangeas, giving the plants the nutrients they need to increase the size and quantity of their blooms.
Not in the autumn or winter
After the second round of blooming or in the late autumn, you can choose to leave the dead blooms on your hydrangea plant instead of deadheading them.