Endless Summer hydrangeas grow best in partial sun. A location that receives morning sun and dappled afternoon shade is ideal. If these hydrangeas are planted in full sun, conditions might be too hot and intense for the plants to produce blooms. Planting in too much shade can result in weak stems and fewer blooms.
If your Endless Summer hydrangea is not blooming, this issue is likely caused by one of three problems. Too much shade - Hydrangeas will not bloom if they don't get enough sun. They can't be planted in full sun, but they also shouldn't be planted in full shade.
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.
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.
Fall/Winter Care
Cover the plant with a four-inch layer of organic mulch (wood mulch, leaves, etc.). There is no need to cover all stems to the tip or to cut them back. Covering should be done when fully dormant (around November 30th), or at the same time you would cover perennials in your garden.
"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.
Yes, you can use many types of all-purpose balanced Miracle-Gro on Endless Summer hydrangeas.
The Endless Summer series blooms on both new and old wood, making the plants much more versatile in the landscape. However, if the plants are not properly fertilized in the spring, few if any buds will be produced on the current season's growth.
Shades range from deep blue to light lavender to soft mauve to vivid pink. The more acid the soil, the bluer, and the more alkaline the soil, the pinker the flowers are. Endless Summer Hydrangeas are compact, growing 3-4 feet tall with a 3-4 foot spread.
Twist and Shout Endless Summer Hydrangea
The Twist and Shout is a stunning lacecap hydrangea with deep pink to periwinkle blue flowers. The intense colors of the prolific blooms stand out on this upright, but rounded plant.
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.
Azaleas, hollies, yews, mahonia, gardenia, loropetalum and boxwood shrubs will look good planted in front of hydrangeas. Azaleas blossoms will provide early color. You can select your favorite blossom color since the azalea blooms will have faded before your hydrangea is flowering.
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.
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® Hydrangea will grow to be about 4 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 4 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front.
Endless Summer hydrangeas typically like a bit of shade, particularly in the afternoon and in hot climates. The leaves can scorch in harsh afternoon sun, particularly in Zones 7-9.
Cut these stems close to the ground. Remember buds for blooms are produced on old wood and the more old wood you remove the less floral display in the spring and summer. To rejuvenate the hydrangea, remove up to 1/3 of the older living stems down to the ground each summer. This will revitalize the plant.
Fall is the best season to plant hydrangeas, followed by early spring. The idea is to give the shrub plenty of time to establish a healthy root system before blooming. The best time of day to plant is early morning or late afternoon.
The best place to plant the majority of Hydrangeas is going to be in a spot that has good drainage, morning sun, and afternoon shade.
Some gardeners report success in turning their hydrangeas blue by applying coffee grounds to the soil. The coffee grounds make the soil more acidic, allowing the hydrangea to more easily absorb aluminum. In addition, fruit peels, lawn clippings, peat moss and pine needles, are thought to have a similar effect.
You can use vinegar to lower the pH of your soil, but be aware that in order to achieve blue blooms, you will need both an acidic environment and aluminum ions. The acidic environment will also need to be a sustained over a period of time, which could be hard if rainwater is washing the vinegar away.
If you don't prune hydrangeas then they can eventually resemble a tangled mass of woody stems, and the flowers will become smaller and less showy.
rune your Endless Summer Hydrangea once a year in the summer after it blooms. In fall, limit pruning to dead or damaged branches and deadhead flowers in areas with heavy snow loads. Minimize winter and spring pruning, since this will remove flower buds.