Hydrangeas do best when planted facing east.
Hydrangeas thrive in warm climates. Although there are many varieties of hydrangea, the University of California Master Gardeners website recommends the easy to care for H. macrophylla, the "mopheads," as good choices for Southern California gardens. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Grow hydrangeas in full sun if you live along the coast in Southern California. Inland gardeners should offer the plant afternoon shade.
2. Add a 3-inch layer of mulch to the soil around the hydrangea. Keep it 3 inches away from the trunk and spread it to the dripline. Rake back and discard the mulch every spring and replace with a fresh layer.
3. Water the hydrangea at least once a week to a depth of 3 inches. If the weather is particularly hot or windy in your part of Southern California, water more frequently.
4. Fertilize the hydrangea with a slow-release 10-10-10 formula in the spring and then again in the summer, before August. Apply the fertilizer at the rate listed on the label and spread it on the soil around the plant at the dripline.
5. Prune the mophead hydrangea only to remove dead branches and keep it to the shape you desire. This can be done any time during the year. If you need to substantially cut back a mophead, do so in June or July. Since they bloom on new wood, it is important to prune Hydrangea arborescens and Hydrangea paniculata in the fall.
Tags: Southern California, soil around
