Hydrangea Care 101

You’ve got beautiful hydrangea blooms—now help your hydrangeas thrive all season long!

Hydrangeas deliver instant wow-factor to any garden with their oversized, cloud-like blooms that can shift from pink to blue depending on soil pH. Flowering from late spring through summer, they provide months of color while filling borders or foundation beds with lush, shrub-like structure. Most varieties thrive in morning sun and afternoon shade, need only moderate pruning, and bounce back quickly after heat or rain, making them surprisingly low-maintenance. Their long-lasting blossoms are perfect for fresh or dried arrangements, so you can enjoy their beauty indoors as well. For gardeners seeking drama, versatility, and easy care in one plant, hydrangeas are an unbeatable choice. Follow our tips below to keep them healthy:

Water Wisely: Hydrangeas love consistent moisture. Deep water 2–3 times per week, especially in hotter zones. Use mulch to keep roots cool and moist.

Feed for Blooms: Use a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in spring and again mid-season. Acid-loving formulas can intensify blue tones.

Prune Smart: Rebloomers need minimal pruning. Remove dead wood in spring, and let the plant do the rest! Don’t overcut or you risk losing blooms.

Bonus Tip: For bigleaf hydrangeas (macrophylla), aluminum sulfate boosts blue hues, while garden lime can bring out pinks. Check your soil pH to customize your colors.