Many people think that whenever they’re growing a certain plant or flower, they just have to plant it and forget about it entirely. This couldn’t be farther from the truth.
When it comes to hydrangeas, care and maintenance are just as important as planting and fertilization. Caring for them diligently and in the right way ensures healthy and abundant blooms.
In the springtime, you can say that your hydrangeas are “waking up” and need your utmost attention for the best flowering results.
Today, I promise to share with you a few easy tasks I complete every year that provide me with guaranteed hydrangea-blooming results. Trust me, implementing these will take your hydrangeas to the next level!
7 Spring Hydrangea Tasks For Gorgeous Blooms
Task 1: Prune Wisely (Only If Needed!)
I noticed a pattern with my friends and family that whenever I would talk to them about pruning, they’d prune their entire garden the next day. Although this may sound like a productive thing, it’s really not, especially when pruning isn’t needed at the time.
In the springtime, you want to prune hydrangea varieties that bloom on new wood. These typically include Panicle and Smooth hydrangeas. Leave Oakleaf and Bigleaf varieties alone in spring as old wood is needed for them to bloom properly.
Tip: Use clean, sharp pruning shears to carry out this task and cut at an angle to prevent diseases from harming your delicate hydrangeas.
Need a full guide? This article breaks it all down: When and How to Prune Hydrangeas!
Task 2: Feed Your Hydrangeas For Stronger Growth
Just like you need food to grow bigger and stronger, plants need feeding too. Simply planting them in basic garden soil and forgetting about it won’t work for 99% of the people reading this. Compost and store-bought fertilizers are essential to promote safe and healthy hydrangea growth.
A balanced, slow-release fertilizer with an NPK of 10-10-10 should work well for this. Generally, early spring is the best time to feed hydrangeas but some trial and error can be done to figure out the best feeding time for you.
For blue hydrangeas, you want to use a fertilizer that’s rich in aluminum sulfate. If you’re looking for a more pink tone in the flowers, try one that has a higher phosphorus concentration.
DIY Tip: Use compost or banana peels for a natural nutrient boost. There’s a common misconception that natural fertilizers don’t work as well as store-bought ones, but that’s just not true.
This guide shares some great homemade fertilizer options: Boost Hydrangea Blooms With These Easy Homemade Fertilizers!
Task 3: Adjust Soil PH For The Perfect Bloom Color
If you didn’t already know, soil acidity has a strong link with hydrangea blooms and their color. You can say that the soil pH majorly determines the color of your hydrangeas.
White hydrangeas unfortunately do not have a link with soil pH. If you want to learn about changing your hydrangea flowers color, this guide has everything you need to know: How to Change the Color of Your Hydrangeas Naturally.
Task 4: Mulch To Retain Moisture & Suppress Weeds
Mulch is extremely important for hydrangea growth. It provides insulation and keeps the plants stable and healthy when conditions turn adverse.
Apply 2-3 inches of mulch around the base of your hydrangeas to regulate soil temperature and moisture.
If you’re confused about what materials to use as mulch, pine bark, shredded leaves, compost, and straw work very well.
Task 5: Water Deeply & Consistently
Hydrangeas are not the kind of plants you want to take lightly when it comes to watering.
They thrive in constantly moist soil that has sufficient drainage to keep it from becoming overly soggy. Do not let your hydrangeas dry out!
Water your hydrangeas 1-2 times per week depending on the season and your overall climate conditions.
n the summertime, watering sessions should be slightly more frequent than in the rest of the seasons as the plants will be more susceptible to drying out in the heat.
Tip: If you have a soaker hose, use it for slow and deeper watering. Your hydrangeas will definitely appreciate the effort.
Task 6: Watch For Pests & Diseases
In the springtime, pests can become a real nuisance in the garden.
These tiny monsters feed on hydrangea flowers and foliage, making them weaker and leading them to a miserable slow death. Aphids, spider mites, and thrips are usually to blame for this.
Fungal issues like root rot and powdery mildew are also very common with hydrangeas.
Keeping good airflow and avoiding the urge to overwater your plants can prevent more than half of these issues. For pest control, chemical pesticides or strong essential oils like peppermint or neem oil are your best bet.
Task 7: Give Support For Tall & Heavy Blooms
If your hydrangea blooms look very weak and droopy, use plant supports or stakes to keep them from drooping and touching the ground as they will likely pick up fungal or bacterial disease.
Hydrangeas in windy areas benefit from a sheltered spot or light staking.
But if they’re still droopy even with support, there might be an underlying issue. This guide covers the possible causes and how to fix them: Why Is My Hydrangea Drooping? Common Causes and Solutions!
Conclusion
If you’re going to take away anything from this article, it should be this: hydrangeas require very specific spring care and you must be able to provide that if you want them to grow the best they can.
Whether it’s watering deeply, implementing pest control tactics, or pruning, all the tasks we discussed today can be learned just by doing them repeatedly over a long period of time.
Start your hydrangeas now for the best summer blooms of your life! If you have any favorite hydrangea care tips, make sure to drop them in the comments below. Happy planting!
I pruned the stalks that had no new green leaves, I’m not sure which hydrangeas I have hope I did right. I enjoy your articles! I’m confused as to what fertilizer I should use
Hi Melvin! It sounds like you’re on the right track! 😊 If you’re unsure which type of hydrangea you have, just watch how it grows this season, it’ll help you learn when and how to prune in the future.
For fertilizer, use:
🌿 Bigleaf & Oakleaf Hydrangeas – Use a balanced 10-10-10 or 12-4-8 fertilizer in early spring.
🌸 Panicle & Smooth Hydrangeas – Benefit from a slow-release fertilizer or compost in early spring to support strong blooms.
Glad you’re enjoying the articles. Your hydrangeas are in good hands! 😊✨
I would love to send you a couple photos to figure out what kind I have. I would assume new leaves coming from the middle of the stem in old wood? New leaves growing from the ground is new wood? Sorry for the dumb questions but I’d really love to learn properly : )
Hi Lonnie! Not a dumb question at all, it’s a great one! 😊 And yes, you’ve got the idea! New leaves on old stems usually mean it blooms on old wood, while new shoots from the base are this year’s growth, or new wood.
Feel free to send photos to: tinygardenhabit@gmail.com. I’d be happy to help you figure out exactly what type you have and how to care for it! 🌿✨
Not dumb but you are correct.
Also, the endless summer varieties bloom on old and new growth. I just feed mine coffee grounds. Scratch them into the soil around the hydrangea. A touch of composted chicken manure might be good. Deep purple blue color.
I have a potted one in the house that I brought when I moved 5 yrs ago. I want to plant it outside but afraid it will die. It’s spindly but starting to bloom. Any advice?
Hi Lillian! That’s wonderful it’s starting to bloom! 😊 Since it’s been indoors for years, you’ll want to transition it slowly to life outside!
☀️ Start by hardening it off. Place it outside for a few hours a day in partial shade, gradually increasing time over 1–2 weeks.
🌱 Choose a spot with morning sun and afternoon shade, especially if it’s a bigleaf hydrangea!
🪴 Plant it after your last frost when the weather is mild.
💧 Keep it well-watered as it adjusts, and mulch around the base to retain moisture.
It might look spindly now, but once it settles in, it can thrive! Let me know how it goes! 🌿🌸✨
I wish I could print this article without all the ads.
Hi Joan! Totally understand! 😊 One easy way to print without all the ads is to use your browser’s “Reader Mode” (if available), or copy and paste the article into a document before printing and removing pages or sections you don’t need. Let me know if you’d like help with that! 🌿🖨️✨
How do I know if my plant blooms on old or new wood? Is there some way to tell?
Hi Barbara! 😊 One way to tell is by watching when your plant blooms and what kind of growth it blooms on:
🌸 If it flowers early in the season (late spring), it’s likely blooming on old wood, last year’s stems;
🌿 If it blooms mid to late summer, it’s likely on new wood, this year’s growth.
Also, knowing the variety helps! Let me know what type of plant or hydrangea you have, and I’ll help you figure it out! 🌿✨
Mine has only bloomed once since we moved into this house 8 years ago. I have fertilized it, cut the dead stalks away, mulched it and watered it. Any more suggestions?!?
Hi Julie! That’s so frustrating after all that care! 😣 It could be a bigleaf hydrangea that blooms on old wood, so pruning at the wrong time might be removing buds. Also check for enough sunlight and try a bloom-boosting fertilizer with more phosphorus. Let me know the type or your zone. I’d love to help more! 🌿🌸
I have Summer Crush -Strawberry Sundae – Little Lime – & Bloomstruck Hydrangeas Which grow on new wood and which grow on old wood…..and whats the best way to trim them – I live in Morris, Minnesota
Hi! That’s a reat mix of hydrangeas! 😊 Here’s how they break down for pruning in your zone (Morris, MN):
🌸 Summer Crush & Bloomstruck – These are bigleaf hydrangeas and bloom on old wood (sometimes also new wood);
🌿 Strawberry Sundae & Little Lime – These are panicle hydrangeas and bloom on new wood.
I actually have an article that explains everything, including which hydrangeas bloom on old or new wood and how to prune each type: When and How to Prune Hydrangeas? Hope it helps! 😊
My hydrangea started budding and the frost got it . Will it still be ok and bloom?
Hi Brenda! Oh no, spring frost can be tricky! 🙁 If the buds were damaged, your hydrangea might not bloom as much this year, especially if it’s a type that blooms on old wood. But don’t worry, it should still leaf out and grow just fine. Give it some time, and with a little care, it’ll bounce back! 🌿💗
A lot of my stalks are dead, should I cut them off. Most growth is starting to come up from the ground.
Hi Donna! Yes, go ahead and cut off the dead stalks, especially if there’s no green when you scratch the surface. If most of the growth is coming from the base, your hydrangea is focusing on new wood, trimming the dead stems will help it grow back stronger and neater! 😊💚
I have a hydrangea for probably 8 years and I have only gotten maybe 1 flowers. I have no idea what’s wrong?
Hi Alexia! 😊 That sounds so frustrating after all that time! 😣 It could be a few things… Not enough sunlight, pruning at the wrong time, or even too much nitrogen (which makes lots of leaves but no flowers).
If it’s a bigleaf hydrangea, it blooms on old wood, so cutting it back in fall or early spring could remove next year’s buds. Let me know what kind you have and I’d be happy to help troubleshoot! 🌸🌿
I have 3 summer crush, do I prunes off the old dead branches or leave them?
Hi Denise! Yes, go ahead and prune off the old dead branches! 😊 Summer Crush is a bigleaf hydrangea, so it blooms on old and sometimes new wood, but dead wood won’t flower, so it’s safe to remove. Just make sure to leave any healthy stems with green buds. 🌿✂️🌸
I recently bought a climbing hydrangea. Unfortunately where I planted it is Morning shade, afternoon sun.I had my gardener plant it today and now I’m wondering if I should find another place for it or leave it.
I have another hydrangea in the yard that gets morning sun afternoon shade. First year it was fine. Last year it only had leaves no blooms. To early to tell this year, but I am getting leaves.
I’d appreciate any advice you could give me including fertilizer.
Hi Linda! Thanks for sharing! 😊 Climbing hydrangeas can handle some sun, but they do best with morning sun and afternoon shade, just like your other one. Afternoon sun can be a bit harsh, especially in hotter climates, so if that spot gets strong, direct sun for several hours, it might be worth moving it to a shadier location.
As for your other hydrangea with no blooms last year, it might be a bigleaf type that blooms on old wood, and pruning or late frost could have removed the buds. You’re doing everything right by watching for leaf growth this year!
For fertilizer, I’d go with a balanced, slow-release one (like 10-10-10) in early spring. If your soil is acidic or you want to encourage more blooms, you can also look for a bloom-boosting formula that’s lower in nitrogen. Let me know the variety if you want more specific tips! 🌿🌸✨
My hydrangeas growing great but no blooms yet. Should I use used coffee grounds I really don’t know and I just love your tip and information thanks I don’t have a green thumb which I’m sure from my question you already know Thank you for all
Hi Carolyn. You’re so welcome! 😊 And don’t worry, asking questions is how every green thumb starts! If your hydrangeas are growing well but not blooming, it could be due to things like not enough sun, over-pruning, or a lack of phosphorus (the nutrient that helps with flowering). Used coffee grounds are great for boosting the soil, especially for blue hydrangeas, but they won’t directly trigger blooms.
But, we do have an article tht could help you: Super Tips to Help Your Hydrangeas Bloom Bigger and Brighter. Hope it helps bring on those beautiful flowers! 🫶