My mother taught me never to boast. “No one wants to hear all of that,” she’d say. Well, Mom, look away, because I’m about to brag.
Everyone, look at my hydrangeas! Yes, they’re mine! If you know me, you know what a triumph this is. Finally, after years of heartache and struggle, I, Grant Dudley, have had hydrangea success!
The prettiest of all the blooms.
Yes, this is real. I didn’t doctor the photo.
New blooms are popping up daily!
I’ll tell you the truth, these plants are a sight for my sore eyes. I have been plagued with ugly, sickly and distressed hydrangeas for at least four years now.
“What made the difference this year?” you say. Well, I’m glad you asked.
Intervention. Yes, plain and simple intervention. This spring I stayed on top of the plants before they could take a nasty turn. I watered them faithfully (with a little vinegar here and there), pruned back the branches, pulled off questionable leaves and most importantly, treated the bushes with a fungicide (I now know a fungus has been the problem all along).
So, today, on this first day of summer, I proudly write here and say “Take that ugly hydrangeas!” There’s a new sheriff in town.
Have you ever turned a dud of a plant or flower into a blooming beauty? Let me know!
Oh, and I’m sorry Mom.
They are beautiful. I want to try growing them here in Texas. ^_^
When we first moved to our present home, there was a spindly, sickly-looking rose bush in front of the porch. I don't really care for roses, so I cut it down to the ground and figured that was that. Little did I know that this was exactly what it needed — in a couple of years it came back with a vengeance and flowered profusely! I've never cut it back so much again, and it has never done as well again either, although it still has a few blossoms every year, probably just to spite me.
You have the right to be proud. They're beautiful.
I love this! Garden flowers are the most beautiful things in the summertime. For my country getaway, we did a little gardening ourselves: emilyannestyle.com
You should be boasting! They are beautiful! I love my hydrangeas too! I love to cut back, it works for me. Happy gardening!
Way to go! They look great!
This was great to read. We have just had hydrangea bushes put in, and I'm glad to hear about how you took care of them. Wish us luck!
Thanks for the tips. My hydrangeas could use some help right now.
Congratulations on a beautiful garden!
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Hello Grant! Look your article about hydrangeas! You are soooo smart! I am a friend of Susan's. Are you Susan's son. If so, I am proud of you. You are a celebrity and have done so much good in your life. Keep it up…. Let me know if you are my long lost friend. Lynda Collins
Gracias por los consejos, amo estas plantas
I Always had good hydrangeas but now have moved to Western Cape >>Gordans Bay and just cant get them to grow We do have a north facing house and there is a lot of wind in G Bay and winter rainfall region I have been trying for 8 yrs and just cant ger it right. Please is there hope for my Hydrangeas?
I live in Ireland where it never stops raining! Hydrangeas like to be wet but don't like their roots stuck in wet earth. So here we plant them 'proud' of the flower bed. The can handle the cold and I've never heard of them disliking wind. Also many types flower on last year's wood so don't prune them in the Spring or you're cutting off the flowers!!! Also they mostly grow pink here in Ireland because of the soil type.
Different hydrangeas need to be pruned at different times. I was pruning mine in the fall or early spring and went years without blooms. Found out the specific type of hydrangea I had, needed to be pruned in late summer…just after all the blooms were done but before the buds were set for the fallowing year. A late frost also prevented blooms for several years. Here in TN, we often get heavy frosts up until mid-late April. I make sure to cover my bushes if there's any chance they'll freeze!
How beautiful, I have a hydragen plant that does not bloom, I have
tried cutting it back, leaving it alone, still no blooms on the dead wood.
I have even given it coffee grounds. was it just the viniger that gave
you the blooms?? How much did you use and how often
thanks Linda
Linda, to get your hydrangeas (and any other plant to bloom), put your banana peels on the ground around it. That's my secret to get my babies blooming before everyone else's. Get some straight ammonia and put it in a spray bottle. Spray your whole garden with it. Plants love and adore ammonia, I even sprayed my little seedlings that are still too small to plant yet, and I swear they grew overnight! Your garden beds will get uber-green. Don't forget to put sulfur around your hydrangeas to keep them blue!