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Another gardening query if anyone can help please.

(15 Posts)
Starof1972 Mon 26-Aug-24 08:45:39

Thank you. I love the faded beauty of the pink and blue hydrangeas that I've seen dried in florist shops so I've requested a new plant for my upcoming birthday smile

J52 Mon 26-Aug-24 08:39:58

Starof1972

Ha ha, of course it is blush And I shall leave everything well alone - hopefully, if I manage to care for it properly next year, I shall have flower head worth drying!
Thanks all smile

If you want to dry the flower heads with colour, cut them in full flower and put them in a vase of water. Wait till the water has been full absorbed and then leave them until dry.
Other than that cut the brown heads off in Autumn.

J52 Mon 26-Aug-24 08:37:10

Autumn is the best time to move shrubs and perennials, as the soil is warm. To avoid shock you might have to prune any over long stems. Unfortunately this might also result in few flowers next year.

GrannyIvy Mon 26-Aug-24 08:09:19

I have this particular hydrangea and it has not done at all well this year. It is in a bed rather than a pot but is in a full sun position for most of the day. I find they do better part sun part shade or dappled sun. Should I move it and when is the best time to move it. Any advice would be great. It was third summer in this spot! I have kept it well watered all summer.

Starof1972 Sun 25-Aug-24 19:47:24

Ha ha, of course it is blush And I shall leave everything well alone - hopefully, if I manage to care for it properly next year, I shall have flower head worth drying!
Thanks all smile

DamaskRose Sun 25-Aug-24 19:31:39

All good advice here. If you grow them in pots they definitely need lots of water - the clue is in the name. ☺️

Gin Sun 25-Aug-24 19:28:47

No leave the heads on to protect the new buds forming. Prune off when there are no more frosts. If you do it before, a hard frost will scorch the new buds and you lose next year’s blooms.

Esmay Sun 25-Aug-24 19:26:50

I like to allow the heads of my hydrangea to dry .
Then spray them and sprinkle with glitter for Christmas decorations .

Starof1972 Sun 25-Aug-24 19:21:24

One more question - is it ok to deadhead the plant now as the flowers have gone brown so I won't be wanting to dry them for display? Or is it best to leave everything alone and just prune properly come Spring?

HelterSkelter1 Sun 25-Aug-24 17:32:55

Excellent advice J52. I must go and look at my hydrangeas after this warm windy day. They will need a water tonight.

J52 Sun 25-Aug-24 16:52:40

Yes Grandiflora is a Paniculata.

grandMattie Sun 25-Aug-24 16:44:37

I think it’s H.grandiflora. Hydrangeas need to be well-drained, but also a lot of water, regularly, so the advice to repot is excellent.

Starof1972 Sun 25-Aug-24 16:35:12

Thank you so much! That just about wraps this up for me then. I shall look online for a bigger pot. I have a feeling I haven't watered it enough over the Summer but I know what to do in future.

J52 Sun 25-Aug-24 15:44:34

Hi, I grow several hydrangeas in pots. The one you have is an Hydrangea Paniculata.
They need a fair amount of water and the pot it is in needs to be larger to avoid drying out too soon.
Do not prune it now but repot into a larger pot and give it a good watering.
In the spring, I do mine in April, prune down to a new fat pair of buds.

Starof1972 Sun 25-Aug-24 15:27:09

Now I know I've inherited an hydrangea here but am not great at identifying the exact type!
It has quite a leggy look and has been drooping low - flowers seem a little top heavy.

Gardening in pots is the only way for me now and I do love the flowers on this but I don't want to risk it not flowering next year if I prune at the wrong time or in the wrong way.
Something tells me to chop it all to a low level but I thought I'd ask for advice before I dive in.

Thank you smile