March Hydrangea Care: Essential Tasks To Prepare For Spring Blooms
March has arrived and spring is just around the corner. For many of us, this month is an opportunity to prepare our plants for spring blooming.
In this article, we’ll go over March hydrangea care tips and discuss some essential tasks you may want to knock out before spring blooming begins.
I follow this procedure every year around early to mid March and the majestic hydrangea blooms in my garden every spring speak for it. Let’s dive right into it, shall we?
1 – Check For Winter Damage, Breakage, Or Frost Damage
The first thing you should pay attention to in your hydrangeas after winter is the level of frost damage they’ve taken. Hydrangeas are known to be relatively hardy and can survive light frosts without trouble. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean they won’t be damaged or injured after the cold season.
Look for breakage in stems and crumbling, weak foliage. Winter cold can be quite cruel and your hydrangeas are like soldiers coming out of war.
2 – Prune (If Needed!)
If your garden mostly consists of Smooth and Panicle hydrangeas, it may be a good idea to prune them while March still remains and spring hasn’t begun in full power.
These hydrangea varieties bloom on new wood, so trimming down old plants and allowing them to rejuvenate ensures healthier, more sustainable blooming.
If you have Bigleaf or Oakleaf hydrangeas, DO NOT prune them before spring as these varieties prefer blooming on old wood. Removing old wood would result in poor blooming or no blooms at all.
3 – Clean Up Mulch & Debris
Another task you may want to knock out before spring is cleaning up mulch and debris from around your hydrangeas. This won’t take a lot of time and will drastically reduce any chances of pests and diseases potentially harming your plants in the long run.
If you want, you can add fresh compost to the soil for enrichment and give it a nutrient boost that may help with hydrangea blooming in spring.
4 – Apply Slow-Release Fertilizer
If you’re opting for a store-bought fertilizer, go for a balanced blend ideally with an NPK of 10-10-10. This will help promote strong root growth before bud development.
- Coffee Grounds: Coffee grounds are slightly acidic and can help lower soil pH.
- Eggshells: Eggshells add calcium and help raise pH, making hydrangea flowers pink.
- Epsom Salt: Provides magnesium, which hydrangeas need to maintain strong and healthy foliage.
- Banana Peels: High in potassium and phosphorus, which hydrangeas need for healthy blooms.
5 – Water Wisely!
Hydrangeas are not flowers you want to underwater. They thrive in consistent moisture and shouldn’t be kept without water for more than a few weeks in a row. In case of dry weather, deep watering once a week is best and should get you the blooming results you need.
6 – Prepare For Late Frosts
To protect your hydrangeas from late frosts and root freezing, mulch around the base of your plants to protect roots from temperature swings. Constantly fluctuating temperatures can damage your hydrangeas beyond your imagination. Yeah…I’m talking from experience…
If you believe unexpected cold snaps will occur, it may be a good idea to keep burlap or a thick frost cloth handy just in case.
Conclusion
Before the emergence of spring, it’s generally a good idea to prep your plants for blooming. In the case of hydrangeas, you may need to get your hands dirty and knock out a few important tasks that will ultimately decide the health and vigor of your hydrangea blooms.
Be diligent and follow through with your efforts to keep your plants nourished and healthy while spring lasts.
I’m Rita, passionate about flowers, plants and growing my own vegetables at home. I live in an apartment, but I still have my garden, I intend to use all my knowledge to help you also have a lively, happy and productive garden (even in an apartment).