Hydrangeas, their colorful blossoms pushing out against heavy greens, are the hallmark
of a Southern garden. True, the plant is associated with the South in part because of
its proclivity to grow in warm climates, but somehow hydrangeas are joined with the
region in a slightly more spiritual way. No one understands that more than Elizabeth
Dean, co-owner of Wilkerson Mill Gardens outside of Atlanta and a host of the web site
hydrangea.com.
"Hydrangeas are very emotive," Dean says. "They're such easy plants for the South,
but they're also so showy that in the heat of the summer you don't have to leave the
cool of your porch to admire them."
Having watched the gentle unfolding of blossoms for years, many seasoned gardeners
form paternalistic relationships with their hydrangeas, even documenting in diary form
the arrival of new buds. For the novice, however, the many-faced hydrangea can seem
like a daunting addition to a garden. Southern Accents asked the experts at Wilkerson
Mill Gardens for advice to help beginning gardeners create a hydrangea haven of their
own.
Getting Started
You can buy hydrangeas from almost any nursery and from many online sources.
Because they vary widely in size and color, some pre-planting research
is necessary. Some basic tips:
*The acidity of soil affects color. Southern soil is generally slightly
acidic, which makes it difficult to grow pink hydrangeas, although these
will grow successfully in a pot, according to Dean.
*Not all hydrangea varieties react similarly to soil changes, but you can experiment with color
by adding lime to the soil. There is joy in the unexpected, however, and Dean prefers to let
nature take its course. "Just the process of putting them in the ground changes their color,"
she explains. "I think it's too much work to try and change it."
*Hydrangeas grow best in moderate temperatures, free from extremes in the summer and winter
months. If the ground never freezes in your garden, plant hydrangeas in the fall and winter.
If you live in colder climates, you should plant in the spring.
Maintaining your Hydrangeas
Fortunately, resources abound for the care of hydrangeas. Dean recommends Hydrangeas:
A Gardeners' Guide by Toni Lawson-Hall and Brian Rothera (Timber Press, 1995) because
it is accessible and addresses basic issues.
According to Dean, pruning is a basic chore that confronts hydrangea gardeners. She
offers the following tips:
*In general, plants should be pruned early enough to allow next year's buds the
maximum amount of time to bloom.
*Follow two simple mottoes: "If in doubt, don't do anything," and "If in doubt, prune
after they bloom." Some hydrangeas bloom on new wood, and some bloom on old wood, Dean
explains, and the overzealous gardener will do more harm than good.
Wilkerson Mill Gardens
9595 Wilkerson Mill Rd.
Palmetto, GA 30268
770/463-2400
www.hydrangea.com
