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UNCOMMON SOLUTIONS TO EVERYDAY PROBLEMS

HOW TO CARE FOR HYDRANGEAS

Hoping to add some drama toyour garden thisyear? The Limelight (which turns from green towhite to pink) and Fire Light (which goes fromwhite to pink)varieties of hydrangea are among the easiest to grow and make for the best cut flowers, says CarmenJohnston, owner of CarmenJohnston Gardens inThomaston, Georgia. Early spring is the perfect time to plant hydrangeas because the ground is cool and therefore less stressful on them, she says. Ifyouwant to ensure bold blossoms nextyear, pruning is key—do so after thisyear’s bloom cycle has ended. (For some hydrangeas, that means in late summer; for others, latewinter.)Whenyou’re ready to harvest a bunch of blooms for your dining table, use sharp shears to cut just below the new growth on the stem. Place immediately inwater.

By Brandi Broxson