step by step

borescens) emerge. You’ll recognize the big white or pink snowball-like flowers and may recognize a classic smooth hydrangea like Annabelle. Because many varieties don’t form as woody of stems as other hydrangea, a cage can hold up the blooms later in the season or after a heavy rain.

Follow these steps to help your smooth hydrangeas thrive in the landscape:

• Sun Exposure: Full sun in cooler climates and dappled shade in warmer climates.

• Soil: Moist, acidic, and well-drained soil.

• Pruning: Cut back to the ground in fall or early spring before new growth emerges.

Summer hydrangea season continues with the most popular species: bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla). You’ll recognize these ball-shaped blooms that provide wonderful summer colors that range from Nantucket blue and soft pink to newer selections with electric blue, dark purple, and more. Classic varieties like Nikko Blue bloom on the previous season’s growth while newer selections like Endless Summer® have the ability to rebloom, giving you colorful blooms until a freeze.

My favorite new variety is Pop Star® Bigleaf Hydrangea. It is the strongest bloomer on last season’s growth I’ve seen and reblooms like crazy. The flowers are bright pink or electric blue lacecap flowers that attract a variety of pollinators. At 18” to 36” tall and wide, Pop Star® is perfect in garden borders or in deco pots. I also love Summer Crush® Bigleaf Hydrangea, another compact selection with raspberry red or deep purple blooms.

Follow these steps to help your bigleaf hydrangeas thrive in the landscape:

• Sun Exposure: Morning sun and dappled afternoon shade.

• Soil: Moist, well-drained soil. Avoid dry or wet locations.

• Fertilizing: Use a bloom-boosting fertilizer in spring as the new growth emerges and again in midsummer to promote rebloom.

• Pruning: Never prune in the fall. Only remove dead stems in spring and deadhead throughout the summer.

Rounding out the season are the much-loved panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata) with their gorgeous cone-shaped blooms. The white summer flowers age to pink, red, or lime, depending on the variety. Late-season color is best in where daytime temperatures stay warm and nights cool down.

My favorite panicle hydrangea varieties are Little Hottie®, White Diamonds® and Berry White®. Little Hottie® stays compact at only 3-5’ tall and wide. The blooms are crisp white and cover the plant from top to bottom. For heat and drought tolerance, White Diamonds® is an exceptional midsize hydrangea with glistening open white panicles. If you’re looking for amazing fall color, you need Berry White®. It’s a bit larger at about 6’ tall, so if you’re looking for a beautiful back-of-border or hydrangea hedge, this is your go-to. The summer’s white blooms age to a deep red by September and October.

Follow these steps to help your panicle hydrangeas thrive in the landscape:

• Sun Exposure: Does best in full sun, but also grows well in part shade.

• Soil: Moist, well-drained soil. Avoid sites that stay wet or dry.

• Pruning: Pruning by one third – or up to one half – size in late winter or early spring before leaves emerge.

And there you have it! Hydrangeas are oneof-a-kind plants that provide remarkable color, structure, and form. Now is the time to plan your next adventure with growing hydrangeas!