My newly established corner garden of hydrangeas is now flourishing, painting my yard with a riot of colors! But before we delve into a visual feast of beautiful blooms, I feel compelled to share a little family anecdote that surprisingly ties into this gardening adventure.
Growing up, my father was an avid gardener, his green thumb always busy cultivating a diverse array of flowers. Yet, his gardening philosophy was delightfully unconventional. A true penny-pincher at heart – and admittedly, far more naturally gifted at nurturing plants than I am – he almost exclusively grew his gardens from seed. The catch? He never bothered to mark, label, or even remember what flowers were planted where. Dad would simply acquire packets of seeds whenever they were on sale, scattering them indiscriminately in various spots around our home. There was no grand design, no meticulous color scheme, no thoughtful height planning, or consideration for companion planting. Every spring and summer brought a delightful, often chaotic, surprise (much to my mother’s exasperation) as we watched to see what would unexpectedly sprout or dramatically take over a patch of earth. Despite this seemingly haphazard approach, the results often turned out absolutely beautifully:
Quite gorgeous, wouldn’t you agree? This whimsical approach to gardening shaped my early perceptions, but also led to years of personal struggle. While my dad clearly possessed a knack for this botanical gamble, I’ve spent countless hours trying to master the art of growing things successfully in my own gardens. I like to believe that these days, I’m much more confident in identifying what will truly thrive. However, when I’m investing hard-earned money in a specific flower or shrub, I tend to be far more of a meticulous planner. Yet, I’m undeniably still my father’s daughter when it comes to being a “Frugal Fogle,” a trait I’ve proudly demonstrated through various plant hacks in the past.
So, you can imagine my astonishment when, after dedicating considerable time and effort to planting my new hydrangea garden in the backyard corner – meticulously mulching, applying fertilizer, and eagerly anticipating the first blooms – I noticed something rather unexpected. Some of my carefully chosen plants were beginning to flower in a way that deviated slightly from my initial expectations.
When I initially selected and purchased my new BloomStruck® hydrangeas, I envisioned them unfurling into the classic “mophead” clusters I’d come to adore from other Endless Summer varieties. These are known for their large, rounded blooms, with colors gracefully transitioning from delicate pinks to deep, captivating blues. And given that these were specifically the BloomStruck® variety, and I had admired numerous vibrant images in the Endless Summer® website gallery, I anticipated an even more intense and striking color palette. However, upon closer inspection of some shrubs, I observed more delicate centers, giving the impression that they hadn’t fully bloomed. A curious deviation indeed.
As per FTC regulations, which necessitate full disclosure, my new corner garden project is uniquely sponsored by the wonderful folks at Endless Summer® this year. Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of planting their Original variety in my yard and have completely fallen in love with how effortlessly beautiful and simple their hydrangeas are to care for, particularly because of their remarkable ability to bloom and re-bloom from spring right through to fall. Therefore, when they approached me about a partnership for my new corner garden idea, it was an absolute no-brainer. Just as the flowers began to unfurl and I published the initial blog post detailing my plans, a representative from their team reached out and, to my relief, solved my perplexing little flower puzzle: some of these hydrangeas were, in fact, not the BloomStruck® variety I had intended!
Following this revelation, I meticulously reviewed all the signature blue pots that Endless Summer hydrangeas come in, along with their respective labels. Was I mistaken? Had I somehow picked up the wrong plants? I had only recently started tidying the garden area, so I still had all the original labels from the pots. What on earth had happened?
After a bit of back and forth with the helpful team at Endless Summer, we finally uncovered the root of the problem. When the local nursery prepared the plants for sale, they were also responsible for affixing the pricing labels to the tags. (I had removed the price from the original image I took at the nursery, but this is precisely the type of label I’m referring to.) It appears that during this process, the tags must have been temporarily removed and then haphazardly reinserted into the pots, leading to a significant mix-up. Consequently, a different variety – known as ‘Twist n Shout,’ which features a distinctive “lacecap” bloom style – was mistakenly sold to me as ‘BloomStruck!’ This discovery was certainly a moment of horticultural bewilderment! 😐
As you can probably imagine, I was more than a little embarrassed by the entire situation. When you endorse a product for a brand, it’s paramount to ensure accuracy, not only for professional integrity but also to avoid inadvertently misinforming my loyal readers. Beyond the embarrassment, I was quite irritated with the nursery for the mix-up, as it meant the unwelcome task of digging up the incorrectly planted hydrangeas and replanting new ones. While I could have chosen to keep them, I had a specific preference for all the plants in my new garden to match, creating a cohesive visual display. Fortunately, like most reputable nurseries these days, they had a straightforward refund policy, making the return process relatively easy. I promptly headed to a competitor’s location to procure the genuine BloomStruck pots.
To prevent future mix-ups and address my newfound concern about identifying these plants beyond their blooms, I also made sure to learn a key differentiator. The BloomStruck variety, I discovered, can be reliably identified by their distinctive reddish stems, whereas the Endless Summer Original variety, despite having a similar mophead bloom, features green stems. This handy tip provides a quick visual cue even before the plant is in full bloom.
Ultimately, this whole experience taught me that, unbeknownst to myself, I had serendipitously carried on my dad’s tradition of gardening surprises. Instead of merely fuming at the careless mistake made by the local nursery (though, granted, I was still pretty annoyed at them for nearly giving my garden an identity crisis), I can now look back and, yet again, have another wild story about this house to share with my friends. It’s a charming, funny family memory woven into the fabric of my gardening efforts, ready to be recounted every time I step out to admire how my “new” new hydrangeas are thriving. As if I needed more eccentric tales, right? This house, I swear, is a constant source of amusement!
Where Were We? Oh Right: Essential Hydrangea Care and Maintenance!
Now that we’ve resolved the mystery of the mislabeled hydrangeas and installed the correct BloomStruck varieties, let’s dive into the essential care practices that ensure these magnificent plants flourish.
Choosing the Perfect Location for Your Hydrangeas
My number one tip for growing hydrangeas successfully is to select a location that offers ample protection from harsh winds and intense afternoon sun. This is precisely why I strategically plant them near sturdy fences or beneath the dappled shade of larger trees. I’ve consistently observed that when they are adequately shielded from both sun and wind, these plants tend to grow with incredible vigor, bursting into abundant blooms before I even realize it. While the intense southern heat, particularly here in Georgia, can sometimes cause their leaves to wilt slightly during the midday hours, they invariably perk back up by evening as temperatures mercifully cool down, usually just in time for Charlie’s (my dog) evening stroll.
Nourishing Your Hydrangeas: Soil and Fertilization for Vibrant Blooms
Color and Fertilizing: As I previously mentioned, one of the primary reasons I was eager to collaborate with the Endless Summer team was my firsthand knowledge of how remarkably easy their plants are to care for. Even though I had to “catch up” the newly replanted hydrangeas to those I had initially installed in the spring, they all began to grow beautifully once I incorporated some slow-release fertilizer. I personally favor Osmocote as an excellent general-purpose fertilizer. However, if your goal is to specifically influence the color of your hydrangea blooms, you have the option to use a specialized pink or blue fertilizer. These products work by adjusting the pH balance of the soil, guiding the blooms towards your desired hue. Acidic soil (lower pH) typically produces blue flowers, while alkaline soil (higher pH) encourages pink flowers.
Hydration Habits: Watering Your Hydrangeas Effectively
Watering: To ensure my hydrangeas remained consistently healthy and vibrant, I seized the opportunity created by replacing the wrong plants to install a soaker hose. This system efficiently delivers water directly to the root zone, minimizing waste and promoting deep root growth. However, I ended up turning it off about halfway through the summer, as we’ve experienced an abundance of rain over the past couple of months, and this particular garden area is situated quite close to a roof downspout. It’s important to remember that too much water can actually hinder flower production, and our heavy Georgia clay soil naturally retains more moisture than sandy soil, making careful monitoring essential.
Pruning for Abundant Reblooming
While Endless Summer hydrangeas are known for their reblooming capabilities, a little strategic pruning can go a long way in encouraging even more prolific flowering. Generally, these varieties bloom on both old and new wood, so aggressive pruning isn’t typically necessary. However, removing spent blooms (deadheading) can redirect the plant’s energy towards producing new flowers rather than seeds, extending the bloom season. For shaping or removing dead/damaged branches, it’s best to prune in late winter or early spring before new growth appears. Always use sharp, clean pruners to make clean cuts, which helps prevent disease.
Hydrangeas in Full Bloom: A Symphony of Summer Colors
Once the correct plants were established and all the care measures were in place, my corner garden truly began to shine. The BloomStruck hydrangeas burst forth, proudly displaying their stunning spectrum of summer colors. I plan to allow them to become even better established before taking any cuttings, but I’m eagerly anticipating observing how their hues transform as we transition into the rich tones of fall. I’m particularly enamored with the deeply purple shades they’ve been exhibiting, a magnificent result of the recent generous rains here in Georgia:
And let’s not forget the lighter, more ethereal hues – they are equally captivating and contribute beautifully to the overall garden tapestry:
Want to See Them in Action? Check Out This Garden Tour!
From whimsical gardening tales to essential care tips, it’s clear that the journey of cultivating a vibrant hydrangea garden is filled with both challenges and immense rewards. The joy of seeing these magnificent blooms flourish, especially after overcoming a few unexpected hurdles, truly makes all the effort worthwhile. Here’s to experiencing life in full bloom, right in your own backyard!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Endless Summer® Hydrangeas. The opinions and text are all mine.
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