Is NPK good for hydrangeas?
Hydrangeas require a balanced amount of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). So, look for a fertiliser with an NPK ratio of 10-10-10 or other balanced proportions. Add extra aluminium sulphate for blue blooms or garden lime for pink flowers. Skip summer pruning to avoid cutting off this season’s and next year’s blooms. Water deeply in the morning and don’t bother deadheading—hydrangeas don’t need it.The first rule of thumb is to NOT over-fertilize your hydrangea plants. We suggest one application of granular fertilizer in spring or early summer, and then follow package instructions afterwards. If you over-fertilize, it can burn the root system of your hydrangea bushes and actually inhibit bloom production.You can clip the dead flowers off the plant just below the bloom, or leave it on the plant into the winter. Most dried hydrangea flowers break off sometime in the winter and any that remain on the plant can be removed in the spring. Don’t “neaten them up”!In acidic soils, hydrangeas can absorb aluminium more easily, which turns the petals blue, while alkaline soils have less aluminium available, which results in pink flowers. Using teabags will help make your soil more acidic, resulting in blue blooms.planting hydrangeas for the biggest possible blooms: plant your hydrangeas in good, well-drained soil. In my experiments, better soil and more regular water does matter to size and will lead to bigger blooms.
Is Miracle-Gro good for hydrangeas?
Avoid feeding hydrangeas after August, especially in regions with cold winters. A slow-release plant food works well. For best results, try Miracle-Gro® Shake ‘n Feed® Flowering Trees & Shrubs Plant Food, which feeds for up to 3 months. Common mistakes to avoid when fertilising hydrangeas Fertilising at the wrong time: Fertilising too late in the season can promote tender growth that is susceptible to cold damage. Stick to early spring and late spring or early summer applications for the best results.Don’t fertilize after August. Fall is the time for hydrangeas to begin preparing for dormancy. Fertilizing at this time may stimulate new growth that will be too tender to withstand the winter.As you make changes, watch your plant carefully to make sure you don’t overdo it and harm your plant. It’s also important to get the timing right—for best results, you need to amend the soil long before your hydrangeas bloom—either in late fall or early spring.As Paul explains, the ideal time to trim a hydrangea largely depends on its type, although autumn is never the right time to prune these ostentatious blooms. This is because most hydrangeas already have new flower buds on their stems. By cutting them back now, you would remove the buds and spoil next season’s blooms.