Hydrangeas are one of the most beautiful, versatile plants that you can add to your garden. With their gorgeous bell-shaped blooms and varying colors, they can add a pop of color and interest to any yard or garden. And what's even better is that they're incredibly easy to care for – all you have to do is plant them in the fall and then keep them well-watered during the spring and summer months.

Here are three main reasons why you should definitely consider adding hydrangeas to your garden this fall. Keep reading for more info!

Great Weather Conditions

Hydrangea changeable large-leaved Garden French wild-growing bush. Variety of paniculate and tree-like hydrangea. Blue and pink flowers
Hydrangea changeable large-leaved Garden French wild-growing bush. Variety of paniculate and tree-like hydrangea. Blue and pink flowers

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If you're looking for the perfect time to plant a hydrangea, do it in the fall! Since these beautiful plants prefer mild, less extreme weather, fall is the ideal shoulder season. Fall offers warm temperatures and enough moisture to help them establish strong roots before winter.

Plus, since they lose their leaves in winter anyway, planting them in fall means they'll have lots of months dedicated to rooting growth while they're dormant. Additionally, it tends to rain more in the fall, which helps establish your hydrangeas.

Longer Flowering Period

Gardening in bushes of hydrangea. Gardener waters flowers with watering can. Girl takes care the garden. Flowers are pink, blue and blooming in street by house.

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Since hydrangeas are perennials and take a while to bloom after they’re planted, you might think that it makes sense to plant them during the spring months. You can do so, however, with a little foresight and planning, you can actually extend their flowering period if you plant them in the fall. This means more time to enjoy their lush foliage and stunning spring blooms!

They Add Pops of Color to Your Spring Landscape

Large pink blooming hydrangea in drops of water under an automatic watering system. Water dust in the air needs hydrangea (macrophyllum). Beautiful bokeh. Selective focus. Lush flowering hortensia.

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Hydrangeas are beautiful flowers that add stunning color and texture to any garden or landscape design. They are a great plant to add to your garden because they can bloom at different times throughout the year - depending on the variety of hydrangea you choose. In general, most varieties of hydrangeas bloom in the spring or early summer, and then again in late summer or early fall. As mentioned above, planting them in the fall is a great way to ensure that your hydrangeas will have plenty of time to establish themselves before winter arrives so you can have a plethora of color in your spring garden.

Their large flower heads come in a variety of shades, from deep blue and purple to pink, or white. And you can even change the color of your hydrangea if you choose!

How To Care for Your Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas are a beautiful and versatile plant, with many different varieties that can be grown in any climate. If you're interested in watching these gorgeous flowers flourish, here are some tips on how to grow hydrangeas successfully.

Choosing The Right Variety

hydrangeas

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First, it's important to choose the right type of hydrangea for your climate. Before you start planting your hydrangeas, do some research about which variety is best suited to your climate and growing conditions. For example, if you live in zones 4 through 9 try planting varieties such as big leaf, oak leaf, or panicle hydrangeas.

Location

Pink and blue hydrangeas

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Mornings are a great time for hydrangeas to get their daily dose of the sun before the extreme heat of the afternoon sets in. Pick a location that gets plenty of shade or indirect light during the afternoon. Hydrangeas need a bit of shade as direct light is too harsh. Although, they can tolerate sunlight if the soil isn’t too dry.

Soil Prep

Person out of frame shovels dirt into yellow bucket

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Once you've selected the right type of hydrangeas for your garden, it's important to prepare the soil properly. This involves digging a hole roughly two feet across and one foot deep.

You would need to remove any weeds or competing plants from the area so they don't steal vital nutrients and water away from your flowers.

Remember, hydrangeas prefer soil with a pH level between 6 and 6.5, so if your soil is heavy or overly alkaline, you may need to amend it before planting.

Planting

Woman replanting flowers, pulling hydrangea with roots from a pot, close-up on hands.

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After preparing your soil, it's time to plant your hydrangeas! Be sure to space them appropriately according to their size and growth habit. You may also want to add a layer of mulch around the base of your plants, to help keep the soil moist and prevent weeds from growing. Additionally, it’s best to avoid planting when the conditions are too windy or hot.

Hydrangeas can also be grown in pots and indoors!

Watering

Watering hydrangeas

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Finally, make sure that you water your hydrangeas regularly, especially during hot and dry summers when they're more prone to wilting and browning. During the winter you can cut back on watering but just make sure to water deeply when you do.

To help keep them healthy and beautifully blooming all season long, keep an eye out for pests and diseases like hydrangea scale and powdery mildew. Treat them with an appropriate fungicide or insecticide as needed.

Be-leaf in Hydrangeas!

If you're thinking about planting flowers this fall, be sure to consider adding some of these beautiful blooms to your garden. Planting hydrangeas in the fall is a great idea because they have time to get established in their soil, you get a longer blooming period, and come spring, your yard will be full of vibrant colors!

Do you have any tips or tricks for growing hydrangeas? Leave a comment below and don’t forget to share with your friends and family!