<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nStep 12: Hydrangea Pests<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Along with disease, hydrangeas also run the risk of pest infestation during the flowering season. Common pest affecting your hydrangeas include whitefly, scale, and aphid infestations. These pests such the sap out of the plant tissue, causing yellowing and curling at the edge of the leaves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ants bring aphids to your plants, and if you look under the leaves, you may notice eggs laid by whitefly. If you think you may have a whitefly problem, then shale the stem of the plant. The dynamic motion disturbs the flies, and you\u2019ll see them take off into the air as you shake the stem. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Spider mites are also another problem for hydrangea growers. These pests invade the flower tops, weaving tiny webs. The insects suck the nutrition out of the leaves of the plant, causing a yellowing known as \u201cstippling.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The final pest to look out for in your hydrangea garden, are caterpillars. These critters invade the flower head, munching away at the tasty blooms. Spread the flower every now and again to check for caterpillars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nStep 13: Hydrangeas Don\u2019t Need Much Fertilizer <\/h3>\n\n\n\n One of the best features about growing hydrangeas is the fact that they need such little care throughout the growing season. This lack of maintenance makes them an ideal choice for newbie gardeners looking to add color and flair to their yard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
After planting your flowers, all you need to do is water them every two or three days, and the plant does the rest. As a result, you don\u2019t have to worry about fertilizing your plants very often either. Most growers will get away with one feeding session in the months in June and early July. We recommend that you don\u2019t fertilize after late July, as this may end up burning your plants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hydrangeas do well with 10\/10\/10 fertilizer blends, at low doses. Fertilizing too late into the season may also encourage new growth when the plant is supposed to be entering the overwintering stage and should be persevering its energy. As a result, your hydrangea may not survive the winter if you feed them too late in the season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nStep 14: Overwintering Hydrangea <\/h3>\n\n\n\n When the growing season closes for the year, you don\u2019t have to pull up your hydrangea and throw it away. With the right care, your plant can survive the cold and make it through to the following spring. If you live in a region of the United States where winter temperatures don\u2019t get below freezing point, then there is no need for you to take any special precautions to protect your hydrangea for the winter weather. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, if you live a region where wintertime temperature dips below the freezing point, then you\u2019ll have to make an effort to protect your plants. The hardy varieties of hydrangea don\u2019t require any protection at all. However, if you live in an area where frost is severe, and snow covers the ground during the winter, then you can protect your plants with a layer of burlap to keep the cold from killing the foliage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Provided the Polar Vortex doesn\u2019t arrive, your plants should make it through the year-end, without the need for burial or other special overwintering techniques.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nStep 15: Harvesting and Displaying Hydrangea <\/h3>\n\n\n\n Hydrangeas make an attractive display flower that looks fantastic in any floral arrangement. From vases to wreaths, there are many different decorative ideas for displaying your hydrangeas. Not every gardener will want to harvest the flowers, but it\u2019s important to note that hydrangeas will grow new heads from old wood, as well as new growth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Therefore, you don\u2019t have to worry about the heads not growing back if you harvest the flowers from the plant. Start your harvest process by cutting the flowers when they start to develop a papery consistency to the petals. Cut about 1-inch below the flower head, and make sure you do this task at a 45-degree angle. Flatly cutting the stem will stop the growth of the hydrangeas and kill the plant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remove the stems from the leaves and then hang the flowers to dry in a warm, dry room for two weeks. After drying, your flowers are suitable for inclusion in wreaths or potpourri blends. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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