Endless Summer is a collection of perennial hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla), which have the unique ability to bloom repeatedly throughout the spring and summer months, adding more color and attractiveness to your garden over a longer period of time. The hardy hydrangeas are known to bloom for 10 to 12 weeks longer than average Hydrangea macrophylla plants and also perform well in colder climates because they are able to bloom on the current season's new growth. Below we give you tips on how to care for your Endless Summer hydrangea.
The story of this beautiful plant
Hydrangeas Endless Summer are unique and take the traditional flower to a new level. They can produce their huge, powerful flowers on both old and new wood, which means they have a particularly long flowering period and allow for the possibility of repeat blooms. You can even customize your hydrangea by adjusting the pH of the soil so that it produces either bright blue, pale lavender, soft purple or deep pink flowers. As cold-resistant specimens, these flowers can even tolerate frost.
This plant was discovered in 1998 during a tour of the Bailey Nurseries experimental facility in St. Paul, Minnesota. During this visit, Dr. Michael Dirr, a noted professor of horticulture at the University of Georgia, a unique hydrangea that produces flowers on both old wood (like most varieties) and new shoots. He had never seen this feature before. So he focused on this particular trait at his plant breeding facility in Georgia. On the flight home, he scribbled the name “Endless Summer” in his notebook.
Sun and shade: the right location for the Endless Summer hydrangea
It is recommended to plant your hydrangeas in a location that receives full sun in the morning and partial shade in the afternoon. The further south you live, the less the Hyndragea macrophylla can tolerate the intense sun. Make sure you get 2-3 hours of morning sun with afternoon shade or partial shade.
Care: Choose the soil correctly
The ideal soil type for these plants is clay. In addition, good soil should contain at least 5 percent organic matter, i.e. compost, which is also known as humus.
Water the plant regularly
These flowers prefer well-drained, moist but not too wet soil. Overwatering can cause Hydrangea macrophylla to produce fewer flowers. Depending on the soil type, you need to adjust the frequency andAmount of irrigationadjust. If your hydrangeas are planted in an area with high temperatures, they may wilt a bit in the afternoon, but they will recover when the temperatures cool. You can support them byWater in the morning or eveningwhen there is no wind and the sun is less hot. Using mulch is another great way to save water and keep the soil cool. Plants covered with mulch can typically survive longer periods of time without watering than unmulched plants.
Fertilizing Hydrangea Endless Summer
You should fertilize your flowers once in spring or summer. Use a special slow-release fertilizer or a quick-release fertilizer.
Prune your plant as follows
Pruning many plants helps them rejuvenate so they can produce healthy new foliage and beautiful flowers. hydrangeaEndless Summeris a plant that benefits from this practice. Early spring is the perfect time to prune and prepare them for the season. A little work will pay off with healthy growth this year. Make sure your plants are the Endless Summer variety, as it is one of the few varieties that will bloom the same year it is pruned. These flowers are usually the ones that bloom in pink or blue throughout the summer. If your hydrangea is not an Endless Summer or if you are unsure about the variety, the best time to prune for shape and size is immediately after flowering. This will prevent you from accidentally removing the buds that the hydrangea will form next year.
Clean bypass scissors are best suited for this task. The scissors can be cleaned with household cleaners to prevent the spread of disease. Cut your plants back about 12 inches above the ground, making an angle away from the bud. If you trim the middle a little higher you will get a nice shape. If branches cross each other, one of those branches should be removed.
Pruning can continue throughout the growing season to remove diseased, damaged or dead material. Any pruning outside of these periods will damage the plantsusceptible to stress and illness.
Hydrangea Endless Summer – wintering
If you live in an area with freezing temperatures in winter, it is advisable to protect your plants. Because these flowers bloom on both last year's and current growth, protecting the flower buds on old wood will ensure you get the most blooms. Therefore, you should not prune your bushes after August 1st. Leaving the fall blooms on your plants over the winter ensures that the buds that become flowers in the spring and summer are not removed. Leaves, wood mulch and/or straw are good options for insulating your plants. Pile up mulch or leaves around your plants to protect flower buds that will bloom early next year.
Once you've planted your hydrangeas in a planter, place the entire container in your garage or a cool basement for the winter months. Container plants don't need as much mulch, but they should be watered lightly in the winter months because they don't receive moisture from snow and rain.
