If you’re looking for an ornamental plant that doesn’t take a lot of work, consider hydrangeas. Erik Helland of Landscape Garden Center in Sioux Falls says planting and managing hydrangea requires only a few simple steps.
“One of the things about hydrangeas is they're very, very easy,” Helland said. “There's hardly any complexity to them. Some of them you are going to want to trim back every year because they only come up on new growth. Some of them, you can leave to where they will grow out and they will come on their second-year growth or their second-year canes or branch. There are so many different types of hydrangea. Have fun them.”
Helland says the one limitation to planting hydrangea is soil drainage.
“Hydrangeas in general, really like well-drained soil. They do not want to be sitting in something where water's going. Where after a rainstorm, it's going to be sitting there for 24 hours. They want to have enough sunlight but they also can be great plants for partial shade. And when I say partial shade, I'm saying about maybe around four hours.”
Helland has a few tips for planting any plant, not just hydrangeas.
“The best thing to do is follow along with the plant height - the depth that it's already planted in the pot. Dig the hole the same size of the pot times about 30%, and then go ahead and plant it and make sure that the soil is firmly tamped around the root ball or the container where the root system is. Then water it and you should be good to go.”
Hydrangeas come in many colors and some even change colors in the Fall. Due to their hardiness and easy maintenance Erik says to just have fun with them and plant what you like. If you have questions for Erik Helland, send them to: [email protected]. He may answer your question on-the-air during the South Dakota Home Garden segment, Wednesdays on SDPB Radio's "In the Moment."