bigleaf hydrangea

The Bigleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla 'Lanarth White') requires moderate watering. As a general guide, it should be watered deeply once or twice a week, depending on weather conditions and stage of growth. During the spring and summer when the plant is actively growing, it should be watered every week. During hot, dry spells, it may require supplemental watering 2 or 3 times every week. During the winter, when the plant is dormant, it only requires occasional watering, about once every 2-3 weeks. Allow the soil to dry out slightly between watering sessions. Over-watering can cause root rot and other fungal diseases.

Bigleaf hydrangeas need at least 4 hours of sunlight each day to produce blooms. Ideally they should be in a location that receives direct sun during the morning hours, followed by partial shade in the afternoon. This can mean that the plant is placed in morning sun until roughly 1 p.m., then afternoon shade until sundown. This will ensure that the hydrangea is receiving the correct amount of sunlight while also avoiding too much sun exposure, which can be detrimental to the plant's health.

Bigleaf Hydrangea should be pruned in the early spring, before new growth begins, or in late summer, after the blooms have faded. To keep the shrub compact and tidy, lightly prune the stems each year. Start by cutting off the previous year’s dead blooms from the tips of the branches. Remove all dead, diseased, or overgrown branches. Then, trim the remaining stems back by 1-third, cutting approximately 3 to 4 inches from the tips. If your Bigleaf Hydrangea is very overgrown, you can give the entire shrub a moderate trim, cutting back up to 1-third of the entire height.