bigleaf hydrangea

Bigleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla 'Taube') need moderate moisture and should be watered regularly to ensure good health. It is best to water the plants at ground level, as wet leaves can be vulnerable to disease. During the active growing season, hydrate about once a week and provide about 1 to 1.5 inches of water. In warmer climates, supplemental watering is necessary during times of drought. During the winter months, water only when the soil is nearly dry, usually every other week or so. Wilting leaves is an indication that the plants need more water.

Bigleaf hydrangeas should receive about 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight a day, preferably in the morning. Too much or too little light will cause the plant to suffer. It is best to place the plant in a spot that is shaded during the afternoon, so that it receives protection from the intense afternoon sunlight that can harm the plant.

Bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla 'Taube') should be pruned twice per year – once in early spring and once in late summer. In early spring (around March), you can remove any dead, diseased, or damaged stems. Older, woody stems can also be selectively thinned out in order to open up the center of the shrub. Don't prune too severely at this time; generally, 1/3 of the stems can be removed. In late summer (around August or September), you can prune the remaining stems to desired size and shape. Flower buds are set in late summer for the next year's blooms, so pruning after this time can reduce flowering. Aim to remove no more than 1/3 of the shrub at any 1 time and keep an overall rounded or vase-like shape to the shrub.