oakleaf hydrangea

When watering, oakleaf hydrangeas should receive about 1-1.5 inches of water per week. Ideal watering times are in the mornings or evenings to avoid water loss due to evaporation in the heat of the day. If soil is too dry, hydrate the plant thoroughly until water runs out from the bottom of the container. During the hottest parts of the summer, you may need to increase watering to 2 or 3 times per week to keep the soil from drying out. In early fall, reduce the frequency of waterings to once a week.

Oakleaf hydrangeas need 4-6 hours of direct sunlight each day to remain healthy and produce abundant flowers. They can tolerate part shade, but will produce fewer blooms in shadier conditions. For maximum bloom production, plant oakleaf hydrangeas in an area that receives morning sun and afternoon shade. If you have limited sun, try placing the hydrangea where it will benefit from early morning light and filtered shade in the afternoon.

Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia 'Amethyst') should be pruned in the early spring. The best time to prune oakleaf hydrangea is in the early spring before any new growth appears. This will give you the best visibility of the plant as well as the opportunity to make sure you focus your attention on the variety of shoots you’d like to shape and remove. Analyze the structure of the shrub before you prune and then remove any weak or crossing branches, dead branches, and branches that are weaker or sparser than the others. When pruning, don’t take off too much since the Oakleaf Hydrangea blooms on the previous year’s wood. If you take off too much, you will reduce the bloom and effectively ruin the look of the hydrangea for the coming season. It is also a good idea to thin out some of the shoots if the plant is overcrowded to achieve a more open and airy structure. Once you are done pruning, if necessary, you can use a fertilizer, such as an organic all-purpose fertilizer, to help stimulate growth and bloom.