In my old life, I had an enormous hydrangea that bloomed with proficiency and energy all summer long underneath the dryer vent in a location where few ventured! I really don't think it saw much pruning and I am sure it never saw a watering can come near. In fact, the only time I went near was to pluck those ever present and abundant blooms. One time, I provided about 75 magnificent purple-blue blooms for a wedding
When I moved into my just for me house at the end of one summer a few years ago, I noticed there were a few hydrangea bushes in this backyard garden. I looked forward to their blooms brightening my table the next summer.That first summer, there may have been a few buds consumed by deer, but there were certainly nothing close to a flower.
The next couple of years, with time on my hands and energy to spare, I pruned and shaped and fertilized those flowers determined to make them bloom. I planted lavender and garlic. There was nothing close to a flower.
I decided to approach my "flowers" as if they were a research project last fall and began to scour the internet and read every book the library had to offer. I found MANY contradictory ideas and suggestions. I really had to take some ideas and let others lie.
Here is what I did, but I cannot promise it will work for you!
I learned you should prune VERY carefully and if you must, only prune a little and then only in the spring. Just let those ugly branches be! ( Just like I had done to the magnificent hydrangea underneath my dryer!)
I learned that the fertilizer I was using was the wrong one. Instead, use a slow release fertilizer high in phosphate after they are budding in July. Or use nothing ! (oops)
I also learned NOT to overwater! In fact, only add a bit of water if they are dropping for a couple of days! (double oops)
I also learned that sometimes, human hair can serve as a deer repellant and so I asked my local salon for a bag of hair! and spread it all around. (double weird)
This year, I have flowers.
