Mulch is a talented superhero in the home garden. It conserves soil moisture even on the hottest days, it keeps many bothersome weeds from growing near plants, it regulates soil temperature and it even helps prevent erosion. Like many other garden plants, hydrangeas benefit from the protection of a thick layer of mulch. Spread and maintain the mulch properly and your hydrangeas will show their thanks with better growth and nicer blooms.
Select a mulching material. Hydrangeas benefit from an organic mulch that decomposes and adds nutrients to the soil. Chopped leaves, compost, pine straw and pine bark are examples of organic mulches suitable for hydrangeas.
Apply the mulch 3 to 5 inches deep, depending on the material size. Finer mulches with pieces 1/2 inch or smaller should be applied no deeper than 3 inches since a thicker layer could prevent enough air and water from reaching the soil. Mulch with 1-inch particles is a medium mulch and should be about 4 inches deep. For coarser mulches, apply 5 inches.
Spread the mulch around the shrubs to cover the entire area under the canopy. To minimize the risk of crown rot, leave 2 inches of space between the mulch and the hydrangea's stem.
Replenish the mulch at least once a year in the spring to maintain the desired thickness. Finer mulches need replenishing more frequently.
- According to University of Florida, one bag of mulch typically can cover an 8-square-foot area to a depth of 3 inches. One bale of pine straw can cover an 18- to 20-square-foot area and one cubic yard of mulch can cover a 108-square-foot area.
- Hydrangeas include more than 100 varieties that are hardy between U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 and 10.
- University of Georgia: Growing Bigleaf Hydrangeas
- Danny Lipford: How to Grow Hydrangeas
- Frederick County Master Gardener Program: How to Care for Hydrangeas
- Texas A&M University: Mulches for Enhanced, Low-Cost, Low-Maintenance Landscapes
- Texas A&M University: Hydrangeas -- Popular Plants for the South
- University of Florida: Maximize Mulch
- Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images