Hydrangeas are thirsty plants known for their shallow roots, so it is incredibly important to water them properly in summer at the right time to keep them alive. One of the biggest mistakes gardeners make in summer is watering their hydrangeas daily, as this can actually greatly damage the plant.
Hydrangeas tend to wilt on hot days due to heat stress, even if their soil is moist, so it is really common to overwater them in summer and drown the roots. However, British summers are unpredictable, so it is also easy to underwater hydrangeas if you are not watching them closely as they draw a lot of moisture from the soil to keep cool.
Michael Jacobson, an expert from French Florist, says keeping hydrangeas hydrated can seem tricky but it is actually simple as you just need to check on them in the evening.
He said: “When hydrangeas are running low on moisture their leaves will noticeably droop. Watering them well can reverse this appearance, even as quickly as a few hours later.
“Hydrangea leaves may also curl to protect themselves in high temperatures, so it’s worth waiting until the evening when it’s cooler to see if the leaves have unfurled before watering.”
If a hydrangea is drooping or wilting when the temperature is cooler at night then it does need to be watered, which is why many gardeners wait until the sun goes down to check on them.
However, it tends not to be a good idea to water hydrangeas in the evening as that is when slugs as most active and the fresh moisture can encourage more of these pests in your garden.
Instead, check on your hydrangeas in the evening but then wait until morning to give them a good watering, as this give them the moisture they need to handle the heat that day.
Hydrangeas lose a lot of moisture in their soil in summer due to evaporation, but watering in the morning gives the water time to reach the roots because the hottest time of the day is the afternoon.
They are also a lot more active in the morning so watering at the right time will keep the roots hydrated so you have a healthier plant that will flower for longer this summer.
It tends to be best to check if hydrangeas need to be watered every two to three days in summer and then water them deeply rather than giving them a light shower once a day.
Make sure to always aim for the soil and do not get any water on a hydrangea’s leaves or flowers as leaving them damp can encourage mould.
If you check on your hydrangeas every few days at night and then water them the next day then you will get lots of strong blooms that will look spectacular despite the dry hot weather.
