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Climbing hydrangeas (Hydrangea petiolaris) are one of the most popular plants for gardeners of varying different skill levels. They’re well loved across millions of gardens, known for their beautiful leaves and cascading white flower clusters. When treated properly, these low-maintenance climbers add a stunning vertical feature to your outdoor space.
We’ve put together this guide as a breakdown of key care tips so you can have a gorgeoushydrangea species climbing on a wall, fence or pergola that suits you.
A hydrangea climber thrives in shaded and north-facing areas, doing particularly well in darker areas of the garden where other plants might struggle. They can tolerate full-sun if their soil is kept moist.
Make sure to choose moist, yet well-drained fertile soil of varying pH levels, leaning towards neutral (not too acidic or alkaline). You can check thiswith a pH tester.
You need to set up your hydrangea climbing up a strong, sturdy structure. Some typical support structures can be:
Brick walls
Chain link fences
Strong wooden fences
Arbors & pergolas
Wooden trellises
Along with all of these specific tips, it’s also important to remember that you can basically plant a climbing hydrangea all year round, as long as the ground isn’t frozen or waterlogged at the time.
Once you’ve planted the hydrangea, there are some essential processes that you need to keep in mind.
It’s vital to keep all the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged, especially during thesummer months and drier periods. This is especially important in the first years after it’s been planted. Make sure to be mindful of planting location and the potential for rain shadow coverage.
It’s not just enough to know when to prune climbing hydrangea – different contexts and approaches need to be considered.
Only ever prune after flowering
Generally, keep pruning to a minimum, focusing on spent blooms, straggler stems and wayward shots
Prune to control spread, keeping plants out of unwanted areas
Do things gradually, approaching the pruning process over multiple years
Additional tips for climbing hydrangea care include:
Only applying light, balanced fertilizers in early spring
Mulching around the base of the plant to maintain moisture and suppress weeds
Avoid pesticides as climbing hydrangeas are resistant to pests and diseases
Hydrangea scale can be a serious issue if left unattended
They can take a fairly long time to establish and grow, so be patient, not discouraged
If you’re interested in learning more about climbing hydrangeas and more, visit ourKnowledge Hub at One Click Plants today. We create essential guides for gardeners at all skill levels, along with selling all of the plants that we focus on at the highest quality levels.
