All hydrangeas will bloom and grow well in morning sun and afternoon shade. This is especially true of the most commonly grown hydrangeas, the macrophyllas. These are the blue and pink mopheads and lacecaps).

No hydrangea will do well in HEAVY shade, such as under an oak tree. The blooms will be sparse and will not develop fully.

If your landscape is mostly sunny, you may wish to grow the PeeGee (paniculata) hydrangeas, which can take all day sun if they get adequate moisture.

The Oakleaf hydrangeas will also grow in sun or shade, but the blooms last longer if they get a little afternoon shade. The leaves on the Oakleaf hydrangeas will "colour up" best in the fall if they receive some sun.

MORE TIPS FOR PLANTING

• Place the hydrangea in an area where it can get plenty of moisture. Supplemental moisture is especially important the first year or two and during droughts after this. Planting hydrangeas under trees can be difficult. Trees roots are very aggressive when it comes to finding the fertility and moisture you have provide for the hydrangeas. No matter how many of the tree roots you are able to remove to plant the hydrangeas (and be careful not to remove too many), they will all be back in a year (unless you remove too many and kill the tree).
• Hydrangeas do not do well in extremely hot weather (except Oakleaf). Some areas in the landscape provide more shelter from the heat and hot wind than others.
• The Oakleaf hydrangea is more temperamental about "wet feet" than the other types. Make sure that the Oakleaf will get perfect drainage in the area in which it is planted or the roots may rot. This is especially true when it is first planted.

• It is wise to purchase a hydrangea while it is blooming. It is usually impossible for the nursery to tell a lacecap from a mophead unless it is blooming, and plants get mixed up quite often. Additionally, 'Annabelle', seems to be variable in the quality of it's bloom. You may get stuck with an 'Annabelle' that has skimpy blooms if you do not see it blooming when you purchase it.
• Avoid choosing and planting a hydrangea in EARLY Spring when the leaves are first emerging. This is the most dangerous time to change the location of a hydrangea. Should a late frost arrive it can stunt the growth of the foliage. Most hydrangeas will not recover easily from this type of shock.

Hydrangeas grow best if they are fertilized regularly. Although some Experts recommend special fertilizer mixes to get the maximum results, hydrangeas do amazingly well with a more relaxed approach.

Try applying a slow release, balanced fertilizer once or twice a year. Both applications should be in the Summer. The amount of fertilizer used per plant will vary with the size of the plant. It is much, much better to err on the side of too little fertilizer than too much. A very small plant will take about 1/4 cup. A very large shrub will take 1 - 2 cups spread around the drip line of the branches (not next to the trunk).

Never fertilize a plant that looks sick or wilted. If a plant is struggling due to a disease or root problems, the fertilizer will only add stress to it. Try to cure the illness before adding fertilizer.