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Spring is the most exciting season of all for gardeners. When our landscapes awaken, perennials and shrubs reappear as if by magic and we contemplate which new plants we’ll add to our ever-changing gardenscapes this year. We are here to help you with great ideas and gardening tips.
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Spring is the most exciting season of all for gardeners. When our landscapes awaken, perennials and shrubs reappear as if by magic and we contemplate which new plants we’ll add to our ever-changing gardenscapes this year.
Speaking of new plants, there’s a new addition to the Endless Summer® Collection:
Spring is a Great Time to Feed. Applying a good quality, slow-release fertilizer ONCE in spring or early sum-mer should suffice for all but the most demanding locations. Look for a fertilizer product with an NPK ratio of around 10-30-10. The middle number (the phosphorus) should be higher than the other two numbers. Many times the products are called bloom enhancers or boosters. Remember, more is not better! If you over-feed your Hydrangeas, the effect is more dark green leaf produc-tion with fewer flower buds. If you live in the North (zone 4) we recommend that you stop fertilizing after August 15th, as plants need to slow down and acclimate for winter.
Watering - Don’t overdo it.The amount you water is one more factor you can regulate to ensure beautiful blooms. Although hydrangeas are named after Hydra, Greek for water, your hydrangeas will form large leaves, lots of green growth and few flower buds if over-watered. It’s normal for plants to wilt for a short time in the heat of the day. You’re better off to water well and less often, than giving a little all the time. Think long drinks every couple of days rather than giving little sips all the time.
Be on the lookout for excess watering sources. Be sure that your sprinkling system or downspouts from your gut-ters aren’t giving the plants a double dose of water.
Shape Up with PruningSpring pruning is all about cleaning up the plant to make it look good. If you live in the North, don’t be in a hurry to uncover your hydrangeas. Be sure to wait until the average last frost date. Then, take out a good, sharp pruner and cut out the dead stems from the base of the plant.
Click here to check out our pruning video for a demonstration.
Easy Growing Tips for the GardenSpring is full of possibilities! We love the fresh start this season gives us. It’s a chance to get back out
and enjoy your yard and garden. It’s a fresh start for your Endless Summer® Hydrangeas, too. Here are
a few tips to get the growing season off and blooming:
Overall, hydrangeas, especially macrophyllas such as Endless Summer The Original, Blushing Bride and Twist-n-Shout, prefer morning sun with afternoon shade. These plants do best with some shelter from the hot afternoon sun. It is important to note, your plant will not do well if planted in full shade. Choose a location where the soil drains easily and the plants have ample room to grow. Giving the plant at least three feet of growing space allows for best light and air flow.
Here are a few tips for Northern and Southern climates.
Northern Gardens
The farther north you live, the more sun your Endless Summer Hydrangeas can handle. In the far North we recommend a spot that receives six hours of sun, with partial shade in the hot afternoon.
Southern Gardens
Keeping your hydrangeas in an area that is shaded from the hot afternoon sun is especially important in the South. Morning sun is best. Be sure to keep your plant mulched well, to help keep roots cool.
If you can’t find the perfect spot in your yard, remember you can always grow Endless Summer Hydrangeas in a container.
Q: I’d love to plant hy-drangeas, but my yard is very sunny. What are my options?
— Ray in Texas
A: The newest member of the Endless Summer Collection, Bella Anna, is a hydrangea Arborescens. This variety can take more sun than many other hydrangea types. Choos-ing the right variety for your area of the country is key. The farther north you live, the more sun they can tolerate. Areas of the Deep South require more shade than sun, hot dry conditions in the southwest are not suitable for hydrangeas in general without extra care and at-tention. Ask the experts at your local garden center for the best plant for your location.
Q: I recently planted several Endless Summer Hydrangeas in my yard. Some are blue and some are pink. The expert at my local garden center said they will likely turn blue because our soil is acidic. What do I need to do to make them all pink?
— Mary in New Hampshire
A: You are correct. If you have very acidic soil (pH 5.8 or lower ), the blooms of your Endless Summer The Original will turn blue. If the opposite is true and your soil is al-kaline (pH 6.4 or higher), your blooms will be pink. You’ll need to make the soil more alkaline in order to keep the blooms pink. Remember that Bella Anna will not change color as she is an arbore-scens type hydrangea and only the macrophyllas are affected by soil pH. The Endless Summer Color Kit can help you change the color of your macro-phyllas by simply adding Endless Summer Color Me Pink to the soil. You can find the Color Kit at your local garden center. We’ve also developed a how-to video to help you change the color of your hydrangeas.
Q: We’ve had a lot of rain this spring, and I’m wondering how much ad-ditional water we should be giving our Endless Summer Blushing Bride? Even with all the rain, they sometimes look droopy in the afternoon.
— Shelly in Kansas
A: Be sure to check out our Blooming Success article on page 8 for lots of great information on watering. It is normal for hydrangeas to wilt in the hot afternoon tempera-tures. In most cases they’ll perk up as the tempera-ture drops. The best rule of thumb is to water your plants well every couple of days. If you’re getting enough rain to do the job, there is no need to add extra water.
Q: I’m really enjoying my first Endless Summer Hydrangea! What do I do when the blooms start dying off?
— Gina in Massachusetts
A: You can cut spent blooms off your Endless Summer Hydrangeas anytime. Cutting off fresh blooms to bring into the house for flower arrange-ments can be done any-time as well! We like to cut the stem at least 10 inches (two or three leaf group-ings) down the stem from the bloom to help initiate new flower growth.
Click here to learn how to change the color of your hydrangeas
Enter to win, and you or your mom could be the lucky recipient of a luxurious
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Official Sweepstakes rules
Endless SummerBlooms.com
Two ways to enter… To enter, visit the Endless Summer display at a garden center near you, or simply enter online at EndlessSummerBlooms.com. Enter April 18, 2011 thru
May 20, 2011 for your chance to win!
Two ways to win! Enter the Endless Summer Spa-tacular Sweepstakes for a chance to win a delightful day of
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of their choice, and 15 runner-up’s will receive a $100 gift certificate for spa treatments.
Adding color to your yard can be as easy as planting a few garden containers. The beauty of plants in pots or decorative containers is that you can move them to the best growing area, or to the space in your yard that needs a pop of color. They can make front entries more appealing, add a splash of color to your next outdoor party or even create a new focal point in an existing garden space.
Endless Summer Hydrangeas are an excellent choice for container gardening. They are great in a pot by themselves, or paired with companion plants for a stunning display. Because they bloom continuously, your container is sure to look great all season long!
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Here are a few tips for successful Endless Summer containers:
> Be sure to use a good quality potting
soil. Potting soil is formulated
differently than garden soil. Choose
one made especially for containers.
> Place your containers in an area that
receives morning sun and afternoon
shade.
> Use a good quality slow release
fertilizer once in the spring,
preferably when you pot the plant.
You may need to use a liquid fertilizer
later in the summer. Just remember,
more is not better. Check out our
growing tips article on page 8.
> Containers dry out more quickly than in-ground
gardens, so you’ll need to make sure your
containers get enough water. Watering deeply, less
often is a good rule of thumb. Consider buying
an inexpensive drip irrigation system for your
containers. Putting them on an automatic watering
schedule will save you time and the hassle of
remembering to water.
> Changing the color of your Endless Summer
Hydrangeas can be an easy container project.
Check out the information on page 11 for
more details.
> If you live in a cold climate, be sure to bring your
container into a sheltered area for the winter.
Cover the pot with burlap, and cover the base of
the plant with mulch.
Join our Facebook page and share your container garden photos with us. We would love to share them with everyone in an upcoming issue of endless BLOOM.
Create garden impact with colorful First Editions® flowering shrubsWhen we think of adding color to the garden, we usually think of
flowers — mixing annuals and perennials to keep the show going
throughout the growing season. Flowering shrubs can add color and
interest as well. The First Editions New Plant Collection of premium-quality
flowering shrubs have been specifically developed to create maximum
effect with minimum effort season after season.
EW! More Color for your Garden
When we think of adding color to the garden, we usually think of
flowers — mixing annuals and perennials to keep the show going
throughout the growing season. Flowering shrubs can add color and
interest as well. The First Editions New Plant Collection of premium-quality
flowering shrubs have been specifically developed to create maximum
Vanilla Strawberry™ Hydrangea
This amazing hydrangea paniculata has large, full cone-shaped flowers that begin creamy white changing to pink and finally strawberry red. New blooms give the plant a multi-colored effect in summer and early fall. Enjoy the blooms in both fresh and dried arrangements.
Bali, Fiji and Tahiti Hibiscus
These extraordinary new hibiscus syriacus produce gorgeous semi-double fantastically tropical colored blooms, each with a deep magenta-red center amid dark-green foliage. Plant them en masse in full sun for a tropical effect from July through October. These exotic plants come to us from Minier Nursery in France.
Cool Splash® Diervilla
The bright green and white foliage of the first variegated Diervilla stands out, even in shady borders. It produces creamy yellow flowers in June and July and is easy to grow, developing colonies over time. Use in woodland settings or in mass plantings for a spectacular effect.
• Exposure: Full Sun
• Height: 6 – 7 feet
• Spread: 4 – 5 feet
• Zone: 4 – 8
• Exposure: Full Sun
• Height: 5 – 8 feet
• Spread: 4 – 7 feet
• Zone: 5 – 8
• Exposure: Full Sun
• Height: 2 – 4 feet
• Spread: 3 – 5 feet
• Zone: 3 – 7
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Bold and beautifulWith over 20 unique plants, the First Editions collection ranges from lush flowering hibiscus and
hydrangea to the dramatically hued foliage of sumac and barberry. A variety of shapes, heights and
changing colors create unique focal points and keeps things lively from spring through first frost.
Look for the Plum pot at a garden center near you.
Dress up any garden space, these plants pair perfectly with Endless Summer Hydrangeas.
Little Devil™ Ninebark
This gorgeous ninebark won the American Nursery & Landscape Association’s Best New Plant Award in 2011 for its compact habit and striking dark red foliage, offset by button-like white-pink flowers in June.Attractive to butter-flies, drought-resistant and needing little pruning, Little Devil is great for casual and experienced gardeners alike.
Tiger Eyes® Sumac
This colorful Rhus features fuzzy, red-purple stems with foliage that starts out a bright chartreuse, changing quickly to bright yellow. By autumn, this dazzling display turns golden, orange and scarlet. The branches angle upward while the deeply cut leaflets drape downward for a dramatic effect. Reaching a height of 6 feet, it makes a wonderful foundation or back-of-the-border planting.
Light-O-Day® Hydrangea
Featuring clean, bright variegated foliage and stunning flowers, this elegant lacecap hydrangea macrophylla shines in any border. The outer ring of flowers are bright white, while the delicate inner blooms are a glowing blue in acidic soils and a soft pink in alkaline soil. The cut blooms are beautiful in arrangements or on their own.