Home - Garden
Growing Tips To Help Your Vanilla Strawberry Hydrangea Trees Thrive
By KOURTNEY BORMAN
Vanilla Strawberry hydrangea — or Hydrangea paniculata — are stunning, versatile trees. While the plant is fairly hardy, there are ways to ensure they thrive in your yard.
You'll want to make sure that they have the proper lighting. These plants require full sun to partial shade, so don't plant them where their sunlight will be blocked.
Next, the soil will need to be rich and well-drained. The pH of your soil won't change the color of these hydrangeas, so you don't need to keep the acidity or alkalinity in check.
The trees also prefer to be watered well but not soaked once a week. Dry conditions won't harm an established plant, but prolonged heat can cause the flowers to brown and fall off.
Providing some relief from the intense afternoon heat and mulching at least 3 inches deep around the base of your hydrangeas will help them thrive in warmer weather.
You should use a slow-release fertilizer, typically once in spring and again in early summer. Prune after their flowering is finished, usually in late autumn or early spring.
If you're considering potting the tree, note that these hydrangeas will eventually outgrow the containers since they can grow 6 to 7 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet wide.