How to use: Apply one handful (35g) of Vitax Hydrangea Food around the base of the plant whilst planting. Through spring apply as a top dressing and lightly dig in or rake over the soil. In dry weather, make sure you water the ground beforehand for the best results. Grandiflora is a good example of this variety. It has huge white blooms that slowly turn pink as they age. It is also one of the largest, reaching the height of a small tree over time and in the right conditions. Oakleaf Hydrangeas (Hydrangea Quercifolia) Your container grown hydrangea may need some protection in winter. You can place it in a cold greenhouse or protect it with fleece. Remember not to let it dry out over winter. It will not need much water, but it will require some. Repotting

Our recommended supplier for Hydrangeas is Crocus who sell a large range of hydrangeas inpot sizes ranging from 2 litres to 12 litres.They offer a five year plant guarantee, top quality plants and excellentservice.

Drying flowers

A white flowered lacecap variety. Four or five ray flowers surrounding the white fertile flowers. The ray florets turn red in bright sunlight. A dwarf plant which needs some shelter to do well. 1m (3 ft).

Hydrangeas are usually resistant to most diseases. Good hygiene can help to keep your plant in excellent condition. In particular, ensure sure all pruning tools are sterilised before each use. These diseases can cause problems for hydrangeas. Cercospora Leaf SpotKeep hydrangeas (esp those in pots) watered through the winter, they still need moisture, and a weak plant is less likely to recover well from frost damage.

Vitax Fertilizer for Hydrangeas has been developed to improve flower yield and provide a boost throughout the flowering season. With a nutrient composition (N-P-K) of 8-4-12 with added magnesium and iron, it delivers high-quality foliage and large flower heads. Its primary purpose is a fertilizer and not a soil amendment, so you will not see any specific changes to flower color as you will with some of the other products we have reviewed. If organic fertilizer is made of manure then it may smell or the local wildlife may take an interest in it. Chemical Fertilizers Hydrangea fertilizer and feeding is fairly simple once you understand the basic elements of when you should feed and what you should feed. You can apply a slow-release chemical specifically for hydrangea shrubs once a year. If you have a fast release compound you can do it more frequently.

Does the type of my hydrangea matter when fertilising it?

Add a layer of mulch to help retain moisture and suppress weeds. Do not let the mulch touch the base of the plant to reduce the risk of rotting. You can grow your plant in a pot of peat-free ericaceous compost and water with rainwater to keep the flowers blue.