Am I Taking Good care Of My Oakleaf Hydrangea?

Did you planted your oakleaf hydrangea in partial shade location?

Did you planted your oakleaf hydrangea in well-drained, slightly acidic soil, rich in organic matter?

Are you making sure that the soil is consistently and evenly moist?

Do you feed your oakleaf hydrangea frequently?

Do you prune your oakleaf hydrangea to keep it healthy and tidy?

Do you keep your oakleaf hydrangea free of pests and diseases?

In their native habitat, oakleaf hydrangeas are understory plants, thus they appreciate some afternoon shade, especially in southern climates, where nearly full shade may be needed. In the North, oakleaf hydrangeas can get by with full sun. Too much shade may reduce the intensity of the fall color.

Grow oakleaf hydrangea in well-drained soil with a slightly acidic soil pH, amended with plenty of compost.

These plants appreciate moist soil, and the more sunlight they receive, the more water they need. Blanketing the ground with a thick layer of mulch will help maintain soil moisture.

This plant generally requires no feeding, especially if you are mulching over the root zone. When growing in alkaline soils, occasional feeding with an acid fertilizer may be beneficial.

Oakleaf hydrangea shrubs usually require little pruning, unless you are trying to fit them into a location that is too small. In ideal conditions, this plant may shoot up to 10 feet, which may require that you trim it down. This is a shrub that blooms on old wood, so when pruning is necessary, do it immediately after it is done flowering. Damaged or diseased branches can be cut away whenever they appear.

Good job! You are taking good care of your oakleaf hydrangea.

Oakleaf hydrangeas are appealing to many insect pests from small sucking ones like aphids, scales, and spider mites to larger beetles like rose chafers. The application of insecticidal soap is usually enough for the tiny pests, but the larger ones will require the application of stronger organic pesticides like pyrethrin. These plants are also susceptible to rust and powdery mildew, fungal diseases that can be avoided by providing good air circulation.