CottageFarms DIRECT M97480 Panicle Hydrangea User Guide
- June 1, 2024
- CottageFarms DIRECT
Table of Contents
CottageFarms DIRECT M97480 Panicle Hydrangea
Specifications
- Light/Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8
- Plant Type: Perennial
- Planting Distance In-Ground: At least 4 feet apart
- Container Size: One plant per 16-inch or larger container
- Mature Height/Spread:
- Bloom Time: Summer to fall
- Time to Reach Maturity: 3 years
- Facts of Note: Attracts butterflies, deer resistant, colour-changing blooms
Product Usage Instructions
Soil Preparation
We recommend testing your soil periodically. Ideal garden soil should be easy to dig, drain well, and retain nutrients and water. To prepare for planting in-ground, spade or till the soil, add a 2-4 inch layer of organic matter, and mix well.
Planting Instructions
Plant the Panicle Hydrangea in a 6-inch pot. Ensure proper spacing in the ground or in containers. Water thoroughly during the first year.
Continuing Care
- Pruning: Deadhead for a tidy look.
- Weeding: Keep the area around the plant free from weeds.
- Mulching: Mulch heavily in late fall for cold areas.
- Watering: Water adequately and consistently, especially during the first year.
- Feeding: Fertilize every 2-3 weeks during the growing season with a water-soluble fertilizer.
Winterizing
In cold areas, mulch heavily around the base of the plant in late fall. Containerized plants should be moved to a protected area before freezing temperatures.
Overview
We aren’t happy if you aren’t happy. Cottage Farms warrants its perennials for one year and annuals for 90 days from the time of the shipment. If for any reason you are dissatisfied, Cottage Farms will replace your plant with a similar or comparable one at no charge. If your replacement is not available or it is too late in the season to ship, it will ship the following shipping season.
Caution: Do not assume any plant is safe to eat. Only parts of plants
expressly grown to be eaten should be considered edible. As with any product
that is not food, care should be taken to make sure that small children and
pets do not ingest any part of a plant that is not expressly grown to be
eaten.
Unless specifically stated, this product is intended for ornamental
horticultural use only and is not intended for consumption or ingestion by
humans or pets. Most plants are harmless but some contain toxic substances
which can cause adverse heath effects. Furthermore, some individuals and some
animals are sensitive or allergic to certain plants and precautions should be
taken to limit or avoid physical contact with particular plants. Some plants
have thorns or spines that can be painful if handled.
SOIL PREPARATION
We recommend having your soil tested periodically by your local County
Extension Office (www.nifa.usda.gov/extension or by calling
1-800-333-4636). A soil test can
determine if your soil needs any amendments to enhance the growth and
performance of your plants.
Ideal garden soil is easy to dig in and drains well while still holding the
nutrients and water vital to plant growth. To prepare a bed for in-ground
planting, spade or till the soil to a depth of roughly 12-18 inches. Next,
spread a 2-4 inch layer of organic matter such as compost, shredded leaves or
peat moss over the soil and mix well.
OUT OF THE BOX
PANICLE HYDRANGEA
Your plant has been shipped to you in a pot. Please remove the plant from the packaging right away and plant it as soon as possible following the planting instructions below. If it is not possible to plant right away, follow these important steps:
- Roll the plastic down around the plant and place it in a sunny location.
- Keep the plant well watered.
Note: Some leaves may appear wilted or yellow upon arrival. This is due to the stress of shipping and is nothing to worry about. Water the plant and let it recover in a shady location for a few days, then gently remove any foliage that does not recover to allow for new growth.
SHIPPED IN A 6-INCH POT.
PLANT SIZE MAY VARY BASED ON GROWING CONDITIONS.
PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS
Important: Thoroughly hydrate the plant by submersing the root zone in a container of water for 10 minutes while you prepare for planting.
- Remove and discard the clear plastic bag from around the pot.
- After watering, remove the pot by holding the plant upside down in one hand and squeezing the sides of the pot with the other.
- Prepare the root ball for planting by gently disturbing the surface roots with your fingers, fork or gardening tool and pruning any damaged roots. This will encourage the roots to begin growing outward into the new soil.
- Dig a hole twice as deep and twice as wide as the plant’s root ball. Partially backfill the hole with soil and place the plant into the hole. The top of the root ball should be level with the ground surrounding the hole. Refill the hole with soil, firming the soil around the plant with your fingers. Check to be sure the plant is not planted too deeply. If it is, raise the plant carefully and re-firm the soil.
- Water thoroughly.
CONTINUING CARE
WATERING
Adequate and consistent watering is essential during your plant’s first year
in the garden. Infrequent, long soakings of water that thoroughly saturate the
soil are more effective than frequent, light applications of water.
Due to variable geographical and environmental conditions, a specific watering
schedule is difficult to define. However, as a rule of thumb, you should not
allow the soil or the original root ball to completely dry out. During the
first summer, you may need to water as often as every few days in periods of
drought and extreme summer heat. To determine if your plant needs water, dig a
few inches into the soil next to the plant. If the soil is dry 2-3 inches
below the surface, it is time to water.
Over-watering can be as damaging as under-watering. Be sure that the area
surrounding your plant has adequate drainage to move water away from the
plant. If you choose to plant in a container, always select one with drainage
holes to prevent your plant’s roots from sitting in water.
MULCHING
Apply a 2-4 inch layer of shredded bark, compost, leaves, straw or other organic matter around your plants to promote moisture retention, maintain even soil temperatures and discourage weed growth. Replenish the mulch as needed.
WEEDING
Keep the area around your plants free of weeds. Weeds compete with surrounding
plants for food, water and light. Walk around the garden periodically and pull
weeds, including the roots, as soon as you see them.
PRUNING
Panicle Hydrangeas can be pruned in late fall, winter or early spring. Prune
to improve the shape of the plant by removing any branches that have become
overlapped, damaged or unsightly. Each branch can be trimmed by as much as one
third of its height in spring to encourage the plant to maintain.
FEEDING
Feed your plants once every 2-3 weeks during the growing season with a water- soluble fertilizer such as Cottage Farms’ Carefree Bud-N-Flower Booster for Acid Loving Plants (SKU #M10831). Discontinue feeding after September 1st so your plants can harden off for winter dormancy. Resume fertilizing when new growth appears in spring.
WINTERIZING
Watering thoroughly in late fall will greatly enhance your plant’s cold
tolerance once the ground has frozen.
While Hydrangeas are winter hardy, they will benefit from mulching in cold
areas. The time to winterize your plants is in late fall. When winterizing
your plants, keep in mind that the root system is the most vulnerable to cold
damage. Mulch heavily by mounding a 6-8 inch layer of shredded bark, compost,
leaves, straw or other organic material around the base of the plant.
In cold areas, containerized plants can be brought into an unheated, protected
area such as a garage or cellar before temperatures drop below freezing. Check
soil moisture every 2-3 weeks and water as needed during winter.
In spring, remove mulch from in-ground plantings. Containerized plants should
be moved back out into the garden sunlight where they will begin to repeat
their yearly garden performance.
Contact us:
Your satisfaction is of primary concern to us. Please use the following
resources for questions regarding your order:
cottagefarmsdirect.com
@ help@cottagefarmsdirect.com
IU facebook.com/cottagefarmsdirect
@cottagefarms
pinterest.com/ cottagefarms
@cottagefarmsdirect
Q 888-593-3644
D 9960 Padgett Switch Rd.
Irvington, Alabama 36544
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to deadhead?
Panicle Hydrangeas can be deadheaded for a tidy look. Leaving blooms on the plant through winter is also an option for the ornamental texture of the garden. Flower heads left on the plant over winter should be removed the following spring.
Where should I plant my Hydrangea?
Panicle Hydrangeas can be planted in the ground or in a large container. Southern gardeners should select a sunny planting site that receives some afternoon shade while Northern gardeners can plant in an area with full sun.