Hydrangeas

 Hi Doug,  I have just discovered your online gardening videos.  I wish I had seen them sooner.  Even though I have been gardening for many years, some years better than others, there is always room for improvement.  This year I have been battling a groundhog who has been eating my tomatoes.  I thought I was lucky not having to deal with the tomato blight and then along came this creature.  My question, though, is about two hydrangeas I have planted in my yard.  Both came from plants from my mother-in-law's house.  One is planted at the bottom of my yard and gets some afternoon sun.  The other is planted at the top of the yard and shaded by trees.  At most I have had two blooms on these plants.  This year there is one, and only one, on the plant at the bottom of the yard.  I have read the flowers depend on the soil, I have also read it has to do with how you prune the plants.  Can you tell me what to do to get lots of flowers on these plants next year?  I really have enjoyed watching your videos and hope to see more.  Thanks for your help. 

Sorry for the late reply, I was out of town (turned 50!).

This is the number one question for gardeners in our area, and I've got at least three hydrangeas that didn't bloom this year.

First thing, don't prune them, for most varieties that means taking off next year's blooms. Only cut back the brown stems in June, when you're sure they are dead.

What's probably happening is that the buds are freezing out over the winter. The only solution for that is to surround the sides of the plant with some protection like burlap.

If you put anymore hydrangeas in go for something like 'Endless Summer.' It's one of the varieties that blooms on new and old wood, much more reliable bloomer.

Thanks for watching the videos, I'm having fun doing them. This week is a long one on planting bulbs.

 Hi Doug,  thanks for your response.  I have tried pruning and not pruning, but will wait until June next year. Also, I may try wrapping them for the winter as you suggested.   I have one big beautiful bloom on one of the plants.  How that happened I don't know.  I will keep in mind the "Endless Summer" variety.  By the way, congratulations on the big "50".  I passed that point eight years ago.  Kathy