GardenBanter.co.uk - View Single Post - Hydrangea moisture requirements workaround?

Sacha[_3_] · 31-07-2008, 05:35 PM posted to uk.rec.gardening

On 31/7/08 16:38, in article
, "Vacutone"
wrote:

On Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:38:31 +0100, Sacha wrote
(in message ):

I think that in the end you will find it a lot easier to chuck a bucket of
water over it once or twice a day than to go through the rest of the faff,
to be honest. We have a hydrangea walk here beside the church and it's
probably about 50 or 60 yards long. One of us just drags the hose down
there either morning or evening or Ray puts a spray line on it. It's quite
soothing and peaceful to water the garden with an (evening) g &t in hand or
a (morning) cup of tea. ;-) I don't mean this at all rudely but if you're
worried about watering one hydrangea every few days, I think you might be
better not planting one at all because they do wilt very quickly in dry
weather.

That's a thought- but I really want this hydrangea. I've fallen in love with
the lacecaps now. I'll do whatever I have to do to keep it alive and happy,
but I'm really looking for ways- IF there are any- of making it less work.

I found a better location for it- it just means somethng else has to be dug
up and moved, but it will definitely require less watering there. I think it
will be ok.

But as I said, any ideas on reducing watering by retaining water around/under
the plant- I'd be very interested. As it is I'll use normal mulching along
with pebbles or large broken stone pieces, that will gvee me a head start.

You could consider running a 'leaky' hose to it that's invisible if placed
correctly. Then all you have to do is turn the tap on. I can never
remember the name of the stuff but someone will. It's specifically designed
for irrigation.
I agree with you that they are things of great beauty and I think that it
won't be long before you're their slave and watering them won't seem any
kind of a chore at all! ;-) We have one unidentified one that is
absolutely snow white and it lifts my heart every time I see it - there's
just something so ethereal about its colour that is a contrast with its
rather sturdy shrub! If you really are in love with them you could consider
a collection all in one area that does perhaps make a focal point to your
garden, either as an avenue or border and then your watering could be
concentrated in one place. You can also make watering more effective by
putting about a foot length of pipe sunk into the ground beside the roots of
the plant and pouring the hose straight down it so it gets directly to the
roots. Keep an inch or four of pipe above the ground so it doesn't get
covered in earth and you 'lose' it.
PS Have you met H. paniculata yet? ;-))
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon