| I recieved a beautiful hydrangea plant , like a periwinkle blue . I would like to transplant it to keep it. How do I care for this plant? Also, I planted mums last fall after they died and the tops are still above ground should I trim them, to keep them for fall plants in my garden? |
| The hydrangeas from the florist may or may not be hardy in your area, but if you think it is worth a try, select a location in morning sun or dappled shade all day with rich, evenly moist yet well drained soil. Plant the hydrangea there at the same depth as it is growing in the pot. Water it well, then apply several inches of organic mulch such as shredded bark. The mulch will help keep th soil moist and cool and also help keep down weeds. Water the plant as needed to keep the soil moist but not soggy, keeping in mind that a less frequent deep soaking is preferable to a daily light sprinkling. The old stems of mums should be trimmed off near the ground. You should see new growth emerging from the crown. These shoots should be pinched or trimmed lightly every two weeks between now and the middle of July to force the plants to branch and grow dense. This will also result in lots of flower buds for next fall. |
