Hydrangeas will flower more in hot sunny weather if watered with 1 natural item in May
Hydrangeas have a bad habit of wilting or not flowering at all if not cared for properly in late spring, but there is a natural way to help them bloom without spending any money at all.
Hydrangeas are just starting to wake up in May, and right now will be covered in lots of buds that will burst into beautiful blooms later this year in the summer. Many gardeners love hydrangeas because they usually flower without much effort, but it is important to feed them now if you want to help them grow as much as possible.
Spring is when we tend to have a lot of heavy rain, which can often wash nutrients out of the soil, while warm weather can also remove a lot of moisture from the ground. Hydrangeas are incredibly thirsty plants, and if their soil cannot retain water, then it becomes more likely they will wilt, brown or just not flower very well once summer arrives. However, Richard Seres-Nagy, a gardener with over 20 years of experience from Hydrangea Library, has shared that there is a natural way to help hydrangeas and improve their soil, which is with a leftover scrap most people throw away every day.
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He said: “Coffee grounds have long been considered a hidden gem in gardening, offering an eco-friendly and cost-effective way to enrich the soil.
"Hydrangeas, known for their vibrant and lush blooms, can particularly benefit from the addition of coffee grounds when used correctly.”
Coffee grounds are slightly acidic, which hydrangeas love, and are also carbon-rich, which helps add lots of organic material to the soil.
This helps break up the ground, making it less compact and encouraging earthworms into the flowerbed, which will help rebuild the soil structure.
It will simply improve soil aeration so more oxygen can reach the roots while the organic matter will absorb more water to keep the hydrangeas hydrated for much longer.
They also contain nitrogen, an important nutrient in spring as it helps foliage grow, and if you get strong stems, they will be able to support bigger, heavier flowers.
They also contain nitrogen, an important nutrient in spring as it helps foliage grow, and if you get strong stems, they will be able to support bigger, heavier flowers.
Using coffee grounds to feed hydrangeas is the simplest way to improve the soil before summer arrives and help them flower without spending any money at all.
Richard added: “Coffee grounds contribute organic matter to the soil, enhancing its texture and increasing its ability to retain water. This is especially beneficial during hot, dry months, when hydrangeas are prone to wilting.”
How to feed hydrangeas coffee grounds
It is always important to be cautious when using organic feed in the garden, as they tend to be more potent than store-bought fertilisers, so it is best to dilute them.
All you need to do is place around a tablespoon of coffee grounds into a spray bottle or watering can, then water the hydrangeas with the weak brew.
Do this once a month until summer arrives, and your hydrangeas should have lots of beautiful flowers without having to hover around them with a watering can every day.
However, you can also sprinkle a thin layer of coffee grounds around the base of the hydrangeas and then water them if you prefer.
Just start with a small dosage and always use leftover coffee grounds after making a drink, as fresh beans will be far too strong and make it more likely you will overfertilise your hydrangeas.
