- Are you wondering when it is safe to remove the winter covers from your hydrangeas and start fertilizing them?
- Find out why the leaves of your hydrangeas turn yellow and how to deal with it to enjoy lush flowering.
- Get to know the recipe for a homemade, natural yeast conditioner that will bring your hydrangeas to life!
When should you fertilize hydrangeas for the first time in the season?
Hydrangea bushes require winter covering with agrotextile. It protects delicate bushes from frost and strong wind. Few people know that not all hydrangea species require covering. Bouquet hydrangeas tolerate negative temperatures well and do not need to be covered. begins when temperatures are constantly above zero and there are no night frosts. This most often takes place in March. However, gardeners warn to constantly monitor the weather. It may turn out that temperatures will drop significantly and the bushes will need to be covered again. About 2 weeks after removing the winter covers, you can start the first fertilization. Experts indicate that at this time it is worth using long-acting fertilizers and those that enhance the flowering process. Nitrogen-rich nutrients are a good idea.
Why do hydrangea leaves turn yellow in spring?
Yellowing of leaves is quite a common problem in . In early spring, you should focus on basic care treatments. After winter, the bush needs regular watering and fertilization. Hydrangea chlorosis is a phenomenon that leads to the gradual yellowing of the leaves. As a result, they will begin to fall and the bush will wither. This problem results from a deficiency of chlorophyll, a compound needed for photosynthesis. One of the most common causes of chlorosis is improper soil pH. Hydrangea bushes grow best in slightly acidic soil. Too high a pH leads to yellowing of the leaves. Nitrogen and iron deficiencies may also manifest themselves in this way. If your hydrangea is turning yellow, first check the pH of the soil.
Homemade conditioner for the first fertilization of hydrangeas
At the turn of March and April, you can fertilize hydrangeas with a home-made fertilizer based on baker’s yeast. It stimulates flowering. It provides valuable ingredients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. To prepare homemade baker’s yeast nutrient for fertilizing hydrangeas, you need:
- 100 g of fresh baker’s yeast,
- 1 cup of sugar,
- 10 liters of lukewarm water.
Grind the yeast with sugar and set aside for about 2 hours. After this time, put them in a bucket and pour 10 liters of water. Cover everything tightly with gauze and set aside for about a week. Dilute this fermented hydrangea fertilizer with water by mixing 1 cup of the conditioner per 10 liters of water. Water your hydrangeas with this once every two weeks. Nettle and garlic conditioners will work similarly. A few handfuls of nettle are enough to nourish one bush. The hydrangea will be strengthened and will receive the nutrients it needs. This type of home-made fertilizers also protect against pests and diseases of bushes.
