thinking about hydrangeas

jazzymaddy 4/6/2011, 12:09 am

I have a little area that we were considering for the veggie garden, but then discovered that it only gets around 6 hours of full sun. And it's quite sloped. We chose a different spot for the box, but now I'm considering planting a couple of happy bushes in the original spot. And wouldn't you know it, but Aldi has hydrangea bushes on sale for $2.99 this week. I LOVE hydrangeas, but know nothing about them. Would 6 hours be too much sun? Would they attract a ton of bugs that will end up finding my veggies? Anything else I should know? I can't believe I'm even considering this - this garden has really opened up a world of possibilities for this (hopefully, prayerfully) former black thumb.

Thanks as always,
Tracy

tkdtara84 4/6/2011, 12:18 am

No answers for you, but I hope our Aldi gets some hydrangeas! I've ogled their plant stuff in the past-- such good prices! However, nothing I bought (grape vine, raspberry bush) ever made it into the ground. We had a lot of yard rehab to do first (neglected by previous owners).

This year, though, we're all ready to add stuff, so I can't wait to see what goodies aldi comes out with. One good source you might try, though, is a search in the gardenweb.com forums. I found them before this, and it's a much larger group, so a search usually turns up a wealth of info on a particular flower or plant you're interested in.

BackyardBirdGardner 4/6/2011, 12:26 am

Not to refer away, but I doubt Hydrangeas would fit in a single square...lol.

http://www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com/planting.html

http://www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com/pruning.html

They are great focal points in a landscape and do well with other plantings. Hostas, lariope, and flowering bulbs rock out a hydrangea garden for multiple season blooming.

Hydrangeas attract soldier beetles as well as bees, flies, and some species of wasps. However, they do NOT attract houseflies, yellowjackets, hornets, and predatory wasps because those insects are carnivores. The soldier beetles are beneficial because they eat aphids and cucumber beetles.

Take care to identify which species of hydrangea you are buying, though. Different types have different requirements. It's not a one-size-fits-all bush.

middlemamma 4/6/2011, 12:29 am

I love them too...good luck with them. I hope you get to plant them. I should see if they would grow in my area...I don't know much about them. Maybe I will research them too!

**rowena___.** 4/6/2011, 12:17 pm

hydrangeas get HUGE. even one whole box wouldn't be enough to contain a mature plant, so leave plenty of room when you plant. they do fine with 6 hours of sunlight though.

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