Watering Hydrangeas

Question

Should I lower the sprinkler head for these endless summer hydrangeas? Not sure where watering should be. Here is what I have now.

Answer 1

With hydrangeas, water the soil -never the leaves- in order to minimize fungal and bacterial leaf infections. It is best to water using soaker hoses or drip irrigation but if a sprinkler is all you have, ensure that the hydrangea station activates between 6-8am to avoid getting the leaves wet for long periods of time. Do not water automatically based on a schedule like every x days. Instead, test the soil frequently using the finger method: insert a finger to a depth of 4” to see if the soil feels dry, moist or wet. Then if it feels almost dry or dry then water with sufficient water to moisten the soil at a depth of 8”. If the soil is already moist or wet then skip watering. Getting the blooms or foliage wet will promote leaf spotting diseases.