Annabelle Hydrangea

Smooth hydrangeas need regular watering to maintain soil moisture and encourage blooms. The best way to water these plants is by deeply and slowly watering them until the soil is moist to a depth of about 6 inches. During their growing season, which runs from April through October, smooth hydrangeas need to be watered once or twice a week. In drier climates, they may need to be watered more often. During the hot summer months, it may be necessary to water more frequently to maintain adequate soil moisture. During the winter months, when the plants are not actively growing, smooth hydrangeas should only be watered every 3 to 4 weeks.

Smooth Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle') typically prefers full sun to part shade. On average, this plant requires 5 - 6 hours of direct sunlight each day; however, in particularly warm or exposed areas of the landscape, it may benefit from a bit of shade during the hottest part of the day, usually between 11am and 3pm. This will help protect it from harsh sunlight and high temperatures. It should generally be kept out of full shade as it may not bloom as well in those circumstances.

Smooth hydrangeas (Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle') should be pruned in late winter or early spring. This is important because they bloom on new wood and pruning encourages vigorous and prolific blooms. Up to 1/3 of the oldest wood can be removed each year without compromising the size and vigor of the plants. Also, pruning encourages a denser, evenly rounded habit of the shrub. Any spent flower clusters should also be removed in early summer to encourage new blooms.