According To The Old Farmer's Almanac, This Is The Best Time To Plant Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas are garden classics. Their massive blooms elevate any landscape, and, depending on the specific variety of hydrangea, they can also be a great way to bring color to shady gardens where relatively few other flowering plants can thrive. If you've been thinking about adding hydrangeas to your own landscape but aren't sure when the best time to plant them is, The Old Farmer's Almanac suggests autumn, with late spring as a close second.

With 234 years of experience, The Old Farmer's Almanac is a classic and indispensable reference for everything from predictions for upcoming winters to planting calendars. They also have detailed recommendations for caring for almost every plant and shrub available, including smart tips for healthier hydrangeas. And, in case you're worried, The Old Farmer's Almanac is in good company with its recommendation of planting them in the fall. Most cooperative extensions also suggest fall and spring as ideal planting times, mostly due to the shrubs going into dormancy or freshly leaving it.

Even though summer allows you to see the color and shape of the blooms on your hydrangea, it's really not the best time for planting. The hot and dry weather can easily stress young plants that may already be struggling to adjust after being transplanted. Autumn and spring, on the other hand, tend to have cooler temperatures and more abundant rains.

While both spring and fall are great times for adding to your garden, as The Old Farmer's Almanac notes, autumn is generally the best time for planting perennials like hydrangeas because the soil temperatures are still warm, even as the air gets colder. Fall allows the hydrangeas to spend some time developing their root system before winter arrives, thanks to the warmer soil and frequent rains. It may feel like spring's major advantage over fall is simply that garden centers tend to have a larger selection early in the season, but many plant retailers, including online, offer an excellent selection of these shrubs in both seasons. 

If you decide to plant your hydrangeas in autumn, be sure to do so around two months before your first frost date to provide them with enough time to settle into their new home. Spring planting also requires you to keep frost in mind, as you should wait until after your last frost before planting. This is another area where The Old Farmer's Almanac can help, providing information on approximate first and last frost dates by region.