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Tag Archive for: hydrangea

VIDEO: Porch-Perfect Ferns: 🌿 Planting Hanging Baskets with Wyse Guide

June 17, 2025/in Blog, Espoma Videos, Kaleb Wyse, Spring Gardening

There’s nothing quite like a porch full of lush, thriving greenery to welcome in the warmer months—and no one brings that vision to life quite like Kaleb Wyse of Wyse Guide. In his latest video, Kaleb shares how he transforms his sunny front porch into a shaded retreat using one of our favorite combinations: Boston ferns, Kimberly Queen ferns, and a trusted mix of Espoma Organic Potting Soil Mix and Holly-tone.

Ferns Chosen with Purpose

Kaleb’s front porch faces south, which means intense sunlight, reflected heat, and the occasional gusty breeze. Instead of fighting nature, Kaleb leans into it—selecting Kimberly Queen ferns for their upright habit and sun tolerance, while reserving traditional Boston ferns for shadier spots near the house.

His secret to keeping these ferns happy? It starts with the soil.

Kaleb’s Planting Tips:

Kaleb chooses our Espoma Organic Potting Mix because it offers the perfect balance of drainage and moisture retention—critical for ferns, which love even moisture but hate soggy roots. This mix includes:

  • Perlite for improved aeration

  • Organic compost for slow-release nutrition

  • Natural, eco-safe ingredients—no synthetic fillers or plastic beads here

As Kaleb puts it: “It holds on to the moisture needed but also drains really well.”

He also adds a light sprinkle of Espoma Organic Holly-tone, our acidic plant food typically used for hydrangeas and evergreens. Since ferns thrive in slightly acidic conditions, Holly-tone gives them an extra boost without overstimulating growth—perfect for those who prefer a light-touch fertilizing routine.

🌱 Pro tip from Kaleb: Gently loosen or score the roots of pot-bound ferns before planting. It encourages them to branch into the fresh potting mix and establish faster.

Build Your Own Porch Sanctuary

Looking to create your own front porch oasis? Let Kaleb’s video be your inspiration. And when you’re ready to pot up your ferns, reach for the products trusted by generations of gardeners.

*****

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https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/WG_Porch_ferns.jpeg 1080 1920 Matt Dauphinais https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/espoma-logo340w-1.png Matt Dauphinais2025-06-17 16:15:452025-06-25 13:34:41VIDEO: Porch-Perfect Ferns: 🌿 Planting Hanging Baskets with Wyse Guide

VIDEO: How to Care for Roses 🌹 & Hydrangeas 🌸 with Garden Answer

May 2, 2025/in Blog, Espoma Videos, Garden Answer

Laura from Garden Answer Preps Her Garden for Blooming Success!

Spring is in full bloom, and Laura from Garden Answer is busy giving her garden the nutrients it needs to thrive! In her latest video, Laura shares essential care tips for roses and hydrangeas, starting with careful pruning to encourage healthy new growth. After pruning, she feeds these beautiful flowering shrubs with Espoma Organic Rose-tone, a gentle yet effective slow-release fertilizer specially formulated to deliver vibrant blooms without the risk of burning plants—something common with synthetic fertilizers.

While Rose-tone is primarily designed for roses and other flowering plants, it’s safe for use on hydrangeas as well. However, for optimal results, especially if you’re aiming for blue blooms, Espoma Organic Holly-tone is typically recommended. Holly-tone is formulated for acid-loving plants and contains elemental sulfur, which helps lower soil pH—a key factor in achieving those sought-after blue hydrangea flowers . That said, using Rose-tone won’t harm your hydrangeas and can still provide beneficial nutrients.

Meanwhile, her husband Aaron works to ensure the rest of the garden plants get some love too, applying Espoma Organic Plant-tone to arborvitae and boxwoods. Plant-tone is enriched with beneficial microbes and humates, promoting robust growth and enhancing overall plant vitality.

Watch Laura’s full video for detailed tips on how to care for your garden and learn why Espoma Organic fertilizers are her go-to choice for healthy, flourishing plants!

For more hydrangea care tips, check out our complete guide to growing hydrangeas!

*****

Learn more about Garden Answer here:

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https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/How-to-Care-for-Hydrangeas-Roses_Thumbnail_WP.jpg 338 600 Matt Dauphinais https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/espoma-logo340w-1.png Matt Dauphinais2025-05-02 15:42:052025-05-02 16:36:28VIDEO: How to Care for Roses 🌹 & Hydrangeas 🌸 with Garden Answer

VIDEO: Boost Your Blooms: 🌸 Fertilizing Hydrangeas the Organic Way with Skye Hamilton

April 29, 2025/in Blog, Espoma Videos, Flowers, Skye Hamilton, Spring Gardening

When it comes to hydrangeas, proper fertilizing is key to ensuring beautiful blooms and overall plant health. Skye Hamilton, gardening enthusiast and hydrangea expert, stresses the importance of fertilizing these stunning plants with a high-quality organic fertilizer as a smart investment in your garden. Unlike synthetic fertilizers, which often contain excessive nitrogen that encourages foliage growth at the expense of blooms, Skye recommends using Espoma Organic Holly-tone.

Why Holly-tone? Because it’s an organic fertilizer specially formulated for acid-loving plants like hydrangeas. Its slow-release formula ensures steady nutrient availability, promoting vibrant, plentiful blooms rather than just leafy growth.

Skye Hamilton with Holly-tone

Here’s Skye’s quick guide for successful hydrangea fertilizing:

  1. Fertilize twice a year: once in mid to late spring and again in mid-summer.
  2. Your first application should occur after leaves emerge but before blooms appear.
  3. Apply the second round no later than July to avoid disrupting bloom cycles.
  4. Missed spring fertilizing? Early summer application still benefits your plants.
  5. Apply fertilizer during mild weather or in the evening shade to prevent root burn.
  6. Distribute fertilizer along the drip line of your hydrangeas and gently work it into the soil surface.
  7. Always water thoroughly after fertilizing to ensure nutrients reach the roots effectively.

With Espoma Organic Holly-tone, your hydrangeas receive exactly what they need, resulting in lush blooms and healthier plants overall. Go organic, bloom better!

*****

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https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_5813.jpg 2095 1179 Matt Dauphinais https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/espoma-logo340w-1.png Matt Dauphinais2025-04-29 11:46:202025-04-29 11:53:03VIDEO: Boost Your Blooms: 🌸 Fertilizing Hydrangeas the Organic Way with Skye Hamilton

VIDEO: Transplanting Hydrangeas 🌸🌱 with Skye Hamilton

April 23, 2025/in Blog

If you’re looking to transplant hydrangeas like a pro, Skye Hamilton has you covered. In this informative short video, Skye walks us through a method that’s both plant-friendly and results-driven.

When to Transplant?

Skye recommends making the move in late winter to early spring, a period when hydrangeas are dormant. This timing reduces stress and sets the stage for robust root development.

Soil Prep and Planting

She doesn’t just dig a hole—she prepares it like a home. Skye amends the soil with Espoma Organic Land & Sea Compost, creating a nutrient-rich environment. She also incorporates a high quality organic fertilizer like Espoma Organic Bio-Tone Starter Plus to boost root growth and reduce transplant shock.

Final Touches

Once planted, a deep watering helps the soil settle around the roots. Skye’s method ensures your hydrangea gets the best possible start in its new spot.

With her approach, you’re not just moving a plant—you’re setting it up to thrive.

*****

Learn More about Skye Hamilton:

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https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/image1.jpeg 2071 1179 Matt Dauphinais https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/espoma-logo340w-1.png Matt Dauphinais2025-04-23 12:52:152025-04-29 11:47:01VIDEO: Transplanting Hydrangeas 🌸🌱 with Skye Hamilton

VIDEO: Planting a FALL CONTAINER + HYDRANGEAS + Harvesting POTATOES with Garden Answer

October 4, 2024/in Blog, Espoma Videos, Flowers, Garden Answer, Gardening

Join Laura from Garden Answer as she shows how to plant a stunning fall container filled with a mix of annuals and hydrangeas. Along the way, she shares practical gardening tips while sprucing up a flowerbed and harvesting potatoes from her vegetable garden.

To give her plants the best start, Laura uses Espoma Organic Potting Soil Mix for an ideal growing medium and adds Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus to ensure strong roots and big beautiful blooms.

Learn more about Garden Answer here:

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Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus bag Espoma Organic Potting soil Mix Big bag

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Where to Buy

https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Untitled-design-12.jpg 720 1280 Matt Dauphinais https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/espoma-logo340w-1.png Matt Dauphinais2024-10-04 12:25:072025-04-10 10:46:04VIDEO: Planting a FALL CONTAINER + HYDRANGEAS + Harvesting POTATOES with Garden Answer

VIDEO: DIY Fall Wreath: Crafts from the Garden with Wyse Guide

October 4, 2023/in Fruits & Vegetables - None

Join Kaleb Wyse of Wyse Guide as he crafts a festive fall wreath, incorporating some personal touches straight from his garden. A highlight of his DIY wreath is the inclusion of cuttings from his beautiful Limelight Hydrangeas. Kaleb nurtured these hydrangeas right from the start with Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus and sustained their growth throughout the season using Espoma Organic Holly-tone. Recognizing the hydrangea’s preference for acidic soil, he also amended the soil using Espoma Organic Soil Acidifier.

Dive into the video to witness the transformation of these garden treasures into a beautiful fall emblem.

Learn more about Wyse Guide here:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/WyseGuide

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https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/WG-Fall-Wreath.jpg 1080 1920 Matt Dauphinais https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/espoma-logo340w-1.png Matt Dauphinais2023-10-04 14:17:412024-11-25 12:34:19VIDEO: DIY Fall Wreath: Crafts from the Garden with Wyse Guide

VIDEO: Fertilizing Hydrangeas || Wyse Guide

June 9, 2023/in Fruits & Vegetables - None

Everyone loves the big, colorful blooms that come with hydrangeas, and getting them started is easier than you think! Follow along with Kaleb Wyse as he uses Espoma Organic Holly-tone and Soil Acidifier to fertilize his hydrangeas for spring.

Learn more about Wyse Guide here:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/WyseGuide

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WyseGuide/

Website: https://www.wyseguide.com/

*****

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https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Screenshot-wyse-guide-hydrangeas.png 570 400 Matt Dauphinais https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/espoma-logo340w-1.png Matt Dauphinais2023-06-09 15:48:252023-06-09 15:48:25VIDEO: Fertilizing Hydrangeas || Wyse Guide

VIDEO: Planting Trees ? and Fertilizing Hydrangeas ? || Wyse Guide

April 11, 2023/in Blog, Fruits & Vegetables - None, Kaleb Wyse, Trees & Shrubs

Watch as Kaleb Wyse @Wyseguide transplants trees and fertilizes his Hydrangeas this spring.

Kaleb uses Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus prior to putting his trees in the ground and Espoma Organic Holly-tone when fertilizing his Hydrangeas.

 

 

 

Learn More about Kaleb Wyse here:

Kaleb Wyse – @WyseGuide: https://www.youtube.com/c/WyseGuide

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https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/WG-plating-trees-and-hydrangeas-2.jpg 576 1024 Matt Dauphinais https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/espoma-logo340w-1.png Matt Dauphinais2023-04-11 15:13:432023-04-11 15:27:13VIDEO: Planting Trees ? and Fertilizing Hydrangeas ? || Wyse Guide

Caring for Acid-Loving Plants

July 13, 2021/in Gardening Projects

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For Sweet Results, Feed Acid Loving Plants

Imagine enormous pink rhododendrons, evergreens that are vigorous and deep green without any yellowing, and sweet blueberries fresh from your garden. These popular plants and many more seem to have nothing in common, but actually, they share an important characteristic – they’re all acid-loving.

Take a look at this short list of just a few to see how many you know and love (and are in your garden):

Amaryllis
Andromeda
Aster
Azalea
Bayberry
Bleedingheart
Blueberry
Camellia
Dogwood
Evergreens
Ferns
Fir
Gardenia
Heath
Heather
Hemlock
Holly
Huckleberry
Hydrangea
Inkberry
Juniper
Leucothoe
Lily-of-the-Valley
Lupine
Magnolia
Marigold
Mountain-ash
Mountain-laurel
Oak
Pacheysandra
Phlox
Pieris
Pine
Raspberry
Rhododendron
Spruce
Strawberries
Whitecedar
Woodsorre

5 Steps to Give Your Acid-Loving Plants a Boost

  1. First, test your soil. It’s not a big deal and it will tell you a lot. Get an inexpensive kit from your local garden center or a meter with a probe that you can poke into the ground and take a reading. It will make you feel like a very important scientist. Or space alien. Either way, these tests will provide you with a pH number. 7.0 is neutral – a lower number is more acidic, a higher number more alkaline. Set a goal of 5.5. Simple, eh?
  2. Adjust the pH if necessary. If the test says soil is too alkaline, add a product that contains sulfur such as Espoma Soil Acidifier. It’s safe, long lasting and better than aluminum sulfate. If the test says it’s too acidic, add a safe, pelletized lime product like Espoma Garden Lime. Always follow application instructions
  3. The Need for Feed. Feed all of these plants with a rich, organic plant food specially formulated for acid-loving plants; one that will spur deep evergreen color and dynamic blooms like Espoma Organic Holly-tone®
  4. Hot and Sour? Watering requirements vary depending for each plant, but be certain to keep acid-loving plants well watered at the root zone during hot Summer months.
  5. Too mulch is never too much. Add mulch a couple of inches deep around shallow roots for protection against hot or cold weather.

What Does Acid-Loving Mean?

Don’t worry. The term “acid-loving plants” shouldn’t strike terror in your heart. It simply identifies certain plants that need a more
“sour” (or acidic) soil to thrive. “Sweet” and “sour” refer to the acidity/alkalinity of the soil, also called the pH level. Most plants like a slightly acidic soil, around 6.5 to 7, but acid-loving plants need a lower number closer to 5.5. The reason this matters is that acid-loving plants can’t take the nutrients they need from the soil if it isn’t in the proper acidity range. The good news is that you can adjust the acidity in your soil.

That covers the easy basics of what you need to know to help your acid-loving plants thrive. Hopefully this information alleviated any anxiety you may have had about caring for your acid-loving plants—or at least it neutralized the excess acid!

https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/hydrangea-945926_1920.jpg 1276 1920 Kevin Pyles https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/espoma-logo340w-1.png Kevin Pyles2021-07-13 15:26:282021-07-14 14:11:39Caring for Acid-Loving Plants

How to Plant Hydrangeas

September 10, 2018/in Espoma Videos

In the video below, Laura from Garden Answer demonstrates how to plant hydrangeas using Espoma’s Bio-tone Starter Plus and Holly-tone.

Can’t wait to learn more about hydrangeas?
Check out our Hydrangea Growing Guide

HYDRANGEA
Growing Guide

 


 

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