When to plant hydrangeas
flowering shrub
The short answer
Spring or fall is the best time to plant hydrangeas; avoid hot, dry weather.
Hole
2-3 times as wide as the root ball, no deeper than its height
Sun
bigleaf hydrangea prefers morning sun and afternoon shade
Soil
well drained and rich in organic matter
What extension services say
- Although most people buy hydrangeas while they are in bloom, spring or fall is the best time to plant them. Dig a hole two to three times as wide as the root ball but no deeper than its height, and water thoroughly. Clemson Home & Garden Information Center ↗
- Avoid planting in hot, dry, exposed sites. Clemson Home & Garden Information Center ↗
- Plant in the spring after spring frosts but before the hottest summer months have set in. Oregon State University Extension ↗
- Avoid planting during hot weather; spring through early fall is ideal. Oregon State University Extension ↗
Oregon State's care page says spring only; its news article and Clemson allow fall. No extension page read so far gives a cold-climate (zone 4-5) date, so none is shown.
Questions gardeners ask
When is the best time to plant hydrangeas?
Spring or fall (Clemson). Oregon State says after spring frosts but before the hottest weather, and advises against planting in hot weather.
How deep do you plant a hydrangea?
Dig the hole two to three times as wide as the root ball but no deeper than its height (Clemson).
Sources
- Clemson Home & Garden Information Center: Hydrangea Care in South Carolina
- Oregon State University Extension: General care for hydrangeas
- Oregon State University Extension: Hydrangeas bring beauty and variety to Oregon gardens
Extension advice is local to the state that wrote it. Where the sources differ, both are shown. Dates in the tables are estimates from typical frost dates; your garden’s own last frost can differ by a week or more. How we source data.