Hydrangeas in Nantucket, MA

No plant says Nantucket like the blue mophead hydrangea spilling over a weathered fence in July. The island's naturally acidic sandy soil is part of the magic, because that acidity is what turns bigleaf hydrangea blooms their famous deep blue. But hydrangeas are also fussier than they look here: salt wind burns exposed foliage, too much sun scorches blooms, and careless pruning removes next year's flowers before they ever open.

Ryan Conway sites and cares for hydrangeas to work with Nantucket's conditions rather than fight them, placing them where a wall, hedge, or house buffers the worst salt wind while still giving morning sun. He knows which types bloom on old wood versus new, so pruning is timed to protect the buds instead of cutting off the show, and he manages soil acidity and aluminum availability to hold that signature blue. Feeding and consistent moisture round out plants that get fuller and more spectacular each season.

What's included

• Variety selection: bigleaf mophead, lacecap, panicle, and more
• Siting for shelter from salt wind with the right sun exposure
• Planting in amended, acidic soil for strong establishment
• Soil and amendment management to hold true-blue bloom color
• Correct, well-timed pruning based on old-wood vs. new-wood bloomers
• Seasonal feeding, mulching, and moisture management for fuller blooms

HydrangeaMulchSalt-Tolerant Plants