I'm planning to plant a blue hydrangea in a half whiskey barrel. I've heard that using ericaceous compost is a must, but I'm confused about whether to fill the barrel entirely with compost or to mix it with some soil. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!
2 Answers
You can definitely mix the ericaceous compost with soil, but just keep in mind that the pH level of your soil can affect the color of the hydrangeas over time. So, if you're looking to keep them blue, you might want to stick with mostly ericaceous compost.
It's generally a good idea to mix the ericaceous compost with some soil. If your existing soil is alkaline, you might end up with pink blooms. Check how your other plants are doing—if you have acid-loving plants like azaleas or rhododendrons thriving, your soil is likely fine. I usually mix about half top soil and half compost for larger areas, which might be cost-effective for you too!
So would it work out best if I use half top soil and half ericaceous compost for my half barrel?
So if I just fill the barrel with ericaceous compost, will that be enough to keep them blue?