outdoors
JUNE GARDENER
Our favorite tools and tips for everyone who loves to dig
BYSUSAN
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J
T E C H N
TRUE BLUE
To play the blues,you need
the right soil chemistry.
Hydrangea varieties such as ‘Blue Wave', ‘Nikko
Blue’, and ‘Endless Summer* have blue blooms
when grown in acidic soil (a pH below 6.5). A
higher pH results in white or pink blooms instead
of blue. If you grow a blue-flowered variety in
acidic soil,you may be able to deepen the hue by
adding aluminum sulfate to the soil around the
plant (follow package directions carefully).
HOW TO KNOW
Inexpensive soil pH testers sold
at garden centers read your soil’s pH.
WHAT IF PH IS TOO HIGH?
Changing soil pH
can be difficult and may take years. Why wait?
Grow hydrangeas in containers with potting mix,
and apply aluminum sulfate annually.
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JUNE 2008 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS
P H O TO : C AM ERO N SADEG HPO UR
