Many people wonder what conditions Summer Crush Hydrangea can tolerate. In this article, I will tell you how it feels about the sun. You will also find out exactly how much sun it needs.
Summer Crush Hydrangea is not capable of growing in full sun all day. It needs some shade to thrive. Growing in full sun will have negative consequences for the plant.
Among hydrangeas of its kind, Summer Crush has the best tolerance to direct sun, but the full-day sun is contraindicated.
Sunburn
What happens if Summer Crush gets too much sun?
The first thing that will happen if Summer Crush gets too much direct sun is sunburn of the leaves. Large black or dark brown spots will appear on the leaves, after which the leaf will shrivel up and fall off.
If nothing is done, all the leaves may fall off. Also, the inflorescences will turn brown and you will not get red flowers.
In general, hydrangeas will grow very badly and you should not expect them to look good. In addition, if the hydrangea does not receive enough water, the leaves will droop.
How can I protect my hydrangea from the full sun?
The quickest way to protect Summer Crush from the scorching sun is to place a garden umbrella over it. You can also put two sticks in the ground in front of the shrub on the south side and put some shade netting or material between them. The sticks should be 1-2 feet higher than the hydrangea.
If the shrub is growing in a pot, move it to a more shady location. But remember that this variety still needs several hours of direct sun per day.
An umbrella shade is a temporary solution. Next, you need to think about transplanting the plant to a less sunny position.
Only transplant Summer Crush in early spring or late fall. During transplanting, be careful not to damage the root system and do not cut back the hydrangea.
If you don’t have a place with shade in the middle of the day, plant some sort of columnar plant 5-6 feet in front of the hydrangea on the south side. This could be a Skyrocket Juniper, for example. It will create shade during the sunniest part of the day but the hydrangea will get sunlight in the morning and evening.
How to fix a sunburn?
The first thing you need to do to fix the sunburn on Summer Crush is to shade it. I have already written above how to do this.
Next, you have to water the hydrangea well. Water it with 1-2 gallons of water the first time. Wait until the water drains off and then water it again with one more gallon of water. For the next few months, don’t let the soil around it dry out more than 1 inch.
The next step is to apply fertilizer. If you fertilize your hydrangea regularly, you only need to water it once with a liquid multipurpose fertilizer. This will give the plant the strength it needs to regenerate.
If you have done it right, Summer Crush will come back to life. By the way, I have a good guide on how to maintain this hydrangea. Be sure to check it out so you know more about its cultivation.
How many hours of the sun does Summer Crush Hydrangea need?
Summer Crush Hydrangea needs at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight a day. Morning sun will be an advantage. And you definitely want to avoid the afternoon sun.
In this case, you can count on a lush flowering. Also, the shrub will develop properly and will not be sick.
But if you live in the north (4-5 zones) it is better if it grows in a place with 8 hours of direct sun. You can even provide it with shade only in the middle of the day for a few hours. The rest of the time it will get sun.
On the other hand, if you live in the south (zone 8-9), 4 hours of direct sun will be enough for this variety. If it gets dappled sun the rest of the time, that would be ideal.
Can Summer Crush Hydrangea grow in full shade?
Summer Crush Hydrangea cannot grow in full shade. It needs several hours of direct sunlight a day to flower and grow normally.
If you plant it in a full shade you will not get beautiful red inflorescences. It will also be stunted and will eventually die. So plant it in a place with a few hours of the morning sun.
In the southern states, you can grow this variety in the dappled sun. That means it should receive only a part of the direct rays of the sun, the rest of it should be reflected by something. This effect can be achieved by planting it under a tree with a loose crown and small leaves.