Hydrangea macrophylla 'Mervine Sanguine'

Plant Hydrangeas in autumn or in early spring in good loamy soil that is moisture retentive and previously enriched with well decayed manure, compost or peat. They are best grown in a sheltered position against a wall or hedge or beneath a canopy of high trees. The tender young shoots are easily damaged by late spring frosts thus they should not be grown in positions where early morning sun after night frost may damage them.

Hydrangeas will flower from mid-summer, often through to late autumn. Some varieties bloom earlier, particularly H. petiolaris. The flowers are born on the previous year's growth.

Propagation can be done by layering. Choose soft pliable stems that will reach the ground and allow the end of the shoot to be about a 1ft above the ground. On either side of a leaf joint, carefully slice the bark along it before securing it into the ground with wire hooks, or similar, each side of the slice. a hormone rooting powder can be used to help with the rooting. Tie the end of the shoot up carefully so that it grows vertically.

Semi hard wood cuttings are taken from the current years growth from late summer to mid autumn the bottom of the cuttings is hard and soft on the top. With a sharp knife take a cutting of about 14 cms, remove lowest leaves, dip end into rooting hormone, and place round the edge of a pot filled with a suitable compost, water well, they must remain moist till rooted, place under glass but in semi shade.