Keeping 'Annabelle' Hydrangeas in full bloom

How do I keep my full bed of 'Annabelle' hydrangeas in full bloom?

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##FULL QUESTION## Dear *Gardening Life*, We have a bed of ‘Annabelle’ hydrangeas on a west-facing wall. The ones at the ends of the bed bloom, leaving the middle with only leaves. Any ideas? *—Kim Farquharson, via email*

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**FULL ANSWER** Kim, Too much sun, especially hot, late-afternoon sun, might explain the problem. You probably have a bit of shadow at the ends of the border, which is benefiting the hydrangeas there. They might also be drying out, and these are not drought-tolerant plants. In addition, hydrangeas don’t like being crowded. I suggest you transplant the ones that aren’t blooming into a semi-shade area with lots of compost and see how they do. They bloom on new wood, so encourage flowering by pruning out some branches and cutting back others to shape the plants in spring. *—Marjorie Harris, Editor at Large* Other questions recently answered by the GL team: Eliminating earwigs from clematis flowers Beetle damage to spruce trees Removing whiteflies from hibiscus leaves Building a cactus garden Maintaining redbud trees Maintaining Boston ivy growth Using black walnut leaves for mulch Stopping powdery mildew on maples Planting trees near a swale Growing on a septic field How to battle weeds between flagstone and alternative options Mysterious orange powder on the lawn What to do with end-of-season potatoes on the vine How to control Japanese knotweed What to grow in a dry area The proper way to plant astrantia What is the star flower and how do I manage it? How do I eliminate my ant problem? Preventing red beetles from attacking lilies Vine types to grow on a new pergola Maintaining purple fountain grass Keeping bougainvilllea healthy throughout the winer How to rid invasive green goutweed Good garden uses for fireplace ashes Growing grape hyacinth indoors The best way to convert a lawn into a meadow The proper way to grow rhododendrons Eliminating beetle damage to spruce trees Annual resembling Japanese maple Planting ivy near cedar trees In search of the 'Sundance Kid' sunflower Caring for canna bulbs A supplier for barren strawberry ground cover Winter care for roses Cutting back mauna loa The best time to harvest curly-leaf lettuce Eliminating invasive trumpet Caring for double-flowering hibiscus trees Eliminating white aphids from honeysuckle vine Where to purchase Japanese blood grass An alternative to rhododendrons Growing a vegetable garden over a septic field Dividing and replanting daylilies Proper care for oakleaf hydrangea The best care for shrub roses 'The Fairy' Pest eating purple leaf sand cherry Preventing lawn brown spots

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