ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Endless Summer® Collection, which features easy-to-care-for hydrangeas that bloom all summer long, just made maintaining these elegant flowers even easier via a text message program that provides regular reminders and tips.
The digital launch coincides with the recent addition of BloomStruck®, the Endless Summer Collection's newest variety that produces intense rich purple or deep pink blooms consistently throughout the summer months and into autumn.
Endless Summer Collection
"Although Endless Summer provides gardeners with the easiest re-blooming hydrangeas to care for, there are still a lot of myths and confusion about what should be done to keep them blooming and healthy," said Endless Summer spokesman Ryan McEnaney. "Our new text message program provides timely reminders that will maximize the performance of Endless Summer hydrangeas, while also reiterating how easy it is to care for these plants. The end result is beautifully vivid blooms throughout the summer and fall."
Endless Summer consumers who opt in will receive text messages with tips such as when to begin fertilizing their hydrangeas, best practices for watering, and how to prepare them for the winter months. Reminders will be sent at relevant times and tailored to different regions and their respective weather patterns.
"Hydrangeas are one of the most popular plants for people throughout the United States," McEnaney said. "And while you can basically put them out in the garden or a container and expect them to bloom with little or no effort, a few tweaks can produce even better results. Now those simple tips, which focus on the four most common hydrangea growing faux pas, are just a text away."
The Four Biggest Barriers to Healthy Hydrangeas
- Wilting doesn't always mean water. On a hot day, it is completely natural for hydrangeas to "flag," appearing as if the flower is leaning to one side or wilting. Check the soil with your fingers, and water only if the soil is dry. Overwatering can damage or kill the root system, which results in no blooms at all.
- Pruning patience. It's common practice for many gardeners to prune old flowers or cut back shrubs in the fall, but Endless Summer hydrangeas don't need it. Instead, wait until spring when new growth is well on its way, then cut back old stems that don't have any emerging green leaves.
- Fertilizing for fitness. Overfertilizing can burn the root system, so it's best to fertilize only in the spring. Look for a bloom-booster fertilizer that is high in phosphorus.
- Winter warmth. Use 12-18 inches of mulch to protect buds that will bloom next year, especially for new plants that haven't been in the ground very long. This is especially important in cold climates; snow actually provides insulation, but if it melts and a cold spell follows, without mulch you may not get flowers until late in the summer. Gardeners in warmer regions should protect their plants in case of sudden dips into freezing temperatures during the fall, or cycles of warming and freezing temperatures that may kill tender flower buds.
Starting at around $24 each, Endless Summer hydrangeas are available at garden centers nationwide. For more information, visit endlesssummerblooms.com.
ABOUT ENDLESS SUMMER® HYDRANGEAS
The Endless Summer® Collection is the world's best-selling brand of garden hydrangeas. Introduced by Bailey Nurseries in 2004, Endless Summer energized the demand for blooming shrubs and revolutionized the hydrangea market with the world's first re-blooming variety. All four varieties in the collection bloom on the previous seasons' growth and the current season's growth, providing an endless show of big, beautiful blooms from spring through fall. For more information, go to endlesssummerblooms.com.
Contact: Phil Ervin
GdB Pitch
pervin@gdbpitch.com
402.686.0439
Source: Bailey Nurseries
