A HUGE garden retailer has slashed the price of stunning blue hydrangeas by half.
Hydrangeas make a gorgeous edition to any garden, and are loved by gardeners thanks to their huge, luscious blooms.
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These gorgeous hydrangeas have been slashed in priceCredit: Gardening Express
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The huge flowers can bloom until OctoberCredit: Gardening Express
Their vibrant colours and large size mean they instantly elevate any garden, and the monstrous plants can grow up to 30 flower heads during their first flowering season.
If you’re looking to transform your garden into a haven this summer, and make your outdoor space the envy of your neighbours, hydrangeas are undoubtedly a great choice.
And if you’re a garden lover on a budget, Gardening Express is currently selling huge blooms for just £19.99, down from £40.
The plants come in 10-litre pots, and are perfect for beds, borders or planters.
The XXXL Mophead plant has giant blue blooms, which can grow to the size of footballs when fully grown.
The flowers will last for the entire summer, before fading to a purple colour during autumn.
If your garden soil is heavy in alkaline, the blooms turn from blue to pink, and can even turn a lavender colours, depending on the soil’s PH.
Each winter, you should cut the plant near ground level, and watch new stems pop up in the new year.
Gardening Express said: “Wow! These plants are monsters, and can be expected to throw out up to 30 strong flower heads during their first flowering season in your garden.
“A wonderful Hydrangea variety with huge flowers, often found in high class florist bouquets, it has really massive blooms.”
I’m a gardening pro – my simple tip will revive ‘dead’ hydrangeas in secondsHow to get hydrangeas to bloom until October
A TikTok flower expert has revealed her top three tips for gardeners to know to keep their hydrangeas blooming through to October.
By doing these things, it will help stop the flowers turning “brown and crispy”, as temperatures heat up.
One sister from the popular TikTok duo, Miller Flowers, shared the advice online which attracted a number of comments, likes and shares from garden enthusiasts.
The first tip is around watering, as “hydrangeas are plants that love water”.
The 5 best flowers to help bees to thrive
Nature experts at Faith In Nature have shared the 5 best flowers Brits can plant in their gardens to help bees thrive.
Rebecca Miller, Fabulous’ Associate Editor and keen gardener explains why “bees are brilliant”.
“They are vital. They pollinate our food and play a crucial role in our ecosystem. But climate change, the increasing use of pesticides and loss of habitat means bees are endangered. No matter how big your garden or outside space is, you can plant a flower or two to help bees.”
Lavender
Lavender can thrive in a sunny spot with well-drained soil. It’s fragrant and flowers all-summer-long meaning it’s a big hit with bees – especially bumble bees.
Sunflowers
This cheery flower giant are bee-magnets. And if you look closely at a sunflower head, the big ‘flowers’ are actually a cluster of small flowers, called an inflorescence which attract pollinators.
Ideally, grow sunflowers in groups to provide nectar and pollen for as many bees as possible. At the end of summer, collect the dried seeds from the sunflower heads to feed the birds or plant next year.
Heather
These abundant, bell-shaped blooms are brimming with nectar and pollen – which is good news for bees.
Cornflowers
A vivid blue wildflower, cornflowers are often planted alongside other meadow blooms, like ox-eye daisies and poppies.
They grow on tall stems and are packed with nectar, making them particularly attractive to bees. Cornflowers bloom for a long time and are simple to grow, so they’re perfect for first-time gardeners and experienced alike.
Crocuses (and snowdrops)
Later this summer, when you’re starting to plan for your Spring displays, consider crocuses and snowdrops.
They provide bees, such as the queen buff-tailed bumblebee and male hairy-footed flower bees, with vital early pollen as they emerge from their winter hibernation.
It is recommended to water them three times a week, for ten minutes.
Where the hydrangeas are positioned in the garden is also a valuable component to consider for their optimal flowering.
Hydrangeas need both sun and shade.
A little fertilisation can be particularly useful for hydrangeas in climates where it is continually warm.
It can encourage more blooms, and help them deal with heat.
However, it is not always necessary, also depending on the soil used, and time of the year.