Soil with a pH below 7.

A soil test tells you the pH. Don’t add products to change it just by guessing.

Soil with a pH above 7.

A plant that needs acidic soil may struggle to take up some nutrients in alkaline soil.

To change soil by mixing in a material that improves its properties.

Compost is one common amendment. Mulch goes on top of the soil instead.

A plant that completes its life cycle in one growing season.

Some plants sold as annuals are tender perennials that can’t survive the local winter.

A plant sold with its roots exposed, without a pot or surrounding soil.

Bare root plants are commonly sold while dormant. Keep the roots from drying out before planting.

A plant that usually completes its life cycle over two growing seasons.

It commonly grows leaves first, then flowers and sets seed in its second season.

The part of the year when a plant normally flowers.

Weather, location, and plant variety can shift the timing on a plant tag.

A small growing point that can develop into leaves, flowers, or a shoot.

Not every bud is a flower bud. Look at the plant type before deciding what to prune.

Organic material that has broken down into a useful soil amendment.

Compost and fertilizer serve different purposes. Compost can improve soil structure as well as contribute nutrients.

A plant variety selected and maintained for particular traits.

Cultivars of the same species can differ in size, flower color, and growing habit.

To shorten a plant by removing part of its stems or branches.

How far and when to cut depends on the plant. Cutting back and deadheading aren’t the same job.

Removing flowers that have faded or finished blooming.

It can tidy a plant and sometimes encourage more flowers. It doesn’t guarantee another bloom cycle.

A plant that sheds its leaves for part of the year.

Most hydrangeas lose their leaves in fall or winter. Bare winter stems don’t automatically mean the plant is dead.

Less likely to be eaten by deer than some other plants.

It doesn’t mean deer proof. Feeding can change with local deer pressure and food supply.

A resting phase when active growth slows or pauses.

Many plants become dormant in winter; some rest during heat or drought. Dormant plants are still alive.

How readily excess water moves out of soil or a container.

A pot needs drainage holes. A bed needs soil conditions that let excess water move away.

A plant that keeps foliage throughout the year.

Evergreen plants still shed older leaves or needles as they replace them. They don’t keep every leaf forever.

A material that supplies plant nutrients.

Plants make their own sugars using light. Fertilizer supplies nutrients; it won’t fix every growing problem.

A spot with little direct sunlight and mostly indirect or filtered light.

Growers use this label differently. Check the specific plant’s needs; full shade doesn’t mean no light.

Usually at least six hours of direct sunlight each day.

Morning sun and hot afternoon sun can affect a plant differently, especially in warm climates.

A USDA map zone based on average annual extreme minimum winter temperatures.

Zones help with winter survival. They don’t tell the whole story about summer heat, soil, or rainfall.

A group of flowering shrubs and climbing plants in the genus Hydrangea.

Some bloom on old wood, some on new wood, and some on both. Identify yours before pruning.

The expected height and width of a plant as it develops.

Plan for its grown size, not the size of the nursery pot. Conditions and time affect the final size.

A layer spread over the surface of the soil.

It can reduce weeds and moisture loss. Keep mulch from piling against plant stems and tree trunks.

A plant that occurs naturally in a particular region without human introduction.

Native to one part of a country doesn’t mean native to every part. The region matters.

Stem growth produced during the current growing season.

Panicle and smooth hydrangeas form flowers on new growth.

Stem growth from a previous growing season.

On hydrangeas that bloom on old wood, removing those stems can remove flower buds already formed.

A mix of sun and shade, often with protection from afternoon sun.

The hours vary by grower and plant. Look at both how long the sun shines and when it arrives.

Commonly about four to six hours of direct sunlight each day.

Use the label as a starting point. Check whether the plant needs relief from strong afternoon sun.

A plant that lives for more than two years.

Some die back and regrow from their roots; others keep woody stems. Winter survival still depends on the plant and location.

A measure of how acidic or alkaline something is.

Soil pH affects nutrient availability and can influence flower color in some hydrangeas. It won’t turn every hydrangea blue or pink.

Providing useful nectar, pollen, or habitat for pollinators.

Different bees, butterflies, and other pollinators use different plants. A mix of bloom times can help.

Removing selected plant parts to manage growth, shape, or health.

Timing matters. Check the plant’s flowering habit before removing live stems.

The roots and surrounding growing material moved with a plant.

Check moisture in the root ball after planting, not just in the soil around it.

Roots crowded in a container, often circling around its sides.

Check the root system when removing a plant from its pot. Dense, circling roots may need attention before planting.

A woody plant that commonly branches from several stems near the ground.

Some shrubs can be trained into a tree form. Their mature width matters when choosing a planting spot.

A laboratory test that measures soil pH and selected nutrients.

Use the results to guide fertilizer and soil amendments. A routine test doesn’t diagnose every pest or drainage problem.

A flower or flower cluster that has finished its main bloom period.

Fading petals or brown flower heads don’t necessarily mean the whole plant is unhealthy.

To move a plant to a different growing location.

A transplanted shrub needs time to rebuild roots and settle in. Watch its root ball moisture as it establishes.

Soil that lets excess water move away while retaining some usable moisture.

Well drained doesn’t mean always dry. Roots need both water and air.

A shortened way to refer to a plant hardiness zone.

USDA zones describe winter cold. Other countries may use different zone systems.