Q: I’ve had a florist hydrangea in a pot for a year. Should I keep it on the deck or can it join the other “ladies” in the garden?

A: Hydrangeas grown for the florist trade are somewhat different from those grown in most landscapes. They are selected for short, stout stems that support big blooms. ‘Mathilda Gutges’, ‘Enziandom’, and ‘Leuchtfeuer’ are florist favorites.

I don’t know how cold hardy the bloom buds are in Atlanta. I planted one that was given in memory of my Dad and it has survived just fine for eight years….but it rarely blooms.