Question
I'm very new at gardening and am looking for lots of colors for a "wow" factor. I have 2 burning bushes and between them a golden spria(I think) bush. I have room in front of these and would like to put 2 hydrangias (blue). Will this work, as i keep reading that the hydrangias need acidic soil. Could I get away with watering them with a soln of vinegar & h2o, and then plain watering the other bushes. Thank-you,  Linda

Answer
Let's start with the basics.  Spirea, if that is what you are looking at, grows best in Soil with a pH range of 6.0 to 7.0.  Burning Bush ('Euonymus alatus'), 5.5 to 7.5.

Of the latter, Euonymus alatus is so adaptable, it ranks as a noxious Weed in some regions.  The Ohio State Department of Agriculture points out, 'Burning Bush is so adaptable to a variety of Soil conditions (ranging from fertile to sterile, organic to Clay, Acidic to Alkaline, Rocky to Sandy) that it is overused in urban landscapes.'  They warn, too, that 'Burning Bush often suffers from "mulch-induced Nitrogen deficiency", when placed in sterile Clay Soils or Soils of high pH.  In this case, premature Fall color (in faded Red-Green form) develops as a symptom; the solution is to pull back the mulch, fertilize the root zone, lightly reapply the mulch, and water thoroughly.'

You can find the Ohio State notes here:

www.dnr.state.oh.us/forestry/trees/burning_bush/tabid/5346/Default.aspx

Hydrangeas will grow in Alkaline OR Acid Soil.  If the Soil is Basic, the flowers will be Violet Pink instead of Blue.  But you will probably be planting a burlap wrapped ball of roots surrounded by Soil, which will be Acid to bring out the Nikko BLUE.

If you plant these shrubs far apart enough, the pH will be a minor obstacle that can be overcome with things like Watering.  Note that pH Soil change is not like, say, paint.  Yes, you read that right.  Paint.  You can walk over to a house and paint it red, and it will be red.  It does not change gradually, over a period of time, after many paint jobs.  Soil pH is NOT like red paint.  It's more like... dieting.  You have body 'x' and you want to change it.  This requires diet change, exercise, burning calories, perhaps some seasonal lifestyle alterations and new sleep habits.  It takes a lot of time.  Even when you want to raise the pH of a plot for your Grass, it can take YEARS to raise it to the optimal weight!

Warning:  Be VERY careful about what you do with that Vinegar.  You'll burn the leaves right off all your plants if you put too much in, and once you put it down, you do not get a chance to take it back.

Still with me?

What you should do to get this right is begin with a basic Soil test from your local Cooperative Extension.  It's simple, painless and quick, not to mention cheaper than a tank of gas.  They will give you a VERY accurate analysis not only of the Soil pH, but of a host of other factors that determine success, or failure, in the garden.  As a start-up gardener, this is the most important information you can get your hands on -- and it should be done by pro's.  Not with a diy kit.  Once you know what the pH IS, you'll be able to make some intelligent decisions.  Thanks for writing.