DIY Floral Decor: How to Dry Hydrangeas for Year-Round Enjoyment

How to dry Hydrangeas for year-round enjoyment? Let me show you how easy this DIY floral decor project is for drying beautiful flowers. You can enjoy hydrangea blooms after the summer months have ended.

Yesterday, I harvested the final hydrangea blooms of the season from my garden. Maryland’s mild climate often allows for late-blooming hydrangeas, and I was fortunate to enjoy a few more in early October.

We have several types of Hydrangeas in our gardens. By far, my favorites are Limelights. They are perfect flowers for drying.

How To Dry Hydrangeas

Cutting Your Blooms

I have found that the blooms are best to cut after changing colors. You only want to cut new blooms for fresh flower arrangements.

Proper preparation is key for drying hydrangeas. Begin by cutting the stems to 8-12 inches. Then, remove the leaves and gently shake each bloom to ensure they are clean and ready to dry.

Cleaning Your Blooms

It is a good idea to give our blooms a good rinse. Tiny bugs and small spiders love to hide deep within the blooms. With cold water gently rinse each of the blooms in your sink. This step can be done outside with a garden hose. It is best to have the water set to a gentle spray. This will avoid breaking your blooms.

Let the blooms air dry in the sink or a bucket before placing them in a vase.

Drying Your Hydrangeas

How to dry hydrangeas for a DIY fall project.

To preserve the beauty of your hydrangeas, simply place them in a vase with a few inches of water. As the water evaporates, the blooms will dry naturally and gracefully.

Dried Flowers for Year-Round Enjoyment

You can preserve your blooms by spraying some aerosol hair spray. My hydrangea bushes bloom abundantly each year, so I often dry them.

The dried blooms are used all over the house. Dried hydrangea blooms add a touch of nature to any room, making them the perfect seasonal decoration from fall through winter.

Drying hydrangeas is a wonderful way to preserve the beauty of summer. These easy steps can help you enjoy lovely blooms long after the hydrangea’s natural season has ended.