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If you have hydrangeas in the garden, it's important to take good care of them in the weeks leading up to summer. These beautiful flowers are now in their active growing period as they prepare to fully burst into bloom.

However, failing to carry out certain tasks can make your hydrangeas look lacklustre, which nobody wants. To help people gear up for summer, the experts at Homes and Gardens have shared one 'crucial' task all hydrangea owners must do in May. It'll help the plant to grow big and strong, with long-lasting flowers.

According to gardening experts, mulching your hydrangeas is an absolute must-do task. Hydrangeas thrive in moist, slow-draining soil, so generously applying mulch will give them a much-needed springtime boost.

Lorraine Ballato, author of Success with Hydrangeas, said: "If you find your soil drying out, incorporate compost to aid moisture retention. Mulching is crucial: you'll need about 2-4 inches. This will also protect the roots of your hydrangeas."

The mulch will break down and add important nutrients to the soil, so it's important that you choose the right kind for your hydrangea plant.

It's best to use a leaf mould to mulch your hydrangeas, according to the experts at BBC Gardeners World. If you can't get your hands on this, a well-rotted manure or compost will do the trick.

If you have an alkaline soil, you can also use bark or pine needles, which are great at retaining moisture. They can slightly lower pH over time, which helps certain varieties - like mopheads - produce vibrant blue blooms.

Spread the mulch around the base of the plant using up to four inches as Lorraine suggested. Take care to keep it away from touching the root however, as this can cause rot.

And if you want to make sure that your hydrangeas will grow the most vibrant flowers, you'll want to feed them in spring too. A good fertiliser is key, but try to avoid any that are too high in nitrogen. These can encourage hydrangeas to produce leafy growth instead of flowers.

Lorraine said: "st's important to fertilize with a granulated shrub product or rose food - as strange as that may sound. "The micronutrients in these formulas are essential for hydrangeas in the springtime.

Tait until your hydrangeas show their first new leaves, then fertilise once, repeating in summer.