Hydrangeas, nowadays it seems most landscapes are bound to have at least one. These versatile flowering shrubs come in a wide array of sizes, colors and flower shapes so it’s easy to see why so many people love them.
Over the course of the summer we have taken calls from various homeowners asking, “what’s wrong with my hydrangeas and how do I fix it”. The good news is that so many of these problems easily diagnosed and easily solved with a few simple steps, getting your hydrangeas back to looking their best. Here are three of the more common issues we see with hydrangeas.
1. Brown Spots on Hydrangea Leaves
In a home landscape, brown spots on the leaves are usually caused by a fungus or bacteria. The two most common types of fungus are called cercospora leaf spot and anthracnose . In most cases, the fungus or bacteria doesn’t threaten the life of the plant, but the spots can be unattractive. These spots usually appear annually toward the end of the summer and fall. The following spring, the leaves emerge unaffected, and the spots from the previous year do not affect the plant’s ability to bloom.
To treat these brown spots fungicides can be applied, but most home gardeners do not feel this is a worthwhile option. You can help control brown spot by keeping the ground under the hydrangea free from leaf debris and by occasionally cutting off the old stems to allow air to circulate through the plant. Also, if your hydrangea has bloomed heavily during the summer, removing the dried blooms that are lying on the leaves may help to increase air circulation to the plant.
2. Hydrangea Leaves Turning Yellow
During the growing season, spring and summer, if hydrangea leaves unexpectedly turn yellow and then brown and begin to fall off, a problem with the roots is usually the cause. This most often occurs before the plant has had time to establish a deep, strong root system usually when the hydrangea is newly planted. A few leading causes of yellow leaves are the following.
1. The plant has become too dry
2. The plant has been kept too wet
3. The plant has received too much fertilizer
Each of these issues can cause a part or all of the root system to die. When the roots are damaged the leaves will wilt and then may turn yellow and then brown. In addition to these symptoms, keeping the plant too wet can lead to root rot and even death.
To treat yellow leaves, first look to see if the plant has been allowed to dry out, the first step to recovery is to thoroughly water the entire root ball. At this point, your instinct might be to continue watering the plant to excess. However, it must be remembered that the roots are damaged, and they will be unable to deal with soil that it is too wet. So, allow time between each watering for the soil to dry out slightly and for the roots to regenerate.
3. Hydrangea Leaves Drooping
This very common summertime problem is typically caused on a warm summer day when the sun has been up all afternoon. You come home and the leaves of your hydrangea look as though they have wilted to the ground. Even though we are entering a cooler season this is an easily solved problem to keep in mind for next summer.
Droopy hydrangea leaves are a clear signal that your plant has not had enough water. To treat just give your hydrangea a nice long drink and they will revive within the hour.