Hydrengas

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Permalink Reply by Michelle W. Flannery on April 26, 2009 at 8:51am

Hi Jackie. Is it possible that in the last two years your hydrangea got caught in a late freeze after it had leafed? Even a light frost could do this. Improper pruning can also cause this. The only other possibility is that the particular type of hydrangea you have is planted in the wrong zone. Good luck.

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Permalink Reply by Jackie Grzelka on April 27, 2009 at 7:52am

Good Morning and thank you for the reply. Its funny, one morning I was cutting this plant back and just after, I went back in the house and there is Martha Stewart on tv saying don't cut off the dead branches of a hydrengea. I almost fell over. But I did get flower that year. That was the only time I cut it back. I do live in NY so yes, it could be a late frost. We had snow April 23rd but the temp was 36. Do you think it can bloom again?

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Permalink Reply by Michelle W. Flannery on April 27, 2009 at 8:43am

I don't watch Martha's new show. It never caught my interest. But I am an avid fan of her earlier programs and specials. I recorded many of them, and I credit Martha with having taught me a lot about many things. I'm sure (many years ago) people got frustrated hearing me putting in my two cents with, "Martha says...".

Nature always has a way of restoring damage. I'm sure your bush will bloom again given time and care. Even if you do nothing, it will eventually recover. I have an unattended bed of lillies that really need to be divided, but I never get around to it. The bed is unprotected, and my dogs have been known to roll in them and pee on them (unless I'm there to stop them). They die down to brown nubs in the winter, but in spite of the k-nine abuse, they always come back with lush green leaves, and flower into the most beautiful white lillies I have ever seen. If we let nature do her job, there isn't that much more we need to do - short of special circumstances.

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Permalink Reply by Karen of Georgia on April 27, 2009 at 9:52pm

When I moved to GA, there was a hydrangea on my property that was completely neglected. There were vines in it and it looked just awful. I did cut it back.......way back and pulled all the vines out. Then I just left it. A year ago, my daughter shouted "Mommy, look at all of those big white flowers.........HOLY COW!!" I looked over, and after 6 years of growing and sitting, looking miserable, the hydrangea bloomed! Patience paid off. My husband had wanted to rip it out!

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Permalink Reply by Jackie Grzelka on April 29, 2009 at 6:38am

Thank you, like I told Michelle, I'm going to keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best! Now I have another question...I have dwarf cherry trees, 5 of them. They are still small. I had ordered them from one of those books you get in the mail. They are probably 1 and 1/2 feet high, but are starting to get bushy. Do you know how to prune those?

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Permalink Reply by Jackie Grzelka on April 29, 2009 at 6:34am

Thank you and I'm going to keep my fingers crossed because every time this plant bloomed...the blooms were a beautiful blue.

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Permalink Reply by marion stewart on April 29, 2009 at 8:45am

It may be that it is in the wrong zone - the Oak Leaf Hydrangea are very sensitive and won't tolerate that Spring dip in temperature.

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Permalink Reply by Jackie Grzelka on April 30, 2009 at 7:44am

I don't know what type of Hydrangea it is. Can I cut it back and cover it next year? If so, how much should I cut back?

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Permalink Reply by marion stewart on April 30, 2009 at 8:17am

Think you may want to consider moving the hydrangea to a warmer location in your garden - don't think cutting it back or not cutting it back is the answer. Perhaps it needs a little micro climate in your landscape.

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Permalink Reply by Jackie Grzelka on May 2, 2009 at 7:41am

It is on the north in front of my house so it isn't getting much sun. I believe I will try that.

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Permalink Reply by Barbara Lockyer on May 3, 2009 at 5:15am

if it has blue flowers, it would not be a Oak Leaf hydrangea, which is creamy white and has a longer, more cone-shaped bloom.

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Permalink Reply by Barbara Lockyer on May 2, 2009 at 8:34am

Hydrangeas need some sun~~if they are too shaded, they may not bloom well.
Also, they will be pink or blue, based on the soil ph. The more acid soil , I believe, produces blue and less, pink. someone correct me if I have it backwards!
You can also alter the color by adding things to the soil...I believe aluminum sulfate makes blue and ??epsom salts pink?? This I am not absolutely sure of but can easily find out if anyone needs to know.!
They are beautiful and require very little care. They also are easily propagated by just breaking off a woody piece and shoving it down into the soil...or at least, it usually works for me. Woody plants can often be rooted this way!

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