I have 3 Hydrangea bushes in my front yard which get sun most of day. The leaves look brown and shriveled up on some stalks but not all. Some of my neighbor's hydrangeas look healthy and have green leaves, while some look brown like mine! What might be happening? Thank you for your insight. Jan
Answer
Hi Jan,
Hydrangeas in general prefer a part sun/part shade location to thrive and look healthy. Full sun is usually too drying for them. Hydrangeas also prefer a soil with lots of organic matter which holds moisture in the soil. Mulch is also important to spread (1-3" without touching the stem) at the base of hydrangeas to help keep the soil cool and moist. If your hydrangeas are in full sun with dry soil, they are not going to be happy, healthy plants. They will linger for a few years and then die. Hydrangeas in full sun need to be watered several times a week during the hot summer in order to keep the leaves green, soft and healthy.
It sounds like you might have to move the hydrangeas to a different site on your property.
Good Luck.
View As PDF
To view a PDF of this article, please
click here.
About Linda Lillie
Linda K. Lillie is the President of Sprigs & Twigs, Inc, the premier
landscape design and maintenance, tree care, lawn care, stonework, and carpentry
service provider in southeastern Connecticut since 1997. She is a graduate of
Connecticut College in Botany, a Connecticut Master Gardener and a national
award winning landscape designer for her landscape design and landscape installation work.
