To ask for your gardening help? How to rescue sun-damaged hydrangea

[Newyearnewname20]

I’ve been looking after a friend’s garden while she’s been away.

There’s some lovely white hydrangeas in the garden, and some of the petals are looking brown and dry, although the leaves still look healthy.

I’ve been watering them every day (but mindful of over watering too), but just would appreciate some advice on how to handle the ailing hydrangeas! I don’t want friend to think I’ve been neglecting them.

Thanks!

Most likely wind damage. Also, during dry spells, they do wilt easily, but they are very resilient and quite hard to kill.

Thanks so much Grunkle! That’s interesting that it could be wind damage, as there hasn’t been a huge amount here (based in South East).

Any ideas on how I can rejuvenate them please?

Mine's the same, I think the flowers can be quite sensitive. I've found giving it a bucket of water straight to the roots helped stop the damage spreading any further but there's not a lot you can do about the brown bits.

Thanks Red! Will the brown bits just drop off eventually, do you know? When you mention the brown bits might spread, why is that? Is that just because of sun damage/wind damage? I’m just thinking about how I can contain the brown bits and avoid it getting worse.

I'd second the bucket of water trick. Remove the brown leaves providing there's not too many (and you won't leave a baldy Bush!).

With the hydrangea, don't panic. Both mine and DM's were wilted and looked like goners. However we have had some decent rain in Manchester and both have bounced back.

Hydrangeas are thirsty plants and need lots of water. Give them extra when your next there.

I’ve got the same on mine, even though I’ve been watering daily. The recent 39 degree heat was the culprit. I just cut the brown leaves off and it looks better already.

Nothing much you can do about the petals - we have a hydrangea (as do several others on our street) and the same has happened to all of them, whatever the colour! It’s the heat of the sun, I think. If the leaves are fine, it won’t be anything to do with your watering.

Thanks all!