What's happening to my hydrangea??

[Anne75D]

Hi,

I planted a lovely hydrangea just less than a month ago and it's looking very poorly. I first noticed that it started to fade from a rich pink to a white-ish pink and now it looks like it's dying off in places. Any idea what could be causing this?

It was raining extremely heavily not that long ago, which has probably contributed to it but I'm not sure if that's the only reason for the change. I planted another hydrangea (different kind, though) around the same time at a different spot and that one seems to be doing really well. Perhaps it's the soil? (I did use specific compost for it and mixed it with the existing soil).

Do they need quite a bit of sun? It's a pretty shady spot and gets very little (if any) sun right now.

Thanks!

This is what it looked like less than four weeks ago.

They take a it of water Hydra = meaning water. Also when you plant a shrub you need to keep it well watered for at least a few weeks especially in any hot weather spell. If you haven't then sadly it might be dying.

A lot of water - typo !

Hydrangea hate the sun. Best for a north aspect!

The flowers will naturally fade over time, I just cut them off when they are unsightly.

Looks like it just needs a tidy up to me.

Yes, deadheading and a good watering, and it will produce a few more flowers and then settle down for the winter.

Plants bought from a garden centre in full flower will always look best on the day they are planted. Your hydrangea is nearly over for this year, but will be beautiful next year.

Agree with other posters, deadhead and a good soak. I’ve just deadheaded some of mine that were scorched in the heatwave, even though they are planted in a mostly shady spot.

Thanks for the help, I will do that!

I’ve got a couple and they are in very shady spots and seem happy as anything. It’s just coming to the end of its flowering year.

While we are on the subject can anyone remember how you are meant to prune a hydrangea?

I prune mine in April, down to the first strong pair of leaf buds. I leave the last flower heads on in winter, they are meant to give protection against frost damage. Could be an old wives tale, but that’s what I do.

@FlamingoAndJohn

I’ve got a couple and they are in very shady spots and seem happy as anything. It’s just coming to the end of its flowering year.

While we are on the subject can anyone remember how you are meant to prune a hydrangea?

Good question - I noticed that some of the stems don't have any leaves (left?) and I can't really make out where the bud would be.

Prune in spring.
They need shade and lots of water and rich soil. I bought one from the "sad plant" corner in the garden centre that had been out in the sun.

It's now 3 feet tall and full of flowers.

I think sometimes there's some sort of 'forcing' done to hydrangeas to make them have a heck of a lot of flower when they're sold. It looks to me like maybe there's simply too much for a young plant to support. The leaves look healthy enough, I think it will be happier without those gone-over big blooms.

Other than deadheading and taking out any obviously dead or unhealthy looking bits I'm not sure it will need much pruning till it's bigger. (I may be wrong!)

I have two hydrangeas that are in full sun for some of the day.
I've kept them going by watering where needed in the evening so they don't get scorched.

Sorry to hijack this post, but I have a hydrangea that I have had for around 6 years. This year it is still as big, but there are hardly any flowers this year, I think the light frost we had got to it. My question is do I prune it really down to the roots and when would I do this. Or any help as to what I should do as usually it is a beautiful bush.
Thank you.

have a look on the stems. if there are white deposits that look like funghi it's likely a scale insect infestation. in that case prune hard and discard/burn the cuttings.

a 'weak' one you can prune hard into a 'hedgehog' shape. do that in early spring.
a shrub feed as soon as the first growths shows.

Give him a dead head

Is soil draining ok

Have you had heavy rain

do I prune it really down to the roots. I wouldn't. They're not like roses, where hard pruning stimulates strong new shoots from the base. Just prune as much as you need to, any time from after flowering to about March - most people leave it till March so the dead flower heads can provide some frost protection. Did you prune it too late this year?

Hydrangeas only flower on last years growth so over enthusiastic pruning will remove the stems where the new flowers will grow. I do what bee does re pruning and mine seem happy enough. They do need a lot of water I agree.