HYDRANGEA WINTER PROTECTION

Big Leaf Hydrangea being wrapped for winter

I woke up to a very dark 44 degrees F this morning, a stark reminder that I need to get organized to do some hydrangea winter protection. Those that aren’t planted in protected locations as I described in an earlier blog post need a little help if I want to give them their best chance…

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HYDRANGEA LEAF SPOTS

Big leaf hydrangea Let's Dance® Rhythmic Blue®

I am getting a lot of questions these days about hydrangea leaf spots and unsightly foliage. In most cases, the spots are from an infection by Xanthomonas campestris, or Cercospora which grows from the pathogen Cercospora hydrangeae. I’m also seeing powdery mildew on many other plants, like veggies and perennials that also blemish hydrangeas. You…

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HYDRANGEA SCALE

Climbing hydrangea on arbor

I was horrified this past weekend to spot an extensive case of hydrangea scale on my climbing hydrangea (hydrangea ssp. petiolaris). It was an accidental discovery as my original mission was to prune it back. As covered in my book, Success with Hydrangeas, climbing hydrangeas flower on old wood so I knew it had to…

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Hydrangea Arborescens and Stuck Leaves

Leaves stuck together on woodland/smooth hydrangea

Are the leaves on your ‘Annabelle’ hydrangea arborescens stuck to each other? Inspect them and any other hydrangea arborescens you may have like Incrediball® or Invincibelle® Spirit. You may notice some leaves cupped together. It looks like the leaves above from my Invincibelle® Spirit. Interesting, huh? Don’t panic!

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Hydrangea Leaf Spots

Leaf spots on hydrangea

On my recent garden visits, I’ve noted an abundance of unsightly foliage and hydrangea leaf spots. They can be bacterial leaf spot from an infection by Xanthomonas campestris, or Cercospora which grows from the pathogen Cercospora hydrangeae. I’m also seeing powdery mildew on many plants. You can thank Erysiphe friesii var. friesii (formerly Microsphaera friesii).…

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Web Worms On Panicle Hydrangeas

Panicle hydrangea 'Firelight'

In July, I wrote about web worms (Hyphantria cunea) on panicle hydrangeas. For the past several weeks, the second generation of web worms has been active in my neck of the woods. And boy, are they active! It seems every day they form new webs where none were the previous day. That will continue through October or until the…

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Hydrangea Care For July

Leaf of an Oak Leaf Hydrangea

If your garden is anything like mine, right about now insects and disease start rearing their ugly heads  signaling time for hydrangea care. In most cases, they show up as a result of cultural conditions. We had a very wet and cool spring and things have finally begun to dry out. But all that rain…

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‘Annabelle’ Hydrangea Leaves Closed

Leaves stuck together on woodland/smooth hydrangea

Are your ‘Annabelle’ hydrangea leaves closed? To start with, inspect them and any other woodland/smooth (arborescens) hydrangeas you may have, e.g., Incrediball® or Invincibelle® Spirit. You may notice the same situation like my leaves in the photo. Interesting, huh? Don’t panic!

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Protecting Hydrangeas From Deer And Rabbits

Protect your hydrangeas from hungry deer

I’m focusing this week on protecting my hydrangeas from deer and rabbits for the winter. The new wood bloomers like ‘Annabelle’ and PGs are fair game which I let the wildlife “prune” for me. The big leaf hydrangeas are rebloomers which I no longer protect against the weather. I take a chance and depend on…

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