Sad Hydrangeas?

"We suffered from a drought last summer  ... we also had a very deep freeze this past winter and that seriously affected the shallow roots in our hydrangeas ..."

— Priscilla Husband

Garden Coach

What happened to the hydrangeas?

Between a dry summer and an unusual extra-cold snap, It was a tough year for hydrangeas on Cape Cod. The shallow-rooted plants felt the drought badly and the hard freeze further damaged the them.  But garden coach Priscilla Husband says don't give up! In this episode of Lower Cape News' In the Garden, she shares some tips for helping those iconic Cape Cod plants revive even if they look stunted and sad.

What are we seeing in hydrangeas this year?

The hydrangeas have many dead branches and stems, instead of a green bloom. All the buds made last year are largely gone and there will be few flowers this season. The plants are still alive, though - look for the green flush near the base to confirm your plants are alive.

What can I do to help my hydrangeas?

Garden coach Priscilla Husband says gardeners want to trim back their plants. Use a hand pruner on smaller plants and a lopper on larger ones. Cut out the dead wood - and  then be patient and kind to the plants. Water them through the dry periods. If your mulch is too thick, pull it back around the roots so the water can reach them. Prune the stalks back, but don't fertilize. Just give the hydrangeas a healthy season to recover from last years drought and the winter's hard freeze.

What else can I do in my garden near the hydrangeas?

While your hydrangeas are healing, Coach Husband says you add some other summer color around them, like potenilla (aka cinquefoil), hypericum (aka St. Johns Wort), and gilia (aka thimble flower), and carpet roses.