Let's take a walk outside and I'll show you.
I used to have nice healthy plants. We planted all of this our first spring in the house (7 years ago) and for a long time they grew like champions. (tear)
We always had a problem with that big bush on the far left - it would start to die, we'd transplant the half dead bush to the backyard and replace it with something new. The new bush would be fine and the half dead bush would perk right up and grow like crazy in the back. Very weird.
Then last summer we had a wicked drought and a crazy number of days of 100+ temps. All my bushes started to look a bit sad and I tried my best to keep them watered and happy but they went down hill fast. By the end of the summer they were firewood.
We dug them up, had a moment of silence to honor their years of service and waited for spring to plant something new.
I planted some lovely hydrangeas and for most of the summer they did pretty well. They didn't flourish as I had hoped but they were happy, alive and blooming. All you can ask for with a first year planting.
Then I came home from vacation to see this. Not good people.
They were starting to look a little funny right before we left but I thought they would hang in there. Our dear house sitter did her best to keep them watered but these suckers look worse than Amanda Bynes. Look at that poor thing, you can hardly tell it was even a hydrangea plant at one time.
What's weird is that they still have lots of green leaves on them. It's almost like they were burned or something? I have no idea what has happened to them or what to do. Gardening is not my strong suit and I can ill afford to have this yard looking like poo. Some things are going down at Chez Baumgartner and dead plants are not apart of the plan.
Any ideas? Are they salvageable? Anyone?
Hydrangeas do need lots to drink for sure. I'm far from an expert gardener but we had a similar problem with plants growing underneath a black walnut tree. Te soil was really acidic and it killed them dead. Big time. You could try some fertilizer? And I would go back to the garden center for sure to ask about it.
ReplyDeleteI'm no help, I kill everything I plant! Hope you are able to save them, I love hydrangeas!
ReplyDeletei wish i knew. so sad!
ReplyDeleteAre they in full sun? I would guess too much full sun and not enough water. It's not dead, it's resting. Water and wait another 5 or 6 weeks to transplant it. Hope that helps. The moral of the story, our plants don't want us to leave them....too bad, I say.
ReplyDeleteI'm just learning slowly as well but I'm also guessing too much harsh sun perhaps.
ReplyDeleteI am gardening beginner so I can offer no help with the hydrangeas! But I love your house. It has awesome curb appeal!
ReplyDeleteI say don't pull them yet. Cut down the dead parts, keep them hydrated and ask your local nursery for some advice on treating your soil. You might have to add something to enrich it or change the pH.
ReplyDeleteYour house is so pretty and picturesque by the way!!!
Sometimes you can call your county (agricultural) extension agent and they will give you advice. In many communities the county agent has a Master Gardener program staffed with trained volunteers, and a Master Gardener might even come to your house. Sometimes local parks have a horticulturalist who will give you advice.
ReplyDeleteIf that isn't available either try a local university's botany program or take your photograph and a sample cutting to a nursery.
I hope this is helpful.
Wish I could help, but my 'thumb' is as black as your door Elizabeth! good luck!
ReplyDeleteOh no, so sad! I'm no expert either...I saw trim off the dead parts and give them more water! Your local plant store or the Master Gardeners club are great resources!
ReplyDeleteThe first thing I would do is buy a PH test and see if your soil is too alkaline. Hydrangeas like acid which is easy to remedy with fertilizer. I would also use a soaker hose to deep water that and the plants around it. They are very easy to use. Place the hose on the surface coiled around each plant, then cover with mulch so they don't look ugly. That way the plant gets a good watering and you only have to turn the water on and off a few hours later. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteCan't help...so sorry.
ReplyDeleteI kill weeds!
Thank goodness we live in a "planned active senior community"..It has it's drawbacks, but they are responsible for our yards, grass, bushes,etc. They all look neat and healthy...maybe lack imagination, but they are maintained.
Do you have a walnut tree nearby? Walnut trees will kill everything underneath and nearby. I'm not sure if there is a way to balance the pH in the soil or if you just have to get rid of the tree, but your county extension office should be able to give you some pointers. Hydrangeas love lots of water and not much sun at all.
ReplyDeleteOh no, I'm so sorry! Losing plants is such a bummer. Have you tested your soil? Most states have a service where they will test your soil for you, just google your county plus soil test, and see what comes up. It's a small fee, usually around ten to fifteen dollars. The only other thing I can think of is...is it shady enough right there for hydrangeas? They love them some shade! Hope that helps and good luck! G
ReplyDeleteWe've had more than one heatwave up here in Boston and I think that affected our hydrangeas this year. I also came back from vacation to weepy blooms and brown leaves/flowers that I'd never experienced before. I know from my mom that hydrangeas are heavily impacted by the pH in the soil. I've seen specific fertilizer to help them. Thrifty Decor Chick recently wrote a post on growing hydrangeas - maybe it will help? http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/07/growing-hydrangeas-not-killing-them.html
ReplyDeleteHi, The name hydrangea has the word hydra in it and means just that,water. They like morning sun, afternoon shade, really after 11:00 a.m. shade. I would not cut them back, if you do and they are the nikko blue then you'll have zero blooms next year. If they get too much sun then you should move them in the fall and you could replace with Limelight Hydrangeas or the smaller MiniLimes, which bloom white and can stand up to the sun on the front of your house. Just watch how the sun hits your house and yard and you'll find a place for the others. Don't fertilize stressed plants. It won't help . You could gently remove the crispy leaves, but they will fall off. They need water during the summer every day if they are in the sun too long.Hope this helps!jd
ReplyDeleteI've only grown indoor flowers and outdoor vegetables, so I won't be much help, but I agree that you should test your soil. I know nutrients impact the color of the flowers but they could also impact the health of the plants.
ReplyDeleteThe growing environment may be too alkaline with the concrete foundation and sidewalk leaching into the soil. There may not be enough soil mass to support so many plants. I'd simplify the design and test the soil for the Ph level and find plants that thrive in those conditions. You might consider small viburnams.
ReplyDeleteI would wait to just pull them! Hydrangeas are VERY thirsty creatures (hence the name!!) and should come back to life!!
ReplyDeleteGood Luck and keep us posted!
My hydrangeas did fabulous this year...finally! After 3 years of no blooms. But they are pretty much done blooming now and look similar to yours. During the hottest days they did get a littler burnt...they really don't like super hot direct sun.
ReplyDeleteI recently gave hydrangeas another try after not having much luck with them in the past. I planted them in a spot that gets a lot of shade and just remembered to water them more often. So far so good, I hope your plants come back. Your house is adorable. I love your hostas!!
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