Feel like your Hydrangeas just don’t have the bloom power you want or expect? There are 4 primary reasons your Hydrangea might be lackluster.
1. Pruning Problems
If not pruned at the proper time, a Hydrangeas bloom season can be disrupted. This is especially applicable for Hydrangeas blooming on old wood.
Example: Pruning an old wood blooming Hydrangea such as an Oakleaf variety in the early Spring will actually remove the blooms for that season.
Read more about Pruning Hydrangeas here.
2. Incorrect Sunlight
As with all plants, the amount of sunlight the hydrangea receives is very important. Most Hydrangeas should have at least 4 hours of sun for best blooming and many Hydrangeas prefer that to be early day sun instead of peak afternoon heat. If an area is too shady or if the light is being blocked then it can directly affect how strongly your Hydrangeas bloom.
3. Physical Damage
While physical damage caused by something such as string trimmers, typically it will be pest (such as deer) or really cold, bitter winter temperatures. While most our Winters are mild, we do have the occassional very cold spell. Oakleaf and Macrophylla Hydrangeas are the most susceptible to winter damage causing bloom problems the next Spring since they set their next year’s buds on old wood immediately after finishing blooming the late summer.
You can apply animal repellents such as to all Hydrangeas throughout the entire growing season or cover with burlap or a frost cloth during late Spring cold snaps.
4. Lack of Nutrients/Poor Soil
Hydrangeas require good nutrition to bloom well. Many homeowners simply forget to fertilizer their landscapes in general. (We’ve all done it!) We recommend feeding Hydrangeas with a slow-release, granular fertilizer such in both early spring and midsummer. We have multiple options to choose from.
Have questions? We are always here to help!
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