Q.my hydrangeas look dead
I have hydrangeas on east side of house. They do not look good . In fact they look dead. It is April in Illinois.
What do I do in spring to these plants? Also I have shrubs there. When can I prune these shrubs?
In zone 5, it may still be too early for hydrangea to start growing. It depends on the cultivar, how much sun it gets and if the soil has warmed. Each shrub has different needs. In general, shrubs that bloom in spring are pruned right after they bloom. They form flower buds the previous growing season so early pruning removes flowers. Summer bloomers, July and later are pruned in early spring. These shrubs usually bloom on new spring growth. The link goes to an article on pruning shrubs. https://www.mortonarb.org/trees-plants/tree-and-plant-advice/horticulture-care/pruning-deciduous-shrubs
