No Life On Bobo Panicle Hydrangea

Question

I am wondering of my Bobo Panicle Hydrangea is still alive, I do not see any green buds on the stems at all (May 5th 2020) I planted this Bobo last summer. How do I know if it is alive or dead? Thank you

Answer 1

Just scratch off some of the stems and if it is green underneath, it is still alive. My BoBo starts leafing out in mid April in Midwest U.S.

Answer 2

Leaf out time changes every year and the further north one resides, the later will hydrangeas break dormancy. For date comparison, another paniculata that I have breaks dormancy as early as February but usually in March.

Note that if you use the scratch test, that only tells you that the stem is dead and that does not mean that the roots & the plant are also dead. When the stem gets zapped by winter conditions or late freezes, the plant will develop new growth (stems) once overnight temperatures get stay above 50°F, something that promotes active growth. Extremely cold conditions or hot/cold temperatures may kill the stems.

As a general rule though that applies to most locations in the US except for the extreme northern areas, you should observe leaf out and-or new growth (stems) by the end of May or earlier. If there is no leaf out and no new growth by the end of May then one can assume that the plant did not make it for some reason. In northern areas where late frosts can occur in June, you may need to give the plant 1-2 more weeks of wiggle room.

A new paniculata may require that the soil be kept moist during mild but dry winters as long as the soil does not freeze. Water if the soil feels dry when you insert a finger into the soil to a depth of 4" (2-4" for pots). Four inches is the typical depth of most hydrangea roots.

I have lost a Wild Hydrangea when winter was dry and I turned off the sprinkler system (due to cold weather) and forgot to restart the sprinkler once the cold temperatures went away. When an evergreen bush started browning, I discovered the problem but it was too late for that leafless hydrangea.