I recently purchased an Annabelle Hydrangea and am having trouble with it. It arrived healthy and about three feet tall (in potted container), with blooms already present. I followed planting instructions, nice big hole filled with amended soil; mulched to retain moisture; watered daily except on two days we got torrential rains. Then we got several days of very hot weather (low 90s). It started getting lower yellow leaves first, then stems started turning brown and now upper leaves and flower heads are drying or shriveling and turning brown. What did I do wrong?? Did it get too much water? Too much heat? I dug it up and put it in a large container and brought it inside my screened porch, out of direct sunlight, but still hot and humid. The root "ball" seemed all dry too, but the soil was wet! Can I save it? Should I "prune" it all down and hope it comes back? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
It sounds like the soil may not have been well draining.
Here are some links with more information.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/hydrangea/hydrangea-container-care.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/hydrangea/drooping-hydrangea-plants.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/hydrangea/sun-tolerant-hydrangeas.htm
as ever what can I do? email elainecastle.78@ gmail .com
Smooth hydrangea, Hydrangea arborescens, can be pruned hard in late winter when it is dormant. To rejuvenate an overgrown bush, cut 1/3 of the largest, oldest branches to the ground each year. This type of hydrangea also responds well to being entirely cut down to several inches before new growth begins. https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/2017/03/pruning-hydrangeas
We planted an Hydrangea Annabelle in a partially shady spot in mid June of this year. It seems lush and strong and healthy but has shown no sign of flowering. possible reasons please?
This article should help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/hydrangea/hydrangea-not-blooming.htm
Can you tell me what kind of hydrangea this is?
It looks like an Annabelle that has not flowered completely, or is not flowering properly.
Annabelle's have somewhat flat blooms compared to some of the other species.
Perhaps they are receiving more sun than their nearby relatives? They need quite a bit of shade to flower at their best.
If they are in a different location as the others, then I would have your soil tested.
These articles will help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/hydrangea/growing-hydrangeas-hydrangea-care-guide.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/hydrangea/hydrangea-not-blooming.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/.../hydrangea/prune-hydrangea-bushes- hydrangea-pruning-instructions.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/hydrangea/fertilizing-hydrangeas.htm
Are Annabells more happy in the sun or part shade?
The Annabelle Hydrangea will be something for the shade. Too much sun will likely kill them, fairly quickly.
Here is an article that will help you grow the shrub:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/hydrangea/smooth-hydrangea-care.htm
When and how much should I prune off my hydrangea Annabelle
I deadhead the blooms at any time I want but that means I leave the task to Mother Nature. ;o) To remove spent blooms, you can cut the peduncle, the string that connects the bloom to the stem. I like to see the color changes but if you do not, you can deadhead once the sepals change from white to shades of green. Or when the bloom finally turns brown.
Then, as my summer temperatures arrive, I prune any stems that have not leafed out and remain lifeless. You can confirm that they are dead by carefully scratching the bark to se if you see green or not.
Lastly, throughout the rest of the growing season, I monitor stems that bend/flop in order to see which ones straighten out by themselves and which ones do not. Then I prune the ones that remain bent either partially or all the way down.
I prefer to avoid pruning Annabelle stems as older stems are woodier, stronger and flop less than new, green, pliable stems. But... I understand having to prune most or all stems if the plant is in a location where it gets dumped with snow often and the stems get broken or bent by the weight of the snow.
Full morning sun and afternoon shade.
This looks to be Cercospora infection. Current action consists of treatment and prevention rather than a, true, cure. This will be, mostly, keeping all infected growth discarded of (not in your compost) and kept away from the ground and soil. Treating with fungicides can help, but this must be done, consistently, throughout the year.
Here is an article that will help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/hydrangea/spots-on-hydrangea-leaves.htm