I have a new home and I am unsure how to care for some of the bushes that are on the grounds. I'm attaching pictures. The hydrangea looks like it might have a blight on it. Also...the Japanese maple looks funny as well..but maybe that's because of the weather change with fall coming? (I live in New Jersey). I'm unsure what the bushy plant is and how to prune it. Also...my grass has creeping charlie...which is spreading all over my grass plot. yikes! ANY help would be greatly appreciated.
You can use a post-emergent herbicide on the creeping charlie in your grass. It can be very invasive.
the Japanese maple looks like it has some leaf scorch. Increasing the water for a while should help.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/japanese-maple/japanese-maple-care.htm
The hydrangea looks like it has a fungal leaf spot disease. You can treat that with a fungicide.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/hydrangea/common-hydrangea-diseases.htm
The other photo is so close I can't tell if it's a shrub or tree but it's a lovely evergreen. Generally they are low maintenance.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/tgen/what-does-evergreen-mean.htm
I have a rooted cutting of my hydrangea . It is early October and I want to plant it outdoors. Any advice.
This should be allowed to root until it has completely filled out the container that it is in. Then you can plant in Spring after the last frost.
This article will help you to care for the plant: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/hydrangea/growing-hydrangeas-hydrangea-care-guide.htm
My hydrangea tree planted last year bloomed beautifully. But, not the older bushes.
Hydrangea blooming has, mostly, to do with the type that it is. This will dictate how it needs to be pruned in order to bloom. This article will help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/hydrangea/hydrangea-not-blooming.htm
We have 3 hydrangeas which have white spots, brown and black areas. The plants are 3 years old, 2 on a South-facing slope, but all 3 are in the sun most if not all day. Summer was brutal like usual and we had an usually long, wet Spring.
Unless these are Tree Hydrangeas, then full sun will kill them over time. Most other hydrangeas are meant for shade or only partial sun, though some can tolerate close to full sun over time.
If these are a tree hydrangea, then you might chalk this up to a soil infection. A fungicide will be in order here. This article will help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/using-fungicides-in-garden.htm
This collection of articles will help you with the care of hydrangeas: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/category/ornamental/shrubs/hydrangea
I'm new to this, don't want to kill them by covering, but don't want them to perish in the cold winter up here...I have bushel baskets, and have read to lay a good cover of mulch at base..but should they be covered, or will that kill them..? thanks.!
Your hydrangea and butterfly bush are hardy. However, butterfly bush dies back so part of winter prep is to cut all stems down to 9-12 inches. Don't cut back the hydrangea; in spring you can cut it back by 1/3 if you like. Put 2-3 inches of loose mulch, wood chips, chopped leaves or straw, over the roots. No other winter prep is required except watering the plants if autumn is dry.
I would like to know if it is in a bad spot? It gets the afternoon sun, but I do water it often.
It is likely the type of Hydrangea that you have. If this is a variety that flowers on old wood, and the shrub dies back every year, for the most part then this will be the cause. This article will offer more information: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/hydrangea/hydrangea-not-blooming.htm
I have Invincibelle spirit and Endless summer hydrangeas
These articles should help: