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What’s wrong with my Hydrangea blooms?

oliviaecarney7ivznv8xoliviaecarney7ivznv8x Posts: 4
in Problem solving
I planted this Endless Summer hydrangea roughly 3-4 weeks ago and I thought she had been doing great... until the flowers started to fully bloom.

I'm in zone 6b and this garden bed gets morning shade & afternoon sun starting around 2:30-3:00pm. I know they like moist soil and I have been watering every morning for about 1 minute. Some flower heads look better than others, even if they're blooming on the same plant, so l'm really not sure what's going on! Why are my blooms coming in partially brown? 

I'm new to gardening so any advice would be so greatly appreciated 🙏🏻

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited June 2023
    Could the flowers have been wetted when you’re watering?

    Rather than smaller amounts of water daily, what shrubs and trees need is to be watered deeply less frequently, to encourage the roots to head downwards. 

    I would give your hydrangea 2 large watering cans full of water (around 4 gallons) three times a week, poured slowly over the root area so that it really soaks down to where the roots should be heading.   

    I hope that helps 😊 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • oliviaecarney7ivznv8xoliviaecarney7ivznv8x Posts: 4
    thank you so much! I’m thinking my daily watering has only been infiltrating the top layer of soil and the roots below weren’t getting enough moisture. I have very sandy, rocky soil that I think dries out quickly. I’m going to give it a 20 min. drink for the next couple days in hopes that the deeper soil starts to retain more water. 

    There is a possibility that the petals got wet and burned, but I try hard not to let that happen. I’ve been more nervous that my deer repellent is damaging the petals… I know they say it doesn’t but, you never know!
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    I think the afternoon sun maybe causing the damage as well. Hydrangeas really need a moisture retentive soil, and shade during the hottest part of the day.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    That’s flowering quite early,  I wonder if it was one from a supermarket or garden centre already in flower.

    If so,  they’re brought on in hot house to flower quicker so more attractive to the purchaser,   That will be the reason the original flowers are dying off now.  The rest of the flower buds will bloom at the correct time.

    Keep it well water in this drought and it will be fine.
    Next year the flowers will all come at the same time. 

    It’s a lovely shade of blue,  one of my favourite shrubs,  I have about 60 of them. Not so much fun when they all need dead heading and pruning next year😀
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • blacksweetrollsblacksweetrolls Posts: 16
    This could have something to do with either their placement or how much sun they're receiving. Is this area flat or on a slope? You could try moving it around a bit to see if you can find an optimal spot with enough sun and shade, and since Endless Summer hydrangeas like moist soil, you could also try increasing your watering time a bit to make sure the flower heads stay as vibrant as possible.
  • steephillsteephill Posts: 2,841
    You say you are in zone 6b so I suspect you are not located in the UK which is the home base of this website. In the UK hydrangeas are not targeted by our deer species so don't need deer repellent. What repellent have you been using?
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I don't think your soil will be helping @oliviaecarney7ivznv8x - dry, sandy, rocky - not what  they prefer. If you're adding sun into that mix, you'll be constantly fighting. 
    Better to choose plants which suit the site and conditions. If you really want hydrangeas, it's better to create raised beds that you can then fill and tailor to suit.  :)
    They're generally quite easy regarding animal damage over here, so you may need a physical barrier if something's targeting it. However, it's more likely that the flowers are fading quickly, or not developing fully due to that lack of consistent moisture and too much sun. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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