Dying hydrangeas

Jesse2501

can I get some help please? I must be the worst gardener in the world. People tell me hydrangeas are easy to grow and like semi shade or sun. I planted a hydrangea last year, a lace cap , in the back garden . By autumn it was just a stem. Totally dead. One month ago I bought hydrangea blue wave. I planted it in the front garden( North facing but gets afternoon sun) I enclose a picture of it. The leaves are very withered looking and it doesn't look at all well. 

 

Any advice please as it's very disheartening. I thought it would provide some lovely summer colour to my North facing garden. I can't think what I'm doing wrong. 

 

 

Jesse2501

You know verdun , honestly I didn't water much as it is in the shade and everything seems to get mould around here. Too rocky under the soil. 

 

Do do you think I could save it if I water it? 

I really wanted to plant a limelight or Annabelle too but I've just had really no luck with hydrangeas. 

Palustris

As to the one planted last year, don't forget that they are deciduous plants. It is natural for them to look like dead twigs over winter.

Dovefromabove

Jesse - Verdun's right - and the clue is in the name - Hydrangea - the name comes from the same root as hydrate - and indicates that it likes plenty of water (not soaking but damp soil). 

And I also think that some of the discolouration on the leaves may be due to the cold night temperatures/frosts we've been having lately.  Your hydrangea had probably been kept in more sheltered conditions before you bought it and the cold weather was a bit of a shock for it.

But don't worry - it's not dead and hydrangeas are pretty tough - give it plenty of water now (not too much but keep the soil moist around it) and I'm 99.9% certain it'll recover.

Hydrangea Annabelle is gorgeous and so is Limelight!  Go for it   Any questions just ask - we like helping 

Jesse2501

Really delighted with the hopeful responses. I'm smiling as the hydrangea name never clicked. I have been watching it grow guys but only noticed the blackening and withering today. I think it was fine last week. So maybe the few recent cold nights has done harm.

 

dove, I went straight out and gave it a good watering 5 mins ago. When I planted it I put in bonemeal and ericacious compost. I hope I did the right thing? 

As for last years hydrangea stem, well it's as dead as ever I'm afraid.  So I think I'll try a limelight hydrangea too. Thanks for all the advice guys, God knows I'm needing it. 

Jesse2501

I assume I don't need to redig the current hydrangea ?  Just make sure the next one is dug in better. 

Jesse2501

Definitely gonna prepare the next one right. Thanks guys. 

Dovefromabove

When they're in bloom come back and show us some pics - we like to keep track of our protegees