Smooth hydrangea incrediball dying - Ask Extension
We have 2 hydrangea's that were planted about a month ago. They have brown spots and large holes in the leaves. I have been looking for bugs regularly...
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Smooth hydrangea incrediball dying #875168
Asked June 28, 2024, 7:06 PM EDT
We have 2 hydrangea's that were planted about a month ago. They have brown spots and large holes in the leaves. I have been looking for bugs regularly but have not seen any until today. There are several dead flies that are physically stuck to the plant. I scrapped one off and the body tore apart. And the stalk is rubbery. Please help I don't want another plant to die under my care...
P.s. the lady at the nursery suspected some viral issue and suggested reaching out to the U
Anoka County Minnesota
Expert Response
Hi Gordon,
Your hydrangeas aren’t dying. This looks like cercospora leaf spot, a pretty common condition during wet years like this one.
This video will explain:
Here’s more information:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/fungal-leaf-spots-shrubs/
This is usually a cosmetic condition for hydrangeas, and doesn’t threaten the life of the plant. You can help prevent it by raking up and removing fallen leaves in autumn.
Buds on Incrediball can look bizarre, but this one looks like photos I found on the web. If the flower doesn’t look normal when it opens, come back and add to this question.
Remember that shrubs taken time to get established and you probably won’t see a lot of growth on these plants this year. Hydrangeas are pretty tough. Water them regularly if it gets drier (you don’t want to drown them now, don’t water until the soil is dry an inch down).
Hope this helps. Thanks.
