Knowledgebase
Acton Hydrangea problem #877084
Asked July 13, 2024, 12:19 PM EDT
Anne Arundel County Maryland
Expert Response
For now, you can prune off any wilted branches and see if the shrub produces new growth from the base. If so, it may recover on its own, though no fungicide or insecticide use is needed or warranted. If a shrub that has completely died back is removed, you can inspect the roots and soil surface for indications of either Southern Blight or root rot. When roots die from infection (root rot), the outer layer of the root will be mushy, darker in color, and pull off easily, leaving behind a stringy inner core. If roots are not dead, or died from other factors, they will take more force to break, will be firmer and paler in color, and tend to snap cleanly in two.
Miri