Saving hydrangea trees from root rot - Ask Extension
Hello! We have three fairly large (6-7 ft tall, main trunk 6-7inch diameter maybe?) hydrangea trees in a row in our backyard. This past week the middl...
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Saving hydrangea trees from root rot #877927
Asked July 19, 2024, 1:46 PM EDT
Hello! We have three fairly large (6-7 ft tall, main trunk 6-7inch diameter maybe?) hydrangea trees in a row in our backyard. This past week the middle one’s leaves all died and when we went to see what was up, the main trunk snapped easily at its base. After reading online, it seems like root rot is the likely culprit? I’m wondering if we need to / can do anything to save the two remaining trees on either side (pictured in the attached image) Thank you!!!
Hennepin County Minnesota
Expert Response
The one photo that shows the base of one plant shows bark peeling. That may be sunscald or water soaked bark. I suggest you pull back the mulch from the base of the two several inches to allow air circulation. It may be trapping moisture and hydrangeas do not like wet feet. If that one broke off at soil level, it must have rotted or, there could have been damage around the trunk from rabbits/voles. Consider protecting the trunks with a plastic tube this winter to prevent critter damage. You put it on around October 1st and remove around April 1st.
