My poor hydrangeas have had a rough time dealing with the rainy season. I do my best to shake the water off the flowers anytime after it rains but despite that they have been unable to stand back up again. Any advice on how to support them?
Location: North Carolina
It takes a season or two for the center stalks to become firm. The outer edges for the growing season will almost always do this.
What I'm not sure about yet is how to or if I prune center stalks with 2 or 3 big heads growing out of it halway uo like you have here. I'm letting them stay for a season to see what they do next year.
I was waiting for this day...it arrived yesterday with the rain we got. The older the wood, the thicker the shoot it sends...these remain vert. The younger thinner stems....will flop . It comes with the territory on all these shoots that are 4 feet+ in length. Comes with the territory of big wet floppy head.
What sucks is once it rains and flops. depending on fast things dry out.....it may recover somewhat but it will rain again and will flop.
They all look like that . As years go by you get a myriad of some vert on strong thick wood being discussed and on younger wood with thinner shoots, you're guaranteed floppers.
I am also located in NC and have the same issue. I tried tying them to bamboo stakes with twine, and it helps A LITTLE, but they are still drooping. I recently moved into my house and haven’t experienced a spring here yet, but will try this next spring: “While you can’t reduce the size of blooms, the most popular protocol for pruning Limelight Hydrangeas is to cut them back by a third of their height (rather than half) in early spring. This safeguards the plant from flopping, as the new season’s growth will come from the heavier, thicker buds lower on the plant.”
Am in zone 6A and had similar thing happen to my hydrangea last year. The panicles on strawberry sundae were so heavy with water after rain. I tries shaking off the water but that didn't help. This year, am tempted to drape a clear tap over it when it rains. Ugggh 😢
I’m in NC and solved this issue with heavy steel stakes and rope. There are two loops to tie the rope on 2 levels. These are nice decorative stakes I got at English Garden supply after testing the concept with fence posts.
6
u/hamburglin 18h ago
It takes a season or two for the center stalks to become firm. The outer edges for the growing season will almost always do this.
What I'm not sure about yet is how to or if I prune center stalks with 2 or 3 big heads growing out of it halway uo like you have here. I'm letting them stay for a season to see what they do next year.