[breezyacre]

Hi, I bought two hydrangeas last summer and planted them out in the garden. They have really struggled, were late to show leaf and have not flowered this year. I am surprised at this as it states on the label that it is an ideal seaside plant. I bought other hydrangeas in Lidl this year , in the spring , and put them in pots and they have thrived. I wonder is it that the ground I put them in is just too dry. Has anyone got any ideas for me?

[Sive]

My experience is that hydrangeas will show you very quickly when they're not happy....in fact their leaves can go quite limp when the ground is too dry for them. I have moved hydrangeas often .....I would either improve the soil they're in or move them to a better position, make sure they never dry out and in a year or two they will establish and be fine.

[catman]

I have had the exact same problem although my hydrangea. It looks very healthy so not sure why it hasn't flowered!!! Would it be better if I took it out of the ground and put it in a pot?

[Sive]

The other possibility is that hydrangea buds can be burnt by a late frost.....and I think they flower on old wood, so you have to know what you're doing when you prune them.

[breezyacre]

I don't know you see old hydrangeas all around the country that are flowering beautifully and you know that they are not been cared for at all they are just happy where they are. I would say that these hydrangeas did get frost bitten and the ground around them is very dry also.

[catman]

I just saw a few flower heads this morning on a Hydrangea that I have been watching on my way into work, so I'm still keeping my fingers crossed!!!!

[Sive]

I'm a great believer in letting plants " settle in " and only giving up on them after a couple of years.......but hydrangeas definitely need watering in a dry spell, from my experience.