Question about damaged hydrangea

Lorik62 · ‎03-14-2010

I have a big leaf hydrangea bush that flowers on old wood. We had a bad frost over a month ago and the new growth that was coming out on the old wood turned black. I was wondering if I could cut the old wood back since it looks awful? Thank you for any advice!

RedTop · ‎09-01-2010

Yes, you can cut the old wood growth off and let the plant come back out. I am in southern WV, and just cut my woody growth off at the first of this month. I have bright green growth at ground level already.

mousiegirl · ‎03-09-2010

@Lorik62 wrote:
I have a big leaf hydrangea bush that flowers on old wood. We had a bad frost over a month ago and the new growth that was coming out on the old wood turned black. I was wondering if I could cut the old wood back since it looks awful? Thank you for any advice!

@Lorik62 If you cut it back, you won't have flowers this year. I would wait a while to see if leaves grow on the old wood. As long as the wood is viable, the bush should be fine when it warms up.

JustJazzmom · ‎03-09-2010

@mousiegirl wrote:
@Lorik62 wrote:
I have a big leaf hydrangea bush that flowers on old wood. We had a bad frost over a month ago and the new growth that was coming out on the old wood turned black. I was wondering if I could cut the old wood back since it looks awful? Thank you for any advice!

@Lorik62 If you cut it back, you won't have flowers this year. I would wait a while to see if leaves grow on the old wood. As long as the wood is viable, the bush should be fine when it warms up.

Cut to green growth but I usually wait till I see leaves emerging so I can figure on where to cut back. Any stem that doesn't get green growth on it should be removed right from where it emerges from the ground. It's time consuming as each branch is hand cut with a clipper or a lopper depending on the diameter of the branch.

☼The best place to seek God is in a garden. You can dig for him there. GBShaw☼

cookinfreak · ‎03-31-2010

Don't know if this will help or not. I remember watching a gardening show a few years back and the host said to just take your fingernail and scratch a small spot on the old wood. If it's still okay, it will be green where you scratch the covering or bark away. I have tried this a few times and have had good results.

cookin