“My new hydrangea is suffering, and some seem to be mostly dead. I used to spray it twice a week, so I wondered what was wrong and what I could do to save my plants.
– Jeffrey Goldstein, Scotland
Over the past few weeks, watering has been a challenge for a newly planted garden. Long hot and dry climates create stress on established gardens and, if not watered properly, can kill new plants from this year and last year.
Although they are sprayed regularly, your new hydrangeas do not get enough water.
It is difficult to give you specific guidelines for watering, as there are many variables depending on the growth of the plant. Gardens with sandy and well-drained soils dry out more quickly than heavy clay soils, and they need to be watered often.
Different plant species also prefer different moisture levels, and plants planted in the shade zone can compete with tree roots. The amount of sun and shade also affects how much water is needed for those gardens. To make things more complicated, different zones of your garden can be dried in different sizes.
A medium-growing plant is used for most plants that grow in containers. These media are well drained and dry quickly in hot weather. When shrubs, such as your hydrangeas, are well established and moderately packed in pots, and when flowering, the plants use a lot of water and the media dries quickly.
Newly planted shrubs take a few weeks for the roots to grow into the surrounding garden soil, so they dry out quickly after planting. Some growing media programs can be difficult to refresh once they are dry.
They did not say how fast they would run each time, but it may not be enough to provide enough water to soak the balls under the bushes. The picks may not have covered the plants well.
Go ahead and look for signs that the plants are very dry. Changes in tree leaves and leaves are good indications that a plant is very dry. It is a good idea to check the moisture under the plants to see if enough water is being provided.
Excessive watering can cause similar symptoms, so checking the soil is a sure way. Check the ground immediately after watering to find out how much you need to water the plants – it will take longer than you think to get enough water by hand or spray. It is a good idea to water the plants according to the plants to make sure they get enough water.
Raise the water level on the damaged plants and give them some time to see them regenerate. The sight of some green leaves gives them a chance to water properly.
For more herbal advice, contact the Chicago Botanical Garden Herbal Information Service plantinfo@chicagobotanic.org. Tim Johnson is executive director of the Chicago Botanical Garden.