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Bring Your Drooping Hydrangea Back To Life With These Easy Tricks
By JENNY LYNCH
Structural Support
Sometimes a droopy hydrangea just needs a support structure. A wrought iron garden trellis, chicken wire, or fencing will let you corral errant branches.
Dowels & Zip Ties
Instead of full structural support, use dowels and zip ties. You can insert stakes into the ground before you sow your seeds and train seedlings from the start.
If you’re dealing with a fully grown hydrangea, strategically arrange the stakes throughout the patch wherever they need the most help, then loosely secure the stems.
Plant Somewhere Else
If your hydrangea bush is in a bad spot, you can carefully transplant it somewhere better. Deadhead in fall and transplant once the shrub has gone dormant.
Dig a new hole, then dig out a wide circle around the base of the bush, including the root ball. Transplant it quickly but gently, then backfill the hole with the original soil.
Don't Over Fertilize
Over-fertilizing can create weak stems that can’t support large flower heads. Avoid fertilizer high in nitrogen
and opt for a balanced,
all-purpose product.
Pruning
Hydrangeas can droop if they become leggy, so pinch back new growth at the top. Know if you have panicle, bigleaf, or smooth hydrangeas so you know when it's best to prune.