Leaf loss on hydrangeas (Hydrangea) can be due to the season or indicate a serious problem. Here you can read useful tips about common causes of falling hydrangea leaves. This is what to do if hydrangeas lose their leaves prematurely.
Why do hydrangeas lose their leaves prematurely, and what can help?
Hydrangeas often lose their leaves prematurely due to incorrect location, care errors or diseases and pests. Improve the site, optimize care and target diseases or pests to stop leaf loss.
When do hydrangeas lose their leaves?
Hydrangea (Hydrangea) thrives asdeciduous shrubs. In autumn the trees lose all their leaves because it's a matter of life and death. Hydrangeas can only survive the winter when they are leafless.
Falling temperatures and shorter days signal to hydrangeas that winter is just around the corner. The bushes shift leaf green (chlorophyll) and nutrients into their roots and cut off the water supply to the leaves. The leaves then wilt and fall to the ground. Next spring new leaves will sprout happily.
What are common causes of premature leaf loss?
Shedding leaves in spring or summer is an important indication that your hydrangea is not doing well. These are the most common causes of hydrangeas losing their leaves prematurely:
- Wrong location: direct sunlight.
- Care errors: drought stress, waterlogging, lack of nutrients, frost damage.
- Diseases and pests: chlorosis, iron deficiency, fungal infection, aphids, spider mites.
Wrong location causes leaf drop – what to do?
For optimal, he althy growth, hydrangeas prefer apartially shaded location and acidic substrate Abrupt sunlight after clearing out potted hydrangeas causes sunburn and leaf loss. If hydrangeas in the bed are permanently exposed to blazing sun, the bushes shed their leaves to protect themselves. What to do:
- Acclimate potted hydrangeas outside in a shady location for 14 days after clearing them out in spring.
- Transplant bedding hydrangeas to a partially shaded location with a pH value of 4.0 to 6.0.
Hydrangeas lose leaves due to care errors - what to do?
Caring for hydrangeas is characterized byhigh water and nutrient consumption as well as limited winter hardiness. If there are deficits here, the flowering bushes will shed their leaves indignantly. You can stop premature leaf fall with these countermeasures:
- Cause of dryness: Water bedding hydrangeas thoroughly, dip potted hydrangeas in rainwater.
- Cause of waterlogging: Water or transplant bed hydrangeas more sparingly, repot potted hydrangeas.
- Cause of nutrient deficiency: fertilize weekly from March to the beginning of August with liquid hydrangea fertilizer.
- Cause of frost damage: Mulch bedding hydrangeas with straw as winter protection, overwinter potted hydrangeas frost-free, protect against late frost damage with a fleece cover.
Leaf loss due to diseases and pests – what to do?
If hydrangeas are weakened by location problems or care errors, diseases and pests have an easy time of it. Depending on the cause, the first symptoms are light green leaves (chlorosis, iron deficiency, nitrogen deficiency), fungal leaf coating (fungal infection) or mottled leaf spots with curled leaf edges (pests). This helps:
- Cause of chlorosis due to iron deficiency: water Epsom s alt or aluminum sulfate (alum), alternatively transplant into acidic soil.
- Cause of nitrogen deficiency: foliar fertilization with nitrogen fertilizer, e.g. E.g. urea fertilizer or nettle manure.
- Cause fungal infection: Treat hydrangea with organic fungicide, cut and thin out every year.
- Cause of aphids or spider mites: Fight pests with soap and alcohol solution.
Tip
Evergreen plant partners compensate for winter leaf loss
Unsightly gaps in the winter hydrangea bed don't have to be there. You can decoratively compensate for the seasonal loss of leaves by combining hydrangeas with evergreen plant partners. Recommended hydrangea neighbors are alpine roses (Rhododendron), boxwood (Buxus), bamboo (Fargesia) and wintergreen ornamental grasses such as pampas grass (Cortaderia selloan), sedges (Carex) or switchgrass (Panicum virgatum).
