My hydrangeas are just starting to bud now. It's September.

Question

No blooms all summer.  Have 7 plants all about 6 feet tall.  Very healthy foliage.  What's wrong???

Naomie Moore aka baileyanddaisey, Castaic CA · Answer

Did you have an overly hot summer? Or too much rain? If so, the plant knows and will bud and bloom when weather conditions are right. Wait to see what happens, hopefully they will have beautiful blooms - technically still summer for a few more weeks.

Rose Broadway · Answer

That doesn't surprise me at all. Many of us are wondering what the great changes are this year. Plants that die, plants that grow much larger than they ever did, plants that always bloomed in years past, but didn't this year, etc... Strange isn't it?

Linda Sikut · Answer

It might be too much nitrogen either in your soil or any fertilizer you are using. Nitrogen feeds the leaves and green parts of the plants. Talk to a nursery to find out the best fertilizer to use. Also, it might just be the type of plant. There are hydrangeas that bloom at different times of the year.

Good luck.

Janet Pizaro · Answer

There could be many reasons ,improper pruning,incorrect fertilizer,uneven temperatures,late frost

Gar24974516 · Answer

maybe you did what I did, and pruned them back too hard last year ? Garden experts told me that they flower on last years stems, so take it steady with the secateurs this autumn, and you should have blooms next year. I took that advice, and this years flowers are lovely. Hope this helps. Good luck ! Garth D. Cumbria, England.

Mona · Answer

I don't ever prune them until buds appear in the spring. Then only cut down to first green bud. Approx 6 inches. I realize that they only bloom on old wood. Thanks for your answer but that's not the problem.

Jeff · Answer

Where do you live? Pennsylvania area? If so, the most likely reason is the bitter cold vortices of this previous winter. They played havoc with the Hydrangea macrophylla, or bigleaf hydrangea. These bloom on last year's growth and many were killed back to the ground or suffered massive bud die-off. It's not permanent and you will be alright next year.