Climbing Hydrangea - Ask Extension
Hi,
I planted a climbing hydrangea about 3 years ago on a North facing brick wall. The first year it leaved out in Spring with beautiful bright green ...
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Climbing Hydrangea #217712
Asked October 20, 2014, 5:49 PM EDT
Hi,
I planted a climbing hydrangea about 3 years ago on a North facing brick wall. The first year it leaved out in Spring with beautiful bright green leaves, but then as summer progressed brown spots started to appear on the leaves (see attached photos). I tried using Safers fungicidal spray with no success. Since then, every year it has been doing the same thing, brown spots appearing all over the leaves. Also, it has never flowered. I'm hoping you can help.
Thanks,
Rob
Lane County Oregon
Expert Response
Cercospora leaf spot is an infectiousleaf disease that affects smooth, panicle, oakleaf and bigleaf types of hydrangea . This disease is caused by the fungus
Cercospora hydrangea andis perhaps the most common diseaseseen on this perennial ornamental during the months of July through October. Although this disease can be widespread on hydrangeas in the landscape, it is generally an aesthetic problem for homeowners becausethe disease rarely kills the plant.
That said, repeated loss of photosynthetic surfaces is going to weaken the plant so it is unable to bloom. Wetting the leaves can favor disease. My guess is that there is something wrong culturally with the plant, predisposing it to problems. The brick wall may be overheating the plant, for example. There could be weedkillers applied too close to it.Hydrangeas require well-drained soil and regular water. Overfertilizing may cause problems.
I hope this helps some.
Hi there,
I suspect that I got a plant that had this problem when I purchased it. Rather than trying to treat this plant I'm planning to remove it and plant another climbing hydrangea in its place. What are your recommendations in terms of removing the old plant and replanting a new plant ?
Thank you !
I suspect that I got a plant that had this problem when I purchased it. Rather than trying to treat this plant I'm planning to remove it and plant another climbing hydrangea in its place. What are your recommendations in terms of removing the old plant and replanting a new plant ?
Thank you !
Probably a good decision. Be sure to plant the new one in a suitable location, but not within the root zone of the first plant. Good luck.
