The Great Hydrangea Mystery

Lush, leafy hydrangea bushes with zero flowers are one of the most common complaints among gardeners. Here is why it happens and how to solve it.

1. Incorrect Pruning (The #1 Culprit)

Most popular hydrangeas (like Macrophylla/Bigleaf) bloom on "old wood"—the stems produced the previous year. If you prune them to the ground in the fall or spring, you are cutting off all of this year's flower buds! Only prune dead wood.

2. Winter Die-Back

If you live in a colder zone, a harsh winter can freeze and kill the flower buds on the old wood. Protect them by wrapping the shrub in burlap and filling the inside with dry leaves in late November.

3. Too Much Nitrogen

If you use high-nitrogen lawn fertilizer near your flower beds, the roots will absorb it. Nitrogen promotes rapid leaf growth at the expense of flowers. Switch to a bloom-boosting fertilizer high in Phosphorus (the middle number on the bag).