How To Identify Dead Hydrangeas After Winter?

The hydrangea is a deciduous plant that loses its leaves and flowers each year in the fall. It should start sprouting new branches in early spring, producing new leaves and flowers. However, if the leaves remain on the plant, it suggests that the hydrangea is dead. Key signs to look for include brittle stems and brown leaves, which are often seen as signs of a dead hydrangea.

If your hydrangeas look like dead sticks, you may need to read winter kill hydrangeas care tips. Hydrangeas go dormant during the late fall and winter months when temperatures drop and daylight hours decrease. Dormancy is natural for hydrangeas to conserve energy during these periods.

To determine if your hydrangea is dead or dormant, check the stem surface by scratching the stem surface. If no green stems underneath with zero sprouts indicate a dead plant, while a live branch but no growth indicates a dormant hydrangea.

Some hydrangeas may have dead stems, which can be pruned away. To check if your hydrangea is alive, lightly scratch the outer bark with your thumbnail and see if evidence of the limey-green cambium layer is present. If it is green on the inside, it is still alive. Some hydrangeas will have dead stems, which can be pruned away.

To check if your hydrangea is dead or dormant, scratch the stem surface with your thumbnail and look for green buds on the brown canes. If you find green underneath, it means the heart of the plants are alive. If no live stems and no sprouts are visible from the base of the hydrangea, it is likely that the plant is dormant in winter.

In summary, hydrangeas are deciduous plants that lose their leaves and flowers each year in the fall. To determine if your hydrangea is dead or dormant, look for signs such as brittle stems, wilted flowers, and winter chill.