Question
WE HAVE A HEALTHY HYDRANGER PLANT THAT IS NOW THREE
YEARS OLD BUT HAS YET TO FLOWER. WHAT DOES ONE NEED TO
DO GET IT TO FLOWER?

Answer
Some Hydrangeas (especially the mobheads with has blue or pink flower clusters) flower on old wood, which means that the flowers develop on the stems in late summer and if the winter is harsh, it can kill the flower buds. Try wrapping the stems in burlap in winter and fill the burlap wrap with shredded leaves.

Some people use a chikenwire ring filled with bags of leaves in same manner.

Others have reported good results by covering the stems with a cardboard (flatten the stems down - they are flexible - without breaking them) and then put a few stones on pot. Cover the entire thing with lots of shredded leaves.

You can also try to cover the stems with an upside down garbage can.

Remove the covering next spring after last hard frost. The stems may have some white (new) growth which will color up soon after.

In same manner, if you do any pruning, do not do so in late fall. Only prune these bushes right after flowering.

Also, remember to fertilize annually.