Question
I live in Plymouth, MA and have several hydrangea plants that have only produced one or two flowers. I was told to use sulpher to help the plant produce more.  I did this but all I got were great green leaves and no flowers.  What must I do to get these bushes to flower? I need some help. Also what do you recommend as a fertilzer for roses? Anything you can suggest would be greatly appreciated. Thank you  

Answer
Hydrangeas, especially the mophead like (large soft ball shaped pink or blue flowers) grow on "old wood" which means that the flowers will develop on small buds along the stem in late summer. If these buds are killed in winter by frost, the flowers are killed (same result if you prune the plants in spring before flowering).

Sulfur is not used to produce flowers. It is used to lower the soil pH which in hydrangeas can be used to turn pink flowers into light blue flowers. It does not make the plants flower any better, however.

I recommend that you consider your winter weather. If you have temperatures which are freezing for extended periods then you should provide some protection for the stems. Consider wrapping the bushes in burlap and filling the burlap wraps with shredded leaves in november. Then remove in april after last chance of frost.

Fertilizer hydrangeas in early summer.


For roses. Use a fertilizer like 14-14-14 Osmocote (3 month slow release) or 10-10-10 monthly. YOu can also supplement with 14-day applications of 1 tsp per gallon of water of 20-20-20 peters.