Question
While my old-fashioned Annabelle hydrangas bloom faithfully, the newer blue ones don't bloom. They seem to send up new shoots annually, leaf out nicely, but no bloom. I use fertilizer for acid-loving plants, mulch in the fall, and have had my soil tested..I pick the blooms that I initially got to dry, but did not prune the plant. What to do?

Answer
Sharon,

I think that the plants are sacrificing flower production for leaf growth. One of the best ways to change this is to stress out the plant by cutting some of the roots away from the plant.

I would also recommend using a low nitrogen fertilizer when feeding. Nitrogen encourages top growth, so the less you provide the less growth you will have on the top.

Do not prune the plants this year and wrap them in burlap to protect the buds.

Good luck,
Ed Gulliksen