HELP! 1st Year Climbing Hydrangea - Zone 6B

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

Help! We planted a climbing hydrangea earlier this year (perhaps June?). It is now August - it has great growth on it I believe, however I am noticing a few things that are concerning :: lots of spider webs, the vines are turning brown instead of green (which I thought might be normal as it ages into bark?), and lots of brown burnt edges with holes in some leaves. It was a super hot and wet summer here in NJ.

We are SO excited about this plant and really hopeful someone can provide guidance on if it is okay, and how to best take care of it!

Pics attached. Thank you so much in advance.

Featured Answer

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

8 years ago

Sorry you have had to wait for a response.......I think your post just got overlooked :-)

I think your climber looks in fine condition for a first year plant!! The browning of the stems is perfectly normal.....as you assmed, this is just an indication of the natural aging of the plant. And the spider webbing is pretty normal as well :-) At this time of year, spiders set up housekeeping wherever they can - I have them all over my shrubs. And I also tend to ignore a lot of leaf issues at this time of year as well. By the end of the growing season - and one that has had some unusual weather conditions - leaves are often less than pristine in appearance and the odd brown splotches are just showing the effects of this.

You might want to search the forum archives for other posts on climbing hydrangeas to gather more info.......there have been many excellent discussions. This is a plant that requires a fair amount of patience and you might have to wait several years before seeing any flowers. And it is not technically a 'vine' - the plant has no capacity to wind or twine around a support structure. It adheres to surfaces with root hairs that emerge all along the stems, so is best with a flat, wide and fairly textural surface on which to grow or adhere its stems to. And if provided with good growing conditions, it can get very large (30'+) and quite heavy.

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Comments (7)

tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
8 years ago
What Gardengal said...especially pay attention to her last remark as it will swallow up the entire area visible in your pix and then keep on going. Siting it correctly at the start is critical as it will be had to move later.

tj
schepesm thanked tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
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schepesm
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you both so much for your reply + help. We actually have two planted side by side so HOPEFULLY it doesn't take over my entire backyard, LOL!
cearbhaill (zone 6b Eastern Kentucky)
8 years ago
"We actually have two planted side by side so HOPEFULLY it doesn't take over my entire backyard, LOL!"

They will- hopefully you really enjoy pruning. Are you sure you don't have another spot to relocate one of them? Perhaps under an enormous tree?
GardenHo_MI_Z5
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Thought you might like seeing how mine has progressed into its third year.

It’s basically in a large pot that I made with edging bricks, So I’m not sure how that will do in time.

I’m trying to train it to go to the left and cover my garage overhang

Planted

Year two

Just now
tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
"...HOPEFULLY it doesn't take over my entire backyard,..."

In time, this is how much real estate one can take up...and it is still growing.

tj
NHBabs z4b-5a NH
8 years ago
I have one that with regular pruning we keep confined to a concrete wall that is 12’ tall x 15’ wide. It is trying to grow over the top as well as turn the corner, and has been for several years. If the two are at all close together, consider moving one to where it can grow up a large tree trunk as cearbhaill suggested. Your wooden lattice will be overwhelmed and broken within a year or two, and the fence needs to be able to hold significant weight if it is to avoid damage.