"Martin Sykes" wrote in message
...
"Rich" wrote in message
om...
Hi,

I planted a hydrangea back in the summer.It has been growing well.
The problem is that since the clocks have gone back,I stopped watering
it and now the leaves on the top and side have started curling and
going brown/black.It looks to me that the cold has got to it, but I'm
not sure.

Can anyone tell me whats wrong with it and what I should do to make it
healthy again?

It was all green and healthy before the winter.

Thanks

Hydrangea dies off over winter. Next spring, when the new buds are
showing,
cut back to a low bud ( but not the lowest ) on each branch. It'll grow
back
fine next year. The reason you don't cut back to the very lowest bud is
that
a late frost might kill it. If you've left a couple of buds, the top one
will start growing first. If it gets caught by a late frost, wait until
there are definitely no more frosts possible then cut it back further to
an
undamaged bud.

I have always understood that Hydrangeas flower from the buds at the ends of
the previous year's growth. In that case, you should not prune "to a low
bud (but not the lowest) on each branch", but leave about half unpruned.

Franz