Yellow leaves on hydrangea are a favorite of many gardeners and are known to dazzle anyone who sees their blooms. However, if you notice that your hydrangea leaves are yellow, it’s a sign of nutrient deficiency or some other issue. Luckily, you can fix this with the right care.

A common hydrangea problem is iron deficiency, which causes the leaves to turn yellow but the veins remain green. This is called chlorosis and occurs when the soil pH is too high, as this can bind iron from being available to the plant. Adding chelated iron to the soil can help solve this issue.

Another common nutrient deficiency is nitrogen, which can lead to yellowing on older leaves and stunting growth. This issue typically occurs because the soil is lacking in nutrients, and it can be fixed by amending the soil with organic matter or adding a balanced fertilizer for hydrangeas.

Golden Troubles: Diagnosing and Treating Yellow Leaves on Hydrangea Plants

Other causes of yellow leaves on hydrangea include fungus, disease and nematode infestation. You can help prevent these issues by sanitizing your gardening tools and planting in well-draining soil. You can also use a liquid fungicide to control fungus, diseases and nematodes in your soil.

Finally, if you have a lot of bright yellow leaves that are falling off the plant, it is likely due to lack of sunlight. As the hydrangea grows, the upper leaves shade out the lower leaves, which can cause them to yellow and then fall off. Provide the plant with more sunlight and it should grow new, green leaves.