Should I trim the brown tips?

You can trim the brown parts with clean scissors for aesthetic reasons. Just be careful not to cut into the healthy green tissue.

Does tap water cause brown tips?

Sometimes high mineral content in tap water can cause salt buildup. If you suspect this, try using rainwater or filtered water for a few weeks.

Bigleaf Hydrangea: brown tips, causes and fixes

Check these first

Feel the soil to see if it is bone dry.
Check if the plant is in a drafty location.
Review your recent fertilizer application.

Likely causes

Underwatering
Most likely
How to tell: The tips of the leaves become crispy and brown while the rest of the leaf feels dry. The plant may also look wilted during the hottest part of the day.
What to do: Water your hydrangea deeply every 2 to 4 days. Make sure the water reaches the entire root ball rather than just the surface.
Fertilizer Burn
Possible
How to tell: It is less common for this plant, but usually caused by applying too much synthetic fertilizer at once. You will see sharp brown edges on the leaves that appear shortly after feeding.
What to do: Flush the soil with plenty of plain water to wash away excess salts. Avoid fertilizing again until the plant shows signs of new, healthy growth.

Find out what's wrong with your bigleaf hydrangea

The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.

When to worry

A few brown tips are common during the heat of summer. Worry if the browning covers more than half the leaf or affects the entire plant.

Stopping it coming back

Apply a layer of mulch around the base of the plant to help retain soil moisture. Water deeply and consistently throughout the growing season.

Keep your bigleaf hydrangea healthy from here

Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked. Identification and a health check are free.

Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free

Questions people ask

Should I trim the brown tips?: You can trim the brown parts with clean scissors for aesthetic reasons. Just be careful not to cut into the healthy green tissue.
Does tap water cause brown tips?: Sometimes high mineral content in tap water can cause salt buildup. If you suspect this, try using rainwater or filtered water for a few weeks.

Why are my hydrangea leaf tips turning brown?