Can anyone theorize why none of the panicle hydrangeas in my neighborhood have more than one flower or so, while the mophead hydrangeas had a typical lovely year? I though it was my conditions but upon closer inspection, I couldn't find a single plant in my neighborhood (and they are popular!) with more than 1 or 2 blooms. Most years they are spectacular!

Thanks!

Wow, do you have any any pictures? How close are any that bloom well? How big of a neighborhood? For a city-wide anomaly, I would look at environmental causes: reduced sunlight due to Canadian fires for example, a deer population explosion, uncommon weather that caused bud set to occur significantly earlier than normal (and thus, the buds got removed when late winter/early spring pruning occurred, improper pruning, temperatures high enough to promote a summer dormancy period, some type of new disease, etc.

do you live in an HOA that hires lawncare? If so, maybe the company trimmed them all at the wrong time?

That is definitely possible although HOAs are not supposed to touch certain areas of the landscape where I would expect smaller size panicles to be and then those would be blooming well. Unless the crew erred and also pruned areas that were supposed to be bypassed. Big error if that happened. So now the question is 'Fred, could a HOA contractor be to blame?'. Or does the problem extend beyond your neighborhood?

I have panicle hydrangeas and several other types in my garden for many years.
Not knowing where each plant is located in each garden in the neighbors gardens I suspect they were not receiving either enough water and or dappled shade in morning .
To much hot direct sun , afternoon sun with extreme heat , plus if the roots dry out between watering , that alone can dampen bloom production severely.

Whole neighborhood no blooms on panicles only ? It's really three things that hydrangeas like and will bloom profusely every year. Location, Location, Location.

Plant panicle hydrangeas in full sun in the north and afternoon shade in the south. They need plenty of light to form flower buds early morning to noon.
If you'd like to prune them to encourage more branching, do so in spring just as the new growth appears. You can trim the branches back by as much as 1/3 each year if necessary. Also, remove any dried flowers that have hung on through the winter at this time to tidy up the plants' appearance.
Water panicle hydrangeas regularly to keep them growing strong and to achieve the most notable color change from white to pink or red in the fall.



Pic taken today… lots of blooms…


Last fall pic changing colors to autumn pink.