I've had this Hydrangea Tardiva for about 3 or 4 years now and it blooms reliably. But, it's always raised it's roots out of the ground! Does anyone else have this issue? None of my other Hydrangeas do that and I have both paniculatas and macrophyllas! Is this a problem? I definitely did not plant it shallow. Every year I shovel soil on top of the roots, but they seem to want to "be free"!

weird.

Sherri,
I don't have an answer for you. Been looking and looking. I would keep doing what you have been, add a nice layer of compost.

Is the soil real heavy there? They look like they are gasping for air! LOL.

Virginiarose, what an excellent answer! I always forget to just look at the plant and think logically why it's doing something. Well, my soil is clay, but there's quite a bit of humus in most beds. I don't think I ever added any leaves or compost to that area though. Will do so. Thanks!

Another possibility could be roots tend to go where the water is. Could the ground not be absorbing water deeply , so the roots have to come up to get some. Either way it sounds like digging up and replanting with good soil might be the answer. Just adding on top sounds like it will keep the roots going that way.

Hi, Bob - well, I don't think the soil is particularly dry there. I have other Hydrangeas in the area and they don't do that. Good thought, though - thank you!

Sherri, it is a beautiful shrub and I do sympathize with you having the clay soil, so hard to work with. Now I know why my brother does not purchase many plants, he has done his whole yard with stuff he dug up in the woods and along the interstate! It's crazy how he will hit the brakes for a plant!!

Ha ha Sherri -- glad to know I'm not the only one to go 'ditch-diving' as I think of it. Eventually the DOT will just scoop out the ditches and mow the shoulders so I figure what's growing wild in those areas is fair game.

Go for it!