I put out several Hydrangeas last spring. They are coming back with new growth at the base of the plant but nothing on the old stems. Should I cut the old wood to the ground? They are Brestenburg Hydrangea( Hydrangea macrophylla 'Brestenburg) Also what other care do they require? Thank you.

Hydrangea macrophylla will bloom on old wood, I normally wait until the 2nd week in June prior to pruning out the old wood. Wood that is bright white is dead and can be pruned.

RJ,
Thank you. I'm in 7A so thought I'd see some new growth by now but none of the old wood is white so I'll give it a little longer. Thank you.

Do you have any idea if it blooms on old or old&new wood? If in old wood only, you may not get blooms on years when the old stems die off during winter. In that case, consider using winter protection techniques when it goes dormant in the Fall.

If it still has those round fertilizer pellets, do not fertilize it this year. Amend the soil with garden sulfur or aluminum sulfate if your soil is alkaline. Keep the shrubs well mulched 2-4" up to the drip line (do not use rocks as mulch).

And keep the soil as evenly moist - not wet- as you can. A 1/2 to 1g of water per plant per watering is fine in Spring but tweak in the summer & fall.