Hello, Deb. Hydrangeas do not need much in terms of fertilizers provided that the soil already contains adequate amounts of minerals. A single application in the Spring will be sufficient and you would not need to reapply. Once the fertilizer is all "used up", the shrub should be able to obtain minerals from the soil and the decomposing mulch. Both Osmocote and cottonseed meal are slow release fertilizers (so I would use one of them only). One is an organic meal while the other is a chemical alternative for those who prefer using those or those who already have that product. In years past, I have sometimes switched them back and forth because I had only one of them handy. How long they "last" actually varies but say 3-4 months each. Other organic alternatives are compost and composted manure. Earthwork castings like bat guano and bunny trails in a 1/4 to 1/2 thick layer would also work. You can complement them by using liquid seaweed, liquid fish or coffee grounds throughout the length of the growing season in your area. I even forgot to fertilize one year and noticed no changes so do not panic if you completely forget. But you could even add both at the same time and there would not be harm done provided that you do not add too much. Too much fertilizer can harm plants or can make the hydrangeas bloom only just a litlle if nitrogen levels remain very high. Cabin fever is about to break over here. The last two weekends I have started pruning roses a little, a chore usually scheduled around Feb 14th in this area. The weather has been nice and the roses are starting their leaf out, weeks after Flowering Quinces started blooming but oddly, the forsythia has not bloomed yet. A little strange for this area. Quinces are always the first ones to start blooming in the late part of January. I always think why in the world are those shrubs confused about the blooming time because they do tend to send something like 2-3 early blooms in mid January. God!!! But they start the process of making go outside and break the cabin fever. I guess that happens anytime you see bloomage in those early months. Camellias (C. japonicas) are others that are blooming here. However, our average last date of freeze is around mis-March so I should keep the fertilizers in the shed. I try to do this about two weeks after the average date of last frost but plants sure have been ahead of that the last few winters. I am dreading this time of the year somewhat as I will fertilize and I know the pooches will show up dirty noses and smelling of cottonseed meal and soil. Hee hee hee! I will have to apply it in one area only and keep them out of there for a week or so... or monitor them to make sure they do not eat all of fertilizer. So far the hydrangeas have not sent a complaint letter about me switching chemical and organic fertilizers year after year. By the way, some of the hydrangeas have tiny leaves coming out but not all. ;o) Your time will come in a month or so; enjoy it when it arrives. Well, I am ranting too. Time to go back to bed. Today's chinese meal woke me up! Did that help you? Luis PS - Fertilizing will not require more watering per se. It is recommended that one remove the mulch, water, add the fertilizer, water again and put back the mulch (or add if needed). I sometimes do that but other times forget & water afterwards only. To save on waterings, I try to fertilize the day before we expect rain but that does not work well when Mother Nature misses and rains only around me. Then I have to go and water by hand.

Ah the hopefulness of a gardener with a dead shrub. I'm doing the same thing with a leafless Cotinus Golden Spirit while one on the other side of the yard is fully clothed in leaves now. Tonight I bent the main branches and they were still flexible so I declared there was still hope. Yes, all Oakleaf hydrangeas here, even a 5 inch cutting in a pot, are fully leafed out now. And I'm well north of you. So sorry :(

Re: Annabelle, sometimes I prune; sometimes I don't. It has green leaves up the length of some stems so I won't do them. If others don't green up, I carefully remove them. The green little twigs are easily broken off. I will layer several more branches this year and see if they take. You are welcome to take cuttings anytime. I have tried twice but can't get them to root. Re: Black and Blue Salvia. The one patch that is the oldest next to the pavement is just up a couple of days. The one over in the grass bed isn't showing yet. I wouldn't give up yet.

Thanks for the advice from a month or so ago! I managed to avoid doing anything drastic to my limelight and it eventually started to leaf out in mid-May. I think the little guy is gonna make it. That said, your helpful words couldn't keep me from doing a little experimentation. I happened to be reading a book about pruning and noticed a passage that said that pruning a small portion of a branch can rejuvenate it. I snipped off a few branch tips and the first leaf emerged two days later. I'm not certain that the pruning did the trick, but given what I've learned about plant hormones and pruning, it may have helped. If any of you have any thoughts on this, let me know. And here's the limelight: