Hydrangea:Fungus?

Raleigh, NC

This hydrangea is many years old, has never been moved and gets morning light. This year the leaves starting turning brown about a month ago. I brought one in to our local nursery help desk who thought it was a fungus but not harmful. She said I could spray fungicide but said it was optional. The winter would take care of it. In the meantime, things have gotten pretty ugly. Any comments, advice or opinions?

Thumbnail by Yellowbricks Thumbnail by Yellowbricks
Powder Springs, GA(Zone 7b)

Probably Cercospora leaf spot which is fairly common in hydrangeas. I cut off all my infected leaves of one of my hydrangeas a few weeks ago just to make it look better. New leaves are coming out but I expect the same spots to occur next year if the conditions are ripe.

https://homeguides.sfgate.com/treatment-spots-leaf-hydrangea-98494.html

Raleigh, NC

Thank you, hcmcdole. I noticed in the article they do not recommend copper fungicide except when sprayed in early Spring. Did you use any of the other natural remedies. Also, I'm assuming you didn't cut into the stems but, as you say, just the leaves?

Powder Springs, GA(Zone 7b)

I don't spray mine at all. I cut off the ugly leaves and faded blooms just to make it look better - naked stems for a while but plants want to grow and will leaf out again. It may be getting too close to fall (sure doesn't feel like it with 90+ degree days) for the plant to leaf out but it was too ugly to let it be.

Raleigh, NC

Thank you. (And I feel your pain about that 90 degree Fall.)

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