Hydrangea Tree - Definitely a Problem

[midwestdad]

Hello again.

My Hydrangea Tree doesn't seem to be getting along very well with it's new environment. Since the last post, it has lost approximately 50% of it's foliage to these brown ulcer like legions which seem to be killing off the leaves (mostly on the lower portion of the stems). In these brown areas, the leaf is extremely dry and brittle and if touched, will crack like a dry dead leaf. I haven't noticed any similar activity in tress planted nearby, I'm really not sure what to make of it. Thanks in advance for any insight.

https://tinypic.com/bhwt4w.jpg

https://tinypic.com/bhwtbn.jpg

[The Helpful Gardener]

Spots are almost always fungal, so perhaps a treatment of neem oil might be in order. Remove the affected leaves so they can't spread it further, and make sure you are neither over or under watering (An inch a week, preferably in one big shot).