When you see damage on hydrangea leaves, it’s most likely leafrollers.
Leafrollers are tiny green caterpillars that take hydrangea leaves and either glue the leaf edges together with silk webbing or take a single leaf and roll it up like a cigar.
The tiny caterpillars stay in their leaf nests to feed and rest until it’s time to pupate. After pupating, they will emerge as moths.
Chances are leafrollers won’t kill a hydrangea. However, the rolled and pinched leaves look unsightly and, if left unchecked, can reduce this season’s bloom production. And we all want our blooms!
How to remove leafrollers?
Simple!
Gently open up the pinched or rolled leaves and run your finger over the surface of the hydrangea leaves, removing any webbing. If you see a tiny green caterpillar in there, simply just drop it in a pail of soapy water, or, for the braver gardener, squish the little green caterpillars with your fingers.
Leafrollers are usually active until early July when they stop feeding on hydrangea leaves. After that, they fall to the ground to pupate throughout the summer, preparing to emerge as adult moths the following spring.
Best of luck dealing with your leafrollers.
Lexi Dearborn