Hail damage

Hydrangea leaves are torn and pockmarked by hail, but most plants recover unless completely defoliated. Hail injury is almost always cosmetic and temporary. Planting in protected locations near sheltering trees helps reduce injury frequency. Unless the plant is severely damaged, let it heal naturally without intervention.

Prevention works better than treatment for hail damage. Choose resistant varieties when they exist, site plants where air moves freely, and maintain good sanitation by removing debris and infected material. When chemical intervention is necessary, timing matters more than product: apply protectants before the infection window, not after symptoms appear.