Answer

Hi Tyler, It could be a water issue, fertilizer or sun.

The creeping phlox likes full sun. Hydrangea can handle full sun, but prefer to have some shade during the day.

If you use a compost planting mix when planting that should be enough food for the first 6 – 9 months then you can apply a granular fertilizer around you plants seasonally.

Water in the morning with a hose and soak the soil around the plants every three to four days no need to wet the foliage on your hydrangea get the water right down at the root base. When planting make sure that the soil level remains the same do not come over the stem area with soil or mulch.

Tyler do any of these things that I have outline sound familiar? If so, by altering one or more may arrest the problem the new growth should not show any browning or dying back. It may take a couple of weeks for it to stop.

Let me know what you’re going to change and what you think.