Best answer: Most likely a fungal infection (mildew, etc.) due to all the rain. If they were mine, I'd take a leaf to a good nursery and ask them if they recognize it, and how to treat it. posted by mudpuppie at 4:56 PM on May 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
If it's helpful, hydrangeas are most often subject to cercospora fungal infections. You can look up treatment regimes and go to your local better garden center for further advice and whatever control mechanism(s) you turn to. posted by Emperor SnooKloze at 7:04 PM on May 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
I agree with mud and Emperor that it's probably a fungal infection. While you decide how to treat the infection, you should remove the "burned" looking leaves. posted by xyzzy at 7:46 PM on May 8, 2017
Are the plants accessible to an animal that can pee that high?
Hydrangeas ('Annabelle' I assume) are pretty tough plants. But animal urine would scorch leaves in a heartbeat. posted by greenskpr at 4:29 AM on May 9, 2017
I agree that that it looks like some sort of fungus. I also note that you have a lot of wood chip mulch piled up right around the plants! That's not the best for plant health because it can harbor fungal spores. Actual compost as mulch is much better as mulch, especially since you have clay soil. And you don't want the compost or mulch to actually touch the plant, because it needs room to breath. posted by yarly at 10:14 AM on May 9, 2017
Response by poster: It's definitely not animal caused, our dogs are banished to the back yard because they did a number on the front when we bought the place last fall. I reseeded the yard a few weeks ago and they're not allowed out there till it recovers.
I got some fungicide spray and applied it tonight, and moved some of the mulch away from the plant bases. I'm going to keep applying the fungicide until it gets better or dies I guess. posted by T.D. Strange at 8:00 PM on May 10, 2017
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posted by mudpuppie at 4:56 PM on May 8, 2017 [2 favorites]