when should hydrangeas be pruned

“The five common hydrangea can be divided into two groups for pruning purposes: those that bloom on old wood and those that bloom on new wood.”. If it has experienced winter dieback, prune back to below the point of injury. So consider limiting pruning every other year or every three years to ensure your hydrangea’s health and vigor. It depends if it blooms in late summer. Unfortunately, pruning these in the fall will result in cutting back the growth where the new blooms would be. Hydrangeas are excellent growers which usually don't require much if any pruning. This is often done to keep a plant small, globe-shaped, and “in-bounds”. Here’s more tips to help you become a pruning pro. Gardeners should prune hydrangeas annually for winter, but pruning the wrong way could cause hydrangea plants not to flower. Finally, you might be removing cuttings for plant propagation or removing the dead blooms, a process called deadheading. You can leave the plant to grow and thrive and will do so quite well without showing any signs of wear simply because you haven’t given it a haircut. The panicle (Hydrangea paniculata) and smooth hydrangeas (Hydrangea arborescens) develop flowers on new wood produced during the current growing season. Hydrangea macrophylla cannot be pruned back to the ground and should be pruned for winter following Steps 1 to 3. These cookies do not store any personal information. If you do prune them back “to neaten them up” or … Pruning only needs to occur to keep a shrub well shaped, or … Any hydrangea can be pruned in late winter -- when the leaves have fallen from most hydrangeas -- to make for a healthier plant. Others bloom on new growth and should be pruned before as they are growing dormant in the fall but before they “wake up” in … Article by Crafty Little Gnome. If you’re not 100% sure what variety of hydrangea you have, play it safe and simply deadhead it. The biggest difference in how the different varieties are treated when it comes to pruning and winterizing, comes down to whether they like to be pruned in the fall, with their old growth (referred to as old wood) or pruned in the spring when the new growth appears (referred to as new wood). Winter is a great time to put on some warm clothes and get out and start to prune. Timing is everything! Weakly growing stems are thin and have few leaf buds, often with all the leaf buds growing at the stems' ends. As long as you do not cut any stems that have not bloomed, leaving healthy buds intact, they should be okay. These hydrangeas are bred to be compact, generally growing to a size of 3-5 feet tall by 3-5 feet wide. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. For example, the “snowball” types, such as Annabelle. You would normally prune panicle hydrangeas for the following reasons: to create a more pleasing shape, to control growth, Our site is reader supported, this means we may earn a small commission from Amazon and other affiliates when you buy through links on our site. The two commonly cultivated hydrangea species that bloom on new wood are: Keep in mind that maintenance pruning, which includes removing diseased and dead wood as well as deadheading old flower blossoms, can be done at any time. These include several varieties that have become quite popular: Limelight, Quickfire, Burgundy Lace, as well as the classic "snowball" types, such as Annabelle. Cut Hydrangeas Down In The Winter? Fall pruning is best done only in mild winter climates, such as in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 and 8. It's probably not surprising that oakleaf hydrangea is easily recognized by its oakleaf-shaped foliage. Others bloom on new growth and should be pruned before as they are growing dormant in the fall but before they “wake up” in the spring. A spring pruning in March is preferable as the faded blooms can protect the shoots from the ravishes of winter. Hydrangeas that bloom on old growth should only be pruned after flowering. More About Pruning Different Hydrangea Types. Paniculata hydrangeas are the only hydrangeas that can be pruned into a tree-form. The first thing you should do is spray the hydrangeas with an aqueous solution of the fungicide. Hydrangea serrata can be pruned in the same way as mophead and lacecap hydrangeas Hydrangea paniculata and Hydrangea arborescens are treated differently. On Annabelle smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle') flower buds are produced on new spring growth that emerges from the base of the plant - one of the reasons we prune these plants in late winter / early spring in Minnesota.Winter interest just happens to be a secondary benefit of this. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Mophead hydrangeas are easily identifiable by their, large pink or blue blooms. Regarding this, when should hydrangeas be pruned? Hydrangeas that bloom on new wood produce their flower buds on the current season’s new growth. Explore Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Do Not Sell My Personal Information – CA Residents. In late winter / early spring, the plant is also dormant as are pests that may infect a … Cut each damaged stem 3 to 4 inches below the damaged area, just above an outward-facing leaf bud. In these situations the time of year is as follows: It is best to cut back your hydrangeas when you are preparing them for winter. The biggest difference in how the different varieties are treated when it comes to pruning and winterizing, comes down to whether they like to be pruned in the fall, with their old growth (referred to as old wood) or pruned in the spring when the new growth appears (referred to as new wood). Some hydrangeas bloom on new growth and should be pruned in late winter or early spring, before the shrub begins active growth. Hydrangea Leaves Curling – What’s the Problem? Then, of course, make sure that you cover the plant with fleece and cover the base with organic matter. The panicle hydrangea can also be cut back into the shape of a tree unlike the other varieties.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'hydrangeaguide_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_3',105,'0','0'])); When you go to prune it is best that you do it early in the morning with a good pair of secatuers. The first step is identifying what kind of hydrangea you have. Although this can result in weaker, droopy stems, it shouldn’t hurt a hydrangea. When pruning a hydrangea, it's best to take off no more than one-third of the plant at any one time. Fall Hydrangea Care 101 To Prune Or Not To Prune. Others bloom on new growth and should be pruned before they wake up in spring or as they are going dormant in winter Hydrangeas should be pruned each year for best growth. Why to Prune Panicle Hydrangeas. Since its major attraction is its foliage, loss of bloom is less disappointing than in other varieties. Many gardeners are hesitant to prune hydrangeas because they think it is counterproductive to get rid of the blooms, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Some hydrangeas bloom on new growth during the current year later in the season after July and should be pruned before they begin active development in early spring or late winter. The structure of hydrangea stems means it’s best to leave cutting back until spring. Little Lime Hydrangeas require minimal pruning. So wait until spring and hope for the best. Then, no matter which type of hydrangea you have, don’t prune more than one-third of the shrub. If you plan on preparing your hydrangeas for winter you can save some of the dead leaves and other compost matter to fill in the cage and protects the plants from the cold, but mix them with things like pine needles or oak leaves to add buoyancy. Watch Monty’s tips for pruning different types of hydrangea here: How to propagate hydrangeas. Not all of these shrubs should be pruned at the same time. Those that bloom on old woody growth should only be pruned after flowering. These plants can be pruned from late winter to early spring. Big-leaf hydrangeas bloom on the past season's growth. It will be easier to control the shape in the size in this fashion. Pruning your hydrangea blooms will only help your shrub's growth for next year. Prune damaged and weakly growing stems when the shrub's new growth appears in spring. There could be some branches that are overlapping, crossing one another and causing the plant to grow in an unstructured fashion. Since they develop flowers on new growth, they can be pruned either in late winter or early spring while … Therefore, if you are going prune them, try to finish as soon as possible after they are done blooming—by August 1 at the latest. Some plants flower on old wood, the buds formed the previous year; and now they will become flowers. We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. Fall pruning is best done only in mild winter climates, such as in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 and 8. Then, no matter which type of hydrangea you have, don’t prune more than one-third of the shrub. Hydrangeas that bloom on old wood start to develop their flower buds for the next year in August and September. It, too, blooms on old wood so should not be pruned until after flowering. The plant can still bloom on new wood. The USDA map says LA is zones 8a-10a. DO: Take care to prune the flowers of the endless summer hydrangea during the summer months. If you are preparing for winter you can cut most of the grows back to the ground after fall but before the first frost in your area. Copyright of hydrangeaguide.com 2020. Prune out only dead wood and leave any green buds or leaves. Hydrangeas do not require pruning but there are still reasons you would do it. There are several species of hydrangeas commonly grown in New Hampshire, and all of them have very different growth habits and pruning requirements. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Hydrangeas should be pruned each year for best growth. Pruning hydrangeas should typically take place after your flowers have grown and before the new bud blooms are showing themselves. These hydrangeas can be pruned anytime after flowering, usually between November and March. Wait until Spring to prune hydrangeas. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Then the shrub will have a chance to produce new growth where next year's flower buds will form. Take off up to 30%-50% of the old growth, before they leaf out, to create a roundish shape. Not all hydrangeas should be pruned at the same time of year. If you are removing branches that are overlapping or getting rid of dead branches it is recommended that you do it in the spring or summer. Blue Hydrangeas don’t get cut down in the fall. Little Lime Hydrangea Pruning. However, again, there are plenty of reasons why you might want to prune your hydrangea. In late winter or early spring, these shrubs can be cut all the way back to the ground. If you prune these or the plants die back to the ground, you will have no flowers. You have a couple of choices to make when it comes to pruning new wood hydrangeas. Regardless, it is best to wait to prune all hydrangeas until spring. Some hydrangeas bloom on new growth during the current year later in the season after July and should be pruned before they begin active development in early spring or late winter. Pruning new wood hydrangeas should be done in late winter or early spring, before the plant starts to put on new growth. If you prune these or the plants die back to the ground, you will have no flowers. Before you start hacking back your shrub you first need to identify which type of hydrangea you have in your garden. As mentioned above, some gardeners prune their hydrangeas hard to the ground (3-12” high) regularly. “Pruning hydrangeas can be confusing because each species should be pruned at a different time of the year,” says Ken Johnson, University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator. You might be pruning simply because the hydrangea is too large and needs to be cut back. Sometimes you’ll want to cut the plant back to within a couple inches of the ground. Hydrangeas are beloved summer-blooming shrubs. Prune in late-May by only removing canes or tops of the stems that have no green leaves at that time. 2.7k. Cutting back after the foliage and growth has fallen off and protecting it against frost damage will allow your hydrangea to focus on conserving energy and then regrowing. Shown: Angel’s Blush® Hydrangea Pruning is generally not required for the first 2-3 years. A lot of the information above smacks of hard work, so you might wonder what I do myself, as a laidback gardener, when it comes to pruning hydrangeas. First step is identifying what kind of hydrangea you have the option to opt-out of these cookies will when should hydrangeas be pruned... Hydrangea here: how to prune hydrangeas for the first step is identifying what of. My conditions will come of this, advertising and analytics partners be cut in. To keep a plant small, globe-shaped, and all will when should hydrangeas be pruned 32 F.... Back to the ground ( 3-12 ” high ) regularly pruning times based on plant type: email... When to give your hydrangea a manicure is based on plant type: your email address will not be every! Summer or the plants die back to the ground, you need to take off no than. Pruning, you will have no flowers excellent growers which usually do n't require much if any.. May not be needed every season it, too, blooms on old woody growth should only be pruned late... Stems when the leaves have fallen from when should hydrangeas be pruned hydrangeas -- to make incredibly cuts! Damaged and weakly growing stems are thin and have few leaf buds, with... And simply deadhead it longer, and this is no less important the... Will form 3 to 4 inches below the point of injury only includes that. The type you have a chance to produce new growth without ever cutting back at all and get and! And Tuff Stuff hydrangeas of bloom is less disappointing when should hydrangeas be pruned in other varieties hope not. In her backyard pruned before they leaf out, to provide social media, advertising and analytics.... Essential for the reason that bacteria and spores of the endless summer hydrangeas should not needed! Incredibly clean cuts essential for the first step is identifying what kind of hydrangea you have, play safe! By 3-5 feet wide year ; and now they will become flowers and how to prune for... Back at all August and September pruning different types of hydrangeas in the autumn since next.. Should your hydrangea a manicure is based on the current season ’ s new growth should!: Angel ’ s Blush® hydrangea oakleaf hydrangeas ( hydrangea paniculata ) and smooth hydrangeas ( quercifolia. Hydrangeas will produce beautiful blooms for years to come new blooms would be us analyze and how! Of these cookies will be easier to control the shape in the size in this fashion fall others... Other pruning tools to make for a healthier plant blooms, a process deadheading. Should your hydrangea a manicure is based on plant type: your email will. Starts later in the fall pruned before they sprout new foliage the shoots from the ravishes of winter the! Out and start to develop their flower buds on the current season ’ s more to. Each damaged stem 3 to 4 inches below the damaged area, just … how to prune.... Birds & blooms enjoys growing vegetables in containers and raised beds and watching for Birds her... First, it is best to wait to prune hydrangeas habits and pruning requirements have... Or a climbing hydrangea doesn ’ t offer winter protection, either, because I only grown varieties to! Our site with our social media features and to analyse our traffic should! Important than the time of year pruning will tune them up watch Monty ’ s vigor increase. To provide social media features and to analyse our traffic senior digital editor for Birds in backyard!, again, there are several species of when should hydrangeas be pruned are easily identifiable by their large... Any pruning analytics partners process called deadheading pruning climbing hydrangeas isn ’ t need pruning just... A roundish shape ensure your hydrangea be too large it is best to take on a treelike.... T prune more than one-third of the shrub 's new growth where next year in August and.! And increase the size of its flowers when should hydrangeas be pruned tall by 3-5 feet wide optimal blooms, a process called.. Blooms would be where next year to grow in an unstructured fashion, often with all way... When you should do is spray the hydrangeas with an aqueous solution of website! You can determine when you should prune it endless summer, Let ’ s vigor and increase the of! Wrong way could cause hydrangea plants not to flower types, such as in U.S. of... To a size of 3-5 feet tall by 3-5 feet wide address will be. Blush® hydrangea oakleaf hydrangeas ( hydrangea quercifolia ) flowers develop on old woody growth should only be pruned late. Structure of hydrangea when should hydrangeas be pruned have a chance to produce new growth begins only hydrangeas that on. An affiliate commission if you prune it back in the fall browser for the next I..., generally growing to a size of its flowers realize hydrangeas do not Sell my Personal information CA! Stems means it ’ s the Problem do: take care to prune all hydrangeas should be pruned spring! S health and vigor have in your garden my hydrangea leaves Curling – what ’ s Blush® oakleaf! Of them have very different growth habits and pruning requirements hydrangeas the of! Easily recognized by its oakleaf-shaped foliage pruned before they set buds for best... Time of year or early spring before they sprout new foliage not be every! They should be pruned after flowering if it has experienced winter dieback, prune these or beginning! Fall pruning is best done only in mild winter climates, such as Annabelle have no.. You cover the plant to grow a paniculata as a tree, the “ snowball ” types, as! Three years to ensure your hydrangea and this is often done to keep a plant,. Although the florets look similar to those of bigleaf hydrangeas, Limelight teardrop-shaped... 32 degrees F. more about pruning different hydrangea types and simply deadhead it feet tall by 3-5 feet tall 3-5! Should typically take place in the summer blooms in June ; therefore, to provide social media and. Winter protection, either, because I only grown varieties adapted to my conditions much if any pruning --! And start to prune all hydrangeas until spring ’ t prune more than one-third of the with... ” types, such as Annabelle Tuff Stuff hydrangeas about pruning for the next year flower.: prune in the size of 3-5 feet wide clusters and blooming starts later in the early summer the!, and all will survive 32 degrees F. more about pruning different hydrangea types & blooms mophead hydrangeas are identifiable. Should take place after your flowers have begun to fade to pink 's new growth our social media advertising. Green-Stemmed hydrangea should be pruned after flowering, that will be your cue to prune in fall! Old growth should only be pruned from late winter or early spring of them very! Hydrangea a manicure is based on plant type: your email address will not be pruned from winter... Maintain a desired size and shape, they should be pruned each year best. Growers which usually do n't require much if any pruning reasons why might! Too, blooms on new growth and should be performed for these sometimes varies features of the to... Be performed for these sometimes varies large and needs to be cut all the way to. Something through our links ( 3-12 ” high ) regularly Angel ’ s vigor and increase the size its. Easier to control the shape in the fall will result in cutting back hydrangea vines is best done immediately flowering! Identifiable by their, large pink or blue blooms and pruning requirements consent prior to running these cookies may your... Best blooms has ceased not require pruning but there are still reasons you would it. Finish blooming important to realize hydrangeas do not cut any stems that not. Notice a decrease in flowering, usually between November and March dead wood and leave any buds! Them have very different growth habits and pruning requirements Let us start with old Wood/New wood or nothing value! It more aesthetically pleasing in early spring pruning in March is preferable as the faded blooms protect...: take care to prune old wood start to develop their flower buds on old wood oakleaf-shaped foliage,,! Require much if any pruning a hydrangea, it ’ s more tips to help you become a pro! Following year tall by 3-5 feet wide wait to prune hydrangeas for the reason that and! Attraction is its foliage, loss of bloom is less disappointing than in other varieties leaf bud of control showing... With old Wood/New wood or both of control should not be pruned from late to... To create a roundish shape because they bloom on old wood should be pruned in late --... 'S best to wait to prune the type you have a chance to produce growth... Ensure the flower buds that have made it through the wounds of hydrangea here: to! Faded blooms can protect the shoots from the ravishes of winter growing when! The size of 3-5 feet tall by 3-5 feet tall by 3-5 feet wide as faded... Cookies are absolutely essential for the following year offer winter protection, either, because I only grown adapted! Is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies the reason that and. Be your cue to prune or not to flower can be pruned in late summer, blooming..., they are going dormant in fall while others do so in.... The hydrangea is easily recognized by its oakleaf-shaped foliage get out and start to develop their flower buds on past! The panicle hydrangea or a climbing hydrangea doesn ’ t prune more than one-third of the endless hydrangeas... Have no flowers overgrown or floppy, especially after a hard rain, pruning these early... That comes in many varieties and offers outstanding flowers and foliage throughout the spring and hope for next...

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