When can you cut hydrangeas back

When to prune hydrangeas for best bloom

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When to prune hydrangeas for best bloom

March 25, 2021

Hydrangeas are one of the most popular blooming woody shrubs in Minnesota landscapes and, as you’d expect, people often ask how and when to prune these beloved shrubs.

Heading cuts redirect growth or shorten small branches. The high point of a heading cut should be about 1/4" above a bud.

Hydrangea paniculata, panicle hydrangea

Prune back stems to just above a fat bud — called a heading cut — in fall, late winter or spring. These plants have conical-shaped flower heads. I recommend leaving the dry, tan flower heads on the plant to provide some winter interest in your landscape, so I wait to prune these until late winter or spring. Some favorite panicle hydrangeas:

Quick Fire® (H. paniculata ‘Bulk’ PP16, 812)
Limelight (H. paniculata ‘Limelight’)
First Editions® Berry White® (H. paniculata ‘Renba’ PP28, 509)

Hydrangea macrophylla, big leaf hydrangea This original Endless Summer inspired a large series of other H. macrophylla developed by Bailey Nurseries.

These plants produce buds in late summer to early fall (August-September) that will form next year’s flowers. So prune these shrubs after they finish blooming before August (again, make a heading cut).

An exception is the Endless Summer® The Original Bigleaf Hydrangea (H. macrophylla 'Bailmer' PP15,298) and other cultivars in the Endless Summer series from Bailey Nurseries such as Blushing Bride, BloomStruck® , Summer Crush®, and Twist ‘n’ Shout®.

The H. macrophylla bloom on last year’s wood and new wood that grows this year. So it will bloom whether you prune it or not. Protect H. macrophylla in winter from rabbit browsing on the stems with a large, 4-foot tall ring of hardware cloth.

The Endless Summer hydrangea made a huge splash on the Minnesota landscape plant scene because of its pink to blue color flowers (achievable with proper soil amendment) and because it blooms on old and new wood.

Hydrangea arborescens, smooth hydrangea

Let these plants grow a season or two before doing any serious "hard" pruning. Once the shrub is established and has a couple of growing seasons under its belt, prune these hydrangeas in the spring down to the ground, or not at all if you want a larger shrub. Flower buds will grow on this season’s growth or new wood.

Some favorite smooth hydrangeas:

Invincibelle Mini Mauvette® (H. arborescens 'NCHA7' PP30,358)
Incrediball® (H. arborescens 'Abetwo' PP20571)
Annabelle (H. arborescens 'Annabelle')

Hydrangea petolaris or climbing hydrangea

This tough, gnarly vine needs little to no pruning ever, except for removing any dead wood that develops.

Plant this vine in full sun on a solid trellis or fence where you want a long-living, dense screen. It is a dickens to get rid of once it gets established.

Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’ Quick Fire® hydrangea. Notice the wall color matches the late summer bloom color. This was intentional! Annabelle, a tried-and-true fixture in Minnesota landscapes

Author: Julie Weisenhorn, Extension educator, horticulture

Reviewed by Debbie Lonnee, Product Development Manager, Bailey Nurseries.

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My Hydrangea Won't Bloom - 8 Reasons Why

Get your underperforming hydrangeas to bloom better with these tips By Janet Loughrey, Garden Writer & Photographer

Let's Dance Arriba!® reblooming hydrangea. Photo by: Proven Winners.

8 Reasons Hydrangeas Won't Bloom

Too much shade
Too much sun
Improper pruning
Wrong fertilizer
Deer damage
Cold weather
Not enough water
Young plants

If you are having trouble getting your hydrangea to bloom, you’re not alone. There are a number of possible reasons, so it’s crucial to figure out which particular problems you’re having in order to solve them. Here are the most likely reasons why your hydrangea won’t bloom:

1. TOO MUCH SHADE

Though hydrangeas prefer protection from hot direct sun, too much shade can prevent them from forming flower buds.

Ideal light conditions for hydrangeas are several hours of direct morning sun with afternoon shade, or dappled shade that allows plenty of bright indirect light. Oakleaf hydrangeas (H. quercifolia) are more shade-tolerant than other types. Create more light or move your hydrangea to a sunnier spot.

2. TOO MUCH SUN

Conversely, too much direct sun may stress hydrangea plants, which can force them to conserve energy by not forming flowers. Some types such as panicle hydrangea (H. paniculata) can tolerate more direct sun than others, and can even thrive in full sun in northern climates. The ever-popular bigleaf hydrangeas (H. macrophylla) need protection from hot afternoon sun, especially in warmer climates.

If your hydrangea leaves are scorched, or develop yellow or brown edges, these can be signs that your plants need more shade. Provide more protection from direct sun or move your hydrangea to a shadier area.

3. IMPROPER PRUNING

One of the most common reasons for hydrangeas failing to bloom is improper pruning. Hydrangeas actually bloom best with little or no pruning, so it’s important to give plants enough room to grow into their mature size.

Depending on the type, hydrangeas bloom on either old wood (growth from the previous season) or new wood (growth from the current season), so make sure you know which kind you have before cutting plants back.

Bigleaf (H. macrophylla), oakleaf (H. quercifolia), climbing (H. anomala ) and mountain (H. serrata) hydrangeas all bloom on old wood. Lightly prune these back immediately after flowering before plants develop buds for the following growing season.

Panicle hydrangea (H. paniculata) and smooth hydrangea (H. arborescens) bloom on the current season’s growth. Prune these in late winter or early spring as plants are breaking dormancy. These types can tolerate more aggressive pruning.

There are a few reblooming varieties, such as the Let's Dance® series or Endless Summer®, that bloom on both old and new wood. These require no pruning, except to trim out any dead, damaged, or diseased branches as needed.

Pruning hydrangea plants back too hard may result in the loss of flowers until the following year. Make sure temperatures are reliably above freezing before pruning in order to avoid cold stress to plants.

Learn more about how to prune hydrangeas.

Pictured: Gatsby Gal® oakleaf hydrangea. Photo by: Proven Winners.

4. USING THE WRONG FERTILIZER

Nitrogen is essential for healthy leaf and plant development, but too much nitrogen can cause plants to produce excessive leaf growth at the expense of flowers. Use a slow-release fertilizer with a higher phosphorus content to promote flowering.

Hydrangeas prefer fertile, well-draining soil with a slightly acidic pH. Extreme pH levels may impair the absorption of nutrients, which can affect a plant’s ability to form flower buds.

5. DEER DAMAGE

For gardeners who live in rural or suburban areas, the tender new leaf growth and young flower buds of hydrangeas are appealing to deer. Grazing can result in partial or total loss of flowers for the growing season. Plants are most susceptible in late winter or early spring when food sources for deer are scarce. Protect plants with repellent, barriers, or other remedies to discourage deer.

6. COLD WEATHER

For gardeners in colder climates, a harsh winter or late hard freeze can cause damage to developing flower buds, which may result in the loss of flowers for that season. Bigleaf and oakleaf hydrangeas are more susceptible because they are less hardy than other hydrangeas.

Mulch the area around the base of plants in fall with several inches of compost, leaves, or straw to insulate roots. Protect plants with burlap or other covering for the entire winter, or at least during extreme cold spells or frosts. Plant more cold-hardy types such as panicle and smooth hydrangeas.

Learn more about how to protect your hydrangeas in winter.

Pictured: Invincibelle® Ruby smooth hydrangea. Photo by: Proven Winners.

7. NOT ENOUGH WATER

Hydrangeas need regular water to thrive. Too little water can result in stunted growth and failure to develop flower buds. A drought in the previous growing season can also affect flowering the following year. Plants need consistent moisture, about 2 inches of water per week.

Water more frequently during hotter weather. If plants are drooping, wilting or exhibiting scorched leaves, these are signs that they are not receiving enough water. Oakleaf hydrangeas are more drought-tolerant than other types.

8. YOUNG PLANTS

Newly planted hydrangea shrubs can take 2 to 5 years before they begin blooming. Purchase larger specimens if you don't want to wait, or simply enjoy the establishment of smaller specimens. Be patient and make sure there aren’t other issues that are preventing plants from flowering.

Learn more in this video: Why Didn't My Hydrangea Bloom?

MORE ON HYDRANGEAS

Hydrangeas: Growing & Care

Types of Hydrangeas

How to Prune Hydrangeas

How to Fertilize Hydrangeas

Changing Hydrangea Color

White Hydrangeas

Proper hydrangea pruning: the subtleties and nuances of

Lush and proud hydrangea, pleasing to the eye with its luxurious flowers, can decorate any garden. But in order for the bush to look aesthetic and attractive, it needs periodic pruning.

We will tell you when and how to do it, how spring pruning differs from autumn pruning, and how best to do this procedure in autumn.

Timing and types of hydrangea pruning

Hydrangea pruning is carried out both in spring and autumn. Spring is the time for cardinal haircuts and the formation of a bush. And at the end of the season, when nature falls asleep, and the plants are preparing for winter, there is no need to radically cut hydrangeas. Now it is important for us to thin out the bush and free it from diseased, dried and improperly growing shoots. nine0003

Autumn pruning is carried out late, usually after leaf fall, because in September the plant changes color and is as beautiful and charming as in summer.

There are several types of correct pruning for hydrangeas.

Traditional annual pruning in order to obtain a stronger and more abundantly flowering plant.
Formative pruning, which allows you to give the bush the desired configuration and optimally position the skeletal branches.
Finally, the rejuvenation of hydrangeas with cardinal pruning, which is carried out on aging or badly damaged bushes.

Features of autumn pruning of hydrangeas

Although the main part of the work takes place in the spring, pruning of hydrangeas in the autumn is also obligatory. It is needed in order to divide all the work on the formation and improvement of the plant into two periods. In this case, the hydrangea will endure the entire procedure safely. nine0003

When pruning hydrangeas in autumn, you need to pay attention to old, damaged branches, as well as those that grow inside the shrub. They are removed, but young shoots are not touched in the fall. Also, shoots are cut almost to the ground, which for some reason were broken in the summer.

The air temperature during this period should be plus 5-10 degrees. For different regions, this is the beginning - the end of October.

The further north the region is located, the more gentle pruning of the plant should be in autumn, since hydrangea does not like severe frosts, and shortened branches will be less protected from cold temperatures. This is especially true of large-leaved hydrangea, which is thermophilic. The remaining species are considered relatively frost-resistant. nine0003

Important! It is not customary (especially in cold regions) to carry out autumn pruning of the plant for the first three years, since the seedling needs strength to withstand and survive the adverse winter conditions. During this period, only forced sanitary cleaning is done.

In the southern regions in autumn, you can act more decisively with the expectation of the next year. Experts believe that in warm climates, autumn pruning is even more preferable.

All varieties of hydrangeas have their own specifics for autumn pruning. nine0003

Peculiarities of hydrangea pruning by species

All varieties of hydrangeas have their own specifics of autumn pruning.

Paniculata hydrangea. The shrub blooms on the shoots of the current year, so don't be afraid to accidentally cut off a branch with flower buds. In autumn, you need to remove flower stalks, cut off dry and lodging branches.
Tree hydrangea. This species also blooms on the current year's shoots. The rules of the autumn haircut coincide with the pruning of the paniculate hydrangea. It is necessary to remove flower stalks, cut out dubious, broken and dry branches. nine0018

Let's dwell separately on pruning large-leaved hydrangea. The haircut of this beauty in the fall should be carried out carefully, remembering that she blooms on the shoots of last year. That is, right now we can accidentally cut off all the future beauty.

All the large-leaved hydrangea needs now is the removal of peduncles and unproductive branches. It is necessary to cut out all damaged and dry shoots, because in snowy winters they quickly break and injure the bush. If the branches grow inward or cross, they are also removed. nine0003

In northern regions, hydrangeas should be covered after pruning. How to do it right - we will tell in the following publications. In the meantime, we invite you to look at the hydrangeas in our assortment. Large-leaved, paniculate, tree-like, oak-leaved - the choice is very large! The seedlings are delivered in containers and are well tolerated by shipping.

Author of the article: Oksana Artemenko

Published: 21 Sep 2020

(Votes: 2, Rating: 4.0)

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terms, principles, rules and a detailed video from our specialist.

Hydrangea is a versatile shrub that many have been growing in the garden for decades, but not everyone knows how to properly prune hydrangeas, whether the techniques depend on the species, and what time of the year is best to devote time to this process.

Many people ask the question: is it necessary to cut the hydrangea?

If in all the years of the existence of this shrub on your site you have never approached it with a pruner, then we can say with all confidence that you have never seen this particular variety in all its glory! It is the correct pruning that helps abundant flowering, prevents the inflorescences from shrinking and provokes the correct development of the crown. With timely top dressing and good watering, the very next year after pruning, you literally won’t recognize your hydrangea and will be able to feel all the magic of transformation! nine0003

When should hydrangeas be pruned?

Like all fruit or ornamental crops, hydrangea will require attention at a time when the plant has already prepared for winter or when it has not yet had time to wake up after it. There are many opinions about the correct timing for such events, but we recommend pruning twice: in the fall and in the spring. At the end of the summer season, there are already a lot of worries, but it still makes sense to allocate quite a bit of time for your favorite shrub, because in winter, under a decent weight of snow cover, fragile shoots can break or even break. Even if the shrub does not die (and this is possible), then its decorative effect can be seriously affected. Therefore, we make gentle pruning in the fall, and when the snow melts, even before the start of sap flow, we will carefully correct our own sections or even cut them into a kidney. It is worth mentioning that some people prefer not to cut, but tightly tie the shoots together for the winter, but this is done, as a rule, so that the shoots cut off in the spring can be used as cuttings for propagating shrubs. nine0003

Which types of hydrangea should be pruned in autumn and spring?

Only those that bloom on the shoots of the current year. They definitely do not include most varieties of large-leaved hydrangea, which grows twigs for a whole season, so that next year they will be crowned with unearthly beauty inflorescences. By making an autumn or spring pruning of shoots that have not yet bloomed, you will not destroy them, but you will only wait for flowering in a season. Paniculate, tree-like, oak-leaved and rough hydrangeas can be pruned every year, forming a crown and stimulating the growth of new shoots. nine0003

Hydrangea pruning in autumn

When the leaves on the shrub have already turned yellow, or maybe they have fallen off, when the charming inflorescences have begun to dry out, changing color to brownish - it's time to take up the pruner! Tree hydrangea pruning, like panicle hydrangea pruning, has the same principle, despite the fact that these species have a different bush shape and grow according to their own rules. It is important to understand the essence of the process. We simply shorten the shoots to the second, third, fourth or even fifth bud from the base, regardless of whether it grows from a branch or directly from the ground, like a tree hydrangea. The main nuances to consider when pruning hydrangeas: nine0003

- we form a neat hemispherical shape of the shrub, for which it is possible to cut the outer shoots a little shorter than those that come out of the middle of the crown;

- it is best to do autumn pruning for 3-4 buds, so that in the spring, in case of damage to the shoot, it would be possible to cut the branch stronger;

- Quite often, at the very base of tree-like hydrangeas, you can see one or even two buds very close to each other. We count the buds for pruning the shoot already above, without taking them into account. Having made a strong pruning of the shrub, we risk waking up these low buds, and then from the very base a strong thickening of the crown can result, which will negatively affect both the health and the decorative effect of the hydrangea. nine0003

- if the declared height of the hydrangea bush of your chosen variety is from two to four meters, then the distances between the buds will be large (from 10 to 20 centimeters), which means that pruning can be done on the third, and if necessary, on the second kidney. True, do not forget that adjusting the bush in the spring will be more difficult to do if there are too few buds left.

We have prepared a video of pruning hydrangeas in the fall for clarity, and after watching it, you definitely should not have any questions on this topic. nine0003

YouTube video: Hydrangea pruning: timing and rules

In this publication, we have analyzed in detail how to properly cut a hydrangea so that it only pleases with its beauty from year to year, attracting not only your attention, but also the enthusiastic looks of your guests. In fact, if you do not prune this shrub every year, nothing bad will happen to it. The most important thing is to plant in acidified soil, fertilize from time to time and ensure abundant watering. You can buy hydrangea seedlings directly in our online store or choose the variety you like on the trading floor of our garden center in the Moscow region. nine0003

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