When do you cut back a hydrangea bush
Pruning Hydrangeas - FineGardening
I know people are confused about how to prune hydrangeas because I get asked about it all the time. The three most common reasons for their confusion are the plant’s dead-looking appearance in winter, its failure to bloom in summer, and the reasoning that because it’s a shrub it needs to be pruned. But these popular woody plants can live long, floriferous lives without ever feeling the cold blade of a pair of Felcos. Hydrangeas, though, can handle pruning (which, if done at the wrong time, may be the cause for the lack of flowers), and sometimes you might want or need to cut them back a bit. For example, you may not like the look of the fading blooms, or your shrub may be a bit too tall. Pruning hydrangeas can also improve a shrub’s vigor and increase the size of its flowers.
Not all of these shrubs should be pruned at the same time. Those that bloom on old growth should only be pruned after flowering. Others bloom on new growth and should be pruned before they wake up in spring or as they are going dormant in fall.
Hydrangeas that bloom on old wood
| Bigleaf hydrangea. Photo: Steve Aitken | Bigleaf hydrangea. Photo: courtesy of hydrangeasplus.com | Oakleaf hydrangea. Photo: Melissa Lucas |
- Bigleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla cvs., USDA Hardiness Zones 6–9)
- Bigleaf hydrangeas (H. serrata cvs., Zones 6–9)
- Oakleaf hydrangeas (H. quercifolia cvs., Zones 5–9)
Prune after the flowers start to fade in late summer
To determine if your hydrangea blooms on old wood, think about when it flowers. Shrubs with this characteristic generally begin blooming in early summer and peter out by midsummer, though sporadic blooms may appear afterward. These shrubs form next year’s flower buds in late summer or early fall as the days get shorter and temperatures cool off.
To reduce the risk of removing these buds, prune just as the flowers begin to fade. Often, the earlier you get it done after bloom, the quicker the shrub can recover, producing more and larger blooms next season.
1. To tidy up, remove old blooms
Gardeners who want to maintain a tidy appearance can snip off spent blooms just below the flower head and remove any wayward or straggly canes at the soil line.
2. To improve vigor, remove the oldest canes
When a hydrangea gets old and woody, it can produce smaller blooms. Regular removal of a few of the oldest canes at the soil line can keep the shrub vigorous, producing large and abundant flowers. The same method can keep a shrub from getting too tall by targeting the tallest canes for removal.
Watch a video on pruning bigleaf hydrangeas
Almost everybody is enchanted by the large, mophead blooms of bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla and cvs.
, Zones 4–9). And it seems that almost everybody who grows these flowering shrubs has questions about pruning them. The thought is often that, because they are shrubs, they must need to be pruned. Some gardeners also think that cutting back their hydrangea might make it bloom. Neither of these thoughts is correct. Bigleaf hydrangeas grow just fine without any pruning, and making your cuts at the wrong time can actually remove the flower buds you are hoping to get.
Bigleaf hydrangeas typically bloom on old wood, meaning the flower buds are on the growth produced the previous season. If you prune them before they flower, you will be removing the flower buds. Many newer varieties actually produce buds on old and new wood, so pruning too early doesn’t stop the whole show, just a good portion of it. But if your hydrangea isn’t blooming, poorly timed pruning is often the culprit. The best time to cut back a bigleaf hydrangea is just after it is done blooming. The shrub then has ample time to set new growth and harden off before winter.
If you do decide you need to prune your bigleaf hydrangea, this video will give you the information you need to time your cuts correctly and identify where to make them on the shrub. The only tools you will need are hand pruners and perhaps a pair of loppers to reach down into the hydrangea. Also, be sure to wear some safety glasses. You might not think they are cool, but it is very easy to poke your eye on a stem as you are trying to see down into the shrub. And a poke in the eye is never cool.
So stay safe, time it right, and enjoy your shrub.
Hydrangeas that bloom on new wood
| Panicle hydrangea. Photo: courtesy of provenwinners.com | Smooth hydrangea. Photo: Michelle Gervais |
- Panicle hydrangeas (H. paniculata and cvs., Zones 4–8)
- Smooth hydrangeas (H. arborescens and cvs., Zones 4–9)
Cut back these shrubs in late winter before new growth begins
Because they need to grow and set buds the same year that they bloom, shrubs that flower on new wood generally start blossoming later than old-growth bloomers, beginning in midsummer and continuing until the first frost.
These shrubs are forgiving if pruning is not done at a certain time as long as you avoid pruning when the flower buds are opening.
1. To get bigger flowers, cut them all the way back
In late winter or early spring, these shrubs can be cut all the way back to the ground. Smooth hydrangeas will produce much larger blooms if pruned hard like this each year, but many gardeners opt for smaller blooms on sturdier stems.
2. To reduce flopping, leave a framework of old growth
Some hydrangeas’ branches often fall over under the weight of their blooms, especially after overhead irrigation or after a good rain. One way to alleviate this flopping is to cut the stems to a height of 18 to 24 inches to provide a sturdy framework to support new growth.
—Janet Carson is the horticulture specialist for the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service.
Photos, except where noted: Steve Aitken
Illustrations: Chuck Lockhart
How to Prune Hydrangea Bushes
Fine Gardening Project Guides
How to Prune Hydrangea BushesFine GardeningEven the most experienced gardeners can be confused by pruning hydrangeas.
Some are cut back in late summer; others are pruned in the spring or fall. And how do you know which ones you have? If you decide to prune at the wrong time, you could cause your bushes not to bloom at all.
In this video, Clive Lodge, a professional gardener from Kent, Connecticut, provides a simple answer to the timing dilemma by dividing hydrangeas into two categories: spring-blooming and fall-blooming. Then he demonstrates the right pruning techniques for both types.
When does your hydrangea bloom?Timing will determine when to prune it.
Spring blooming. Prune in late summer or fall. Leave strong-looking growth with buds. Prune out deadwood and weak growth.
These types of hydrangeas bloom on what is called “old wood,” meaning they set their flower buds along the stems the year before. If you prune in late winter or early spring, you’ll be cutting away the potential flowers.
The types of hydrangeas that should be pruned this way are:
- Bigleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla cvs.
, USDA Hardiness Zones 6–9) - Bigleaf hydrangeas (H. serrata cvs., Z 6–9)
- Oakleaf hydrangeas (H. quercifolia cvs., Z 5–9)
Late summer to fall blooming. Prune in late winter and early spring. Prune as far back as you want right above the first leaf joints. It will grow from that point onward, getting larger each year.
These types of hydrangeas bloom off what is called “new wood,” or growth that happens that same year. Cutting them back within the same season that they will flower poses no risk to the volume of blossoms produced.
The types of hydrangeas that should be pruned this way are:
- Panicle hydrangeas (H. paniculata and cvs., Z 4–8)
- Smooth hydrangeas (H. arborescens and cvs., Z 4–9)
Read more about pruning hydrangeas, and learn whether your shrub blooms on old or new growth, in “Pruning Hydrangeas” by Janet Carson.
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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.
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.
- Sanitary cleaning, which is the removal of old and damaged shoots, dry inflorescences.
- 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. Article author: Oksana Artemenko0002 Share with friends:
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!
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.
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.
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:
- 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.
- 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.
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.
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