- Hydrangeas in a ball (H. paniculata and cvs., Zones 48)
- Smooth hydrangeas (H. arborescens and cvs., Zones 49)
Cut back these shrubs in late winter before new growth begins
Shrubs that flower on young wood typically start blooming later than old-growth bloomers, beginning in June and continuing until the first frost, because they need to grow and set buds the same year that they bloom. As long as you avoid trimming when the flower buds are opening, these shrubs are understanding if it is not done at a specific period.
1. Trim the flowers all the way back for larger blooms.
These bushes can be completely removed from the ground in late winter or the beginning of spring. If cut severely like this every year, smooth hydrangeas will produce much larger flowers, but many gardeners prefer smaller blooms on stronger stems.
2. Maintain an old growth foundation to lessen flopping
Especially after watering from above or after a heavy storm, the branches of some hydrangeas frequently topple over from the weight of their blooms. Cutting the stems to a height of 18 to 24 inches will help to reduce this flopping by creating a strong framework for fresh growth.
Janet Carson is the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service’s horticulture specialist.
Receive our most recent advice, training, and tutorial videos in your inbox.
Do hydrangeas need to be pruned before winter?
If and when you prune is the key to happy, healthy hydrangea flowers. Of course, fertilizing and offering the ideal environment have a lot to recommend them. However, if you don’t prune properly, your efforts will be in vain. Deadheading is not the same as trimming. Pruning refers to more drastic cutting to preserve shape or remove dead growth. However, feel free to discard spent blossoms or cut fresh ones to use in arrangements.
Hydrangeas can bloom on either fresh wood or old wood, depending on the species. The wood from which they blossom determines whether and when to prune.
Old wood-blooming hydrangeas do not require pruning and benefit from it. They’ll blossom more abundantly the next season if you leave them alone. But feel free to deadhead or gently thin. Just keep in mind that while new growth may appear, it won’t bloom until the following season. In our region, four different species blossom on aged wood. Additionally, they are not limited to the hues displayed here.
Climb using suckers. On your wall or trellis, resist the desire to remove the dormant growth.
The flower heads are more conical in appearance, and the leaves are large and resemble oak leaves. It’s a pleasant surprise for a hydrangea when its leaves turn reddish-orange in the fall.
They are very comparable to lacecap types, but smaller and with more compact leaves.
Pruning should be done in late winter or early spring on hydrangeas that bloom on new wood. Trim back to two feet to prune to shape. The next season’s blossoms are produced by strong, fresh growth that is encouraged by trimming. In our region, there are two types that bloom on fresh wood. They are also not restricted to the colors displayed.
Oakleaf variants are not included in cone-shaped blooms. Keep the blooms on throughout the winter to provide interest; even dried out, they are quite lovely.
regarded as a wild kind. They often have smaller blooms and leaves than Bigleaf variants and are completely white. They enjoy full sun and can grow very tall.
Knowing whether or when to prune now will help you avoid the disappointment of a hydrangea that doesn’t blossom. Don’t forget that a robust shrub will produce more gorgeous blossoms if it has well-draining soil and good organic fertilizer. Come on in, and we’ll show you where to go to develop your green thumb.
How far in advance should hydrangeas be pruned?
My two hydrangeas are quite robust, yet they never bloom. How far back should I clip them now, and what can I do to encourage flowering?
A: I followed up by inquiring as to when Tony typically anticipates his hydrangeas to bloom and whether or not he has been routinely pruning them.
They used to bloom in the late summer, according to Tony. He trims them to the ground in the fall.
Usually, incorrect pruning or inadequate light are at blame when hydrangeas stop blooming. It is likely that Tony’s hydrangea bloom on new wood because they do so in the late summer.
It would appear that, despite being a bit early, cutting them back at the beginning of fall has been effective for him. That shouldn’t be a problem because hydrangeas that bloom on new wood are often pruned back during dormancy, from late fall to very early spring.
Since we have a highly active deer population that regularly strips any hydrangeas they can reach, these hydrangeas are a particular favorite of mine.
Growing plants that bloom on new wood allows me to cut back on my late-winter trimming while still allowing the plants to bloom on the new growth the following spring. Deer can eat these plants.
A change in the light is another potential reason. If the plants are grown in a space alongside other plants, it is common for the flowers to diminish over time as the neighboring plants swell and cast more shade.
Although hydrangeas are actually understory plants, we tend to think of them as shade plants. As the amount of shadow rises, however, fewer blooms are produced.
Another option is that there will be more deer, or that a herd will move into Tony’s area, which happens frequently whenever there is new construction, whether residential or commercial, which drives animals out. Deer can cause damage as they travel into places that weren’t previously hotspots since they eat throughout the year. Deer tend to eat delicate shoots and buds from plants.
For instance, we have spent around 17 years in our current house. My hostas and daylilies were mostly unharmed during that time. Nearby, significant projects have been constructed over the past few years, decimating my hosta bed and removing the buds from my daylilies.
This year, we even saw fawns hiding in the front yard by some plants. A bush outside my kitchen window with lovely white variegations on the dark green leaves was one of my favorites, but others, like hydrangeas on a steep slope, have been eaten down.
A: I’ve pruned two out of the three hydrangeas in Westmoreland County, southwest Pennsylvania, just south of Greensburg. I typically trim down 3 feet or so when they reach a height of approximately 9 feet. I was unable to reduce the last one this year because to weather and a backache. Do you believe cutting the final one now will affect No. 3 more than waiting for a day or two of 40 to 50 degrees, which it appears may occur? Or could you just trim the edges off the flower? Thanks.
A: Tom must respond to the same inquiries I posed to Tony. He typically prunes while the hydrangeas are in blossom. It is too late to prune the plants back without losing at least some of the flowers for the following year if they bloom on wood from the previous year.
He ought to be able to remove the dead blossoms without losing any flowers. Tom should trim the wasted flower stem back to just above the next node (where the leaves or branches emerge from the stem).
He can safely cut his plants until early spring if they bloom on new wood because the flower buds for the following year have not yet formed.
Another choice is to do nothing; although his hydrangea will grow bigger the following year, it won’t suffer from lack of pruning. Cutting off the old blooms is a possibility in both situations—new wood and old wood—even though some plants produce hardy flowers that provide the barren landscape some winter charm.
I observe that it is wise to remove old stems from hydrangeas when pruning in order to keep the interior light- and airy-filled. It would be preferable to begin by performing some basic maintenance trimming before chopping back the branches, even though he may be pruning for size. Prior to trimming the length of the remaining branches, look for any broken, diseased, or rubbing branches.
More on holiday plants
I talked about some of the popular tropical plants used for decoration last week. Others, like holly, mistletoe, and cut greens, have the opposite requirements.
Despite appearing to be evergreen, all of these plants require moisture, so you should think about misting them, especially if you plan to exhibit them indoors.
Holly is actually better kept outside since, as they dry and fall, the prickly leaves hurt to touch. Additionally, the holly lasts a lot longer outside.
Another plant that needs particular care is mistletoe. Most sprigs have fake white berries, but others have actual ones. Watch out for any dropped mistletoe berries because they are deadly, especially if you have or anticipate guests who will bring pets or small children.
The greens, wreaths, and garlands are intended for temporary inside display, so it’s time to move them outside when they begin to lose a lot of needles or turn brown.
If you utilize cooler LED lights instead of hotter incandescent ones, the displays with lights will last a lot longer.
Week in the Garden
Planting:
- To add color to the winter landscape, use holly, miniature evergreens, cut greens, and pansies.
- Remaining spring-flowering bulbs should be potted and kept at a cold temperature of 40 degrees or lower for 8 to 12 weeks before being brought inside for forcing.
- Plant seeds that need a period of cold weather for germination.
Seasonal:
- Buy Christmas presents and gift cards for gardeners on your list.
- Clean, examine, fix before hanging decorations, and throw away broken ones. Secure all decorations to prevent loss or damage during windy or stormy conditions.
- Clear dead plants and leaves from paths.
- Permit seed-producing plants to stay on the plants so that wildlife can eat them.
- Find a planting location, dig the tree out, and put the soil in the garage if you are buying a live Christmas tree in a pot or wrapped in burlap.
Lawn:
- On the grass, rake, blow, or mulch fallen leaves. Matted leaves can prevent water from reaching the soil and promote mold issues.
- Water freshly seeded or sodded lawns until the ground freezes, and provide additional watering during weeks with less than an inch of rainfall.
Chores:
- To prevent winter damage, bring mobile pots and garden ornaments inside, or wrap large statues. Terra cotta, clay, or plastic empty pots should be kept in a dry, protected environment to prevent breaking.
- Till extremely early spring or late winter, stop pruning.
- Mark off new plantings, beds, delicate plants, and plants that are slow to emerge from winter dormancy in the spring. When decorating or removing snow, stay away from them.
- When the ground freezes, spread mulch for the winter.
- To check for new growth, inspect stored amaryllis bulbs. Water, followed by a warmer location and gradually increasing indirect light.
- Garden waste should be removed and composted. Get rid of or destroy sick or infected plants.
- Topdress now with compost or manure, then till the following spring.
- Until the ground freezes, water any new crops whenever we go more than a week without receiving more than an inch of rain.
- Check the caulking on the windows and doors. Make repairs right away to keep mice, ladybugs, and stink bugs out.
- Remove any standing water.
- Protect delicate plants from deer, rabbits, and groundhogs. Reapply taste or odor inhibitors.
- Regularly clean and restock bird feeders. Clear away the empty hulls and spilled seed. At least once each week, empty, scrub, and refill birdbaths. In cold weather, think about getting a heater.
- Rainwater runoff should be directed away from building foundations by clearing gutters.
Should I prune my hydrangeas in the fall?
Only prune these hydrangeas in the summer after bloom, not in the fall. In August and September, old wood hydrangeas begin to form their bloom buds for the following year. It is advisable to delay pruning your hydrangeas until the following year if you don’t do it right away. If not, there won’t be any blossoms the next spring.
Which month do you prune back hydrangeas?
Depending on which group the plant belongs to, the timing and extent of pruning are determined:
Advice on Pruning for Group 1:
- As the days get shorter and the weather gets colder in the late summer and fall, buds for the following year’s blooms start to form.
- Typically, removing dead, diseased, or damaged branches is all that is required to preserve shape, size, and a healthy plant. Otherwise, gentle pruning ought to be practiced.
- In the summer, trimming should begin as soon as flowering ends, but no later than August 1. Pruning should not be done in the fall, winter, or spring because you risk removing fresh buds.
- Tip-pruning the branches in the spring as the leaves begin to appear can promote more numerous, smaller flower heads as opposed to fewer, larger flower heads.
Advice on Pruning for Group 2:
- On the growth of the current year, flower buds form.
- Early in the spring, as the leaves are starting to emerge, prune.
- Just above a node, prune branches back by half to a third.
- After that, prune any fragile or spindly branches.
- Minimal trimming encourages huge, strong bushes with many of tiny flower heads in H. arborescens. Hard pruning between 12 and 18 inches from the ground, or even all the way down, will result in fewer but larger flower heads that may flop if unsupported.
- For H. paniculata, remove the surrounding smaller wood while leaving the larger stems in order to establish a sturdy foundation.
Pruning may be connected to flower head size. Shoots will grow more vigorously and flower heads will be bigger and fewer with more rigorous trimming. Smaller but more numerous flower heads may result from less aggressive or tip pruning.
Consideration of hydrangeas’ mature size is the best piece of advise. Place them in a location where they won’t outgrow and won’t need a lot of pruning to keep them in check. Hydrangeas don’t need to be pruned precisely or often; as long as dead wood is removed, they will remain healthy and continue to develop and bloom.
How should I get my hydrangeas ready for the winter?
Protecting flower buds is the aim of winter hydrangea care. The simplest approach is to pile 12 inches or so of mulch made of chopped-up leaves or bark around the base of the plant. After the ground freezes in the late fall, set the mulch pile there. Plants can then be exposed in the spring, when the temperature starts to stay above freezing.