Late summer to early fall (August to September) sees the development of these plants’ bloom buds for the next year. So, before August, prune these shrubs once they are finished blooming (again, make a heading cut).
The Endless Summer is an exception. The Original Bigleaf Hydrangea (H. macrophylla ‘Bailmer’ PP15,298) as well as many cultivars from Bailey Nurseries’ Endless Summer line, including Blushing Bride, BloomStruck, Summer Crush, and Twist ‘n’ Shout.
On the wood from last year and any new wood that sprouts this year, the H. macrophylla blooms. Therefore, whether you prune it or not, it will bloom. A big, 4-foot-tall ring of hardware cloth can keep rabbits from nibbling on the stems of H. macrophylla over the winter.
The pink to blue tint of the Endless Summer hydrangea’s flowers (achievable with the right soil amendment) plus the fact that it blooms on both old and new wood caused it to make a big splash on the Minnesota landscape plant scene.
Where should Hydrangea macrophylla be pruned?
The big-leaf hydrangea species Hydrangea macrophylla includes varieties like Dear DoloresTM and “Big Daddy.” The two most popular varieties of hydrangeas, mopheads and lace-caps, are included in this category, which is the most varied. Big-leaf hydrangeas bloom on old wood, which means that their stems from the previous growing season are where their blossoms first appear. In the spring, pruning would eliminate the flower buds, leaving us with a plant that wouldn’t bloom that year. Big-leaf hydrangeas are instead pruned in the summer, following their flowering season. Trim the stems every season, up to one-third of them. Start by pruning at the base of the weakest shoots, both old and young. Keep several stems of the more prolific older wood, as well as healthy new stems that will bloom the following year. This kind of replacement pruning will maintain the plant’s productivity while promoting healthy growth.
Although Dear DoloresTM is a member of this family, it is a bit of an outlier because it reblooms and does so on both old and new wood. As a result, it is a little more understanding. Pruning it in the winter, spring, or summer will still result in blooms from the growth of the current season.
When ought hydrangeas to be pruned?
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.
Do I need to trim my hydrangea back for the 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 is Hydrangea macrophylla pruned in the UK?
If you’re new to growing hydrangeas or an experienced grower who has encountered a pruning challenge, let us help you master this procedure with our simple-to-follow instructions.
We’ve already discussed why hydrangeas don’t bloom, but since pruning errors are the leading cause, we thought it was time to put together a comprehensive guide to pruning.
Find Out Which Hydrangea You Have
Some hydrangeas respond best to modest trimming, won’t put up with mistakes, and may even delay blooming until the following year. Others favor vigorous trimming, which, if not done properly, can leave them looking lanky and sparse.
If this sounds complicated, don’t worry; our instruction is simple to use and ensures success.
There are five main types of hydrangeas, and each requires a different pruning method:
The “large leaf variant” of hydrangeas is called hydrangea macrophylla. Lacecap, mophead, and mountain macrophylla are the three varieties.
The only hydrangea that produces leaves that resemble oak leaves but are larger is called oakleaf.
This hydrangea is distinctive and simple to recognize thanks to its paniculatalong panicles that have clusters of flowers.
This hydrangea stands out from the crowd with to its big, globe-like flowers and aborescenslarge leaves.
The only climbing hydrangea, which may grow to a height of 20 meters. It makes tiny clusters of lacecap blooms, which are often white.
The following images will assist you in recognizing your hydrangea:
How to Prune Hydrangeas
It’s crucial to be aware that some species of hydrangeas will produce blooms via buds that grew the previous year before reading our guide to pruning hydrangeas.
The hydrangea in question blooms on “Old wood has autumnal buds that, if they survive the winter frost and aren’t accidentally cut off, will develop into flowers the following summer.
The most frequent causes of hydrangeas not blooming are frost and pruning errors, so the gardener should take care not to prune the “aggressive old wood hydrangeas.
There are two ways to do this: in the spring after the first frosts, or as soon as the summer blossoms start to fade.
There are two viable times to do this: In the spring after frosts or right away after summer blooms end, before the buds for the following year have formed.
Although it doesn’t need to be pruned every year, you can remove up to 20% of the stems immediately above the crown in the spring to encourage the growth of new stems from the base, which will bloom the following year. After the last spring frosts, cut off old blossoms at the nearest set of buds. However, keep in mind that the deeper you prune a stem, the more buds you’ll eliminate and the fewer flowers that will appear. Instead, prune in the summer after the blooms have faded and before the plant begins to form buds for the following year.
frequently needs less pruning. To the nearest healthy group of buds, trim old blossoms. If necessary, cut up to 20% of the old stems slightly above the ground to promote new growth.
Either prune the entire shrub back to the framework (the thickest stems), leaving a few buds on the stems, or chop back the previous year’s growth, leaving two to three sets of buds. A framework of thicker stems should be left after trimming off between 30 and 50 percent of the plant and all slim or weak stems.
If you want to encourage more but smaller blooms, prune softly to a framework 50 cm from the ground. If you want to encourage fewer but larger blooms, prune severely at 25 cm.
After the blossoms have faded and before new buds grow in the summer, prune. Trim stems that are too long and straying to the required length or to the nearest major stem or branch.
A stem that has been cut down by more than half won’t likely bloom this season, but it will the next year. Or it could produce tiny blossoms that are rounded off by leaves on longer, more recent branches. Alternately, prune after the summer blooms fade and before the plant forms buds for the next year. Be mindful that some regions offer winter protection from frost through the old, faded blossoms, which is why some gardeners keep them on all winter. It won’t blossom the next season if the buds are removed or harmed by frost.
can withstand pruning that is more vigorous. Light pruning will result in more panicles, but they will be visibly smaller.
Consider twice-yearly pruning to gradually bring a huge, unruly climber under control while still leaving at least some buds for blooming.
When to Prune Hydrangea Macrophylla
The shrub that causes gardeners the greatest trouble is Hydrangea macrophylla because it blooms on old wood and is susceptible to frost.
There are various schools of thought regarding the best ways to prune macrophyllas, but it’s important to keep in mind that most macrophyllas don’t necessarily require pruning.
1) Prune as soon as the summer blossoms start to fade and before the plant begins to form buds for the following year’s flowers. If the old blossoms were left on the plant over the winter, they would provide frost protection, but this alternative eliminates that. The plant hasn’t yet set any buds, so the gardener is less likely to cut them off.
2) After the last frost in the spring, prune softly. The plant will have some frost protection if the old blossoms are left on over the winter, but harsh trimming will eliminate the buds that were formed the previous year, so no flowers will grow. Deadheading and extremely light pruning are better suited for this technique. It’s possible that if you prune vigorously in the spring, you’ll remove the majority of the buds necessary for the blooms. Deadheading, cutting off frost-damaged stem ends, and clipping out thin, weak stems are all examples of light pruning.
3) Repeat steps one through two, but cut 10 to 30 percent of the stems from the plant’s crown. This technique is excellent for shrinking a huge, stray hydrangea since it will still produce new stems from the base that will flower the following year and increase density while continuing to bloom on the surviving stalks. The hydrangea should be grown using this technique for a few years until it reaches the appropriate size.
4) In the spring, cut off all of the stems that are at or just above the plant’s crown. This procedure will result in no blooms until the next year because macrophyllas won’t flower on new growth this year, but it is the easiest way to control a giant, unruly hydrangea.
Note: After the blooms have faded in the summer, climber hydrangeas should be clipped.
Our Advice on When to Prune Hydrangea Macrophylla
You should leave the old blooms on for frost protection over the winter and softly prune in the spring after the last frosts if you want to very lightly prune your hydrangea macrophylla, which includes deadheading and removing thin, weak stems, among other things.
Want to more aggressively prune your macrophylla? Do this in the summer after the flowers have faded before the new buds form.
Want to trim back an out-of-control, overgrown macrophylla while still ensuring some blooms? To promote new growth, prune 10–30% of the stems close to the base. The old stems will continue to produce blooms. Over a few years, repeat the procedure.
Does the new wood on hydrangea macrophylla bloom?
- One of the most frequent causes of Hydrangea macrophylla failure to bloom is improper pruning. Older cultivars bloom on “old wood,” which refers to flower buds that form on stems in the summer of the year before they bloom. More recent cultivars have been bred to bloom on both fresh and old wood, which means that buds form on both the growth from the current and previous seasons. Pruning should be done in the spring when new growth has resumed and it is easier to distinguish between healthy, living branches and dead branches that can be eliminated. Even with the more recent varieties that produce flowers on both new and old growth, keep in mind that the bulk of blooms develop on old wood.
- erroneous solar exposure Bigleaf hydrangeas favor early morning and afternoon shade or dappled sunlight. While too much midday sun may damage plants, too much shade will restrict blossom production.
- Insufficient moisture. For optimum growth, plants require well-drained soil with adequate moisture. Even if the leaves appear healthy, drought stress can have an influence on blooming and general plant health. There is such a thing as too much of a good thing, though, since over watering can also harm the health and flowering of plants.
- fertilizer application done in excess. Fertilizers high in nitrogen encourage deep green foliage but few flowers. Remember that occasionally this might be caused by fertilizer washing into the soil around the hydrangea from other parts of the yard. Higher phosphorus than nitrogen fertilizers promote bloom growth.
- Also bear in mind that it takes time for new plants to grow. Plants may not flower as much during establishment, which is typically regarded as the first growing season, as they are more focused on developing their roots and stems.