Since I purchased my Hydrangea macrophylla, I have always pruned it in the early spring, just above the third bud on each branch. I also removed or cut dead wood at that time. I have full bushes with enormous blossoms every year starting in the middle of the summer, so it seems to be working really well.
The majority of the time, though, when I read about the best times to prune, it states hydrangeas should be clipped in the fall, right after blooming. Should I alter the way I prune?
A: I wouldn’t change a thing if you’re having that kind of success. Nothing serves as a better guide than what has already worked for you.
You are correct that the information about hydrangea trimming might be confusing. I’ve come across a variety of recommendations. The fact that different varieties of hydrangeas should be pruned differently and at various seasons just adds to the confusion.
Your variety—those with the large, round, softball-sized flowers—is the most prevalent ” (or the related “lacecap types with petaled flowers that poke out from around the flower head). The majority of them flower on “old wood,” which are branches that grew the previous season and developed buds the previous fall.
Heavy pruning in the fall or early spring will remove the produced flower buds (or that were forming). This season will either have little or no flowers. Because of this, most experts advise cutting this variety of hydrangea as soon as it blooms (mid July to early August in our climate). Early in the spring, you can still remove winter-killed wood and prune down unduly dense growth, but conventional wisdom advises leaving the remainder of the wood alone. Typically, buds near the end of the branch tips produce the nicest blooms.
You might have a reblooming or reblooming plant, which could be the reason for your success despite fairly intensive early-spring pruning “Hydrangea plant that is remontant. These include the new “Forever and Ever” series, “Endless Summer,” “Penny Mac,” and “Dooley,” which bloom on both old and new wood. These can be knocked almost to the ground in the early spring and still provide good blooms in the later growing season.
When hard pruned in early spring, smooth hydrangeas (Hydrangea arborescens) and tree-type hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata) will also blossom well in late summer.
However, as I already stated, I wouldn’t meddle with success. Continue to do what you’re doing.
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