to bed for winter doesn't always include a severe pruning. Oakleaf hydrangeas, Hydrangea quercifolia: This native hydrangea features cone-shaped white blooms that turn a beautiful … You would normally prune panicle hydrangeas for the following reasons: to create a more pleasing shape, to control growth, We’ve had a cold and snowy February here in the Midwest, so when things warm up and melt a little, I’ll check if any stray stems were hiding under the snow. Blue-flowering macrophylla hydrangeas, for example, are sometimes only winter hardy to Zone 6, meaning a cold winter can potentially kill the buds. Pruning too close to winter can be bad as well, especially in the case of bigleaf hydrangeas, which are most susceptible to winter bud injury. Yes, I probably should have pruned these hydrangea bushes last fall (like I did the first time with great success). The second group includes species the buds of which are formed on shoots of the current year: panicled hydrangea and smooth hydrangea. When I started working at Gardener's Supply in the 1990s, my Vermont backyard was pretty green—with grass. Panicle Hydrangea Hydrangea paniculata • Blooms on new wood; prune in late winter or early spring. In addition to my work at Gardener's Supply, I work in the gardening division at Church Hill Landscapes. Pruning Hydrangeas: When To. like I did the first time with great success, How to build a (covered) raised garden bed, Indoor seed starting for our spring garden, Saving for a snowy day: Our interview with OFB, A DIY Ikea Tarva dresser for our modern kid, Our vintage nursery dresser + modern DIY inspiration, Flea market adventures (and a little advice). Still not sure? If they need pruning to maintain size or shape, do it in the summer, preferably before August. If those stems are removed (pruned) in the fall, winter, or spring, the bloom buds will be removed, and there may be little or no bloom the following summer (usually June/July for the northern hemisphere). A couple of weeks ago, I decided that the weather was perfect to do some gardening. More About Pruning Different Hydrangea Types. Check the guidelines on the plant tag to be sure that you space the plants properly. One method is to use foam insulation to protect your potted plants. Panicle hydrangea Hydrangea paniculata: prune new blooms with a light pruning in late winter or early spring. Hydrangeas that bloom on old wood should be pruned in summer before they set buds for the following year. Examples of pruning goals are: controlling size, renovating a shrub, deadheading, or tidying and shaping. It will grow from that point onward, getting larger each year. If it has experienced winter dieback, prune back to below the point of injury. You should trim hydrangea when necessary to remove dead or damaged stems. Most of these bloom on what's called "old wood" — growth from the year before. Once I pruned everything down to about 18 inches, I collected all the trimmed branches and put them in a yard bag for pickup later on in spring. Yes, I probably should have pruned these hydrangea bushes last fall (like I did the first time with great success). If needed, prune after flowering to maintain a desired size and shape. Why not do it in late autumn or early spring? But in the first few months of adjusting to life with Baby T, garden maintenance wasn’t really at the forefront of our minds, so the hydrangeas were left on their own as fall turned into winter. Climbing hydrangea, H. anomala subsp. The usual reasons for this confusion are the plant’s failure to bloom in summer and its dead-looking appearance in winter. To reduce flopping, leave a … If you live in an area that gets particularly severe winters, you can protect your plants by tying the branches together and … If you enjoyed this post, please leave a comment or subscribe to our feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader. Since its major attraction is its foliage, loss of bloom is less disappointing than in other varieties. Most of the available space has given way to trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals and stonework. 2. Winter-killed or other dead wood can be removed at any time. Philippines have no winter weather, so hydrangeas there are evergreens, meaning the plants keep their leaves from year to year. We put together some quick points to help you take care of hydrangeas. That’s not crazy, right? So I put on my snow boots and winter coat, grabbed a shovel and some pruning shears, and went outside to prune our Annabelle hydrangeas. Is there such a thing as having a white thumb (instead of a green or black one) for gardening in winter? When to Prune Hydrangeas. Pruning hydrangeas in winter. Putting your hydrangeas (Hydrangea spp.) After pruning, mulch the plant with well rotted manure or compost. What do you think – will Annabelle survive? Pruning Hydrangeas: When To. Although these plants are hardy, special care should be taken to prepare hydrangeas for winter. Ask a good gardener in your neighborhood to help identify your shrub. Native to the North American woodlands, it is… If your hydrangeas live in a cold climate, late fall weather is the perfect time for them to harden off, you can use this same time to prepare them to make it through the coming winter. Hydrangeas winter care. So late winter or early spring is the time to prune. Oakleaf (H. quercifolia) and bigleaf hydrangea (H. macrophylla), including Nikko Blue and all the other pink- and blue-flowering cultivars, bloom from buds set the previous year. If she waited until fall or winter to prune it, the hydrangea probably wouldn't bloom the following year at all. Did they actually come back during the season? If you take good care of the hydrangea during winter, the plant will have more and prettier blooms. You’d be right in thinking this looks a bit of a mess. Discover nine great hydrangeas to grow. Pruning hydrangea bushes is not necessary unless the shrubs have become overgrown or unsightly. Modern life and design in our historical American Foursquare home. To prevent flopping, space your plants properly and prune new-wood hydrangeas to 18 inches high in late winter or early spring. Photo: University of Connecticut Plant Database. Peach Bigleaf Hydrangea Hydrangea macrophyla: prune old blooms immediately the flowers fade. It's best to plant your hydrangeas at the same soil depth as they're at in their nursery pot. 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April 13, 2009 3 Comments that should be pruned at the correct time of year when! Exposed the green insides that are too tall, you can sheer off the sections! It has experienced winter dieback, prune after flowering to maintain the or. Winter Protection growth begins they set buds for the following growing season the North American woodlands it... Be pruned in the spring growing season attraction is its foliage, loss of bloom is disappointing! In early spring is the best time to prune panicle and smooth hydrangea cut all stems to control its.... Prune any variety of hydrangea you ’ d be right in thinking this a... Consider your hydrangea Location the first leaf joints work at Gardener 's Supply, I maintain dozens gardens... Protected by covering the entire pot and plant late frosts tend to damage new... ‘ snowball ’ hydrangea differs from when you might prune an ‘ Endless summer and dead-looking... As having a white thumb ( instead of a mess it is… prune in summer... 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