Examples of hydrangeas that bloom exclusively on old wood include: all oakleaf hydrangeas, and bigleaf and mountain hydrangeas that are not rebloomers. Most shrub-form hydrangeas sold in North America fall into one of five types: bigleaf, mountain, smooth, panicle and oakleaf. Annabelle Hydrangea (H. arborescens) are usually pruned in the summer following spring blooming. One common misconception about hydrangeas is that you can prune them throughout the season to keep them shorter. Pruning your hydrangeas to reduce their height isn’t effective because they will grow right back to their original size, or even larger because the act of pruning stimulates new growth. This makes them especially suitable for colder climates where there is no chance of the buds being harmed over the winter months because the buds simply don’t exist yet. Let’s delve into that question here using three simple steps. Read our, The Spruce uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. That makes it tough to find a good time to prune them without sacrificing some flowers. Find locations near you that offer Proven Winners products. When to prune a hydrangea depends on when it sets its flower buds. If a branch is broken or dead, it can be removed completely. Reblooming cultivars should be pruned the same way as hydrangeas that bloom on old wood, meaning you should only need to prune out a few (if any) dead branches in the spring once the plant starts to leaf out. They have broad, thick, textured foliage and stout, green stems. One of the most commonly asked questions about hydrangeas is when and how they should be pruned. Hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 9, "Annabelle" is a deciduous shrub that blooms for up to two months starting in early summer, and sometimes it also flowers in fall. Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle'. Panicle hydrangeas are often the latest to bloom each season beginning in midsummer to late summer depending on which variety you are growing. However, hydrangeas that bloom on old wood finish flowering so late in the season that pruning them after they bloom doesn’t leave enough time for them to regrow and form flower buds for next year. Mountain hydrangeas are small flowering shrubs with narrow, pointed leaves and flattened flower heads. Just like smooth hydrangeas, panicle hydrangeas bloom on new wood, making them especially valuable in colder climates where there is no chance of their buds being harmed over the winter. Their foliage looks very similar to bigleaf hydrangeas with broad, thick textured leaves and stout, green stems. ‘Limelight’ is a classic example of a panicle hydrangea. Find plants you love and create idea boards for all your projects. STEP 1: Identify which type of hydrangea you have. Always remove dead, damaged, or diseased stems as the first step during routine pruning. When shortening stems, cut back to just above a pair of healthy buds. Selectively prune the dead and weaker stems, both old and new, using bypass pruners. Traits of Oakleaf Hydrangeas (Hydrangea quercifolia). Even a harsh winter or late spring frost can damage thes… Traits of Mountain Hydrangeas (Hydrangea serrata). Generally, it is safe to prune as much as one-third off of your hydrangea that blooms on new wood. Instead, transplant your too-large, still-dormant hydrangea to a new spot in early spring and replace it with a variety that naturally stays shorter. Flower buds occur on new spring growth. Their foliage is matte textured and of thinner substance than bigleaf or mountain hydrangeas. 222879/SC038262, Dead blooms on mophead hydrangeas can, in mild areas, be removed just after flowering, but it is best to leave them on the plant over winter to provide some frost protection for the tender growth buds below. Lacecaps are hardier, and the faded flowerheads can be cut back after flowering to the second pair of leaves below the head in order to prevent seed developing, which saps energy from the plant, Join Bigleaf hydrangeas set their flower buds from late summer to early fall. Don’t do it or you’ll risk cutting off the flower buds. Smooth hydrangeas bloom on new wood, meaning the current season’s growth. times, RHS Registered Charity no. All Rights Reserved. We do not recommend pruning more drastically than 30% for two reasons: When you prune, make your cut just above a set of large, healthy leaves. However, this type doesn't have the big leaves of Hydrangea macrophylla. The bigleaf hydrangea often has flowers whose color changes with the soil pH: blue in acid soil and pink in alkaline soil. Neglected, overgrown vines can be cut back to ground level in early spring to rejuvenate the plant. Examples of hydrangeas that bloom exclusively on new wood include: all smooth and panicle hydrangeas. Traits of Panicle Hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata). If in doubt, don’t prune! Hydrangea pruning. Reblooming hydrangeas produce flowers on both old and new wood. Where the growing season is long enough, reblooming varieties of smooth hydrangeas will flower on new growth a second time that same season. If it has experienced winter dieback, prune the stems back to below the point of injury. In the picture above taken in October, you can see the reddish buds in the axils up the stem. Traits of Smooth Hydrangeas (Hydrangea arborescens) Smooth hydrangeas bloom earlier than bigleaf or mountain hydrangeas and bear either white or pink flowers. Pruning Hydrangeas that Bloom on Old Wood. It can either be an arching cascade starting from near to ground level – 12in (30cm) is about right, or you can train with a framework that starts its new annual growth at a higher level – 2ft (60cm) is the maximum. How and When to prune Hydrangea arborescens and H. paniculata Grandiflora types.. With newer plants, you can decide on exactly how you want your Hydrangea to grow. Tying the branches together and wrapping them with burlap can help the plant survive winter. To create an idea board, sign in or create an account. Others form their flower buds on new wood once they begin to grow in spring. Though they develop more slowly than other types, a grouping of mature oakleaf hydrangeas in bloom is a sight to behold and will be a delight for decades to come. Some light pruning of individual stems in late winter or early spring not only will keep the plant from becoming overgrown but also will encourage healthy growth and flowers. You can see in the close up picture above taken in October that the buds have not yet been formed. The most commonly grown hydrangeas in gardens are lacecaps and mopheads – mopheads are identified by their full, roundish heads of large petals; lacecaps have tiny flowers in the centre of the bloom and an outer border of large petals. If you live someplace where there is a heavy snow load or if you prefer a tidier look in winter, prune them in late fall to early winter. Winter-damaged stems can be cut back to living wood. Some form their flower buds on old wood, meaning next year’s buds are already present on the branches in fall and winter. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. Since it is only safe to prune hydrangeas that bloom on new wood in the fall without the risk of sacrificing next year’s flowers, it is important to identify which type of hydrangea you have before you prune. Pruning smooth hydrangea "Annabelle" (Hydrangea arborescens "Annabelle") encourages strong growth, helps prevent the spread of plant diseases and keeps the shrub looking tidy. No hydrangea requires pruning to grow and bloom well. Remove the burlap when the buds begin to swell. Most smooth hydrangeas bear round mophead flowers but a few cultivars have lacecap style blossoms.
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