These include: Paniculata, Macrophylla, Arborescens, Quercifolia, and Serrata.
The most recognized and popular of these is the Macrophylla or bigleaf hydrangea. It has large, showy, mophead blooms on new growth, while the lacecap blooms are typically found on old growth of mature plants.
This type of Hydrangea needs a bit of pruning to promote blooms as well as trimming off the dead flower heads of the mophead.
The Quercifolia or oakleaf hydrangea has large, heavily-veined leaves that emerge in spring and turn from a brilliant chartreuse to red and orange in the fall. Flowering occurs on the previous year’s wood, meaning that some of the blooms will be located high in the canopy of the shrub.
Pruning should be done in late summer to avoid removing buds forming for the following year’s blooms.
The Paniculata or panicle hydrangea produces large flower heads on the current season’s growth, meaning that it doesn’t need a lot of pruning to encourage blooms. The flowers open in late summer and continue through the fall season, gradually changing colors as they age.
The Arborescens or smooth hydrangea blooms mostly on old growth and can be pruned to maintain a desired shape. The flowers open in midsummer and are available in a variety of colors, ranging from white to pink or blue depending on soil acidity.
Finally, the Serrata or mountain hydrangea grows on both old and new wood and tends to be more upright than other varieties. It produces dainty white blooms in midsummer and can be pruned to control size and shape, with minimal removal of blooms from the current season.
How do you know if your hydrangea blooms on old or new wood?
The easiest way to determine whether your hydrangea blooms on new or old wood is to look at the buds on the shrub in winter. If they’re located on woody stems near the base of the plant, it means your plant is a type that blooms on old wood.
If they’re located on the thin new growth at the tips of the branches, it means your plant is a type that blooms on new wood. It’s important to know this because it will dictate when you prune your hydrangea and how far back you can cut it.
You should prune hydrangeas that bloom on old wood in late summer or early fall, and those that bloom on new wood just after the flowering period.
Do hydrangeas flower on new or old growth?
Hydrangea flowers typically bloom on 3-year-old wood, or old growth. New growth can also produce some flowers, but not as many or as full as those that appear on older stems. It is important to prune Hydrangeas correctly for maximum flowering and satisfaction.
When pruning, it is important to understand what kind of Hydrangea you have. Hydrangeas can be either mophead or lacecap, or ever-blooming or non-ever-blooming types. Mophead and lacecap Hydrangeas flower on old stems, or previous season’s growth.
Pruning should be done in early spring, before new growth begins. Remove dead or damaged shoots. Then, prune canes back to two to three buds per cane. For lacecaps, prune the sideshoots of the previous season’s flowers, leaving only the flowering stems.
Ever-blooming Hydrangeas, known as re-bloomers, may be pruned quite differently. On these types, prune no more than one third of the old stems, leaving the flowering parts. Then, in late summer or early fall, prune to shape.
New growth on Hydrangeas is mainly found in late spring to early summer. It is also possible to get flowers on new growth, but these will be fewer and not as full as those on older stems.
How do you prune a macrophylla hydrangea?
Pruning a macrophylla hydrangea is an important step in keeping the plant healthy, allowing it to produce longer-lasting flowers, and helping to maintain its shape. Pruning can be done in late winter or early spring, before the hydrangea’s flowers start to appear.
It is important to avoid pruning during the summer or autumn, as this could reduce the plant’s flowering potential.
When pruning your macrophylla hydrangea, begin by removing any dead, diseased, or weak stems. Carefully inspect the stems, looking for signs of weakness, discoloration, and dieback. After removing any dead stems, remove a third of the oldest branches, thinning them at the base.
If this is your first time pruning the plant, be sure to start conservatively and remove fewer branches at first.
Next, cut back any side shoots. These are smaller shoots that occur near the base of the larger stems. Cutting them back will help maintain the desired shape of the plant and maximize flowering potential.
Spend some time pruning the plant and sculpting it into the desired shape.
Finally, cut back the remaining shoots so the tips are between 4 to 6 inches from the last set of leaves. Be sure to use clean, sharp tools and make cuts at a 45-degree angle to help promote healthy healing and growth.
As with any pruning, never cut more than a third of the growth away in one season, as this could negatively affect the plant’s health. And as always, enjoy your pruning project and the fruits of your labor for many seasons to come!.
What does dead wood look like on a hydrangea?
Dead wood on a hydrangea can look like dark, dried out twigs which are brittle and break easily. They typically appear in areas which receive little sunlight and have a dull, greyish-brown color. In some cases, the dead wood can become discolored with white fungi or molds, or can have patches of moss or lichen.
The dead wood may also have small black spots referred to as cankers, which are caused by disease, pests, or environmental stressors. Depending on the severity, the dead wood can get so extensive that the entire bush may become bare or disfigured.
Dead wood can be removed to help promote healthy growth, as hydrangeas tend to bloom better when they are pruned regularly.
When should I cut off old hydrangea blooms?
It is best to cut off old hydrangea blooms at the end of the fall season. This will help to ensure that the plant is ready for the winter months and is getting the best possible care. If you wait until later in the winter season, the flowers will have already begun to die off and can be difficult to remove.
Additionally, cutting off the old blossoms will help to encourage new blooms for the following season. It is important to remember that not all hydrangea plants will flower in the winter months and some may not flower at all.
That being said, it is still best practice to cut the old blooms off so that the plant can prepare itself for the coldest months of the year.
Should I cut the dried blooms off my hydrangea?
When it comes to hydrangeas, the short answer is yes, you should definitely cut off the dried blooms. Many gardeners believe that if you don’t cut off the dried blooms, the plant can become too top-heavy and even die.
In addition, by removing the dried blooms, you’re ensuring that the plant will focus its energy toward producing new blooms instead of wasting it on producing and caring for those that have died.
When you remove the dried blooms, make sure that you use clean, sharp pruning shears and cut them at an angle just above an existing leaf. This way, you’ll leave behind a healthy portion of the stem and also avoid damaging the buds that will become blooms in the future.
Pruning hydrangeas can seem intimidating at first, but it’s an important part of maintaining a healthy and vibrant plant. So, if you’ve noticed that there are plenty of dried blooms on your hydrangea, take the time to prune them and watch the plant come back to life.
What happens if you don’t cut back hydrangeas?
If you do not cut back hydrangeas, they can become overgrown and unruly. Without pruning and deadheading, the leaves and stems of the hydrangea can begin to take over other plants in your garden, and it may interfere with the look and shape of the rest of the garden.
Pruning also encourages healthy new growth on the hydrangea, which means it will be more likely to bloom year after year. If you do not cut back hydrangeas, the plant may become more susceptible to damage from pests, diseases and extreme weather conditions.
Additionally, with improper pruning, the branches can become weak and possibly break off during strong winds or heavy rainfall.
Can I cut my hydrangea to the ground?
Yes, you can cut your hydrangea to the ground if necessary. This is known as hard pruning and should be done in late winter or early spring, when the plant is still dormant. It is important to do this before the new growth starts in the spring.
Remember that hard pruning will result in significantly less blooms as the plant must regrow its branches. To prevent excessive pruning and an unbalanced plant shape, prune no more than one-third of the plant each year.
Additionally, you should make sure to properly dispose of any debris so as to not spread any diseases or pests.
How far back do you cut hydrangeas in the fall?
It is recommended to cut back hydrangeas during late summer/early fall, after they have finished blooming. If you wait too late in the fall season, you may risk accidentally removing buds that have already formed for the following year’s blooms.
Pruning hydrangeas too early can also be harmful, as they will be deprived of forming their flower buds. To prune a hydrangea, you should begin by removing any dead, diseased, or damaged branches. Then, determine the direction of growth and begin removing the newly formed stems that are sprouting from the base of the plant.
Cut the stems back to 2–4” buds closest to the ground. Lastly, you should deadhead the hydrangea by cutting back the spent blooms just above the first set of leaves to encourage fresh buds to form.
Should you prune old wood hydrangeas?
Yes, you should prune old wood hydrangeas. Old wood hydrangeas benefit from regular pruning, as it encourages healthier growth and more vigorous flowering. Prune old wood hydrangeas in early summer, after the flowers have faded, to keep them looking neat and airy and in shape.
Use sharp pruning shears or loppers to cut back any overly long or spindly stems. Pruning should be done annually, removing only the oldest stems. This will also promote a good shape, allowing light to reach the center of the plant and encouraging new growth.
If your hydrangea is too large and unruly, you can hard prune, which should be done just after the flowers fade, before the new buds form. Hard pruning will result in fewer, but larger flowers. However, it’s important to avoid pruning too severely, as you may damage the flowering potential of the plant, and some varieties may not flower the following year.
What do old wood hydrangea buds look like?
Old wood hydrangea buds closely resemble buds with a longer, pointed shape and an overall brownish-green coloring. They have protective layers of sepals and a fuzzy, velvety texture at the center. The sepals are usually dried and brown in color, while the center of the bud will be light green and fuzzy.
Older buds will even have a hint of rusty red at the base. As the flower grows, the petals will divide and open up to reveal the center. The entire flower will gradually turn from green to purple or blue, depending on the soil’s pH level and its acidity.