When to Prune Hydrangeas

By Duston On September 11, 2011
Posted in: Recent Newsletters

Hydrangeas!  When do I prune them, why didn’t
they flower?

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Hydrangeas!  When do I prune them, why didn’t
they flower?

Hydrangeas can be divided into two categories.  Those
that bloom on current year’s growth, and those that bloom
on old wood, (last year’s growth).

The Hydrangeas that bloom on old wood are from the macrophylla
family.  These include Nikko Blue, Endless Summer and many
other pinks and blues.  When I say they bloom on old wood I
mean that they are busy right now setting flower buds for next
summer.  So next year when they take off growing in the spring,
the flower shoots will actually emerge from the older wood, the
wood that was produced this year.

The hydrangeas that bloom on new wood are typically the white
hydrangeas like Annabelle and Paniculata Grandiflora (PG).  They
put on new growth in the spring and then later in the summer the
flower buds are actually produced right at the end of that new
growth.  That’s why the Annabelle and PG are such prolific
bloomers.  They set flower buds and almost immediately those
buds produce big, beautiful, abundant flowers.  Almost nothing
can go wrong with their blooming sequence.

But with the Blue and Pink Hydrangeas (macrophyllas) all kinds
of things can go wrong with the flower buds.  Since the flower
buds are produced in August and September they have to make it
through the harsh winter before they can bloom.  The flower buds
can be damaged by extreme cold.

Pruning?  You should prune macrophylla hydranges right after
they bloom, before they have a chance to start making new flower
buds.  Annabelle and PG hydrangea and other hydrangeas that flower
on new wood can be pruned during the late fall, winter or early
spring.  Once they start growing in the spring do not do any
pruning until after they bloom.

One of the most popular new varieties on the market is “Endless
Summer Hydrangea” and it is known to bloom more than once in a
season.  It’s in the macrophylla family and sets flower buds on
old wood, but it is also known to set more buds and produce flowers
during the growing season.  It should still be treated as a
hydrangea that blooms on old wood.

So . . . with all of that said, if your hydrangea did not bloom
then the flower buds might have gotten pruned off, or more likely
the flower buds were damaged over the winter.

Hydrangeas like more water than most plants, and at least a
smidgen of shade helps them stay healthy and happy.

I hope this helps you understand the world of Hydrangeas.
season.

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