Pruning Hydrangeas - Ask Extension
These hydrangea bushes are very healthy. They show some signs of the cooler temperatures now, but produce big, beautiful green leaves all summer. The...
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Pruning Hydrangeas #889507
Asked November 07, 2024, 6:26 PM EST
These hydrangea bushes are very healthy. They show some signs of the cooler temperatures now, but produce big, beautiful green leaves all summer. They no longer produce
blossoms. When we first got them, some of the blossoms were pink and some were blue. I have no idea how and when to prune them to promote blossoming and to keep them from growing too large. I have read numerous articles online and just get more confused. I’m not sure whether they bloomed on old or new wood. I almost think they bloomed on both! Any help you can provide would be appreciated.
Shiawassee County Michigan
Expert Response
Hi Cheryl, Thank you for your question. Because you mention that your hydrangeas used to bloom pink or blue, I will assume that they are probably Bigleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla).
These hybrids offer globe-shaped flower heads in shades of blue, purple, pink, and white. In most areas, Bigleaf Hydrangeas thrive in part or filtered shade, especially in the hot hours of the day. These bloom on old wood, which means they should be pruned immediately after flowering. If you wait too late, you will remove next year's blooms. However... (and this is where it gets complicated and why it is important to hang on to the tags that come with your hydrangeas so you know what kind you have purchased)...there are reblooming varieties, such as "Endless Summer" which continue to produce beautiful flowers on and off all summer and into autumn. They bloom on both this year's growth and the stems from the previous year and can be pruned almost any time, early spring or late fall. Varieties that do not rebloom make their flower buds in late summer. They bloom in late spring or early summer of the next year.
Bigleaf Hydrangeas produce buds in late summer to early fall
(August-September) that will form next year’s flowers. So prune these shrubs after they finish blooming and before August.
Endless Summer and other cultivars in the Endless Summer series such as Blushing Bride, BloomStruck, Summer
Crush and Twist ‘n’ Shout bloom on last year’s wood and new
wood that grows this year. So they will bloom whether you prune them or not.
Have you been cutting your hydrangeas back? If so, you are apparently cutting them at the wrong time and probably removing next year's blooms. I suggest you not prune them this year (if you haven't already) and see if you get blooms next year. If that happens you know to prune them in the August-September time frame. Trim them back just above a healthy set of buds opposite one another on the stem...these will be forming already. The link below will give you some helpful information regarding how and when to prune your plants.
https://www.provenwinners.com/learn/care/how-prune-your-hydrangea
These hybrids offer globe-shaped flower heads in shades of blue, purple, pink, and white. In most areas, Bigleaf Hydrangeas thrive in part or filtered shade, especially in the hot hours of the day. These bloom on old wood, which means they should be pruned immediately after flowering. If you wait too late, you will remove next year's blooms. However... (and this is where it gets complicated and why it is important to hang on to the tags that come with your hydrangeas so you know what kind you have purchased)...there are reblooming varieties, such as "Endless Summer" which continue to produce beautiful flowers on and off all summer and into autumn. They bloom on both this year's growth and the stems from the previous year and can be pruned almost any time, early spring or late fall. Varieties that do not rebloom make their flower buds in late summer. They bloom in late spring or early summer of the next year.
Bigleaf Hydrangeas produce buds in late summer to early fall
(August-September) that will form next year’s flowers. So prune these shrubs after they finish blooming and before August.
Endless Summer and other cultivars in the Endless Summer series such as Blushing Bride, BloomStruck, Summer
Crush and Twist ‘n’ Shout bloom on last year’s wood and new
wood that grows this year. So they will bloom whether you prune them or not.
Have you been cutting your hydrangeas back? If so, you are apparently cutting them at the wrong time and probably removing next year's blooms. I suggest you not prune them this year (if you haven't already) and see if you get blooms next year. If that happens you know to prune them in the August-September time frame. Trim them back just above a healthy set of buds opposite one another on the stem...these will be forming already. The link below will give you some helpful information regarding how and when to prune your plants.
https://www.provenwinners.com/learn/care/how-prune-your-hydrangea
