In general, varieties that bloom on old wood should be pruned immediately after they flower. Don’t cut off all the heavy wood though! Prune bigleaf hydrangea when the flowers begin to fade. The flower color of all bigleaf hydrangea plants is affected by the degree of acidity or alkalinity in the soil. Smooth hydrangea, including the popular cultivar H. arborescens 'Grandiflora,' doesn't usually have any problems blooming, though its white flowers aren't as showy as we normally expect from hydrangeas. Pay attention to timing your hydrangeas will produce beautiful blooms for years to come! The Original Bigleaf Hydrangea ... Pruning . Hydrangea paniculata, panicle hydrangea, is sometimes called "tree hydrangea" which tells you something about potential size - most cultivars get over 10' tall. I've seen old ones that are easily 6-7' tall. We got it! But don’t prune all the old wood because this is what will keep flowering as the new growth matures. This bigleaf hydrangea macrophylla has pink or blue depending on the soil pH. Wait to prune your bigleaf hydrangeas until new growth appears in the spring. Flower buds will begin forming in late summer for the fol-lowing season, so avoid pruning after August 1. You don’t want to cut off the flower buds and miss out on the beautiful blooms! Wait until the last frosts are over, as a hard frost in May can wipe out a year's flowers. Detailed advice for pruning different kinds of … However, this type doesn't have the big leaves of Hydrangea macrophylla. “The five common hydrangea can be divided into two groups for pruning purposes: those that bloom on old wood and those that bloom on new wood.” Hydrangeas That Bloom on Old Wood. I am finding confusing articles about pruning the dead growth, however. To determine if your hydrangea blooms on old wood, think about when it flowers. Identify & Prune Bigleaf Hydrangeas. Hi. Bigleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla cvs., USDA Hardiness Zones 6–9) Bigleaf hydrangeas (H. serrata cvs., Z 6–9) Oakleaf hydrangeas (H. quercifolia cvs., Z 5–9) Prune after the flowers start to fade in late summer. However, since these hydrangeas bloom from both old and new wood they can withstand heavy pruning if needed. It has attractive, lustrous leaves and large blue, pink, red, or purple flowers. Because this plant blooms on the previous season's growth (often referred to as old wood), they either won't flower or will flower sporadically if you prune them in spring. (See more below.) Wait any longer, and you risk removing the developing flower buds. Only remove the burlap when the buds begin to swell in Spring. Julie Thompson-Adolf is a master gardener and author with 13+ years of experience with year-round organic gardening, seed starting and saving, growing heirloom plants, perennials, and annuals, and sustainable and urban farming. It is a deciduous shrub growing to 2 m (7 ft) tall by 2.5 m (8 ft) broad with large heads of pink or blue flowers in summer and autumn. Prune out flower heads and head back other shoots, as necessary, to encourage branching and fullness. We cover other pruning methods in Pruning & Your Plants; however, this specific article aims to help you identify which type of hydrangea you have and its pruning needs. Species. Flowers of bigleaf hydrangeas bloom on buds formed on the previous year's growth. How to Prune Overgrown Hydrangeas. Pruning lacecap hydrangeas do not have to be done at any particular time. What time of year to prune hydrangeas . Hydrangea macrophylla, bigleaf hydrangea, can get HUGE over time. This bush is small and compact and grow into a nicely shaped mounded plant. Native to the North American woodlands, it is… The flowers of the bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) can change colors depending on the pH of the soil in which they are planted. This means that you need to avoid pruning a big leaf after August 1. This is the most commonly grown hydrangea in Maryland. For the Bigleaf, pruning is best done when the blooms start to fade away. Winter-damaged stems can be cut back to living wood. Oakleaf Hydrangea – Hydrangea quercifolia Hydrangea quercifolia Cultivar Examples: Pee Wee, Jetstream™, Ruby Slippers, Snow Queen. In alkaline soil, its flowers are pink. This bush is small and compact and grow into a nicely shaped mounded plant. Hydrangeas do not require pruning but there are still reasons you would do it. However, getting them to flower can be a challenge for gardeners, partially due to pruning mistakes. There are exceptions, such as bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla), so do some research on your shrubs before you snip. Pruning is all about timing for the hydrangea plant – especially if you have different varieties. Hydrangeas that bloom on old wood start to develop their flower buds for the next year in August and September. The popular bigleaf or mophead hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) is distinguished by its changing flower colors. Both are pruned the same way. Because its major attraction is the foliage, any loss of blooms is less disappointing than in most other hydrangea varieties. Oakleaf hydrangea blooms on old growth and should be pruned immediately after it has finished flowering. Prune after it flowers, trimming back flowering stems to a pair of healthy buds. Pruning is all about timing for the hydrangea plant – especially if you have different varieties. Timing is everything! Pruning lacecap hydrangeas do not have to be done at any particular time. The first step is identifying what kind of hydrangea you have. This shrub blooms on new wood. Old flowers from the previous year can be … Bigleaf hydrangeas (H. Serrata cvs., Z 6–9) Bigleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) The best way to decide if your hydrangea blooms on old wood are to notice when it flowers. Pruning hydrangeas should typically take place after your flowers have grown and before the new bud blooms are showing themselves. That's taller than most one-story roof lines. These varieties bloom on the previous season’s stems (“old wood”). Mophead and lacecap hydrangeas can be pruned in late winter or early spring The climbing hydrangea should be pruned in summer after flowering Prune smooth hydrangeas and paniculata species annually to a framework of branches to make them flower more prolifically Serrata can be treated the same as mophead and lacecap My question is: Should I prune off the dead flowers or is it too late in the season? Remove the burlap when the buds begin to swell. 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. By using The Spruce, you accept our, Winter or early spring, only when necessary to control size, How to Dry and Preserve Hydrangea Flowers, How to Prune Shrub Roses and Knock Out Roses, Identifying What Type of Old Fashioned Hydrangea You're Growing, Strawberry Vanilla Hydrangea Plant Profile, 10 Best Shrubs That Flower in Early Summer. When to prune a hydrangea depends on when it sets its flower buds. For best results, wait until the blooming period has ended, ideally in the late summer or early fall. Flower buds will begin forming in late summer for the following season, so avoid pruning after August 1. It's probably not surprising that oakleaf hydrangea is easily recognized by its oak leaf-shaped foliage. It’s bud. When planted in acidic soil, its flowers are blue. Big leaf hydrangeas. Sometimes it is necessary to prune plants after a harsh winter to remove damaged foliage. 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