How Should Hydrangeas Be Cared For In The Fall?

Fall care for hydrangeas is crucial, especially in harsh winter climates. To prepare your shrub for dormancy and the cold season, follow these fall care tips:

1. Understand your hydrangea variety and understand its importance.
2. Keep your plants hydrated and protected before winter settles in. Hydrangeas need water at their root level to keep roots productive.
3. Follow these fall care steps to set your hydrangeas up for a healthy and vibrant bloom next year.
4. Feed 2-3 times throughout the growing season, from spring until fall.
5. Avoid pruning your Endless Summer® hydrangeas in the fall, as it can stunt growth and prevent blooms in the spring.
6. Water your plant every 4 to 6 weeks, ensuring there is no standing water.
7. Remove dead and old blooms to make room for new buds. Cut the flower head off above the first few leaves to remove dead and old blooms.
8. Apply a slow-release fertilizer twice per year in spring and early fall, applying widely around the drip line of the branches instead of the base.
9. Clean up your hydrangea leaves after they fall to prevent disease and over-wintering insects from remaining in the area.
10. Enjoy 3-6 hours of sunlight for flowering and natural indirect bright light for the rest of the day.

Are you supposed to cut down hydrangeas before winter?

Hydrangea paniculata, also known as panicle hydrangea, is a plant with conical-shaped flower heads that can be pruned back to just above a fat bud in fall, late winter, or spring. These plants produce buds in late summer to early fall, which will form next year’s flowers. To maintain winter interest in your landscape, it is recommended to wait until late winter or spring. Popular panicle hydrangeas include Quick Fire®, Limelight, and First Editions® Berry White®.

When to stop watering hydrangeas in the fall?

Once the frost has occurred, the watering of the hydrangea should cease and the plant should be permitted to enter a state of dormancy. In regions with temperatures above the freezing point of water, the plant should be watered deeply and infrequently.

What month do you prune hydrangeas?

Plants produce buds in late summer to early fall, forming next year’s flowers. Pruning these plants should be done after they finish blooming and before August. However, Endless Summer® The Original Bigleaf Hydrangea and other cultivars from Bailey Nurseries bloom on last year’s wood and new growth this year, so they will bloom regardless of pruning. To protect H. macrophylla from rabbit browsing, use a large, 4-foot-tall ring of hardware cloth in winter.

Are you supposed to cut back hydrangeas in the fall?

Hydrangeas can grow for years without pruning, but if they become unruly, overtake an area, or lose their growth capabilities, it’s time to trim them. Fall blooming hydrangeas should be pruned after they bloom in the summer, while summer blooming hydrangeas should be pruned in the fall. Hydrangeas are colorful and vibrant in the early season but are hard to preserve after being cut. They are easier to care for after they start drying on the bush. Cut down thin, wispy, weak growth near the bottom of the plant to save energy for blooms.

What do I do to my hydrangeas in the fall?

Pruning hydrangeas that bloom on new wood is safe and can be done in late fall or early spring. The next year’s flower buds won’t form until late spring, so pruning in fall or spring won’t remove them. If you prefer a dried look in winter, leave them on and prune them in spring. If you live in a heavy snow load area or prefer a tidier look, prune them in late fall to early winter. Examples of hydrangeas that bloom exclusively on new wood include:

Should hydrangeas be deadheaded before winter?

Deadheading hydrangeas is a one-time process, as they can change color for months. In milder climates, deadheading promotes foliage growth and stops energy from seed production. In colder climates, deadheading occurs in the spring to protect buds from frost. Mop-head hydrangea should be deadheaded in spring, while lacecap hydrangea can be deadheaded at the end of summer. However, deadheading isn’t necessary for hydrangea plant health.

Plants without deadheading don’t show a sharp decline in flowering or growth in subsequent years. Some gardeners leave faded flower heads for winter interest, while others remove them when they fade, turn brown, or look tattered.

What happens if you don’t cut back hydrangeas?

Regular pruning of hydrangeas is crucial for maintaining their shape and promoting new growth, resulting in larger, healthier flowers. Deadheading hydrangeas, which involves removing spent flowers from the stem, can also help encourage better blooming later on. However, not all hydrangeas can benefit from this method, as it may result in a tangled mass of woody stems and smaller, less showy flowers.

Should you deadhead hydrangeas in fall?

Deadheading hydrangeas throughout the blooming season is essential for maintaining their beauty and promoting new flower growth. However, it is important to stop deadheading in mid to late fall, leaving any spent blooms in place. Deadheading triggers flowering shrubs to stop producing seeds and focus on root and foliage development, making plants stronger and healthier. Expert gardeners at Millcreek Gardens provide guidance on how to deadhead hydrangeas, when to take on the project, and how to protect them after the blooming season is over.

Do hydrangeas like sun or shade?

Hydrangeas, commonly known as hydrangeas, prefer partial sun locations, receiving sun in the morning and shade in the afternoon. The Endless Summer® Hydrangea series, such as BloomStruck®, Endless Summer®, Blushing Bride®, and Twist-n-Shout®, prefer part shade. Smooth hydrangeas like the Annabelle Hydrangea also require some shade from the afternoon sun. Bigleaf hydrangeas, also known as hydrangea macrophylla, prefer some shade, especially during the afternoon. For best flowering, big leaf hydrangeas like Nikko Blue and Glowing Embers should get some sun.

Planting hydrangeas in a spot with good drainage, morning sun, and afternoon shade is essential. Most hydrangeas bloom in spring and summer, and can reach heights of 15 feet or higher. They can be grown in pots to decorate patios, apartment balconies, or as a hedge or privacy screen.

Panicle hydrangeas like Fire Light®, Limelight, Pinky Winky®, Strawberry Sundae®, and Vanilla Strawberry® can thrive in full sun. The new reblooming dwarf series, Let’s Dance®, and dwarf big leaf series, Cityline®, grow best in full or part sun. Newer smooth hydrangea varieties, Incrediball®, and Invincibelle® Ruby, are also recommended for full or part sun.

Should I cut my hydrangea to the ground in winter?

In the late winter or early spring, hydrangeas can be pruned severely to produce larger blooms. However, many gardeners prefer the smaller blooms that result in sturdier stems. To mitigate the tendency of the plant to droop, the stems should be cut to a length of between 18 and 24 inches. This will provide a robust framework to support the new growth. This practice helps to prevent the branches from falling over as a result of the weight of the blooms, particularly following overhead irrigation or periods of heavy rainfall.

Can I cut my hydrangea to the ground?

Hydrangeas are relatively straightforward to cultivate, given their annual blooms and the minimal care and treatment they require. Pruning in the fall may result in the production of beautiful blooms in the spring; however, this may also cause the plant to weaken over time.