How To Handle Hydrangeas That Are Annabelle In The Fall?

Hydrangeas are rare flowering shrubs that can be pruned in fall to prevent disease and encourage healthy blooms. To fertilize mature hydrangeas, feed them annually in spring with an NPK 15-10-10 or 10-5-5 fertilizer. Some species and varieties, like Panicle Hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata), are less sensitive to fall pruning due to their blooming on new wood.

Annabelle hydrangeas can be pruned from late fall onwards, once they enter their dormant period. Early spring pruning encourages the growth of new flowering stems, keeping the shrub compact and full of beautiful blooms. To help Annabelle’s hydrangea get through winter, start by cleaning up in the fall by removing fallen leaves and adding a layer of fresh, well-prepared material.

Pruning Annabelle hydrangeas to the ground in autumn after they’ve finished blooming can reduce potential pest and disease issues. It can also be left to overwinter and pruned back in late winter to make way for new growth. It’s best to prune Annabelle hydrangeas in late winter or early spring, before last year’s stems start to leaf out.

Annabelle hydrangeas bloom on new wood, meaning they bloom on the new seasonal growth. Prune plants sparingly, and if the hydrangeas tend to flatten in the rain, prune them to 18-24 inches tall. Prune lightly just after its flowers fade in early autumn, using garden clippers to remove faded flowers and several inches of growth. Don’t prune until around the end of September or beginning of October, and always wait until flowers have visibly faded before pruning them.