When In Washington State Should I Trim Back My Hydrangeas?

In Washington state, the best time to prune hydrangeas is typically in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. This timing allows for the removal of dead or damaged flowers. Panicle Hydrangeas/Hydrangea paniculata should be pruned back to the ground every year in February to between three and twelve inches high. Hydrangeas that bloom on new wood can be safely pruned in late fall once the plants have gone dormant or in early spring.

Bigleaf hydrangeas should be pruned just after flowering in late summer. If pruning is delayed too long after flowering, the flower buds for the following year may get removed and the plant may die. Bigleaf and oakleaf hydrangeas, which flower on previous year’s growth, should be pruned shortly after flowering is complete.

Hydrangeas don’t require pruning, but deadheading the flowers as they start to fade and minor rejuvenation pruning of old specimens is recommended. You may prune in the fall after blooming or in the spring after hard frosts are over. The later you prune and the more drastically you prune, the more damage the plant will suffer.

When buying hydrangeas, it is best to prune them in late summer, just as the flowers start to fade. Prolonged mid-day sun can stress most plants and scorch leaves and damage blooms. When replanting, wait until the plant has finished blooming in the fall.

Should hydrangeas be cut all the way back?

To prune hydrangeas, start in early spring by cutting back last year’s growth to a healthy framework between 30cm and 60cm high. Prune to just above a pair of healthy buds on each stem, and cut back to the lowest healthy buds for big flowers or less hard for a natural look or taller plant. Climbing hydrangeas like Hydrangea anomola subsp. petiolaris and Hydrangea seemannii should not be pruned until after flowering.

What is the best month to prune hydrangeas?

Hydrangeas are typically pruned in late winter or early spring, with climbing hydrangeas being pruned after flowering in summer. Hydrangeas bloom from mid- to late summer, while mophead and lacecap hydrangeas bloom satisfactorily with little attention. Annual pruning encourages new growth and better flowering display. Other species, including climbing hydrangeas, benefit from a trim. Timing is usually late winter/early spring, but sometimes late summer. Pruning hydrangeas can be easy to moderate.

Should hydrangeas be cut back for 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®.

How to cut hydrangeas in summer?

Summer hydrangeas don’t require pruning, but deadheading is necessary as their blooms fade. Deadheading encourages the hydrangea to produce new blooms throughout the season, as they rebloom. However, fall pruning is not recommended as Endless Summer hydrangeas set buds in the fall, so pruning during this time may miss out on early season blooms set for next spring. Watch our video on deadheading for more information.

When to prune hydrangeas in WA?

Prune hydrangeas after they finish flowering in autumn or early winter, removing dead, diseased, or damaged growth. To encourage pink or pale pink hydrangea blooms, use a pH test kit and adjust the soil pH to be alkaline (pH 7-8. 5) using a lime or dolomite lime product. To encourage blue hydrangea blooms, adjust the soil pH to be acidic (pH 4. 5-5. 5) using a sulphur or fertilize with an acidic plant food like Scotts Osmocote® Plus Organics Roses, Gardenias and Azaleas Plant Food and Soil Improver.

When should I cut the heads off hydrangeas?

Pruning hydrangeas is typically done in late winter or spring, except for climbing hydrangeas which are pruned in summer. Different types of hydrangea require different pruning techniques. To identify the type of hydrangea, wait for its summer flowering and prune it the following year. If unsure, leave it unpruned for a year. The following list shows the most common types of hydrangea found in gardens:

Do hydrangeas grow well in the Pacific Northwest?

Hydrangeas are deciduous shrubs that provide summer-long blooms and are hardy low-maintenance plants suitable for Pacific Northwest gardens. They bloom from summer to frost and can be pruned to maintain their shape. Faded flowers should be removed in the fall, and some of the oldest branches can be removed annually or lightly pruned. For older Mophead Hydrangeas, up to one-third of the stems can be cut back to the ground. Heavy, aggressive pruning can ruin flowering for the following year, but can be done in late Winter or early Spring. Before pruning, it’s important to know the three ways hydrangeas flower.

When to prune hydrangeas in the Pacific Northwest?

It is a common practice among horticulturists to prune panicle hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata) back to the ground on an annual basis. This pruning is typically conducted in February and results in the plant reaching a height of between three and twelve inches. This annual task should not impede their flowering capabilities, as they produce flowers on new growth.

How to cut back an overgrown hydrangea?

The speaker is indicating that they are not paying sufficient attention and are therefore removing large branches, with the intention of utilising the remaining flowers.

Should I cut my hydrangea down to the ground?

To rejuvenate a hydrangea plant, it is recommended that the stems be cut close to the ground, as the bloom buds are produced on the older wood. It is recommended that up to one-third of the older stems be removed each summer. This practice will result in a reduction of the floral display in the spring and summer months.

How do you prune hydrangeas in the summer?

Pruning hydrangeas is best performed after the summer bloom, rather than in the fall, as old wood hydrangeas begin developing their bloom buds in August and September. In the event that pruning is not conducted in a timely manner, it is advisable to postpone the procedure until the subsequent year.