When Should Hydrangeas Be Pruned In New England?

Bigleaf hydrangeas should be pruned until new growth appears in the spring, making cuts one quarter inch above the first set of live buds. If necessary to reduce a plant’s size, it may be cut back in June or July without harming the next year’s bloom. However, the plant will return almost immediately to its former size. The best time to prune hydrangeas in New England is typically in late winter or early spring before new growth begins.

Climbing hydrangeas need light pruning, mostly cleaning out dead wood and any wild, hanging branches. Climbing hydrangeas can tolerate heavy pruning, which should be done at least five years before pruning. Chatham Bars Inn gardener Pamela Vasques has four tips for New England hydrangea lovers:

1. Get to work pruning—like right now. Any hydrangea that produces blooms from new growth will need to be pruned in late winter or early spring. Hydrangeas that bloom on old, woody growth will need to be pruned in summer after they have. The correct time to prune is late August into early September, right before the buds start forming for the next year. If your hydrangea bush rarely flowers, your pruning schedule may be to blame.

2. Prepare your shrubs for winter by removing all flowers from the plants. Hydrangea pruning for these plants should be done only in the summer before August (to be safe). Newer varieties, like Endless Summer, bloom on both new and old wood, making them a better choice.

3. Wait to prune bigleaf hydrangeas until new growth appears in the spring. Make pruning cuts one quarter inch above the first set of live buds. Prune either in the fall after bloom (Sept.) or in the spring after hard frosts are over.

Why has it been a remarkable year for hydrangeas in New England?

Plants form flower buds in mid to late summer, requiring regular rain throughout the year. The Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival celebrated its 10th anniversary this year, showcasing the abundance of hydrangeas due to their continuous blooming. Hydrangeas go dormant in winter to avoid cold weather, but they are not safe from deep freezes. Consistent, gradual temperatures with no sudden drop from warm to deep freezes are necessary, rather than unseasonably warm or flash freezes. This ensures the continued growth and blooming of hydrangeas.

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.

When to cut hydrangeas in New England?

Improper pruning is a common cause of macrophylla hydrangeas not blooming. It is best to prune in the fall after bloom or in the spring after hard frosts are over. Prune only to the first leaf node of this year’s growth, cutting 1/2″ to 1″ above the budding node at a 45-degree angle. Protect these buds from spring frosts with bedsheets or frost cloth. Remove up to a dozen inner, old woody branches on established plants and cut them to the ground to spur new growth at the base.

Too much fertilizer can stunt blooms, with too much nitrogen resulting in healthy foliage but no blooms. Apply a balanced granular time-release 10-10-10 fertilizer to slightly moist soil two times a year, adding aluminum sulfate for blue blooms and raising the pH with lime for red and pink colors.

Poor soil can also cause no or few blooms. Amend the soil as needed with compost, potting-mix, peat moss, or perlite, but be careful not to add too much nitrogen. Pay attention to the salt and nitrogen content of manures and homemade mixes, and check your pH. Clay soil should be amended three or four times the size of the anticipated root ball.

Are coffee grounds good for hydrangeas?

Coffee grounds can be used to change the color of hydrangeas, but it’s best to use aluminum sulfate for a proven flower color change. Crushed eggshells may work, but they should be used with a proven method of raising the pH, like applying garden lime. Vinegar can be added to watering cans to change soil acidity and turn hydrangeas blue, but it’s not a long-term solution and can be harmful to local wildlife.

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:

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®.

When to fertilize hydrangeas in New England?

Hydrangeas are plants that require moderate nutrient levels in their soil and require fertilization in early spring and after flowering. Before planting, check the root quality of container-grown plants and loosen them if they appear pot bound or circling the container. Amend the planting area with organic material and set the plant at the same depth as in the container. Water the new plant and apply 2″ to 3″ of good quality mulch, keeping the mulch spread over the roots but off the crown of the plant.

Smooth hydrangea, native to the Eastern United States, grows as an under-story shrub in woodlands and prefers part shade and ample moisture. It grows as a rounded shrub, approximately 3′-5′ high by 3′-5′ wide, and blooms in late June to early July, producing white flowers in clusters 4″ to 6″ in diameter. Popular cultivars include ‘Annabelle’ and ‘White Dome’. Smooth hydrangea is hardy to zone 4, but may die back to the ground in cold winters.

Bigleaf hydrangea, a popular plant in the landscape during July, grows between 3′ and 6′ high with an equal spread and produces two types of flower heads: Hortensia and Lacecap.

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 natural fertilizer for hydrangeas?

The use of homemade compost as a source of slow-release nutrients has been demonstrated to be beneficial for the cultivation of hydrangeas. The resulting solution can be applied to the soil, irrigated thoroughly, or brewed into compost tea, which can be repeated for two to three weeks.

What is the mistake for pruning hydrangeas?

Pruning hydrangeas is best done in late winter and early spring, making it a good weekend job during March. Pruning after winter frosts protects the plant from winter injury. Climbing hydrangeas should be left until early summer, as they produce flowers on old wood. Pruning too early may remove new buds before they bloom. Tom’s Guide offers expert editors to keep you informed and prepared for the prime growing season by pruning your hydrangeas at the right time.

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.