
Hydrangea Pruning: Fall, Winter, Spring, or Summer?
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How do I know if what I'm looking at is old wood or new wood, for pruning?
New wood means wood that has grown in the current year; it tends to look more fresh, so it may be a lighter green or not as “woody” looking. Old wood is from last year, so if it’s on the plant right now (winter), it’s old wood. When in doubt, don’t prune until after the plant blooms!
Just read your tips on oak leaf hydrangeas. I live in Zone 8-9. (North of Houston, TX) and my oak leaf absolutely loves my yard. It blooms in April-May and is tall, wide and beautiful. It sits facing north under partial shade of a pin oak tree. So it is possible to have a happy oak leaf south of zone 5.
I live in Durham nc
Is there a chart of different varieties that show when to prune, growth on old or new wood, when to fertilize and with what. I find myself reading pages and pages, and depending on who writes the article differ. I'm not new to hydrangeas and have macrophylla, panicle, oak leaf, Bits of Lace, Lacecaps, but its getting hard to keep them all straight. I too had plants that haven't bloomed now for 2 yrs, need to make sure they get the right nutrition. Also I have read where some put coffee grounds on hydrangeas, true or false if so how much and often. is there anything I can do this year to help next yrs blooms?
I don’t know what kind of hydrangea I have. Can you help me?
Check out our main hydrangeas growing guide!
Hi Brenda, I just found a good source of info on pruning hydrangeas at the University of Maryland Extension. Here is the link https://extension.umd.edu/sites/extension.umd.edu/files/_docs/programs/hgic/HGIC_Pubs/ornamentals/HG106_Pruning_hydrangea_2018.pdf. I hope you find it helpful!
I have not found a chart but to distill it down, don't prune until after your hydrangea has bloomed, if you must prune it at all. Fertilize in the spring by scratching in some slow release fertilizer, well-rotted manure or compost around the base of the plant (not touching the trunk). Coffee grounds are slightly acidic and many gardeners claim that they will change the soil pH enough to change the color of a mophead from pink to blue. As far as helping next year's blooms, if your plant has not been blooming stop pruning it, make sure it gets at least 4 hours of sun a day, gets sufficient water throughout the season, and if frost is damaging your buds give the plant some winter protection.
I moved from Vancouver Island to Bowling Green KY, both USDA Zone 6B, but oh my what a different climate here; so hot and muggy in summer. My macrophylla hydrangeas suffered die-back last winter and while growing well now, havent bloomed since I got them. They dont seem to like full sun, cowering . Is it too hot? ALso noticed flowers open and fall off peonies far more quickly here in the heat. I am finding it quite an adjustment to go from where things grow so easily to trying to sort out what will thrive and what won't.
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