Intelligence on Hydrangea Maintenance: Techniques for Deadheading to Achieve Vibrant Flowers and Stronger Plant Health
In the world of gardening, understanding how to care for different types of plants is crucial. One plant that requires special attention is the hydrangea, a popular choice for many gardeners due to its large, showy flowers. This guide will help you prune your hydrangeas for optimal growth and blooms, based on the type of hydrangea and whether it blooms on old or new wood.
### Pruning Hydrangeas That Bloom on Old Wood
Hydrangeas such as bigleaf (H. macrophylla), lacecap, mopheads, and oakleaf are examples of hydrangeas that bloom on old wood. The best time to prune these varieties is right after flowering in summer, typically in mid to late August. Avoid pruning in fall because the flower buds set on old wood in August-September.
To prune these hydrangeas, remove dead or weak branches and lightly trim to shape. For older plants (more than 5 years old), you can cut back by about one-third to revitalize, but avoid cutting down to the ground as that removes next year’s flower buds.
### Pruning Hydrangeas That Bloom on New Wood
Smooth hydrangeas (H. arborescens 'Annabelle') and panicle hydrangeas (H. paniculata) are examples of hydrangeas that bloom on new wood. These can be cut down to the ground annually or pruned to maintain shape and health. Because they bloom on current year’s growth, hard pruning won’t affect blooms negatively.
Hydrangea paniculata is especially hardy and sun-tolerant; pruning in late winter promotes vigorous new growth and large blooms.
### Rebloomer Types
Some hydrangeas, like rebloomers, bloom repeatedly during the season. These can be lightly pruned in spring or right after the first flush of blooms to encourage more flowering.
### Pruning Schedule
For a summary of when to prune different types of hydrangeas, refer to the table below:
| Hydrangea Type | Bloom Wood | When to Prune | How to Prune | |--------------------------------|------------|-----------------------------|--------------------------------------------------| | Bigleaf (macrophylla), Oakleaf | Old wood | Right after flowering (summer) | Lightly trim; remove old/dead wood; avoid fall pruning | | Smooth (arborescens), Panicle (paniculata) | New wood | Late fall, late winter, or early spring | Cut down to ground or shape as needed | | Rebloomer | Both/varies| Spring or after first bloom | Light pruning to encourage continued blooms |
### Additional Tips
- Avoid pruning bigleaf hydrangeas in fall or early spring since buds form on old wood in late summer. - Leave some blooms on panicle hydrangeas for winter interest; prune before growth starts. - Hydrangea petiolaris (climbing hydrangea) can be trained with minimal pruning but prune to shape as needed. - Proper watering and mulching support healthy growth and bloom after pruning.
Following this schedule tailored to your hydrangea type will maximize the number and quality of blooms year after year. Regular deadheading of hydrangeas is beneficial, helping to keep the plants and their beds looking neat and tidy, and increasing the overall vigor of the shrubs.
Tonya Barnett, a seasoned gardener with 13 years of experience and a passion for flowers, has transformed her backyard into a cut flower garden and shares her journey on her YouTube channel. Amy Draiss, the Digital Community Manager of this article, encourages gardeners to take advantage of this guide to ensure their hydrangeas look their best.
The Garden Guru pruning and trimming set, available on our platform Shop, is durable and quick to use for pruning hydrangeas, making it an ideal tool for your gardening needs. With consistent care, your hydrangeas will continue to thrive and add beauty to your home landscape.
- Maintaining a home-and-garden with a hydrangea plant requiresPruning Hydrangeas That Bloom on Old Wood should be pruned right after flowering in summer, typically in mid to late August, as they are varieties like bigleaf, lacecap, mopheads, and oakleaf that bloom on old wood.
- For a clean and well-maintained home-and-garden lifestyle, pruning Hydrangeas That Bloom on New Wood, such as smooth hydrangeas (H. arborescens 'Annabelle') and panicle hydrangeas (H. paniculata), can be done annually or pruned to maintain shape and health, as they bloom on new wood.
