Hydrangea Tree Pruning In Spring

Hydrangea tree pruning in spring

macrophylla) Bigleaf hydrangeas are one of the species that bloom on old wood, meaning they set their flower buds from late summer to early fall. Thus, if you mistakenly prune in the spring or even late fall, it will remove the flower buds and any chance of getting blooms for a year.

How far back can you cut a hydrangea tree?

Cut these stems close to the ground. Remember buds for blooms are produced on old wood and the more old wood you remove the less floral display in the spring and summer. To rejuvenate the hydrangea, remove up to 1/3 of the older living stems down to the ground each summer. This will revitalize the plant.

When should I prune my hydrangea tree?

Pruning in late fall or early spring before new growth begins will bring new blooms all summer. Big Leaf and Oakleaf hydrangeas should be pruned no later than early fall, otherwise you may cut off buds preventing any blooms come summer.

How do you prune an overgrown hydrangea tree?

Cut back in early spring, pruning last year's growth back to a healthy framework that's between 30cm and 60cm high. Prune to just above a pair of healthy buds on each stem. Cut back to the lowest healthy buds for big flowers or less hard for a natural look or a taller plant.

What happens if you prune hydrangeas too early?

If you prune them before they flower, you will be removing the flower buds. Many newer varieties actually produce buds on old and new wood, so pruning too early doesn't stop the whole show, just a good portion of it. But if your hydrangea isn't blooming, poorly timed pruning is often the culprit.

What happens if you don't prune hydrangea tree?

Hydrangeas that bloom on old wood do not need pruning and are better off for it. If you leave them alone, they'll bloom more profusely the next season. But go ahead and gently thin or deadhead. Just remember new growth may come, but that new growth will be without blooms next season.

What is the difference between a hydrangea bush and tree?

The main difference between a hydrangea shrub and a tree is training, pruning and proper care. The ideal time to prune is early spring. Remove old twigs that didn't produce healthy growths and remove suckers from the trunk of the tree.

Should you deadhead a hydrangea tree?

You should deadhead throughout the blooming season to keep your hydrangeas looking their beast and encourage new flower growth. However, stop deadheading hydrangea shrubs in mid to late fall, leaving any spent blooms in place.

How do you take care of a hydrangea tree?

It can thrive in full sun, but the blooms may last longer if they are in some shade during the hottest part of the day. Like most plants, it does best in moist but well-drained soil. It should not be planted too deeply. It should be planted at the same level as it was in the pot.

What kind of hydrangea tree do I have?

If the flower buds open a green color, then turn white, and as they age turn green or greenish brown, you have an arborescens type. If the flowers open white and stay white until they get old, then you probably have a macrophylla type. White flowering macrophylla types are less common, but they do exist.

Why is my hydrangea tree not blooming?

The primary reasons hydrangeas don't bloom are incorrect pruning, bud damage due to winter and/or early spring weather, location and too much fertilizer. Hydrangea varieties can be of the type that blooms on old wood, new wood or both. Old wood is the current year's growth and new wood is next year's (spring) growth.

Can you prune hydrangeas in February?

Understanding flower development for each hydrangea species is helpful, Alabama Extension writer Katie Nichols reports, but February is not the time to prune them. Some hydrangeas bloom on “old wood” while others bloom on “new wood,” the Alabama Extension says. Blooms on old wood are produced by buds set last summer.

How hard should hydrangeas be pruned?

Prune about a third of the stems a little harder down the stem to get good foliage and big flowers in summer. It might look like a very severe prune, but in actual fact, I've only taken off about two-thirds of the plant.

Should I cut off dead hydrangea leaves?

Since hydrangea blossoms are so big, deadheading a hydrangea makes a real difference in diverting energy to more important parts of the plant's growth. You should carry out this practice all through the blooming season to encourage new blossoms and keep your plant looking fresh.

How do you winterize a hydrangea tree?

The simplest method is to mound shredded leaves or bark mulch around the base of the plant to about 12 inches or so. Put the mulch mound in place in late fall after the ground freezes, and uncover plants in spring when temperatures begin to stay above freezing.

How long do hydrangea trees live?

Hydrangeas are long-lived shrubs, sometimes living for up to 50 years if properly cared for. They enjoy morning sun but afternoon shade, and they need frequent watering during the growing season. Prune them in the fall after the blooms fade so they can grow on strong stems the following summer.

Are hydrangea trees high maintenance?

Although their appearance may seem high maintenance, with the right conditions and care, hydrangeas are actually fairly easy to grow. So grab your garden gloves, because our growing hydrangeas guide will have you ready to plant in no time.

What happens if I don't deadhead hydrangeas?

If you do not deadhead your hydrangeas no harm will come to your plant. Whilst there will be no serious upfront effects, skipping the deadheading process could have detrimental effects in the following years, however, as your plant may not produce as many blooms or as big flowers.

Should I cut off brown hydrangea blooms in spring?

Remove spent flowers and prune to improve overall plant structure and habit in the late winter and early spring before leaf emergence. In summary, there are plenty of other things you can do to keep busy in the garden this fall. Save pruning your hydrangeas for the spring.