Tips to Keep Your Hydrangeas Blooming All Summer
Hydrangeas are beautiful plants that produce an abundance of beautiful flower blooms, These garden beauties are two species of plants Hydrangea quercifolia (the oakleaf hydrangea) and hydrangea arborescence (the smooth hydrangea). Hydrangeas are native to the North American continent, hydrangeas are woody shrubs that come in an array of colors from green, blue, and pink in all shades of lavender and white.
The ideal soil pH for Hydranges is 6.0 t0 6.2 but what I found to be interesting is that the flower colors can change depending on the soil pH, for example since Hydranges take up aluminum best at lower pH levels raising the soil pH will help to keep the bluing effect of aluminum out of the Hydranges system.
Below we will be taking a closer look at how to prune hydrangeas flowering plants so we can keep them producing healthy flower blooms throughout the summer.
How to Prune Hydrangea Flowering Plants
When deciding to prune your hydrangeas the first step is to identify the variety, this will determine how to prune, when to prune, and if pruning should be carried out. The first group is those that bloom on last year’s growth or mature or old wood that should be pruned in late summer and those that bloom on new wood that should be pruned in late winter to early spring.
Some examples of Hydrangeas that should be pruned in late summer.
- Climbing hydrangeas (H. petiolaris)
- Bigleaf hydrangeas (H. macrophylla)
- Oakleaf hydrangeas (H. quercifolia)
- Mountain hydrangeas (H. serrata)
Some examples of Hydrangeas that should be planned in late winter to early spring
- Panicle hydrangeas (H. paniculata)
- Smooth (H. arborescens)
How to Prune Late Summer Hydrangeas
Once the late summer arrives and the fall months approach the buds for next year’s flowers starts to emerge or form as the weather cools, during this time of the year only trim your hydrangeas to encourage growth and to maintain their size and shape. If there are any dead, diseased, or injured branches remove them, Once your hydrangeas stop flowering in the summer this is the ideal time to begin to trim. Pruning during the fall, winter, or spring months will remove new flower buds, once the leaves begin to appear during the spring months tip prune so that multiple smaller heads will emerge which will discourage fewer large flower heads.
How to Prune Late Winter to Early Spring Hydrangeas
With this group of hydrangeas, the new buds emerge on the current year’s growth, once early spring arrives begin pruning when new leaves begin to appear, cutting just above a node branches cut back by one-half to one-third of branches that appear to be weak should be removed at this time.
Pruning your hydrangeas will produce larger flower heads, if you decide to do more aggressive pruning the hydrangeas shoots will be more vigorous followed by larger but fewer flower heads.
If you decide to prune less or tip pruning will produce numerous but smaller flower heads.
Bonus Point for You
Before installing hydrangeas get to know the height or the size in which they will grow at maturity, give them that and you can keep pruning them at a minimum except for the removal of dead or diseased wood.
The Benefits of Pruning Hydrangea Flowers
- To control their growth (height)
- To control their width or how they spread
- To increase flower productions
- To control the direction in which the plants grow
- To remove injured parts
- To remove disease parts
- To maintain the plant’s aesthetics or natural form
- To maintain good air circulation
- To remove crossing or rubbing branches
- To control garden insect pests.
The final word on how to prune hydrangea flowering plant
Keep your hydrangeas beautifully groomed with an abundance of flower bloom is possible, just follow this guide and you will be well on your way to helping these garden beauties to work for you. I believe that hydrangeas are really amazing and can do wonders for your garden and landscapes. Join the many homeowners that are having much success by following these simple yet effective methods that have proven to work. Give it a try and see for yourself, you will be happy with the results as your hydrangeas become the talk of your neighborhood
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About the author
Norman loves being in the garden, both at home and for his job....
he is 'Natures Little helper' being outdoors, growing his vegetables and flowers from an early age.
Now having spent over 22 years in the profession he want to give some of his knowledge to others...
his vast array of hints and tips you will find scattered over this site will help you no end growing plants in your garden.