Should i prune hydrangeas in the fall

Bridgewater Greater Manchester. Environmentally friendly gardening. Plant health. Take part in our research. Meet the team. Shop plants rhsplants. Shopping with the RHS. RHS Christmas gifts. Help us achieve our goals Make a donation. Join the RHS today and support our charity Join now. Save to My scrapbook. Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle'. Quick facts. Jump to Suitable for When to prune hydrangeas How to prune hydrangeas Problems. Suitable for The pruning methods explained below are for individual types and species of hydrangea.

When to prune hydrangeas Most pruning is carried out in late winter or early spring. How to prune hydrangeas Dead-heading Dead blooms on mophead hydrangeas can, in mild areas, be removed just after flowering, but it is best to leave them on the plant over winter to provide some frost protection for the tender growth buds below. Remove the dead flowerheads in early spring, cutting back the stem to the first strong, healthy pair of buds down from the faded bloom Lacecaps are hardier, and the faded flowerheads can be cut back after flowering to the second pair of leaves below the head in order to prevent seed developing, which saps energy from the plant Pruning established mopheads and lacecaps Cut out one or two of the oldest stems at the base to encourage the production of new, replacement growth that will be more floriferous Poor or neglected plants can be entirely renovated by cutting off all the stems at the base.

Lacecaps differ from mopheads in having smaller florets in the center of the bloom these are fertile flowers. Pruning: these types bloom on old wood stems that have been on the bush since the summer before. They should be pruned in the summer when the flowers have started to fade but before August. Pruning after this time removes the buds that will produce flowers next spring. A bush can be trimmed by cutting back stems close to a node. Paniculata and aborescens hydrangeas such as H.

The blooms open green and turn white in 2 - 3 weeks. Their leaves are thinner and floppier than mopheads and lacecaps. Paniculata H. Bloom shapes vary but are often cone-shaped. Their leaves are smaller, thinner and rougher than other hydrangeas, and characteristically 3 leaves grow from a node in a whorl. Pruning : These types bloom on new wood and can be pruned at any time except in the spring or summer for peegee after the new growth has started.

Late winter is best. Paniculata hydrangeas can also be pruned into tree forms. If you're aiming to do this then the main trunk and the top branches should not be removed. This species is sometimes confused with mophead hydrangea, but it has smaller, narrow, pointed leaves. Pruning: Tree of heaven also blooms on new wood and should be pruned as for paniculata types.

These can be distinguished by their leaves that resemble those of red oaks. The blooms open white and turn pink as they age. Pruning: Oakleaf hydrangeas rarely need pruning.

If they need to be pruned for shape or size, follow the rules for mophead hydrangeas. Hydrangeas are strong and can come back from almost anything when given enough time and proper care. Read fall care tips below and then visit our total guide to growing hydrangeas here! It is important to identify your variety first because some hydrangea varieties do not like being pruned in the fall.

If your garden has hydrangeas, then you need to know that there are two types of hydrangeas. One type produces flower buds on old wood and the other produces flower buds on new wood. Stems are called old wood if they have been on the plant since the summer before. New wood are stems that develop in the current season. Most varieties found in gardens are old wood bloomers including Mophead, Big Leaf, Lacecap, and Oakleaf hydrangeas. Double check your variety with your local garden center.

Hydrangeas can grow for years without being pruned, but if they get unruly, over take an area of the garden or lose their growing capabilities — it is time to trim. But when to prune them? Prune fall blooming hydrangeas, or old wood bloomers, after they bloom in the summer. If you prune old wooded hydrangeas in fall, you are cutting off next seasons blooms.

Summer blooming hydrangeas, or those that bloom on new wood, are pruned in the fall, after they stop blooming.