Hi All! This is my 2nd year at Hydrangeas. I have some Forever and Evers that are supposed to bloom on new and old wood. The new growth is up and doing fine but the old wood is just there. For those of you experienced with Hydrangeas - is there still time in my zone 7a garden for new growth to appear on the old wood - or did it get hit with winter frost kill? I can't believe it did - it was a pretty mild winter. Should I cut it away? Can anyone help? Thanks!
As long as they get enough water, hydrangeas are pretty hardy plants and tolerate a fair amount of neglect and untimely pruning. As such, it's a wonderful plant for the novice gardener. Be forewarned though: If you prune incorrectly at the wrong time or take the wrong cuts, you may easily end up with few flowers next year.
Hydrangeas, especially the macrophyllas, don't require pruning unless they get really big. Remove dead wood and spent blooms any time to maintain a tidy plant. Different varieties bloom on old wood (last year's growth) or new wood from the current season. It's important to check the plant tag or identify your variety before you start whacking away. If, for example, yours blooms on the tips of spring growth, do your pruning in the summer after blooming has occurred.
Prune or cut back spent blooms to force development of next year's buds. Thin canes on your plant to develop larger flower heads.
Hydrangeas are easy to root from stem or tip cuttings in late spring or early summer (May – June). Just take a 6-inch cutting of the plant, remove the leaves on the lower 3 inches and put it in a glass of water on a bright window sill. You can also dip the cut end into a rooting hormone. Place your cutting in damp vermiculite in a bright spot (like an Eastern exposure) to allow root formation. Once the cutting is rooted, you can keep it in a pot until ready to transplant outside.
When you plant your hydrangea starts depends on where you live. In areas where winters are temperate and the ground never really freezes you can plant your hydrangeas anytime, though fall and winter are best for fostering a strong root system to support the next seasons flowering. If your climate is colder, you'll need to plant in the spring ... for obvious reasons. Keep your young plant in out of the wind. Mulch it well to protect it through the winter.
Posts: 26 | Location: Pittsburgh | Registered: Mar 26, 2008
Pruning: Little pruning is required other than removing spent flowers or to trim to desired size in early spring. Unlike other Hydrangeas, Forever and Ever can be pruned at any time during the season without compromising the blooms for the season. There are certain instances when pruning can be helpful. 1) Remove all dead stems from the plant each year. 2) After plant is at least 5 years old, 1/3 of the oldest stems can be pruned down to the ground each year. This type of pruning will help revitalize the plant. Once all the old stems are removed, then shape the rest of the plant as desired.
Thanks for the links, I think I've read them all. Being new with hydrangea (but still an experienced gardener), I know that I will learn more from my own experiences. I have read about all I can on hydrangeas and these are supposed to sprout on old wood as well as new but we're well into spring and these have not. I've just given them a feeding of composted manure and triple phosphate as recommended to me. One branch on my blushing bride (endless summer) has put on some growth - but the rest of them - like I said are just sticking up there. I just can't believe that none of the others will put out new growth on the old branches. Maybe it's just the first year, "sleep, creep and leap thing". I will wait a few more weeks to see and let you know. If they do sprout, I'll be so excited, I'll probably take some pics to show you. Thanks again for your input! Jm
Posts: 639 | Location: New Jersey | Registered: Dec 30, 2005
