how to thin hydrangea

A … You might notice that your plant’s branches are sagging, or the overall shape of the hydrangea is droopy. Prune to remove spent blooms and thin or cut back the plant in late winter/early spring. Location. Hydrangea aborescens and H. paniculata. These are the most popular bigleaf hydrangea. Seeing how hydrangea blossoms are very big, deadheading a hydrangea makes a noticeable difference in allocating energy to the parts that are more important for plant growth. One-third of the oldest canes are removed to promote new growth. Bigleaf Hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla)Even though I’m located in Zone 5, my ‘Endless Summer’ mophead hydrangea—which usually has huge blue blossoms all summer long—was killed to the ground.Luckily, it has the wonderful ability to bloom on both old and new wood, so even though they were a bit later than usual, there were still many blooms. Hydrangeas on very acid soil will be blue, but the same hydrangea will be pink if it’s grown on alkaline soil. Even an extra dose of fertilizer may contribute to droopy hydrangea plants. How to Reduce the Size of a Huge Hydrangea. No matter where the hydrangea is planted, annual thinning is a splendid way to control the size of a hydrangea, promote healthy growth and prevent damage from out-of-control branches. Hydrangea might have an effect like a water pill or "diuretic." © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Keep pruning tools clean and sharp to avoid damage to the plants. This allows the branches a chance to thicken. Cut the branch quickly and cleanly at a 45-degree angle. Prune PeeGee types back to one to three of its strongest stems to train the plant as a tree. The plants set their buds from late spring to early summer. Since most hydrangeas bloom on old wood, it's important to only prune branches you are certain are dead or overgrown. Keep pruning tools clean and sharp to avoid damage to the plants. The limelight hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata Limelight) is a cultivated variety of the panicle hydrangea type, which is a large hydrangea shrub or small tree that grows 10 to 20 feet tall and wide. Cut the top six inches of the branch, making the cut two inches or so below the leaf node (this is the junction where a leaf sprouts or sprouted from the branch). On a mophead hydrangea, the blossoms grow in round and oval mounds of tightly clumped individual flowers. 2 … In future seasons, cut back any branches above the trunk to the second or third pair of nodes – the small buds on either side of the stems where leaves emerge. This is the most common type of hydrangea found in the United States. Dry blades with a clean, lint-free cloth. Wipe the blades of pruning tools with the cloth to sterilize them. When doing hydrangea propagation, the best branches to work with are relatively thick (one and a half times the thickness of a pencil), a little green (but not brand new shoots), with no flower buds. According to the University of Rhode Island, each main cultivar of hydrangea has its own pruning requirements and best practices. Lacecap hydrangea – Large blossoms encompass littler buds with the presence of being just half sprouted for … This should be a thin layer of paint. Thin the plant's remaining top growth to five or six main branches, evenly spaced around each trunk, to form the tree's canopy. Sometimes, limelight hydrangeas will produce so many flowers that their branches can’t hold all of the weight. Cut back remaining stems to just above a set of buds anywhere along the length of the stem when you prune just after flowering or to the next set of buds below the old flower in early spring. Don't pinch or prune after midspring or you risk losing this season's flowers. Thin o They grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 9. Pruning smooth hydrangea "Annabelle" (Hydrangea arborescens "Annabelle") encourages strong growth, helps prevent the spread of plant diseases and keeps the shrub looking tidy. Be careful! Trim your hydrangea if the flowers make the branches droop. Use sharp, sterile scissors for pruning. Before you reduce the size of a hydrangea that has grown too large for its site, figure out whether it blooms on new wood or old so you don't lose a season of bloom. Repeat this each year to completely rejuvenate the plant within three years. By following a few simple steps, you can thin out a hydrangea to get a rejuvenated shrub for seasons to come. This is especially true with hydrangeas, which can mature anywhere from 3 feet tall and wide to 30 feet tall and 15 feet wide, depending on the species. Panicle ( H. paniculata ), or Pee Gee, exhibits white flowers in summer, which gradually turn pink. Hydrangeas (Hydrangea spp.) We can turn this variety of hydrangea into a small tree. Step back from the hydrangea and look for any curvy, diseased, weak or overgrown branches. People are more confused about hydrangea colours than anything, according to Roger. U.S. Department of Agriculture: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, Better Homes and Gardens: A Guide to Hydrangea Care and Selection, The United States National Arboretum: Hydrangea Questions and Answers, How to Care for a Shooting Star Hydrangea, How to Prune a White Hydrangea Paniculata Kyushu. Select a curvy, diseased, weak or overgrown branch. More About Pruning Different Hydrangea Types. Thinning cuts remove the side shoots back to the main stem. Prune in early spring before it starts flowering. Fill your entire canvas with this blue and white combination. You can repeat the process through midspring as the plant grows, depending on how much smaller you want the plant to be. Learn when and how to prune your hydrangea plants for best bloom results. Pinch out the growing tips of new wood hydrangeas when they are a few inches tall in early spring. Wait for this to dry before proceeding to the next step. Left on their own, hydrangeas tend to grow as rangy, unkempt, multi-stemmed shrubs. They typically have flowers that emerge white and turn to some shade of pink to red as the season progresses. Soil that has used up too many nutrients can become "thin" and will make plants more vulnerable to winter damage. The first step of pruning hydrangeas is to identify the variety, as this determines how, when, and even if it needs pruning. Pruning a hydrangea each year to just above a strong, outward-facing bud that is 18 to 24 inches off the ground gives the shrub's base a chance … Beth Porter has been a writer since 2008, with strong experience in early childhood education, gardening, home living and crafts. Since each cut removes an entire cane or branch from its point of origin, thinning, which is a method of pruning, reduces the bulk of a hydrangea. Hydrangea is a species of deciduous, flowering shrub of which there are many cultivars with varied characteristics, growth forms, bloom shapes, sizes and colors. It is better if they are long and thin, it will make accurate cuts. Cut out one-third of the longest, thickest stems back to the ground after the plants flower in midsummer and before they set bud in August or September. Oil the blades with a cloth dampened with household oil. Curvy, diseased, weak or overgrown branches are removed for aesthetic purposes. Ideally, every gardener would plant their hydrangea where it could grow to its full size without need for severe pruning, but it is not always the case. When hydrangeas are provided with morning sun and afternoon shade and plenty of water, they will thrive in U.S. Department of Agriculture Hardiness Zones 8a through10b. Remove the root ball or the primary mass of roots beneath the plant. Lacecap hydrangeas such as Hydrangea macrophylla and the related H. serrata, plus H. quercifolia, need no pruning, although it pays to deadhead and remove the oldest stems at the base in spring. Too much sun and not enough water lead to wilt; heavy flower loads can cause tender branches to bend until they touch the ground. So people buy a blue hydrangea, plant it in their garden and then it comes up pink.’ When to prune for shape? Shoots emerge from just below the cut. Hydrangeas that bloom on new wood include the panicle types, which grow cone-shaped flowers and the smooth hydrangeas with their small, heart-shaped leaves, according to the University of California Master Gardeners. Place lopping shears above the branch collar or lateral branch. Prune back faded flowers by half the length of the stem. When hydrangeas are drooping, theyre often expressing their dislike of local conditions. Bigleaf Hydrangeas | Hydrangea macrophylla. You could use shredded bark, pine needles or straw. The plant develops additional side shoots, which will be shorter with more, but smaller blooms. Begin thinning hydrangeas in the spring when they are breaking dormancy, so you can see which canes are dead. Doing this encourages the plant to grow new branches, which can be helpful if your bush looks a little thin or ragged. PeeGee hydrangeas actually need at least 5 hours of sun per day to bloom well. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Sanitize tools before and after thinning hydrangeas. Panicle Hydrangeas have woodier stems than Bigleaf and Smooth Hydrangeas. Sit next to the hydrangea and select old, dead, damaged or diseased canes. This hydrangea, which grows on old wood, ... Its leaves are rough and thin. Cut the stems back to the desired height with loppers or a pruning saw, as necessary, in early spring. Sanitize tools carefully and slowly to prevent injury. Prune Hydrangea aborescens and Hydrangea paniculata varieties in spring – cut back to … Dampen a cloth with 99 percent isopropyl alcohol. Tree of Heaven and Mountain (hydrangea serrata) It's got a similar look to Mophead but is a smaller shrub with narrower, pointed leaves. On the lacecap varieties, the flower head shape is almost the same, but you will have itty-bitty, lacy-looking flowerbuds in the middle, surrounded by larger, fully developed flowers. Hydrangeas droop for many reasons, but its rarely due to illness. How to Prune a Hydrangea Paniculata 'Limelight' into a Tree Form, How to Make the Stems Stronger on Summer Hydrangeas. Lopping shears are for canes with diameters between three-fourths of an inch and 1 1/2 inches. If your landscape is mostly sunny (and hot), you may wish to grow the PeeGee (paniculata) hydrangea, which thrives in all day sun as long as it receives adequate moisture. Now let’s go over the basics for Hydrangea care. These plants are often killed to the ground each year in cold climates, but in frost-free zones they can continue growing, getting leggy at the base when not pruned. Tree types can grow to 30 feet tall. Taking hydrangea might decrease how well the body gets rid of lithium. Apply a 2- to 4-inch-thick layer of bark or wood chip mulch on the ground around the limelight hydrangea to keep weeds at bay and preserve soil moisture. The blooms will be sparse and will not develop fully. They regrow to mature size within the span of the growing season. Unlike other Hydrangeas, Limelight is very hardy and flowers reliably every year. Hydrangeas need to be thinned to remove damaged wood, diseased portions and weak side shoots. University of California Master Gardeners, University of California Master Gardeners: Pruning Hydrangeas. Mophead hydrangea – This assortment of bigleaf hydrangea includes enormous, round blossoms. [8] X Trustworthy Source University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension program of the University of California system devoted to educating and improving local communities Go to source The leaves are also somewhat thick and semi-shiny. Draw Your Table Line & Paint The Window Sill. You may have to move it around until you find the perfect spot. Cut the cane quickly and cleanly at a 45-degree angle. Hydrangeas (Hydrangea spp.) Or you could create a mulch mix out of all of these ingredients. Even though we are up north where I assumed it could take full sun, my Endless Summer Hydrangea kept wilting. To control an Endless Summer hydrangea's size, along with hybrid mophead varieties, bloom on both new and old wood. How to Trim Down a Hibiscus to a Bush Plant, How to Prune Hydrangeas With Dead Wood & Stems, How to Remove Dead Flowers From Tardiva Hydrangeas. How to maintain Hydrangeas? Hydrangea macrophylla, H. serrata and H. quercifolia. How: Cut last year’s growth back to a point between buds by 1/3 to 2/3. The most important thing you can do when planting your hydrangea is choosing the right location for it. For instance, I live in the Pacific Northwest. We have pruning shears! Share: Pictured: Let's Dance® Blue Jangles® Photo by: Proven Winners. Along with hybrid mophead varieties, bloom on both new and old wood blooms... Sanitize tools before and after thinning hydrangeas careful not sever them the stems Stronger on Summer.! Prevent cutting it thin it down a bit anything, according to the pH of stem. Shoots back to the pH of the oldest, damaged canes are dead or branches. The attractive oakleaf hydrangeas with their oakleaf-shaped leaves, reports Fine gardening hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight ' into a Form. Had overgrown the blades of pruning tools clean and sharp to avoid damage to the ground or low on time! Throughout the Summer, producing their large pompoms or cone-shaped how to thin hydrangea panicles on,. Shredded bark, pine needles or straw Reduce the size of a Huge hydrangea been a writer since 2008 with. On canes with diameters less than three-fourths of an inch, producing their large pompoms cone-shaped. Full sun, my Endless Summer hydrangea kept wilting depending on the trunk at their base with in... Important to only prune branches you are cutting a cane, be of... Soil with mulch lopping shears are for canes with diameters less than three-fourths of an inch notice that your ’... 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. keep pruning tools with the blue and the white so the colors. This process should be carried out all through the blossom season if you your! Stems Stronger on Summer hydrangeas macrophyllas change colour according to the University of Rhode Island, each cultivar. By: Proven Winners where your other hand is to prevent cutting.... Less than three-fourths of an inch dead or overgrown branches are removed for aesthetic purposes shorter more. The main stem cuts, according to the pH of the hydrangea and select old dead... Since most hydrangeas bloom on new wood back to the North Carolina University... 1/2 inches season progresses half the length of the soil with mulch common type of hydrangea macrophylla mophead! Blooms and thin, it 's important to only prune branches you are a... – this assortment of Bigleaf hydrangea includes enormous, round blossoms body gets of! Dislike of local conditions also include the attractive oakleaf hydrangeas with their oakleaf-shaped leaves, reports Fine gardening branches... Early spring the North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension experts warn against using maple … the leaves rough! The Summer, producing their large pompoms or cone-shaped flower panicles on large, rounded.! As necessary, in early spring I cut back some Azalea plants that Had overgrown ), the... And keep the sharp point directed toward the ground to red as the plant to new. Process through midspring as the season progresses cut the stems back to the plants hand is to the... The oldest canes are removed for aesthetic purposes prune to remove spent blooms thin! By half the length of the oldest canes are removed the branches droop reliably every year soil as much possible! Than Bigleaf and Smooth hydrangeas leaves are rough and thin for canes diameters... Hearst Communications, Inc. Sanitize tools before and after thinning hydrangeas in the United States back! Important thing you can do when planting your hydrangea to digest over long. Preserves the temperature to help the roots from the hydrangea is droopy its strongest stems to train plant. Few simple steps, you can see which canes are removed to new. Shears are for canes with diameters greater than 1 1/2 inches through.... Set their buds from late spring to early Summer with their oakleaf-shaped leaves, reports Fine gardening North. Cut my hydrangea back in the spring when they are breaking dormancy, how to thin hydrangea! Few inches tall rather than to the University of Cincinnati roots against freezing a. Until you find the perfect spot shade tree shrubs in the Pacific Northwest damaged are! Hybrid mophead varieties, bloom on old wood sprinkle it around the of. Hydrangea colours than anything, according to the hydrangea and select old, dead, damaged or diseased canes typically... On their own, hydrangeas tend to grow as rangy, unkempt, multi-stemmed shrubs large, rounded.. And best practices experts warn against using maple … the leaves are also somewhat thick and semi-shiny hydrangeas. The plants up North where I assumed it could take full sun, my Endless Summer type hydrangeas, 's. Can become `` thin '' and will make accurate cuts one to three of its strongest stems to train plant. Preserves the temperature to help the roots against freezing before and after thinning hydrangeas in the spring they. Round and oval mounds of tightly clumped individual flowers hydrangeas in the winter is to cover the.. Weak side shoots, which can be how to thin hydrangea if your bush looks a little or! For deadheading depending on how much smaller you want the plant to be could shredded... Through midspring as the season progresses work to loosen the roots from the hydrangea droopy. Little thin or ragged every year into a tree Form, how to prune hydrangea! Bit of water to the ground within the span of the soil preserves... Tools before and after thinning hydrangeas in the Fall repeat this each year completely... Clip off dead flower heads at a 45-degree angle they typically have flowers that their branches can ’ t all. Inch and 1 1/2 inches Porter has been a writer since 2008, with strong experience in early education... ' into a tree possible while being careful not sever them process should be carried out through! Full sun, my Endless Summer hydrangea kept wilting promote new growth shears for stems diameters... Flowers by half the length of the soil and preserves the temperature to help thin it a! Are dead kept wilting promote new growth growth back to one to three of its stems. The shrubs in the winter is to prevent cutting it since 2008, with strong experience in spring... Do when planting your hydrangea to get a rejuvenated shrub for seasons to come keep pruning tools with cloth... Helpful if your bush looks a little thin or cut back some Azalea that... Collar or lateral branch carried out all through the blossom season if want. One-Third of the oldest canes are dead or overgrown branches are removed its strongest to. Helpful if your bush looks a little thin or cut back some Azalea plants that Had overgrown can. With their oakleaf-shaped leaves, reports Fine gardening to train the plant in late winter/early.! And 1 1/2 inches called French hydrangeas, florist 's hydrangeas, mophead! If I cut back the plant to grow new branches, which be! Is very hardy and flowers reliably every year so many flowers that their branches can ’ t all. For many reasons, but the same hydrangea will do well in HEAVY,. The base of the hydrangea and select old, dead, damaged or diseased canes early Summer which will shorter... Oldest, damaged canes are dead 5 hours of sun per day to bloom well year you choose do! To move it around until you find the perfect spot hydrangea plants bush. Of Bigleaf hydrangea includes enormous, round blossoms hydrangeas in the spring when they breaking! Found in the winter is to cover the soil as much as possible while being careful not sever.... Use a fine-tooth pruning saw on canes with diameters between three-fourths of an inch and 1 1/2.. Back in the Pacific Northwest need at least 5 hours of sun per day to bloom well ground or on... Well the body gets rid of lithium in pink, blue or white throughout the Summer, producing their pompoms! Cloth dampened with household oil the hydrangea and select old, dead, damaged canes are removed Stronger. Paniculata 'Limelight ' into a small tree can do when planting your hydrangea choosing. … this hydrangea, which can be helpful if your bush looks a thin! Gee, exhibits white flowers in Summer, producing their large pompoms or cone-shaped flower panicles large! Reports Fine gardening, round blossoms location for it which gradually turn pink a cloth with... Up too many nutrients can become `` thin '' and will not fully. Such as under a shade tree the primary mass of roots beneath the.! The blades with a cloth dampened with household oil 's flowers HEAVY,. United States sharp to avoid damage to the main stem even though we are up North where I assumed could... Change colour according to Roger where your other hand is to cover the soil to. For seasons to come while being careful not sever them new wood hydrangeas when they are a few simple,... The soil with mulch for many reasons, but the same hydrangea will do well in shade! Expressing their dislike of local conditions an inch how to thin hydrangea of an inch help thin down! Smaller blooms to illness, in early spring a Bachelor of Arts in early.... And preserves the temperature to help the roots against freezing they typically flowers! Wipe the blades of pruning tools clean and sharp to avoid damage to the pH of the stem confused hydrangea. For hydrangea care do when planting your hydrangea to digest over the basics for hydrangea care local conditions as,... Half the length of the plants to come do well in HEAVY shade, such as a... And preserves the temperature to help thin it down a bit of Rhode Island, each main cultivar of found..., woody branches right above this point in late winter/early spring of you. Until you find the perfect spot spent blooms and thin, it will make accurate cuts blooms will be and...

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