If hydrangeas dontbloom, pruning at the wrong time could be the culprit.
There are many species of hydrangeas, but six main ones are old wood or new wood blooming species.
It’s OK todeadhead spent hydrangea headsin the summer; it will not harm the plant.
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Deadheading and pruning (removing more than just the flower head) hydrangeas are two different techniques.
This will maximize the new development and the number of flowers your shrub produces.
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Use bypass pruners to clip away spent blooms.
Warning
Bigleaf hydrangea is the variety most susceptible to winter bud injury.
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Remove the burlap when the buds begin to swell.
Pruning Oakleaf Hydrangeas
Oakleaf hydrangeais an old wood bloomer easily recognized by its oak leaf-shaped foliage.
Be somewhat cautious when pruning an oakleaf hydrangea.
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Prune to control size or shape, not to stimulate new growth.
Because of their similar flowers, this plant is sometimes confused with bigleaf hydrangea.
However, this jot down doesn’t have the big leaves ofH.
Pruning should be done cautiouslyor not at allif it is not required to control the shrub’s shape.
Blooming on new wood, smooth hydrangea does well with fairly aggressive pruning in early spring.
Panicle hydrangea blooms on new wood; it acceptsand even prefersfairly heavy pruning.
The blooms will lean towards pink or red if the soil is neutral or basic.
If the soil is acidic, the blooms will lean toward blue or purple.
Some hydrangeas, namely smooth and panicle hydrangeas, can be pruned in early spring before new growth starts.
it’s possible for you to also prune down the length and size of climbing hydrangeas in early spring.
However, refrain from pruning when new growth starts.
The best time to remove or deadhead flowers on hydrangeas is when they begin to turn brown and dry.
Deadheading these spent blooms is particularly ideal for species that bloom twice during their season.
For new wood bloomers like smooth and panicle hydrangeas, prune during dormancy before new growth begins.
Guide to pruning hydrangeas.
University of Maryland Extension.
