00:00A common question many gardeners ask in the fall is whether they should prune their hydrangeas
00:04now or wait until spring.
00:06The answer can vary depending on who you ask and what type of hydrangea you're growing.
00:11With our research and years of experience, we're here to take the guesswork out of fall
00:16pruning.
00:17Hello fellow gardeners, I'm Amy from Gardening Know How and today we're talking all about
00:22hydrangeas.
00:25Contrary to popular belief, hydrangeas don't require much pruning and cutting them back
00:30too much can actually reduce their blooming potential.
00:33Some types bloom on old wood, which means they had formed their flower buds the prior season.
00:38And some species grow on new wood only, which means they form their flower buds on the current
00:43season's growth.
00:45These types are quite suitable for colder climates, where there is no chance of the flower buds
00:50being harmed over the winter, as they simply do not exist yet.
00:54Some newer introductions combine both traits, which bloom on both old wood and new wood.
01:00So basically, if you have cut back a stem in the fall that contains the flower buds for
01:04the next season, you have just sacrificed next year's flowers.
01:09This is why it is so important to identify what type of hydrangea you have before you reach
01:14for those pruners.
01:15No matter what time of year, you can always keep your plant neat and tidy by removing any
01:20dead, damaged, or crossing stems.
01:23So let's get into the four main types of hydrangeas, and we will start with the easiest.
01:28Panical hydrangeas, sometimes referred to as PG hydrangeas, are hydrangea paniculata varieties
01:34that bloom on new wood only.
01:37This group can technically be pruned in fall or very early spring.
01:41However, we highly recommend waiting until the spring.
01:45As you can see here in mid-October, there are no buds present for the next season, as
01:49they won't be produced until the next spring.
01:53Plus, the dried flower heads create really nice winter interest.
01:57Tree hydrangeas, which are grafted panical hydrangeas, would follow the same rules.
02:02These plants could also be pruned in late fall, after the plant has gone dormant, if you prefer
02:08a tidier look to the landscape.
02:10Here are a few key characteristics to help you properly identify, prune, and care for
02:15panical hydrangeas.
02:17Now for the second group, hydrangea arborescens, commonly referred to as the smooth hydrangea
02:22or Annabelle types, as the variety Annabelle is one of the classics.
02:26Now just like the panical group, this particular species is very easy to care for, and yet again,
02:32we suggest pruning early in the spring and not the fall, as this group also blooms on
02:37new wood only.
02:38As you can see here, there are no buds present for next season, as they are not produced until
02:43the next spring.
02:50The oak leaf types, known as hydrangea quercifolia, has, as the name suggests, leaves that resemble
02:56oak tree leaves.
02:57Oak leaf types bloom on old wood, which means they need to be pruned right as the flowers
03:02fade and no later.
03:03You can prune this hydrangea at that time to control its overall size, however, it is never
03:09necessary to prune this type of hydrangea.
03:11As you can see here, the buds are intact and ready for next year as of mid-October.
03:24Finishing off is the mop head series or hydrangea macrophylla.
03:28They are also referred to as big leaf types or lace caps.
03:32Members of hydrangea serrata also fall under this category.
03:36This is by far the most difficult species of hydrangea to give advice for.
03:40All hydrangeas in this group bloom on old wood, but some of the newer introductions bloom
03:45on both old wood and new wood.
03:48These new introductions are very valuable, as many homeowners in colder climates would
03:53often lose all of their overwintered buds to a late spring frost or freeze.
03:58As you can see here, the plant has already produced buds for the next season as of mid-October.
04:03Since most varieties bloom on old wood, you should only prune just after the plumes are starting
04:09to fade.
04:09However, we recommend to avoid pruning this type of hydrangea except to remove any completely
04:15dead branches in the spring once the plant starts to leaf out.
04:18You will notice the difference between a viable branch and one that will no longer be used
04:22by the plant.
04:23The branches that can and should be removed will be very woody, possibly hollow stemmed,
04:28and lighter in color.
04:29So instead of frequent or drastic pruning, focus on light maintenance for this group, such
04:35as removing dead or damaged wood and shaping the plant as needed.
04:46Thank you for joining me.
04:48I hope this video helped clear up any confusion and gave you the confidence to care for your
04:52plants properly.
04:54Remember, knowing your hydrangea type is key to deciding when and how to prune.
04:59Until next time, happy gardening!
