I have a hydrangea that is getting too big for the area I planted it in. It needs to be pruned/cut back. It's still blooming, and I don't want to end up with no blooms next season.

What is the best time of season to do this? I had read after the blooms are done..

I need to keep it smaller next season...best way to do this?

Also, we have another hydrangea that has not bloomed in years now. I do not cut the sticks down at the end of the year, I leave it alone.. Any suggestions on that one? I'm ready to yank it out.

I think maybe it does not get enough sun where it is, could that be it?

 

As far as the first hydrangea is concerned, you are correct--the best time to prune hydrangeas is right after they are done blooming. This is because hydrangeas produce blooms on their old growth. This means that the next years flower buds are produced the growing season prior. In otherwords, your Hydrangea will start making next years flowers this fall.

As far as how much to cut it back, you can really cut it back as much as you want. Hydrangeas exhibit 'cane-like' growth, which means that they typically grow relatively quickly. Therefore you could theoretically cut it back to the ground. However, something this extreme would prohibit you from getting any blooms next year. But just know that if you did cut it back to the ground, you won't be killing it. In fact, periodically cutting plants with 'cane-like' growth back to the ground (a pruning technique called 'rejuvenation') periodically is actually good for the health of the plant. Other species with 'cane-like growth' are nandina, forsythia, winter honeysuckle, abelia, callicarpa, barberry, etc etc. If you ever rejuvenate your plants with this type of growth and you are uncomfortable going that extreme, you can still cut it back to under 12" to have the same effect. Rejuvenation pruning is great because is helps the plant return to its natural form. Just do not use this technique on pines, junipers, spruces, or any other cone-bearing plants cause this will kill them.

So, getting back to your question, prune your hydrangea back as much as you are willing to do knowing that the shorter you go, the fewer potential blooms you may have.

Pruning is as much a science as it is an art. The important thing with pruning is to have a good pair of pruners that are sharp and clean. It is very easy to transmit plant pathogens with pruners--so use a 10% clorox solution to dip them in if you are pruning multiple plants at a time. It is definitely worth buying a good brand of pruners such as Felco or Corona--they are expensive (~$40), but well worth the money. Make sure make clean cuts and just do it as much as you are willing to go. Just don't prune the plant into a 'gum-ball' shape as that is a no-no (see McDonald's if you need a definition of what not to do).

As far as the other hydrangea is concerned--first what kind of hydrangea is it? Is it a macrophylla type or oak-leaf type or paniculata? Macrophylla types are the most common and typically the more sun they have, the more blooms they will produce. Oak leaf types tend to do well in shade, but still the general rule of thumb applies in that more sun=more blooms. It could also be a soil fertility problem. And depending on what state you live in, for example NC has free soil testing (gov't subsidized) and that could be a good place to start to determine your problem. I would check with your county extension service and see if they do soil testing and how much it would cost.

 

rickjames for Home and Garden expert

 

Thanks for the info!