5 Types Of Hydrangeas You Should Avoid Pruning In The Fall
Hydrangeas are a favorite among gardeners for a reason. Not only are they stunning with a touch of whimsy, they’re also quite hardy plants.
But that doesn’t mean you should prune them whenever. In fact, you can actually hinder future growth if you opt to prune various types of hydrangeas in the fall.
That’s because certain varieties bloom on existing branches during the fall and winter. In other words, you will essentially cut off the blooms for the next growing season if you prune the plant too heavily in the autumn months.
So, here are five hydrangea types that should never be cut back in the fall.
Bigleaf Hydrangeas
The best time to prune bigleaf hydrangeas is in late winter or early spring, prior to any new growth.
If you’re wondering what to do with those flowers that turned brown toward the end of the summer, simply leave them be.
These blooms will serve as a protection against the chill and frost of winter as younger buds start to show up on the plant.
Then, once the time to prune has arrived, just trim any dead, spent flowers until you hit the final healthy leaves.
Olga Iljinich – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only
Mountain Hydrangeas
Similar to bigleaf hydrangeas, you should leave the blooms of your mountain hydrangea alone until springtime. This will help shield the young shoots and buds.
And just before the growing season starts, you can remove dead or old wood from the shrub. The ideal time to do this is either at the end of winter or at the start of spring.
Oakleaf Hydrangeas
Pruning oakleaf hydrangeas during the summer, typically June to July, right after the flowers have bloomed, is ideal.
If you prune this plant in the fall, you may accidentally remove new buds and severely harm next year’s growth.
Plus, oakleaf hydrangeas don’t usually require that much pruning. Cutting them back heavily isn’t necessary unless the plan is very overgrown.
Panicle Hydrangeas
Panicle hydrangeas are beloved for their hardiness in the cold, growing upright with branches that often bend under the weight of their large, cone-shaped flowers.
For this plant, pruning should only be done in the late winter or early spring. You can get rid of old blooms and shape the plant to improve its structure and manage its size.
Climbing Hydrangeas
Last but not least are climbing hydrangeas, which naturally grow as a woody vine that trails up things like brick walls, arbors, and chimneys.
To save the future growth of this beautiful plant, only prune it in the summer once it has finished blooming.
Keep in mind that it does not require heavy pruning, either. All you have to do is remove dead flowers and branches to keep your plant in good shape.
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