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September 21, 2018 - The Real Dirt by Eric W. Wahl

green hydrangea pink hydrangea purple hydrangea

 

Hydrangea, Hydrangea Everywhere, But When Do I Prune?

Hydrangeas are one of my favorite flowering shrubs, as well as my mom’s. One type or another was always in bloom around the house, providing fresh cut flowers for the dining room table. 

I think I might have given my mom a small potted hydrangea every year for Mother’s Day. She planted it with care in an empty space in the garden or repotted it in larger containers. I don’t know if every single one survived, but many did and they provided years of enjoyment.

There are numerous species and cultivars to choose from so it can be mind-boggling. Mom had a Vanilla Strawberry™ Hydrangea just off the rear deck, a few ‘Limelight’ hydrangeas in the back as well, and some in containers. She had a lacecap hydrangea near the side yard. But my mom’s favorites are the ones that turn blue and pink, depending on the soil pH—and she strived for all the blue she could muster. There was a huge bigleaf hydrangea below our front porch that bloomed consistently every year, and it was a magnificent electric blue (now memorialized in a watercolor by one of our dear friends.)

With all these varieties it can get confusing on care and maintenance. Here are some pointers in order to get the most out these gorgeous shrubs.

There are five major groups of hydrangea:
Bigleaf hydrangea include the mopheads (think traditional blue and pink), the lacecaps which have a different flowering pattern, and mountain hydrangeas that have smaller flowers but sturdier stems. You might recognize some of the names in this group such as ‘Endless Summer,’ ‘Twist-N-Shout,’ or ‘Tuff Stuff.’

Next are the panicle hydrangeas; they have more spike-like or cone-shaped flowers and can come in a wide range of colors. These seem to be a little more durable in our planting zone. ‘Strawberry Shake,’ ‘Limelight,’ and ‘Tinky Winky’ come to mind in this group.

Smooth hydrangeas are another group and are actually native to the southeastern United States. They can grow very large and, if left to their own devices, be used as privacy hedges. ‘Annabelle,’ ‘Incrediball,’ and ‘Invincibelle’ are a few common names you will see at the nursery.

The next group is my favorite, the oakleaf hydrangeas, named for the large leaves that resemble those of an oak. These shrubs are native to the southeastern and Mid-Atlantic region, and the leaves can turn a brilliant shade of reddish-purple in autumn. Flowers can be large and have a cone-like form. ‘Snow Queen,’ ‘Ruby Slippers,’ and ‘Alice’ are a few examples.

The last group of hydrangea is the climbing hydrangea. It’s a vine that can climb structures by using suckers that attach themselves and hold fast. They need major support as they get rather large and heavy with age. They display a white profusion of flowers all over the vines and can be quite stunning.

If you have the traditional pink/blue mophead hydrangea in your garden and would like to steer the color to more blue, you must amend your soil and make it more acidic. This can be done by adding sulfur to the soil. To make them more pinkish, make the soil more alkaline by adding ground lime. If your soil pH is in the mid range (6.0 to 7.0), you may get a purplish color or a mix of blue and pink.

Now, about pruning:
The mophead hydrangeas do not really need to be pruned, ever. You can remove dead stems and the spent blooms as you see fit. This type of hydrangea blooms on old wood, so if you prune back this shrub you will not get new blooms the following season. If you need to invigorate the shrub after a few years, then cut 1/3 of the older stems to the ground.

Lacecap or oakleaf hydrangea must be pruned in early summer, so the opportunity is past. This way they have a chance of setting buds for the following year.

The panicle hydrangeas and smooth hydrangeas bloom on new wood. These types can be pruned almost anytime with the exception of spring or early summer when they are just about to bloom. Some gardeners prune smooth hydrangeas down to the ground to keep them in a manageable size, however, this may cause the blooms to be very heavy on the stems and they will flop over. Panicle hydrangeas really only need to be pruned about once every three years. Taking out crossed branches (that rub each other) will also help keep the plant in better form.

A tip for cutting blooms to bring indoors: If cutting blooms after August 1, cut down only to the first set of large leaves without disturbing the buds for next year’s blooms.

The hydrangeas’ beauty comes every year, putting smiles on all that behold them. Every shade is special and each one is unique. I’m reminded of another quote from a nature lover, Lady Bird Johnson: “Where flowers bloom, so does hope.” ▼

Eric W. Wahl, RLA is a landscape architect at Element Design Group and president of the Delaware Native Plant Society.
 

‹ September 21, 2018 - CAMPshots Gallery 5 up September 21, 2018 - Out & Proud by Stefani Deoul ›

Past Issues

Issues Index

  • November 16, 2018 - Issue Index
  • October 19, 2018 - Issue Index
  • September 21, 2018 - Issue Index
    • September 21, 2018 - Cover-to-cover with ISSUU
    • September 21, 2018 - The Way I See It by Murray Archibald
    • September 21, 2018 - In Brief
    • September 21, 2018 - CAMPmatters by Murray Archibald
    • September 21, 2018 - CAMP Out by Fay Jacobs
    • September 21, 2018 - CAMP News: CROP - Author Reading - Community Meeting
    • September 21, 2018 - Block Party 2018!
    • September 21, 2018 - Intentionally Inclusive
    • September 21, 2018 - Community - Pet R Us By Michael Gilles
    • September 21, 2018 - CAMP Critters
    • September 21, 2018 - SUNDANCE 2018: It’s a Wrap! by Sondra N. Arkin
    • September 21, 2018 - CAMP Health - Quality Programs All Through the Year
    • September 21, 2018 - CAMP Cheers!
    • September 21, 2018 - It's My Life by Michael Thomas Ford
    • September 21, 2018 - CAMP Stories by Rich Barnett
    • September 21, 2018 - Volunteer Spotlight - Terry Kistler and Chris Berg
    • September 21, 2018 - Volunteer Thank You
    • September 21, 2018 - Community Health - PrEP by William Chasanov, DO, MBA, Beebe Infectious Diseases
    • September 21, 2018 - Community News
    • September 21, 2018 - Straight Talk by David Garrett
    • September 21, 2018 - View Point by Richard Rosendall
    • September 21, 2018 - Millennial Times by James Adams Smith
    • September 21, 2018 - CAMPshots Gallery 1
    • September 21, 2018 - CAMPshots Gallery 2
    • September 21, 2018 - CAMPshots Gallery 3
    • September 21, 2018 - CAMPshots Gallery 4
    • September 21, 2018 - CAMPshots Gallery 5
    • September 21, 2018 - The Real Dirt by Eric W. Wahl
    • September 21, 2018 - Out & Proud by Stefani Deoul
    • September 21, 2018 - Amazon Trail by Lee Lynch
    • September 21, 2018 - Out & About by Eric C. Peterson
    • September 21, 2018 - CAMP Arts by Doug Yetter
    • September 21, 2018 - Reb Lisa Levine Joins Seaside Jewish Community
    • September 21, 2018 - Eating Out by Michael Gilles
    • September 21, 2018 - CAMP Dates - September 21 - October 27
  • August 24, 2018 - Issue Index
  • August 10, 2018 - Issue Index
  • July 27, 2018 - Issue Index
  • July 13, 2018 - Issue Index
  • June 29, 2018 - Issue Index
  • June 15, 2018 - Issue Index
  • June 1, 2018 - Issue Index
  • May 18, 2018 - Issue Index
  • May 4, 2018 - Issue Index
  • April 6, 2018 - Issue Index
  • March 9, 2018 - Issue Index
  • January 26, 2018 - Issue Index

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