topic Re: Hydrangeas this year in Garden

Hydrangeas this year

Lilysmom — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 21:24:38 GMT

Hi gardeners. I am in zone 5. Everything is late this year. We only started getting good color with coneflowers, Shasta daisies, bee balm, etc a couple of weeks ago. Hydrangeas are late as well. My Endless Summer, Twist and Shout are just coming out now. My peegees, Annabelle, Lime Lights came out first and look good. I have three Nikko Blue hydrangeas that don't have a bud so I am not expecting any blooms this year. I would like to prune the Nikko Blue this year but I don't know when to do it. Can anyone give me some direction? I assume I should wait for the fall and not do it in August. The absence of blooms makes the timing a question mark for me. Has anyone on US East Coast had any blooms on Nikko Blue? TIA. LM

Re: Hydrangeas this year

terrier3 — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 21:31:53 GMT

If Nikko Blue is an older breed, it would bloom on old wood...which is creating next year's blooms right now.

If you have to prune, do it sooner rather than later...it may even be too late now. Why not call a garden center? They would know the conditions for your area.

Re: Hydrangeas this year

JustJazzmom — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 22:09:44 GMT

On 8/11/2014 terrier3 said:
If Nikko Blue is an older breed, it would bloom on old wood...which is creating next year's blooms right now.

If you have to prune, do it sooner rather than later...it may even be too late now. Why not call a garden center? They would know the conditions for your area.

I would do it now, most likely you had no blooms on it due to the extended cold winter we all had in the Northeastern area of US and Canada. The buds froze.

So you lose a few flowers for next year-- especially if you are pruning to shape it. Do it now before September.

Re: Hydrangeas this year

Lilysmom — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 22:42:43 GMT

Thanks Terrier and Jazz. Will do. Hoping for a milder winter this year! Someone told me they don't sell Nikko Blue anymore ... That the Endless Summer variety took them over. I find Endless Summer easier ... Not as fussy in heat. Still love them all though. Happy gardening. LM PS ... Terrier, did you have your garden tour?

Re: Hydrangeas this year

Danielle46 — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 22:47:57 GMT

I'm in Zone 6 and for the first time in 13 years my hydrangeas did not bloom. I'm so upset as I love putting them in vases throughout my home all summer long and missed their beautify this year.

Re: Hydrangeas this year

Wen Lover — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 23:08:45 GMT

I am not sure why time zone I am in, But I live on the East Coast, Long Island and my hydrangeas have not bloomed either..The bush keeps growing but no buds. I havent seen my landcaper to ask him. I think it definetly is from the harsh winter. I miss the colors in front on my kitchen window.

Re: Hydrangeas this year

JoBee — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 23:13:56 GMT

I'm glad I saw this thread! I live in the northeast and I have several hydrangeas that always bloomed beautifully, but this year nothing! I thought it was something I did but then again I didn't notice any others in the area that had bloomed either.

Re: Hydrangeas this year

Meezerpleezer — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 23:57:49 GMT

I am in zone 6, too. I don't have even a hint of buds on my Forever Together hydrangea. I also never had any azalea blooms in the Spring. I was really looking forward to see the large blooms and all the colors but apparently not this year.

Re: Hydrangeas this year

capecdcat1 — Tue, 12 Aug 2014 00:45:00 GMT

Here in South Eastern New England many folks have no blooms!We had a horrible cold spring w/frost in April.There were tiny buds,but they froze and fell off.Hydrangeas are my absolute favorite bloom and I have 15 large plants and two trees .I have only three blooms on one shrub style plant!My trees have bloomed fine,but are only two years old.So disappointing!

Re: Hydrangeas this year

carlycat — Tue, 12 Aug 2014 01:02:23 GMT

I'm glad you posted this! I am in zone 5 and got no flowers on my Endless Summer hydrangeas this year either! I thought it was just me. Also my mimosa tree did not leaf out till JUNE!!!

Re: Hydrangeas this year

jlkz — Tue, 12 Aug 2014 01:20:55 GMT

Philly area: my hydrangeas which had many mop heads last year, have only produced three to date. Guess the cold took its toll!

Re: Hydrangeas this year

sunshine45 — Tue, 12 Aug 2014 01:25:16 GMT

maryland area..... none of my hydrangeas have not bloomed yet and our crape myrtle were quite late also. it was a rough cold winter!

Re: Hydrangeas this year

JustJazzmom — Tue, 12 Aug 2014 02:07:55 GMT

The only hydrangeas that seemed to like the cold (they said-- bring it on!!) were the Oakleaf hydrangeas and the smooth hydrangeas-- 'Bella Anna' is what I have. No winter damage seen on them or buds frozen.

Re: Hydrangeas this year

Genny1 — Tue, 12 Aug 2014 02:14:32 GMT

I am in southern Ct.....I have one flower on the 8 bushes that I have and it is tiny ! I love Hydrangeas mine usually are in full bloom middle of June and some years I get a second bloom. I also love to put them around the house.....not this year though!

Re: Hydrangeas this year

Gsmom — Tue, 12 Aug 2014 02:16:23 GMT

Hi. I live in central NJ and have no blooms on my hydrangeas this year either I'm sorry that so many of us didn't get the beautiful flowers but I guess our severe winter is the blame. I think I remember reading that pruning method depends on the type of hydrangea .

Re: Hydrangeas this year

JustJazzmom — Tue, 12 Aug 2014 02:48:31 GMT

On 8/11/2014 Gsmom said: Hi. I live in central NJ and have no blooms on my hydrangeas this year either I'm sorry that so many of us didn't get the beautiful flowers but I guess our severe winter is the blame. I think I remember reading that pruning method depends on the type of hydrangea .

That is correct-- Hydrangea macrophylla or Hydrangea quercifolia prefer to be pruned right after they flower. Hydrangea arborescens and Hydrangea paniculata can be pruned before they bloom.

The remontant types like Endless Summer and Blushing Bride can be pruned at any time as they bloom on the previous year's wood or the current year's wood.

My rhododendron didn't bloom either due to the winter weather. I now see the buds are set for next year on my plant. Fingers crossed....

Re: Hydrangeas this year

Lilysmom — Tue, 12 Aug 2014 09:45:05 GMT

Wow, many of us have suffered the same fate this year. I am in Nova Scotia, Canada, zone 5. I lost count of how many hydrangeas I have. They are my favorite flowering shrub so I am missing their beautiful color. Some of mine are just budding now. Jazz, I have a 4-5 year old oakleaf that has never bloomed. I moved it once a couple of years ago and, after doing some more reading, I think I will move it once more to a wooded area. Lots of leaf but no flowers. I think it is getting too much sun. Thanks for all the replies. Apologies for no paragraphs ... QVC and ipad ... Not a good mix! LM

Re: Hydrangeas this year

Lilysmom — Tue, 12 Aug 2014 09:46:05 GMT

On the oakleaf ... Move it in the fall or spring?

Re: Hydrangeas this year

kibbi — Tue, 12 Aug 2014 11:10:29 GMT

I have not seen many Nikko blues turn out this summer. I'm sure the harsh winter is the problem.

Last summer they were fantastic due to the previous mild winter.

However, I noticed the Pee Gees are beautiful, bursting with huge blooms! The best I've seen.

My Oakleafs did not put out one bloom, I'm sure that is due to the bad winter. Those are always my showstopper in my garden. My Quickfire's are doing great though.

Strange how the bad winter effects only certain types of Hydrangeas.

I'm in northen Ohio.

Re: Hydrangeas this year

ID2 — Tue, 12 Aug 2014 11:21:42 GMT

I'm relieved to here that others hydrangeas didn't bloom this year too. I got a beautiful abundance of flowers last summer but this summer just leaves.