Garden

[jlkz]

Last year about this time, I remember reading posts about hydrangeas that weren't blooming.  Well this year I had 2 big flower heads and then nothing but the plants getting taller and taller. FRiday I noticed that the two tallest points had small flowers starting.  Is this usual ?  Will this happen next year too ?  The greenery is great looking....but I love the flowers too.

i got the plants from QVC several years ago and they always had blooms throughout the summer.  I always have cut them down to the ground each year.

[hoosieroriginal]

I never had luck with flowers from the Q.  My hibiscus are still blooming though - they are usually done blooming by now. 

[mdmc]

I was told not to cut them back, just to take the blooms off.  I have never had a problem but mine only bloom in the spring.  

[fthunt]

I had two H added to my garden this year and didn't know much about the plant. According to articles I read on Google - never cut H back - mulch it in well for winter  (period). 

[Lilysmom]

@jlkz, do you know what kind they are?  That helps.  It can be confusing as some bloom on new wood, some bloom on old wood and some bloom on both.  If you cutback the hydrangeas, it is best to do it right after they bloom.

I have more than 20 hydrangeas on my property.  They are my favorite shrub.  I find the newer varieties like Endless Summer bloom a lot more than the older ones like Nikko Blue.  I have two Nikko Blue and while the plants look very healthy, I don't get as many blooms.   

I treat them all the same fertilizing every spring.  It is rare that I cut mine back.  It is possible that you are pruning next year's blooms if you cut back every year.

I bought an Oakleaf hydrangea one year.  I had that shrub for more than five years and it never bloomed once.  I moved it a couple of times trying to find ideal conditions.  No booms.  Eventually I pulled it.

What zone are you in?  LM

[jlkz]

@Lilysmom

When I cut them down, the branches look like dead sticks with no prospective buds.  General area of DC - MD.

I think I ll be okay with just greenery given where they are located...alongside a gazebo; in a raised oval planting area.

Time to bring in my " lawn ornaments " as DH calls the miscellaneous decorative items interspersed in planting areas and alongside the garage.....

[Lilysmom]

@jlkz, this coming year wait to prune.  You will be amazed when little buds appear on those dead looking sticks.  With great restraint, I hold back the pruners on all my hydrangeas.  Try it.  I think you will be surprised when the little green buds appear on those sticks you think are dead.  

I have one hydrangea that I moved to make way for my stairs.  I took that one back almost to the ground as it was too leggy.  I will be very interested to see what happens next year.

I will be watching for your report next Spring😊.  Do you know what kind it is?  LM

[jlkz]

@Lilysmom

Are you saying to just leave the branches go once the leaves have fallen ?  I can do that.

[Lilysmom]

@jlkz, leave it alone this Fall and do not prune it in the Spring and see what happens.  I don't touch my hydrangeas until late June or July or when everything else is leafed out.  I have often seen what I thought were dead nubs on those dead looking sticks and they become leaves and buds.  Try it, you might be surprised.  Good luck and resist the temptation in the Spring! I'll be waiting for your report.   LM

[JustJazzmom]

Not lilysmom, but the branches contain the leaf and flower buds for next year.

I usually let my hydrangeas leaf out before removing any dead stems. Some stems are dead right as they emerge from the ground. Remove those too after the hydrangea leafs out.

Some hydrangeas bloom on the previous year's wood (old wood) and some bloom on the current season's wood (new wood).

This is why she is asking if you know the name of the hydrangea.