When to prune hydrangea, in autumn or spring, what determines the timing of pruning

When to prune hydrangea

Hydrangea famous for its unusually beautiful and lush flowering. In order for the bush to look good and delight you with flowers every year, it is necessary to prune regularly. Various types of this procedure are presented. When to prune hydrangea - in autumn or spring? Why is it so important to meet deadlines?

Content:

  1. Description of hydrangea, common varieties
  2. Why prune?
  3. When to prune hydrangea - in autumn or spring
  4. Features and differences of pruning the main varieties

Description of hydrangea, common varieties

Hydrangea belongs to the class of dicotyledons, the hydrangea family. Translated from Latin, the name means a vessel with water.

The leaves are large, oval, with visible veins. Bloom begins in spring and ends in late autumn. The inflorescences, depending on the variety, may resemble a ball, have the shape of an umbrella or a panicle. Flower colors are varied: white, pink, deep purple, red. In autumn, a fruit is formed - a capsule with small seeds.

The height depends on the variety and can be 1-3 m. The flower bush is wide and round. Liana varieties can grow up to 30 m in length.

In nature, there are about 80 varieties of plants that have the form of bushes, vine or dwarf trees. The most common types of hydrangea:

Tree-like

A selection variety bred by the Americans.Characterized by white or cream inflorescences in the shape of a ball. The flowering period is somewhat shorter than that of other species - from early summer to September. The length can reach 3 m.

large-leaved

Grows in Japan and China, reaching 4 m in height. The inflorescences are composed of shields and have different shapes and colors.

Chereshkova

Its homeland is the Far East. Also grows on Sakhalin. Represents liana, capable of rising to a height of 25-30 m, due to the presence of aerial roots. The flowers are light pink. This hydrangea is often used to decorate gazebos and house facades.

Paniculata

It can be a small tree with a lush crown, its height can reach 10 m, or a shrub. The flowers can be white-pink or white.

Why prune?

Hydrangea It is considered a garden plant, however, if desired, it can also be kept at home. In this case, special attention and care is required. To ensure that hydrangea does not lose its decorative appearance and blooms, it should be pruned annually. The flower will grow without such a procedure, however, it will lose its attractiveness.

Trimming performs the following tasks:

  • shape preservation and modeling
  • elimination of dried and damaged areas
  • removal of excess shoots to preserve and develop the main ones
  • abundant flowering
  • flower rejuvenation

For most varieties, the procedure is carried out in the spring. Trimming hydrangeas in autumn it mainly consists of removing dry inflorescences. This is done under the condition that the plant is covered for the winter.

High-quality and timely pruning helps the plant produce strong, healthy shoots and ensures regular lush flowering. If pruning is inappropriate, rot develops and the formation of inflorescences stops.

When to prune hydrangeas - autumn or spring

When should you prune hydrangeas? The season for the procedure is chosen taking into account the type of plant and type of flowering. Most varieties are subject to standard spring pruning. This applies to the following varieties of hydrangea:

  • tree-like
  • oakleaf
  • paniculata
  • radiant
  • rough
  • serrated
  • ashy

In these plants, buds and flowers form on the shoots of the current year. This means that removing the ends will not interfere with the formation of inflorescences.

Only large-leaved plants are characterized by flowering on last year's shoots. hydrangea. In this plant, buds form at the ends of the branches. If you prune at the beginning of spring, you may not see any inflorescences at all.

Features and differences of pruning the main varieties

How to prune home hydrangea? The procedure consists of several steps that are suitable for most varieties. Let's consider the features of the procedure for different types of hydrangea.

Prune tree hydrangea

Such hydrangea - a typical representative of her kind. This is a shrub that quickly forms shoots, which are shortened for the first time immediately upon planting. Removing branches in the spring will not cause any harm to such a plant. There are several stages of pruning:

Sanitary cleaning

At the first stage, frozen areas and tips of shoots formed last year are cut off.

Rejuvenation

Required for plants older than 3 years. The branches are pruned to the base. Particular attention is paid to those where few new shoots have formed.

Thinning

At the third stage, small shoots that create excessive density and weak branches are removed.

Pruning for flowering

Last year's growths are trimmed, leaving several pairs of good buds on each.They subsequently grow into strong ones, capable of flowering shoots.

If the winter was cold, careful sanitary pruning is sufficient.

Prune large-leaved hydrangea

For this type of hydrangea, it is important to preserve the shoots of previous seasons, since it is on them that the inflorescences are formed. It is necessary to cover the plant for the winter to avoid frostbite.

Cleaning usually involves removing the lower branches. The main shoots are removed in early spring only in case of frost damage.

Trimming For flowering, it is carried out carefully; you should not cut off a lot. The procedure is postponed until the end of summer. This will give the plant time to send out young shoots.

Rejuvenation of large-leaved hydrangea is carried out every 3 years. To do this, remove ½ old shoots up to 30-40 cm.

Hydrangea will decorate any garden or room. Abundant long lasting bloom and its bright colors have made it a favorite among gardeners. In order for the plant to enjoy its neat appearance for a long time, it is necessary to carry out pruning regularly. Its timing and intensity depend on the variety and condition of the flower.

How to prune large-leaved hydrangea, watch the video:

When to prune hydrangeaWhen to prune hydrangeaWhen to prune hydrangeaWhen to prune hydrangea

Comments

We prune hydrangeas in the fall, since there is a lot of other work in the garden in the spring. But this year we didn’t have time to prune. We will carry out this procedure in the spring, as you recommend in this article.