How do I prune 'Endless Summer' hydrangea?
Answer
The Endless Summer hydrangeas are ever-blooming because they bloom on both old and new wood, thus they have a succession of flowers. You can find more information in our guide Hydrangea How-to's.
Pruning: In general, they will not need regular pruning as long as they are in a spot that gets the light and water they need. You should not prune them in the fall or you risk losing flowers next summer. The safest practice is to clip back individual flowers right after they bloom and not to prune after August 1st.
If you need to do a reshaping pruning, typically that is done by cutting back just a third of the branches at a time over a period of three years, so that the plant stays strong and flowering. These plants do have a habit of suffering some dieback in harsh winters in our area. If that happens to you, a gentle clipping of branches back to a pair of healthy buds can be done but if you need to do heavy clipping you will lose flowers.
Many gardeners enjoy having the spent flower heads in the garden over the winter for a bit of structure and interest. It is part of the year-round beauty of the plants.
For tips on a variety of gardening topics, see our Plant Information Guides.
- Courtesy of NYBG Plant Information Service
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