Hydrangeas

Question

We just bought and moved into a great home 3 months ago, with lots and lots of plants and grasses. not sure what to do with everything. These are my beautiful hydrangeas on Monday, then again on Wednesday:(. Unseasonably cold!! Should this variety be cut/pruned to the ground every fall?

Peg · Answer

Trim them down about a foot to next bud in the Spring. You don't need them that tall.

The Garden Frog with C Renee · Answer

I believe this could be Invincebelle Spirit Hydrangea and they will die down to the ground for you and 'disappear' until spring and you will need to do nothing~no pruning because they will most likely spread more than get taller. I cannot tell from the pic for sure of the name but I believe any hydrangea you have will die down to the ground and no pruning otherwise you will lose your blooms. Enjoy them and you will be able to divide and propagate easily if you have other part shade/sun areas you want to plant next year. Happy gardening.

Johnna · Answer

I trim mine in the spring. I wait to see how far up the new leaves are coming on and trim off where there is no new growth.

Diana F · Answer

They were blooming like crazy just this past Monday. I was so excited to cut them and have some great flowers for what looked like quit a while with all the buds. Then two nights later it got down to 29 and they were gone:(. Never got to cut any:( Seems they were budding and blooming more in the past months than all summer. Btw.. I am zone 5.

Luis · Answer

Each Hydrangeas is different some will only bloom on a new shoot so you can cut them down to the ground, other you can be trim back and some can be left alone if you knew the name it will make it a lot easier.

Douglas Hunt · Answer

You really have to know the hydrangea you have to know how to prune. If this is 'Invincible Spirit' it is an Annabelle type (Hydrangea arborescens) and blooms on new wood so it can be trimmed significantly in winter or early spring.

Therese Ryan-Haas · Answer

Since I am so close to you I am going to guess that these are most likely are the Monrovia's Pink N Pretty Hydrangea ( Hydrangea macrophylla ' Monink') that are so prolific in stores around here.

Karen · Answer

So how about 'Limelight' variety? I let them go last year and they did great this year. Southern Indiana here.

Candy J · Answer

Looks like the frost got them. Don't worry, they will come back. In your case, I would cut back and during the winter months add your coffee grinds to the soil so they turn blue. They love acid. Acid is what makes them blue.

Gayla Jones · Answer

Hydrangea's will be different colors depending of the soil more acid in the ground will change the color f y i

Stephen Andrew · Answer

I think this is an endless summer which is a reblooming variety of hydrangea macrophylla. I, too, prune in the spring when new growth starts. If you'd rather have blue blooms, you can modify the soil with acid like aluminum sulphate or citrus juice. I love my hydrangeas so much! They require so little and give so much!

Diana F · Answer

Stephen, thank you! Someone else suggested I cut them down now, only a ft. or so. They said they were too tall, which I agree. I would love them to be a bit shorter, and neater. But wouldn't they just grow taller next year again??!!?? When you prune in the spring, do you take them all the way down? I cut one all the way down and a bunch of dead canes were in there from previous year. Should I take each one out? Thanks so much!! Appreciate all your help, and I agree with you....they are beautiful!!!

Diana F · Answer

Once you turn them blue, do they ever return to pink again?? And all you need is coffee grounds? I thought they bloom on original canes?? They will bloom on new canes next summer? I really want to do whatever it takes to have flowers again next summer.

Judy · Answer

Awwww...what a pity. If you don't know the variety I'd suggest leaving them alone. If they die back to the ground you can clean up the mess or if the leaves & frost nipped blossoms die back, leaving healthy stems just let them weather the winter as nature intended.

Lillie Craig-Magruder · Answer

Leave them alone!! If you cut them they probably won't bloom next season. Most bloom on old wood. I have many varieties of Hydrangeas and never have I cut them to the ground!!!!!!!!!! Once they turn blue they can turn pink again. I never add anything to the soil. I like to be surprised on the different colors. The color on mine will change throughout the season!

Stephen Andrew · Answer

I've grown endless summers for about ten years since they came on the market. I have modified their soil with both citrus juices and aluminum sulphate and had success with both in changing the bloom from pink to blue. In my personal experience they produce the best blooms when they are cut in the spring. I have some that I keep very small and have tons of blooms, and some that I grow more as space fillers that are about 5.5 feet tall. Those I rarely prune.

Laurie L · Answer

How often and how much of the coffee grounds should be added to the soil. Mine are currently in a 1 gal pot and the other in a 2.5 gallon pot. As I am having to start over with new plants, as mine accidently got sprayed with iron last summer when the grass was being sprayed.

Laurie L · Answer

Also I a not a regular coffee drinker, and would just get some from family members who drink it. If I froze the coffee grounds, would it hurt the coffee grounds for later use?

Laurie L · Answer

@Douglas Hunt Thanks for getting back with me. I have been able to get the hydrangeas at Walmart and Lowes. Those that I first got were nearly dead and I brought them back full bloom, however my dad while putting iron down on my yard, thought it wouldn't hurt my hydrangeas, and within days they were gone. So I waited till now to get some new ones, I am keeping them on my screen porch, I want to make sure that we are done with the frost here. Appreciate you getting back with me on the coffee grounds.

Debbie/Dragonfly Treasure · Answer

https://thistlewoodfarms.com/how-to-make-your-hydrangeas-bloom/

https://www.gardenguides.com/84033-make-hydrangeas-bloom.html

http://www.millionplants.com/advice/wont-hydrangea-bloom/

https://www.thisoldhouse.com/ideas/5-tips-growing-gorgeous-hydrangeas

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