Hydrangeas?

Rav21542437
by Rav21542437

When is a good time to cut down hydrangeas in Michigan? One more question: my lawn service accidently cut some of my hydrangeas down in June. Will they recover by next season....or has their growth cycle been disrupted beyond repair? Thank you!

  2 answers
  • Vimarhonor Vimarhonor on Oct 25, 2018

    Hello Rav,


    Pruning hydrangea can be confusing. It’s because it depends on the variety of hydrangea. Knowing your hydrangea type is an important factor. Looking at your leaves and blossom will help ID the variety, please look at the references below for best practice recommendations.


    https://www.almanac.com/plant/hydrangeas

    The timing of the pruning seem determines by the hydrangea variety according to this source.

    Prune during the summer, just after the flowers fade:

    Bigleaf or Florist Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)

    Prune in late winter or early spring:

    Hills-of-Snow or Sevenbark Hydrangea (H. arborescens ‘Grandiflora’),

    Oakleaf Hydrangea (H. quercifolia)

    Peegee Hydrangea (H. paniculata ‘Grandiflora’),

    Tea of Heaven (H. serrata)

    Prune as needed to control growth -

    Climbing Hydrangea (H. anomala petiolaris)

    https://www.thespruce.com/when-to-prune-hydrangeas-1403320

    And another reference

    http://www.finegardening.com/pruning-hydrangeas


    The pruned shrubs by the landscapers should recover, I have had the same thing happen too—tho blooming might be diminished if severly cut back -as shrub renormalizes its size.

    • Theresa Scott Theresa Scott on Oct 25, 2018

      Good to know just in case I add some to the smaller house I’m moving back to! If you’re in Michigan then you know how cold and crazy weather can get in Missouri. Those “Great Plains” won’t see me living any closer than St. Louis which is just across the Mississippi River from Illinois! 🤗

  • Jeanne Grunert Jeanne Grunert on Oct 26, 2018

    They should recover but may not bloom next year. The flowers may have been cut off since this plant makes next year's flowers right after it finishes blooming.