Why aren’t my hydrangeas flowering?

Q. Why aren’t my hydrangeas flowering?

A. Different types of hydrangeas prefer to be pruned at different times of year. Knowing which type of hydrangea you have will inform you on the best time to prune them.

Keep in mind that pruning your plant at the “wrong” time will not kill it, it may just remove any chance for flowers that year.

Determine which type of hydrangea you have from the list below and prune it at the suggested time, and you should have flowers during the next growing season!

Bigleaf Hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla)

• Will only bloom on wood that is 2 or 3 years old
• Prune only when necessary, and very minimally
• Allow them to grow to their natural size
• Prune in June or July, whenever your shrub has finished flowering
• To prune, remove half of all the stems

Smooth Hydrangeas (Hydrangea arborescens)

• Prune when dormant, before new growth starts
• When pruning, cut down to 8 or 12 inches
• Find any deadwood in shrubs that are more than a few years old by bending the 8-to-12-inch stubs from side to side. Those that are dead will break off.

Panicle Hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculate)

• Panicles bloom later in the season (starting in July) and into the fall
• Prune in late fall to early spring
• Ensure you prune before new growth starts

Oakleaf Hydrangeas (Hydrangea quercifolia)

• Minimal pruning is best
• Prune in mid-September to mid-winter, right after new growth has finished and flowers are done
• Prune to keep its natural shape and to remove old wood

Climbing Hydrangeas (Hydrangea anomala petiolaris)

• Vines that bloom in late spring
• Prune after bloom (late spring/early summer)
• Prune to keep the vines from growing “out of bounds”
• Can be slow to grow and bloom when first planted, prune only dead or damaged branches until the plant is established

Once you determine which hydrangeas you have and prune them at the correct time, you should start to see blooms reappear the following growing season!

If you still have questions about your hydrangeas, please talk to one of our experts at Bay Landscaping’s nursery.