Perhaps the most discussed plants here in the Hamptons, or wherever it is planted, is the hydrangea.
It is perhaps the flower that reminds everyone of the summer. It has such a wonderful beach cottage feel to it. Everyone takes pride in theirs and visitors always comment on them. Why is it that so many are so afraid of what could happen to them or what they should do to preserve them?
First, lets get the color issue out of the way. Now they come from the nurseries with the color they will be for a while. But, if they are fading, here's the rule: for blue, acidic soil, lower the soil pH to 5.0 to 5.5 by adding aluminum sufate, for pink or red, alkaline soil, raise the pH to 6.0 to 7.0 by adding lime.
Next, remember it is difficult to kill a hydrangea by over pruning. Even if you do cut it back too much, or at the wrong time of year, the worst that usually happens is that you have fewer or no blooms the following year. The year after that, as long as you leave it alone, it will be just fine.
Also, the newer varieties, such as Endless Summer, bloom and rebloom throughout the year and really throw off pruning or trimming rules.
Looking online or in books will also throw you. After all, what is "old wood?"
We've found the simplest explanation in Ralph Snodsmiths's TriState Gardener's Guide, there's a link to his book below:
"Prune back last year's stems by no more than half their height. two-year-old canes can be cut to the ground. During garden cleanup in the spring, check the tips of last year's shiny green canes. If they are winterdamaged, prune dried tissue, but do not cut stems down by more than half or you will have nothing but big leaves and no flowers. New growth sprouts from pairs of buds on last year's stems. It's tempting to break out the dried, bare canes after the leaves drop, but you'd be removing next year's blooms."
Simple, direct and to the point.
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