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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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PSA: Hydrangea owners
If you're going to prune your hydrangea, do it now.
Hydrangeas don't HAVE to be pruned. You don't HAVE to 'deadhead' (cut off the flower heads when they fade) either.
But if your hydrangea no longer has a nice shape, it's gotten way too big, or you see a lot of old tan wood poking out here and there, you could prune now.
I've been reading that hydrangeas "set their buds" for next year in August and September, that's why they say to prune no later than August.
I've pruned two of my three hydrangeas the last two weekends and was able to take of a LOT of dead wood from the middle. I just rocked it back and forth and if it came out easily, I removed it. If I could see inside the wood and it was completely hollow, I removed it.
They look great now, and should look even better next year! 
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Posted 8/9/08 3:52 PM  |
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KLSbear
LIF Adult
Member since 1/06 1908 total posts
Name:
Karen
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Re: PSA: Hydrangea owners
I usually prune my old wood from the hydrangea in the spring after the leaves have just started peaking out. Once it's obvious what is live and what is old dead wood. Greenfreak is right - don't cut them all back at any time of year or you'll have nothing to bloom next year.
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| Posted 8/9/08 4:24 PM |
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DeniseMarie
<3
Member since 8/07 10682 total posts
Name:
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Re: PSA: Hydrangea owners
thanks for the info. I am new at gardening. I have 2 small hydrangeas. If I dead head them (some of the flowers have tured brown so I am assuming they are dead) will new flowers come back?
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| Posted 8/10/08 9:20 AM |
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rkoenke
my little piggys
Member since 3/08 4315 total posts
Name:
rachel
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Re: PSA: Hydrangea owners
5 minutes after i read this, HGTV (Landscaper's challenge) says the exact same thing!
how funny?
going outside to do this now!
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| Posted 8/10/08 9:29 AM |
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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Re: PSA: Hydrangea owners
Posted by DeniseMarie
thanks for the info. I am new at gardening. I have 2 small hydrangeas. If I dead head them (some of the flowers have tured brown so I am assuming they are dead) will new flowers come back?
I don't know if they will produce flowers now - it's pretty late for them. But it won't hurt. Whatever energy the plants are putting into the flowerheads will be diverted elsewhere when they're pruned. Which could mean more flowers or a healthier plant. 
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| Posted 8/10/08 6:46 PM |
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JldDolphin
Member since 1/07 6929 total posts
Name:
Jen
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Re: PSA: Hydrangea owners
Thanks for the info.
What about the "Endless Summer" ones though? Do you take care of them the same? Thanks!
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| Posted 8/10/08 10:19 PM |
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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Re: PSA: Hydrangea owners
The only difference in pruning I've read/heard is for white non oak-leaf hydrangeas.
Hydrangeas.com pruning information
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| Posted 8/11/08 7:36 AM |
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JldDolphin
Member since 1/07 6929 total posts
Name:
Jen
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Re: PSA: Hydrangea owners
Thanks Tricia! 
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| Posted 8/11/08 11:08 AM |
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