How long do hydrangeas last?
How Long Does a Hydrangea Bloom Last? The hydrangea flower clusters can last up to 2 months, depending on the cultivar, climate, and how well you take care of them. Once the shrub is established and has a couple of growing seasons under its belt, prune these hydrangeas in the spring down to the ground, or not at all if you want a larger shrub. Flower buds will grow on this season’s growth or new wood.Unlike bigleaf hydrangeas, the smooth hydrangea can tolerate hotter climates and thrive in hardiness zones 4 to 9. Their bloom time occurs between June and September and their flowers are typically white and smaller than the bigleaf varieties.One of our landscaper friends, Karen, from Old Sod Landscaping calls these fallen hydrangea flowers “Cape Cod tumble weeds. In general it’s better to wait until spring to prune hydrangeas and if you’re growing the blue or pink Hydrangea macrophylla (mopheads or lacecaps) you should never cut them back!Hydrangeas that bloom on new wood can be safely pruned in late fall once the plants have gone dormant or in early spring. Next year’s flower buds won’t be formed until late spring the same year they bloom, so there is no risk of removing the buds if you prune in fall or spring.
What is the 1 3 rule for hydrangeas?
There are certain instances when pruning Hydrangeas can be helpful: All dead stems should be removed from hydrangeas every year. After the plants are at least 5 years old, about 1/3 of the older (living) stems can be removed down to the ground each summer. This will revitalize the plant. Homemade compost is a great source of slow release nutrients for hydrangeas. Either top dress the soil beneath your plants with your compost and water well or brew up a batch of compost tea and give your plants a deep drink of it. You can repeat your application of compost tea in 2 to 3 weeks.
Can you propagate hydrangeas?
Can you propagate hydrangeas in water? Yes, hydrangea stems can root in water, says Roethling. For this, take 6- to 8-inch-long stem cutting and remove the bottom set of leaves. Add 1/4 cup of sugar to room temperature water. This helps to feed the hydrangeas’ stems. Add a few pumps of hand soap to the water. Soap helps to keep bacteria way.
Do you deadhead hydrangeas?
You should deadhead throughout the blooming season to keep your hydrangeas looking their beast and encourage new flower growth. However, stop deadheading hydrangea shrubs in mid to late fall, leaving any spent blooms in place. To properly deadhead, all you have to do is cut the faded bloom just below the flower head and above the next set of large leaves. It may seem counterintuitive, but deadheading doesn’t hurt the plant at all.