Hydrangea shrubs thrive in climates of USDA Zone 6 and above . This makes them idealistic landscape painting plants for nearly all region of California , except for very small areas on the northeasterly point of the state bordering Nevada . Hydrangeas are deciduous and benefit from one-year pruning to encourage novel growth , to remove damage and to assure the size of it and shape of the bush when needed . Annual pruning for hydrangea shrubs grow in California should generally be channel in the declination or other winter once all of the flower heads have died back or when they begin to look shabby in the landscape painting .

Step 1

Remove any dead flower heads down to the parent bow , being the green or wood stem from which the blossom root word emanates . Place all cuts on the bias with clean , sharp pruning shear . cut back back any dead , pathologic , discredited or otherwise compromised branches and foliage , discarding them .

Step 2

Prune away a third of the oldest arm each twelvemonth to spur production of new flowering branches . Distribute the pruning cut evenly throughout the bush to maintain the natural architecture of the hydrangea . position cut down to the main body or to the ground , depending on your species of hydrangea .

Step 3

Reduce the size or alter the shape of the shrub if desired and as needed , by cutting back the branch tips to the desired length . Prune macrophylla and oakleaf hydrangea species for size of it in the late summertime immediately after flush . Prune panicle , mounting and smooth leaf hydrangea species for size in the descent or wintertime .

Hydrangeas

Designate a planting internet site with organically ample , well - drain filth . Spade or rotary - till the amendment into the soil for even internalisation . If you ’re uncertain about when to water , water when the top 3 or 4 inch of stain is juiceless to the touch . disperse a balanced , 10 - 10 - 10 grainy plant food on top of the grime in March and May and after the hydrangeas flower . Frequent , severe pruning termination in weaker flora . foliage - place fungi cause royal - margined , gray or brown lesions . Removing and destroying infested plant parts controls powdery mould . Raking up come , diseased foliage and put down a 3- to 4 - inch layer of organic mulch prevents leaf - point spore from splash the shrubs .

Things Needed

Tip

Avoid pruning your hydrangea in the spring . While it will not harm the shrub , it will decrease the flowering wood and bud available for the current season ’s bloom cycle .

References

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