Every year, customers ask us why their hydrangeas have plenty of leaves but no flowers. Often, the answer comes back to pruning at the wrong time. A fall cleanup can accidentally remove the buds that would have become next summer’s blooms.
The good news is that preparing hydrangeas for winter is simple. Start by knowing which type you have, leave healthy stems in place and give the roots a little attention before the ground freezes.
Little Lime Panicle Hydrangea
Bloomstruck Bigleaf Hydrangea
Should You Cut Back Hydrangeas in Fall
We recommend leaving routine pruning off your fall to-do list. Many hydrangeas are already holding next year’s flower buds on their stems. Cutting those stems back now can remove the flowers before they have a chance to grow.
Pruning depends on whether your hydrangea blooms on old wood, meaning stems from previous seasons, or new wood, meaning growth produced during the coming growing season. Here is a quick guide to when pruning is appropriate if your plant needs it.
Reblooming bigleaf hydrangeas, including Endless Summer and Twist-n-Shout, flower on both old and new wood. They still benefit from keeping their healthy stems through winter because those stems carry the earliest flowers. Avoid cutting them back in fall.
Not sure which type you have? Leave it unpruned until you can identify it. Waiting until spring does not mean every hydrangea should be cut back. On bigleaf hydrangeas, wait for leaves to emerge before deciding which stems are truly dead.
Leave the Dried Flowers for Winter Interest
There is no need to remove hydrangea flowers simply because they have faded. We love their muted colors and papery texture in the fall and winter garden.
If you prefer a tidier look, snip off only the spent flower head, keeping the cut just above the first pair of healthy buds or leaves beneath it. Avoid cutting farther down the stem on hydrangeas that bloom on old wood. For indoor arrangements, keep fall cuts short to preserve those developing buds.
Climbing Hydrangea
Annabelle Smooth Hydrangea
Save Regular Fertilizing for Spring
For hydrangeas in Long Island gardens, we recommend skipping routine fall fertilizer, especially products high in nitrogen. Plants are slowing down for winter, and late feeding can encourage tender growth that may not harden off before cold weather arrives.
A light topdressing of finished compost is a gentler way to improve the soil over time. Spread it around the root area, keeping it away from the stems.
If fertilizer is needed, spring is a good time to apply it as growth begins. Follow the product label and avoid overfeeding. Too much nitrogen can encourage leafy growth at the expense of flowers.
Keep Watering During Dry Weather
Cooler temperatures do not mean your hydrangeas no longer need water. Check the soil during dry spells and water deeply at the base when needed, until the ground freezes. Give extra attention to newly planted hydrangeas while their roots become established.
Adjust watering to account for rainfall. The goal is evenly moist soil, without keeping the roots soggy.
Water as needed until the ground freezes.
Mulching protects roots and helps plants to retain moisture.
Check the Mulch Around the Roots
Maintain a layer of mulch about 2 to 3 inches deep around the root area to help conserve moisture and moderate soil temperatures. If mulch is already in place, check its depth before adding more. Keep it a few inches away from the stems.
Mulch protects the root area, but it does not protect every flower bud higher on the plant. Bigleaf hydrangeas in exposed locations may need additional winter protection. Ask us for advice based on your variety and where it is growing.
Need Help Identifying Your Hydrangea
Bring your plant tag or photos of the leaves, flowers and whole plant to Hicks Nurseries in Westbury. We can help you identify your hydrangea and understand when to prune, so you can care for it with confidence.