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Should I cut some buds from newly planted hydrangeas?

8 years ago

One is stressed and the other looks fine but I want to have best outcome from planting these this year and am willing to sacrifice some blooms if it will help.

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luis_pr

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

I have never pruned off blooms from any of my hydrangeas on their first year to "help them", especially what appear to be several years old and almost mature specimens like yours. But, they are your shrubs and you certainly can do that. I would only try that with cuttings that are very young, which are tiny and have just one stem.

Do be aware of a few things... if your shrubs are of a re-bloomer variety, they may decide to produce new flower buds/blooms. You will then have new blooms in 1-2 months.

This type of hydrangea will produce Spring 2017 flower buds around July here in Texas so, any pruning done after June might end up cutting off the Spring blooms you might expect to see in April-May. So be careful with any pruning done to the end of the stems after June. Wilting is just something normal they go thru at first and when the weather gets hot.

If this variety is not a rebloomer then this variety produces flower buds once, after June, and pruning in July would mean no flowers in all of 2017.

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Comments (8)

NHBabs z4b-5a NH
8 years ago
I wouldn't.
Sandra Matula thanked NHBabs z4b-5a NH
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I won’t be able to go the garden until Wednesday.. I do know that the roots reached at least 3/4 deep down the 4 in round pot from last time I checked. If it’s something that needs to get done then I don’t want to allow the plant to spend useless energy for another 3 days and maybe I’ll have my dad snip it off.
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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
8 years ago
Cutting off flowers or flower buds will NOT reduce any stress the plant is experiencing. Not exactly sure what your weather is like at the moment (except for freakishly large hailstorm the other day) but I'd consider this to be rather normal transplant shock, especially if the plants are in a lot of sun. And seeing the purple fountain grass in the background, I am assuming that is the case.

Just keep the plant adequately - but not overly - watered and it will bounce back in a few days.
Sandra Matula thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
Sandra Matula
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you all for the advice. I will leave them alone. These only receive morning sun, about 4 hours and then a little dappled sun til around 2 pm. The purple fountain grass was just recently planted also and I do believe it was in full sun at the nursery. Also...these were sold next to Endless Summer at the nursery but they are not. They are the same kind of hydrangea as ES but I'm guessing a generic??? I'll have to research on if they are re bloomers.
luis_pr
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Plant nurseries normally sell named varieties so stop by to find out what the other one is called. That other one could be part of the ES Series or it may be another named variety that is either a rebloomer or not. The ES Series usually uses a blue plastic pot for mopheads Endless Summer (sometimes called Original in that company's ads), Blushing Bride, Bloomstruck and a lacecap called Twist and Shout.
Sandra Matula thanked luis_pr
Sandra Matula
Original Author
8 years ago
They had all the ES you mentioned and then they had these labeled only Hydrangea macrophylla in black pots. I think they are mopheads not lacecaps but still researching to see if they are re bloomers. It would be great if I could go ask the nursery but it seems they do not have much info on anything they sell. Houston Garden Centers. New employees every time I'm in there.

And.....here comes the rain. I'm excited for my plants!!!
luis_pr
8 years ago
The back pots are sort of generic, cheap containers. They may be used by every company. It would not surprise me to see them in use by the Endless Summer Series' company too, although they normally use the blue ones. I think they discontinued some hydrangeas but switched to selling their remaining inventory of those using the black pots.Probably because they were not selling well and probably because they were not re-blooming well either.

So, unless you can locate the plant label, talking to an employee or finding a sales receipt with a full name of the plant, you may have determine their re-blooming capabilities by simply waiting to see if they produce more blooms in about 2 months, approx. On those that are re-bloomers, you can deadhead the blooms to force it to generate new flower buds.

Rains and thunder/lightning passed thru here also and got the hydrangeas all wet.
Sandra Matula thanked luis_pr
Sandra Matula
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks for the advice. I will just have to wait and see like you said.

Stay safe over there! More rain coming I hear.

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