Deadheading Panicle Hydrangeas?
Ollie Turner
2 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (19)
Ollie Turner
2 years agoRelated Discussions
Do I deadhead faded hydrangea flowers for rebloom ?
Comments (19)The best way to encourage rebloom is force the plant through a cold spell, greenhouse style. Not sure what the turnaround time is, but there is a critical period between entering and exiting dormancy, even on new growth shoots, where the plant "decides" where to produce the florets. This has appeared to be a "ONE-TIME" deicision per year (unless forcing). This year, I had numerous free-flowering hydrangeas in pots, you know, the ones that are supposed to produce flowers on lateral buds as well as terminal buds. But a late freeze of 27.7F hit, which knocked back the outer 10-20% of growth. Since, there have been literally no flowers on lateral buds except for on a few plants. Why? My theory. There are really too many plant names to get into specifics, but some like Claudie, Perfecfion, Firelight, Blue Wave have zero flowers. Same was the case for hydrangeas in the ground. Plenty of old wood survived this year, but no flowers. Harmony, Nikkoes, Expression, Merritt's Supreme etc etc. Because of erratic weather and climate, controlling or encouraging this that and the other is nearly moot and is entirely left to chance. Your best bet is to indeed enclose the ENTIRE plant til around 5/1, unless you live in an area where there are no freezes after the plants break dormancy. But I'll tell you one thing, the growers and retailers and branders won't share this information with you (Dirr's even in it for the $ and cannot paint the whole picture for you). Well, except maybe one of the old shrub gurus at your local nursery. They can smell fads a mile away. Bigleaf hydrangeas weren't really meant to grow in any kind of climate other than that than which they were originally found. The closer you get to replicating it, the better off you are (case study: Azores). Not to say they'll never adapt to different climates via evolution, but the odds of that in our lifetimes are slim to none....See MoreYoung Hydrangea Blooms Falling Over + How to Deadhead?
Comments (15)You can really "deadhead" a H arborescens any time YOU see fit. Example: mine are unstaked (because i'm lazy). But I just hacked mine back about 1.5 feet, leaving about half the blooms, to maintain structure. Fortunately, once they've matured (~5 years), the plants will happily put out a second *smaller* size bloom flush before Fall. So In my case, they'll have an opportunity to bloom all growing season, and half will be green / half will be white simultaneously! Or, if you're up for it, build a 3x3 enclosure (including a top piece) for the plant, out of green colored rolled fencing. All you need are wire cutters and zip ties. The stems will grow up through the grid, but won't be able to droop. Some blooms may still bend the stems in half. Cut as needed. After a decade, I've found that working to foster strong over-all garden structure and having plants that can stagger interest from April-October, is much more critical than nursing along a handful of unkempt stems / blooms....See MorePanicle hydrangea disease?
Comments (3)The lack of foliage at this time of the year does not bode well but the plant roots have developed new shoots that have leafed out. That is encouraging. It is now difficult to guess what happened in a prior year without symptoms of things going haywire. A scratch test may help you tell the extent of life left. I would suggest a formal soil test since it is a mature, "large" hydrangea tree. Possibly a Pee Gee Grandiflora, not Quickfire. QF stays smaller. The tree may be 30-50 years old. With the soil test, you can check for nutrient deficiencies, high soil salts near the road, even the soil pH... Maybe the tree needed more water as it got older but compacted soil plus rain + what your sprinkler provided was insufficient. Maybe the soil got too salty or compacted. Maybe the tree got too much water and developed root rot. I wonder if water tends to collect there... perhaps not looking a picture 3. Maybe it was old and winter was difficult. Maybe pests damaged the roots but if true, I would expect that if the pests kill a hydrangea tree, nearby bushes/trees may also have been affected. There is some damage near the base in the last picture but I have no idea if this is old and the tree got over that... or if this contributed to the decline in some way. Hmm, too many maybes. The soil does look very dry in the last picture. Not sure if the soil drains well in that spot or is compacted. The tree does not seem to have any mulch. The lichen in the rocks in pictures 3, and 4 suggests that the area may be humid enough for the lichen. But then I wonder if the soil humidity got to high enough levels in the soil itself, which may suggest root rot. I guess too much water at some times of the year? I am mumbling to myself now... Hmm, oddly, nothing much appears to be growing near the tree. Somehow, I sort of expected to see at least some weeds since the Pee Gee tree is so near the road and the edge of the property. Signs of a soil problem? Hmmm Too many questions... After the formal soil test, review the results and see if the tree has either awakened late and leafed out late for some reason but if it has not, you may need to use a scratch test to remove dead wood and continue with the smaller stems now growing at its base....See MorePanicle hydrangea for a north facing foundation?
Comments (2)The choisya is far more tolerant of shade than the hydrangea will be. Of all the hydrangea species, paniculatas are sun lovers and will get the best flowering from maximum sun. However, if you live in a climate that is warm enough to grow choisya successfully, then consider a bigleaf hydrangea (H. macrophylla) for this north facing aspect. If out of wind, they hold on to old flowers very well through the winter and are far more appreciative of shade than any panicle hydrangea. (ps. I might have to take exception to the choisya being boring when it has that delightful scent, two bloom cycles and is evergreen :-) Compare that to a bunch of bare sticks for 4-6 months of the year........)...See MoreOllie Turner
2 years agoOllie Turner
2 years agoNancy R z5 Chicagoland
2 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
2 years agoOllie Turner
2 years agodjacob Z6a SE WI
2 years agorpwoodard
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoOllie Turner
2 years agoNHBabs z4b-5a NH
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoOllie Turner
2 years agoNHBabs z4b-5a NH
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agojana (z7b, Philadelphia, PA)
2 years agoNHBabs z4b-5a NH
2 years agoOllie Turner
2 years agoNHBabs z4b-5a NH
2 years agoWendyB 5A/MA
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoOllie Turner
2 years ago
Related Stories
GARDENING GUIDESGreat Design Plant: Oakleaf Hydrangea
Consider this full, flowering shrub for year-round beauty in the garden as you plan your fall plantings
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESHow to Deadhead Roses and Other Garden Favorites
Follow this basic guide and learn how to properly deadhead roses and other flowers
Full StoryFLOWERSWhy You Should Give Hydrangeas a Place in Your Yard
The exuberant mop-headed beauties evoke dreams of an endless summer by the sea
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESWhen Is the Right Time to Prune Your Hydrangeas?
The type of hydrangea you have determines when it’s time to trim
Full StoryGARDENING AND LANDSCAPINGHave a Ball With Hydrangeas
Even if you don't tinker with the hue by changing the soil, hydrangeas have an entertaining range of uses in all kinds of landscapes
Full StoryFLOWERS AND PLANTSHydrangea Arborescens Illuminates Garden Borders and Paths
This long-blooming eastern North American native shrub finds a home in landscapes around the world
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESPacific Northwest Gardener's August Checklist
Deadheading perennials, cutting raspberry canes and preparing for the onion harvest keeps Northwest gardeners busy in August
Full StoryFLOWERSBest Cutting-Garden Beauties for Late Summer
Pick blooms bursting with color or in classic white for bouquets to give away or keep all to yourself
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESKeep Your Cool in the Garden — Here’s What to Do in August
Don’t let summer’s heat go to your head. These U.S. gardening guides will help you make sensible choices for all of your plantings
Full StoryFALL GARDENINGWhy You Should Let Your Garden Go to Seed
Take a moment to appreciate spent flower stalks in your late-summer garden and the benefits they provide
Full Story
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5