Do you cut back climbing hydrangeas?
Climbing Hydrangea does not require routine pruning. If it outgrows its allotted space, pruning can check it. Hydrangeas need nutrients to bloom, but just any fertilizer won’t do. Make sure you’re using a using a bloom boosting, slow-release, granular fertilizer and follow the directions on the packaging for how much to apply. Apply fertilizer in early spring and again in July to help promote the rebloom.Simply water them daily if it’s sunny and hot out, or every other day if the temperature is lower. You’ll know your hydrangeas need water if the leaves and mopheads (or the blooms) start to wilt. On the other hand, if you’re overwatering, the leaves will turn yellow, she says.
How do you care for a climbing hydrangea?
Although it is drought tolerant when established, you don’t want it to work too hard for moisture. Keep it mulched with leaves, compost and such. Climbing hydrangeas rarely need pruning unless they have completely outgrown their bounds. If you must prune it, cut it right after the flowers fade. Hydrangeas in pots will dry out much more quickly than those planted in the ground, so during the hotter, drier months, check your plants regularly. Butler says: “In the summer, the pots will need watering every day and must be kept moist the rest of the year.As Paul explains, the ideal time to trim a hydrangea largely depends on its type, although autumn is never the right time to prune these ostentatious blooms. This is because most hydrangeas already have new flower buds on their stems. By cutting them back now, you would remove the buds and spoil next season’s blooms.The short answer is no. Pruning your hydrangeas just before winter will leave them even more susceptible to winter damage, and you’re at risk for cutting off future flowers.If you need to prune your panicle hydrangea—and it can grow huge over the years, reaching up to 15 feet (5 m) in height and spread if you never cut it back!
Where is the best place to plant climbing hydrangeas?
Where to plant. Ideally, plant your climbing hydrangea against a north- or east-facing wall or fence. A sunnier spot is fine, providing the soil doesn’t get too dry in summer. Evergreen Hydrangea seemannii and Hydrangea serratifolia need a sheltered spot as they are not fully hardy. 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.Climbing hydrangeas produce flowers on last year’s shoots, so in order for the plant to have enough time to develop flowering wood for the next year, prune in summer straight after flowering. Don’t cut the plant back too much.You don’t need to cut back hydrangeas. If left to their own devices, hydrangeas will die back in the winter and grow again in the spring. However, if they are not pruned or cut back, at some point, the branches will begin to become a mess of last year’s wood and this year’s wood.Hydrangeas are long-lived shrubs, sometimes living for up to 50 years if properly cared for. They enjoy morning sun but afternoon shade, and they need frequent watering during the growing season.
What not to plant next to a hydrangea?
Large Trees and Shrubs Large trees and even large shrubs can cause harm to hydrangeas and other plants, both by blocking incoming light and by outcompeting them and consuming all the available resources, Lenhart says. You should especially watch out for willow trees, McConnell says. What Happens If You Don’t Prune Hydrangeas in the Fall? Nothing. Your hydrangea may thank you with prolific blooms next year because you didn’t prune it. This season’s flowers will slowly dry up and, throughout the winter, blow off and away.Pruning climbing hydrangeas requires considerate timing. Always prune after flowering to avoid cutting off next year’s buds. Remove spent blooms and any dead or damaged stems (deadheading). Cut back wayward shoots to control spread and shape.The blooms will naturally fade and fall off on their own over time. In fact, leaving the spent flowers can add winter interest and, on old wood hydrangeas, even protect the plant’s new buds from frost.Good for them, good for us! Generally, hardier hydrangeas such as the paniculata and arborescens types don’t need extra winter protection. However, extreme cold can cause die-back of their branches. If a colder than normal winter in predicted, consider covering.
What are common climbing hydrangea problems?
Climbing hydrangea problems These hydrangeas are very trouble-free and rarely exhibit even the leaf spot that often pops up on other types. They are, however, susceptible to deer browsing, and the flowers are at the highest risk of being munched. Hydrangeas: Enhances color and overall plant health, particularly in magnesium-deficient soils. To use, dissolve Epsom salt in water (1 tablespoon per gallon) and apply around the base of plants once a month during the growing season. Always check soil and plant health before using.If you enjoy puttering in the garden or like a neater appearance, go ahead and deadhead your hydrangea as needed. But you won’t harm the plant or affect blooming if you don’t, says Hirvela.We recommend feeding Hydrangea with a slow-release, granular fertilizer such as Plant-tone® + Iron-tone® OR Holly-tone® + Iron-tone® in both spring and midsummer. For a bloom boost, try applying Triple Phosphate, per package instructions, in addition to fertilizer.