The panicle hydrangea itself quickly thickens, from which its branches become weak, brittle, the inflorescences are small.
The root shoots that appear during the summer are not removed in the first autumn. They do this in subsequent years, leaving only the strongest and most promising shoots.
To obtain low compact bush, at panicle hydrangea cut off shoots so that 3 to 5 pairs of buds remain. Such deep pruning in cold regions is carried out in the spring, in warm regions, including the Moscow region, in autumn.
Pruning tree hydrangea in autumn
As in the previous case, in the first three years of life for tree hydrangea only sanitary pruning and removal of faded brushes is provided.
Full pruning begins from the 4th year, while it is most often done deep to stimulate flowering. Depending on the purpose of the bush, two types can be distinguished autumn pruning:
· Minimal, when the shoots are shortened by two or three buds;
· "Under flowering", when the result is three or four buds.
It's important to know!
When pruning for flowering, you should not be too zealous: the lack of leaves in the bushes deprives them of the nourishment that they receive in the process of photosynthesis.
In the first case, a "free" bush is obtained, often used to create a hedge. It forms a large number of not very large inflorescences, prone to thickening interior space... It is necessary to remove excess shoots annually, especially weak ones.
In the second case, very large, but rare inflorescences are formed on the bushes. The bush is usually about a meter high.
Features of pruning large-leaved hydrangea
This species blooms on the upper branches of last year's growth. They do not touch them in the fall, they only clean lower part bush. They rely on following rules:
· All faded inflorescences are removed as they appear - this makes it possible for young shoots to grow;
With abundant flowering, remove part of the young shoots growing deep in the bush;
· Too old and diseased branches are cut off completely.
It's important to know!
The warmer the climate, the more careful pruning is done. In cold regions (Siberia, Ural, North-West) large-leaved hydrangea cut to a minimum.
Also, for all types of hydrangeas, there is another type of pruning - rejuvenating, intended for those plants whose age has reached seven years. It is carried out in the same way: all shoots are cut to a height of 10-15 centimeters. Leave with minimal trimming two or three of the strongest and growing outward.
When purchasing a hydrangea bush for their garden for the first time, beginners often face the problem of determining which variety / species they take. Not everywhere there are specialized nurseries, but you can easily buy your favorite plant from a private owner. Unfortunately, the seller does not always know what exactly he is selling.
What should be done in this case? The answer is simple. In the first two years, carry out only sanitary pruning, plus the removal of too thickening branches. Perhaps flowering during this period will not be too abundant, but according to which shoots - last or this year - the buds will form, it will be possible to determine the type of flowering.
Hydrangea paniculata (hydrangea paniculata) is presented in the form of a shrub or a low tree about 10 m tall. You can form this plant in the form of a trunk.
Hydrangea will not disappear without pruning, but it will lose its decorative view, and flowering will be poor.
In order for the plant to look aesthetically pleasing and healthy, you need to know the rules of pruning and what this procedure is for.
Stages and pruning scheme
Hydrangea paniculate pruning is carried out in early spring, this is needed for:
- better and abundant flowering;
- shaping the crown;
- renewal of shoots and plant health.
Cropping is important stage in the care of hydrangea.
Its scheme is as follows:
- Sanitization... At this stage, damaged, broken, dry and weak branches, last year's inflorescences, non-flowering shoots are removed. In the first year after planting, sanitary pruning for the seedling is the only procedure, because the plant must adapt to the new location.
- Formative pruning. During the first three years after planting, skeletal shoots and a crown are formed. In the second year, after planting, a radical shortening of last year's shoots is carried out. This is necessary to create the base of the bush. Pruning shoots and inflorescences is carried out using
- Regulatory (stimulating) pruning... An annual procedure, the purpose of which is to profuse flowering... They begin to regulate the density and shape of the crown in the third year after planting. Shoots of hydrangea paniculata are cut at the level of 1-3 pairs of swollen buds. It is imperative to remove the shoots growing inside the crown.
- Rejuvenation. Remove old shoots (3-4 years old) to the very base. Leave about 10 strong shoots. In case the plant has been applied radical method - this is cutting to a height of 50 cm. The next year the bush will not bloom. But during this time, restoration processes will take place, and it will be possible to begin the formation of a new crown.
Note: you can cut the plant by focusing on the growth buds. As soon as they have appeared and swollen, it is time to carry out the procedure. This usually happens in early April.
After pruning, all that remains is to apply fertilizer to stimulate the growth of young shoots, and water the plant well.
Thus, cropping is very important procedure in the care of hydrangea paniculata. Knowing all its varieties, you will be able to apply pruning at any stage of the life of a bush plant to improve its flowering appearance.
From this video You will learn how to properly prune a panicle hydrangea:
There are not many perennials in our gardens ornamental plants, which could compare in attractiveness with. They can sing long and beautiful odes, praising the power, variety of species, delicate delicacy and ceremonial splendor. But none of this will happen without proper care, in particular - without timely and correct pruning.
Most often, three types of hydrangeas are grown in middle latitudes - large-leaved (garden), tree-like and paniculate. Others are less common, but they should also be borne in mind: oak-leaved, serrate, prickly hydrangea, Sargent and petiolate liana hydrangea. From the point of view of methods and time of trimming, all these types are divided into 2 groups.
First group
The first group includes those that bloom on the shoots of the last year. This hydrangea is large-leaved, serrate, Sargent, prickly, oak-leaved and petiolate. They do not need formative pruning as such. For them, cosmetic and sanitary intervention is enough. Cut off last year's inflorescences to the first buds. In addition, frozen and dried shoots, as well as weak branches that thicken the bush and violate its harmony, are cut out at the root.
Beauty hydrangea
It is more expedient to prune in the spring when the buds swell. At this time, you can assess the real state of the bush: whether it came out well from wintering, which branches should be left, and which should be cut. In warmer climates, you can remove dried inflorescences and clean the bush in the fall, after flowering ends.
The petiolate liana hydrangea is trimmed slightly. Long shoots are slightly shortened, this stimulates the plant to branch better.
Second group
Hydrangeas fall into it, forming inflorescences on the shoots of the current year. These are hydrangeas tree-like and paniculate.
Hydrangea paniculata. Photo
Pruning is done in early spring after the snow has melted. All shoots are shortened to 2–3 pairs of buds; on strong mature bushes, one pair can be left. A fresh shoot will grow from each bud, at the end of which an inflorescence is formed. In addition, thin weak branches are cut out at the root, as well as shoots growing inside the bush - that is, simultaneous formation occurs. If this is not done, then the plant thickens very quickly and "does not understand" what is required of it - the inflorescences become smaller.
In this video you can see the pruning of a young bush of "Vanille Fraise" hydrangea.
And this video shows how a tree hydrangea is pruned if you decide to hold this event in the fall.
The variety "Endless Summer", which became the ancestor of a whole series, stands apart. In general, this is a large-leaved hydrangea, but it is this variety that is distinguished by the fact that inflorescences are formed both on the shoots of the current year and on last year's ones. This is a real find for growing in those cold areas where heat-loving hydrangeas winter unstably even under reliable. After wintering, the condition of the bush is assessed and acted upon according to the situation. If the shoots are very frozen, then they are pruned according to the second type, if the cold has not caused irreparable harm, then they carry out cosmetic pruning and get abundant flowering.
Undoubtedly correct pruning hydrangeas - only 1 of the stages of caring for these beauties, and personal experience may be more important than book for getting excellent result... How do you prune your hydrangeas?
Hydrangeas are some of the most popular plants in any garden. They are loved for their ease of growing and care, as well as their incredible beauty. This flower can be a worthy decoration for any alpine slide or a flower garden, however, most novice gardeners are often interested in methods of caring for it during the cold season. Some of the most popular on this moment there are questions about whether it is necessary to cut the hydrangea for the winter, why do it and how to properly prepare the plant for this procedure.
Preparing for the cold season
It should be remembered that specially prepare for winter period frost-resistant varieties plants are completely optional. They will perfectly survive this period without additional protection. For normal functioning, it is enough to know how to cut a hydrangea for the winter and huddle its base.
For normal preparation for winter, watering the plants is stopped at the very beginning of September and all the lower leaves are removed to start lignification of the shoots. Immediately before frost, you can tear off all the foliage from the plant, leaving only the top protecting the flower buds.
Do I need to prune hydrangea for the winter and how to do it
Since this procedure is practically not performed. Before sheltering the plants, remove all weak, damaged and broken off branches. It should be remembered that the hydrangea apical bud should not be removed. It is from it that the peduncle will form next year. Also, do not rush to remove the blackened shoots - they may turn out to be alive. For complete confidence, you should wait for spring and see if the buds hatch on them.
No one can confidently answer the question of whether it is necessary to prune a hydrangea for the winter experienced gardener... They all agree that the plant practically does not need this operation. If there is a need to shorten the shoots, then only cosmetic and only in very young bushes. This is due to the fact that the main flower stalks of hydrangea are located on the tops of last year's shoots, and by removing them, the gardener will simply destroy future flowers. That is why rarely anyone can give an unambiguous answer to the question of whether the hydrangea is cut for the winter.
The first priority when caring for this plant is to keep all its stems intact and safe. Special attention should be given to the flower buds at the end of the shoots. If they dry out or freeze, then the plant will not bloom and will be an ugly bunch of branches.
The answer to the question of whether it is necessary to prune the hydrangea for the winter can be the following statement: this is done only to rejuvenate the plant. In this case, the gardener cuts out only weak and broken branches, and also thinns the bush moderately so that new replacement shoots begin to form. During the autumn procedure, it is very important to leave the inflorescences of the plant intact, as they can provide the buds additional protection from winter frosts. In the spring, of course, it will be possible to remove them, but this must be done with great care and trying not to damage the young shoot.
Hydrangeas are firmly established on garden plots... These elegantly flowering bushes are unpretentious and do not take much time to care for. However, in order for them to remain beautiful in shape and please lush bloom, they need cropping. With the correct procedure, the plant grows with numerous young branches, at the ends of which elegant, lush inflorescences are formed. In order not to harm the plant, you need to know exactly when and how to cut the hydrangea correctly. The features of the procedure, depending on the type of plant, vary somewhat, and this must be taken into account.
To trim the bush, a sharp pruner is used, which will be easy to cut, and not break off the branches. This is very important for the plant to form correctly and actively grow.
Pruning goals
Hydrangea pruning serves several purposes. Without it, the plant, naturally, can grow, but this leads to crushing of the inflorescences and a decrease in their number. Also, a well-formed bush looks more decorative, which adds beauty to the garden. Thanks to pruning, the following goals are achieved:
- beautiful shape bush with an abundance of green mass;
- plant rejuvenation;
- maintaining health;
- improved flowering.
The procedure annually gives impetus to the abundant growth of young shoots, which quickly pick up flowers. Due to their shorter length, they create an abundant green mass in the lower part of the plant, where old twigs can no longer produce such greenery.
General rules for pruning
The hydrangea must be trimmed correctly, otherwise it can even be ruined. There are general recommendationsthat are applicable to all varieties and species. You cannot cut the plant in rainy and very dry weather, as well as in extreme heat. It is better to carry out pruning in the evening, then all the damaged places will have time to drag on by the morning and will not attract unnecessary insects and will not dry out if the sun bakes strongly.
When pruning thick shoots, which begin to exude abundant juice, they are smeared garden pitch or paint, so that the hydrangea does not weaken.
Usually this phenomenon is observed when pruning a tree variety in case of need to remove most crowns.
The cut is made obliquely, in one squeeze of the secateurs, without crushing the plant tissue. Sometimes in places where it is impossible to get close with garden shears, you can apply sharp knife or a garden file (if the branch is thick). This should be done only as a last resort, since such a plant injury takes longer to heal.
Features of pruning by grade
In gardens, paniculate, tree-like, groundcover and large-leaved hydrangeas are often grown. Depending on the type of plant, the rules for cutting it also change. You need to know them, since mistakes will lead to the fact that the bush does not bloom magnificently and elegantly.
Large-leaved and ground cover
Pruning of large-leaved hydrangea is carried out mainly for sanitary purposes. During it, dead shoots and already wilted inflorescences are cut from the plant. You can also thin out the bush somewhat if it is too thick. It is impossible to rid the plant of last year's shoots before winter, since it is on them that buds for inflorescences are laid in the fall. Cutting them off, the owner in the spring will receive only magnificent, but not flowering bush.
In order not to spoil the hydrangea next year, it is necessary to cut off the faded inflorescences in the summer. This will allow the plant to have time to give young shoots before the onset of the cold period, and, therefore, blooming caps will appear on them in the summer.
When the hydrangea takes cover for the winter, weak shoots are cut out of the bush, this will make it easier for it to winter.
It is necessary to rejuvenate the plant once every 3 years, pruning the shoots by 30-40 centimeters. Only ¼ of all branches of the bush are affected by such a haircut.
Groundcover hydrangea also does not require serious trimming, despite the fact that it produces flowers on spring shoots. When to prune your hydrangea - in spring or fall - depends on the weather conditions and the gardener's preferences. It is enough to prune the ground cover once a year, removing only unnecessarily long shoots that break its shape.
Panicle hydrangea
According to the rules, pruning of panicle hydrangea is carried out in the fall. Skeletal shoots should not be touched. Only those branches that grow inside the bush are pruned, excessively thickening it. Dried panicles must also be removed. Young shoots are very fragile and break easily under the snow mass. If it can be seen that they will not woody before winter, they must be removed with a pruner.
Before winter, the shoots on which there were inflorescences are cut, leaving only 2-3 buds on them. This is necessary so that in the spring the hydrangea, having dismissed the leaves, looks elegant. Buds are laid only on spring shoots.
Hydrangea paniculata, which is pruned for anti-aging purposes, is processed in the fall. For this, several skeletal branches are cut off, leaving only 2-3 to grow, extending outward.
Pruning hydrangeas in paniculate spring is carried out to restore beautiful crown after winter. Branches are removed from it that have dried up, unable to withstand frost, or have been broken. You can also gradually create a stem in spring haircuts, thanks to which the hydrangea will look like a lush flower cloud on a leg.
Tree-like
Pruning of a tree hydrangea is mandatory. This should be done in the fall. In winter, all dry inflorescences, if left on the branches, will be filled with snow, become unbearably heavy for the plant and break it. You need to cut them off with a small leg. A very active shearing can harm the plant, especially if it is young and not yet ready for rejuvenation.
Serious pruning for the first time can only be carried out on a plant aged 4 years and older.
Pruning hydrangeas in the fall for beginners may seem difficult because of the need to count the buds left on the shoots (there should be 3-4), but soon it comes to automatism and no problems arise.
Rejuvenating pruning of a tree hydrangea is carried out no earlier than 7 years after planting. With a not very large root system, all shoots are cut off before winter, leaving only 10 cm hemp above the ground.If the root is powerful, then only ¼ of the bush is cut in a year, and so the plant is gradually completely rejuvenated.
If you cut the bush completely with an extensive root, it will not have enough strength to recover. This is because the root system will need constant replenishment with substances that enter it from the aboveground part, and only young runs will not be able to give them to the required extent.
Pruning hydrangeas in the spring may be required if, after a harsh winter, there are frozen and broken branches on the bush. They are cut with pruning shears when the most active spring sokokhod has already passed, since otherwise the plant will weaken when touching living tissues.
Types of trimming
In order to more accurately navigate what type of pruning a plant needs at a particular moment, you need to know exactly what type of haircut involves what.
- Anti-aging - cut a large number long shoots to get new ones from the root, which will be stronger and stronger due to their young age and the absence of defects caused by negative impacts environment... Such a pruning of hydrangea is carried out in the fall.
- Sanitary - removal of unusable shoots that spoil appearance plants and create unnecessary mass. Dry, broken and defective shoots are cut off.
- Forming - the most difficult and necessary to get a beautiful bush. It is carried out immediately after planting and then for several years.
All trimming is done with pruning shears. The use of regular scissors is not permitted.
Shaping haircut
It is carried out without fail in the first 2 years from the moment the plant was planted, and then - at the request of the owner for another 2-3 years. Thanks to the procedure, it is possible to lay correct shape bush and provide it with strong branches growing in a beautiful direction.
Pruning is carried out according to the following scheme:
- Before planting - the seedling is pruned a little so that the root does not waste a lot of energy on aerial part and formed correctly. Also, all broken and dried shoots are cut off.
- After winter, in March or April, depending on the climate, they carry out sanitary pruning of the bush and also prune all the shoots so that the root continues to fully develop.
- In the second year - from this moment, the formation of the correct beautiful crown begins. All shoots left over from last year are cut off, leaving 3 buds on them, which are fully developed. Excess defective shoots are removed completely. Only healthy branches growing in the right direction should remain on the hydrangea. They are the basis of the bush and will shape its shape. Carrying out the formation of the crown every spring for several years in a row, you can get a particularly beautiful plant.
With proper haircuts, the gardener gets a bush that is distinguished by the splendor of flowering and neatness. A hydrangea that has not been formed will look disheveled, since some of its stems will have the wrong direction of growth, and its shape will be far from ideal.
Care after pruning
Cut hydrangea requires follow-up proper care... It consists in watering and feeding. Stimulation of the growth of young shoots by pruning occurs with the increased consumption of minerals and organics by the plant, which are introduced into the soil. It will saturate bird droppings with organic matter, and ash with mineral components. You can also use special complex fertilizers. Watering is carried out in wet weather once a week, and in dry weather - daily.
By regularly trimming his hydrangea correctly, the gardener gets abundant flowering and very large inflorescences annually. Without proper care, the flowers will become smaller, and the bush will not be able to please with elegance and attractiveness. In addition, it will become untidy and decayed, which will give the garden a somewhat neglected look.
More illustrative example hydrangea pruning can be seen in next video: